Your first trip to Japan
Everything a first-time visitor needs, in order: when to go, what it costs, where to stay, how to get around and what to do before you fly.
A first trip to Japan is easy once you know the order of decisions. Start with when to go and how much you want to spend, then choose your route and where to sleep, and sort the practical bits before you fly. These are our guides in that order.
Short on time? Read the first-timer guide, then build your route in the itinerary maker.
Start here
- Japan Travel Guide for First-Timers: Everything to Know Before You Go
A practical first trip to Japan guide: entry and Visit Japan Web, when to go, how long to stay, money, data, trains, luggage, manners, safety and the mistakes to avoid. - Best Time to Visit Japan: A Month-by-Month Guide
When to visit Japan, month by month: cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, festivals, rainy season and typhoons, plus the quietest and cheapest times to go. - Japan Itineraries: 7, 10 and 14 Days for a First Trip
Three tried and tested Japan itineraries for 7, 10 and 14 days, with day-by-day plans, where to sleep, travel times between cities and whether a JR Pass makes sense. - Japan Itinerary Maker: Plan Your Trip in Minutes
Tell us how many days you have, when you are going, where you want to go and who is travelling. Get a free day-by-day Japan itinerary with nights per city, where to stay, trains and a budget.
Money
- How Much Does a Trip to Japan Cost? Daily Budgets for 2026
Real daily budgets for Japan in 2026, from backpacker to luxury: hotels, food, transport and sights, plus the new taxes that add to your bill and easy ways to save. - Is the JR Pass Still Worth It? Prices and Maths for 2026
The Japan Rail Pass went up in price on 1 October 2026. Here are the new prices, the routes where it pays off, the Nozomi rules and the cheaper alternatives. - Cash, Cards and IC Cards in Japan: How to Pay in 2026
How money works in Japan for visitors: when you still need cash, which ATMs take foreign cards, Suica and other IC cards, paying by phone and the new tax-free rules.
Where to stay
- Where to Stay in Tokyo: The Best Areas for a First Visit
The best Tokyo neighbourhoods to stay in, from Shinjuku and Shibuya to Ginza, Asakusa and Ueno, with what each is like, typical prices and which one suits your trip. - Where to Stay in Kyoto: The Best Areas for Every Traveller
Where to stay in Kyoto, from Kyoto Station and downtown Kawaramachi to Gion, Higashiyama and Arashiyama, with the pros and cons of each area and tips on the city's hotel tax. - Where to Stay in Osaka: Best Areas for Every Type of Trip
Where to stay in Osaka: Namba, Umeda, Shin-Osaka, Tennoji and Universal City compared, with the best area for families, couples, solo travellers and day trips to Kyoto and Nara.
Before you fly
- Do I Need a Visa for Japan? Rules by Passport (2026)
Check if your passport can visit Japan visa-free, for how long, and what to do if you need a visa: eVISA, fees from July 2026, applying from abroad and JESTA. - Entering Japan in 2026: Visas, Visit Japan Web and Customs
What you need to enter Japan in 2026: visa-free rules, how to fill in Visit Japan Web, customs allowances, medicines, the new tax-free refund system and what JESTA will mean later. - Best eSIM and Pocket WiFi for Japan: How to Stay Online
eSIM, pocket WiFi or a SIM card? How to choose the best way to get mobile data in Japan, what it costs, how much data you need and what to check before you fly. - Japan Trip Planning Checklist: What to Book and When
What to book and when, in order, with links to the guide for each step. - Japan Packing List: What to Bring for Every Season
A practical Japan packing list: documents, money, tech, clothes for each season and the small things that make a big difference, plus what not to pack.
Getting around
- Narita and Haneda Airport Transfers: How to Get to Tokyo
Every way to get from Narita and Haneda airports into Tokyo, with 2026 fares, journey times and the best option for your hotel, your luggage and a late arrival. - Luggage in Japan: Forwarding, Lockers and Shinkansen Baggage Rules
How to send your suitcase ahead with takkyubin luggage forwarding, what it costs, coin lockers, and the Shinkansen oversized baggage reservation rule. - Private Tour Guides and Drivers in Japan: Costs, When to Hire and How
How to hire a private guide or a car with driver in Japan: typical day rates, licensed vs unlicensed guides, when it beats trains and taxis, and the best places to use one.
On the ground
- Japanese Etiquette: 30 Dos and Don'ts for Travellers
The essential manners for visiting Japan, from shoes and chopsticks to trains, temples, onsen and tipping, explained simply so you can travel with confidence.
Travelling from the Gulf
- Flights from Dubai to Japan: Routes, Times and Tips
Which Japanese airport to fly into from Dubai, how long it takes, the time difference, and how to plan your arrival and departure. - Japan Visa for UAE Residents and Gulf Passport Holders (2026)
Do you need a visa for Japan if you hold a UAE or Gulf passport, or live in the UAE on another passport? What Japan’s foreign ministry says.
Keep planning
New to all this? Follow our trip planning checklist in booking order. See all of our Plan Your Trip guides, or build a day-by-day route with the free itinerary maker. Every guide is checked against official sources and says when it was last updated. Something missing? Tell us.