How to Use Google My Maps to Create Your Japan Itinerary — Plan It Like a Pro

I’ve been around the block a few times—literally. When I first started traveling to Japan, the stress of figuring out where to go, what to see, and how to fit it all in was enough to make anyone’s head spin.

Years later, I stumbled upon Google My Maps, and it was a game-changer in creating my own Japan itinerary. But just remember that Google My Maps is different from Google Maps, which is what you're probably used to using. Planning your trip with Google My Maps can make a huge difference.

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO:

• Keep Your Plans in One Place: Keep hotels, sites, and restaurants organized.
• Create Custom Map Icons: Organize different categories on your map with custom icons.
• Stay on Budget: Map out where you want to stay and visit in Japan and organize them in zones.
• Collaborate with Others: Share your map with friends, so they can add items to the map in real-time. It's the fun way to plan your trip to Japan! 

And this is super easy to do! Whether you have a week to spare or you’re planning a longer stay, having a solid plan and Japan itinerary will make your experience so much richer. If you’re asking, “How can I better organize my trip to Japan?” you’re in the right place.

Related posts on how to plan your trip: 

• The 3-Day Tokyo Blitz: See It All, Eat It All, Love It All
• I Just Took the Most Perfect 10-Day Japan Trip (And Now You Can Too)
• 24 Hours in Kyoto: The Whirlwind Itinerary That Will Blow Your Mind
• The 7-Day Japan Itinerary That Will Make You Never Want to Leave
• Off the Beaten Path: The 5-Day Rural Japan Itinerary You Never Knew You Needed

And don't forget to watch the full video with step-by-step instructions here:

Once you’ve had a chance to watch, I hope you feel incredibly motivated to make today the first day of your Japan itinerary-building journey. Leave a comment below and let me know one place you plan to place on your itinerary.

Let's dive right in!

How to Create Your Japan Itinerary in Google My Maps

Before diving into the details of your Japan trip, make sure you're logged into your Google account. Search for "Google My Maps" and click on the top result. It’s crucial to include the “My” in your search, or you’ll end up on the standard Google Maps, which lacks the trip planning tools we need.

Example of Google My Maps main screen with completed maps

Creating your map

To get started, click on “Create a New Map.” Double-click on "Untitled Map" at the top left corner to rename your map. For example, name it “My Japan Adventure.” Adding a description is optional but can provide an overview of your trip.

Add the title to your map to keep it separated and easy to load in Google Maps

Adding layers to your map

Layers help you organize different parts of your trip. You can create layers for each day of your trip or separate layers for accommodations, restaurants, attractions, etc. To add a layer, click on “Add layer” on the top left-hand side.

Example layers for your trip

1. Restaurants: Plan different restaurants you might want to visit in Japan.
2. Accommodations: Determine the best places to stay based on nearby attractions.
3. Things to Do: Include must-see attractions and activities.
4. Friends and Family: Mark locations of people you might visit while in Japan.
5. Destinations and Cities: Highlight key cities and major points of interest.

Customizing Your Map

Now it’s time for the fun part! As you find the places you might want to visit in Japan, drag and drop each point of interest into the correct layer. You can customize each item by clicking the paint bucket icon to change colors and icons. For instance, mark all “Things to Do” with a blue color and a binoculars icon. To search for additional icons that are available, simply click, "More icons" in the dialog box.

Adding Specific Locations

Give it a try! Add these two locations in their appropriate layer and customize the icons to differentiate between the two on the main map. 

1. Uobei Sushi: Add it to the restaurant layer.
2. Park Hyatt Hotel: Add it to the accommodations layer.

Organizing Your Itinerary

Visualizing your trip

With your items added to the map and color-coordinated, you can turn layers on or off to view specific items together. This helps in planning your days in each city.

Example of full Google My Maps with complete layers

If you want to create daily itineraries, it's super simple! Duplicate your map that you added all of your icons to and create individual layers for each day (for example, "Day 1 Itinerary", "Day 2 Itinerary", etc.).

^{Step 1: Duplicate your "My Japan Adventure" map}

Once you've duplicated your map, you can rename it and customize it to your heart's content. Separate the layers by itinerary days. Drag the icons for attractions, restaurants, and accommodations that are in the same area into the corresponding day’s layer. This way, everything you need for each day—activities, dining spots, and where you'll stay—is neatly organized in one place.

Efficient Itinerary Planning

Drag and drop items into daily layers, ensuring you have a variety of things to do in each area. This minimizes travel time and transportation costs, and maximizes your experience by grouping activities and attractions that are close to each other.

Getting the Most out of Google My Maps

Using Google My Maps to plan your trip to Japan is an incredibly powerful way to ensure a well-organized and enjoyable adventure. From setting up your map with layers and points of interest to utilizing advanced features and integrating with Google Calendar, every step is designed to enhance your travel experience.

Be sure to watch the full YouTube video tutorial posted at the top of this article for a full tutorial walkthrough, as well as some awesome advanced features, like syncing your Google Maps itinerary to your Google Calendar appointments. Need more help? Feel free to email me at kelly@voyagesjapan.com. Happy travels, and enjoy your trip to Japan!