The Sapphire Route: our curated itinerary of lakes and sea – blue water landscapes linked into one unhurried journey.
Hokkaido · Aomori · Miyagi · 7 days by train By Nobu · Updated October 2026 The Sapphire Route is a one-way week from Sapporo to Tokyo that never needs a car: a limited express down to Hakodate, under the…
Japan itineraries · 7 days · no car By Nobu · Updated October 2026 Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are the Golden Route most first trips follow. These are three one-week routes for the trip after that, each in a different…
Nearly every image on Hidden Japan Gems was photographed by me on a Sony α7 across five years of walking Japan; a few licensed photos fill the gaps. Please don't re-use my photos without permission — reach out if you'd like to.
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