Places to Visit in Japan
An archipelago running temperate to subtropical, where centuries-old shrine etiquette coexists with the world's most punctual rail network.
Japan stretches roughly 3,000 km from the subarctic north (Hokkaido) to the subtropical south (Okinawa), with Tokyo sitting in the temperate Kanto region on the main island of Honshu. The country's shinkansen (bullet train) network connects Tokyo to Kyoto, Osaka, and most other major cities in under three hours, and is the standard way to travel between regions rather than domestic flights or driving. Spring (late March-early April) brings the famous but brief cherry blossom season and the year's highest hotel prices; autumn (October-November) offers comparably spectacular foliage with fewer crowds. Summer is hot, humid, and typhoon-prone (June-September); winter is cold but generally dry with clear skies, and ski season runs December-March in Hokkaido and the Japanese Alps. Tipping is not practised and can cause confusion or be refused; cash remains widely used alongside a growing but incomplete card/IC-card payment ecosystem.
Capital
Tokyo
Currency
Japanese Yen (JPY, ¥)
Time zone
JST (UTC+9, no daylight saving)
Calling code
+81
Best months
Mar – Apr, Oct – Nov
Visas and entry
Citizens of many countries including the US, UK, EU member states, Australia, and Canada can enter visa-free for short tourist stays (typically 90 days) under Japan's reciprocal visa exemption arrangements. Other nationalities require a visa arranged in advance through a Japanese embassy or consulate. All visitors complete an arrival card and, since 2023, most benefit from Visit Japan Web pre-registration for faster immigration and customs processing.
Where to start in Japan
The place ranked first in each of our city guides.