Travel guide to Japan

Japan is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean. To its west is mainland Asia – South and North Korea, and to its southwest, China. Japan is made up of several islands, the biggest of these being Honshu, which is home to Tokyo and Mount Fuji, and is what many tourists mean when they say they’re ‘travelling to Japan for a holiday’. So, our travel guide to Japan is focused mostly on Honshu. 

Here, the future and the past intertwine. When planning a trip to Japan it’s worth considering that one day, you’ll be wandering down city streets alive with modern magic, and the next bathing in a traditional Onsen, or enjoying the serenity beneath a temple roof. It’s not a question of what to do, it’s about where to start. 

Here’s a list of the essential places to visit on your trip to Japan.

Tokyo  

Tokyo, in east-central Honshu, is Japan’s capital and one of the world’s most populous cities. Its cityscape is a sprawling sight from science-fiction, with dense, contemporary streets awash with the glow of adverts and lights. This is what people often think about when someone talks about Japan travel. 

Tokyo is a busy place, where Japan’s traditional architecture blends with contemporary culture – creating something both enchanting and uncanny. Here, you can find attractions, nightlife and fine dining, alongside traditional events such as sumo wrestling or kabuki theatre. Your experience of Tokyo can change daily, depending on which city street you choose to lose yourself in that day. 

Kyoto

Embrace Japan’s ancient beauty and traditions in Kyoto. Once the imperial capital of Japan, this city in central Honshu houses more than one thousand traditional Japanese temples, making it a cultural hotspot for ancient traditions. 

If you’re planning a trip to Japan that’s all about the country’s authentic history and culture, Kyoto is a must. Pay respect at shrines and temples or embrace the elegance of the Japanese Tea House. In Kyoto, geisha, geiko and maiko tea ceremonies are an alluring attraction. 

Osaka

Tokyo doesn’t take all when it comes to that iconic, LED-lit nightlife. While smaller, Japan’s oldest merchant centre, Osaka, just southwest of Kyoto, has just as much modern, high-tech spirit. Furthermore, it’s long been considered the food capital of Japan if you’re travelling with gastronomy in mind. It’s an essential place to visit for at least one night while you’re in Japan, and its signature street food will stay in your memory long after you leave.

Visit Dotonbori for street food, entertainment, and towering neon signage. While you’re there, try Okonomiyaki – a delicious, savoury wheat-flour pancake cooked on a teppan and filled with meat, seafood, cabbage and toppings like bonito flakes, all of your choosing.

Yakushima  

Yakushima Island takes you far away from Honshu; it’s a two-hour flight from Osaka. It sits as far south as Japan goes, beyond Kyushu, which is the southernmost of Japan’s main islands – as you may expect, it’s a living paradise. 

Reconnect and engage with otherworldly nature. It looks like a painting from another time – a small, forested island that exists as its own world. Perhaps you have seen something almost as enchanting on the reel of a Studio Ghibli film. But, to see it in person, to engage in Shinrin-yoku – known as forest bathing – is a sensory adventure that words fail to capture. 

While there’s no limit to the number of things you can do, see or experience in this otherworldly country, there are some top attractions in Japan that most want to check out.

Mount Fuji 

Mount Fuji, the iconic snow-capped stratovolcano, dominates the horizon about 100 kilometres west of Tokyo. Its iconic, steep, symmetrical cone-shape is a result of the strata of solidified lava from old eruptions. To this day, it marks the highest peak in Japan, and it holds immense spiritual and cultural significance. Whether for the pursuit of climbing, as a source of inspiration, or as a symbol of spiritual practice, Mount Fuji is impossible to ignore while you’re in Japan.

Ghibli Museum 

Studio Ghibli is a world-famous animation house – and it now has an almost-as-famous museum, in the Tokyo suburbs, to celebrate its films. Known for its timeless animation, romanticised representation of Japanese culture, customs and cuisine, as well as emotionally fulfilling stories, it’s no wonder Ghibli earns so much love and respect. While in Japan, visit this museum dedicated to this icon of Japanese entertainment and see what all the fuss is about. 

Imperial Palace 

The Tokyo Imperial Palace is a building that doesn’t just hold cultural significance, but an iconic, architectural brilliance to boot. In particular, the Edo (Chiyoda) Castle ruins, standing proudly beside the Chidori-ga-fuchi moat to this day, is an image recognisable in many forms of media. But there’s so much more to this location. Here, you can explore the tranquil palace gardens, learn about the history of the imperial family, and discover a time-capsule of traditional Japanese architecture.

Nishiki Market  

Nishiki Market – or better yet, Kyoto’s Kitchen – is a foodie’s dream, appropriately located in Kyoto. Along Nishiki Market’s open-front shops, you’ll find sweets, treats, souvenirs, crafts, snacks and more. This historic market isn’t just a tourist’s fancy – it’s a generational district, filled with family-owned shops. The district’s food connection dates to around 1310, where it was opened as a fish wholesale district. That trend remains today, so you can expect to find some delicious seafood on offer.

Shibuya Crossing 

When people think of Tokyo – its towering skyscrapers so densely packed the city seems close to bursting – they’ll often conjure Shibuya Crossing in their mind’s eye. Marking the point where five streets meet, this intersection, with its distinctive zebra markings and blur of neon lights and crowds of people coming from all directions, is a dizzying, unmissable Tokyo landmark. Since 2014, Guiness World Records has recognised Shibuya Crossing as the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing estimating that 100,000 people pass through every hour.  

Japan can change with the seasons, and what you see may depend on when you travel. Here are some things worth considering when you plan a trip to Japan.

Best time to visit Japan 

Spring and autumn – that’s March to May, or September to November – are enchanting times to visit Japan. Both seasons bring pleasant weather, full of their own unique blends of wonder.

In spring, if you visit in late March to early May specifically, you may catch the cherry blossoms in full bloom. This only lasts a week or two. You’ll also get to enjoy Golden Week in early May. Which, while a fun celebration, can lead to increased crowds and prices.

Autumn, on other hand, attracts fewer crowds, and paints Japan in that familiar foliage of September and October as the vibrant reds, yellows and orange bring with them a completely different vibe to Japan’s green spaces.

If skiing is your thing, then heading north in winter can be a great time to hit the slopes (and enjoy the hot springs).

Booking flights and accommodation 

Travelling to Japan is relatively easy, with direct flights available from London Heathrow to both Tokyo and Osaka. Alternatively, you could opt for a route with a stopover and change at Amsterdam, Helsinki or Paris. If you’re looking for a good deal, don’t forget to search online and see what offers are available on flights. 

There’s a lot of accommodation options in Japan, including:

• Western-style hotels
• Traditional Japanese Ryokan and Minshuku (Japanese inns or bed and breakfasts)
• Hostels
• Private accommodation, like Airbnb
• Shukubo (temple stays)
• Capsule hotels (small, stacked, box-like accommodation)

If you’re touring Japan, planning your accommodation in advance could make your adventure a little easier. It’s worth considering at least a few days in some traditional accommodation too, if you want to engage with the culture.

Getting around Japan 

Japan has incredible transport options. Before travelling, consider things such as:

• Shinkansen (bullet trains). As the name might suggest, bullet trains are rapid modes of transport that run from major city to major city, but these may be expensive.
• Subway. Local trains can be an ideal way to navigate cities or small towns.
• Buses. With both city and highway buses, you can explore local areas or experience overnight travel to other cities. 

If you’re planning on travelling a lot, you might consider a Japan Rail Pass. They can be cost-effective for tourists and come in 7, 14, or 21 day passes.  

If visiting any of the Japanese islands, or traveling across the country, you may want to consider domestic flights or ferries.

7-day itinerary for Japan 

Want to make the most of your travels to Japan in only seven days? Here’s some inspiration for an itinerary, starting and ending in Tokyo.

• Day #1 Arrive in Tokyo. Once you’ve settled into your hotel, why not explore the iconic Shibuya Crossing and venture into the nearby streets? You could catch dinner and enjoy the nightlife near Harajuku, Shinjuku or Shibuya.
• Day #2 Enjoy Tokyo. Explore anything you might have missed on day one in this bustling city and take a moment to appreciate cultural sites like the Meiji Jingu Shinto shrine, or other neighbourhoods, like Akihabara. 
• Day#3 Mount Fuji. Get a good night’s sleep, because on day three it’s full steam ahead to Mount Fuji. Why not try the Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway or let off a little steam in a local onsen before setting up camp for the night in a Mt. Fuji Ryokan?
• Day #4 Travel to Kyoto. Return to Tokyo, then take the shinkansen to Kyoto. Get some lunch at the Nishiki Market and explore the Fushimi Inari Taisha. There’s a lot to see at night in Kyoto, from the Chionin Temple to the lanterns in Yasaka Jinja, in the Gion district.
• Day #5 Journey to Osaka. Travel to Osaka from Kyoto and enjoy a day out exploring the city. Visit Osaka Castle and Kuromon Market or spend a day at Universal Studios Japan. Then, it’s time to journey to Koyasan.
• Day #6 Koyasan. Take a moment of serenity at Koyasan (Mount Koya), where you can enjoy a stay in a shukubo – a temple lodging. Explore the heart of Shingon Buddhism and visit Kongobu-ji Temple. 
• Day# 7 Return to your favourite city. Attend morning prayers and then prepare to return from Koyasan to Osaka, Kyoto, or Tokyo – the latter of which is the longest journey. Enjoy a day in the city you loved the most, then get ready for your flight home.

For your travel to Japan, you’ll need to use the Japanese yen (JPY). You may want to bring a mixture cash and card, as not every vendor or experience is guaranteed to accept digital payments. Convert your British pounds to Japanese yen before your trip.

With a Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money Card, you can load up to 22 currencies. Perfect if you decide to extend your trip elsewhere.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of planning a trip. Ensure you’re covered for any mishaps while you’re away with Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Insurance. Choose a policy that works for you, from single-trip or multi-trip to extended trip cover.

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