Japan: Ancient Temples, Bullet Trains, and the Best Food on Earth
Neon cities, sacred mountains, and 7-Eleven meals that somehow slap. Your complete guide.
Japan is one of those places that actually lives up to the hype. You’ll eat better here than almost anywhere on the planet, and that includes the £1.50 onigiri from a convenience store at 2am. Tokyo is sensory overload in the best way. Kyoto makes you slow down whether you planned to or not. And the trains run so precisely on time that a 30-second delay makes national news. It’s expensive-ish, confusing at first, and completely worth figuring out. This guide covers everything you need to actually plan the trip, not just dream about it.
11-12 hrs
From the UK
Mar-May / Oct-Nov
Best time
Japanese
Main language
JPY (¥)
Currency
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Best Time To Visit
Japan is a year-round destination, but the best time to visit depends on your priorities. Here’s a quick seasonal guide:
Spring (Mar-May): Cherry blossoms sweep the country, with pleasant weather but peak crowds and prices.
Summer (Jun-Aug): Festival season shines, but expect heat and humidity. Cooler escapes can be found in the mountains.
Autumn (Sep-Nov): Mild weather and stunning fall foliage make it perfect for exploring, with fewer crowds than spring.
Winter (Dec-Feb): Ideal for skiing in Hokkaido and relaxing in hot springs. Prices drop, except around New Year.
Check out the Best time to visit Japan for a detailed look.
What To Expect
22°C
- Temperature
Capital: Tokyo
Population: 122.8 million (2021)
Language: The official language in Japan is Japanese.
Currency: The official currency is the Japanese Yen (JPY). $1 is around 150 Yen. Check the latest rates here
Credit Cards & ATMs: In cities like Tokyo and Osaka, you can pay for pretty much everything with your card. However, you’ll need cash for entrance fees and if you’re planning to explore Japan’s more remote destinations. A lot of places will now also accept contactless payments like Apple Pay or Google pay. Cash can be withdrawn from most shops like 7-Eleven.
Plugs: The plugs in Japan are type A and B. The standard voltage is 100 V, and the standard frequency is 50 / 60 Hz. I recommend buying a universal adapter
Safety: Japan is widely considered one of the safest countries in the world. It boasts a very low crime rate, especially for violent crime, and solo travelers (including women) generally feel safe exploring both cities and rural areas.
Japan Travel Guides
From Tokyo’s neon chaos to Kyoto’s bamboo silence. Guides for every kind of trip.
City Guides (coming soon)
Itineraries + Maps (coming soon)
Best Places to Visit & Things to Do
Best Time to Visit
Travel Tips
Everything Else
How Much Does Japan Cost?
Not as brutal as you’ve heard. Here’s what to actually budget for.
🎒
Backpacker
~¥8,000/day ~£43 / ~$54 / ~€50
- Hostel dorms or capsule hotels from ¥2,500/night
- Convenience store meals and ramen shops
- IC card for trains and buses
- Free temples, shrines, and city exploring
🍜
Mid-Range
~¥18,000/day ~£97 / ~$122 / ~€112
- Business hotels or private hostel rooms
- Mid-range restaurants and izakayas
- Mix of metro and occasional Shinkansen
- Museums, cultural experiences, guided tours
🏨
Upscale
~¥35,000+/day ~£187+ / ~$235+ / ~€216+
- Luxury ryokans and boutique hotels
- Omakase sushi and Michelin-starred dining
- Green Car Shinkansen and private transfers
- Private tours, onsen retreats, exclusive experiences
Detailed Cost Breakdown
Budget
- Hostel dorm: £13-27 / $17-34 / €15-31 per night
- Capsule hotel: £16-38 / $20-48 / €19-43 per night
- Budget hotel: £35-65 / $45-82 / €42-74 per night
Mid–Luxury
- Business hotel: £54-108 / $68-136 / €62-124 per night
- Ryokan (traditional inn): £108-270 / $136-340 / €124-310 per night
- Luxury hotel: £160+ / $200+ / €185+ per night
City Travel
- Metro/bus single ride: £1.10-2.20 / $1.40-2.70 / €1.20-2.50
- Day pass (Tokyo Metro): £4.30 / $5.50 / €5.00
- Taxi per km: £2.40-4 / $3.10-5.10 / €2.80-4.70
Long Distance
- Shinkansen (Tokyo-Kyoto): £78 / $98 / €90 one-way
- 7-day Japan Rail Pass: £270 / $340 / €310
- Overnight bus (Tokyo-Osaka): £24-46 / $30-58 / €27-53
Eat Cheap
- Convenience store meal: £2.70-6.50 / $3.50-8.20 / €3.10-7.40
- Ramen or conveyor sushi: £4-8 / $5-10 / €4.50-9
- Coffee: £1.30-3.20 / $1.70-4.10 / €1.50-3.70
Eating Out
- Mid-range restaurant: £8-19 / $10-24 / €9-22
- Izakaya evening: £16-32 / $20-40 / €18-37
- Beer (bar or izakaya): £2.70-5.40 / $3.50-6.80 / €3.10-6.20
Budget Fun
- Temple or shrine entry: £1.60-4.30 / $2.10-5.50 / €1.90-5.00
- Onsen (hot spring bath): £3.20-14 / $4.10-17 / €3.70-15
- Bike rental (per day): £2.70-8 / $3.50-10 / €3.10-9
Big Experiences
- Theme park (DisneySea/USJ): £46-57 / $58-72 / €53-67
- Guided city tour: £27-65 / $34-82 / €31-74
- Tea ceremony or kimono experience: £16-54 / $20-68 / €19-62
10 Ways to Save Money in Japan
🚃 Get an IC card — Suica, Pasmo, or ICOCA. Cheaper than single tickets and works in convenience stores too.
🏪 Eat at convenience stores — 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson sell genuinely good food. Onigiri, bento boxes, and egg sandwiches for under £3/$4/€3.50.
💊 Buy a JR Pass (if city-hopping) — Two Shinkansen return trips and the pass has already paid for itself.
⛩️ Hit free attractions first — Most temples, shrines, and parks cost nothing. The paid ones rarely top £5/$6/€5.50.
🌙Take overnight buses — Tokyo to Osaka from £24/$30/€27. You save on a hotel night and travel at the same time.
🍣 Shop supermarkets after 7pm — Sushi, bento, and bakery items get marked down 30-50%. Same food, much less money.
💰 Use 100-yen shops — Daiso, Seria, Can Do. Snacks, toiletries, souvenirs. Everything’s roughly £0.55/$0.70/€0.65.
🚶 Walk or rent a bike — Kyoto and Nara are made for cycling. Bike rental is about £3-8/$4-10/€3.50-9 a day.
📅 Avoid peak weeks — Golden Week (late April to early May), cherry blossom season, and New Year’s all spike prices hard.
🏨Try capsule hotels — A genuinely fun experience and they start from about £16/$20/€19 a night. Way better than they sound.
Getting Around Japan
Japan’s transport system is absurdly good. Here’s how to use it without overcomplicating things.
Domestic Flights
Best for reaching Hokkaido, Okinawa, or Kyushu fast. Budget airlines make it surprisingly affordable.
✅ Fast for long distances
✅ Budget carriers from under £23/$30/€27
❌ Airport time eats into the savings
Car & Campervan
Best for rural Japan. Hokkaido, Okinawa, and the Japanese Alps are tough to reach without one.
✅ Total freedom in the countryside
✅ Surprisingly affordable (from £38/$48/€43 per day)
❌ You need an International Driving Permit
Public Transport
Best for getting around within Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto. Cheap, clean, runs every few minutes.
✅ Cheap with IC card (Suica/Pasmo)
✅ Covers every corner of the city
❌ Confusing at first (overlapping networks)
Shinkansen (Bullet Train)
Best for city-to-city travel. Tokyo to Kyoto in 2.5 hours. Runs like clockwork because it literally is.
✅ Fastest way between major cities
✅ JR Pass makes it affordable
❌ Single tickets are pricey without a pass
Intercity Bus
Best for budget travel. Overnight buses between Tokyo and Osaka save you a hotel night.
✅ Cheapest option from £24/$30/€27
✅ Overnight = free accommodation
❌ Tokyo to Osaka is 8-10 hours
Cycling
Best for exploring Kyoto, Nara, and smaller towns. Flat, scenic, and you see things you’d miss on a train.
✅ Cheap (£3-8/$4-10/€3.50-9 per day)
✅ Perfect for temple-hopping in Kyoto
❌ Limited in Tokyo (too huge, not enough bike lanes)
Which Is Right For You?
Exploring one city
Metro + IC card. Walk as much as you can.
Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka circuit
Get a 7-day JR Pass. Worth every yen.
Rural Japan & countryside
Rent a car. Public transport thins out fast.
Tight budget, long distances
Overnight buses + budget flights.
Quick Tips
📅
Book Shinkansen Early
Peak season (cherry blossom, autumn) seats sell out. Reserve ahead.
💳
Get an IC Card First
Suica or Pasmo. Load it up and forget about buying single tickets.
⏰
Avoid Rush Hour
7:30-9:30am in Tokyo is not fun. Shift your schedule if you can.
📍
Use Google Maps
It works brilliantly for Japan transit. Real-time departures, platform numbers, the lot.
Book Tours & Tickets
Related Resources
Travel Problems
Missed flights, lost luggage, dodgy hotels. It happens. Here’s how to handle all of it without losing your mind.
Theft & Scams
Pickpockets, tourist traps, and cons you won’t see coming. We break down the most common ones and how to avoid every single one.
Travel Insurance
Don’t skip this one. Especially travelling solo. We compare the best policies and explain exactly what you actually need.
FAQs
Do I need a visa to visit Japan?
It depends on your passport. UK, US, EU, Canadian, and Australian citizens can enter visa-free for up to 90 days as tourists. You don’t need to apply in advance, just show up with a valid passport and a return or onward ticket. For other nationalities, check the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for current requirements before booking anything.
Is Japan safe for tourists?
Very. It regularly ranks among the safest countries in the world. Violent crime against tourists is almost unheard of, and petty theft is rare. You can walk around most cities at any hour without concern. The biggest “risks” are honestly things like getting on the wrong train or eating so much you feel ill. Natural disasters (earthquakes, typhoons) are worth reading up on, but Japan’s infrastructure handles them better than anywhere.
How long do I need in Japan?
Most first-timers do 10-14 days and cover the “Golden Route” (Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka). That’s enough to get a proper taste without rushing. If you want to add Hiroshima, Nara, or Hokkaido, aim for 3 weeks. You could spend a month and still feel like you barely scratched the surface. Two weeks is the sweet spot for a first trip.
Is Japan expensive?
Less than people think, especially right now with the weak yen. Budget travellers can manage around £43/$54/€50 a day with hostels, convenience store meals, and local trains. Mid-range is more like £97/$122/€112 a day with private rooms and proper restaurant meals. The expensive parts are Shinkansen tickets (get a JR Pass), fancy ryokans, and theme parks. Day-to-day costs are actually pretty manageable.
What's the best time to visit Japan?
Spring (March to May) for cherry blossoms, or autumn (October to November) for the foliage. Both are gorgeous and both are peak season, so book early. Summer is hot, humid, and full of festivals. Winter is great for skiing in Hokkaido and soaking in onsen with snow falling around you. There’s no truly bad time, just different trade-offs.
Do I need to speak Japanese?
Not really, but learning a few basics goes a long way. In Tokyo and Osaka, signs are usually in English and most tourist-facing staff speak enough to help. Outside the big cities it gets harder. Google Translate’s camera feature is a lifesaver for menus and signs. The phrases “sumimasen” (excuse me/sorry) and “arigatou gozaimasu” (thank you) will get you surprisingly far.
Do I need travel insurance for Japan?
Yes. Japan has excellent healthcare but it’s not free for tourists, and medical bills add up fast. A simple hospital visit can cost hundreds of pounds. And if you need emergency evacuation or trip cancellation cover, you really don’t want to be paying out of pocket. Compare policies in our Travel Insurance hub.
Can I use credit cards in Japan?
More than you used to, but cash is still important. Major cities accept cards in most shops, restaurants, and hotels. But smaller restaurants, shrines, rural areas, and vending machines are still cash-heavy. Carry at least ¥10,000-20,000 (£54-108/$68-136/€62-124) in cash at all times. 7-Eleven ATMs accept international cards and they’re everywhere.
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