Planning a Trip to Japan?

Japan is an unusually easy country to travel in and an unusually easy one to mis-time. The transport works, the signage is manageable, and the practical friction most people fear rarely materialises. What does catch travellers out is the calendar.

Two seasons are famous for good reason: cherry blossom in spring and foliage in autumn. Both are genuinely beautiful, and both are peak — the most crowded and most expensive weeks of the year, with accommodation in the popular cities booked well in advance. Summer is hot and humid; winter is cold in the north and mild in the south, and it is when the ski regions come into their own. The quieter months in between are underrated.

Beyond the seasons, Japan has several major domestic holiday periods when the whole country travels at once — a run of public holidays in spring, and a summer holiday period when many people return to their home towns. Trains and hotels fill and prices rise. These dates shift slightly year to year, so check them against your intended window before booking.

Rail is the default way to move around, and it is fast enough that day trips between cities are realistic. It is worth working out your route before you arrive, because the rail passes and regional options available to visitors reward a decision made in advance rather than at the station. Card acceptance has grown a great deal, but carrying some cash is still worth doing for smaller businesses, rural areas and some local transport.

Browse all travel articles →