Last updated on January 21, 2023

Japan is a fascinating place. It’s a country thriving on contradictions. Japan’s gorgeous ancient history is present, and it lives alongside space-age technology and development. This is a thoroughly modern country that looks nothing like the West. The Japanese have cultivated a strong national identity that is only enhanced by modern technology. From robots at restaurants to cat cafes to towering temples—it’s an assault to the senses.

It’s a wonderful destination for all types of travelers—it has pilgrimage routes, Mount Fuji, whale watching, ancient temples, and a booming food tourism industry. The country also has an advanced transportation infrastructure that makes navigating a cinch. I visited for the first time in 2015. After seven years of travel, I stood under Tokyo’s towering skyline and felt a wave of culture shock wash over me. It’s not like any place you’ve visited before. And while I heartily recommend visiting Japan, there are some ethical tourism concerns, so be sure to check the responsible travel section. Continue reading for a guide to things you should know before you go, and tips about navigating Japan. Or skip straight to the Japan travel guides by city!

Things to Know Before Traveling to Japan

Japan’s centuries of isolationist tendencies created a cultural time capsule. The limited outside influence allowed traditions and craftsmanship to flourish for centuries; everything from Kabuki to silk to traditional ryokan inns. Recent history then built on that history for a thoroughly modern, fascinating mix.

Japan has a rich, complex, and varied history. It’s these very complexities that have created such a fascinating culture today. Japan has spent centuries vacillating between isolationist tendencies and rapid outward expansion. Though it’s a moderately sized country, it has the 10th highest population in the world—most of that is densely packed into urban centers. Even more remarkable is that much of Japanese land isn’t inhabited. The terrain is forested mountains and volcanoes. The country is very, very homogeneous—98.5% of the country is ethnically Japanese. Shintoism, the predominate religion dates back to 1,000 B.C.E., and is often practiced alongside Buddhism.

Japan’s ancient civilizations date back to prehistoric times; spanning from then on, the country’s history includes clan feuds, shifts in power, and slow growth. In 1192, the Shogun, or era of military rulers, began. This period lasted many centuries (700 years). It’s during this era that Japan’s military prowess was born, including the samurai and the country’s famous martial arts. The Edo period started in the 1600s and didn’t end until 1853, when the U.S. led efforts encouraging Japan to open trade routes with the rest of the world. During the centuries of Shogun rule, the leaders maintained a strong focus on the caste system, which encouraged an isolationist view toward ruling—limiting outside influence on its citizens. It’s this limited influence that created such a strong history of craftsmanship and traditions, from Kabuki to silk to traditional ryokan inns.

From the mid-1800s until WWII, Japan had regional, smaller wars with Russia, Korea, Taiwan, and China. Then, the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 marked Japan’s entry into WWII. The U.S. retaliated with the devastating atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—an act that changed history as we know it, as well as led to Japan’s surrender. In the decades after the war, Japan focused on peace and economic growth. In the wake of WWII, Japan joined the United Nations and has continued to prosper economically. Growth slowed in the 90s, but continues. The tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011 were devastating for the country. But tourism remains a in full force and Japan continues to rebuild areas affected by the tsunami.

Fast Facts About Japan Travel

Pre-Trip Reading Inspiration: Books About Japan

Fiction & Nonfiction Books About Japan

• Shogun: This is an epic, sweeping saga of Japan. It weaves narrative, history, love, and adventure into one book. It’s also a page-by-page unfolding of the intricacies of Japanese culture that are best understood when shown through imaginative characters and an intriguing storyline.
• Memoirs of a Geisha: An easy read that is beautifully written. This novel is a fictional but informative look at Japan’s Geisha culture. The movie is also wonderful and will whet your appetite for what you’ll see when you visit Kyoto.
• The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle: Written by Japanese author Haruki Murakami, it’s an acclaimed novel detailing a post-WWII Tokyo with a fascinating cast of characters that shed light into Japan’s rigidly structured culture.
• Zen and Japanese Culture: This book shares the nuances and intricacies of Japanese Zen and will shed light on everything from the delicate tea ceremonies to intricate craftsmanship to detailed gardens. It’s like a slice of life look into the founding ideas behind Japanese culture.

Podcasts and Online Reads

• Sex and Suffering: The Tragic Life of the Courtesan in Japan’s Floating World: “A window into the world of Edo-Period Japanese prostitutes,” this piece breaks down the lives of sex workers in this period of Japan’s history. It follows the rise of the geisha and how this has shaped Japan’s current culture.
• How Japan Stood Up to Old Age: You can’t go far without reading about Japan’s cultural reverence for the elderly. This is a great piece looking into how their culture cares for their elderly and why it’s an important part of Japanese society. And a counter piece on the darker side of such an elderly society.
• The Man Who Sailed His House: a Fascinating true story of a tsunami survivor who was found floating out to sea on the roof of his house. The tsunami is among the most significant events to happen over the past decades, this is an interesting way to learn more through an intriguing longread.
• Japan, And How I Failed to Figure it Out: You can always count on “Wait But Why” to give an informative and entertaining breakdown on any topic, including this longread on his travels through Japan.
• Let’s Talk Japan: Load up your podcast playlist with any of these episodes for a detailed look into a range of topics from current events to traditional arts and culture.

Read all my Japan travel blog stories and find more regional fiction and nonfiction books and long-reads.

Socially Responsible Travel in Japan

Responsible travel in Japan comes down to doing your research and making a strong effort to understand the cultural norms and adhere to them. Japan is a country entrenched in deep traditions and rituals. The Japanese are quite proud of their unique culture heritage; this cultural heritage is deeply ingrained in how the country runs. As a first-time tourist, it’s impossibly hard to understand the complex layers of tradition and customs underlying the behavioral norms. Use this guide to responsible travel in Japan for more respectful, ethical travels.

Understand Cultural Norms

Respect and hierarchy underlie a large part of Japanese society. Under this umbrella includes everything from the bowing etiquette to bathing to the words you choose to use. Customs like not using shoes on tatami mats, and how you enter the baths—all of these have precise, specific behavior. Elders are given respect and it’s polite to allow them to enter before you on buses, businesses, and other locations. Locals are rarely offended if you fumble a few things, they know the rules are complex. Best to learn a few greetings and phrases of thanks, however, as it is much appreciated and goes a long way in feeling welcome in the country. The recommended readings above are a good starting point to unpacking these cultural norms. And also consider this Etiquette Guide to Japan—it’s inexpensive and will save you some blunders!

Make Ethical Food Choices

Japan is one of just a few countries that still consumes whale and dolphin meat. Responsible travelers should avoid supporting this part of the country’s food industry. Documentaries like The Cove shed light on the cruel practices involved in slaughtering these animals, and the global community generally frowns on the continued consumption of both of these types of meat.

Avoid Animal Tourism

The tide of public opinion against dolphin and whale tourism has shifted in many countries, but hasn’t yet reached Japan. The country has a growing dolphin and orca tourism industry—many of these animals are still caught from the wild. This contrasts with the vast majority of countries that have stopped capturing wild animals and instead use captive breeding programs. I don’t suggest a visit to the dolphinariums or the orca circuses. Nor bear parks and dog fights for that matter.

Lower Your Environmental Impact

The Japanese are eco-conscious and have implemented programs at every level to limit the negative impact of life on their beautiful natural environment. The country has every form of public transport imaginable. Use it. This is a cornerstone of any trip to Japan. The country’s public transport systems are among the best in the world; use the trains, buses, subways, funiculars, and more to visit all the nooks and crannies of this fascinating country. Also limit your waste and use the country’s recycling bins. And for women, use a menstrual cup for not only easy of travel, but it’s eco-friendly, too.

Support Local Artisans

Japan has beautiful crafts and artisanal works throughout the country. Buying these traditional crafts is a wonderful way to support these industries and make sure they live on into future generations.

Consider these additional responsible travel tips to lessen your impact on the places you visit.

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Best Things to Do in Japan

Japan is a small country and the high-speed train system allows you to navigate from top to bottom in a flash. There’s a lot to see, however, and each area has its own vibe. You can explore the highlights in just a one- or two-week trip, but to get under the skin and understand a place you should try to spend longer in each city and explore deeper. There’s too much history to see it all in one trip—the number of UNESCO World Heritage sites across the country alone are impressive—so pick a region and stick to it. I found it took a few days just to overcome the overwhelm and learn how it all works. The Japanese love systems, so from ordering your food to navigating their trains, there’s a precise system and you’ll need to figure it out! The tips below are notes from my trip, as well as the heaps of suggestions from A Little Adrift readers who helped me plan out my sites and activities. For a visual itinerary, enjoy the 100+ photos in my Japan Photo Essay.

My 6 Favorite Travel Experiences in Japan:

1. Exploring the temples of Kyoto’s northern and southern Higashiyama Districts.
2. Spending the day wandering around Kamakura visiting the Buddha and the beach.
3. Relaxing on Miyajima at the very top of the mountains, with sweeping views of the islands around Hiroshima.
4. Mowing down on okonomiyaki at a tiny eatery in Hiroshima.
5. Sitting at the gorgeous Isuien Gardens in Nara—the prettiest gardens that I saw on my entire trip.
6. Hiking behind the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine in Kyoto.

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Tokyo

On my visit traveling through Japan, I had a SIM card—this was essential for me to navigate the city easily and I was very glad I had it. Also, I downloaded this Tourist Map image on my phone and used it to help navigate.

Things To Do

• Visit Ueno Park during the Cherry Blossom season. This is a great spot for beautiful views. Season runs end of March through early April.
• Grab coffee at a quirky cafe. From cats to maid cafes, Tokyo doesn’t want for the weird or the novel. My friends visited a maid cafe and recount that experience here.

Shibuya/Harajuku, Shinjuku Areas

• Shop and wander near Shibuya Station and the “Hachiko” dog statue.  (Shibuya Hachiko Exit)
• Visit the Starbucks above the Shibuya Crossing intersection and watch the masses cross the street each time the light changes.
• Visit the Meiji Shrine (Harajuku Station)
• Hang out in Yoyogi Park (Yoyogi Station)
• Take a night walk through the “Omoide Yokocho” area. These bars, restaurant, and stalls harken to a previous era of Tokyo. (Shinjuku West Exit)
• Take in the free view from the north tower of the Tokyo Metropolitan Building (10 min walk from Shinjuku Station West Exit)

Asakusa/Ryokoku/Ueno Areas

• Visit the Sensoji Temple (Asakusa)
• Wander the Edo-Tokyo Museum (Ryokoku, closed Mondays)
• Plan on a bit of time to explore the National Museum (Ueno, closed Mondays)
• Take in the night view from the top of Tokyo Sky Tree. It’s pricier but has beautiful evening views of the city.

Places to Eat and Sleep

• Agora Place Asakusa: This is a popular area of Tokyo as the guesthouses are affordable and it’s still super central to the sights.
• Oak Hotel: Recommendation comes from a friend that this is a good super budget option.
• Stay in a nice spot. APA Hotel Keisei Ueno-Ekimae for midrange, and Hotel Gracery Shinjuku for a nice place from which to organize your search.
• Mow down on tasty Tokyo eats. If you eat meat/seafood, use this guide from Mark: Tokyo for Food Lovers. Vegans should use this guide to Tokyo’s vegan eats.

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Best Day-Trips From Tokyo

Kawagoe

This charming small town is less than an hour from the Tokyo city center. It’s best known for the well-maintained, traditional 17th-century buildings. The town is low-key and low slung, two aspects that has allowed it to preserve the architecture and ancient temples. Many buildings date back to the 1800’s, with the design even older. The city is nicknamed “Mother of Tokyo” because it was bigger than Tokyo until Tokyo became the capitol. The city’s Candy Alley is a narrow section of the city filled with traditional sweets and artisan candy shops. It’s a great place to pick up pretty, sweet souvenirs. The Candy Alley was swamped with Japanese tourists, and the entire city seems a bit less touristy than the other easy day trips from Tokyo.

Kamakura

I loved spending the day in this pretty coastal town, which is a bit more than an hour from Tokyo. The most famous site is the giant bronze Buddha statue, dated to about the 13th century. There is a larger Buddha in Nara (good day trip from Kyoto), but you can easily spend a day in Kamakura too. I enjoyed wandering around Hase-dera temple, which is very close to the Buddha. And they have delicious sweet potato ice cream that you can eat to relieve the heat. I recommend grabbing an ice cream and then wandering down to the beach for a bit to watch the kids play in the water. There is an easy bus you can grab from the Buddha area that will take you back to the train station. Download an offline map of Kamakura if you don’t have a SIM—it’s a lot easier to navigate between the temples as there are not many signs on how to get to the water.

Nikko National Park

Nikko is a UNESCO World Heritage city and well worth a visit. This town is a bit farther—about two hours from the Tokyo city center. This makes a good weekend trip if you are based in Tokyo for a while. Many temples date to the mid 8th century and this is a good spot to plan on exercise as visit the lakes and mountain (Kegon Waterfall is a beauty). Plan on visiting: Futarasan Shrine, Tosho-Gu Shrine and Rinno-ji Temple. There is also a ninja-samurai theme park, Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura, which could be fun for kids.

Jigokudani Snow Monkeys

Plan on a weekend trip north of Tokyo to see the snow monkeys basking in the hot mountain springs. It’s about three to four hours from Tokyo, and easy to visit with a Japan Rail Pass. This is a winter and early spring activity as it’s too warm later in the year to catch the monkeys monkeying around in the water.

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Kyoto

My four days looked like this:

1. Day One: Northern and Southern Higashiyama Districts Walking Itineraries 1 & 2: This is a loooong day, but stunning and I used followed hi notes religiously and enjoyed everything I saw. More notes on each below.
2. Day Two: Arashiyama Walking Itinerary 3: This was a bit lighter on the walking as the Bamboo forest isn’t too far from the train station. There’s a bit to do in the area if you plan to stay for the day. I spent some time just relaxing at the Okochi-Sanso Villa with a notebook and the tea included in the ticket price.
3. Day Three: Nara Day-Trip: More on this in the Nara part of the guide. It’s a very easy day trip from Kyoto, especially if you have the Japan Rail Pass, like I did, because most of the ticket price is included in your pass.
4. Day Four: Fushimi Inari Shrine & Wandered Gion District: I spent the afternoon hiking around the shrine, and then I headed to the Gion district for my last dinner in town and to get the vibe of this pretty area.

My Favorite Kyoto Temples

• Kiyomizu-dera Temple
• Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion)
• Shoren-in Temple
• Chion-in Temple
• Honen-in Temple

Where to Eat and Sleep

• Kyoto is a good spot to find a central Airbnb. It’s a city you’ll spend a few days visiting, so it’s nice to have space.
• Santiago Guesthouse. This hostel was clean, efficient, and central. It was a great value and I would stay there again in a heartbeat.
• Stay in a nice spot. Reiah Hotel Otsu Ishiyama for midrange, and Hotel Hokke Club Kyoto for a nice place from which to organize your search.
• Where to Eat in Kyoto. This is a thorough round-up of where and what to eat in Kyoto.

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Day-Trips From Kyoto

Osaka 

Osaka is huge—the second largest city in Japan—but a world apart from traveling in Tokyo. While wandering around Tokyo seems anonymous and overwhelming, Osaka has a reputation as the friendlier of the two cities. Osaka is known for its food scene, so plan to eat in the Dotonbori area in the evening. This is a handy free guide to Osaka’s food scene. If you haven’t yet tried takoyaki, battered octopus, this is the spot for it. Also consider a visit to Osaka Castle.

Kobe

Adjacent to Osaka, this port city is home to the famous beef of the same name. You won’t be disappointed if you’re looking for Kobe Beef, as there are many near the Sannomiya area. There is a good deal of foreign influence here, which is rare for Japan. This is one of the few places foreigners were allowed to live during the late 1800’s. Many former foreign residences are preserved in the Kitano-Cho area. Also consider that the Ashiya district is one of the few luxury districts in Japan. You’ll find boutique shops, expensive homes, and yacht harbors.

Himeji

By all accounts this makes for a beautiful stop if castles and 14th century architecture interests you. It’s an easy train stop too on the Bullet Train. Himeji city is known for its beautiful castle that survived a number of wars and natural disasters.

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Nara

This historic Japanese city predates Kyoto and just an hour from Kyoto. In the 8th century, this was the capital of Japan, and as such has some truly stunning temples and architecture. It’s an easy day trip from Kyoto (a full day, but can be done in a day), but one A Little Adrift reader suggests spending the night in the city so that you can see the Nigatsu-do temple at night. Many of the temples of Nara are designated as UNESCO World Heritage spots. This page has navigation information for Nara.

Things To Do in Nara

• It’s an easy walk from the train station to Nara Park. Buy some deer biscuits here so you can feed the deer not only in Nara Park, but also throughout your temple visits.
• Todaiji Temple is an absolute must visit. It’s one of the most significant temples in Japan and houses the largest bronze statue of the Buddha in the world.
• You must visit the Isuien Gardens. The most beautiful garden that I visited in all of Japan. It’s perfectly manicured. They also have a tea house. And they have the best example of “borrowed scenery,” incorporating the nearby mountains and temples into the garden’s design.
• Catch the reflection of Kofuku-ji temple on your walk back out-of-town. I timed my evening exit from Nara to watch Kofuku-ji as the sunset and the temple reflected in the water.
• Visit the Nigatsu-do Temple. If you’re staying in Nara, plan to visit this spot at night. ALA reader Shelley lived in Nara and says “it is so peaceful and gorgeous with the lanterns aglow. It’s on a hill and you can see the city lights.” It’s also very, very pretty to visit during the day or early evening.
• Also worth a stroll is Nara machi, which is an old part of the city (although really, it’s all old) where you can find lots of traditional shops.

Where to Sleep

• Stay in a nice spot. Super Hotel Lohas JR Nara Station for midrange, and Nara Hotel for a nice place from which to organize your search.

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Hiroshima

Hiroshima is a must-visit spot if you’re touring that area of the island. It’s an easy trip from Nara or Osaka and has enough to fill at least two days.

Things To Do in Hiroshima

• Take the day to learn and remember at the Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park. The Peace Park is a humbling day learning about the effects of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and other areas. The exhibits are somber and beautifully presented. The park is tranquil and calm. I rented a bike from my hostel and spent half a day at the Peace Park, and then spent time riding around the city processing. I visited the Shukkeien Garden to relax and process.
• Spend the day at Miyajima Island. This spot is about an hour from Hiroshima, and you’ll need to take a train to the ferry to get over to the island. From Miyajima Station, take the ferry across. On Miyajima, you’ll pass the iconic floating Itsukushima Shrine. This was originally built in the 6th or 7th century and the gate “floods” at various times of the day creating a floating torii. The tides are always different, so check when you’ll be able to see the gate both floating, and when the tide recedes you can cross the sand to stand under the gate. Besides the gate, you can spend half a day scaling the mountain. You can hike to the top, or take the cable car. Even if you take the cable car, there is a bit of a hike to get to the very top. I took the cable car up and walked down through the very pretty forest paths.
• Dine out on okonomiyaki. Hiroshima is the spot to try okonomiyaki and you won’t want to miss it. The Hiroshima version is unlike the kinds they make in other areas of Japan. Most restaurants will also make a completely vegetarian version of the food, so don’t shy away from the city’s many okonomiyaki restaurants. It’s usually a delicious, affordable lunch or dinner option.
• Visit Shikoku Island. Shikoku is famous for the “88 Temple pilgrimage.” It’s much less touristy than Miyajima, but a beautiful spot and one of the four main islands of Japan. This island is known for hospitality, seafood, and udon noodles.

Where to Sleep

• Hiroshima is a good spot to find a central Airbnb. Like Kyoto, it’s a city you’ll spend a few days visiting, so it’s nice to have space.
• J-Hoppers Guesthouse: This a great chain throughout Japan and they had a well-run hostel and gave great city recs. A good community of backpackers as well. The best okonomiyaki I had was just around the corner at a spot they recommended.
• Stay in a nice spot. Hiroshima Pacific Hotel for midrange, and Hotel Granvia Hiroshima for a nice place from which to organize your search.

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Travel to Other Spots Around Japan

There are so many beautiful spots in the country. These are a few other cities/regions/options for travelers looking to supplement the bigger cities with a few small towns or interesting off-the-path adventures.

• Mt. Fuji. This iconic spot is the tallest spot in Japan and sits on the border of two provinces, Yamanashi and Shizuoka. Both prefectures afford pretty views of the mountain—actually an active volcano—and are up to two hours from the city center of Tokyo. Check the time of year you’re visiting as you can only climb Fuji at certain times of year. Sunrise from Fuji is a wonderful cap to a Japan trip if you’re there in the right season. This page has a lot of information that will get you started on planning a Fuji hike. This is a narrative account of climbing Fuji. If you’re not there in climbing season, there are some amazing other walking trails throughout the country (several options below).
• Wisteria Tunnels of Kawachi Fuji Gardens. I didn’t make it this far south, but I had noted it as a potential plan because it looks like a stunning spot. This page has more information on the pretty tunnels.
• Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route. This ancient pilgrimage route is a beautiful walking route through Japan. There are short one- to two-day trails, or longer ones too.
• The Nakasendo Way trek between Kyoto and Tokyo. This walking route uses old Edo-era trails and is also stunningly pretty.
• Take in the Fuji views at Hakone National Park. Consider buying a Hakone Freepass for access to all the transport options. This is also a good spot stay in a traditional Japanese ryokan and to indulge in a hot spring bath.
• Stay at a monastery in Koyasan. Vegetarians should head here and book time at one of these temple monasteries. The food is vegetarian and it’s a wonderful place to learn the etiquette and customs without any food fears.