How to Plan Your Bucket List 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 Go to Japan?

Nagamachi Samurai Street in Kanazawa

Japan has restored the visa-waiver system from October 11th, 2022. If your country is in the list of Exemption of Japan Visa like Australia, Canada, USA, UK and almost all European nations, you can visit Japan without applying for a visa in advance. 

Feel free to contact us to plan your dream travel. 

Suggested reading: 2-Week Japan Itineraries: For Families and Couples

What Our Customers Said

Handcrafted tour of Japan by Asia Highlights My initial inquiry to this company (based in China) was answered in under 10 hours by an amazing travel consultant, named Alisa. She is such a professional in the ways she conducts herself and serves her clients. Alisa is a great communicator and listener. She is very open to requests for additional experiences which require research on her part to arrange. Alisa also provides very detailed information about each experience, location, guides, private car transfers, trains, hotels. This approach is very appealing since detailed communication is so useful and important to me. Alisa also makes the process simple and easy to follow. Answered tons of questions and created the perfect tour for us. We are looking forward to this once in a lifetime visit to Japan and are so grateful we have had the chance to work with Alisa at Asia Highlights! More Laurie Lee, Feb 2023

Handcrafted tour of Japan by Asia Highlights I am planning a private, very “hands-on” experiential tour of Japan for my family and friends. I chose to work with the 11 day Classic Japan tour and add our own spin. This will be our first visit to the home of our ancestors. I reviewed 20+ travel companies before making the choice to use Asia Highlights because of their private “handcrafted” tours. More Laurie Lee, Feb 2023

Great Overall Experience Our guide in Tokyo, Fuki, was outstanding. We saw things we would never have otherwise seen, if Fuki had not been there. More Todd Hankinson, Dec 2022

Great Overall Experience Albee was always available, helpful and forthright with what was available and what was not.She was very helpful. More Todd Hankinson, Dec 2022

Plenty of options and personalized tours as needed Monica Mo was very helpful from the beginning after I enquired about my travel plans to Japan. She listened with understanding and took careful notes and clarified things to make sure she got everything. More Ginybel Belgira, Sep 2022

Asia Highlights especially Ms. Kanae Chida superb Asia Highlights and particularly our Tokyo guide, Ms. Kanae Chida, were the best. When Kanae met us, she asked for details of what we wished to see and she constructed an outstanding combination of visits for the day. More Geoff Rayner-Canham, May 2019

Asia Highlights especially Ms. Kanae Chida superb When Kanae met us, she asked for details of what we wished to see and she constructed an outstanding combination of visits for the day. In addition to the temples and the old historic streets, she discovered that I loved azelia flowers. More Geoff Rayner-Canham, May 2019

I have arranged a 27 day tour of China, Japan and Hong Kong China Peggie's English is impeccable and she uses lots of nuances which usually only a native English speaker would know. I have found her very prompt in responding to emails and her knowledge is terrific. More Ailsa West, Jul 2018

How Much Does a Japanese Vacation Cost?

Japan keeps up with Europe both in livelihood and service standards, which means travel in Japan costs more than in China or in southeast Asia countries. US$400 (and above) per person per day is the typical cost for a private tour with 4 star hotels based on a group of 2-4 people. This includes a private guide, private car, full-day itinerary, tickets for attractions, and a local 4-star hotel. Extra USD $100 or more per day is required if looking to stay in a local 5-star hotel. 

March to May are the busiest travel months in Japan, which means higher cost for travel and more crowds than the rest of the whole year. Booking flights and hotels in advance are necessary. To reserve a professional tour guide for your dream trip in Japan, you're suggested booking a Japan tour at least 6 months ahead of your departure date.

Some Japan tour packages come with public transport (mainly subway) to save some cost. This is an option for travelers willing to walk 20,000+ steps per day. For a family group or a retired couple, a private tour with a private vehicle is highly recommended for a more hassle-free experience to maximize the enjoyment.

Contact us to create a memorable Japan tour with good value of money. With Asia Highlights, you enjoy 100% refund of any payments made to Asia Highlights prior to 3 weeks before departure (detail⇒).

Suggested reading: How Long Should You Spend in Japan

2-Week Japan Private Family Vacation Discover the diversity of Japan with your kids

8 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.

Many people come to Japan because their children, especially teenagers, love it. Tokyo is a great place to meet your children's interest of anime  (Japanese animation) and manga (comics). The J World, the Pokemon Centre, and the Tokyo Disneyland cannot be missed.

You can also learn about the legendary samurai warriors in Tokyo by wearing a samurai costume and learning the basics of kenbu.

Suggested reading:

• How to Plan a Japan Cherry Blossom Trip
• How to Plan a Smart Family Trip to Japan

2) Kyoto: Ancient Temples & Geisha

The Golden Pavilion in Kyoto

While Tokyo is the large, booming city that defines modern Japan, Kyoto is smaller and has a more prominent ancient and historical side to explore.

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.

If you want some incredible food and an opportunity to see a geisha making her way to a tea house, you can head to the Gion or Pontocho districts. Walking around there, 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. In fact, the city has multiple famous places for viewing the sakura, the blooming of the cherry trees. 

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

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.

Suggested reading: 3-Week Japan Itineraries: The 2 Smart Options

17-Day Japan Summer Family Vacation Experience Oriental Summertime

4) Nara: Deer Park

Deer Park 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. 

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

5) Uji: Green Tea

Traditional tea ceremony in Japan

Uji is a small traditional town near Kyoto, world-famous for its green tea. It has been known for its high-quality tea since the 1100s, and is a great place to visit for an authentic view of tea production in Japan.

Here you can learn about the tea-making process from the growing of the plant to the kneading and drying process, to the final taste testing and quality checks. Here you can also participate in a traditional tea ceremony, or stroll through the picturesque Japanese village while sampling tea from local shops.

6) 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.

After exploring Takayama, many visitors like to go to Shirakawa-go to see its near-perfectly preserved Old Town, still looking just as it did during the Edo period. The Old Town is famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old.

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

7) 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.

8) 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

To discover more of Japan, like picturesque Hakone and Deer Park in Nara, you will need a few more days. See our sample itinerary for inspiration: 9-Day Japan Highlights Tour.

If you are lucky to have two weeks to tour Japan, then you have a lot more options, like exploring the quaint towns (Takayama, Shirakawa-go, and Kanazawa) in remote mountain region. Create your unique travel based on the 11-Day Classic Japan Tour. Read more about 2-Week Japan Itineraries for Families, Couples, and Cherry Blossom Viewing.

You might want to contact a travel specialist to have your requirements, including the length of your holiday, designed into a fulfilling tour uniquely planned for you.   

Best Time to Visit Japan

Himeji Castle with frame of cherry blossom

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.
• 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>>>

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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>>>

11-Day Traditional Japan Tour Osaka - Hiroshima - Kyoto - Tokyo

How to Get to and Around Japan? 

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.

Besides these two major airports, there is also the New Chitose Airport in Sapporo, the Chubu Centrair International Airport in Nagoya, and the Naha Airport in Okinawa. It's a good idea to consider ticket prices to different airports, as well as your travel itinerary, when deciding which city you would like to fly in to.

For the best prices, we advise buying tickets at least 6 weeks in advance. Good websites to visit for cheap tickets include expedia.com and skyscanner.com. Or you can contact us for the best suitable travel route recommendation.

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Getting Around Japan

Seats inside the bullet train

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. Each shinkansen line has different types of train, which customers can choose from.

If you think you will be using trains a lot in Japan, you can purchase a JR (Japan Rail) pass, which is relatively cheap and gives travelers access to all JR lines across the country. A 7-day JR pass is typically enough for most travelers, and costs around 29,110 yen (about $260).

The Shinkansen bullet train

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.

It is also possible to fly between cities in Japan, though with the comfort and availability of trains, most travelers decide to skip the airport hassle.