Tokyo’s train map can look a little overwhelming at first. So many lines, so many stations—and sometimes, more station exits than I know what to do with.

Japan is welcoming more visitors than ever. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), annual visitor arrivals rose from 3.8 million in 2022 to 42.7 million in 2025. Those figures include some people travelling for reasons other than holidays, but the increase is striking.

I’d be surprised to meet someone in Japan who has never heard of Studio Ghibli. For many of us, the films have been around for as long as we can remember. I watched My Neighbor Totoro over and over as a child, and its magic hasn’t faded. Even in 2026, it’s still loved by children and adults alike.

Hida Takayama is a mountain town in Gifu Prefecture, in central Japan. It’s about two hours and twenty minutes from Nagoya by train. Surrounded by the Japanese Alps, it feels quite different from the big cities many travellers visit first. It’s also close to my hometown, so I’ve had plenty of chances to go.

Only have one day in Kyoto? You can still see some wonderful parts of the city.