Top 10 Travel Tips for Traveling to Japan for the First Time

Planning your first time in Japan? Check out these top 10+ Japan travel tips and tricks for everything you need to know when traveling to Japan for the first time!

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1. Japan Climate & Best Time to Visit Japan

The good news is that Japan is a year round travel destination. Woohoo! However, the best time to visit Japan will depend on the weather, tourist levels and activities you want to do in Japan.

Weather in Japan

The most popular time to visit Japan is in spring (March – May) or autumn (September – November) when the weather is pleasant. Understandably, spring and autumn are also the busiest seasons for tourists. Try visiting at the start or end of the season or traveling mid-week to avoid the crowds.

Conversely, summer in Japan (June – August) can be excruciatingly hot and humid, while winter in Japan (December – February) can be bitter and cold. However, if you’re a ski bunny and want to hit the slopes, then winter is the best time to visit Japan.

Japan Cherry Blossom Season

One of the absolute highlights of Japan is viewing the gorgeous cherry blossoms which blanket the country in spring. Cherry blossom season, or Sakura season, is typically late March to early April in the major cities, and then continues to travel north. However, predicting cherry blossom season is notoriously difficult. If your heart is set on seeing the cherry blossoms, aim to stay in Japan for a couple of weeks, have some flexibility in your itinerary to chase the blossoms, and keep a close eye on the cherry blossom forecast.

While the cherry blossoms are undoubtedly unique and beautiful, an alternative is to visit Japan during autumn. The fall foliage season moves throughout the country during autumn, and paints the countryside in vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow.

2. Best Places to Visit During your First Time in Japan

Decide Where to Visit in Japan

While it’s a lot of fun planning your Japan trip, it can be a little daunting to decide where to visit during your first time in Japan. For your first trip to Japan, you absolutely cannot miss Tokyo, Japan’s vibrant and slightly crazy capital city. Tokyo is typically the first stop on people’s Japan itineraries, as it is home to the country’s biggest airports and many international flights land there.

After Tokyo, popular places to visit on your first trip to Japan include traditional Kyoto filled with beautiful temples, crazy Osaka with amazing food and nightlife, quaint Nara with its famous free roaming deer, and sobering Hiroshima which was the site of the world’s first atomic bomb. Even better, these places all combine really well into a perfect 7-10 day itinerary in Japan, and are easily reached by train.

Plan your Japan Itinerary in Advance

While it can be fun to wing it, I recommend planning your Japan itinerary and booking hotels in advance. It takes a little extra effort to plan a trip in a new foreign-speaking country, and your time in-country is better spent exploring than worrying about where to go or how to book last minute accommodation. During the busy season, it’s not uncommon for hotels to book out well in advance.

3. Transport for your First Trip to Japan

Train Travel in Japan

The best way to get around Japan is usually by train. The Japanese trains are extremely efficient, with an extensive network, frequent departures and comfortable seats. In fact, it’s often quicker to catch the train than a plane in Japan since train stations are usually more centrally located and do not require early check-ins.

Japan is famous for its Shinkansen ‘bullet’ trains, which are extraordinarily high fast trains. Speed comes at a price, so be sure to research pricing and plan your budget in advance. The local trains can be cheaper, but are much slower.

Research whether the Japan Rail Pass is Cost Effective

The Japan Rail Pass gives you unlimited train travel on JR trains, which is a nationwide network and includes travel between cities and within cities. The JR Pass includes travel on Shinkansen bullet trains, except the fastest Nozomi and Sakura trains. However, there’s alternative Shinkansen trains for the same routes that are only slightly slower.

JR Passes are available for 7, 14 or 21 days of travel. You can purchase either a national pass or a cheaper regional pass if you will only be in one region.

If you’re in Japan for more than a few days and plan on visiting at least 2-3 places, then it is usually more cost effective to purchase a Japan Rail Pass than to buy individual tickets. However, this is not always the case, and will very much depend on your itinerary and route. Check out this Japan Rail Pass calculator to determine whether the JR Pass will save you money.

Forward Your Luggage Between Hotels

Japanese trains have surprisingly little space for luggage, particularly the Shinkansen bullet trains. Smaller size suitcases or soft bags will fit in the overhead compartment if they are similar size to airplane carry on luggage. If you’re traveling with a full size suitcase, aim to be one of the first people on the train to nab a spot in the dedicated row for suitcases – there’s usually one at the back of each carriage.

Alternatively, organise for a luggage transfer service between hotels to save you the hassle. I used the Yamato luggage delivery service when travelling solo in Japan and it made the experience less stressful.

Use Google Maps to Plan your Day

Google Maps is my saviour when traveling in Japan. I have a pretty poor sense of direction at the best of times, and the lack of English signs in Japan certainly doesn’t help things. Instead, map out your day and public transport options in advance using Google Maps. This will increase your confidence in navigating a new country with a foreign language.

4. Money & Costs to Travel in Japan

Japan is Relatively Expensive to Travel To

Yup, it’s an unfortunate reality that Japan is an expensive country to travel to. Don’t expect to wing it on a shoestring like you can for short trips in Southeast Asia. To get an idea of your Japan travel budget, book your hotels in advance, include the cost of a Japan Rail Pass (see 3 above), and a healthy budget for food and entry to attractions.

Take Cash to Japan

In Japan, cash is still king, at least compared to many other countries. Stock up on Yen, the Japanese currency, in your home country before visiting Japan. Japan does not have as many ATM cash machines as other countries, and sometimes they have issues. If you need to visit an ATM, Google ATM locations in advance as they won’t pop up on every corner. Most hotels also have money exchange services, although exchange rates can be unfavourable.

5. Japanese Food

Local Japanese Food is Not Quite the Same as Western Japanese Food

Don’t get me wrong, tasty Japanese food is one of the highlights of visiting Japan. It’s an absolute pleasure to sample local delicacies and be delighted by surprising new tastes (or startled if it’s not to your liking!).

However, don’t be lulled into thinking that Japanese food in Japan is the same as ‘Western’ Japanese food. Japanese restaurants in the USA and Europe often ‘westernise’ their food to suit western tastes.

Lots of Restaurants Specialise in one Food Type

In the west, Japanese restaurants often have massive menus with a variety of different Japanese dishes. In Japan, it’s not uncommon for a restaurant to specialise in one type of food, such as ramen (noodle soup), gyoza (dumplings), yakitori (meat and vegetable skewers), okonomiyaki (layered savoury pancake), sashimi (raw fish) or sushi.

A great way to sample many different dishes is by eating street food. Both Tokyo and Osaka are famous for their street food.

The thought of navigating Japanese food making you a little nervous or feeling overwhelmed by the options? Why not join a food tour in Tokyo or Osaka to take the stress out of planning and learn from a local.

6. Accommodation in Japan

Hotels in Japan

Hotels in Japan tend to be smaller than in western countries, and generally don’t come cheap.

For budget travelers, great options include hostels or Japan’s famous capsule hotels. As the name may suggest, capsule or pod hotels have small rooms roughly the size of a single bed, often stacked two high, with communal bathrooms and a locker for your personal goods. Probably best avoided if you are claustrophobic!

What is a Ryokan?

When planning your first trip to Japan, you may come across ryokans. A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn, typically with tatami woven mat floors, futon style beds, communal bathing areas and local hospitality.

Staying in a ryokan can be a great way to experience traditional Japanese hospitality and to learn from your host.

7. Safety in Japan

Is it Safe to Visit Japan?

Yes! In fact, Japan is one of the safest countries in the world. I’ve visited Japan several times as a solo female, and have always felt incredibly safe.

Japan Travel Safety Tips

Like all countries, Japan is not immune from crime. While traveling in Japan, take the usual sensible precautions that you would take anywhere. Always have your phone or map to find your way, avoid unlit areas at night alone, and keep your bag closed.

Japan is prone to natural disasters, including earthquakes and typhoons. Keep up to date with travel advisories before you visit Japan, and watch for weather warnings. Japan has a comprehensive emergency system in place, including public warning and evacuation procedures. Your accommodation provider should also have practical information on what to do during an emergency in Japan.

8. Language When Travelling in Japan for the First Time

Learn some Japanese Phrases in Advance

English is not as widely spoken in Japan as you may assume. While you’ll find English speakers at hotels, major tourist attractions and in the general population, do not expect every shop assistant or all restaurant staff to speak English.

As well as being practical, it’s also polite to always learn a few local phrases when traveling abroad. Even if you can’t hold a conversation, learning a few key phrases in Japanese will go a long way. Start with ya (casual ‘hello’), konnichiwa (formal ‘hello’), hai (‘yes’, not to be confused with hello), sayonara (‘goodbye’) and arigatou gozaimasu (‘thank you’).

Embrace Google Translate

Many menus, street signs and other travel essentials are only in Japanese. Use Google translate to help you navigate restaurant menus, or choose your meals randomly. Lots of menus have pictures, and it can be quite fun to order based on the pictures and then guess what your meal is. If you have allergies or dietary requirements, it is best to research restaurant options in advance.

9. Research Japanese Culture & Etiquette

Etiquette and manners are very important in Japanese culture. While some Japanese customs can seem overly formal to western visitors, they are a way of showing politeness and respect.

Research Japanese customs and etiquette before visiting Japan. A few tips to get you started:

Bowing: In Japan, bowing is commonly used as a greeting (small bow or nod of the head) or sign of respect (deeper bow). If someone bows to you, you can reply with a small bow or head incline back. You won’t be expected to know all the ins-and-outs associated with the number, depth and length of bows.

Shoes: Remove your shoes before entering homes, traditional ryokan guest houses and temples. Some restaurants and other places will also ask you to remove your shoes. You will usually be given slippers to wear indoors.

Eating: Chopsticks are strictly for eating only. Do not use your chopsticks to get attention, point, or otherwise play with. On the other hand, it’s perfectly fine to slurp noodles noisily to fully appreciate the flavours and taste. Slurp away!

Public Transport: When taking the train, Japanese people will form an orderly queue to board and will generally be quiet and respectful of other travelers. Avoid talking loudly or speaking on your phone while on public transport. This makes for a much more pleasant public travel experience than in many countries!

10. Toilets in Japan

I simply cannot write about first time travel to Japan without mentioning the incredible futuristic toilets. Yup, even toilets in Japan are intriguing.

Japan has the most high tech toilets you’ll come across. The vast array of toilet buttons is likely to baffle those who are traveling to Japan for the first time. There’s buttons to keep your butt warm, buttons to play pretend flushing noises to drown out your own, erm, noises, and buttons to spray water to clean your bits.

I guarantee you’ll be like a small child in an elevator for the first time, unable to resist pushing every single button. Have fun!

I hope these Japan travel tips help you plan your first time in Japan!

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