Japan
Extraordinary food, culture, and cities. Nothing quite prepares you for it.
Japan rewards almost any kind of trip. Tokyo and Osaka for cities and food at every price point, Kyoto for temples and gardens, Hokkaido for skiing and nature, the southern islands for warmer beaches. The infrastructure makes everything easy; the depth of the culture means you could come back ten times.
At a glance
- Best time
- March, April, May, October…
- Climate
- Mild
- Budget
- Mid-range – Premium
- Trip length
- 2–5 weeks
- Language
- Japanese
- Currency
- JPY (Yen)
- January: fine
- February: fine
- March: peak
- April: peak
- May: peak
- June: avoid
- July: avoid
- August: avoid
- September: fine
- October: peak
- November: peak
- December: fine
Avoid: June, July, August. Shoulder: January, February, September, December.
Highlights
-
Tokyo
Every neighborhood is a different city. Eat your way through it.
-
Kyoto
Temples, gardens, geisha districts. Quieter mornings, busy afternoons.
-
Osaka
The food capital. Less polished, more fun than Tokyo.
-
Hakone & Mt Fuji
Hot springs, ryokan stays, classic views.
-
Hokkaido
Powder skiing in winter, lavender and lakes in summer.
Practical info
- Visa
- Visa-free for most Western passports (90 days). Verify before travel.
- Currency
- JPY (Yen). Roughly 150 JPY ≈ 1 USD.
- Language
- Japanese. English is improving but limited outside tourist areas.
- Safety
- Among the safest countries in the world.
- Getting around
- World-class. JR Pass for long distances, IC card for cities.
- Tap water
- Tap water safe and excellent.
- Plug type
- Type A Type B 100V
- Money
- Cash still common; cards work in cities, less in rural areas.
Not sure where to go
Take the 5-minute quiz
Answer a few honest questions and get matched to destinations that actually fit how you travel.
Start the quizCompare Japan with
Last updated 2026-05-04