Japan Travel Guide
Japan at a glance
Japan is easiest to enjoy when you plan a few anchor cities and leave room for neighbourhood walks, small restaurants and day trips. Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka make a strong first route; add Hakone, Nara, Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Hokkaido or Okinawa according to season and interests. Japan uses the yen (JPY), Type A plugs and 100V electricity. Check entry and visa rules for your passport with the Japanese embassy or consulate responsible for where you live before booking.
Choose the right route
First visit: 7–10 days
Use Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka as bases. Add Nara as a Kyoto or Osaka day trip, and consider Hakone for a night if you want mountain scenery and hot springs. This route minimises hotel changes while covering big-city energy, historic districts and food culture.
With children
Build in slower mornings, reserve larger luggage space where available, and avoid commuter peaks. Tokyo, Osaka and the Lake Kawaguchi/Hakone area work particularly well. Major stations commonly have lifts and multipurpose spaces, though older streets, shrines and small stations can involve steps. Department stores and many larger stations have nursing rooms; family restaurants and convenience stores make flexible meal stops straightforward.
Food, culture or outdoors
For food, combine Osaka, Kyoto and Fukuoka. For art and history, add Kanazawa, Naoshima or Hiroshima. For alpine scenery, use the Japanese Alps or Hokkaido; for beaches and subtropical weather, look at Okinawa. Check regional weather, event calendars and transport before fixing an itinerary.
Arriving and getting connected
Tokyo visitors normally arrive through Narita or Haneda; Kansai International serves Osaka, Kyoto and the wider Kansai region. Allow time after landing for immigration, baggage, an IC card or ticket, and the onward journey. Install your Japan eSIM on reliable Wi-Fi before departure, keep its activation details available offline, then enable the line after arrival. Data is especially useful for platform changes, translated signs, digital tickets and maps.
Getting around Japan
Rail is the simplest option for most intercity journeys. Local, rapid, limited express and Shinkansen services have different stopping patterns and reservation needs. Local travel generally does not need a reservation; reserve popular Shinkansen, limited express and sightseeing services early, especially on weekends, holidays and school breaks. Use official operators or a recognised route planner for current fares and platform information.
A rechargeable IC card—such as Suica, PASMO or ICOCA—makes urban rail, many buses and small purchases easier. Acceptance is broad but not universal, especially in rural areas and on some highway buses, so keep a little cash and check the IC symbol. The national rail pass is not automatically the cheapest option: price your intended long-distance journeys against regional passes or individual tickets before buying.
Where to stay
In Tokyo, choose a station-connected area rather than choosing only by distance on a map: Shinjuku is convenient for rail links, Ueno for museums and access north, and Tokyo Station/Ginza for central connections. In Kyoto, stay near Kyoto Station for convenience or near downtown for evening walks. In Osaka, Umeda is practical for rail connections and Namba is lively for food and nightlife. Business hotels, guesthouses and apartment-style stays can provide good value; book early around cherry-blossom season, Golden Week, summer festivals and year-end holidays.
Food, convenience stores and practical etiquette
Try regional dishes rather than chasing a single nationwide list: ramen, sushi, tempura, okonomiyaki, soba, udon, yakitori and seasonal sweets all vary by area. Look for restaurant queues, lunch sets, department-store food halls and covered shopping streets. Reservations matter for popular restaurants. Convenience stores are excellent for drinks, breakfast, snacks, ATM access and simple meals, but opening hours and facilities vary by branch.
Carry some cash even though card acceptance has improved. Keep phone calls quiet on trains, queue where marked, take rubbish with you until you find a bin, and follow shrine/temple signs about photography and respectful behaviour. Avoid eating on local and subway trains; food is normal on long-distance trains such as the Shinkansen.
Safety, health and emergencies
Japan is generally a safe destination, but use normal city precautions and prepare for earthquakes, severe weather and service disruption. Save your accommodation address in Japanese, keep travel insurance details offline, and follow official alerts rather than social posts during an incident. Call 110 for police and 119 for fire or ambulance. JNTO’s 24-hour Japan Visitor Hotline is 050-3816-2787 in Japan (+81-50-3816-2787 from overseas) and supports English, Chinese and Korean.
Suggested itineraries
Seven days: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka
Spend three nights in Tokyo, travel by Shinkansen to Kyoto for three nights, then use Osaka for a final night or as a departure base. Add Nara as a day trip only if it suits your pace.
Ten days: classic route with a pause
Add a Hakone or Lake Kawaguchi night between Tokyo and Kyoto, or add Hiroshima and Miyajima after Osaka. Do not try to cover every major city in one trip.
Before you fly
- Check entry and visa requirements with the official Japanese mission for your country.
- Confirm your passport, insurance, accommodation and onward-journey details.
- Install your eSIM while on Wi-Fi and check your phone is unlocked.
- Download offline maps, save accommodation details and keep enough cash for the first day.
- Check official rail, airport and weather information again shortly before travel.