Tokyo · Kyoto · Nara · Osaka · Fukuoka · Okinawa
If you’ve never been to Asia, start with Japan. A country where ultra-modern cities and thousand-year-old temples stand side by side without ever feeling at odds.
Start hereUltra-modern cities of neon and skyscrapers, with thousand-year-old temples just a few minutes’ walk away. Trains that arrive to the second — and tea ceremonies that last for hours.
Japan doesn’t ask you to be a seasoned traveller. It welcomes you gently — which is exactly why so many people choose it as their first serious trip to Asia.
Each Japanese season has a character of its own. The cards below are a quick look at what to expect.
Japan is still very much a cash country. In big cities, cards work almost everywhere, but small cafés, temples and markets are often cash-only.
The most reliable ATMs are 7-Eleven and Japan Post Bank — both handle foreign cards smoothly.
The first day or two can feel overwhelming because of the sheer number of lines and operators. There is no single hub: the metro, private railways and city lines all belong to different companies.
Tokyo has one of the most intricate transport systems in the world: multiple operators (Tokyo Metro, JR East, private lines). A single trip can involve two or three different companies and transfers between “systems”.
Google Maps handles it flawlessly: platforms, transfers, timing down to the minute.
These are the backbone of getting around Japan.
You top up mostly with cash at the station machines.
+ Bonus: They also work at konbini, vending machines and many cafés.
The main rule: don’t panic about transfers — the system is logical, just layered. Google Maps + an IC card solves 90% of it.
Internet is no issue at all — the only question is which option suits you best.
It’s nearly everywhere, but not always reliable:
You don’t need a car in the big cities, but it becomes really useful the moment you step off the standard tourist trail.
Getting to the “untouristy” backcountry near Kyoto can mean 2–4 train transfers plus buses. In cases like that, a car is often simpler and faster.
Public transport there is so good that a car would be more expensive, slower and harder to park.
Without an IDP, you simply won’t get the car.
Konbini aren’t just shops. In Japan they’re tiny all-purpose survival hubs — open around the clock and covering almost everything a traveller might need.
the most traveller-friendly (especially the ATMs)
plenty of ready-made meals and snacks
a wide range of hot food and desserts
Konbini are part of everyday life in Japan. It’s not just tourists who go in — locals stop by daily.
A universal adapter is essential.
Tipping is NOT customary in Japan — it can even make people uncomfortable. Service is already included (restaurants, taxis, hotels).
Cleanliness runs deep. You’ll often take your shoes off at temples, always at ryokan, and sometimes at restaurants or museums.
If you see shoe shelves or slippers — the shoes come off.
Tap water is perfectly safe to drink, no need to boil it. Quality in big cities is excellent.
Shopping in Japan combines high-quality goods, genuinely unique products and a very tourist-friendly system.
Items are sometimes sealed in a separate bag — don’t open it until you leave the country.
⚠️ Changes from 1 November 2026: Japan is switching to a "pay full price at the till → refund at the airport on departure" model. The instant point-of-sale exemption is being phased out. If you’re travelling after that date, plan extra time at the airport for the paperwork.
Convenient, often great value thanks to Tax Free — from budget to premium.
Huge stores stocked with everything: cosmetics, souvenirs, food, electronics. Often open 24/7. One of the absolute favourites with tourists.
In Japan, Uniqlo isn’t just a clothing shop — flagship stores can be multi-storey landmarks. Tokyo has one of the largest Uniqlo locations in the world, spanning up to 10–14 floors together with sister brands and cafés.
Minimalism and simplicity: clothing, accessories, cosmetics, home goods. A style built on “nothing extra”.
A huge part of the shopping scene. Tourists stock up on cosmetics, sheet masks, vitamins, skincare, snacks and sweets.
Japanese culture runs on a daily system of unwritten rules — and that’s exactly what makes the country so comfortable to live in and travel through.
On the metro and trains, almost no one talks loudly. Phone calls are rare and considered out of place. Transport is a space for quiet.
Queues are a normal, deeply ingrained part of the culture. People line up neatly, no one pushes in. On the metro there are clear markers for where to stand at each carriage door.
A core value. You don’t need to be “perfect” as a tourist, but: keep the noise down, don’t cause chaos, respect personal space.
Japan is one of the cleanest countries in the world. Public bins are rare, so people carry their rubbish with them. Keeping things clean is everyone’s responsibility.
Trains can apologise for being even one minute late. Delays here are genuinely rare and treated as serious incidents.
Public bins are rare — they were largely removed for security reasons. People simply carry their rubbish home or to a konbini.
Masks aren’t worn only when sick: protection from dust and allergies, courtesy so you don’t infect others, sometimes just habit.
Japan has a very convenient luggage-forwarding system that genuinely simplifies travel between cities.
And you simply travel without your luggage.
You can often find better prices here than booking directly with hotels or airlines.
Trip.com (referral link) ↗Especially handy for tickets to popular attractions.
Klook (referral link) ↗Fukuoka is optional — a nice start or end point for the trip.
A handful of words and phrases you’ll hear often in Japan. The basics plus a smile will get you further than perfect English ever could.
Japan is:
For many people, it’s one of the best countries for a first major trip to Asia — gentle in how it welcomes you, and a place that lingers in your memory long afterwards.
I’ll help you map out the route, book hotels and transport to match your pace and budget — without the chaos and guesswork.
