Get ready

Plan Your Trip

Practical guides and itineraries to help you plan a Japan trip that goes beyond the tourist trail.

Practical Guides 47

Transportation, budgets, and essential travel info

Japanese yen wallet with notes and contactless card
Practical Guide

How Much Does a Japan Trip Cost? A 2026 Budget Breakdown

Two-week, two-person totals for lean, mid-range and comfortable budgets. Flights, JR Pass, hotels, food, activities: build your own number.

8 min read
Calm Tokyo skyline at dusk with seismic-engineered office towers visible in the foreground
Practical Guide

Earthquakes in Japan: What J-Alerts Mean and What to Actually Do

How the J-Alert early-warning system works, the 30-second drop-cover-hold drill, and why the doorway myth is wrong.

5 min read
Three travel suitcases neatly lined up on a Japanese hotel bell-stand carpet
Practical Guide

Yamato Takkyubin: Forward Your Luggage and Travel Hands-Free

Hand a suitcase to the hotel desk or any 7-Eleven, pay ¥2,000–2,500, and it arrives at your next hotel before 18:00.

5 min read
Classic black Tokyo taxi at the kerbside at night, rear door swung open onto wet pavement
Practical Guide

Taxis in Japan: The GO App, Auto Doors, and When They're Worth It

Auto-opening rear doors, the GO app for English-language booking, no tipping, and when a cab beats the metro.

5 min read
Entrance of a small Japanese ramen shop at night, ticket-vending machine glowing softly inside the noren curtain
Practical Guide

How to Order at a Japanese Restaurant: Ticket Machines, Tablets, Counter Calls

Six restaurant types, six order systems: ticket machines, tablets, verbal counter calls, sample windows, kaiseki.

6 min read
Long bank of clean modern Japanese station coin lockers in a station concourse
Practical Guide

Coin Lockers in Japan: The Day-Bag Trick Everyone Misses

Sizes, prices, IC payment, and the day-bag system that lets you skip dragging a suitcase through narrow streets.

5 min read
Open carry-on suitcase with neatly folded clothes, passport, sneakers, toiletry pouch and charger
Practical Guide

Japan Packing List: What to Pack (and What to Buy There)

The actual six-item Japan packing list. Japanese drugstores, Donki, and Uniqlo cover the rest, often better.

5 min read
Tidy row of four colour-coded waste bins inside a Japanese convenience store entrance
Practical Guide

Trash in Japan: Why There Are No Bins (and What to Do)

Why Japan removed its public bins, and the konbini-station-hotel loop that handles trash without thinking.

4 min read
Open Japanese leather wallet with yen notes, coins, and a contactless card on a wooden table
Practical Guide

Cash vs Card in Japan: What to Actually Carry in 2026

How much cash to carry, when Visa/MC fail, why JCB matters, and how to skip the airport currency exchange.

5 min read
A smartphone glowing softly on a wooden cafe table: eSIM setup at home before flying
Practical Guide

Japan Internet: Why I Switched From Pocket WiFi to Airalo

Set up an Airalo eSIM at home before flying. Land in Japan with bars. Pocket WiFi only still wins for groups.

5 min read
Steam rising from a stone-lined open-air rotenburo at a Japanese mountain ryokan
Practical Guide

Onsen for First-Timers: How to Bathe Without Offending Anyone

The full onsen etiquette walkthrough plus the truth about tattoos in 2026, from a half-sleeve who has never been refused.

6 min read
Quiet Tokyo backstreet at night with red paper lanterns above wooden restaurant fronts
Practical Guide

How to Find (and Book) Good Restaurants in Japan

Tabelog to find them, TableCheck or Pocket Concierge to book them. The actual locals' workflow.

6 min read
Aerial view of an aircraft wing with Tokyo coastline below
Practical Guide

Tokyo Airport to City: Narita and Haneda Without Wasting Money

Pick the right train in two minutes: Skyliner, N'EX, Keikyu, or skip the bus altogether.

6 min read
Brightly lit konbini exterior on a quiet Tokyo street at night
Practical Guide

The Japanese Konbini: Cash Machine, Ticket Office, Restaurant, ATM

Pay with Suica, withdraw cash with a foreign card, print tickets, eat hot food at 02:00.

5 min read
Shinkansen N700 series train at a Japanese station platform
Practical Guide

Shinkansen for First-Timers: From Booking to Ekiben

Smart-EX app, reserved vs non-reserved seats, the right side for Mt. Fuji, ekiben etiquette.

7 min read
Tokyo subway platform at night
Practical Guide

Tokyo Subway with Google Maps: A Foreigner's Guide

The four-step Google Maps workflow that gets you anywhere on the Tokyo subway, without learning kanji.

4 min read
Shinkansen at Tokyo Station platform
Practical Guide

JR Pass: When It Pays Off and How to Use It

When the Pass actually pays off, how to exchange the voucher, and how to use it at the gates.

6 min read
Yamanote train passing through Tokyo at night
Practical Guide

Suica on iPhone: Setup + Top-up Guide for Japan

Set up Suica in Apple Wallet in five minutes and top up from anywhere in Japan.

5 min read
Hirosaki Castle surrounded by cherry blossoms in Aomori
Practical Guide

Japan in April: cherry blossoms, Golden Week, and how to plan around both

Plan your Japan April trip: cherry blossom timing by city, the underrated late-April sweet spot, Golden Week survival tips, and festival dates.

7 min read
Cherry trees in full bloom along a quiet canal in Japan
Practical Guide

Japan in March: weather, cherry blossoms, and week-by-week what to expect

Plan your Japan trip in March: weather by region, cherry blossom timing, week-by-week progression, and tips for avoiding crowds while prices are still low.

6 min read
Kamakura snow huts in Iiyama, Nagano, during the February snow season
Practical Guide

Japan in February: the complete travel guide

Japan in February divides into two travel windows: powder skiing and the Snow Festival early on, then plum blossoms and low-season prices.

8 min read
Snow-covered torii gate and stone steps on a winter shrine approach in Japan
Practical Guide

Japan in January: the complete travel guide

Japan in January: the cheapest month for visitors, with hotels 25–40% below peak, near-empty temples, New Year culture, and peak ski season.

7 min read
Tokyo to Kyoto: shinkansen, prices and the JR Pass math
Practical Guide

Tokyo to Kyoto: shinkansen, prices and the JR Pass math

Tokyo to Kyoto in 2h15 by shinkansen: what it costs, when the JR Pass pays, the oversized-luggage rule and the HARUKA from Kansai Airport.

3 min read
Narita and Haneda airports into Tokyo: the fastest route to your bed
Practical Guide

Narita and Haneda airports into Tokyo: the fastest route to your bed

Narita airport to Tokyo compared: N'EX vs Skyliner vs bus per district, Haneda in under 30 minutes, JR Pass math and late-night options.

3 min read
Best time to visit Kyoto: when beauty and crowds collide
Practical Guide

Best time to visit Kyoto: when beauty and crowds collide

The best time to visit Kyoto, month by month: sakura and foliage windows, Gion Matsuri, cheapest months and how hard crowds really swing.

3 min read
Best time to visit Tokyo: month by month, crowds included
Practical Guide

Best time to visit Tokyo: month by month, crowds included

The best time to visit Tokyo, month by month: weather, rain, prices and crowd pressure, plus the two windows most travelers miss.

4 min read
Where to stay in Kyoto: atmosphere, value or calm
Practical Guide

Where to stay in Kyoto: atmosphere, value or calm

Where to stay in Kyoto, compared: Higashiyama vs downtown vs Arashiyama, honest ryokan advice, price ranges and booking lead times per season.

3 min read
Where to stay in Tokyo: pick the neighborhood first
Practical Guide

Where to stay in Tokyo: pick the neighborhood first

Where to stay in Tokyo, ward by ward: Shinjuku vs Shibuya vs Ueno, real price ranges, when to book, and one verified stay per budget.

3 min read
Kyoto to Nara by train: times, prices, and which option fits your rail pass
Practical Guide

Kyoto to Nara by train: times, prices, and which option fits your rail pass

Both lines leave Kyoto Station and reach Nara in 35-45 minutes. Which one to take depends on your rail pass. Fares, timings and a crowd-beating strategy.

6 min read
Shirakawa-go in winter: when the snow is actually there
Practical Guide

Shirakawa-go in winter: when the snow is actually there

The thatched roofs under a metre of snow are real. So are the crowds on the four January illumination evenings. How to choose the visit that suits you.

5 min read
Japan in November: the complete travel guide
Practical Guide

Japan in November: the complete travel guide

Kyoto's maples peak in late November, after October's crowds and before December's cold. Ideal walking weather, but hotel rates hit their autumn high.

7 min read
Japan in October: the complete travel guide
Practical Guide

Japan in October: the complete travel guide

Japan in October divides into two trips. Early October carries typhoon risk; late October delivers peak foliage in Tohoku and Tokyo at its best.

7 min read
A beginner's guide to omakase in Japan
Practical Guide

A beginner's guide to omakase in Japan

What omakase is, what it costs, the etiquette, and how to book a chef's-choice sushi counter in Japan, without the anxiety. Lunch is the easiest way in.

3 min read
Types of sushi explained: nigiri, maki, sashimi and the rest
Practical Guide

Types of sushi explained: nigiri, maki, sashimi and the rest

Nigiri, maki, gunkan, temaki, sashimi: every common type explained, with how to eat and order each one so a Japanese menu stops being a guessing game.

4 min read
The complete guide to sushi in Japan
Practical Guide

The complete guide to sushi in Japan

From a 120-yen conveyor belt to a 30,000-yen omakase counter: what sushi in Japan really is, what to pay, and how to eat it with confidence.

3 min read
The best hikes in Japan, sorted by difficulty
Practical Guide

The best hikes in Japan, sorted by difficulty

Four honest tiers, from half-day walks near Tokyo to multi-day pilgrim routes. Pick by fitness and season, not by whatever a generic list puts first.

3 min read
Japan in December: weather, crowds, and the off-peak sweet spot
Practical Guide

Japan in December: weather, crowds, and the off-peak sweet spot

Japan in December: clear, crisp and quiet for three weeks, then the New Year rush. Get the weather by region, what closes Dec 29–Jan 3, and when to go.

4 min read
Japan in July: what to expect and where to go
Practical Guide

Japan in July: what to expect and where to go

Tokyo and Kyoto hit 30°C with high humidity once the rainy season clears. Head to Hokkaido or the mountains for mild days and peak festival season.

4 min read
Cherry blossom season in Japan: when and where to see the sakura
Practical Guide

Cherry blossom season in Japan: when and where to see the sakura

Cherry blossom season in Japan, region by region: when the sakura peak from Okinawa to Hokkaido, how the bloom forecast works, and how early to book.

4 min read
Best time to visit Japan: a month-by-month guide for 2026–2027
Practical Guide

Best time to visit Japan: a month-by-month guide for 2026–2027

The best time to visit Japan, month by month: crowd levels, weather, cost, and the exact dates to avoid (Golden Week, Obon). Find your window.

8 min read
Tattoo-friendly onsen in Japan: where you can actually bathe
Practical Guide

Tattoo-friendly onsen in Japan: where you can actually bathe

Yes, you can onsen with tattoos. Verified tattoo-friendly baths from Beppu to Hakone, plus the sento loophole and private-bath workarounds explained.

5 min read
Japanese leather wallet with yen notes and contactless card
Practical Guide

Japan Travel Budget: What a Realistic Trip Actually Costs

Three tiers for 14 nights: backpacker €1,000-1,400, mid-range and comfortable. Japan now costs roughly the same as two weeks in Spain or France.

2 min read
Open Japanese leather wallet with yen notes, coins, and a contactless card
Practical Guide

Money in Japan: Yen, ATMs, IC Cards, and Tax-Free Shopping

Most cities now take cards, but rural towns and small shrines stay cash-only. A Suica card, one credit card and ¥20,000 cash covers almost everything.

2 min read
Smartphone glowing softly on a wooden cafe table — eSIM setup at home before flying
Practical Guide

Japan SIM & Connectivity: eSIM, Pocket WiFi, Prepaid SIM

Three ways to stay online in Japan. For most solo travellers an eSIM is cheapest and fastest: Airalo charges €11-25 for 14 days, no kiosk queue needed.

2 min read
Travel passport at a Japanese station counter
Practical Guide

Japan Visa Requirements 2026: Who Needs One, Who Doesn’t

Citizens of the US, UK, EU, Australia and 60-plus other countries get 90 days on arrival, no paperwork. Here is what the new digital arrival card changes.

3 min read
Shinkansen N700 series train at a Japanese station platform
Practical Guide

Getting Around in Japan: The Complete Transport Guide

Trains, metros, ferries, buses, bikes and planes: when to use which, and why one IC card handles 90% of your trips before anything else is needed.

5 min read
Shinkansen N700 series train at a Japanese station platform
Practical Guide

JR Pass: The Complete 2026 Guide

The 2023 price hike shifted the maths sharply. Current prices, a route calculator, and a clear answer on whether the pass covers your specific itinerary.

6 min read

Itineraries 11

Day-by-day travel plans for every type of trip

Mt Fuji from the Shinkansen at golden hour
Itinerary

Seven days in Japan, honest

One week is too short. So we cut a city. Tokyo and Kyoto, done properly, instead of three cities done badly.

18 min read
Mt Fuji from the Shinkansen at golden hour
Itinerary

First-timer's ten days in Japan

Tokyo · Kyoto · Osaka · Hiroshima. The classic ten-day arc, without the mountain detour. Same big three, one heavy day-trip, home rested.

22 min read
Mt Fuji from the Shinkansen at golden hour
Itinerary

First-timer's two weeks in Japan

Tokyo · Kyoto · Osaka · Hiroshima · Takayama · Hirayunomori. The route I'd send my own family on, with a real ryokan at the end.

28 min read
Mt Fuji from the Shinkansen at golden hour
Itinerary

Two weeks in Japan with kids

The 14-day first-timer route, framed for families. Three nights per city, real ryokan, manageable transit days, and the temple-with-Pocky-break version of every must-see.

28 min read
Mt Fuji from the Shinkansen at golden hour
Itinerary

Three weeks in Japan, the deeper route

The 14-day first-timer route + a seven-day Kyushu finale. Hakata yatai stalls, the Aso caldera, the ryokan valley at Kurokawa, Sakurajima across the bay.

42 min read
Mt Fuji from the Shinkansen at golden hour
Itinerary

A ten-day Japan honeymoon

Ryokan over hotels. Slow trains over Shinkansen sprints. Tokyo + Kyoto + Osaka with the luxury tier as default, plus an optional slow-travel anchor at the end.

22 min read
Kyushu landscape
Itinerary

Ten days in Kyushu, the hidden island

Fukuoka yatai, Nagasaki harbour, an active volcanic caldera, Kurokawa onsen, Yufuin, Sakurajima. The Japan most travellers miss.

24 min read
Itinerary

Ten days in Tohoku, Japan's quiet north

Matsushima Bay, the cliffside Yamadera temple, Ginzan Onsen, Lake Tazawa, Kakunodate samurai quarter, Aomori's Nebuta floats.

24 min read
Hokkaido landscape
Itinerary

Seven days in Hokkaido, snow + food + nature

Sapporo ramen and beer, Otaru's canal town, Noboribetsu's hell-valley onsen, Hakodate's top-ten-night-view harbour.

18 min read
Kyoto in 2 days: an itinerary that beats the tour buses
Itinerary

Kyoto in 2 days: an itinerary that beats the tour buses

A 2 day Kyoto itinerary timed around the crowds: Fushimi Inari at dawn, bamboo before 8am, Gion at lantern hour. With budgets and quiet swaps.

2 min read
Tokyo in 3 days: a crowd-smart itinerary
Itinerary

Tokyo in 3 days: a crowd-smart itinerary

A 3 day Tokyo itinerary sequenced around the crowds: Senso-ji at dawn, Meiji Jingu at opening, Skytree at dusk. With budgets, tips and quiet swaps.

3 min read