Tokyo
Neon districts, quiet shrines and the world's deepest food scene.
日本旅行ガイド · Start here for your first trip
Your first trip to Japan starts here
In-depth city guides, honest practical advice, sample itineraries and free planning tools, written with first-time visitors in mind (and still handy on your second or third trip). Everything links back to official sources so you can double-check the details that matter.
Where to go in Japan
All 25 destinations →Kyoto
Temples, gardens, geisha districts and centuries of tradition.
Osaka
Japan's kitchen: street food, nightlife and big-city energy.
Sapporo & Hokkaido
Powder snow, flower fields, seafood and wide-open nature.
Hiroshima & Miyajima
A city of peace, okonomiyaki, and the floating torii of Miyajima.
Nara
Japan's first permanent capital — giant Buddha and bowing deer.
Okinawa
Subtropical islands, coral reefs and a distinct Ryukyu culture.
Fukuoka
Yatai street stalls, tonkotsu ramen and a gateway to Kyushu.
Before you fly: essential guides
All guides →First Trip to Japan: Planning Checklist
A step-by-step checklist for your first trip to Japan — from passports and entry forms to rail passes, money, connectivity and bookings.
Japan Visa & Entry Requirements Explained
Who needs a visa for Japan, how visa exemption works, Visit Japan Web, customs, and what to have ready at immigration. Always confirm with official sources.
JR Pass & Rail Travel in Japan: Complete Guide
How Japan's rail network works, what the nationwide JR Pass covers, how to reserve Shinkansen seats, and how to decide whether a pass is worth it for your route.
IC Cards in Japan: Suica, PASMO, ICOCA & Mobile
How Japan's rechargeable IC transit cards work, where to buy them, mobile Suica/PASMO/ICOCA on your phone, Welcome Suica for visitors, and what they can be used for.
Airport Transfers in Japan: Narita, Haneda, Kansai & More
How to get from Japan's main airports into the city — trains, limited express services, buses and taxis — with typical journey times.
Money in Japan: Cash, Cards, ATMs & Tipping
How to pay in Japan — where cards work, which ATMs accept foreign cards, how much cash to carry, tipping customs, and tax-free shopping.
Staying Connected in Japan: eSIM, SIM Cards & Pocket Wifi
Compare eSIMs, prepaid SIM cards, pocket wifi rentals and roaming for Japan, and learn where to find free wifi.
Japanese Etiquette for Visitors: Do's and Don'ts
A practical guide to manners in Japan — shoes, trains, temples and shrines, eating, chopsticks, onsen, rubbish and photography.
How Much Does a Trip to Japan Cost? Budget Breakdown
Approximate daily costs in Japan for budget, mid-range and luxury travellers — accommodation, food, transport and sightseeing — plus ways to save.
Things to do by interest
All interests →Anime & pop culture
Where to experience anime, manga, games and Japanese pop culture: Akihabara, Nakano Broadway, Ikebukuro, the Ghibli Museum, Den Den Town and more, with booking tips.
Nature & hiking
The best nature and hiking in Japan for visitors: Mt Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes, Hakone, Nikko, the Japan Alps, Kamakura's hills, Miyajima, Hokkaido and Okinawa.
History & temples
Where to see Japan's history: Kyoto's temples, Nara's Great Buddha, Himeji Castle, Nikko's shrines, Kamakura, Hiroshima, Nagasaki and preserved old towns.
Food & drink
Where and what to eat in Japan: Osaka street food, Fukuoka yatai, Tokyo izakaya, depachika, markets, sake, regional specialities and how to handle dietary needs.
Nightlife
Japan nightlife for visitors: izakaya and yokocho alleys, Golden Gai, Osaka's Dotonbori, Fukuoka yatai, karaoke, night views and practical tips on last trains and etiquette.
Shopping
Shopping in Japan for visitors: Tokyo's best shopping districts, Osaka, Kyoto crafts, depachika, 100-yen shops, drugstores, souvenirs and how tax-free shopping works.
Ready-made itineraries
All itineraries →7 Days in Japan: First-Timer's Tokyo & Kyoto
A focused one-week first trip: four days in Tokyo with a Hakone or Kamakura option, then three days in Kyoto with a half-day in Nara.
10 Days in Japan: Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara & Osaka
The classic Golden Route with an onsen night in Hakone, plenty of Kyoto, a day in Nara and street food in Osaka.
14 Days in Japan: The Classic Two-Week Route
Two weeks taking in Tokyo, Nikko, Hakone, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Hiroshima and Miyajima — the route where a JR Pass may pay off.
Japan with Kids: 10-Day Family Itinerary
A family-friendly pace with theme parks, aquariums, hands-on museums, deer in Nara and plenty of downtime — Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
Japan on a Budget: 12-Day Itinerary
See Tokyo, Fuji Five Lakes, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Hiroshima on a shoestring using highway buses, hostels, free sights and cheap eats.
7 Days in Central Japan: Nagoya, Takayama & Kanazawa
A week through Japan's mountainous heartland — Nagoya, the Kiso Valley post towns, Takayama, Shirakawa-go and Kanazawa.
Free trip-planning tools
Trip budget calculator
Estimate a daily and total budget in yen and your home currency by travel style.
JR Pass value helper
Add up the long-distance rides on your route and compare against the pass price.
Seasonal calendar
Month-by-month weather, blossoms, foliage, festivals and crowd periods.
Packing list generator
A printable checklist tailored to your season, trip length and activities.
Yen converter
Convert yen to your currency at a rate you set, with typical Japanese prices.
Which region suits me?
Six quick questions to find the part of Japan that matches your style.
Latest from the blog
All articles →The Best Time to Visit Japan: A Month-by-Month Guide
Weather, crowds, prices and highlights for every month in Japan — and which season suits your trip.
How Much Cash Should You Bring to Japan?
How cash-dependent Japan still is, a practical daily cash amount, where cards work, and where to get yen.
How Much Does Two Weeks in Japan Cost?
Sample budgets for a 14-day Japan trip at budget, mid-range and comfortable levels, with the biggest costs explained.
Japan in Winter: Snow, Onsen, Illuminations and Fewer Crowds
Why December to February can be a great time to visit Japan — skiing, snow festivals, onsen, clear Fuji views and lower prices outside holidays.
What to Wear in Japan: A Season-by-Season Guide
Clothing advice for spring, summer, autumn and winter in Japan, plus temple, onsen and shoe tips.
Autumn Leaves in Japan: When and Where to See Kōyō
Typical autumn foliage timing by region and the best places to see red maples and golden ginkgo in Kyoto, Tokyo, Nikko and beyond.
How we write our guides
Practical first
We focus on the questions visitors actually face: which ticket to buy, how to get from the airport, what to do when a restaurant has a ticket machine.
Sources you can check
Entry rules, rail passes and prices change. Each guide links to the official source (JNTO, Japan Railways, immigration and local tourism boards).
No invented reviews
We don't publish fake testimonials or made-up statistics. Prices are rough ranges meant to help you plan, not quotes.