Hokkaido
Hokkaido is one of Japan’s largest islands located in the north of the country. This region is a paradise for winter sports and hiking. There are many national parks with natural hot springs. Also, you can enjoy ski resorts and its offers. The territory is perfect for your summer vacations.
Sapporo is the capital and one of the most important cities in Japan. It is a modern and cosmopolitan city. There, you can plan sea excursions in the sea of Okhotsk, you can assist in some famous festivals and you can do many outdoor activities. Don’t forget to ski in Niseko and Rusutsu; discover the lavender plantations; taste the fresh seafood; and visit one of the National Parks.
The JRP covers the route from Tokyo to Sapporo. You can use the train and enjoy a comfortable trip. Your Japan Rail Pass includes this route and many others.
Tohoku
Discover the region located in the northeast of the main island of Japan. As a matter of interest, the name of this fantastic region means “northeast” in Japanese. Tohoku is also known as Michinoku. It consists of 6 beautiful prefectures: Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata.
This region is well known because of the great affectation caused by the great earthquake and subsequent tsunami in 2011. Besides, note that the Fukushima power plant is located there.
Tohoku is popular for its samurai history, its traditional cuisine, its summer festivals and its wonderful landscapes.
If you are interested in visiting Tohoku for touristic purposes, you can arrive in this region from Tokyo by taking the Tohoku Shinkansen, Yamagata and Akita lines. If you have not purchased a Japan Rail Pass yet, try to do it before your trip.
Kanto
The main island of Japan is Honshu and the Kanto Region is located in its eastern zone. It includes the Tokyo Metropolis and six prefectures: Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa.
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, has a population of approximately forty million people and will host the 2020 Olympic Games.
If you are thinking about travelling there in summer, remember that the weather in the Tokyo area is usually better in comparison to Osaka and Kyoto.
Keep in mind that Kyoto, Nagoya, Osaka, Shizuoka and Yokohama are connected to Tokyo by the Tokaido Shinkansen and, on the other hand, Fukuoka, Himeji, Hiroshima, Kobe and Okayama by the Sanyo Shinkansen.
Chubu
The Chubu region is famous for having the most beautiful volcano in Japan called Mount Fuji. Certainly, the region is full of mountains, which are known as Japanese Alps.
Chubu is a perfect area for skiing, especially in Nagano, as well as in Shirakawago, a UNESCO world heritage site widely known for its cottages. Moreover, it is important to mention Kanazawa, a trendy place where gorgeous temples and gardens can be visited.
Nagoya, the fourth biggest Japanese city, is located between Tokyo and Osaka and is part of this region. If you decide to use the Japan Rail Pass, you can take a train after landing in Chubu Centrair International Airport to Nagoya Station, where you can activate your JRP.
Its prefectures include Toyama, Yamanashi, Aichi, Gifu, Niigata, Ishikawa, Fukui, Nagano and Shizuoka.
Kansai
The Kansai region has been the political and cultural capital of Japan for many years, this is the reason why it has so many visitors. Osaka, the second largest city in Japan, is located in this region.
Visiting this area, you will discover its historical, cultural, gastronomic and entertainment offers. Osaka Castle, Dotonbori and Universal Studios Japan are essential places to discover.
The Kansai region is well worth visiting, although a trip to Kyoto is a must, as it is the second most popular city to visit in Japan after Tokyo.
The territory is divided into seven important prefectures: Hyogo, Kyoto, Mie, Nara, Osaka, Shiga and Wakayama.
The JR Pass provides you with unlimited travel on local JR trains and buses. You can use the Haruka limited express train in the Kansai region around its territories of Kobe, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka.
Chugoku
Chugoku is the western part of Honshu Island and it is formed by 5 prefectures. The region is known around the world due to the Hiroshima city.
The most popular destination among foreign visitors who come to the Chugoku region is the Hiroshima Prefecture. Hiroshima stands out for the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the Atomic Bomb Dome, while Miyajima is characterized by Itsukushima Shrine, popular for its floating Torii Gate, a large red gate that emerges out of the ocean. This is one of the most precious places in Japan, as well as one of the most flashed by cameras.
On the other hand, Chugoku has two important areas: Sanin and Sanyo. Sanin is composed of Tottori and Shimane prefectures and Sanyo includes Okayama and Hiroshima.
An interesting fact is that the prefectures have borders on two oceans (Sea of Japan and Seto Inland Sea). In addition, the territory is full of mountains so visitors can enjoy different landscapes.
The JRP offers you infinite travels on JR trains in the Chugoku Region. Also, it includes Shinkansen and limited express trains.
Shikoku
Shikoku is one of the cosiest cities in Japan. Definitely, it is the smallest and least populous of the Asian country. To be more specific, it is located in the south of Honshu, between the Pacific Ocean and the Seto Inland Sea. It is divided into 4 prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi and Tokushima.
Shikoku stands out for its rich nature and its many mountains. The highest mountains are located in Western Japan. It is strongly recommended to visit Mount Ishizuchi, where you will find different types of trees, plants, flowers, etc.
As we can read in some research articles, Shikoku is also the most famous and the oldest pilgrimage place in Japan. You can find an 88-temple pilgrimage conforming to the itinerary known as Shikoku Henro. It is a 1.400 km long route promoted by a founder of the Shingon Sect of Japanese Buddhism.
Kyushu
Do you know that Kyushu is the third-largest island of Japan? Specifically, it is situated in the most south-westerly area of its four main islands.
It should be noted that Kyushu is popular for its charming hot spring towns and its tasty cuisine at an accessible price. The scenic railway journey is, in fact, a valued attraction by those travelers who decide to go sightseeing in this splendid area.
The territory is formed by 8 prefectures: Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Oita, Okinawa and Saga.
Regarding Kumamoto, one of the most important areas of Kyushu, it is important to highlight the Kumamoto Castle. It is an amazing tourist attraction which has become one of the best castles and a magnificent spot for cherry blossom viewing in Japan. If you have enough time, you can also visit Mount Aso, an active volcano.
To sum up, Kyushu is an incredible natural paradise. You will find impressive landscapes and a great variety of fauna. Also, you will have the opportunity to taste the local delicacies and traditional recipes.