Sapporo is one of the best bases in all of Japan for summer travel, and the scenery just outside the city is spectacular. From the historic canal streets of Otaru (just 30 minutes by train) to the lavender fields of Furano, the volcanic drama of Noboribetsu’s Hell Valley, and the electric-blue coastline of the Shakotan Peninsula, these eight day trips cover the full range of what makes Hokkaido extraordinary in summer. Whether you have a car or are sticking to trains and buses, there is something here for every kind of traveler.

The 2026 Shinkansen luggage rules, made simple: bags over 160 cm need a free reserved seat on the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu and Nishi-Kyushu lines, or you pay ¥1,000 onboard. How to measure your bag, book the seat (free with a Japan Rail Pass), and skip the hassle entirely with takkyubin forwarding.

Living in Japan is full of small surprises that quietly improve your daily life. Heated toilet seats, handy luggage lockers, bag baskets in restaurants, and perfectly wrapped onigiri — these nine Japanese innovations make everyday living more comfortable, convenient, and enjoyable.

Love hotels in Japan are short-stay accommodations offering couples complete privacy, hourly or overnight rates, and rooms that range from playfully themed to genuinely luxurious. With an estimated 10,000 to 37,000 properties across the country and 2.5 million visits per day, they are a fixture of Japanese life. This guide covers the history of love hotels in Japan, how to spot one on the street, how the automated check-in system works, what amenities to expect, the difference between rest and stay rates, and where to book in Tokyo and Osaka through Booking.com.

Every destination on this list is reachable in under two hours from Shinjuku Station, which means you can spend your day actually exploring Japan rather than sitting on a train. Whether you want Kamakura’s Great Buddha, Hakone’s views of Mount Fuji, the Edo-era streets of Kawagoe, or a full hike up Mount Takao, here are the 12 best day trips from Tokyo that will show you another side of unforgettable Japan.