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.

Bohler_JapanKK-4006.jpg

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
HOTELS
The renovated Kai Hakone near Tokyo has tatami floors, kaiseki dinners, and hot spring bathing, along with updates that make the experience accessible to a wider range of travelers.
The city’s best stays include restored legends, sky-high sanctuaries, and newcomers that already feel essential.
Across Japan, Iceland, Italy, and beyond, these hotels offer mineral-rich waters, noteworthy design, and immersive landscapes.
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.
RESOURCES TO HELP PLAN YOUR TRIP
Explore Asia’s markets, restaurants, and ingredients in a whole new way—with a food expert.
Learn from an expert guide as you go deeper into these must-see spots.
Located in the Setagaya district, Tokyo’s Gotokuji Temple honors “maneki-neko”—a feline figurine that symbolizes good fortune, according to Japanese legend.
Yes, there are hassles. No, you don’t get to do whatever you want, whenever you want. But international travel with children will show you a world that you’d never otherwise see.
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.