How to Plan Your Trip to Japan 2023/2024

Japan, being a bucketlist trip destination for many travelers, especially attracts families with teenagers and retired couple. Besides nature, history, and modernity, Japan's unique and lively culture of sumo, samurai, anime, and sushi continues to draw curious visitors from all over the world.

In this article, we'll explain everything you need to know for planning a trip to Japan, including how to budget, when you should visit, top places to go, how to get around, and more.

Do I Need a Visa to Visit Japan?

Nationals of many countries are exempt from needing a visa to enter Japan, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Most travelers can stay in Japan without a visa for 90 days.

China Highlights, Asia Highlights, and Global Highlights collaborate to provide families and couples with personalized and stress-free experiences in diverse destinations.

Sharon has been very helpful since the… Sharon has been very helpful since the beginning coordinating our itinerary in order to accommodate everything we want to see, it been great working with her More May, Jul 2023

When I first book I was scared of what… When I first book I was scared of what to expect, but oh my God! What an amazing experience this has been, from Sharon to all the guides Shawn and Mr. Ho, such amazing people! Their work is excellent More Saul Velez, Jul 2023

Albee was very helpful and responsive… Albee was very helpful and responsive in helping me make plans for their 10 day Japanese tour. More Bhavini Patel, Jul 2023

Alisa was a perfect tour consultant Alisa responded to my numerous questions with efficiency and accuracy. She was constantly suggesting options to make the trip more enjoyable More Matha Goram, Jul 2023

I highly Recommend Asia Highlights For our first guide Jun, he was amazing. Very accommodating. Kept in good communication & kept us on time for our activities. Reached out to me the night before to confirm meet times and locations. Our driver for this time was also so kind & driver was always on time. For our second Guide , Ho. He went above and beyond. He stayed in great communication. Stayed later with us on one of the days because we were worried about riding the train back alone but wanted to visit at the shopping center a littler longer, so he stayed with us and made sure we got off on the right stop! During our time with him he took pictures of us and sent them to us! He was very knowledgeable about every place we visited. He was kind and patient with our large group. He made our trip easy & memorable. The driver we had for this timeframe was also kind & always on time! We felt a bond with both guides given to us! If you want an easy going, stress free trip book with “Asia Highlights”!!! More Jessalynn Flores, Jul 2023

Working to put together a custom trip… Working to put together a custom trip with Alissa has been a great experience More Marc, Jul 2023

Wonderful Service from Sharon! Sharon at Asia Highlights has been a HUGE help in planning our trip to Japan later this year. From her initial contact to finalization of the plan, she has been very responsive, professional, patient, and knowledgeable. She was able to quickly propose an amazing itinerary and helped us customize it for our interests. She also made many great recommendations and gave us tips for the trip. I wasn’t familiar with Asia Highlights before I reached out, but after Sharon’s wonderful service, I have full confidence in them. I can’t wait for the trip and I hope it’s as awesome as Sharon’s service!!! More Ali Tahir, Jul 2023

Wonderful trip We had a wonderful time in Japan with guides Moni and Kazuko and with Jan in Singapore. Will always remember this trip! More Happy Customer, Jun 2023

Just got to say Just got to say, Monica was great in every way! So sweet and helpful with planning, itineraries, answering questions… would love to meet her in person! Thank you Monica! More Teri, Jun 2023

Monica is fantastic Monica is fantastic. She understood our needs, was very responsive and planned a perfect vacation for us. Highly recommend. More Philip Sheldon, Jun 2023

Me and my son are traveling to Japan Me and my son are traveling to Japan. Albee is magnificent. Extremely efficient, helpful, trustworthy. I am very happy she is helping us with my son's dreaming trip. More Ana Letícia Urbanin, Jun 2023

A great way to plan a dream vacation Due to circumstances, we had to delay our trip to Japan so this review is only about the process of designing the trip. Albee was always available, responsive to our goals, and competent. Based on how involved he was with our family trip, we know we will be back next year and resuming the plan he built. Really impressed with the quality and extent of resources we found through Albee and KimKim. More KC, May 2023

Yeliz - Asia Highlights Yeliz was extremely helpful and patient during our Japan trip planning and answered all my various questions. Really looking forward to our upcoming trip to Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Kyoto and Osaka! More Cyndie, May 2023

Sharon’s was very patient and helpful… Sharon’s was very patient and helpful when navigating me through the trip planning process. She helped me plan a very exciting and extravagant trip. More Jonny Abad, May 2023

Wonderful 10 day trip in Japan!!! Well planned trip by Alisa . Everything was well scheduled, guides and drivers were excellent!! The cars were extremely comfortable and the hotel she chose for us was beautiful!! Enjoyed planning with her she was very professional and always offered other choices. More Lianne Stone, May 2023

11 days trip to Japan I am planning my trip to Japan in November with Sharon's help and she has provided amazing customer service.She is very responsive and put together very quickly an incredible plan for 11 days in Japan. She provided recommendations and made changes based on our interests and budget. She also provided information about visa restrictions and the best way to get tickets for transportation services. Thanks so much Sharon, looking forward to this trip! More LE, May 2023

Japan trip Hi Cathy! I just want to thank you for making our Japan trip so much fun & memorable! We loved everything that you had scheduled for us! All the guides and drivers were great & punctual! We love Japan so much that we’re planning to go back next year to different part of Japan! We’ll definitely contact Asia Highlights for our trip again! Serene More Serene Storslett, May 2023

Quick, easy and detailed service Alisa was our advisor from Asia highlights and she prepared for us a wonderful 28 day trip to Japan, taking into consideration our needs and desire not to be traveling everyday and to have a mixture of slow and busy days. We've not yet taken our trip, but very much looking forward to it Thank you Alisa for the quick response and wonderful itinerary More Lynette Whittle, Apr 2023

Japan Tour Sharon Huang did an excellent job in planningour 15 day Cherry Blossom Japan tour. Shewas available during our trip to answer our questions and readily agreed to the itinerary changes.Everything was arranged - accommodation,breakfast, guide, car, entrance fees and train tickets. The guides were knowledgeable, and managed the tour very efficiently. The drivers were punctual and very patient. We visited must see places in and near Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. We also got to experience Japanese Tea ceremony, Sushi making, Sake tasting, shopping etc.We highly recommend Asia Highlights for your travel needs. More Madhu, Apr 2023

I organized a trip to Japan for my I organized a trip to Japan for my parents who don’t speak English and Alisa was so amazing helping make an itinerary for them. They needed a Spanish guide and she coordinated everything so they wouldn’t have any trouble when they got there. She was so patient changing and adjusting the itinerary to their needs and wants, it’s been a total pleasure working with her and she always responds promptly to any question I have. I definitely recommend this company and if you can ask to work with Alisa. More Luisa, Apr 2023

Best Time to Visit Japan

Cherry blossoms in spring in Tokyo

Japan can be visited year-round, though there are benefits and drawbacks of every season.

• For the most comfortable weather, March to May are the best months to travel. Spring is one of the most popular times to visit Japan because of the beautiful, comfortable weather and the arrival of the cherry blossoms.
• For the lowest prices and less crowds, visit Japan from June to August. Many people choose not to visit Japan during these months due to the high heat (average 32℃ (90℉) and humidity, which means that standard prices for accommodation and flights are often lower. Summer is the festival season in Japan, offering you an opportunity to experience multiple holidays and firework-shows in another country. Get more ideas about planning a summer trip to Japan.
• For cool and dry weather and less crowds, September to November is a wise travel season. Visit Japan during this period to enjoy the changing colors of the leaves, turning brilliant orange and red, in the countryside near Kyoto and Tokyo. Autumn is also the best time to visit some of Japan's best national parks, such as Mount Fuji and the Five Lakes.
• For snow scenery and skiing, come to Japan from December to February. Winter in Japan is the best time to stay in a ryokan, with a natural hot spring. Nothing beats bathing in the hot pools surrounded by snow and quiet forests. Christmas/New Year holiday is one of the busiest times. Hotels and flights are easily booked up. Be sure to plan ahead and make reservations in advance. Let us know your interests and requirements, and we'll take care of everything.

For more weather info, you could read Best (& Worst) Times to Visit Japan>>>

10-Day Japan Cherry Blossom Spring Mini-Group Tour Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka

How Much Does a Japanese Vacation Cost?

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7 Top Places to Visit in Japan

With our experience traveling in Japan, we know it can be difficult to narrow down where you want to visit, in a place that has so many incredible destinations. Below are some of our favorite destinations according to our experience of traveling and planning holidays in Japan.

1) Tokyo: Modernity & Japanese Anime

Pokemon Center in Tokyo

As the booming and modern capital city, Tokyo has a lot to offer by way of foods, shopping malls, temples, museums, and skybars, as well as the iconic Mount Fuji.

Beyond the representative attractions, we can arrange a variety hand-picked activities for you to enrich your experiences. For example, you can make sushi at a local home and enjoy it as your lunch and learn about the legendary samurai warriors by wearing a samurai costume.

Many people come to Japan because their children, especially teenagers, love it. Tokyo is a great place to meet your children's interests in anime with a variety of theme parks such as J World, the Pokemon Center, and Tokyo Disneyland, sure to captivate their attention.

2) Kyoto: Ancient Temples & Geisha

Geishas in Kyoto

Kyoto has a lot of prominent ancient and historical sites to explore. This city has some special and authentic experiences you should not miss.

Kyoto is home to the striking Fushimi Inari Shrine, which featured in the film Memoirs of a Geisha and is famous for its countless vermilion torii gates. Stay at a cozy ryokan with old-style tatami bedrooms to experience tradition Japanese accommodation.

Walking around the Gion District with kimonos, along lantern-lined cobblestone streets, will make you feel like you are on a trip back in time.

In Kyoto, you are never too far from the natural side of Japan. Meander through the lush bamboo groves in Arashiyama or admire cherry blossoms in lots of famous places.

3) Hakone: Ryokans & Hot Springs

Traditional Japanese guest room of ryokan

Known all over the country for its picturesque beauty and natural hot springs, Hakone is one of the most popular destinations in Japan.

The Hakone region has more than a dozen springs that provide natural hot water. These springs are surrounded by ryokans where you can stay, eat delicious kaiseki meals, and bathe in the healing waters.

When not luxuriating in the relaxing hot springs, you can explore this sleepy undeveloped town located on the shores of Lake Ashinoko, with Mount Fuji in the background.

4) Nara: Deer Park

Feed deer in Nara

Nara is an ancient Japanese city less than an hour from Kyoto and Osaka. Most travelers come to Nara because of the Nara Park (often referred to by locals as Deer Park). It is home to over a thousand free-roaming deer which can be seen throughout the park and even fed in some areas.

5) Takayama and Shirakawa-go: Rural Countryside

View of Takayama's Countryside

Takayama is a city in the mountainous Hida region of the country, a great place for escaping from the country's larger cities and relaxing for a few days in the rural countryside. You can enjoy exploring the well-preserved townhouses, savoring delicious Hida beef, and visiting local sake brewery for a mellow sake.

After exploring Takayama, many visitors like to go to Shirakawa-go to see its near-perfectly preserved Old Town. It is famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old. In the winter months from January to February, the farmhouses are illuminated at night, creating a charming and attractive wintry lighting scene that draws in lots of travelers.

11-Day Classic Japan Tour Tokyo - Takayama - Shirakawa - Kanazawa - Kyoto

6) Kanazawa: Ancient City During the Edo Period

Kanazawa Castle

Kanazawa is an ancient Japanese city that during the Edo period used to be home to one of the most powerful clans in the country. Today, Kanazawa is a great place to visit for anyone interested in the ancient culture of the country.

Because Kanazawa wasn't destroyed by air raids during WWII, it's one of the few areas left with so many surviving ancient districts.

Kanazawa is also a good place for a close look into the life of samurais and geishas.

7) Sapporo: Snow Scenery and Winter Sports

Sapporo Beer Museum

Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido province and is Japan's fifth largest city, as well as one of its youngest. It is well known for its wonderful weather and snowfall in winter, making it the perfect place for winter sports. In fact, the 1972 Winter Olympics were hosted here.

Besides the incredible winter scenery and numerous sporting resorts, one thing that draws people to Sapporo is the annual Snow Festival. This is normally a week-long event in February. It attracts more than two million visitors every year and is famous around the world for its incredible ice sculptures.

9-Day Best of Japan's Winter - Hokkaido Private Tour 100% refund prior to 3 weeks before departure

How Many Days to Stay in Japan?

Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto

We suggest you take at least a week for your first trip to see a spectrum of the highlights in the top two cities.

• 3 days in Tokyo
• 3 days in Kyoto
• 1 day in Osaka

To discover more of Japan and popular destinations, like picturesque Hakone and Takayama, you will need two or three more days.

Suggested itinerary ideas for you:

• 8 Days in Japan
• 10 Days in Japan
• 12 Days in Japan
• One Week in Japan
• 2 Weeks in Japan
• 3 Weeks in Japan

Here are three well-organized Japan itineraries ideal for holidays of three popular lengths (9, 14, and 17 days), each offering plenty of fun hands-on activities. We could customize the itinerary based on your requests, and we could also reserve some free days for you to rest and relax or do some exploring on your own.

1) 9-Day Classic Route: Major Highlights of Japan and a Ryokan Experience

Tokyo Tower

• Tokyo - Hakone - Kyoto - Osaka

This itinerary covers the main highlights of Japan: experience its old-vibe in Asakusa, visit the samurai museum in Tokyo, try on kimonos for a memorable photo and participate in a classical tea ceremony in Kyoto, relax in a ryokan with onsen in Hakone, and sample street food in Osaka.

Here is a hand-picked itinerary of classics for you to consider:

• Days 1–3: Tokyo (sushi-making, discover samurai, Meiji Shrine, anime, and Disneyland)
• Days 4–5: Hakone (stay at a ryokan with an onsen)
• Days 6–8: Kyoto (geishas, Fushimi Inari Shrine, sample sake and Kaiseki, and feed deer in Nara)
• Day 9: Osaka (Dotonbori district and Osaka Castle)

9-Day Japan Highlights Tour Tokyo - Hakone - Kyoto - Osaka

2) 14-Day Private Family Route: Learning Through Fun

Try on kimonos with your family

• Tokyo – Takayama – Hiroshima – Kyoto

With this itinerary, you could visit the major attractions of Japan's cities and breathe in the fresh mountain air. Experience anime elements and have a full view of the city at Tokyo Tower in Tokyo, enter a traditional folk village in Takayama, cherish peace at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, stay at a cozy ryokan, stroll through the bamboo groves in Kyoto, and have fun at Universal Studios in Osaka.

Here is the summary itinerary for you:

• Days 1–3: Tokyo (Meiji Shrine, Tsukiji Market, Pokemon Center, and Akihabara)
• Days 4–5: Takayama (Hida Folk Village, sample sake and Hida beef)
• Days 6–7: Hiroshima and Miyajima (Peace Memorial Park and the ‘Floating Torii Gate')
• Days 8–11: Kyoto (geisha, ryokan, Nijo Castle, and feed deer in Nara)
• Days 12–14: Osaka (Cup Noodle Museum, Super Nintendo World, and Universal Studios)

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3) 17-Day Japan Itinerary: Hands-on Experiences and Outdoor Activities

Biking ride along Lake Kawaguchiko

• Tokyo – Kawaguchiko – Karuizawa – Nagoya – Kyoto – Osaka

To have an unforgettable Japan journey, you and your family or partner can take a wonderful trip with the following experiences: immerse yourself in a samurai experience in Tokyo, take a light hike close to nature in Karuizawa, and have fun in lovely Ghibli Park or full-of-technology Nagoya City Science Museum in Nagoya, have a geisha dinner andspend a cozy night at a ryokan in Kyoto, and visit outstanding Osaka Castle and have fun in Universal Studios in Osaka.

Here is the itinerary for your inspiration:

• Days 1–4: Tokyo (Meiji Shrine, sushi-making, ninja experience, samurai and Tokyo Tower)
• Days 5–6: Lake Kawaguchi ( Mount Fuji and biking)
• Days 7–8 Karuizawa (national park and light hiking)
• Days 9–11: Nagoya (Ghibli Park and Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology)
• Days 12–14: Kyoto (geisha, ryokan, Kinkakuji Temple, Arashiyama, and feed deer in Nara)
• Days 15–17: Osaka (Cup Noodle Museum, Osaka Castle, Universal Studios and Super Nintendo World theme park)

17-Day Japan Summer Family Vacation Experience Oriental Summertime

Accommodation in Japan - Ryokan

Traditional Japanese guest room of ryokan

Stay in Ryokan in Japan

While there is plenty of accommodation available in Japan, with different standards, our favorite is the ryokan. A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn that will make you feel simultaneously comfortable and relaxed. Its floors are usually made of rice- or bamboo-straw. You sleep on traditional mattresses on the floor, and eat fresh kaiseki-style dinners.

Ryokans are the essence of comfort. Members of staff are often dressed in kimonos, they provide excellent service, the food is top-tier, and many ryokans are located on natural hot springs that have waters with healing properties.

The ryokans with hot springs in Hakone are particularly famous, with their Japanese western-style rooms and atmosphere of total peace and harmony.

Cannot decide which ryokan to choose? Submit an inquiry for a best suitable choice for your family. You could also get more ideas about How to Plan a First-Time Family Trip to Japan>>>

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How to Get to and Around Japan?

Shinkansen

Getting to Japan

Most flights from international starting points such as Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand, land at Narita International Airport in Tokyo or Kansai International Airport in Osaka. These airports are conveniently close to their corresponding cities and are international hubs for some of Japan's leading airlines.

For the best prices, we advise buying tickets at least 6 weeks in advance. You can contact us for the best suitable travel route recommendation.

Getting Around Japan

The famous Japanese bullet train, or Shinkansen, provides an easy and quick way to travel across the whole country, without the risk of delays or the hassle of getting to an airport. Most cities are conveniently connected by Shinkansen bullet trains, such as the two and a half-hour journey from Tokyo to Kyoto. Each shinkansen line has different types of train, which customers can choose from.

The one downside of traveling by train is that there is often little space for luggage larger than a carry-on suitcase. Many hotels do, however, provide the service of sending your luggage on to your next hotel.