The Ultimate Japan Travel Planning Guide
This guide is the perfect travel planning outline for first time visitors to Japan. We say first time visitors because we’ve only been to Japan once and we’re not going to pretend like we’re Japan experts after one visit. That being said, we are pretty good at travel planning. Which is why you’re here!
In this blog we’ll cover what you need to know for your first time visiting Japan from travel and accommodations to even a bit on the language. This guide will help you prepare for your own ultimate trip to Japan.
Planning Your Trip to Japan
5 STEPS FOR PLANNING A TRIP TO JAPAN
Itinerary (Decide how long to go)
Budget (Set your budget and find accommodations)
Transportation (research how you’ll get around)
What to Pack (and why to stay carry-on only!)
Food and Drink (set expectations and learn what’s around)
Culture and Language (learn greetings, how to pay for items, and how to act on public transportation)
Prefer to watch rather than read? Check out our full video guide below!
1. Planning a 3, 5, 7, or 14 day Japan Itinerary
A. IF YOU HAVE LESS THAN 3 DAYS IN JAPAN (like a Tokyo Layover…)
Maybe you’re just passing through, but lucky for you, if you’re flying into Japan, mostly likely you’re flying into Tokyo. Tokyo is one of the largest cities in the world and one of the most convenient “gateway” cities between US and Asia. You could easily spend two weeks in Tokyo without feeling like you’re having a redundant day. If you’re flying into Japan and have 3 days or less, spend them in Tokyo.
THINGS TO DO IN TOKYO
This is a rooftop deck overlooking Shibuya Crossing, the busiest pedestrian crosswalk in the world. With a low entry fee of $20 USD, you can go to the rooftop for a 360 degree view of Tokyo. During the day you can see the bustle of the Crossing, in the evening enjoy the sunset, and at night see the a view of the city lights.
A top-rated immersive art museum, teamLab offers a different kind of 360 experience. Floor to ceiling art makes you feel like you’re walking through the artwork itself. This is one of the most recommended things to do in Tokyo by many travel planning platforms, so if this is up your alley, be sure to get tickets well in advance.
While this is not necessarily specific to Tokyo, Tokyo does offer one of the best experiences for street carting. We’re talking real life Mario Kart complete with costumes and, of course, go karts! There are plenty of companies to choose from when planning your street kart experience. In our opinion, this is a must-do when visiting Japan.
B. 5 DAYS IN JAPAN
After you’ve explored a bit of the largest city in the world, with a quick 5-day mark (assuming you’ll be a little jet-lagged), you’ll want to take it easy, but also take it all in. While you’re not going to fully experience the entire country it makes sense to either stay entirely in Tokyo for the duration of the trip (and may day trips out to somewhere (like Mt. Fuji) or at least to stay close to Tokyo for the duration of the trip.
Luckily there is plenty to do near Tokyo and public transportation makes it easy to visit.
From 3 days to 5 days, add Mt. Fuji.
Yes, Mt. Fuji is luckily very close to Tokyo and this area would be a great add-on to the itinerary above.
You could experience this area in multiple ways like
spending the night
camping near Mt. Fuji
taking a day trip from Tokyo with a guide
Looking for something different?
We do recommend adding in some element of nature into your visit of this length. Whether this is a trip to the botanical or Japanese gardens or a day trip to Nagano for skiing, it really see is neat to see the juxtaposition of Japan that makes it so unique.
If you’re lucky enough to have a longer stay in Tokyo, say a week or longer, we do recommend having a stay outside of Tokyo as well. A visit to Nagano for a mountain-view stay complete with a trip to an Onsen town for a dip in the hot springs. You could even spend an entire day enjoying the wildlife of the area like the snow monkeys if you’re visiting in the cold seasons of late fall, winter, or early spring.
C. 7 - 10 DAYS IN JAPAN
Add in Kyoto, or Osaka, or both
If you’re looking for a unique cultural experience during your trip to Japan, Kyoto is the place for you. Kyoto is the most popular tourist city in Japan for this reason. About a 3 hour bullet train ride from Tokyo, Kyoto is a city full of traditional temples and unique stays like Ryokans.
A Ryokan is a traditional Japanese hotel where you sleep on tatami-mats on the floor. This type of overnight experience always includes a multi-course traditional Japanese meal. Kyoto would be an excellent city to stay in a Ryokan because of its cultural depth.
For an urban cultural experience, visit Osaka, the second largest city in Tokyo. Osaka is the ultimate location to book a food tour. Osaka’s diverse neighborhoods offer a variety of different flavors and flare. If the nature element of a trip doesn’t excite you, stick to Tokyo and Osaka for a cityscape like you’ve never experienced before.
C. 14 DAYS IN JAPAN
Add in day trips from large cities
Like adding a day trip to Nara to your Kyoto stay
Add in a day trip to Kobe from Kyoto or Osaka
Reflect on a day trip to Hiroshima from Kyoto or Osaka
Visit Disneyland for a day from Tokyo
Visit Universal Studios from Osaka
Visit Hitachi Seaside Park from Tokyo (in the spring for flowers)
Relax in hot springs on a day trip from Tokyo to Hakone
2. Budgeting Your Trip To Japan
Japan isn’t what you would consider a “budget” trip. You’re likely to spend a similar amount of money in Japan that you would at home for a weekend trip. If you’re the type of person that enjoys a nice dinner reservation, you can easily go out and spend about $100 USD a person on a great Omakaze dinner.
If you don’t care as much about a luxury hotel or dining experience, you can ease up on the budget with shopping at local grocery stores (hello 7-Eleven) or make ramen for a few meals in your hotel.
A. POINT HACKING YOUR FLIGHT
One of the largest expenses when traveling to Asia is going to be your flight itself. One of the best ways to save money in this area is by flying with points. Surprisingly, there are many direct flights that fly out of North America. By transferring your credit card points to these direct flight airlines like United, you can cut down a huge portion of this cost.
Using credit card points for airline travel is the best use of your credit card points. Bank your points for this purpose rather than for accommodations or cash back unless your card is catered to accommodations like an Amex Platinum card.
B. SAVING ON YOUR STAYS
Japan has so many super fun and unique hotel accommodations from capsule hotels to Godzilla themed rooms. With such unique stays there is a budget and property for everyone under the sun, especially in Tokyo. If you have a credit card that offers you a property credit, whether this be for room service or a free breakfast, this could make staying at a more luxury hotel worth it.
With cities like Tokyo and Osaka being so large, save time during your stay by planning your accommodations around your attractions. Plan out what you’re going to be doing then find a stay in your budget around the area you’ll be visiting. In a large city like Tokyo, it can take time to get to and from areas and staying where your experiences are will save you time during your visit.
Booking stays in Japan can take more than just a simple Google search. If you’re looking for a traditional stay like a Ryokan, many of the sites are only Japanese characters, making the search process a bit more difficult. Start on your favorite booking search engine then, from there, you can start to explore different stays.
3. How to Get Around Japan
The transportation systems in Japan are world class. It is some of the most efficient and reliable transportation that you’ll find while traveling which makes getting around Japan that much easier.
A. GETTING A RAIL PASS
TIP: You need to send out for the Japan Rail Pass in the mail to your home.
That’s right. As “futuristic” as Japan is in so many ways, we were surprised to find out that the Rail Pass is not electronic.
Prior to your trip, go online and type in the dates that you will be visiting Japan. They will mail you a voucher for you to pack with you. Once you arrive to Japan, you will show your voucher along with your passport to be issued the actual Rail Pass.
These passes come in 7-day sequences so you can purchase the pass based on the length of your trip.
(keep this in mind as you may be planning your itinerary around this!!)
You may get sticker shock when you see how expensive the train ticket prices are in Japan. This is why is it important to plan out ahead of time how much travel you’re going to be doing in country. This will determine whether or not the Rail Pass or single tickets will be most economical for you.
Keep in mind, the Rail Pass is also good for traveling within Tokyo on some of the subway lines. Watch our video above for more details
B. NAVIGATING THE TRAIN SYSTEM
In typical beautiful Japanese fashion, the Japanese train system is very easy to navigate. Aside from signs in Western characters, there are plenty of info stands with helpful attendants that can answer any questions that your jet-lagged self has.
Some questions that can arise:
Do I need a seat assignment on my train?
What train should I catch from Tokyo to Kyoto?
How can I plan the rest of my transportation?
The attendants will help you schedule out and plan the remaining portion of your transportation to get you from A to B with ease.
If traveling during a busy, popular time of year, we recommend planning out this transportation as soon as you arrive to the NARITA train station to avoid any conflicts.
Watch the video above for more tips on how to reserve your seat on the train when you arrive in Japan.
C. DOWNLOADING THE SUICA APP
You know when technology just makes sense? This is a perfect example.
Download the Suica App for a card free option when traveling through the subway systems. You add funds to the card on your app and even if your phone screen is off, you can scan your phone to be able to easily access the subway. Throughout your trip, you can top off your card depending on how much traveling you’re doing. You can also use the Suica Card to pay for items at a lot of the shops and stores inside of the train station centers.
Feeling a bit lost?
Google Maps does a phenomenal job at telling you exactly where and when to go when navigating the public transportation of Japan. This will even help you when navigating how to exit the stations. Sounds simple? Ehh not always.
4. What to Pack for a Trip to Japan
If traveling with luggage larger than a carry-on, space will be limited on the train system. You will be required to make a luggage reservation or book the Green Car which is the first class system.
To easier navigation, opt for going carry-on only during your trip to Japan. Need help? Watch our Japan in a Carry-On Only Packing Video!
5. Eating Around Japan
A. BE OPEN-MINDED
Everyone has their own likes and dislikes when it comes to food and drink. Visiting Japan is a great opportunity to open up your mind and mouth to new food experiences. Conveyer belt sushi restaurants are a fun way to try new dishes. Surprisingly it isn’t just sushi on a conveyer belt. You can order from an iPad, shout out to the chef, or choose from the belt. Either way? There is plenty of sushi to indulge in.
B. DISTINGUISHING YOUR PALATE
Omakase dinners are another unique food experience to Japan. This is a multi-course meal, running between $50-$200 USD where the chef is preparing the food right in front of you. Traditionally, you’ll eat the sushi with your hands as they deliver you the dishes one by one. This is an experience that can be listed under both culture and food. Not only is this experience highly recommended by us, but you’ll see omakase dinners also recommended by your hotel concierge and any other Japan travel research you do.
Food tours are another great way to experience the food culture of Japan. You can find these experiences through a simple Google search or on a booking site. Our favorite way to find experiences like this is by searching on Airbnb Experiences.
With a big drinking culture, Japan is a fun place to dive into joys of sake, shochu, and beer. Along with food tours, drinking tours are also available as a fun way to experience the libations of Japan.
C. CONVENIENT CHOICES
It may sound shocking, but the convenient store food choices are some options you won’t want to miss. Stores likes 7-Eleven are known for not only their options, but also their quality of food. These convenience store food options are becoming popular on social media and are sought after by visitors and locals alike. Self-heating bento boxes? Yes please!
D. NAVIGATING THE FOOD CULTURE
Like any country, there are social norms around eating and drinking. For example, it is totally appropriate to eat and drink while traveling on the bullet train. Contrastingly, it is highly inappropriate to eat while traveling on the city subway systems. Not only is it not appropriate to eat on the subway system, there is even very little talking done. Although packed to the brim, you will find it to be a very quiet, hush experience even after a night out.
E. DIETARY RESTRICTIONS WHILE IN JAPAN
Dietary restrictions are easy to navigate while in Japan. Especially in the large cities, foods are clearly marked with common allergens or dietary restrictions. While things are clearly marked, this doesn’t mean that there are a lot of options. For restrictions such as vegetarian and vegan, there are a fair amount of options or substitutions available. Unfortunately, Japanese food is not as friendly for gluten-free or celiac diets. Particularly with the use of soy sauce, it can be difficult to find soy free or wheat free options.
6. Cultural Experiences
A. PLANNING AROUND YOUR INTERESTS
Everyone’s idea of a trip is different. You could be traveling for relaxation, maybe you’re interested in adventure sports, maybe you enjoy the history. Whatever your interests are, you will be able to find something to suit you in Japan.
If culture is what you’re looking for, Japan is the right place. From temple tours with kimono rentals temples to sumo wrestling, culture is never far out of reach. A great experience for the culture lovers and foodies alike is to participate in a traditional tea ceremony. These come in a range of experiences from high tea in a luxury hotel in Tokyo to a very traditional ceremony in the countryside.
With being such an abundant culture, even day-to-day city walking is a cultural experience while visiting Japan.
B. CUSTOMS AND RESPECT
Payment is a large part of the customs of Japanese culture. Specifically when paying with cash, there is a specific custom that should be practiced. Whenever you’re paying with cash, there are trays on the counter for putting the cash and coins onto. The next step is the hand the tray to the cashier with two hands. In general, whenever giving or receiving an item it is custom to do so with both hands.
Along with giving and receiving items, it is typically customary to bow when receiving an item. For example, if receiving another glass of sake, hold the cup with both hands an a slight bow after the glass is poured is customary and respectful.
C. LANGUAGE
A great way to show respect for the people of Japan and the Japanese culture is by knowing a few basic phrases in the Japanese language. Now, we’re not saying we had the pronunciation down perfectly, but we tried our best!
A few good phrases to know:
Konnichiwa - Hello/Good Afternoon
Sumimasen - Sorry, excuse me
Arigatou Gozaimas - Thank you very much
With the phrase, Arigatou Gozaimas (thank you very much), the longer the final s-sound in gozaimas, the more respectful it comes across.
Watch the video above for pronunciation and examples!
With most languages that are foreign to you, speaking a new language feels odder to you than it is perceived by locals. Out of respect, try your hardest! Have fun with trying a new language!
Your Trip To Japan
For more information regarding your upcoming trip to Japan, hang out with Fin while she gives you a deep dive into her trip to Japan. From planning your itinerary to navigating your budget, she’ll cover the ins and outs!
Get excited! You are on your way to planning an incredible trip. Come back to this blog throughout your travel planning to ensure the ultimate visit to Japan.
Sayōnara!
