Japan

Take urban adventure to new heights within Tokyo’s endless side streets or slow down in rural Hida-Takayama’s old town; snorkel along Okinawa’s white-sand beaches or ski Nagano’s snow-covered alps; explore Kyoto’s untouched temples and shrines or bask in Fukuoka’s volcanic hot springs—Japan’s blend of tradition, natural wonder, and hyper-modernity is like nowhere else on Earth.

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Photo by Peter Bohler

Overview

When’s the best time to go to Japan?

In general, the best time to visit Japan is mid-March through May and again in October, but this depends on what you want to do during your trip.

READ MORE: The Best Time to Visit Japan For Every Type of Trip

Culture in Japan

The Japanese are serious about their cultural heritage and artisans—known as shokunin, masters of their craft—are recognized as national treasures. Shinto and Buddhism are the main religions and the Japanese celebrate the seasons and Buddhist and Shinto holidays with festivals throughout the year.

READ MORE: Temples, Tipping, and Train Rides: A Guide to Japan for First-Timers

Can’t miss things to do in Japan

From sumo wrestling and multi-day hikes to shopping for artisan goods and cooking classes, there’s something to do for every interest in Japan—we suggest venturing out of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto (the three most popular cities for visitors) if you can.

Food and drink to try in Japan

You could easily plan an entire journey throughout Japan based on food alone. Tokyo has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city in the world, and every region of Japan touts its own specific cuisines, Try at least one kaiseki, a traditional multi-course meal that is often served at Japanese inns known as ryokan. Read these articles for other not-to-miss Japanese dishes.

How to get around Japan

Japan’s largest airports are Tokyo’s Narita and Haneda airports and Osaka’s Kansai airport. It’s generally easiest to get around Japan by train.

READ MORE: Here’s how to get around Japan by train

Guide Editor

RELATED GUIDES
  1. Kyoto
  2. Osaka
  3. Tokyo
READ BEFORE YOU GO
Japan’s departure tax, known as the “sayonara tax,” will increase from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 beginning in July 2026 as the country seeks to improve tourism infrastructure and address overtourism.
HOTELS
As travel to Japan continues to boom, we rounded up 23 of the best hotels across the country, many in sublime—and often less-visited—destinations.
Azuma Farm Koiwai, a new farm retreat a two-hour train trip north from Tokyo, opens a window onto Japan’s craft traditions in a region few travelers reach.
After a 19-month renovation of hotel, a former Park Hyatt Tokyo sommelier returns to find that, more than 30 years after its debut, it retains its spacious rooms, disciplined design, and citywide following.
Sleep under the world’s darkest, clearest skies across six continents at one of these 19 dark sky zone hotels.
These 19 hotels around the world immerse you in their destinations while carving out space for unhurried time together.
Afar editors share the 2025 hotel stays they didn’t want to leave—and would happily return to.
Forever immortalized by Sofia Coppola’s indie sensation starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, one of Japan’s most famous hotels is ready for its next chapter.
Gora Kadan, one of Japan’s most respected ryokans, opens its second property, bringing its revered hospitality to a stunning new location near Mount Fuji.
Several new design-forward hotels offer a less-expensive, more-immersive way to visit Japan’s capital city.
The Lucy hotel from luxury brand Hoshino Resorts is opening next to a national park in the Japanese countryside.
RESOURCES TO HELP PLAN YOUR TRIP
The speed would make it the fastest of its kind in the world.
Planning a trip to Japan can be intimidating for the first-time visitor, so we’ve turned to a team of travel experts to learn the secrets to a successful vacation.
Capsule hotels—enclosed spaces with only a bed—are ubiquitous in Japan but still rare elsewhere. A new micro-hotel at Dulles Airport aims to change that.
Across the country, centuries-old traditions permeate contemporary culture. A new set of immersive photography tours grant travelers the rare access necessary to document them.
Now, you can have breakfast at Tiffany’s in Tokyo.
You may have to walk a few minutes from your room to the restaurant, but these hotels without boundaries—where you might sleep in an artist’s retreat or a former bridge keeper’s home—are unlike anything else.
Full of wild scenery, fascinating history, and delicious local food, Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park is a Scottish treasure. At the center of the park is Loch Lomond, the largest body of freshwater in the U.K., featuring ample recreation (everything from kayaking and canoeing to jet-skiing), 30 islands (visit Inchconnachan in spring to see a blanket of bluebells), and miles of bonnie banks (for strolling in the shadow of Ben Lomond). Beyond the lake, the park is packed with interesting corners to explore, from the lush landscapes of the southern section to the sprawling glens and rocky peaks in the north. For the best views, cycle the challenging Loch Eck Loop, or hike the craggy Cobbler. Also worth seeking out are villages like Balmaha, national scenic areas such as Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, and more off-the-beaten-track areas like the Cowal Peninsula and Breadalbane.
If you wanted to trace Scotland’s modern culinary renaissance, you would begin here, on Ashton Lane in Glasgow’s West End, where the late Ronnie Clydesdale opened Ubiquitous Chip in 1971. Even then, Clydesdale recognized that Scottish produce could serve as the building blocks of standout cuisine, with nary a chip in sight. Now run by his son Colin, the Ubiquitous Chip is still one of the standard-bearers of Glasgow fine dining, though the space itself is elegantly casual. The venison haggis with champit tatties (mashed potatoes with parsley) has been on the menu since the beginning, but also worth trying is the Caledonian ice cream with poached plums and honey oats.
Having recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, Cafe Gandolfi is a bona fide dining landmark in the Merchant City district of central Glasgow. It’s aged remarkably well, thanks to its organic timber furniture by Tim Stead and simple but innovative cooking with mostly seasonal ingredients. Classics in the Gandolfi canon include the smoked haddock chowder known as Cullen skink and the Stornoway black pudding (from the Isle of Lewis), served with mushrooms and pancakes.
An ornate late-Victorian heap of red sandstone, the Kelvingrove (located within a lovely park of the same name) is Glasgow’s signature museum—and one of the most popular attractions in Scotland. Free to enter, it features a full house of historic exhibitions on everything from animals to Ancient Egypt and Charles Rennie Mackintosh, plus a wide range of important Scottish art (like Colourist Samuel John Peploe’s Roses), several French and Dutch works, and Salvador Dalí’s iconic Christ of Saint John of the Cross. Visiting exhibitions, such as Leonardo da Vinci drawings, round out the offerings. There are also regular organ recitals and free tours on weekends, making the Kelvingrove a perfect family attraction.