Active Japan: North to South — Self-Launched

Land at Narita or Haneda and connect on a domestic budget flight to Memanbetsu (Peach, Jetstar Japan or ANA Experience Japan fare — book 6-10 weeks ahead for the best price). From Memanbetsu take the shared airport bus or local bus towards Utoro on the Shiretoko Peninsula (~1h20, ~£10), checking in at a guesthouse or hostel in Utoro. Pick up supplies and an evening onsen at a local bathhouse.

🚌Domestic flight Tokyo→Memanbetsu (~£60-90), shared airport bus to Utoro (~£10)

🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Utoro (Shiretoko)

• →Domestic flight to Hokkaido
• →Utoro village orientation
• →Local onsen

Catch the seasonal Shiretoko Shari bus (or the park shuttle from Utoro) to the Five Lakes trailhead. Walk the elevated boardwalk circuit around the five lakes with views up to the mountains — the ground-level trail often requires a paid bear-briefing session (book on arrival at the Shiretoko Nature Center, ~£3-5). In the afternoon walk the Furepe Waterfall trail from the Nature Center out to the cliff edge above the Okhotsk Sea (~1h round trip).

🚌Local park bus (~£6 return)

🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Utoro

• →Shiretoko Five Lakes boardwalk trek
• →Furepe Waterfall clifftop walk
• →Shiretoko Nature Center

Book a half-day guided forest walk through the Shiretoko World Heritage primeval forest with a local guide outfit in Utoro (roughly £35-50 per person for a 3-4 hour walk including binoculars) — this is the easiest way to reach the restricted forest trails without a car. Look for Japanese deer, red foxes and Steller's sea eagles along the cliffs. Afternoon free: visit the Shiretoko World Heritage Conservation Centre (free) or soak in a hot-spring bath in Utoro's onsen village.

🚌On foot / guide vehicle included in tour

🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Utoro

• →Guided primeval forest hike
• →Wildlife spotting
• →Shiretoko World Heritage Conservation Centre
• →Onsen village

Take the local bus/train combination via Abashiri or join a shared taxi tour to Lake Akan, stopping at the Mt Iō sulphur vents, the steaming Kussharo caldera, and the Lake Kussharo sandy beach where you can dig your own hot-spring pool right on the shore. Finish at the Lake Mashu observation decks before continuing to Akanko Onsen. Tonight stay in a traditional ryokan with dinner and a hot-spring bath — book directly or via a Japanese booking site.

🚌Local bus/shared taxi Shiretoko→Akanko (~£25-35)

🛏Ryokan in Akanko Onsen (tatami room, shared onsen)

• →Mt Iō sulphur vents
• →Lake Kussharo hot-spring beach
• →Lake Mashu observation deck
• →Ryokan onsen experience

Wake early for a second onsen soak, then walk the Lake Akan shoreline and visit the Ainu Kotan village. Catch the afternoon performance of 'Akan Yukar Lost Kamuy' — Ainu ceremonial dance blended with contemporary dance and digital art (tickets at the door, ~£10-15). Take the evening bus to Asahikawa (~3h) and finish with a bowl of Asahikawa shōyu ramen at a local counter.

🚌Local bus Akanko→Asahikawa (~£20)

🛏Hostel/business hotel near Asahikawa Station

• →Lake Akan walk
• →Ainu Kotan village
• →Akan Yukar Lost Kamuy performance
• →Asahikawa ramen dinner

Take the local bus from Asahikawa Station to Asahidake Onsen (~1h30, ~£8 each way). Ride the Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway (~£10-12 return) up to the Sugatami plateau and hike the Sugatami Pond loop — around 1-2 hours among steaming fumaroles and alpine ponds. Bring a rain shell; the fog comes and goes fast. Return to Asahikawa for the evening.

🚌Local bus to Asahidake (~£16 return)

🛏Hostel/business hotel in Asahikawa

• →Asahidake Ropeway
• →Sugatami Pond loop hike
• →Fumarole viewpoints

Take the JR limited express Kamui or Lilac south to Sapporo (~1h25, ~£24). Drop bags at a hostel near Odori or Susukino, then head out to the Hill of the Buddha at Takino by bus (~40 min, ~£5) — the huge hilltop shrine by Tadao Ando. On the way back stop at Hokkaido Jingu shrine in Maruyama Park. Evening stroll through Odori Park.

🚌JR limited express Asahikawa→Sapporo (~£24), city bus (~£10)

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in central Sapporo

• →Hill of the Buddha (Takino Cemetery)
• →Hokkaido Jingu shrine
• →Odori Park

Start at Nijo Market for crab, uni, ikura and grilled scallops from the stalls (breakfast-turned-lunch for ~£10-15). Walk or take the metro and bus out to the Sapporo Beer Museum (free entry) for a tasting of the beers only sold there (~£3-5). Spend the late afternoon in the Susukino district or riding the Mount Moiwa ropeway for night views if clear.

🚌Metro and bus (~£6)

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in central Sapporo

• →Nijo Market food crawl
• →Sapporo Beer Museum & tasting
• →Mount Moiwa ropeway (optional)

Fly Sapporo (New Chitose) to Kansai with a low-cost carrier (~£50-90). From Kansai Airport take the JR Haruka limited express into Kyoto Station (~75 min, ~£18). Check into a hostel or guesthouse in the Higashiyama or Gojo area, then wander Gion and Pontocho alley for dinner.

🚌Flight CTS→KIX (~£50-90), JR Haruka to Kyoto (~£18)

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Kyoto

• →Flight to Kansai
• →Gion and Pontocho evening walk

Take the Eizan train from Demachiyanagi to Kurama (~30 min, ~£3.50). Hike the well-marked trail from Kurama village over the ridge to Kibune, visiting Kurama-dera temple and Yuki shrine on the way (~2h, mostly forest). Return from Kibune on the Eizan line — or continue up to Mount Kurama's summit if you want more. Evening free in central Kyoto.

🚌Eizan railway (~£7 return)

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Kyoto

• →Kurama–Kibune forest hike
• →Kurama-dera temple
• →Yuki shrine

Get to Fushimi Inari Taisha early (JR Inari station, ~£2) and hike the full torii-gate loop up to the summit and back (~2h, free). In the afternoon take your pick of the classic temples: Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion (~£3), Ryōan-ji zen garden (~£3) or Nijo Castle (~£3) — buses connect all of them (~£4 day pass options exist on some Kyoto bus passes). Dinner at Nishiki Market side streets.

🚌JR and city bus (~£8)

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Kyoto

• →Fushimi Inari Taisha full torii hike
• →Kinkaku-ji, Ryōan-ji or Nijo Castle
• →Nishiki Market evening

Fly Kansai to Naha with Peach or Jetstar (~£55-90). From Naha either take the Yanbaru Express bus north to Nago/Oku (~2h30, ~£18) or rent a small car shared between two people. Base yourself in a guesthouse near Oku or Nago on the edge of Yanbaru National Park. Late afternoon swim at a local beach.

🚌Flight KIX→OKA (~£55-90), Yanbaru Express bus (~£18)

🛏Guesthouse near Oku/Nago, northern Okinawa

• →Flight to Naha
• →Yanbaru Express bus north
• →Evening beach swim

Book a local nature guide for a Yanbaru forest walk — this is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the only place on earth the flightless Okinawa Rail lives. Morning birding from the roadside hides at dawn, then trek the Ibe-dake forest trail (~2-3h) through subtropical rainforest. Guides cost around £50-70 per person for a half day; ask your guesthouse to arrange one.

🚌Guide vehicle included / local bus

🛏Guesthouse near Oku/Nago

• →Okinawa Rail observation
• →Ibe-dake forest trail trek
• →Subtropical rainforest walk

Join a sea-kayaking trip out of the Yasuda or Taigan area on the east coast (half-day kayak with local operator, ~£45-60 including gear). Afternoon: ride a traditional wooden sabani sailing boat with a local fisherman (~£30-40 per person, booked through your guesthouse). Snorkel off the rocks if conditions allow.

🚌Local bus / guesthouse shuttle (~£6)

🛏Guesthouse near Oku/Nago

• →Sea kayaking
• →Traditional sabani boat tour
• →Snorkelling

Head back south and take a ferry from Ishigaki to Taketomi Island (~10 min, ~£6 return). Rent a bicycle (~£6 for the day) and loop the island's white-sand roads, stopping at Kondoi Beach, Kaiji Beach and the traditional Ryukyu village of red-tiled houses. Water buffalo carts are the local transport cliché — worth a look. Overnight on Ishigaki (or Taketomi guesthouse if you want the quiet).

🚌Bus/ferry to Ishigaki then Taketomi ferry (~£25 total incl. bicycle)

🛏Guesthouse on Ishigaki Island

• →Taketomi cycling loop
• →Kondoi Beach
• →Kaiji Beach star sand
• →Ryukyu village walk

Ferry from Ishigaki to Iriomote (~45 min, ~£20 return). Book a half-day mangrove kayak and jungle hike up the Urauchi or Nakama river with a local operator (~£45-60). Paddle through the mangrove tunnels, then hike into the forest to a waterfall. Overnight in a guesthouse on Iriomote or ferry back to Ishigaki.

🚌Ferry Ishigaki↔Iriomote (~£20 return)

🛏Guesthouse on Iriomote or Ishigaki

• →Mangrove kayaking
• →Jungle waterfall hike

Take a snorkelling trip out to the Shiraho reef or Kabira Bay (~£40-55 including gear and boat), or simply rent a bike and ride between Yonehara Beach and Kabira Bay for free. Try Ishigaki beef or Okinawan soba for dinner, and pick up souvenirs at Euglena Mall in town.

🚌Local bike rental / shuttle (~£12)

🛏Guesthouse on Ishigaki Island

• →Reef snorkelling trip
• →Kabira Bay
• →Yonehara Beach
• →Ishigaki town food

Morning swim or a final Okinawan breakfast, then fly Ishigaki to Naha (~1h, ~£40-60) and connect onwards on your international flight home. If your connection is long, spend a few hours at Shurijo Castle Park or the Kokusai Street market in Naha.

🚌Flight Ishigaki→Naha (~£50)

🛏None (departure day)

• →Final morning swim
• →Flight to Naha
• →Optional Shurijo Castle Park