Japan
Everything you need to plan a great trip — from Tokyo's neon to Kyoto's temples — without the guesswork.
Japan rewards a proper stay: 10 days minimum, 14 days ideal for the classic Golden Route (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, connected by Shinkansen). Best months are March–May (cherry blossoms) and October–November (autumn colors), both also the busiest. Most Western nationalities (US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia, New Zealand) get visa-free entry for up to 90 days as of 2026. Budget from $70/day backpacking, $150–250/day mid-range — helped by a genuinely favorable exchange rate for USD/EUR/GBP travelers.
Japan has a strange effect on first-time visitors: the postcard version — cherry blossoms, neon-lit crossings, temples that have stood for a thousand years — turns out to be exactly, almost disappointingly, true. It's also more compact and more efficient to move around than its reputation as an exotic, far-flung destination suggests: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka sit on a single high-speed rail line, and the trains genuinely run on time, to the minute.
This guide covers everything: where to go, how many days each city deserves, when to fly, what it actually costs in USD, and the visa rule for your specific passport — not one generic answer. Written to be genuinely useful, and kept current through the year.
Destinations
All Destinations ←
Tokyo
4–5 nights minimum — and it still won't feel like enough.
Kyoto
2–3 days, thousands of temples, pick your battles.
Osaka
Japan's food capital, and the most practical base for the whole Kansai region.
Hiroshima & Miyajima
A sobering morning at the Peace Memorial Park, a genuinely beautiful afternoon on a sacred island.
Hakone
90 minutes from Tokyo — hot springs, a volcanic valley, and Mount Fuji on a clear day.
Nara
A half-day trip from Kyoto or Osaka — bowing deer and one of the world's largest wooden buildings.
Attractions
All Attractions ←
Japan's Best Attractions
What's genuinely worth the trip — and the etiquette rules that carry real fines now.
Fushimi Inari Shrine: The Full Torii Gate Hike
Free, open 24/7 — and most visitors only see the first 10 minutes of it.
teamLab Tokyo: Planets vs. Borderless
Two digital art museums, two very different experiences — here's which to pick.
Climbing Mount Fuji: Permits, Cost & the Right Trail
A reservation system, a hard daily cap, and a real fee — the 2026 rulebook.
Tokyo Skytree
Soaring high above the city, Tokyo Skytree offers a stunning 360-degree view.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial
A poignant reminder of the past, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial stands as a symbol of hope.
Food
All Food ←
Japanese Food: What to Eat and What It Costs
From $5 convenience-store meals to $250 sushi counters — and everything worth trying in between.
Regional Ramen Styles in Japan
Ramen isn't one dish — it's at least six, and they're all worth a detour.
Sushi Etiquette & Omakase, Explained
The dunking, the ginger, the booking — what actually matters and what doesn't.
Transport
All Transport ←Practical Info
All Practical Info ←
Japan Visa & Entry Requirements (2026)
The real answer, broken down by passport — plus the JESTA scam warning worth knowing.
Money, Safety & eSIM in Japan
Cash, cards, real safety risks, and the fines that catch visitors off guard.
Articles & Comparisons
All Articles & Comparisons ←
Tokyo or Kyoto: Which Should You Visit First?
An honest head-to-head — not just 'you need both, obviously.'
10 Days in Japan: The Golden Route Itinerary
Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka — day by day, with the trims already made.
Best Time to Visit Japan
Cherry blossoms get the hype — here's when everything else actually peaks.
Biggest Mistakes First-Time Visitors Make in Japan
The JR Pass math, the cash thing, the tattoo rule — the real list.