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Find out everything you need to know about traveling to Japan, from attractions, culture, food, events, to safety and visa information. Explore Japan's regions, seasons, festivals, art, nature, and more with stories, guides, and tips.
- Luggage & Storage
Just look for the Hands-Free Travel Counter to drop off your...
- Shinkansen
Nothing screams "Japan" more loudly than the super sleek...
- Transportation in Japan
Bicycles in Japan While Japan's peerless public...
- Traveling by Rail
Japan's railways offer impeccable punctuality, safety, and...
- How to Travel by Train and Bus
You can add money to your card at almost all train stations...
- JR Rail Passes
If you plan to stay in Tokyo but want to explore the greater...
- Scenic Railways
The “SL Kawaneji-go” is the train for you if you wish to...
- Renting a Car
While the Japan Expressway Pass (JEP) is no longer for sale...
- Luggage & Storage
Plan your trip to Japan with our guides, events, and tips. Explore Japan's prefectures, culture, food, activities, and more with our Japan map and community.
- Guide to Suica Cards - Transport
- Guide to Bringing Medicines Into Japan - Plan your trip
- Etiquette at Shrines and Temples: A Step-by-Step Guide
- 9 Tips for Your First Trip to Japan - Plan your trip
- 5 Museums for Car Lovers in Japan - Culture
- Guide to Pocket WiFi in Japan - Plan your trip
- Guide to Sumo at the Kokugikan - Tokyo
Find comprehensive information and tips for traveling and living in Japan, from regions and destinations to transportation and accommodation. Explore Japan's culture, nature, history, food, and more with japan-guide.com.
- Tokyo
- Kyoto
- Naoshima
- Mt Fuji
- Hiroshima
- Yakushima
- Koya-san
- Okinawa and The Southwest Islands
- Osaka
- Kamikōchi
Best for contemporary culture Tokyois a city forever reaching into the future, pushing the boundaries of what's possible on densely populated, earthquake-prone land, and building ever taller, sleeker structures. It's Japan's top spot for contemporary art and architecture, pop culture, shopping, drinking and entertainment (and a tie with Kyoto for d...
Best for traditional experiences Kyoto, Japan's imperial capital for a thousand years, is home to more than a thousand temples. Among them are the monumental, like Kinkaku-ji (an exquisite pavilion sheathed entirely in gold leaf), and the meditative, like Ryōan-ji, with its stark Zen rock garden. And temples are only the beginning. There's the cult...
Best for architecture Naoshimais one of Japan's great success stories: once a rural island on the verge of becoming a ghost town, it's now a world-class center for contemporary art. Many of Japan's most lauded architects have contributed structures, including museums, a boutique hotel and even a bathhouse – all designed to enhance the island's natu...
Best for views and pilgrimages Even from a distance, Mt Fujiwill take your breath away. Close up, the perfectly symmetrical cone of Japan's highest peak is nothing short of incredible. Dawn from the summit? Pure magic. Fuji-san is among Japan's most revered and timeless attractions. Hundreds of thousands of people climb it every year, continuing a ...
Best for introspection Hiroshima today is a forward-thinking city with attractive, leafy boulevards. It's not until you visit the Peace Memorial Museumthat the true extent of human tragedy wreaked by the atomic bomb becomes vividly clear. A visit here is a heartbreaking, important history lesson. Thepark around the museum, much of which was designe...
Best for forest bathing Yakushima, a small island off the coast of southern Kyūshū, is often described as magical and enchanting – otherworldly even. It's a place where words fail and clichés step in. Home to some of Japan's last primeval forests, you'll find the yakusugi, an ancient cedar native to the island whose giant roots seem to form alien t...
Best for exploring temples Riding the funicular up to the sacred Buddhist monastic complex of Kōya-san feels, appropriately, like ascending to another world. There are over a hundred temples here, the highlight of which is Oku-no-in, where paths weave their way among towering cryptomeria trees and time-worn stone stupas covered in moss and lichen. ...
Best for beaches Okinawa and the Southwest Islands offer a totally different experience from the rest of Japan. This semi-tropical archipelago forms an arch between Kyūshū and Taiwan. Until the islands were annexed by Japan in the 19th century, they formed their own kingdom – the Ryūkyū Empire – and the cultural differences are apparent in everythi...
Best for street food and nightlife Tokyo doesn't nab all the superlatives when it comes to urban experiences. Osaka, Japan's third-largest city, is tops for street food: don't miss its signature dish, takoyaki(grilled octopus dumplings). It also has the most dramatic of nightscapes: a dazzling display of LED lights, animated signage and flashing vi...
Best for mountain hikes One of Japan's most stunning natural vistas, Kamikōchi is a highland river valley enveloped by the soaring peaks of the Northern Japan Alps. Easy day hikes are possible along the Azusa-gawa, following the pristine river through tranquil forests of willow, larch and elm. The birthplace of Japanese alpinism, Kamikōchi is also ...
Explore Japan's timeless attractions, from ancient traditions to modern life, with Lonely Planet's expert tips and recommendations. Find the best time and places to visit, top picks from our travel experts, and more.
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