Japan travel FAQ: 25 common questions answered

Most US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland passports enter visa-free for up to 90 days. You need a passport valid for the stay and an onward or return ticket. Rules differ by nationality and change, so confirm on the official source before booking.

Late March to May and October to November give mild weather and the best colour, but they are the busiest and priciest. June to mid-July is rainy, late summer is hot and typhoon-prone, and winter suits skiing in Hokkaidō and Nagano.

Mid-range travellers should budget roughly ¥12,000–20,000 per person per day, more in Tokyo and Kyoto. That covers a simple hotel or hostel, transport, and two meals. Add Shinkansen legs, which can cost several thousand yen each.

Less than its reputation suggests. Noodle bars, convenience stores and department-store food halls are cheap and good. Costs climb with hotels in Tokyo and Kyoto, long Shinkansen rides, and ryokan or onsen stays.

Often no. A nationwide JR Pass only pays off on long, multi-region trips. Price your actual Shinkansen legs first; a Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka trip is usually cheaper with individual tickets.

Yes. Violent crime against visitors is rare and transport is reliable. The realistic risks are earthquakes, typhoons in late summer, summer heat, and getting lost on rural trails after dark.

In hotels, chains and larger shops, yes. Small restaurants, temples, rural buses and some taxis still take cash only, so carry a few thousand yen and top up at 7-Eleven or Japan Post ATMs.

No. Tipping is not part of the culture and a tip can be refused. Good service is standard and included in the price.

Yes, tap water is safe to drink throughout Japan. Refill stations are common in airports, hotels and public buildings.

Yes, with your home licence plus an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Convention. Driving is on the left. Some nationalities cannot use an IDP and need a translation instead, so check before you arrive.

Trains do most of the work. Reserve Shinkansen seats in peak seasons, use an IC card for local trains and buses, and forward luggage between cities with a takuhaibin courier so you travel light.

Less than you might expect outside tourist areas, but rail signage, ticket machines and major attractions usually have English. A translation app and a few polite phrases go a long way.

Yes, but plan. Temple cuisine (shōjin ryōri) is the traditional option, and Indian and international restaurants are reliable in big cities. Dashi, a fish stock, appears in many otherwise vegetable dishes.

Comfortable walking shoes, layers for four distinct seasons, a small towel for onsen, and a power adapter for Types A and B at 100 V. Bring prescription medicine in its original packaging.

Roughly late March to early April in Tokyo and Kyoto, earlier in Kyushu and Okinawa, later in Tōhoku and Hokkaidō. Dates shift each year, so check a forecast before booking.

It is hot and humid, with a typhoon risk from August. It can still work if you plan indoor or high-altitude days, start early, and carry water. Hokkaidō stays cooler and is the best summer pick.

It is strongly recommended. Medical care is high quality but expensive without cover, and cancellations, lost bags and earthquake disruption are real risks.

Personal-use amounts are usually fine, but some stimulant medicines that are legal at home are restricted in Japan. Check the official list and carry your prescription and original packaging.

Book flights and hotels two to four months ahead for spring and autumn, longer for cherry blossom season. Shinkansen seats can be reserved a month ahead, and popular restaurants fill weeks out.

Yes. It is safe, transport is punctual, and hostels and capsule hotels make solo travel affordable. The main challenge is language outside cities, which a translation app solves.

110 for police and 119 for fire and ambulance. Operators may not speak English, so have your address ready in Japanese, or ask a passer-by to help.

Yes, at least some. Cards work in most city hotels and chains, but small restaurants, temples, rural buses and some taxis are cash only. Carry a few thousand yen.

Free Wi-Fi exists in airports, stations, convenience stores and many cafés, but it is patchy. A local eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi is the reliable option for maps and translation.

A run of national holidays in late April and early May when much of Japan travels. Trains, hotels and popular sights are packed and prices rise. Avoid it if you can, or book months ahead.

Ten to fourteen days lets you cover Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka without rushing, with one or two side stops. Seven days works if you stay in one region. Fewer bases means less time on trains.