Planning a trip to Japan? We’ve put together the Ultimate Japan Itinerary here, but before you get to that there’s a lot of things to consider. When should I go? Do I need a rail pass? I don’t speak Japanese, what should I do?
It can seem daunting at first, but we’ve collected a list of handy things to know before you go to Japan to help alleviate that worry.
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Here’s everything you need to know:
When should I visit Japan?
While the number of tourists flocking to Japan varies depending on the season, Japan is undeniably beautiful all year round. Pick the season that suits you the most:
Spring (March-May) is the most popular, yet most breathtaking time to visit Japan, thanks to the stunning cherry blossoms. The bloom varies by region, starting in the southwest (Kyushu) in late March and reaching the northeast (Hokkaido) by mid-May. Check blossom forecasts at JWA for the latest updates.
Summer (June-August) is hot and humid with more rainfall, yet a brilliant time to visit. It’s a time of vibrant festivals to enjoy, like Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri, and lush green landscapes. Hokkaido offers cooler temperatures, and July to early September is the season for climbing Mount Fuji.
Autumn (September-November) brings beautiful fall foliage that rivals the cherry blossoms for beauty, yet still remains less crowded than spring. Peak viewing is from late September to early December. Visit Kyoto, Nikko, and the Japanese Alps for the best leaf displays, and savour seasonal foods like matsutake mushrooms. The milder weather makes it ideal for outdoor activities too.
Winter (December-February) is perfect for snow sports and hot springs. Hokkaido and the Japanese Alps have world-class ski resorts and stunning scenery, with traditional festivals like the Sapporo Snow Festival displaying epic ice sculptures. Don’t miss the winter illuminations in Tokyo and Osaka for a magical experience. Remember to pack your thermal layers!
Japan Rail Pass
The Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) is a convenient option for tourists travelling long distances in Japan. The pass allows unlimited rides on JR trains for periods of one, two, or three weeks and comes in two types: ordinary and green car. The green car option offers more spacious first-class seating.
After a significant price increase in Autumn 2023, it lost a lot of its appeal, but it remains a worthwhile option for travellers who appreciate the convenience of unlimited travel without the need to purchase individual tickets for each journey.
| Type | Ordinary | Green |
|---|---|---|
| 7-Day Pass | 50,000 yen | 70,000 yen |
| 14-Day Pass | 80,000 yen | 110,000 yen |
| 21-Day Pass | 100,000 yen | 140,000 yen |
Note: children aged 6-11 receive a 50% discount.
We’d recommend using the JR Pass Calculator once you know your rough route so you can work out if it is cheaper to get the JR Pass or just buy tickets as you go.
Train tickets without the JR Pass
For us, after using the calculator, we worked out that it was cheaper to buy train tickets separately rather than purchasing the JR Pass. We were able to buy the tickets at the station immediately prior to boarding for most of our journeys. However, if you are travelling on the weekend or on public holidays, it’s recommended to buy your tickets further in advance where possible as the trains can be much busier.
Purchasing tickets using third-party websites, such as Rail Ninja, are a convenient option, however we noticed that these were often a lot more expensive compared to the prices when purchasing directly from the station.
The majority of stations have ticket machines with an English-language option. Some of the larger stations even have staff available at ticket counters specifically for tourists to ask questions and purchase tickets.
Mobile Data
eSIM: We LOVE eSIMs. The company we keep going back to is Nomad. The ease of picking exactly what you need to cover your trip alongside an app that tells you how much data you have used is brilliant. The cost might be slightly more than a local sim card, but for us, it was much more convenient having both your regular phone number active as well as the local data package. This meant we could use our phone number for tour bookings and hotel confirmations (typically tied to your account when you book), and the eSIM for mobile data on the move.
Nomad offers country specific eSIMs, as well as multi-country passes which can last anywhere between 1 day and 60 days. This was perfect for us as we spent time in South Korea before heading to Japan and kept the same eSIM going.
If you want 25% off your first eSIM from Nomad, use our code: CONN46RM.
Local SIM cards: Local SIM cards are often the cheapest way to get on-the-go internet access, and Japan is no different. The 3 largest network providers are NTT Docomo, au and SoftBank. You can often buy SIM cards at the airport when you arrive – some even have SIM card vending machines.
Pocket Wifi: Pocket Wifi devices are becoming a lot more popular,allowing you to have consistent wifi without disconnecting and having to locate the next source. Most allow up to 5 devices and you can even rent pocket wifi devices from JR Rail!
Wifi: You will find public wifi in a lot of places in Japan, including airports, major railway stations, inside some trains and buses, most hotels, cafes and restaurants, as well as museums and tourist information centres. Basically, it’s not hard to find free wifi, however you will have to separately log-in to each individual wifi profile. One way to get around this is by using Japan WiFi Auto.
App Recommendation: Japan Wi-Fi Auto
One of the most frustrating things about using public wifi in Japan is the repetitive process of having to fill in your details and wait for confirmation emails to arrive before being able to get online. Japan Wi-Fi Auto is an app which does that process for you in the background when you select a new wifi network. It’s a great time-saver!
Public Transport
Although daunting at first, getting around on the local public transport in Japan is very simple once you know how…
Metro
You can buy metro tickets to your destination using the ticket machines at every station. You will use the ticket to get through the barriers – make sure you keep hold of it as you will need it again on the other side. It’s a simple process, however buying a ticket every time you need to hop somewhere new can be inconvenient if you’re doing multiple journeys a day…
IC card to the rescue! IC cards are pre-paid, rechargeable cards which can be used nationally in Japan on their metro (and other public transport) systems. You can also use these cards to pay for items in certain vending machines, shops and restaurants! There are 10 major IC cards, but they’re all essentially the same, they just have a different name depending on the place of purchase. Most people will buy the card (for around 500 yen) in the first city they visit i.e. the SUICA in Tokyo or ICOCA in Osaka. You can buy these from ticket machines at railway stations or metros.
If you want to read more about the cards we recommend this great article by Japan Guide.
Bus
If you have an IC card you can ride most public buses using this. In more rural places make sure you check when you board the bus as it might be cash only.
On almost all buses in Japan you board from the door in the middle of the bus and depart at the front (although if the bus only has one door, obviously just use this!). When you get on the bus, tap your IC card on the reader near the door and when you depart from the front of the bus, tap the IC card again on the reader next to the driver. Simple!
If you don’t have an IC card, or if the bus only takes cash, you have 2 possibilities.
- The bus may have a small ticket machine near the door. Grab a ticket, and note the number that’s printed on it. This number will be displayed with a price in yen on the screen next to the driver. As the bus continues along its route the price will update on screen. You need to pay the exact fare when you get off the bus (in cash) and no change will be given. You can use the change machine next to the driver to get smaller change for your fare. Don’t stress – the driver should be able to help you if it’s your first time!
- If there is no small ticket machine there might just be a flat fare that is paid when you leave the bus. Make sure to check for any signage around you on the bus to let you know of the fare or if there’s anything you need to know before you depart.
App Recommendation: Papago
Papago is a translation app we came across in South Korea, and in our opinion it is the best in the business for communicating in Japan.
It allows you to type or speak into your phone for translations into Japanese. It also has a picture function where you can upload or take photos on the go for accurate and quick translations.
We found Papago much more accurate in both South Korea and Japan compared to Google Translate as Papago uses “neural machine translation” to learn from mistakes and adapt to natural communication in both languages.
Restaurant Reservations
We didn’t reserve in advance for the majority of restaurants we ate at, we just walked in (or waited in the queue outside for a table). However, if you have a specific restaurant that you want to try that has lots of good reviews or you found out about online, we would recommend reserving a table in advance.
For some restaurants the only way to reserve a table will be via email or phone, but many restaurants in the bigger cities use reservation apps instead. Check out TableCheck, TABLEALL and Tabelog. If you search for your restaurants on google, you will often be able to see which platform they use. Check with your hotel reception as they may also be able to make reservations on your behalf.
Remember, Japan has amazing street food as well, so don’t worry if you can’t get a reservation – head out and enjoy the street food on offer instead!
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