This post is based on an amazing guide our friend Amy Dunn-Cham compiled us full of her Japan tips on how to plan a trip to Japan years ago. We have since visited Japan four times and update this post regularly with what we’ve learnt.

Ah Japan, irasshaimase! Welcome to the land where everything just works. The land of convenience, the land of delicious food, paradox, naked strangers, and where respect permeates through every part of society and culture.

In Japan the food can be described as clean and minimalist, but never simple, which probably sums up Japan as a whole. It’s a place that both lives up to, and out does, any expectation you have upon arrival.

Uh-huh, they have the fastest, sleekest, most efficient trains (ever!), but they still have paper posters pegged up on their Tokyo subway. Yeah, they have amazing futuristic architecture, but they also have countless traditional wooden buildings in amongst it all. 

Yes, they have the busiest people crossing in the world (Shibuya), but at no point is it ever chaotic, no need for anyone to bang on a cab screaming, “Hey, I’m walking here!”. 

Yes, they have scores of scarily trendy, funkily clad young people who like to cosplay on weekends, but they also have evening family outings to sentos (public bathhouses).

In this Japan travel guide, we’ll help you make sense of it all and share our best tips for planning a trip to Japan.

Contents

• Update: Japan Travel Restrictions 2023
• When to Visit Japan
• How Long to Spend in Japan
• Video: Best Japan Destinations
• Before Your Japan Trip
• General Dos and Don’ts in Japan
• Top Japan Destinations
• More Japan Tips

Update: Japan Travel Restrictions 2023

Japan finally reopened to independent international tourists on 11 October 2022.

Visa waivers are reinstated so many nationalities (including the US and UK) don’t need to apply for a visa.

To enter Japan you will need to show proof you have been vaccinated three times OR show a negative covid test result taken within 72 hours of arrival.

To speed things up on arrival, it is highly recommended to register for the Fast Track service on Visit Japan Web.

You can fill in your details (and for up to 10 family members) and upload documentation at least 6 hours before your flight (but a couple of days is safer).

You’ll then get given QR codes to show at the airport. You can connect to the airport WiFi to access the site, but it would be easier to have an eSIM like Airalo set up before you leave to have data on arrival.

In Japan, be prepared to wear a mask indoors and in crowded outdoor settings as this is still common practice.

With the yen at the lowest it has been for decades, now is a great time to travel to Japan.

I highly recommend purchasing travel insurance that covers Covid-19 medical expenses. SafetyWing Insurance is an excellent budget option, especially for travellers on longer trips and families (as children under 10 are free). It’s available worldwide.

If you want a more comprehensive policy with cancellation cover, check out Heymondo travel insurance. It’s also available worldwide and currently offers 15% off for our readers.

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When to Visit Japan

We’ve visited Japan in all four seasons and don’t think there’s a bad time to go. 

In winter, it’s chilly but crowds are lower, you’ll find great deals on accommodation, and you’ll really appreciate those onsens (hot springs). You can also go skiing or snowboarding and have the best chance of seeing snow-capped Mount Fuji.  

In summer, it can be steaming hot and humid, but there are fewer foreign tourists around and lots of local festivals to enjoy. It’s also the best time to visit the many beaches and the only time you can climb Mount Fuji. 

The most popular and best overall times to visit Japan are spring (March-April) and autumn (October – early December). This is when you can enjoy the gorgeous cherry blossoms (sakura) or autumn leaves (koyo). It’s more crowded and expensive, but the weather can be ideal and it is just stunning. 

See our guide to visiting the Kyoto cherry blossoms for more information on the popular sakura season. 

Shoulder seasons May and late-September/early October are also good times to visit with warm weather and lower crowds.

Two times of year I would avoid for a vacation to Japan are:

Golden Week in early May – In 2023 Golden Week is from 29 April – 5 May. This is a series of national holidays so many Japanese travel domestically, trains and hotels book up, and popular spots will be extra crowded.

New Year – Late December to early January. This is also a busy time with local travellers and most businesses close for up to four days.

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How Long to Spend in Japan

How long do you need in Japan? As long as possible!

There is so much to see—we have spent months in the country and still have a long bucket list.

For first time visitors, I recommend visiting Japan for two weeks. This is enough time to see some highlights—Tokyo, Kyoto, and one or two smaller destinations. See our Japan two week itinerary for suggestions.

A week is the minimum time I recommend for a Japan trip. For a more relaxed Japan vacation, spend the whole week in Tokyo or Kyoto and take day trips. Or if you don’t mind rushing about, visit both major cities with an overnight stop on the way (such as Hakone).

Read our guide on the best places to visit in Japan to decide where interests you most and come up with an itinerary. You’ll find some suggestions at the end of this guide.

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Video: Best Japan Destinations

Watch this video for Japan trip ideas.

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Before Your Japan Trip

• Check if you need a visa. Visa-free travel is possible for citizens of 68 countries for stays of up to 90 days (including US, UK, Canada, Australia and the EU). Do have a return or onward flight out of the country as they may grill you upon arrival. It was the nicest immigration interrogation we’ve ever had, though.
• Purchase your Japanese Rail Pass exchange order before you travel to Japan (more on that later).
• Practice even rudimentary Japanese—numbers are very useful! The Pimsleur Japanese audio course is good for learning the basics.  
• Get an International Driving Permit. You’ll need this for go-karting on the real Tokyo roads dressed as your favourite character. Insanity but one of the most fun things we’ve done in Japan.
• Arrange travel insurance. Healthcare is expensive in Japan, so make sure you are covered in case the worst happens. We’ve used and recommend Heymondo and SafetyWing (both available worldwide). 

• Buy an Airalo eSIM – You’ll want affordable data on your phone as having access to maps and Google Translate makes life so much easier. A digital eSIM is simple to set up before you arrive and prices at Airalo start at just US$4.50. If your phone doesn’t support eSIMs, you can buy a physical Umobile SIM from a vending machine at Tokyo Narita Airport (make sure your phone is unlocked).
• Buy Ghibli Museum tickets – If you are a Studio Ghibli fan, you’ll likely want to visit the museum in Tokyo. Timed tickets must be bought in advance from Lawson and are available on the 10th of the month for the following month. So, if you are visiting Tokyo in November, you must buy tickets on 10 October. See the Ghibli Museum website for details.
• Purchase Ghibli Park tickets – You may also want to visit the new Ghibli Park near Nagoya, which must be pre-booked (currently three months ahead). Reservations for July 2023 go on sale on 10 April at 2pm JST. Check the Ghibli Park website.

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General Dos and Don’ts in Japan

DO:

• Get a Japanese Rail Pass. It may seem expensive at first ($360/£302 per person for a 2-week pass), but it is well worth it. The luxury of shinkansen (bullet train) hopping is exhilarating. No need to book seats in advance, just choose a train, wave your pass and hop on. Be warned, though, decide now whether to get one or not. You can’t get these babies inside the country. Yes, that’s right. They’re magic passes that are only available to foreigners and you need to order online from JRailPass.com. Read our guide to whether a Japan Rail Pass is worth it for everything you need to know (in some cases it works out cheaper to pay as you go). 

• Bow if you are being bowed to. If you can manage it too, don’t turn your back upon exit. Don’t overdo it though or you’ll be a total gaijin, no need to bow to the supermarket checkout person!
• Say “moshi moshi” when you ring someone on the telephone. It’s the Japanese version of the Chinese “wai” which all roughly translates as…hello! I don’t know why, us Asians just have a separate hello for the phone!
• Pre-book accommodation. Wise anyway as the more affordable accommodation fills up fast, but also in line with the whole respect thing, Japanese people like to be prepared for your arrival.  So don’t just randomly rock up at a ryokan for the night! Booking.com is our favourite site for finding hotels and guesthouses, and we also use Vrbo to find apartments in the big cities (which are often cheaper than hotels). See our Japan accommodation guide for recommendations.

• Go onsening! You might want to skip this in summer as hot doesn’t even come close to describing the water temperatures! But soaking in a hot spring is one of the most typical things to do in Japan and is ultra relaxing once you get over your fears of public nudity (yep, no clothes allowed!). Best of all, visit an onsen town where you can onsen-hop dressed in a kimono. See our Kinosaki Onsen travel guide for details on this lovely onsen town as well as hot spring etiquette. 

• Stay in a ryokan (traditional inn). Pricey but worth it for at least a night or two for the unique experience and the amazing meals that are often included in the room rates (and many can cater for vegetarians). We absolutely loved our ryokan stay at Hotel Musashiya in Hakone where our room and onsen had a view of Lake Ashi. Morizuya Ryokan in Kinosaki Onsen is also a fantastic, ultra-friendly option and has a private onsen for those of you who are shy.
• Stay in a traditional tatami mat room. If you can’t stay in a ryokan, a much cheaper way to stay in one is a traditional room in K’s House hostels—they have branches in Hakone (with onsen!), Kyoto, and all over the country. We never had a bad experience with this hostel chain.
• Appreciate the zen-like calm on all modes of transport – no need for quiet only carriages here!
• Try to speak as much Japanese as possible. I never got beyond pidgin Japanese but still, even equipped with the basics we would go days without needing to use any English. You’ll have no choice anyway as not a lot of people speak English (although this is changing), and a lot of transport maps etc are in Japanese only.
• Use Google Translate. If you get stuck, the Google Translate app is helpful for communicating. Write what you want to say in English then show the Japanese translation to the person. Even more impressive is the feature to translate images—point your camera at a sign, menu, or food label and it translates the text instantly. It’s not perfect but when it works, it’s brilliant.
• See some sumo. If you’re lucky enough to be in the country when one of the sumo tournaments is on, go! The pre/ post game rituals are fascinating to watch. If you aren’t there during a tournament, you can see a practice session at a sumo stable in Tokyo.
• Expect bursts of freakery!

• Get your paper fortune at a Japanese Buddhist temple. Okay, we cheated and got an English one at the Golden Pavilion (see our guide on the best things do to in Kyoto), but what the hell! You can also get one at the gorgeous Sensoji Temple in Tokyo. 
• Love the Japanese for their never-ending capacity to help you out, and they won’t stop until they do!
• Read these Japan books before you visit for a greater understanding of this weird and wonderful culture. 
• Have some sushi… Oh go on…You’re in Japan, sushi is the essence of Japan, plus sushi-train/ sushi stand up bars are so much fun watching the chefs take your order, and all shout in unison, “samon!” or “tamago!” etc. (Erin: we aren’t going to start eating fish but we did find lots of delicious vegetarian Japanese food including the rare vegetarian sushi).
• Appreciate the plastic food models as works of art!
• Pack slip-on shoes. You’ll be taking your shoes on and off a lot in temples and restaurants. I wear comfy ballet flats most of the time—my current favourites are eco-friendly Allbirds Tree Breezers. The Allbirds Wool Runner sneakers (for men and women) are ideal for cooler weather as they keep your feet cosy but can be worn without socks and easily slipped off without untying the laces. See my detailed Allbirds review.
• Shop at the 100 Yen shops. Like pound shops BUT BETTER!
• Buy a pre-paid transport card for local trains, metro and buses. You just tap on and off and don’t have to worry about buying a ticket. In Kyoto and Osaka it’ll be an ICOCA card and in Tokyo it’s a Suica or Pasmo, but you can use any of the cards all over the country. You just can’t get the 500 yen refund outside of the original area you bought the card. 
• Play in the numerous arcades dotted around cities, the taiko drum game rocks! 

• Make use of the many vending machines EVERYWHERE. You will never go thirsty in Japan that’s for sure.  You can even get hot coffee…in a can! (Simon’s saviour when we had early morning trains to catch.) In fact, you can get friggin’ anything from vending machines from cheap 100 yen sake (yuk!) to hot chips (not surprisingly we did not try!) and SIM cards. In Tokyo you can use your Suica transport card to pay. 
• Press random buttons on the panel next to you on the loo. It will make you giggle ;o)!  Also, if it’s cold then appreciate the absolute miracle of heated toilet seats.
• Fall in love with seeing toriis (shrine gates) everywhere, especially small red ones in rows behind each other. Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto is our favourite (but go early as it’s popular). 
• Love and appreciate the beautiful presentation of absolutely everything from the amazing architecture to the way bento boxes are wrapped in a napkin tied in a knot just so, to amazing manhole covers!

• Pack light. It will be much easier to hop on and off trains while travelling around Japan if you pack light and hotels have limited storage space for luggage. Best of all, travel with just carry-on luggage. 
• Withdraw cash from 7-11 ATMs. They are the most reliable no-fee option for international cards and can be found everywhere. Make sure you always have cash on hand as many places don’t accept credit cards.
• Use Navitime to check train times and prices (and to work out if a Japan Rail Pass is worth it for your itinerary).
• Visit BIC Camera if you need any kind of electronics. These massive stores have everything you could imagine. Take your passport if you are making a large purchase and get it tax free. I bought a camera here and ended up getting lots of extra discounts and free accessories. It’s also a good place to buy a SIM card if you didn’t pick one up at the airport.

DON’T:

• Rent a car – For most visitors the best way to travel Japan is by train. Elsewhere we love road trips, but renting a car in Japan is just not worth the hassle unless you are travelling far off the beaten track.
• Open the door if taking a taxi. They are either automated or the white-gloved drive will open it for you. It’s also a good idea to have your destination’s address written down in Japanese to show the driver as most don’t speak English (although Kyoto Station now has a foreigner-friendly taxi queue).
• Eat non-Japanese. We only tried this once in Fukuoka. We had an Indian curry craving, but after that experience we went straight back to Japanese. (Erin: We have eaten some delicious Indian and Italian food in Japan, but I agree that the local cuisine is so incredible that why risk it?)

• Be impatient. Things will get sorted for you. The good thing about Japan though is that you probably won’t ever find yourself getting impatient anyway, everything, smoooootthhhhh as.
• Forget to check opening hours – Japanese restaurants aren’t usually open all day and both restaurants and attractions usually have a last order/entry 30 to 60 minutes before closing.
• Go whizzing around the country too much. It can save energy to base yourself in one place and take day trips as we did in Kyoto and Okayama.
• Wear holey socks. You’ll only be embarrassing yourself when you take your shoes on/ off constantly!
• Go into an onsen without washing first, that’s just dirty dude!  Also, don’t go into the bathing area with a towel wrapped around you, you’ll just look stupid. Embrace the nudity! Everyone’s naked so no-one cares.

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Top Japan Destinations

Japan has so much to offer but here are a few places to get you started.

• Tokyo – The best of modern Japan. This huge city has incredible food, diverse neighbourhoods, and some unique experiences. Try these cool things to do in Tokyo and enjoy the best vegetarian restaurants in Tokyo. 
• Kyoto – The best of traditional Japan with many stunning temples to explore. Read the best things to do in Kyoto.
• Takayama – A smaller, quieter alternative for traditional Japan with a beautiful historic centre of preserved wooden houses. 
• Hakone – For the chance to see Mount Fuji, mountain scenery, lakes, onsens, and fun transport options (cable cars and pirate ships!). 
• Kawaguchiko – Even better views of Mount Fuji at Lake Kawaguchiko. 
• Nikko – Stunning temples in the forest. Could be visited as a day trip from Tokyo. 
• Hiroshima – Visit the moving peace memorial that commemorates the atomic bombing. 

See our Japan 2 Week Itinerary for a detailed guide to visiting many of these places including things to do, transport, and where to stay and eat.

Or our guide to the best places to go in Japan has more ideas.

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More Japan Tips

• Is a Japan Rail Pass Worth It?
• 54 Best Things to Do in Japan for an Unforgettable Trip
• Where to Stay in Japan: A Guide to Accommodation Options
• 20 Fascinating Books to Read Before Visiting Japan
• 16 Unmissable Places to Visit in Japan
• Vegetarian Survival Guide to Japan

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