Japan Travel Guide

Japan rewards travellers who step one stop further than everyone else. The famous corridor — Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka — is efficient and unforgettable, but the country's real exploration payoff is in the Japan Alps, the pilgrimage trails of Kii and Shikoku, the volcanic south, and the quiet coastlines of the Sea of Japan side. Trains reach almost everywhere, mountain huts take bookings and serve hot meals, and the trail signage is better than in most of Europe.

At a glance

Reference facts for planning Japan.

Capital

Tokyo

Currency

Japanese yen (JPY)

Language

Japanese (English signage widespread)

Drives on

the left

Plug type

A, 100V

Best time to visit

Where the good months sit, and why.

Months to think twice about: Late June to mid-July is the rainy season across most of the country, and August to September is typhoon season in the south and east. Mountain huts mostly close from mid-October.

Where to go

The places that justify the trip, and the guides we have written for them.

• The Japan Alps

  Nagano, Gifu

  Three mountain ranges with a mature hut system, onsen at the end of the day, and routes from gentle to genuinely serious.

• Kumano Kodo

  Wakayama

  A network of pilgrimage paths through cedar forest, usable in short sections and dotted with small family-run lodgings.

• Shikoku's 88-temple route

  Shikoku

  A 1,200 km circuit you can walk in full or drive in a week. The island stays quiet even in peak season.

• The lesser-known regions

  Tohoku, San'in, Kyushu

  Where Japanese travellers go when they want to escape the crowds — and where prices drop noticeably.

  Read the guide

Visas & entry

Around 70 countries and regions have visa-exempt status for short tourism stays, typically 90 days.

• Visitors from the US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada and New Zealand generally receive a 90-day temporary visitor landing permission on arrival.
• Nationals of countries without an exemption agreement must apply for a tourist visa at an embassy or consulate in advance.
• You will be fingerprinted and photographed on arrival, and you must carry your passport at all times by law.
• The JR Pass only makes financial sense if you are making several long-distance rail journeys — check current pricing before buying.

Check current exemption lists and any electronic travel authorisation requirements on the official Immigration Services Agency of Japan site before booking.

Daily budget

Rough per-person costs, excluding international flights.

• Business hotels are clean, small and often cheaper than hostels for two people travelling together.
• Convenience stores and station bento boxes make self-catering easy and respectable — a genuine budget saver.
• Long-distance highway buses cost roughly half the equivalent shinkansen fare and run overnight.
• Cash still matters in rural areas; carry some even if you mainly pay by card or IC card.

Recommended routes

Three ways to structure a trip, depending on how much time you have.

Getting around

Japan's rail network is the reason a car-free trip works. Shinkansen cover the long legs, local trains and buses reach the mountains, and IC cards (Suica, ICOCA and others) work across most urban systems. Rural bus timetables can be sparse — check the last departure before you rely on one.

Safety & hazards

Japan is one of the safest countries in the world for street crime. The real risks are natural: earthquakes, typhoons, volcanic activity around active peaks, and hypothermia on mountains that look deceptively accessible. Mountain huts and trailheads post warnings in English; take them seriously.

Japan guides

Long-form guides published for this destination.