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Japan Travel Guide
Curated by Our Guild Explorers · Updated July 2026
A country of beautiful contradictions — neon-lit Tokyo and temple-quiet Kyoto, snow-capped Mount Fuji and steaming hot springs, thousand-year-old rituals and trains that glide in on the second. From a bowl of ramen at a counter to cherry blossom drifting over a castle moat — this is the Guild's chapter on Japan.
Mount Fuji mirrored in Lake Kawaguchi, one of the Fuji Five Lakes. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
Where to stay & when to go
Guild guides to the best places to stay in Japan's headline destinations — and the best time to plan your trip.
Where to Stay in Tokyo ›
Best areas and hotels — Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, Asakusa and beyond, by budget and style.
Where to Stay in Kyoto ›
The best places to base yourself — from Gion and Higashiyama to traditional ryokan and value picks.
Best Time to Visit Japan ›
Month-by-month weather, crowds and prices — cherry blossom, autumn leaves and the shoulder-season sweet spots.
Why visit Japan
Few countries fold this much tradition, technology, nature and sheer culinary joy into a single trip — or run it all so smoothly.
Old meets new
Ancient shrines and Zen gardens sit a subway stop from robot cafes and skyscrapers. Kyoto's thousand temples, Tokyo's neon canyons — centuries apart, minutes away.
The food, endlessly
Sushi and ramen, tempura and okonomiyaki, kaiseki tasting menus and convenience-store snacks that shame most restaurants. Every region and season has its own specialty.
Nature and the seasons
Cherry blossom in spring, fiery maples in autumn, Mount Fuji, hot-spring valleys and Hokkaido's powder snow — the calendar itself is a reason to go.
It simply works
Spotless streets, famously low crime, and bullet trains that leave to the second. Few places this exotic are this effortless — or this welcoming to first-timers.
The regions of Japan
Each region is its own trip. Full Guild city guides are on the way; for now, every city links straight to hotels through our Trip.com partner.
The dazzling capital and its hinterland — neon and temples, plus the hot springs of Hakone and Mount Fuji on the horizon.
The cultural heartland — imperial Kyoto, foodie Osaka, ancient Nara and the great castle of Himeji.
Snowy peaks and old post towns — samurai Kanazawa, thatched Takayama, castle-town Matsumoto and industrial Nagoya.
The wild north and the sub-tropical south — powder-snow Sapporo, poignant Hiroshima, buzzing Fukuoka and beach-fringed Okinawa.
- Sapporo soon
- Hiroshima soon
- Fukuoka soon
- Naha (Okinawa) soon
How the country divides up
Tokyo & the Kanto plain
Almost every trip begins in Tokyo, and it should. A city of villages — neon Shinjuku and Shibuya, old-Tokyo Asakusa, upscale Ginza — with world-class food at every price and endless day trips. Nearby, the hot-spring valleys of Hakone frame Mount Fuji, Nikko keeps its lavish shrines in the cedars, and Yokohama adds a breezy bayfront and Japan's biggest Chinatown.
Kyoto, Osaka & the Kansai
Kyoto is the soul of old Japan — a thousand temples and shrines, Zen gardens, geisha lanes and traditional ryokan. An easy hop away, Osaka is louder and hungrier, the nation's kitchen; Nara keeps a giant bronze Buddha and bowing deer; and Kobe its famous beef and harbour. The bullet train links it all to Tokyo in a couple of hours.
Central Honshu & the Japan Alps
The mountainous middle rewards a detour. Kanazawa preserves samurai and geisha districts and one of Japan's finest gardens; Takayama and the thatched farmhouses of nearby Shirakawa-go feel centuries old; Matsumoto guards a black-and-white castle beneath the Alps; and Nagoya anchors the region with castles and industry.
Hokkaido, Hiroshima & the south
The extremes lie north and south. Northern Hokkaido means Sapporo, powder snow, seafood and wide-open nature; to the west, Hiroshima and the floating torii of Miyajima turn tragedy into hope. Fukuoka is the friendly gateway to Kyushu and its ramen, while sub-tropical Okinawa brings coral beaches and its own island culture.
Top things to do in Japan
The experiences worth building a trip around.
Temples of Kyoto
Golden Kinkaku-ji, the vermilion torii tunnels of Fushimi Inari, and the hillside stage of Kiyomizu-dera. Go at opening to beat the crowds.
Tokyo, high and low
The Shibuya crossing and skyline views, ancient Senso-ji in Asakusa, sushi at Toyosu and a jazz bar after dark — the whole spectrum in one city.
Mount Fuji & Hakone
Ride the ropeway over steaming valleys, soak in an onsen, and catch the sacred cone mirrored in the Fuji Five Lakes on a clear morning.
Ride the Shinkansen
The bullet train is a sight in itself — 300 km/h, silent and punctual, with Mount Fuji flashing past the window between Tokyo and Kyoto.
Cherry blossom & autumn leaves
Hanami picnics under pink sakura in spring, and blazing red-and-gold maples in autumn — Japan's two great seasonal spectacles.
Eat everything
Sushi and ramen, tempura and yakitori, Osaka street food and a formal kaiseki dinner — plus convenience-store snacks that put restaurants to shame.
Best time to visit & getting there
When to go
Late March–May and October–November are the sweet spots: mild, clear skies, and framed by cherry blossom in spring and blazing autumn maples.
June–August brings heat and humidity, a rainy season (tsuyu) from early June to mid-July, and the risk of typhoons into September — though the mountains and Hokkaido stay pleasant.
December–February is cold and crisp: quieter, cheaper cities and world-class powder skiing in Hokkaido and the Japan Alps.
Getting there
Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Haneda (HND) are the main long-haul gateways, with Osaka Kansai (KIX) serving the west — all with direct flights from across the world.
Once you land, the Shinkansen bullet-train network links the major cities so fast and so smoothly that most visitors skip domestic flying altogether; IC cards like Suica make local trains effortless.
The currency is the Japanese yen. Cards are increasingly accepted, but carry cash for small restaurants and temples. Always check your current visa and passport-validity requirements before booking.
Japan travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Japan?
Spring (late March to May) and autumn (October to November) are the sweet spots — mild, clear and framed by the cherry blossom and the blazing maple leaves. Summer is hot and humid, with a rainy season (tsuyu) from early June to mid-July and typhoons possible into September. Winter is cold and crisp, superb for powder skiing in Hokkaido and the Japan Alps and for quiet, cheaper city sightseeing.
What currency is used in Japan?
The Japanese yen (JPY, symbol ¥). Cards and IC transit cards such as Suica and Pasmo are now widely accepted in cities, but Japan still runs on cash more than most rich countries — carry some for small restaurants, temples, markets and rural areas. The most reliable ATMs for foreign cards are at 7-Eleven convenience stores and Japan Post offices, found nationwide.
Tokyo or Kyoto — which should I choose?
Tokyo is the electric, modern all-rounder: neighbourhoods for every mood, world-class food, shopping and nightlife, and day trips to Hakone and Mount Fuji. Kyoto is the old capital — a thousand temples and shrines, geisha districts, Zen gardens and traditional ryokan. Most first-timers do both, and it is easy: the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train links them in about two hours and fifteen minutes.
How many days do you need in Japan?
For a first trip, ten to fourteen days is ideal: several days in Tokyo, a few in Kyoto with a side trip to Nara or Osaka, and time for Hakone, Mount Fuji or Hiroshima, all linked by the Shinkansen. With only a week, pair Tokyo and Kyoto rather than trying to see the whole country — the classic 'Golden Route' between them delivers the greatest hits.
Is Japan safe for travellers?
Japan is one of the safest countries in the world for travellers, with very low crime and a strong culture of honesty — lost wallets are routinely handed in. The bigger considerations are natural: earthquakes and typhoons, so know your hotel's guidance. The rail network is superb; a little etiquette goes a long way, and it is always wise to check your government's current travel advisory before you go.
Ready to plan your Japan trip?
Compare hotels, flights and tours across Japan — booked through Trip.com.
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