Choosing where to stay in Japan is one of the most important decisions when planning your trip. The best hotel is not necessarily the cheapest hotel or the one closest to a famous attraction. In Japan, staying near the right train or subway station can save significant time across a multi-day trip. For most first-time … Read more
Two weeks is one of the best trip lengths for a first visit to Japan. You have enough time to experience Tokyo, Mount Fuji or Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima without turning every day into a race between train stations. You can also add somewhere beyond the standard Golden Route, such as Kanazawa. The important … Read more
Japan’s train system looks complicated when you first see a Tokyo rail map, but most tourists only need to understand a few basic rules. For everyday city travel, you will usually tap an IC card such as Suica or Pasmo at the ticket gates. For longer journeys between cities, you may need a separate Shinkansen … Read more
Three days in Tokyo isn’t enough to see everything—and trying to see everything is one of the easiest ways to ruin a short visit. Tokyo is enormous. The secret to a great 3 day Tokyo itinerary isn’t squeezing in as many attractions as possible. It’s grouping nearby neighbourhoods together so you spend your time exploring … Read more
Ten days in Japan is enough time to experience Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka while adding one smaller destination without turning the trip into a race between train stations. For a first visit, the most efficient route is: Tokyo → Hakone → Kyoto → Osaka From Osaka, you can add Hiroshima and Miyajima as an ambitious … Read more
The best time to visit Japan depends on what you want from the trip. For comfortable sightseeing weather, April, May, October and November are among the strongest months. For cherry blossoms, many travellers target late March to early April in Tokyo and Kyoto, although bloom dates change every year. For autumn colours, November is particularly … Read more