Planning a Trip to Japan Guide: All You Need to Know + Useful Tips

I know you probably have a lot of questions. Like, how do I plan a trip to Japan? How early should I prepare in advance? When should I buy tickets? When should I book accommodations? You might feel anxious or stressed about planning a trip to Japan. And the internet is filled with travel and itinerary planning advice that can get overwhelming. This guide is made to be followed step by step, where, ideally, you can start at the top of this blog with no trip planned and end with a scheduled trip.

I encourage you to read a section, reflect or work on your trip planning, and refer to this article.

Guide to the Guide

This guide starts with reflection questions about what kind of trip you want, budgets, when to plan, Japan logistics, how to make an itinerary, pre-trip checklist, what you need to know, and what not to miss in Japan. I made this guide with a person planning a trip to Japan for the first time in mind. Everyone comes in with different levels of planning backgrounds and experiences, so also feel free to skip to sections that serve you better.

I know you’re excited to learn all about the logistics of Japan, but before we jump to that, let’s reflect on our potential trip so that you get the best experience.

What Type of Trip You Want/What Type of Traveler Are You?

We’ve all heard the quote: failing to prepare is preparing to fail.

Until you know what type of trip you want, any effort planning is not productive. It’s like driving a car, but you don’t know the destination, so you keep going in circles. That’s wasted time, gas, money, and energy! Plus, you’ll end up with a headache and feel frustrated. Planning trips is supposed to excite you about a new experience. So, to avoid trip planning fatigue and frustration…

Ask yourself some questions…

• Do you want traditional or modern experiences?
• Do you enjoy a slow or fast pace?
• Are you looking to sightsee or relax
• What kind of attractions do you want to see? (I.e., nature, museums, temples, palaces, etc.)
• Do you want to see as many places as possible or stay in 1-2 areas?
• Do you want to plan or not plan an itinerary?
• How do you want to make your itinerary?
• Are you on a budget?

It’s okay if you don’t know the answer to some or all these questions. Sometimes, the best way to learn is through experience. The more important thing is to reflect on what you think you might like—these questions are for you to tailor your trip to your preferences to have the best experience possible. Knowing what you like helps you plan the trip YOU want, not the trip you think you want or read about online.

I recommend writing or keeping your answers somewhere to refer to once you start planning. The answers to these fundamental questions will be the foundation of your planning. If you find yourself at a crossroads, deciding which place to go to or what attraction to see, look back to your answers as a guide. As much as we’d love to do and see everything on a trip, it’s impossible. As a result, we have to be picky about what and where we spend our time.

Now that we know what kind of trip we want, it’s time to see if that is realistically feasible, depending on your budget.

How much does a trip to Japan cost?

Except for fixed prices like entry fees and public transportation, a trip to Japan can wildly vary in cost. But to give a tangible number for categories, here is what you can typically expect in price:

• Accommodation: Accommodations range in price, with the lower end being 15-20 USD through hostels or upwards of 1000+ USD for a luxury hotel. But on average, the modest traveler will spend an average of 35-50 USD per night for an Airbnb or hotel room.
• Flight: The average roundtrip ticket price from California to Japan is about 700 USD. Depending on where you are flying from, flights can be less or more but expect to spend a couple hundred on tickets.
• Food: Food in Japan is less expensive than food in America or Europe. There is also a range of food prices depending on where you go. Convenience store food is inexpensive as it’s made to be cheap and fast. You can get a meal for as little as 500 yen, and an onigiri will be about 120-150 yen, depending on the filling. At a small mom-and-pop restaurant, a meal can be 800-1200 yen; at a chain or mid-tier restaurant, it can be 1200+ yen. Food in the countryside and less touristy areas is cheaper than food in touristy areas.
• Souvenirs: This depends on what kind of souvenirs you like. You can find souvenirs for less than 3 USD, like keychains, chopsticks, goshuin stamps, etc., or splurge on designer or local items. This is a category entirely in your control!
• Entry fees: Fees for temples, castles, and cultural sites are generally pretty affordable, with castle entrances hovering around 500-700 yen or 5 USD. Most shrines and temples are free to visit. Amusement parks are more expensive, but tickets to parks are much cheaper than tickets in the U.S. For example, a one-day ticket to Disney is 60 USD, while the same ticket to Disneyland in California is 120 USD!
• Public transportation: Local public transport costs about 100-300 yen per ride, depending on how far you take the bus or train. Transportation is usually calculated by distance, so the farther the trip, the more expensive it is. The high-speed train or Shinkansen is costly, with trips costing 50+ USD or more between cities. A one-way Shinkansen ride from Tokyo to Hachinohe is about 110 USD. However, it’s a good value if you consider how far cities are from each other and the speed at which you get there.
• JR Pass: The JR Pass is the famous tourist train pass that gives unlimited rides on any JR line, train, or Shinkansen for a specific week. It’s great for traveling through Japan as the Shinkansen is fast and efficient. However, it is a significant expense. A 7-day pass (the shortest amount of time available) is 226.66 USD. There is also a 14-day pass for 357.15 USD and a 21-day pass for 446.44 USD. (*JR Passes are increasing in price starting October 1, 2023).

If you’re on a budget, there are definitely ways to make your money go further. However, it might mean you must compromise on certain aspects of your trip. For example, the most expensive parts of any trip are usually flights and accommodation. If you’re looking to save money, those parts of your trip should be the first things you try to save on. That might mean booking a flight on a budget airline or staying in a hostel rather than a hotel or Airbnb.

How Much Money Do You Need to Prepare for a Trip to Japan?

The minimum amount of money any prospective traveler should have before traveling to Japan is 2,000 USD. This is just an average baseline for the average traveler looking to stay in Japan for 1-2 weeks. Of course, some people will be on the extreme ends of the money spectrum—the highly frugal and extravagant spender travelers. But as a rough benchmark, 2,000 USD is what I think provides a comfortable experience for prospective travelers to Japan.

Everyone has a different relationship with money, especially when it comes to vacationing and traveling. Even if you’re low on funds, you might want to splurge a little because you’re in a different country and want to experience something new. Or, even if you’re financially comfortable, you might be more frugal spending money because you want to make sure you’re spending it on things you think are worth it. Travel money and spending habits are incredibly personal and differ immensely between travelers. What I spend money on might not be something you want to spend money on.

What is important is knowing what you want your money going towards and how you will balance that with your funds (if applicable). Hopefully, the rough estimates I gave above help determine how much money you might need to save for your trip. Or, if the prices were not what you thought, it helps give you a reality check and an opportunity to adjust expectations. Maybe the journey can be earlier than you thought! Or perhaps the trip will be later than you wanted, but it’s better to adjust expectations early than to be disappointed later on.

Now that you’ve deeply introspected let’s move on to the fun part!

Japan Logistics

When to Visit Japan

Indeed, Japan is great during every season, and each offers a different experience.

The best time to visit Japan is, once again, dependent on what you want to see. However, the best scenery and weather in Japan are in spring and fall, which are also the busiest travel seasons for Japan. Spring is the peak travel season for Japan, with millions flocking to the country to witness the beautiful cherry blossom blooms. While summer is when most of the world is off from school, Japan’s summer weather is excruciatingly hot and humid and deters people from visiting. Winter is the least busy season in Japan, perhaps because it is cold and snows, haha. Generally, flights and accommodations are more expensive during busy seasons due to increased demand and limited supply.

Spring (Peak travel season, great weather and scenery)

• Months: Mar-May
• Temperature: 15-23 C
• Average temperature: 21 C
• Humidity: Moderate, around 60%
• Cherry blossom season is the end of March to early April. It’s a short window where you can see blooming cherry blossoms covering the city in beautiful, light pink flowers. Because it’s so beautiful, it attracts many visitors both within and out of Japan, roughly 63 million people to be exact!

Summer (Matsuri and rainy season, Hot and humid weather)

• Months: Jun-Aug
• Temperature: 25-35 C
• Average temperature: 30 C
• Humidity: High, around 85%, sometimes 90+
• Summer in Japan is sweltering and humid. People often walk around with handheld fans, sun umbrellas, and sweat towels. Many locals travel to mountainous regions and find refuge in the cooler climates. Typhoon season is all summer in Japan, and June is the rainy season when there is peak rain. Typically, rain lasts all day and can be heavy, making it hard to sightsee or walk around.
• Summer is also the festival season: tanabata, taiko, obon, nebuta, gion, fireworks, etc. While there are festivals or matsuri year-round, they are especially plentiful and popular during summer. The warm evening weather is the perfect temperature to celebrate outdoors and creates an energetic ambiance.
• Hydrangea season is in late June when the colorful flowers bloom across the country.

Fall (Busy travel season, great weather and scenery)

• Months: Sept-Nov
• Temperature: 10-21 C
• Average temperature: 15 C
• Humidity: Moderate, around 60%
• Fall is Koyo or Momiji season! It’s when the leaves turn bright colors and create breathtaking scenery. Momiji refers explicitly to red maple leaves, and many enjoy Momiji-gari, or ‘red maple leaf hunting.’ Several dozen sightseeing spots are known for their beautiful Momiji, making it a popular season for locals and tourists to travel to Japan.

Winter (Low travel season, cold, dry weather, and lovely scenery)

• Months: Dec-Feb
• Temperature: -1-10 C
• Average temperature: 5 C
• Humidity: Low, around 30%
• Japan gets very cold and dry during the winter, but heavy snow is found in Northern Japan. Tokyo only sees about 1-2 days of snow every winter. Surprisingly, Japan is the snowiest country on Earth, having four cities with the heaviest snowfall worldwide. Winter in Japan is breathtaking, with snow-covered mountains, temples, and shrines, and is a hub for winter sports lovers worldwide. Imagine soaking in a hot onsen with a view of snow-covered mountains and scenery. So idyllic!

Busy Times to Note: Holidays in Japan

Many bloggers say to avoid these times in Japan because it’s crowded and hectic, which is valid. However, I think there’s merit in experiencing Japanese holidays. It provides an insight into Japanese culture and how locals celebrate, plus it’s an experience tourists typically don’t get!

Golden Week

• April 29 – May 5
• This is a week in Japan that has four holidays in a week. It’s the longest vacation time for Japanese workers, and everyone in Japan gets this week off.
• Sightseeing this week is a nightmare, as locals and tourists want to see the same things simultaneously. Buying transportation tickets to venture around the country is hard to get, expensive, and sold out in advance. Large cities like Tokyo will be empty as people return to their prospective hometowns. Still, smaller towns like Nikko, Kyoto, etc., will be highly crowded and have vast traffic.

Japanese New Year

• January 1 – January 3
• New Year is Japan’s most important holiday. It’s time for families to gather and celebrate the new year. January 1 is the most auspicious day, and almost everything will be closed. From January 1-3, it’s tradition to visit temples and shrines to appreciate the good luck of the past year and pray for good luck in the new year. As a result, many small businesses and attractions close on January 1 but reopen for regular business from the second onwards.

Obon Festival

• Aug 13 – Aug 15
• Obon is an unofficial nationwide holiday that honors one’s ancestors because it’s believed ancestors return to visit relatives. It’s an opportunity for families to reunite and visit family altars. Obon is also associated with dancing, as a traditional dance performed during Obon called Bon-Odori. During this period, public transportation is often crowded and filled with people returning home outside of the city. Attractions remain open during this period, but smaller businesses may be closed.

How Long to Spend in Japan

Like other parts of planning a trip to Japan, how long to spend in Japan is up to you. If you can only take some time off work, you’re limited to that time. There is no right or wrong amount of time to spend in Japan; it depends on what cities you want to visit and how long you want to spend in them. If you’re going to 2-3 cities, you should plan to spend at least a week or more in Japan. If you want to visit 4-5 cities, you should spend 2+ weeks in Japan. For example, I spent five weeks in Japan in 2023 and saw 15 prefectures and 23 cities.

I think the more time you spend in Japan, the better. There are so many things to see and visit; you will never run out of things to do. You may be limited by budget, though. The longer you spend in a country, the more you’ll pay for accommodation, food, transport, etc. However, two weeks is an all-around good time to travel to Japan. It allows you time to visit multiple places and also experiences a weekend or weekends. Especially if you’re traveling from a country far from Japan, you’ll want to stay for a little while.

Where to Go in Japan

Refer back to your answers to the questions you answered earlier. By now, you should have a vague idea of what you want to see and do in Japan. Here are some broad suggestions based on what kind of experience you’re looking for:

For modern experiences:

Tokyo is the number one place for you to visit. This is fitting because Tokyo is the world’s largest city. It has impressive shopping districts, like Shimokitazawa, Shibuya, and Shinjuku, and tons of trendy cafes and restaurants. You’ll find that Tokyo is truly a 24/7 city, with 24-hour convenience stores and bustling nightlife.

For traditional Japanese culture:

Kyoto is the most popular city for immersing yourself in historical and cultural structures. It’s close to Tokyo, only a two-hour bullet train ride away, and has multiple globally famous attractions like the Kiyomizudera Temple, Fushimi Inari Torii Gates, and Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. However, there are so many towns that you can visit for similar experiences, such as:

• Kawagoe: Kawagoe is a one-hour train ride northwest of Tokyo, known for its Little Edo neighborhood.
• Sawara: Sawara is about an hour and a half from Tokyo and has a UNESCO World Heritage festival in the summer. It also has Little Edo architecture and historic canals you can walk through.

For WWII history:

Nagasaki and Hiroshima need to be on your list. They were both atomic bombing locations, each with a dedicated museum and memorial to the event.

For a relaxing vibe:

Fukuoka, Yokohama, and Kanagawa are great options for a relaxing city vibe. They are all next to a port or the beach, which adds a chill atmosphere to the cities.

For beautiful nature:

Nikko and Hakone offer stunning scenery, especially in the mountains. They are lovely during fall when the trees turn colors.

There are hundreds more cities you could go to, but these are just some options that point you in the right direction. As you research, you’ll discover places that best suit your itinerary. If you’re staying in Tokyo, check out all the fantastic day trips you can do!

Where to Stay

Ask yourself, “Do I want to commute?” and, “Where do I want to be close to?” Generally, the further away from a city or town center or popular attraction you are, the less money you pay for accommodation. Is it necessary to be close to an attraction or area you want to see? Or is it more important to be close to a central train station for convenient travel?

In larger Japanese cities, it’s easy to get around from place to place with public transportation, so living on the outskirts of cities like Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto is not inconvenient. Larger towns also have multiple popular neighborhoods you can choose to stay in. However, staying near the attractions you want to see in smaller cities is better. While public transit is still excellent, it might run a little slower and less frequently than those in larger cities. You might miss the last bus of the day without even knowing!

Generally, hostels will always be in the city center since their target demographic is solo travelers exploring on a budget and looking to have fun. Hotels will also be concentrated in the city, with a couple in the outer neighborhood. Airbnbs will have options in the town and outer districts. Ryokans, or traditional Japanese inns, vary in location. You can find ryokans all over Japan, but historic ryokans tend to be concentrated in culturally preserved areas like Kyoto or resort towns like Hakone.

How early should you plan?

Planning 3-5 months before your intended departure date would be best. People often underestimate how long travel planning takes, especially if it’s their first time. You want to give yourself time to research casually and slowly add places to your itinerary list. You also want extra time to figure out if you need to get proper documents, visas, clothing, travel gear, etc. No one likes rushing while planning.

First, check that all your documents are valid. No planning should be done until this is settled. Without proper documents and visas, you won’t get past airport security… Once documents are resolved and ready, here’s how early you should plan these parts of your trip.

When to buy flights to Japan:

Ticket prices usually are cheapest 3-5 months before departure, during low seasons, or airline sales. To grab the best deal on your airfare, use Google Flights to browse what the current prices are for your trip. You can track specific fares to see if they decrease in price and also put notifications for low fares. The best budget airline to travel to Japan is Zipair.

When to get accommodation in Japan:

After buying your airfare and deciding what cities you want to visit, you can look into booking accommodations. Like airfare, they are cheaper 2-4 months before arrival and have more availability and selection. Large Japanese cities will have many accommodation options, including ryokans, Airbnbs, hostels, and different star hotels. Smaller Japanese cities have limited accommodation selection and often must be booked beforehand.

When to buy tickets for attractions:

After you’ve booked your accommodation, you can purchase the necessary attraction tickets. But I want to emphasize that you should be sure how long you spend in each city before buying tickets. Many, if not all, attractions in Japan are non-refundable. If you decide to spend one day less in Osaka but buy a ticket to go to Universal on the planned last day, you’re stuck with your original timeline. Most tickets can be purchased in person, especially for castles and museums. However, tickets for top-rated attractions like Tokyo Disneyland, Shibuya Sky, and the Ghibli Museum must be bought beforehand, sometimes even a month in advance!

How to Make a Japan Itinerary?

How I Like to Make Itineraries

I’m the type of traveler who plans big things and goes with the flow after kind of gal. I determine what attractions I must see and what cities they’re in and build my itinerary around them. For example, if I know I want to go to Shibuya in Tokyo and Kiyomizudera in Kyoto, I’ll split my trip between those cities and explore things to do near the attractions on the day of. But I also don’t follow my itinerary strictly—some of my best travel experiences have been spontaneous! Like deciding to go to Kawagoe at the last minute from Tokyo. Combining a big-picture structure with the opportunity for flexibility and spontaneity is the perfect itinerary for me.

I also plan rest days on all my trips. I learned that if you don’t rest on your travels, it will bite you in the butt, haha. As I mentioned, I know you want to do and see everything, but it’s impossible. You will burn out if you consistently push yourself to walk and see everything without rest. So, set up a rest system ahead of time! That way, you’ll prevent travel burnout.

You only find out how you like to travel and make itineraries when you make them. So, reflect on some of your past travels and gauge if you want to plan every day, plan big things, leave room for flexibility, or minimally plan. That way, once again, you plan the trip YOU want, not the trip you think you want or read about online.

How to determine where to go in Japan

Now that you’re familiar with what attractions you like, here’s how to determine where to go in Japan. It would be best to have the cities you want to visit ready. A quick Google search will list a city’s famous tourist attractions. Browse through the suggestions and see which one sticks out to you! If you use social media, start saving posts about cool places in Japan that you can refer back to later. Then, once you’ve gathered information, compile it in one place and pick the ones you want to see.

How to find where to eat in Japan

Japan has so many excellent restaurants and cafes it can be hard to pick where to go. I’m sure you’ve saved tasty-looking food in Japan on social media—that’s a great way to find popular or trending eats. I also like to look around areas I will visit or stay in on Google Maps and see what reviews say. You can also ask friends or family who’ve been for their recommendations. Searching specific dishes on Google Maps is also helpful, where you can see what restaurants are serving dishes like soba, tonkatsu ramen, sushi, etc.

Organization Tips

Keep a spreadsheet:

Keep a spreadsheet, document, or notebook where you can put all the information in one place. That way, you’re not toggling back and forth between tabs or resources. Make necessary checklists, like what to pack or what to do next, attractions, food to try, etc.

Keep or make a calendar of your trip:

At the very least, write down when your flight is, what days you are staying in cities and the transportation between cities. I can’t tell you how many people I know have ever miscalculated a flight time or transportation between cities. No one wants to miss a planned departure! It helps offload the big picture from your brain to a manageable and visual plan. No more missed flights! Especially in Japan, where public transportation is extraordinarily accurate and punctual. A 5:02 and 5:05 train, while they may look the same, could be for two different destinations.

Pin things to Google Maps:

This is my favorite thing to do while planning a trip. Saving places in Google Maps creates a visual of how close things are to one another and makes it easy to group specific items. If a restaurant, three attractions, and a cafe are all in the same area, group those together for an afternoon. Saving locations on Google Maps makes it easy to plan and share itineraries! I also use the different icon options to distinguish between must-dos and maybes, where I’ve been, and my favorite spots. Later, if a friend asks me for recommendations, it’s easily found and shareable. You can also add notes when you save locations, making it easy to remember famous dishes, weird opening hours, if a ticket is needed, etc. Doing this takes a little more effort, but it’s fun and makes my trips smoother.

Create a label or folder for trip-related emails:

It helps find tickets or reservations later on! Instead of scrolling through your email app to find that one hotel reservation, you can easily find it in the labeled folder.

Check This Before Your Japan Trip

Here’s a checklist to run through before you go to Japan!

• Check passport validity.
• Do you need a visa?
• Determine if you need an international data pass, SIM card, or pocket wifi.
• Do you want a JRPass?
• What attractions need tickets in advance?
• Check the weather.
• Download a translation app that supports Japanese.
• Download Google Maps.
• Set up public transportation payment (I.e., Suica, Pasmo, Icoca, etc.).

What to Pack

If you forget something, no sweat! You can probably find it at a convenience store or Don Quixote in Japan. However, here are some items that you absolutely must pack:

• GOOD WALKING SHOES: you will walk more than 10,000 steps daily, guaranteed.
• DOCUMENTS
• Cash
• Medicines
• Weather-dependent items (umbrella, boots, scarf, etc.)
• Credit card
• Debit card to withdraw cash or cash to exchange (this is a must)
• Weather appropriate clothing
• Toiletries (especially tampons if you use them)

Japanese Culture: What You Need to Know

Public Transport in Japan

Japanese public transportation is one of the, if not the best, public transportation systems worldwide. The fact that Japanese university researchers used a slime mold to design the most efficient public transit system says a lot. That being said, public transportation in Japan takes IC (integrated circuit) cards or cash as payment. IC cards are rechargeable prepaid travel cards that can be loaded with funds used to pay for public transportation.

Paying for Public Transport

Japan has multiple brands of IC cards, each servicing different areas in Japan, including Suica, Pasmo, and Icoca. Usually, you can buy physical cards once you arrive in Japan. You can buy IC cards at ticket machines or ticket counters. However, due to a shortage of IC ships, the sale of some IC cards is suspended until further notice. It is possible to get digital ones for certain ones. Refer to this article for an in-depth explanation of the IC Card network!

If you don’t get an IC card, that’s okay! You can pay with cash as well. Getting tickets for the subway or local trains at ticket machines is easy before going through the turnstiles. However, buses usually only take exact change. If you have a large bill, there are traditionally cash change machines near the front next to the bus driver. The fare is posted at the front of the bus. Grab a ticket as you enter the bus; the number corresponds to the fare since sometimes fares are calculated by distance.

Be Quiet on Public Transport

People usually keep to themselves on public transport in Japan. No loud music is allowed onboard—even phone calls are highly discouraged. You’ll also often see people sleep on the bus, train, and subway; it’s completely normal (it’s nice…).

It’s Not You, It’s Personal Space

If you sit next to someone and a seat opens up next to them, it’s completely normal and polite for them to scoot over. It’s not that you smell bad or anything; people are giving each other personal space on public transportation. It’s polite and very common for Japanese people to scoot over or move to open seats on the bus or train, so don’t take it personally. You can also adapt this behavior as well if you want!

Walk on the Left Side

Japan drives on the left side, so the traffic flow is always on the left. When you’re walking by yourself, it doesn’t matter, but in crowded areas, it’s expected! Also, if you’re using an escalator, stand on the right side, and people pass on the left. However, this changes depending on the city (for some reason…), so pay attention to the locals and where they stand.

Language Barrier

In bigger cities, most people will know a bit of English, so not knowing Japanese is okay. However, knowing a little Japanese in smaller towns goes a long way since most residents won’t know much English. Downloading a translating app is a must, especially if you find yourself in a pickle and need information fast. In general, learning some essential Japanese phrases for travel makes your and the worker’s life easier. Here’s what you should know:

• Hello/Hi: Konnichiwa (こんにちは)
• Good morning: Ohayo gozaimasu (おはようございます)
• Good evening: Konbanwa (こんばんは)
• Good night: Oyasuminasai (おやすみなさい)
• Goodbye (for a long time or not returning): Sayonara (さようなら)
• See you later (casual): Mata ne (またね)
• Thank you: Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます)
• Please: Kudasai (ください)
• Go ahead: Dozo (どうぞ)
• Yes: Hai (はい)
• No: Iie (いいえ)
• Excuse me: Sumimasen (すみません)
• How much is this?: Ikura desu ka? (いくらですか)
• Where is the bathroom?: Toile wa doko desuka? (トイレは どこですか?)
• Sorry (to apologize): Gomen nasai (ごめんなさい)
• Thank you for the food (before eating): Itadakimasu (いただきます)
• Thank you for the food (after eating): Gochisousama deshita (ごちそうさまでした)
• I don’t understand: Wakarimasen (わかりません)
• Can you help me?: Tetsudatte kuremasen ka? (手伝ってくれませんか?)
• Can you repeat that?: Mou ichido kudasai (もう一度下さい)
• That’s/I’m okay: Daijoubu desu (大丈夫です)

How to Get Cash in Japan

Cash is (still) king in Japan! While you can get around paying with a card in large cities like Tokyo or Osaka, many small businesses, restaurants, and even some tourist attractions only take cash. Cash is accepted everywhere in Japan. Thus, you’ll need cash to pay for things when you’re there. Luckily, you can either exchange physical currency or withdraw from an ATM. Most convenience stores will have ATM signs outside indicating one in-store. Most of them take international cards and have English as a language option on screen. It’s crazy easy to withdraw money at the market rate for a small fee of 200 yen.

Don’t miss this in Japan!

• Convenience stores: 7/11, Lawson, FamilyMart, NewDays, the list goes on…
  • + convenience store ice cream and food!
• Vending machines: They’re everywhere…
• Train jingles
• Cool filming spots or inspired spots in films
• Kids Walking to school/back from school: They have specific hats, outfits, and backpacks!
• Goshuin: Collect red stamps from temples and shrines.
• Station stamps: You can also collect stamps from train stations!
• Prefecture mascots: Every Japanese prefecture has a mascot, some of which are super cute. You’ll find merchandise for mascots everywhere.
• Japanese manhole covers: Each region has its own beautifully designed manhole cover! They’re fun to spot and take a picture of.

Have a Great Time in Japan

Hopefully, this helped guide you to plan a trip to Japan from start to finish or helped you refine your travel plans. Planning a trip to Japan isn’t as intimidating as it seems. With the right effort and guidance, planning a trip is fun and creates anticipation for a fun trip! As I said earlier, feel free to gloss through parts you already know and refer back to helpful sections. This guide is meant to help anyone and everyone planning a trip to Japan, whether you are just starting to plan or are about to board your flight to Japan. Feel free to leave any questions below. Happy travels!

Relevant Reads

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Kawagoe: How to Take The Perfect Day Trip to Kawagoe