How to Ride the Shinkansen: A Step-by-Step Guide
Buying tickets, finding your platform and car, luggage rules, food on board and what to do if you miss your train — everything for your first bullet-train ride.
Deutsch · Japan
Blog (Japan)
Is the JR Pass Still Worth It? How to Decide for Your Route
After the 2023 price rise, the Japan Rail Pass is no longer an automatic buy. Here's a simple method to work out whether it pays off for your trip.
A Visitor's Guide to Japanese Convenience Store Food
Onigiri, egg sandwiches, oden, fried chicken and more — what to buy at 7-Eleven, FamilyMart and Lawson, and how konbini work.
Luggage Forwarding in Japan (Takkyubin): How It Works
Ship your suitcases between hotels or to the airport and travel light on trains. How to send luggage with takkyubin, timing, and what it costs roughly.
Tokyo vs Kyoto vs Osaka: Where Should You Base Yourself?
Comparing Japan's three most-visited cities for first-timers — atmosphere, sights, food, hotel prices and day-trip potential.
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.
Traveling in Japan with Kids: Practical Tips
Strollers on trains, baby rooms, child fares, kid-friendly food, and activities your family will love in Japan.
Hanami: How to Enjoy Cherry Blossom Season Like a Local
Where and how to join a hanami picnic, etiquette under the trees, night blossoms (yozakura), and tips for timing your visit.
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.
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.
20 Common Japan Travel Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
The most common first-timer mistakes in Japan — from over-packed itineraries to trash bins and rail passes — and simple fixes.
12 Best Day Trips from Tokyo
Kamakura, Nikko, Hakone, Mt Fuji lakes, Yokohama, Kawagoe and more — the best day trips from Tokyo with travel times and tips.
Best Day Trips from Osaka and Kyoto
Nara, Himeji, Kobe, Uji, Koyasan, Hiroshima and Miyajima, Arashiyama and more — easy day trips from a Kansai base.
Cherry Blossom Season in Japan: Typical Dates and How Forecasts Work
When cherry blossoms usually bloom in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Sapporo and more, how forecasts work, and how to plan around them.
teamLab, Ghibli & the Best Museums in Tokyo
How to visit teamLab Planets and Borderless, the Ghibli Museum, and Tokyo's best art, history and quirky museums — with booking tips.
25 Japanese Foods to Try on Your Trip (and Where)
From ramen and sushi to okonomiyaki, kaiseki and convenience-store treats — the essential dishes to try in Japan, with regional specialties.
How Many Days Do You Need in Japan?
What you can realistically see in 5, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days in Japan, with suggested routes.
Your First Day in Japan: Arrival Step by Step
From landing to your hotel: immigration and customs with Visit Japan Web, getting yen, IC cards, SIM data, airport transfers and what to do on day one.
Kyoto in One Day: A Realistic Itinerary
A practical one-day Kyoto route covering Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, Higashiyama and Gion, with timing and crowd tips.
Where to Stay in Tokyo: Best Neighborhoods for First-Timers
Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, Tokyo Station, Asakusa, Ueno and more compared — pros, cons and who each area suits.
Mt Fuji: Where to See It and How to Climb It
Best Mt Fuji viewpoints, when visibility is best, and the essentials of the climbing season, trails, fees and reservation rules.
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.
Is Japan Expensive to Visit? An Honest Look at Costs
What's cheap and what's pricey in Japan, how the exchange rate affects visitors, and where to splurge or save.