Japan Travel Guide for First-Timers: Everything to Know Before You Go

Japan is one of the easiest countries in the world to travel in once you know how it works. Trains run to the minute, streets are safe and people are kind to confused visitors. This guide covers the things that make a first trip smooth, with links to our detailed guides on each topic.

Entry, passports and Visit Japan Web

• Citizens of many countries, including the UK, US, Canada, Australia and most of Europe, can visit visa-free for up to 90 days. Others need a visa, so check with the Japanese embassy in your country.
• Your passport should be valid for the whole stay.
• Register on Visit Japan Web before you fly. It creates QR codes for immigration and customs, which speeds up arrival.
• Japan plans to introduce an online pre-travel authorisation called JESTA, expected around 2028. It is not required yet.

When to go and how long to stay

• Spring: cherry blossoms from late March to early April, mild weather and big crowds.
• Summer: hot, humid and festival season, with a typhoon risk from August to October.
• Autumn: clear skies and red maples from late October to early December.
• Winter: crisp and quiet in the cities, with snow in the mountains and Hokkaido.

Avoid Golden Week (late April to early May), mid August and New Year if you can. Japanese travellers fill trains and hotels at those times.

For a first visit, plan 7 to 14 days. Our itineraries show how to use them.

Money and paying

Cards are accepted in most city shops, hotels and chains, but keep some cash for small restaurants, temples and rural areas. Convenience store ATMs, especially at 7-Eleven, usually accept foreign cards.

There is no tipping in Japan. Since 1 November 2026, tax-free shopping works as a refund: you pay the full price and claim the tax back when you leave.

Phones, data and power

• Get a travel eSIM or rent a pocket WiFi. You will rely on maps and translation apps every day.
• Japan uses two-pin type A plugs at 100 volts. Most phone and laptop chargers work fine, but bring an adapter.
• Download offline maps and a translation app with camera mode for menus and signs.

Getting around

• Use an IC card such as Suica, or a mobile Suica on iPhone, for city trains, buses and convenience stores.
• For long distances, the shinkansen is fast and reliable. Compare single tickets with a JR Pass before buying one.
• Google Maps gives accurate train routes, platforms and times across Japan.
• Trains stop around midnight in most cities, so check your last train home.

Luggage

Big suitcases are a pain on crowded trains and many stations have long stairs. Most hotels and convenience stores can send luggage to your next hotel, usually arriving the next day, for a modest fee.

Coin lockers at stations are handy for day trips, and the shinkansen asks you to reserve a seat with oversized luggage space if your bag is very large.

Manners that matter most

• Keep quiet on trains and do not take phone calls.
• Take your shoes off where you see a step up or slippers at the entrance.
• Carry your rubbish with you. Public bins are rare.
• Queue in line on platforms and let passengers off first.
• Do not eat while walking in busy streets, and never stick chopsticks upright in rice.

Our etiquette guide covers 30 dos and don'ts in more detail.

Safety and health

Japan has very low crime, but it does have earthquakes and typhoons. Follow staff instructions and local alerts if one happens.

• Police: 110
• Fire and ambulance: 119
• Japan Visitor Hotline: 050-3816-2787, 24 hours a day in English, Chinese and Korean, for emergencies and general questions
• Travel insurance: strongly recommended, as medical care is excellent but costly for visitors

First-timer mistakes to avoid

1. Trying to see too much. Two or three bases is plenty for one or two weeks.
2. Buying a JR Pass without checking the maths.
3. Arriving at famous temples at midday. Go early in the morning instead.
4. Not booking hotels early for cherry blossom and autumn leaf season.
5. Carrying all your luggage on every train instead of sending it ahead.

We check this guide regularly. Prices, rules and services in Japan can change, so confirm with the official sources below before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.