日本へ行こう
Japan, planned properly.
Independent, fact-checked guides for travellers from the UK — entry rules, rail passes, seasons, costs and routes, all checked against official sources for 2026.
Where to go
Eight places that make a first trip
Most first visits link Tokyo and Kyoto by bullet train, then add one or two of these. Each guide covers what to see, where to stay and how many days to give it.
Tokyo
Neon, shrines, food halls and the world's best-run metro — the obvious start.
Kyoto
Temples, gardens and wooden lanes. Beautiful, busy — go early or go deep.
Osaka & Nara
Street food and nightlife, with Nara's bowing deer and giant Buddha a short hop away.
Hiroshima & Miyajima
The Peace Memorial and the island shrine whose gate stands in the sea.
Mt Fuji & Hakone
Lakes, hot springs and the mountain itself — if the clouds allow.
Japanese Alps & Kanazawa
Old merchant towns, thatched villages and one of Japan's great gardens.
Hokkaido
Powder snow in winter, lavender and big skies in summer, seafood all year.
Okinawa
Subtropical islands with coral reefs and a culture all of their own.
Plan your trip
The practical bits, done properly
The questions every trip has to answer, with the 2026 rules and prices — and a link to the official source for each.
Visa & entry rules
Visa-free stays, Visit Japan Web, customs allowances and the medicines that are banned.
Read the guide → 02Best time to visit
Month by month: blossom, rainy season, festivals, typhoons, autumn colour and snow.
Read the guide → 03Getting around
Is the JR Pass still worth it? Shinkansen, IC cards, regional passes and luggage.
Read the guide → 04Money & budget
Daily costs in yen and pounds, cards vs cash, ATMs, tax-free shopping and tipping.
Read the guide → 05Itineraries
Tested routes for 7, 10 and 14 days, with where to sleep each night.
See the routes → 06Etiquette & culture
Onsen, temples, ryokan, chopsticks and the unwritten rules worth knowing.
Read the guide → 07Travel essentials
SIM or eSIM, plugs, safety, earthquakes, emergency numbers and luggage forwarding.
Read the guide → START HEREPlanning timeline
What to book six months out, three months out and the week before you fly.
See the timeline →When to go
Japan through the year
There is no bad month — only trade-offs between crowds, weather and what you want to see. The full month-by-month guide has temperatures and dates.
Before you fly
A checklist for UK travellers
- Passport valid for your whole stay, with a blank page
- Visit Japan Web completed, QR code saved
- Medicines checked against Japan's rules
- Travel insurance with medical cover (GHIC doesn't work in Japan)
- Shinkansen seats — and an oversized-baggage seat if needed
- Timed tickets booked: Ghibli Museum, teamLab, Shibuya Sky
- eSIM or pocket wifi sorted
- Type A plug adapter packed
- A card with no foreign transaction fees, and some yen on arrival
- The Safety Tips app installed for earthquake alerts