Rail journey · Japan

Japan's Golden Route

The classic first trip to Japan by train: Tokyo, the hot springs of Hakone, Kyoto's temples, Nara's deer park, Osaka and on to Hiroshima.

Tokyo Hakone Kyoto Nara Osaka Hiroshima
Distance
~724 km
Stops
6
Typical length
10–14 days
Transport
Train
Map style
Field Notes

Distance is measured stop to stop in straight lines, so the real road or rail distance is longer.

About the route

The Golden Route is the way most first-time visitors see Japan: from Tokyo along the Tokaido line past Mount Fuji to Kyoto and Osaka, mostly by shinkansen bullet train. This template adds a night in Hakone for the hot springs and views of Fuji, a day trip to Nara, and the run west to Hiroshima for the Peace Memorial and the island of Miyajima.

Each leg is a train, drawn with the railway line style, and the line pauses at every city. Add tags for the sights in each stop and a stamp at the start and the end. Field Notes is preselected; Neon Night gives Tokyo and Osaka a night-time look.

Tips for your video

  • Add a sign near Mount Fuji between Hakone and Kyoto, set to appear as the train passes.
  • Set the line to 15 seconds: shinkansen legs are long, the Nara day trip short.
  • Switch the leg labels on to show "Train · 476 km" as each leg starts.

Stops

  1. Tokyo35.68°N 139.77°E
  2. Hakone35.23°N 139.11°E
  3. Kyoto34.99°N 135.76°E
  4. Nara34.69°N 135.80°E
  5. Osaka34.70°N 135.50°E
  6. Hiroshima34.40°N 132.48°E

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