Japan travel guide for first-time visitors

For a first trip to Japan, plan on 10 to 14 nights split between Tokyo, the Hakone or Mount Fuji area and Kyoto, travelling between them by bullet train. Check visa rules for your passport on the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs site, carry some yen in cash, and learn a few basic customs such as removing shoes indoors and queueing for trains.

Who Japan suits

Japan works well for travellers who like culture, food and efficient logistics. Cities are safe and clean, trains run to the minute, and the contrast between neon Tokyo and Kyoto's temples gives even a short trip real variety. Families, couples and solo travellers all do well here. It is less suited to anyone wanting a cheap beach holiday or total spontaneity in peak season, when hotels and reserved trains fill early. Browse highlights on our Japan destination page.

Entry and visas

Entry rules depend on your nationality. As of November 2026, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists 74 countries and regions whose citizens can visit for short stays without a visa, mostly for up to 90 days (some nationalities receive 15 or 30 days). Everyone else needs a visa in advance; people who need a short-term visa and live in one of a small group of countries (including the UK, US, Canada and Australia) can use the online JAPAN eVISA system, while others apply through an embassy or visa centre. Check the official visa exemption list for your passport.

JNTO recommends registering on Visit Japan Web before arrival. It is optional, but it speeds up immigration, customs and tax-free shopping. Tourist status does not allow paid work.

Arriving: gateway airports

• Tokyo Narita (NRT): a major long-haul airport for Tokyo, linked to the city by express trains and buses.
• Tokyo Haneda (HND): closer to central Tokyo, with a growing number of international flights.
• Osaka Kansai (KIX): the best arrival point for Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Hiroshima.
• Open-jaw routes, flying into Tokyo and out of Osaka, avoid backtracking and suit most first itineraries.

Money, language, power and time

Getting around

Trains are the backbone of travel in Japan. The shinkansen links Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima quickly, and local lines and subways cover the cities. JNTO highlights luggage forwarding services, which let you send cases ahead to your next hotel and travel light on the bullet train. A Japan Rail Pass (from JPY 50,000 for 7 days online, ordinary class) can be good value on long routes; our Japan trip cost guide explains when. If you plan to drive in rural areas, the UK Foreign Office notes that you need a 1949 International Driving Permit obtained before travel.

Suggested routes by trip length

Our Classic Japan: Tokyo, Hakone & Kyoto itinerary follows a similar 11-night shape, while the Japan Cherry Blossom Journey is built around spring. If you are travelling for the blossom, read our cherry blossom timing guide, and for the wider picture of seasons see when to go to Japan.

Etiquette and culture

• Remove shoes when entering homes, ryokan rooms, many temples and some restaurants; look for slippers at the entrance.
• Queue in marked lines on station platforms and keep phone calls off trains.
• Tipping is not part of the culture; good service is simply expected.
• At shrines such as Meiji Jingu, bow lightly at the torii gate and rinse your hands at the water basin.
• Public bathing at an onsen means washing thoroughly before entering, and towels stay out of the water.
• In Kyoto's Gion district, do not photograph geiko or maiko without permission and keep to public streets.
• Carry rubbish with you; public bins are scarce.

Health and safety

Japan has low crime, but the UK Foreign Office advises extra care in nightlife districts such as Kabukicho and Roppongi, where drink spiking and bar overcharging have been reported, and notes that drug laws are very strict. Natural hazards are the bigger planning factor: Japan sits in an active earthquake zone, typhoons peak between July and September, and summer heat often passes 35°C. Follow Japan Meteorological Agency alerts and hotel instructions, and read the official UK travel advice for Japan or your own government's equivalent. Take comprehensive travel insurance, and check the rules before bringing prescription medicines.

Practical tips for a smooth first trip

• Book shinkansen seats in peak periods; JNTO notes some Tokyo–Kyoto services need reservations during Golden Week.
• Visit popular sights such as Fushimi Inari Taisha early in the morning.
• Pack light or forward luggage; station stairs and small hotel rooms make big cases awkward.
• Keep some cash for temples, small restaurants and rural buses.
• Allow one unscheduled day in summer and early autumn in case of typhoon disruption.

Want a route built around your interests and dates? Share your plans with a specialist and we will put together a tailor-made Japan itinerary.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. JNTO — Visa information
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Exemption of visas (short-term stay)
3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Visa
4. JNTO — Plugs and electricity
5. JNTO — Currency
6. JNTO — Getting around
7. JNTO — Plan your trip
8. GOV.UK — Japan travel advice: safety and security