Hi Kristina,

Basically, all cities you mentioned are packed with people, especially tourists, around the main attractions and hotel areas. These include Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hakone, and Nara. This is the “main route” for most tourists visiting Japan for the first or second time (which applies to most visitors).

Tokyo stands out as the most crowded city with the highest population density, and it is also where the vast majority of tourists arrive. In addition, Tokyo, especially the districts of Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Akihabara, stands out for its many neon and LCD billboards and loudspeaker advertisements, which can quickly lead to sensory overload.

The further you travel to the southwest of Japan—or to the northeast—the less touristy it becomes. If you want to avoid crowds, I can recommend Kyushu or Hokkaido.

I don’t think you’ll miss much if you don’t go to Tokyo. Everything you find in Tokyo, you’ll also find in other cities, including more beautiful temples, palaces, parks, culture, and nature—the magic of Japan begins in Tokyo, but it doesn’t end there.

However, you should be aware that all the cities you mentioned are among the most crowded places in Japan. They are not quite as extreme as Tokyo, but they are still much livelier than many other parts of Japan.

Enjoy your time in Japan!

Cheers, Raphael