Japan Travel Guide: Essentials

Travel

Living

A-Z

Forum

Jobs

Friends

Shopping

Hotels

Don't have an account yet? Sign up now.

Search this site

Hotel Reservations

(check-in)

Car Rentals
Compact cars from around 4,000 Yen/day!

Online Hostel Bookings
Hostels and inexpensive ryokan from $10 per night!

Travel Forum

?	Travel questions? Ask them on the question forum!

Recommended Travel Guide Books

	Lonely Planet Japan is the best and most complete travel guide on Japan for independent low budget travelers.
	Gateway to Japan is out of date (1998), but by far the best travel guide with respect to historical and cultural background information.

Japan Sightseeing Guide

Hokkaido
Sapporo
Otaru
Hakodate
Furano
Abashiri
Noboribetsu
Niseko
Lake Toya
Daisetsuzan
Shiretoko
Rishiri Rebun
Akan

Tohoku
Sendai
Matsushima
Hiraizumi
Kakunodate
Nyuto Onsen
Hirosaki
Lake Towada
Dewa Sanzan
Aizu

Kanto
Tokyo
Yokohama
Kamakura
Nikko
Hakone
Kawagoe
Kusatsu
Ikaho
Narita

Chubu
Nagoya
Inuyama
Mt.Fuji
Fujigoko
Izu Peninsula
Nagano
Matsumoto
Kamikochi
Kiso Valley
Hakuba
Yudanaka
Sado Island
Takayama
Shirakawa-go
Gujo
Gero Onsen
Kanazawa

Kansai
Kyoto
Osaka
Nara
Kobe
Himeji
Kinosaki
Mount Koya
Kumano
Yoshino
Amanohashidate
Hikone
Iga Ueno
Ise Shima

Chugoku
Hiroshima
Miyajima
Okayama
Kurashiki
Matsue
Iwami Ginzan
Iwakuni
Yamaguchi
Hagi

Shikoku
Takamatsu
Kotohira
Naoshima
Matsuyama
Uchiko
Kochi
Tokushima
Naruto

Kyushu
Fukuoka
Dazaifu
Nagasaki
Kumamoto
Mount Aso
Minamata
Beppu
Miyazaki
Takachiho
Kagoshima
Kirishima
Yakushima

Okinawa
Honto
Yaeyama

Survey

How can tourism in Japan be improved? Increase foreign language information Preserve natural and historic sites Ease immigration requirements Other No improvement needed
	see results
Other Surveys: Financial Crisis Ski Destination Preferred way to stay at a ryokan Purpose of visit Most popular region Have you recently entered Japan?

japan-guide.com newsletter

Keeping you up to date on Japan travel and living related issues and site updates. Click here to subscribe!

japan-guide.com forum

?	Any questions? Ask them on the question forum!

Sponsored Listings

Tour Packages
Guided and individual tour plans.

Japan - Order FREE Brochure!
About vacation plans and specialty travel.

Car Rental
The cheapest rates in Japan!

Home - Travel

Essentials

Before you go

When to travel	When to travel to Japan.
What to bring	About baggage and coin lockers.
Flying to Japan	About airlines, airports and airfares.
Immigration	About different types of visa.
Sightseeing Guide	List of cities and sightseeing spots.
Itineraries	Suggested travel itineraries for Japan.
Trip Reports	Trip reports by other travelers.
Tour Packages	About individual and guided package tours.

Money matters

Travel Cost	Sample budgets for travelling in Japan.
Budget Travel	How to save money on your travels in Japan.
Shop Directory	A directory of interesting shops in Japan.
Banking	Information about banks.
ATMs	Information about international ATMs.

Practical Information

Transportation	The ways to get to and around Japan.
Accommodation	Overview of different accommodation types.
Mobile Phones	Rental or prepaid mobile phones for Japan.
Postal Services	About post offices and Japanese addresses.
Delivery Services	About luggage delivery services.
Electricity	About voltage and Japanese plugs.
Emergencies	What to do in an emergency.

Weather and Seasons

When to travel	Basic weather information.
Cherry Blossoms	Guide to cherry blossom viewing.
Plum Blossoms	About plum blossoms.
Autumn Leaves	About the colorful autumn foliage.
Rainy Season	About the rainy season in early summer.
Thyphoons	About Japan's typhoon season.
Earthquakes	About earthquakes.

Background

Japan A-Z	Covering most aspects of modern and old Japan.
Arts and Crafts	Introduction to Japan's arts and crafts.
Etiquette	Introduction to the Japanese etiquette.
Food	Introduction to the Japanese cuisine.
History	Introduction to Japanese history.
Language	Introduction to the Japanese language.
Entertainment	Introduction to Japan's world of entertainment.
Tradition	Introduction to traditional Japan.

Asian-inspired Plasma TV Stands