Essential Travel Guide

Visas and Entry Requirements

Most travelers from North America, Europe, and Oceania receive visa-free entry for up to 90 days. Lengths differ by passport — confirm on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs site. A pre-travel authorization system (JESTA) is planned for 2028, not for this year.

Register on Visit Japan Web before you fly. It issues QR codes for immigration and customs, and from November 2026 it also supports the new tax-free refund procedure at major airports.

2026 visitor rules (departure tax, tax-free shopping, lodging taxes): Japan 2026: New Rules for Tourists. Longer than a tourist stay? Permanent residency is being rewritten for 2026–2027: Japan's Permanent Residency Overhaul.

Best Time to Visit

Japan is a year-round destination, but each season offers a distinct experience:

• Spring (March–May): Cherry blossoms (桜 sakura). Mild weather; peak crowds, especially Golden Week (late April–early May).
• Summer (June–August): Festivals (祭 matsuri) and fireworks. Honshu’s rainy season (梅雨 tsuyu) usually runs early June to mid-July, then heat and humidity; typhoons are more likely from August into September.
• Autumn (September–November): Autumn leaves (紅葉 kōyō) and comfortable temperatures — often the best balance of weather and scenery.
• Winter (December–February): Clear air, snow, and skiing in Hokkaido and the Japan Alps. Fewer visitors and lower prices except around New Year (正月 Shōgatsu).

Budgeting

Japan fits various budgets. While historically perceived as expensive, the current exchange rate makes it surprisingly affordable.

• Budget: ¥8,000–¥15,000/day. Hostels, convenience store meals, local trains.
• Mid-Range: ¥15,000–¥30,000/day. Business hotels, casual restaurants, limited express trains.
• Luxury: ¥40,000+/day. Ryokans with kaiseki meals, taxis, high-end dining.

The Shinkansen & Rails

The rail network is unusually punctual. The nationwide Japan Rail Pass (7-day Ordinary: ¥50,000 on the official JR site; from 1 October 2026 agencies charge ¥53,000) rarely beats point-to-point tickets on a Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka loop. Add up fares on Japan Transit Planner before buying. Regional passes (JR WEST Kansai Wide Area Pass, JR EAST PASS) are often better value. Bags over 160 cm (length + width + height) need an oversized-baggage seat on Tōkaidō/San'yō/Kyushu Shinkansen. Full detail: Transportation guide.

IC Cards (Suica / Pasmo)

Rechargeable IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA) pay for trains, buses, and many shops with a tap. The 2023–24 chip shortage is over: unnamed Suica and PASMO sales resumed in March 2025.

Easiest: a digital Suica in Apple Wallet, JR East's Welcome Suica Mobile app (iPhone; 180 days from issue), or Suica/PASMO in Google Wallet on Android. Physical Welcome Suica cards are sold at Narita, Haneda, and JR East Travel Service Centers — no deposit, valid 28 days from purchase, unused balance is not refunded.

Navigation Apps

Google Maps is indispensable for train routes and platform numbers. Japan Travel by NAVITIME is also excellent, specifically for tourists (including rail pass filters).

From futuristic pods to historic inns, where you stay is part of the adventure.

• Ryokan (旅館): Traditional inns with tatami and often an onsen. One night with dinner and breakfast is the classic stay.
• Business hotels: Compact and efficient (APA, Dormy Inn). Reliable for solo travelers and couples.
• Capsule hotels: Budget-friendly sleeping pods, usually gender-segregated.
• Temple lodging (宿坊 shukubō): Stay at a Buddhist temple, join morning service if offered, and eat shōjin ryōri (精進料理, vegetarian temple cuisine). Kōyasan is the best-known cluster.

Cities add a lodging tax on top of the room rate. Kyoto’s bands (from 1 March 2026) reach ¥10,000 per person per night for the highest-priced rooms. Book early for sakura season — rooms are smaller than many Western hotels.

Japanese public life runs on not causing meiwaku (迷惑, inconvenience to others). A short etiquette guide covers shrines, onsen, and dining. The essentials:

• Bowing: A small nod is enough for greetings and thanks.
• Shoes: Off at a raised floor, genkan, or tatami. Wear clean socks.
• Trains: Keep your voice down. Phone calls are strongly discouraged on local trains and subways (announcements ask you not to).
• No tipping: Service is included. Offering extra cash often causes confusion.
• Escalators: Stand left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; walk on the other side. Follow the person in front of you. Some stations now ask everyone to stand.
• Gion (Kyoto): Stay off posted private alleys. Do not chase or photograph geiko or maiko without permission.

Tokyo has more Michelin stars than any other city, but the cheap eats are just as incredible.

• Konbini (Convenience Stores): 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart are legendary. Their egg sandwiches, onigiri, and fried chicken are high-quality meals.
• Depachika: Department store basement food halls. A paradise of bento boxes and sweets.
• Dietary Restrictions: Vegetarian/Vegan options are growing but can still be tricky due to dashi (fish stock). Use apps like HappyCow.
• Table manners: Never stand chopsticks upright in rice (立て箸 tatebashi — a funeral offering). Slurping ramen, soba, and udon is normal; it is not required for every dish.

Japan is one of the safest countries in the world. Solo walking at night is generally very safe.

• Emergency Numbers: 110 (Police), 119 (Fire/Ambulance).
• Earthquakes: Tremors are common; most are minor. A loud phone alarm is JMA’s Earthquake Early Warning. Drop, cover, hold on; follow station and hotel staff. Live map: earthquake tracker. Full visitor briefing: earthquake guide.
• Masks: Still commonly worn for illness or allergies (hay fever). It's polite to wear one if you have a cough.

The "Golden Route" (Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka/Hiroshima) is perfect for first-timers.

• Tokyo: The ultimate metropolis. Don't miss Shibuya Crossing, teamLab Planets, and the historic Asakusa district.
• Kyoto: The cultural heart. Fushimi Inari Shrine (thousands of vermillion gates) and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove are iconic.
• Osaka: Street food (takoyaki, okonomiyaki) and nightlife in Dōtonbori.
• Beyond the golden route: Kanazawa, Takayama (Hida), and Naoshima (art island in the Seto Inland Sea).

From high-tech gadgets to handcrafted ceramics.

• Tax-free: Bring your passport. Until 31 October 2026: participating shops deduct 10% consumption tax at the register on purchases of ¥5,000+ (before tax) per store per day. From 1 November 2026: you pay the tax-inclusive price, then claim the refund at the airport or seaport after customs confirms the goods are leaving Japan (within 90 days; complete this before baggage check-in). Details: 2026 tourist rules.
• What to Buy: Knives, ceramics, stationery (Loft or Itoya), and KitKats in bizarre flavors.
• Don Quijote (Donki): A chaotic, 24-hour discount store that sells everything. A cultural experience in itself.

Free Wi-Fi exists but can be spotty. We strongly recommend having your own connection.

• eSIMs: The easiest modern option. Apps like Airalo or Ubigi let you download a data plan instantly.
• Pocket Wi-Fi: Rent one at the airport if you have multiple devices or a group.
• Translation: Download Google Translate (and the Japanese offline pack) for menus. A few spoken phrases: Japanese for travelers.

Cards, IC cards, and QR pay (PayPay) are now common in cities. Carry yen for small restaurants, shrines, rural shops, and festival stalls.

• ATMs: Seven Bank (7-Eleven) and Japan Post ATMs accept most foreign cards and run late or 24 hours.
• Coins: You will collect ¥100 and ¥500 coins. A small coin purse helps.
• Departure tax: The International Tourist Tax is ¥3,000 per person aged 2+ on international air or sea departures (since 1 July 2026). It is usually bundled into the ticket.