Japan Beyond the Golden Route: Visiting Kanazawa, Nagano, and Tokyo

January 2025

Japan Beyond the Golden Route: Visiting Kanazawa, Nagano, and Tokyo

Our first trip to Japan was nothing short of amazing. We were blown away by the people, the culture, the food, the atmosphere – everything. After two weeks exploring the Golden Route, we knew a return visit would be close in our future to explore other areas outside the tourist circuit. And here we are, ready for our second journey to Japan. 

I researched many areas before making our decision on where to go on this trip. I wanted to go places that were off the Golden Route but still tourist friendly where we would not be so lost without English. I narrowed it down to a few destinations including Okinawa (but would not be seasonable for the time of year we were traveling), the Izu Peninsula, Kanazawa, and Nagano. In looking at the Shinkansen bullet trains, a trip fell into place. In fact, a JR pass for the Shinkansen bullet trains exists specifically for this itinerary for the Hokuriku Arch! We decided to visit Kanazawa and Nagano with their surrounding areas. 

Two things we did differently on this trip. 

1. We purchased the JR pass: For this particular itinerary, the JR pass actually saved us money. Here is a full guide on how to determine if a JR pass is right for you and how to use if you do purchase. 
2. We stayed in hotels: Because of our last minute trip and little travel time – ie not booking accommodations more than 6 months out – and the fact that we were traveling to areas that do not have as many tourists, the Airbnb market was slim. So we actually booked hotel rooms for the entire trip, I know – completely unheard of. But we really had no choice and it ended up being an affordable option. 

And with that, we were off! We had an easy and uneventful direct flight to Tokyo and it felt amazing to be back. While in Haneda airport, we have two goals – get yen out at the ATM and get our JR pass. While we purchased the JR pass online ahead of time (which is a requirement), you are given a voucher to exchange at a ticket office or kiosk upon your arrival. Both were right next to each other so we easily checked off both to-dos. 

Unlike last time, we decided to not make the same mistake and instead travel to the farthest destination first and work our way back to Tokyo for the end of the trip. And while this made for a wickedly long travel day, it made for an easier trip overall. After making our way to Tokyo station via the trains from the airport, we found the Shinkansen trains and proceeded to make our first reservations for train seats which while had a bit of a learning curve despite the how-to’s I printed, we figured it out and were able to secure seats. We grabbed bento boxes of tonkatsu to enjoy on our bullet train ride and hopped aboard our three hour train ride to Kanazawa. 

And I have to say, riding the trains here is nothing short of luxurious. We joked that it would be a great vacation just sitting on the Shinkansen trains all day. There is so much space, it is so comfortable, quiet, and peaceful. We simply enjoyed our bento boxes and the landscape as we slipped from the city into the countryside. It felt amazing to be back in Japan. 

Read about our time exploring Kanazawa here!

After three days exploring Kanazawa and the surrounding areas, it was time to pack our bags and head to our next destination – Nagano. After stopping at 7-Eleven for breakfast and snacks, we used our JR passes to reserve seats and boarded the same train that took us from Tokyo to Kanazawa except now we were making our way back to Tokyo with a stop in Nagano which took just over an hour. We joked that we wished the ride was longer just so we could continue to enjoy the luxurious travel experience of the bullet trains. 

Read about our time in Nagano here! 

We originally had plans to stay another night in Nagano but given how quickly we were able to see Nagano and the surrounding areas – mostly because things were closed – we decided to pack up and head to our final stop of the trip – Tokyo. And while this itinerary was meant to avoid the Golden Route and go off the beaten path, there is no way to visit Japan without stopping in Tokyo.

Tokyo is one of the best cities in the world and I do not think there is ever such a thing as too much time in Tokyo. I knew our five days on our first trip was not going to be enough time but just to get a taste of what Tokyo has to offer. I do not think any Japan trip is quite complete without a stop in Tokyo and we were so excited to get immersed again.

Read about our second visit to Tokyo here!

We are so grateful to have returned to Japan again so soon and had to change to explore beyond the Golden Route. There truly is so much to explore and it is so hard to pick destinations! I know this will not be our last trip to Japan and look forward to more adventures in this wonderful country.

To see our full itinerary – here!

Read what to expect in Japan – here!

My complete packing list for Japan – here!

See all blog posts for Japan – here!