Comparing Japan Travel Options
Let’s be honest: everyone has a different travel style. While we believe in how we do things at PacSet, you do have options. We created this page to compare going solo and going with PacSet.
Before we get into the details, a disclaimer: every trip is different and is affected by a ton of different factors, regardless of how you travel. When we put this page together, here’s how we picked the different trips we compared:
The Solo Trip: We interviewed a friend of ours who has taken point on planning Japan adventures for their friend group three times, who graciously shared their planning documents and itinerary info with us. The quotes are from them.
The PacSet Trip: We wanted to choose a trip that reflected our typical travel style, but had its own collections of curveballs we had to work with. We settled on Soul of Autumn 2025, since it had a little of everything. The quotes are from Evan, the guide on the trip, and will be updated with quotes from participant surveys once they are tabulated.
These trip summaries are a combination of what happened on each trip, what was planned, and quotes – so it’s more like a diary/journal style than an itinerary. We felt that might be a little more helpful.
Also: while it would probably be a good idea to keep this whole section short, we’ve made it long and detailed; we’re assuming that more details would be appreciated by many of you. On with the show!
solo trip
Pre-Trip
Before the trip, the group got together a wishlist of places to visit, researched mostly from TikTok and Instagram. We decided who wanted to do what, and put stuff in the schedule wherever it made sense. I research where things are busy and if there’s other stuff in the area that’s interesting.
Day 1
We landed and figured out train tickets after going through customs. It was a little confusing, but we had a friend who had done it before, so that was fine. Then we went to the AirBNB and had a chill evening in.
PacSet trip
Pre-Trip
Guests get guidebooks, a pre-departure guide, a trip prep course, and an Online Q&A to get them ready.
”We had a few guests who were combining Soul with other plans, so we spent part of the summer working through schedules with them to get everything ready.”
Day 1
After meeting guests at Haneda Airport, we checked into our hotel. “There was a festival happening in Ikegami, so we offered to take anyone who wanted to beat jetlag to the festival. Most everyone joined, which made for a really fantastic start to the trip!”
solo trip
Day 2
We went to Hanazono Shrine’s Flea Market in the morning, had a bowl of ramen, and then we went and got Sake with a few friends in Yokohama.
Day 3
We visited Asakusa first and met a few friends for Okonomiyaki. I really wanted to make some glass products at a class that I found online, so we did that. It was a lot of fun! Dinner was funny; we had never ordered food delivery in Japan and decided to order Pizza-La to our door. It was pretty… different.
PacSet trip
Day 2
We took the shinkansen (“bullet train”) to Sendai, where we dropped off luggage before sailing around the pine islands of Matsushima and saw the islands and temples of the area. “We noticed that a lot of people were foodies, so we arranged an extra dinner in Shiogama at a place we loved from our Sake trip.”
Day 3
Took the train and a rented bus to a boat trip in the Geibi Gorge. Then we visited Hiraizumi, where we had free time to explore the grounds of two temples before an optional night out in Sendai. “That was the night the izakaya had me sing karaoke to a spatula.”
solo trip
Day 4
We met up with a friend who works as a guide, and we hit Character Street in Tokyo Station to shop a little bit. We got a drink while waiting for a few people in the group, and then he took us to Jiyugaoka for a really good potato place, desserts, and dinner. It was nice to explore a different area for a change!
Day 5
We took it easy today. I had a three hour hair appointment, so I did that, and then we just shopped around Ikebukuro a bunch. In the evening, we got together at a shabu shabu place one of us love, and then met up with a friend for cocktails at a place he found.
PacSet trip
Day 4
We took the Shinkansen to Kakunodate for a light stroll to a hidden waterfall, followed by exploring the old samurai town. After exploring as we like, we moved to Akita for a Kiritanpo hot pot dinner.
Day 5
After a free morning to explore Akita City, we boarded a scenic train to sip sake and take in views on the way to our first hot spring, where we enjoyed a buffet dinner and watched a live shamisen concert.
”I lived in Akita for two years, so I took the guests to some of the spots I love in town. We hit a cafe, the Kanto Festival Center, Senshu Park. The concert at night was the best part though; the shamisen performer let us wail on the drums for a good hour!”
solo trip
Day 6
Today, we just went into the area around Kirby Cafe, since we had an appointment there that evening. So we walked around, had cheap udon for lunch, then went to the Kirby Cafe before visiting the Pokemon Center. There was a popup cafe for the Dungeon Meshi anime, so we went there; I’m glad we left enough free time for it!
Day 7
We stuck to Ikebukuro again today; we wanted to wander around Sunshine City Mall a bit more so we did that.
PacSet trip
Day 6
We got up a little late and moved to Aomori, where we explored two museums and had an optional fancy dinner in town. “One of our guests had their phone die on them, so one guide took the group to make their own seafood bowls while I went phone hunting! Fortunately, we got everything sorted out quick before having time to unwind over dinner that night.”
Day 7
Hirosaki’s legendary castle and its nearby garden were our first stop today. We had a group lunch (with shaved ice!) before returning to Aomori and taking a break before a group dinner and party that night. “We worked with a local bar to get a dessert and drink set for everyone; getting to relax over cocktails with everyone was a fabulous way to wrap up Aomori!”
solo trip
Day 8
I was still waking up early because of jetlag, so I looked at the map of where we were staying and went to a cafe to chill until everyone else was awake. That day we had a wedding to go to, so once everyone was up, we got ready and headed there. The ceremony was great.
Day 9
There were some after parties today, so we went to a place a friend booked - an event space where people could just chill, play card games, and socialize. It was nice to just hang out with friends for a while! Then we really wanted grilled meat; we hit a pub nearby first and then had yakiniku to finish the day.
PacSet trip
Day 8
Our last shinkansen took us through the Seikan Tunnel to Hakodate, where we hit the city’s center to shop, explore, and see the night view from Mt. Hakodate. “The ropeway up the mountain was out, so we took a bus. The line to get down sucked, but lucky for us we got in it early. I thought more people would tap out of dinner after that, but we still made it happen.”
Day 9
We shopped around the famous Morning Market (seafood!) and saw the star-shaped Goryokaku Fortress before giving everyone the afternoon to explore. “When designing this one, I wanted to give people more time to see what they wanted in Hakodate; the city has museums, massive bookstores, breweries… just a lot of cool stuff.”
solo trip
Day 10
Pig cafe was the plan today! One of our group wanted to do that, and it was back at Sunshine City, so we went there. From there, we hung around on Takeshita Street in Harajuku. We just shopped around and walked around there. There was also a parfait place I really wanted to go to, so we hit that as well.
Day 11
We booked a fake food sample making class back in Asakusa/Kappabashi, hung out with friend, and got dinner at a restaurant we found - but it was kind of expensive, so we had one plate and then went to a cheaper izakaya for more stuff. This was a really chill day.
PacSet trip
Day 10
On our way to Sapporo, we stopped in Onuma Park to sail and explore. Once in the city, we poked around the city center, had Ramen, and took it easy. “Since the ropeway for Hakodate wasn’t working, half of us went up Mt. Moiwa for that view – very worth it!”
Day 11
The old port town of Otaru was our first stop, before coming back to Sapporo for a group feast of All You Can Eat Genghis Khan (grilled lamb) BBQ. “Otaru has a LOT, but I don’t like to over-plan it; there’s the amazing dessert cafes, sure, but also glass blowing, sake tasting… I usually hop between all three and take people with me if they wanna go. This time, we definitely got a lot of takers for dessert!”
solo trip
Day 12
Woke up early again and found a cafe - Chopin Cafe - that was really adorable. There was a beef bowl place I wanted to visit, so we did that and then did more shopping before meeting some friends for Kura Sushi.
Day 13
I realized I hadn’t had Omelet Rice yet, so I found a place for that. From there, we just shopped around a bit more. There’s a place we went on my last trip in Shin-Okubo, so we went there and hung around there until we went to Karaoke.
PacSet trip
Day 12
A free day to explore Sapporo!
”Sapporo is the kind of place you HAVE to have a full day free. People in our group did everything from go an hour out of town for museums, try local cocktails, sample different kinds of Sapporo Ramen, and everything in between. Me, I found a few people to join me for Soup Curry, another local speciality.”
Day 13
After a late start, we took a private bus across Hokkaido to Lake Akan, checking in at our hot spring resort. “That night, there was a seasonal illumination show on the lake shore, so we all checked that out before winding down for dinner and an Onsen Party. Great start to the relaxing finish of the journey.”
solo trip
Day 14
I found a YouTube video about a little onigiri place, and after watching that, I knew I had to check it out. That was on my “I really wanna go here” wishlist, and I’m glad we did it; it was very good. From there, we checked out of the AirBNB, boarded the train, and we left. Until next time, Japan! <3
PacSet trip
Day 14
A free day to enjoy the onsen, get a spa treatment, or just relax. Or: join your guides for a trip around Lake Akan!
”Pretty much everyone joined us for a cruise around the lake, and the fall colors were AMAZING. We had one last onsen party at the end of the night, just to squeeze a little more fun out of the end of the journey.”
Day 15
Depart the onsen, head to the airport, and fly home.
”A few guests wanted more Tokyo time, so before the trip, we got them set up with extra hotel space.”