Japan travel guide

Getting there

Tokyo's Narita and Haneda airports and Osaka's Kansai International are the main gateways, with further international flights into Fukuoka, Sapporo and Nagoya; ferries connect with South Korea.

Best time to visit: Mar–May and Oct–Nov – mild weather, cherry blossoms and autumn colours.

Tougher months: Late July to August in the big cities is hot and very humid, and Golden Week (late April–early May) is extremely crowded; typhoons peak in August and September.

Weather by month in Tokyo

• 10°J●
• 11°F●
• 14°M●
• 19°A●
• 23°M●
• 26°J●●
• 30°J●●
• 31°A●●
• 27°S●●●
• 22°O●●
• 17°N●
• 12°D●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Asia/Tokyo. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 72 of 198 other passports can enter Japan without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 9 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 117 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Japan (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2025-05-15). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Japan travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Our area-by-area hotel guide: where to stay in Tokyo. It compares neighbourhoods so you pick the right base.

Most trips to Japan are based around Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$60–90 for a backpacker and US$150–250 mid-range, per person.

Source: Global Hotel Discount stay guide

Connect

Plug types: A, B. Voltage: 100 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +81.

Mobile data: read the eSIM for Japan before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Tokyo (Kantō · capital): A vast, endlessly fascinating city of neighbourhoods, from historic Asakusa to futuristic Shinjuku and Shibuya.
• Kyoto (Kansai · temples): The old imperial capital, with thousands of temples and shrines, geisha districts and gardens.
• Osaka (Kansai · food city): A friendly, energetic city famous for street food, nightlife and a landmark castle.
• Nara (Kansai · ancient capital): Japan's first capital, home to grand temples and roaming deer – an easy day trip.
• Hiroshima & Miyajima (Chūgoku · history & islands): A city of peace and reflection paired with a sacred island and its iconic torii gate.
• Hakone (Near Tokyo · hot springs & Fuji views): Onsen, lake cruises and views of Mount Fuji on clear days.
• Takayama & Shirakawa-go (Japanese Alps · traditional villages): Preserved merchant streets and thatched farmhouses in mountain scenery.
• Hokkaido (Northern island · nature): Wide-open landscapes, powder snow in winter, flower fields in summer and the city of Sapporo.

Things to do

• Ride the shinkansen. Speed between cities on the famously punctual bullet train, with Mount Fuji sometimes visible along the way.
• Explore Kyoto's temples. Walk through the vermilion gates of Fushimi Inari and the golden pavilion of Kinkaku-ji.
• Stay in a ryokan. Sleep on tatami mats, soak in an onsen and enjoy a multi-course kaiseki dinner at a traditional inn.
• Eat your way through Osaka. Graze on takoyaki, okonomiyaki and street snacks under the neon of Dotonbori.
• See cherry blossoms. Join locals for hanami picnics beneath pink-white blossoms in spring.
• Cross the Shibuya Scramble. Join the waves of pedestrians at Tokyo's famous crossing, then explore its shops and bars.
• Bow to the deer of Nara. Meet the friendly deer of Nara Park and see the giant bronze Buddha at Tōdai-ji.
• Reflect in Hiroshima. Visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, then take the ferry to Miyajima's floating torii gate.

Source: full Japan guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Sushi – vinegared rice with fresh fish
• Ramen – noodle soup in rich broth
• Okonomiyaki – savoury pancake cooked on a griddle
• Tempura – lightly battered fried seafood and vegetables

Source: RoamSun Japan guide

Talk

Twenty basic Japanese phrases with a simple sound guide. Say them slowly; a smile does the rest.

Basic phrases: pronunciation is approximate and the list has not yet been reviewed by a native speaker. Capital letters mark the stressed syllable where that applies. Spot a mistake? Tell us.

Money and safety

Currency: Japanese yen (JPY). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Not customary and can cause confusion.

Emergency numbers: 110 police · 119 fire & ambulance.

• The currency is the Japanese yen; cards are increasingly accepted, but cash is still needed at small restaurants, shrines and rural businesses.
• Convenience store and post office ATMs reliably accept foreign cards.
• Japan is extremely safe, with very low crime, but keep an eye on belongings in busy nightlife areas.
• Familiarise yourself with earthquake procedures and follow official alerts and staff instructions.

Source: RoamSun Japan facts