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 travel guides
Practical, regularly reviewed guides covering entry rules, trains, money, connectivity, etiquette, food, onsen and more.
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.
Japan Packing List: What to Bring (and What to Leave)
A season-by-season Japan packing list, including power adapters, shoes, medicines, and tips for packing light for train travel.
Best Time to Visit Japan: Seasons, Cherry Blossoms & Autumn Leaves
A season-by-season guide to Japan's weather, cherry blossom and autumn foliage timing by region, rainy and typhoon seasons, and national holiday crowds.
Japan Festivals Calendar: Matsuri Month by Month
Major Japanese festivals (matsuri) by month — from the Sapporo Snow Festival to Kyoto's Gion Matsuri and Aomori Nebuta — with typical dates. Confirm dates each year.
Japanese Food Guide: What to Eat and How to Order
The dishes to try in Japan, regional specialities, types of restaurants, how to order with ticket machines, dietary needs, and dining etiquette.
Onsen Guide: How to Use Japanese Hot Springs
Step-by-step onsen etiquette, the difference between onsen and sento, tattoo policies, private baths, and some of Japan's famous hot-spring towns.
Where to Stay in Japan: Hotels, Ryokan, Capsules & More
Compare Japan's accommodation types — business hotels, ryokan, capsule hotels, hostels, minshuku, temple stays and vacation rentals — and what to expect from each.
Is Japan Safe? Safety, Health & Natural Disaster Tips
Japan safety for travellers: crime, earthquakes, typhoons, heat, emergency numbers, medical care, and how to get help in English.
Essential Japanese Phrases for Travellers
Useful Japanese phrases for greetings, restaurants, shopping, directions and emergencies — with romaji and simple pronunciation notes.
Staying in a Ryokan: Etiquette, Costs & What to Expect
What a ryokan stay includes, how much it costs, check-in to check-out etiquette, yukata, kaiseki dinners, shared and private baths, and how to choose one.
Tax-Free Shopping in Japan: How It Works for Tourists
Who can shop tax-free in Japan, minimum spend, consumables vs general goods, the switch to a refund-style system, and tips for department stores and drugstores.
Accessible Travel in Japan: Wheelchair & Mobility Guide
How accessible Japan is for wheelchair users and travellers with limited mobility: trains, staff assistance, hotels, sights, toilets and planning tips.
Vegetarian, Vegan & Allergy-Friendly Eating in Japan
Hidden fish stock, what to order, useful Japanese phrases, shōjin ryōri, apps and convenience-store options for vegetarians, vegans and travellers with food allergies.
Tattoos in Japan: Onsen, Gyms, Beaches & Etiquette
Why some onsen and pools ban tattoos, how to find tattoo-friendly baths, private baths, cover-up stickers, and what to expect at gyms, beaches and ryokan.
Japan on a Budget: 30 Ways to Save Money
Practical ways to cut costs on accommodation, transport, food and sightseeing in Japan — without missing the highlights.
How to Book Shinkansen Tickets & Seats Online
Booking Shinkansen tickets online with smartEX, JR East and JR West, reserving seats with a JR Pass, choosing the Mt Fuji side, oversized luggage seats and Green Car.
Skiing & Snowboarding in Japan: Resorts, Seasons & Costs
When the ski season runs, the main regions (Niseko, Hakuba, Nozawa Onsen, Shiga Kogen), getting there, lift pass and rental costs, and onsen après-ski.
Rainy Season & Typhoons in Japan: When They Hit and How to Plan
When tsuyu rainy season and typhoon season occur in each region, how they affect travel, the Japan Meteorological Agency's warnings, and backup plans.
Driving in Japan: Car Rental, International Driving Permits & Road Rules
Whether you can drive in Japan with your licence, the International Driving Permit, renting a car, tolls and ETC cards, parking, and key road rules.
Visiting Temples & Shrines: Etiquette, Goshuin and What's the Difference
The difference between Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, how to purify and pray, goshuin stamp books, omikuji fortunes, ema and photography rules.
Regional Rail Passes in Japan: Which One Should You Buy?
An overview of Japan's regional JR passes — Kansai, Kansai-Hiroshima, Hokuriku Arch, JR East, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Takayama-Hokuriku — and when each makes sense.
Solo Travel in Japan: Safety, Dining Alone & Meeting People
Why Japan is great for solo travellers, eating alone, women-only options, hostels and capsule hotels, meeting people and staying safe.
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