Japan travel guide
Japan travel guide: cities, seasons, and the whole trip
Japan rewards travelers willing to slow down. Three days in Tokyo, four in Kyoto, and you’re scratching the surface – but you’ll already understand why every traveler we know wants to return.
Destinations we cover in Japan
Country overview
Japan is a continental-temperate archipelago stretching 3,000 km north-to-south, with four distinct seasons and one of the world’s deepest cultural canons. Visa-free entry for most Western travelers (with new JESTA system from late 2025), excellent public transit (Shinkansen + Suica card), universally safe, and food culture that’s arguably the best in Asia.
- Language
- Japanese. English signage extensive on metro and at major sites; spoken English limited but improving.
- Currency
- Japanese Yen (JPY). Cash is more common than in Western countries. Convenience-store ATMs (7-Eleven) are reliable.
- Best time to visit
- Late March-April for cherry blossom; mid-November for autumn foliage. May, October are excellent shoulder seasons. Avoid Golden Week (late April-early May) and July-August humidity.
- Trip highlights
- Tokyo’s neighborhoods + food culture, Kyoto’s 17 UNESCO sites, Hokkaido’s powder ski + summer hiking, Mt Fuji’s mirror lakes, the Shinkansen network, kaiseki cuisine.