Japan is where SecretMoona began. My first solo trip, back in 2017, was to Japan, and it completely changed the way I travel. It taught me to slow down, look beyond the obvious sights, and leave room for quiet temples, tiny cafés, gardens, train journeys and places that do not always appear on a first-timer’s itinerary.
Since then, I have returned for the neon streets of Tokyo, the temples of Kyoto, the moss gardens, the hot springs, the food, the countryside and the little moments that make travelling in Japan feel so special. This Japan travel guide brings together everything I have written about the country, from planning your first trip to finding quieter corners beyond the classic route.
Whether you are dreaming of Tokyo and Kyoto, planning a two-week Japan itinerary, or looking for a more cultural side of the country, this guide will help you know where to start.
Japan at a Glance
- Language: Japanese. A few simple phrases go a long way.
- Currency: Japanese yen (¥). Japan is still more cash-friendly than many travellers expect.
- Best time to visit: March to May for blossoms, and October to early December for autumn colours.
- Getting around: Trains are excellent, but always check whether a JR Pass makes sense for your route.
- Travel style: Mix the big cities with smaller towns, gardens, onsen and countryside stays.
- Don’t miss: Tokyo and Kyoto, yes — but save time for somewhere slower.
Start Here: How to Use This Japan Guide
If this is your first trip to Japan, begin with my complete guide to planning a first trip to Japan. It covers the practical questions that can feel overwhelming at the beginning: when to go, how long to stay, how much to budget, where to sleep, how to get around and what to know before you arrive.
If you already know you want the classic route, start with Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, then add one or two day trips. If you want something quieter, look at Shikoku, Ehime, Uji, Nikko, Kamakura or Kawagoe. My favourite Japan itineraries always combine the famous places with at least one slower, less obvious stop.
When to Visit Japan
Japan is beautiful year-round, but spring and autumn are the two seasons most travellers dream about.
Spring, especially late March to early April in many popular areas, is cherry blossom season. It is beautiful, but it is also busy and expensive, so book accommodation well ahead if you want to travel during peak sakura weeks.
Autumn is my personal favourite. The weather is comfortable, the light is softer, and the red and gold koyo foliage makes temples, gardens and mountain towns feel even more atmospheric. My guide to reasons to visit Japan in autumn covers the foliage, seasonal food, festivals and quieter mood that make this such a special time to travel.
Summer is hot and humid, but it brings matsuri, fireworks and a more local festival atmosphere. Winter is underrated if you love snow scenery, hot springs, quiet temples and Tokyo’s dazzling illuminations.
Where to Go in Japan
Tokyo and Around
Give Tokyo at least three or four days, especially if it is your first visit. It is huge, but it becomes easier to enjoy when you treat it as a collection of neighbourhoods rather than one single city to “complete”.
My Tokyo itinerary covers the classic stops, but I also recommend making time for quieter corners. Asakusa is perfect for old Tokyo atmosphere, while Meiji Shrine and Senso-ji show two very different sides of the city’s spiritual life. When Tokyo feels too intense, escape into a garden. The Nezu Museum’s hidden garden in Omotesando is one of my favourites, and Tokyo’s autumn gardens are especially beautiful if you visit later in the year.
Tokyo is also one of the best bases for day trips. Nikko has lavish shrines and forested scenery. Kamakura offers the Great Buddha, temples and the coast, with Enoshima nearby. Yokohama has harbour views and the lovely Sankeien Garden, while Kawagoe gives you Edo-period streets without travelling far from the capital.
For a first taste of a traditional inn, I stayed at a ryokan in Kinugawa Onsen, with a private hot-spring bath, kaiseki dinner and the kind of calm that makes you understand why ryokan stays are such an important part of travelling in Japan.
Kyoto and Kansai
Kyoto deserves more than one day, but even a short visit can be unforgettable if you plan it well. My one-day Kyoto itinerary takes in some of the city’s most iconic sights, from the torii gates of Fushimi Inari to the Golden Pavilion, while my Kyoto photo diary gives a more visual sense of the city’s temples, streets and quiet details.
Just south of Kyoto, Uji is one of those places I always recommend to travellers who want something cultural but easy to reach. It is famous for matcha, riverside scenery and the atmospheric tradition of cormorant fishing at dusk.
From Kyoto, you can also visit Osaka for food and nightlife, Nara for temples and deer, and other Kansai stops depending on how much time you have.
Shikoku: My Hidden Japan
If you take one piece of advice from this page, make it this: consider Shikoku.
Shikoku is the smallest and least-visited of Japan’s four main islands, and it offers a quieter, slower side of the country that many first-time itineraries miss. It has castles, onsen, pilgrimage temples, riverside towns, preserved merchant streets, mountain cafés and beautiful countryside.
Start with my guide to the best things to do in Shikoku, then explore Ehime prefecture. Matsuyama has one of Japan’s most beautiful original castles and the legendary Dōgo Onsen. Ōzu is a riverside castle town with a peaceful, old-world feel. Uchiko has preserved merchant houses and traditional streets, while Kokemushiro is a moss garden café hidden in the hills.
My Ehime guide brings the whole route together if you want to build a slower countryside leg into a two-week Japan trip.
Beyond Tokyo and Kyoto
Once you have done the classic Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka route, Japan opens up beautifully.
Osaka is all food, energy and evening atmosphere. Hiroshima is deeply moving and easy to combine with Miyajima. Kanazawa is known for gardens, samurai districts, gold leaf and a quieter historic feel. Nara is ideal for temples, deer and an easy day trip from Kyoto or Osaka.
My guide to the best cities in Japan beyond Tokyo brings these places together and is a good next step if you want to expand your itinerary without making it too complicated.
A First-Timer’s Two-Week Japan Itinerary
For a first trip, I would usually suggest two weeks if you can. It gives you enough time to see the classic route without rushing every day, and it also leaves room for one slower place that changes the rhythm of the trip.
Days 1–4: Tokyo
Follow my Tokyo itinerary, mixing famous sights with quieter corners such as gardens, shrines and neighbourhood walks. Tokyo is much easier to enjoy when you think of it as a series of districts rather than one giant city to conquer.
Day 5: Tokyo day trip
Choose Nikko for shrine splendour and forest scenery, or Kamakura for temples, the Great Buddha and the coast. Both work well as a change of pace from the capital.
Days 6–8: Kyoto and Uji
Start early for Kyoto’s major temples, then add Uji for matcha, riverside views and a slower pace. Kyoto rewards patience, so it is worth building in time for quieter streets and unplanned stops.
Day 9: Osaka or Nara
Choose Osaka for street food and city energy, or Nara for temples, deer and history. Either option works well as a short but memorable Kansai stop.
Days 10–13: Shikoku
Travel to Matsuyama, then explore Dōgo Onsen, Ōzu, Uchiko and the quieter corners of Ehime. This is where the trip slows down and Japan feels especially calm and layered.
Day 14: Return to Tokyo
Spend your final evening in an izakaya, pick up last-minute gifts and enjoy the city one more time. If you prefer, you can swap the final Tokyo return for an extra night in another region.
You can also replace the Shikoku section with Kanazawa, Hiroshima, the Japanese Alps or another area that fits your interests. The main idea is to pair the classics with at least one place where you can slow down.
Getting Around Japan
Japanese trains are a travel experience in themselves. They are clean, punctual and often surprisingly peaceful, but the ticketing system can feel confusing at first.
The Japan Rail Pass used to be an obvious choice for many first-time itineraries, but since the major price rise, it does not automatically save money on simple routes. Whether it is worth buying depends entirely on your itinerary.
For city travel, get an IC card such as Suica, Welcome Suica, Pasmo or the current visitor equivalent available at the time of your trip. These cards make trains, buses, lockers, vending machines and convenience-store payments much easier.
A few extra tips: avoid travelling with huge luggage during rush hour, consider luggage forwarding between hotels, and reserve seats on long-distance trains during busy travel periods.
Where to Stay in Japan
Mixing accommodation styles is one of the best parts of travelling in Japan.
Business hotels are compact, spotless and very practical in cities. They are ideal for Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and short overnight stops.
A ryokan stay is something I always recommend, even if only for one night. My Kinugawa Onsen ryokan stay shows what to expect: tatami rooms, futon bedding, kaiseki dinner, hot springs and a slower rhythm.
In Kyoto, a machiya townhouse rental can work beautifully if you want a more atmospheric stay. For countryside areas, look for traditional inns, small guesthouses or onsen hotels.
Book early for cherry blossom season, autumn foliage, Golden Week and popular weekends. Japan rewards planning, especially if you care about location and atmosphere.
Japanese Culture and Etiquette
A little cultural fluency makes travelling in Japan much easier and more enjoyable.
My guide to Japanese customs and etiquette covers the essentials: when to remove your shoes, how to behave in temples, what to know about onsen, how to use chopsticks respectfully, and why quiet public behaviour matters.
You do not need to speak Japanese to travel in Japan, especially on the main routes, but learning a few words changes the mood of almost every interaction. My guide to useful Japanese phrases covers simple greetings, restaurant phrases, station questions and polite expressions.
For a more poetic introduction to the country, I also collected beautiful Japanese words such as wabi-sabi and komorebi — words that capture feelings and ideas you will notice again and again as you travel.
What to Eat in Japan
Come hungry. Food is one of the great joys of travelling in Japan, whether you are eating ramen at a counter, sushi at a tiny restaurant, tai-meshi in Matsuyama, matcha sweets in Uji or a bento box on a train.
My guide to must-eat Japanese foods covers the classics and regional specialities, from sushi and ramen to okonomiyaki, yakitori, onigiri, udon, tempura and more.
Do not underestimate convenience stores either. Konbini are genuinely useful for breakfast, snacks, coffee, ATMs and easy meals when you are too tired to sit down in a restaurant.
And if you are missing Japan between trips, I also reviewed the Sakuraco Japanese snack box, which brings traditional Japanese sweets and teas to your door.
Practical Tips for Visiting Japan
- Carry some cash. Cards are increasingly accepted, but temples, small restaurants, older cafés and rural places may still be cash-only.
- Get an IC card early. It will make trains, buses, lockers and convenience-store payments much easier.
- Keep your voice low on trains. Quiet public transport is part of the culture.
- Carry a small bag for rubbish. Public bins are surprisingly rare.
- Take shoes seriously. You will remove them in ryokans, temples, some restaurants, fitting rooms and private homes.
- Book ahead for peak seasons. Cherry blossoms, autumn foliage, Golden Week and New Year can book up months in advance.
- Use luggage forwarding if your route is complex. It can make multi-city travel much easier.
- Leave space in your itinerary. Japan is not a country to rush through. Some of the best moments happen between the famous sights.
More Japan Inspiration
Missing Japan between trips is very real. I treat mine with Japanese gardens, Japanese food, books, design, and visits to places like Japan House in London.
You can find every Japan article I have written in the Japan archive, including guides to Tokyo, Kyoto, Shikoku, Ehime, Japanese food, etiquette, phrases, gardens and seasonal travel.
Japan Travel Guide FAQs
When is the best time to visit Japan?
The most popular times are spring for cherry blossoms and autumn for colourful foliage. Late March to early April is a classic sakura window in many major destinations, while October to early December is wonderful for autumn colours, depending on the region. Autumn is my personal favourite because the weather is comfortable and the atmosphere feels a little calmer.
How many days do you need in Japan?
Ten days is enough for Tokyo, Kyoto and one or two day trips, but two weeks is much better for a first trip. With 14 days, you can follow the classic route and still add somewhere quieter, such as Shikoku, Kanazawa, Nikko, Kamakura or an onsen town.
Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it?
It depends on your route. Since the price rise, the JR Pass no longer automatically makes sense for a simple Tokyo–Kyoto return. It can still be useful if you are covering long distances across several regions, but always compare the pass price with individual train fares before buying.
Where should I go in Japan beyond Tokyo and Kyoto?
Shikoku is my favourite recommendation for travellers who want a quieter side of Japan. Matsuyama, Dōgo Onsen, Ōzu, Uchiko and the countryside of Ehime make a beautiful contrast to Tokyo and Kyoto. Kanazawa, Nara, Hiroshima, Nikko and Kamakura are also excellent additions.
Do I need to speak Japanese to travel in Japan?
No, especially if you are travelling through major cities and popular routes. Signs are often translated, transport is well organised, and people are usually very helpful. That said, learning a few phrases such as hello, thank you and excuse me makes a big difference.
What should I book in advance for Japan?
Book accommodation early for cherry blossom season, autumn foliage, Golden Week and New Year. Popular ryokans, special restaurants, theme parks, observation decks and some cultural experiences should also be booked ahead.
Is Japan good for solo travel?
Yes. Japan is one of my favourite countries for solo travel. It is easy to get around, eating alone is normal in many casual restaurants, and the train network makes independent travel very manageable. My first solo trip to Japan is the reason SecretMoona began.