Practical Guides for Visiting Japan

The first ten minutes in Japan trip up most visitors. Learn how Visit Japan Web, immigration, and customs work — and the three things to do before you leave the airport.

Japan is moving cashless, but cash is still king in many places. Here is how to withdraw yen with a foreign card, where cards work, and why you should never tip.

Maps, translation and train times all need data. Compare travel SIM cards, eSIM and pocket Wi-Fi so you can stay online from the moment you land in Japan.

A rechargeable Suica or PASMO IC card is the easiest way to ride trains, subways and buses across Japan — just tap and go. Here is how they work and how to get one.

New Year, Golden Week and Obon see all of Japan on the move. Learn the peak periods, what closes when, and how to time your trip for smaller crowds.

Japan runs from snowy north to subtropical south, with a rainy June and a humid summer. Here is what to wear and pack, season by season, wherever you are headed.

Fast, punctual and far-reaching — Japan's trains are a joy to use. Learn how the Japan Rail Pass works, when a regional pass is better value, and how to reserve seats.

Cleared customs — now what? Compare trains, limousine buses and taxis from Narita, Haneda and Kansai airports, and pick the smoothest route into the city.

Don't haul suitcases up station stairs. Learn how coin lockers and Japan's takkyubin luggage delivery let you send bags ahead and explore hands-free.

For Hokkaido, Okinawa and the countryside, a rental car is ideal — but you must have the right permit. Here are the licence rules, driving basics and tips for the road.

From ticket machines to the otoshi starter and paying at the counter, here is how Japanese restaurants really work — so you can order and dine with confidence.

From conveyor belts to refined counters, sushi in Japan is more varied than most expect. Learn the types, how to dip and eat nigiri, and simple etiquette.

Shoyu, miso, shio or tonkotsu? Decode Japan's ramen — broth styles, toppings, ticket machines and why slurping is encouraged — with this beginner's guide.

Small plates, cold beer and a lively buzz — the izakaya is Japan's pub. Learn how ordering works, what's the otoshi charge, and how to enjoy all-you-can-drink.

Japan's convenience stores are a traveller's secret weapon — great food, foreign-friendly ATMs, clean toilets, printing and parcels. Here is how to make the most of them.

From delicate wagashi to matcha soft-serve, Japanese sweets are seasonal, refined and beautiful. Discover what to try, where to find them, and the best edible souvenirs.

Beyond beer lies a rich world: fragrant sake grades, sweet-potato shochu, plum umeshu and acclaimed whisky. Here's a simple introduction to ordering Japanese drinks.

Skip the pricey gift shops — Japan's konbini and supermarkets are full of brilliant edible souvenirs, from regional Kit Kats to furikake. Here's what to buy and how to pack it.

Some Japanese dishes contain hidden fish stock or meat. Here is how vegetarians, vegans, Muslim travellers and people with allergies can eat safely and well in Japan.

Japan is increasingly welcoming to Muslim visitors, with more halal dining and prayer rooms. Here's how to find halal food, spot hidden ingredients, and locate prayer spaces.

Business hotels, capsule pods, hostels, ryokan or luxury? Compare Japan's accommodation types by price, experience and who they suit, so you pick the right bed each night.

A night in a traditional ryokan means tatami rooms, yukata robes, futon bedding, hot-spring baths and a seasonal feast. Here's exactly what to expect and how to enjoy it.

Arrival tea, a hot-spring soak, a seasonal feast, futon by the tatami, then a dawn bath and breakfast — here's the hour-by-hour flow of a perfect onsen ryokan night.

Sleep inside a Buddhist temple: quiet tatami rooms, vegetarian shojin ryori and optional morning prayers. Here's what a shukubo temple stay is like and what to expect.

Soaking in a natural hot spring is a Japanese highlight. Learn the simple onsen etiquette — washing first, towel rules, tattoos — so you can relax with confidence.

Shrines and temples follow slightly different customs. Learn how to purify at the fountain, how to pray, and when clapping is (and isn't) appropriate.

Hand-brushed goshuin seals and colourful omamori charms are Japan's most meaningful keepsakes. Learn what they mean, how to collect them, and the etiquette to follow.

Go beyond sightseeing: wear a kimono through historic streets or join a matcha tea ceremony. Here's what these visitor-friendly cultural experiences involve and how to book.

A sumo clash or a kabuki drama makes any trip unforgettable — and both welcome visitors. Learn when tournaments run, how to get tickets, and why single-act kabuki is perfect for beginners.

From Akihabara's multi-floor stores to real-life "seichi junrei" pilgrimage spots, here's how to enjoy anime and otaku culture in Japan — plus tax-free shopping and event tips.

Japanese public life runs on quiet consideration. Master the simple etiquette of trains, queues, escalators and shoes-off customs to travel like a local.

Japan's streets are spotless yet almost bin-free. Here is the local secret — carry your rubbish, sort it correctly, and follow a few simple street manners.

Heated seats, bidet sprays and a wall of buttons — Japanese toilets can baffle first-timers. Here is what each function does, plus how to use traditional squat toilets.

You don't need fluent Japanese, but a few polite phrases open doors. Here are the essential travel expressions — greetings, ordering, directions and emergencies — with easy pronunciation.

Cherry blossoms and fiery autumn leaves are bucket-list sights — but the timing shifts every year. Here is when and where to see them, and how to beat the crowds.

Summer fireworks, lively matsuri, winter illuminations and the all-important New Year — Japan's calendar is full of magic. Here's what happens each season and how to plan around it.

Japan's legendary "Japow" powder plus a hot-spring soak after the slopes make it a dream winter trip. Here's the season, top regions, beginner tips and how to get there.

Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Kyoto and Osaka on one smooth shinkansen line — the Golden Route is Japan's classic first trip. Here's how to plan it, how long to take, and how to travel light.

Tokyo, a hot-spring night near Mount Fuji, Kyoto with a Nara day trip, then Osaka — this balanced 7-day plan hits Japan's icons without the rush. Fully customisable.

From Senso-ji temple to the Shibuya scramble, this flexible 3-day Tokyo itinerary groups the must-sees by area so first-timers see the best with the least backtracking.

Golden pavilions, thousands of red torii and lantern-lit lanes — this focused 2-day Kyoto plan groups the icons by area so you see the best of the old capital, crowds and all.

Neon-lit Dotonbori, a grand castle and Japan's best street food — Osaka is Kansai's high-energy heart. Here's a 2-day plan, plus easy day trips to Kyoto and Nara.

Home to a monumental Great Buddha, lantern-lined shrines and free-roaming deer, Nara is a perfect easy day trip from Kyoto or Osaka. Here's what to see and how to go.

Safe, clean and welcoming, Japan is brilliant with kids. Here's how to handle strollers on trains, find nursing rooms, eat out with children, and keep everyone happy.

Japan is more accessible than many expect: elevators, station staff with boarding ramps, accessible toilets and taxis. Here's how to plan smooth barrier-free travel.

Japan's theme parks are magical but busy. Learn the general strategy — dated tickets, the park app, beating crowds and ride reservations — for a smooth, low-stress day out.

Japan is very safe, but know the essentials: 110 for police, 119 for ambulance, how to find English-speaking hospitals, and why travel insurance matters.

Japan is safe but sits in an active natural setting. Learn the simple basics — what to do in an earthquake, tsunami and typhoon, and which alert apps to install.

Vast landscapes, legendary powder snow, and some of Japan's best seafood and dairy — here's why Hokkaido feels like another world, and how to plan a trip by season.

Turquoise seas, white-sand beaches and a unique Ryukyu culture make Okinawa Japan's tropical escape. Here's what to see, what to eat, and the best time to visit.