Asia · East Asia
🇯🇵 Japan travel guide
Temples, trains & the art of the small detail.
- Currency
- ¥ JPY
- Time
- UTC +9
- Emergency
- 110 · 119
Best places in Japan
- Fushimi Inari, Kyoto. Thousands of red torii gates up the mountain; go early.
- Shibuya & Shinjuku, Tokyo. Neon crossings, rooftop views and tiny izakaya lanes.
- Mount Fuji & Hakone. Lake views, ropeway and onsen with Fuji on clear days.
- Nara Park. Bowing deer and the giant Buddha of Tōdai-ji.
Hidden places
- Shirakawa-gō. Thatched gasshō farmhouses, magical in snow.
- Yakushima. Ancient cedar forests that inspired Princess Mononoke.
- Tsumago & Magome. Walk the old Nakasendō post road between villages.
- Iya Valley, Shikoku. Vine bridges and deep gorges.
When to go
- Best time. Late March–April (blossom) and October–November (autumn colours).
- Avoid. Golden Week (early May) and Obon (mid-August) crowds; rainy season in June.
- Festivals. Gion Matsuri (July), Sapporo Snow Festival (Feb), hanami (spring).
What you need
- Documents. Passport, visa if required, Visit Japan Web QR code.
- Pack. Comfortable slip-on shoes, socks without holes, coin purse, small towel.
- Apps. Google Maps or Japan Travel by Navitime, Suica in Apple/Google Wallet, Google Translate.
- Money. Some cash for shrines and rural areas; IC card for transport.
The soul of Japan
- Start somewhere unforgettable. Tokyo for neighbourhood energy, Kyoto for temples and gardens, Hakone for hot springs, Hokkaido for wild landscapes.
- Choose your season. Spring blossom (late March–April) and autumn leaves (November) are beautiful but busy. Summer is hot and humid; winter brings snow up north.
- Before you leave. Plan fewer cities and longer stays. Trains make day trips easy from one base.
Visual money
- Currency · JPY ¥. Coins go up to ¥500, so carry a small coin purse. Convenience store ATMs commonly accept foreign cards.
- A daily budget. Illustrative, per person: budget ¥8,000–12,000; comfortable ¥18,000–35,000. Rail passes and ryokan stays are extra.
- Paying locally. Cards are widely accepted in cities, but small shrines, rural shops and some restaurants are cash only. Tipping is not customary.
Arrival playbook
- Documents first. Entry rules depend on your passport. Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs site and complete Visit Japan Web before arrival if eligible.
- Your first ride. Airport trains and limousine buses are usually simpler than taxis. Load an IC card (Suica, PASMO or ICOCA) for trains and shops.
- Get connected. Pocket Wi-Fi or an eSIM is easy to arrange. Save your hotel address in Japanese for taxis.
Street codes
- Quiet carriages. Keep phone calls off trains and speak softly. Queue in marked lines on the platform.
- Shoes & bathing. Remove shoes where you see a raised floor or slippers. At onsen, wash before entering; rules on tattoos vary by venue.
- Bins are rare. Carry a small bag for your rubbish. Avoid eating while walking in busy streets.
Beyond the postcard
- Kumano Kodo. Ancient pilgrimage trails through cedar forest on the Kii Peninsula, with village inns along the way.
- Naoshima & Setouchi. Island art museums and small fishing harbours across the Seto Inland Sea.
- Kanazawa. Geisha districts, samurai lanes and one of Japan’s great gardens, with fewer crowds than Kyoto.
Food dossier
- A few first plates. Ramen, sushi, okonomiyaki in Osaka, and a seasonal kaiseki meal if you want a special evening.
- Convenience stores. Onigiri, sandwiches and hot meals at konbini are reliable, cheap and fresh.
- Dietary needs. Dashi (fish stock) appears in many dishes. Carry a written allergy or vegetarian card in Japanese.
Scam shield
- Bar touts. In nightlife districts, avoid bars recommended by street touts; inflated bills are a known problem.
- Taxis & fares. Licensed taxis use meters. Late-night surcharges are normal and shown on the meter.
- Lost items. Report lost items at a kōban (police box). Many items are handed in.
Language cheat sheet
- Hello · Konnichiwa. Thank you · Arigatō gozaimasu. Excuse me / sorry · Sumimasen.
- How much? · Ikura desu ka?. Water · Mizu. Help · Tasukete. Where is …? · … wa doko desu ka?
- Pointing works. Many restaurants have picture menus or plastic food displays; pointing politely is fine.
Survival essentials
- Emergency · 110 / 119. Police 110. Fire and ambulance 119. The Japan Visitor Hotline helps in English.
- Earthquakes. Follow staff instructions and alerts. Note emergency exits in your accommodation.
- Power & time. 100V; sockets type A/B (flat two-pin). Time zone UTC+9, no daylight saving.
Your Japan chapter
- A gentle first journey. Tokyo → Hakone → Kyoto → Osaka is a classic introduction over 10–14 days.
- A different pace. Choose one rural region such as the Japanese Alps or Shikoku for walking and small inns.
- Before confirming. This is a starter guide, not live advice. Verify visas, prices, opening times and safety conditions with official sources.