japan travel, explained by locals

Your first trip to Japan,
without the guesswork.

The rules, signs and hidden spots no one tells first-timers — checked, not guessed. Plus day-by-day plans if you'd rather we do it.

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A lantern-lit alley in Japan
this monthNovember 霜月Autumn leaves, sumo in Fukuoka, Shichi-go-san.the boring stuffTax-free changed on Nov 1Pay full price, get it back at the airport.start hereFirst time in JapanTen things before you land.

Where to go in Japan

by season →

The big names, plus the places Japanese people go on their own holidays. Tap the map or pick from the list.

okinawaSapporoSendaiNikkoTokyoHakoneKanazawaTakayamaNagoyaKyotoOsakaNaraHiroshimaMatsuyamaFukuokaNagasakiNahaOtaruHakodateFuranoMatsushimaHiraizumiKamakuraKawagoeMatsumotoShirakawa-goIseKinosakiKumano KodoKurashikiOnomichiIzumoNaoshimaIya ValleyBeppuAsoYakushimaMiyakojimaIshigaki

classic city local favorite

SapporoHokkaido's easygoing capital of ramen, beer and snow.SendaiTohoku's leafy capital, and the gateway north.NikkoCarved shrines in cedar forest, lakes above.TokyoOne huge city made of many small neighborhoods.HakoneHot springs, art and a lake, close to Tokyo.KanazawaGardens, teahouses and gold leaf by the Sea of Japan.TakayamaOld merchant lanes in the mountains.NagoyaA practical hub with a palace, shrines and big flavors.KyotoJapan's old capital of temples and gardens.OsakaJapan's kitchen: loud, friendly and always eating.NaraGreat Buddha, ancient temples, and deer everywhere.HiroshimaA city of peace, and a gateway to Miyajima.MatsuyamaA hilltop castle and an ancient hot spring.FukuokaAn easy, friendly food city by the sea.NagasakiHarbor city of trade, faith and peace.NahaOkinawa's warm, busy gateway city.Otaru local favoriteA small canal port with glass shops and sushi.Hakodate local favoriteHarbor city with a famous night view.Furano local favoriteLavender in summer, powder snow in winter.Matsushima local favoriteA calm bay of pine-covered islands.Hiraizumi local favoriteA golden hall from Japan's northern golden age.Kamakura local favoriteTemples, the Great Buddha and the sea.Kawagoe local favoriteLittle Edo: old storehouse streets near Tokyo.Matsumoto local favoriteA black castle under the Alps.Shirakawa-go local favoriteThatched farmhouses in a snowy mountain valley.Ise local favoriteJapan's most sacred shrines in old forest.Kinosaki local favoriteA willow-lined hot-spring town made for yukata strolls.Kumano Kodo local favoritePilgrim trails through forest to mountain shrines.Kurashiki local favoriteWhite storehouses along a willow-lined canal.Onomichi local favoriteHillside temples, cats and the start of the Shimanami Kaido.Izumo local favoriteOne of Japan's oldest shrines, on the myth coast.Naoshima local favoriteAn art island in the Seto Inland Sea.Iya Valley local favoriteVine bridges and gorges in Shikoku's deep mountains.Beppu local favoriteSteam rising from a whole town of hot springs.Aso local favoriteA giant caldera of grassland and volcanic peaks.Yakushima local favoriteA rainy, mossy island of ancient cedars.Miyakojima local favoritePowder-white beaches and long bridges over blue water.Ishigaki local favoriteCoral reefs and the gateway to the Yaeyama islands.

Map: GSI Global Map Japan, simplified. Okinawa shown in the box, not to scale.

Model courses

all 8 →
7 daysfirst tripThe classic weekTokyo → Kyoto → OsakaFirst-timers who want the big three10 daysfirst tripTen days: the classics plus HiroshimaTokyo → Kyoto → Osaka → HiroshimaA first trip with a little more depth5 dayseasy paceTokyo and three day tripsTokyo → Kamakura → Nikko → HakoneOne hotel, no big moves10 dayslocal favoritesAlps and old townsTokyo → Matsumoto → Takayama → Shirakawa-go → Kanazawa → KyotoSecond-timers, or anyone who prefers small towns

Five ways in.

ZUKAN →
暖簾Norenfood & drink散歩Sanpostreets & nature寛ぎKutsurogistays & baths遊び心Asobigokoropop & play拘りKodawaricraft & design
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New in the ZUKAN

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図鑑 zukan枯山水 karesansuiA dry garden of rock and raked gravel standing in for mountains and water.
図鑑 zukan金継ぎ kintsugiMending broken ceramics with lacquer and gold, so the cracks shine.
図鑑 zukanもったいない mottainai"What a waste" — regret at letting something valuable go unused.
図鑑 zukan看板 Japanese signsTwenty signs that decide whether you eat, enter or wait.
plan with usYour trip, planned by a friend who lives here.Day-by-day plans, built around your dates and what you love.

What early testers said

all 25 →

early testers · free trial plans

★★★★★Ready-made

Bought this after our group chat achieved absolutely nothing for about three weeks. Finally had a route everyone could agree on. Shopping in Tokyo, a busy day in Kyoto and lots of food in Osaka. Would stay in Kyoto next time instead of just doing the day trip.

Jack R. · Australia8 days — Tokyo & Osaka, with a Kyoto day trip
★★★★★Tailor-made

We asked for fewer hotel changes and time to enjoy places properly. Keeping this part of the trip to two cities was the right call. Kenrokuen was wonderful, and in Kyoto we could visit a temple, have lunch and decide what we felt like doing next. The plan gave us direction without becoming the focus of the holiday.

Ethan G. · United States8 days — Kyoto & Kanazawa
★★★★★Ready-made

Useful for a short stopover. Did Asakusa, some record shopping around Shibuya and plenty of eating. Didn't follow every stop, didn't need to.

Ben H. · Singapore2 days — Tokyo

A year in Japan

month by month →

Average temperature by month

SapporoNahaTokyo
-10°0°10°20°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecSapporoNahaTokyo
Daily average, °C. JMA normals. Hover for values.
Show as table
MonthSapporoNahaTokyo
January-3.4°17.5°5.5°
February-2.9°17.5°6.5°
March1.1°19.5°9.5°
April7.5°21.5°14.5°
May13.5°24.5°19.5°
June17.5°27.5°22.5°
July21.5°29.5°26.0°
August22.5°29.5°27.5°
September19.0°28.5°24.0°
October12.0°26.0°18.5°
November5.5°22.5°13.0°
December-1.0°19.5°8.0°

Before you ask

all questions →
Do I need a visa?

Many passports get in without one, usually for up to 90 days — but it depends on your passport. Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs list. Residents of the US, UK, Australia, Canada and a few others can apply online for a tourist eVISA; at the airport the notice must be shown live on your phone, not as a screenshot.

Full guide →
Cash or card?

Both. Cards work in most city shops, restaurants and taxis, but restaurants are where they fail most. Keep enough yen for a meal and a bus fare. Seven Bank and Japan Post Bank ATMs are the easiest for foreign cards.

Full guide →
Should I tip?

No. Restaurants, taxis and hotels don’t expect it. A thank-you does the job.

Full guide →
Should I buy a Japan Rail Pass?

Only if you cover long distances. Since October 1, 2026 it costs more from overseas agents, while the official online price stayed the same for now. Price your actual tickets first — and note that Nozomi trains need an extra ticket.

Full guide →
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