Japan Travel Guide

• Kanto: Explore neighbourhoods and museums in Tokyo, shrine-hopping in Nikkō, soak in onsen at Hakone and visit coastal Kamakura.
• Kansai: Temple and geisha-district walks in Kyoto, street-food and nightlife in Osaka, castle visits at Himeji and deer parks in Nara.
• Hokkaido: Ski or snowboard Niseko’s powder, attend Sapporo’s snow festival, sample fresh seafood and tour flower fields in Furano.
• Chubu and Japanese Alps: Hike the Japanese Alps, visit historic towns like Matsumoto, see Mount Fuji from Shizuoka and explore Kanazawa’s gardens.
• Tohoku: Experience summer festivals like Aomori Nebuta, relax in remote onsen, and cruise Matsushima Bay.
• Kyushu & Okinawa: Soak in Beppu’s onsen, eat yakitori in Fukuoka, explore volcanic Kagoshima and beach-hop around Naha and Okinawa.

Tokyo’s Narita (NRT) and Haneda (HND) airports are the main international gateways; Kansai International (KIX) serves Osaka and western Japan and Chubu Centrair (NGO) serves Nagoya. From South Korea you can also arrive by sea: ferries and fast boats link Busan with Fukuoka, and an overnight ferry runs from Busan to Shimonoseki. Japan’s rail network - especially the Shinkansen - makes inter-city travel fast and efficient for most visitors.

Typical visitor spend is $100-250/day depending on style; Tokyo and ski resorts are the priciest, rural towns and some regional cities are considerably cheaper.

• Hostel dorm bed: ¥2,000-4,000
• Business hotel room: ¥6,000-12,000
• Mid-range hotel: ¥12,000-30,000
• Upscale hotel or ryokan: from ¥40,000
• Cheap local meal: ¥500-1,200
• Bottle of local beer: ¥600-1,000
• Organised tour or activity: ¥8,000-20,000
• Metro or bus ride: ¥170-400

For current prices on hundreds of everyday items, see Numbeo’s Japan cost of living, a crowd-sourced database that is updated often.

Ways to save

• Use regional rail passes: Compare single fares against the nationwide Japan Rail Pass and regional JR passes; since the 2023 price rise, regional passes and overnight highway buses usually save more on shorter itineraries.
• Eat where locals do: Shop at markets, eat at local izakaya and ramen shops, and use convenience stores for affordable meals and snacks.
• Carry cash: Keep some yen for rural areas and small sellers; withdraw at 7-Eleven or post office ATMs to avoid card problems.

Full trip budgets are in Japan Itineraries.

Japan is still largely cash-oriented - many small shops, rural businesses and some restaurants are cash-only, though cards are common in big cities and major stores. ATMs that accept international cards are available but are concentrated at convenience stores (7-Eleven), Japan Post and major bank branches.

• Tipping: Tipping is not customary and can cause confusion - politely declining to tip is normal; exceptional service can be acknowledged with a small gift instead.
• Cards & Cash: Visa, Mastercard and JCB are accepted at many larger retailers, hotels and restaurants; American Express is accepted at many but not all large merchants. IC transit cards (Suica, Pasmo) are widely used for transport and small purchases; contactless and mobile wallet acceptance is growing but not universal.
• ATMs & Mobile Payments: Use 7-Eleven (Seven Bank) ATMs, Japan Post ATMs or major bank ATMs for international cards - many convenience-store ATMs operate outside normal banking hours. Mobile payment apps (PayPay, Apple/Google Pay with supported cards) are common in urban areas, but cash remains essential.
• Tax-free shopping: Visitors can reclaim the 10% consumption tax on purchases over ¥5,000 (before tax) in one shop on one day at stores marked Tax-Free. From 1 November 2026 you pay the full price in store and claim the refund at the airport or port when you leave, so keep the goods unused and accessible and allow extra time before your flight. Bring your passport when you shop.
• Banknotes: ¥1000, ¥5000, ¥10000
• Coins: ¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥50, ¥100, ¥500

Bowing, removing shoes indoors and quiet, respectful behaviour in public are the main customs to observe; Japanese people are generally polite and will not publicly reprimand foreigners for honest mistakes. Small, thoughtful efforts to follow local etiquette are appreciated and most norms are forgiving if you apologise and act respectfully.

Japan provides excellent urban connectivity with high mobile and fixed broadband speeds; major carriers offer wide 4G/5G coverage and FTTH in cities. Mobile and fixed performance supports streaming and professional remote work across the main population centers.

• Electricity: 100V, 50/60 Hz; plug types A, B.

Yes - for most visitors Japan is very safe; the main risks are natural hazards, strict drug and medicine rules, and road/transport hazards.

Staying healthy in Japan is straightforward - tap water is safe and healthcare is excellent, but heatstroke in summer, seasonal pollen and some insect-borne infections in the south are the main concerns.

Japan combines long-standing religious and court traditions with modern urban life; travelers will notice an emphasis on seasonality, meticulous service and layered historical sites concentrated in cities and countryside.

Eating well in Japan does not require a big budget: a bowl of ramen, a set lunch or a convenience-store meal can be excellent. A few habits make it easier.

• Meal times: lunch runs from about 11:30 to 14:00 and is the cheapest way to try good restaurants, through fixed “lunch sets” (teishoku). Dinner starts around 18:00 and many kitchens stop taking orders by 21:00 or 22:00; izakaya and ramen shops stay open later.
• Ordering: at many ramen, udon and curry shops you buy a ticket from a machine at the door and hand it to the staff; these machines often take cash only. Picture menus and plastic food displays in windows help, and tablets with English menus are now common in chains.
• Charges and tipping: there is no tipping. Izakaya usually add a small seating charge (otoshi), served as a little starter you did not order; it is normal, not a scam. You normally pay at the till by the exit, not at the table.
• Water and tea: free iced water or green tea is standard. A wet towel (oshibori) is for your hands, not your face.
• Chopsticks: do not stand them upright in rice or pass food from one pair of chopsticks to another, both of which echo funeral rites. Slurping noodles is fine.
• Bookings: top sushi counters and kaiseki restaurants can be fully booked weeks ahead and often need a reservation made through your hotel or an online booking service, with strict cancellation fees. Casual places rarely take bookings; expect queues at famous ones.
• On the go: eating while walking is frowned on in many places, so eat at the stall or outside the convenience store. Department-store food halls (depachika) and convenience stores are great for picnics and train meals (ekiben).
• Dietary needs: fish stock (dashi) is in most soups, sauces and noodle broths, so strict vegetarians should look for Buddhist temple cuisine (shojin ryori) and dedicated vegetarian or vegan restaurants, which are easiest to find in Tokyo and Kyoto. Halal options are growing in big cities but thin elsewhere. Carry an allergy card written in Japanese if you have a serious allergy.

Regional dishes worth seeking out: street food such as takoyaki and okonomiyaki in Osaka; layered okonomiyaki with noodles in Hiroshima; tonkotsu ramen and riverside yatai stalls in Fukuoka; miso ramen and crab in Sapporo; beef in Kobe; miso katsu and hitsumabushi eel in Nagoya; tofu and kaiseki in Kyoto; and goya champuru in Okinawa.

Japan’s dense urban life, sacred sites and delicate natural areas require particular attention to etiquette, quiet public behaviour and seasonal limits to keep places viable for residents and wildlife.

• Temple, shrine & onsen etiquette: Observe customs: remove shoes where required, use quiet voices in shrines, and follow posted onsen rules (no swimsuits, keep tattoos covered where requested) to respect sacred spaces.
• Public transport & local manners: Keep phone calls to a minimum on trains and queues; use rail and regional services promoted by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) to minimise car use.
• Mountain & trail stewardship: On Mount Fuji, climb only in the official summer season (roughly July to early September). All four trails now charge a ¥4,000 fee and require advance online registration, the Yoshida Trail has a daily cap, and trailheads close in the afternoon to anyone without a mountain-hut booking. Stay on marked paths and carry all rubbish out.
• Wildlife & animal experiences: Choose ethical wildlife encounters-avoid tours that offer feeding or handling of wild animals and book with operators that follow local conservation guidance.
• Support local producers & ryokan: Stay in family run ryokans and buy regional crafts (e.g., Kyoto textiles, Fukui lacquerware) to support artisans and preserve traditional skills.

Long‑term living in Japan is common for corporate transferees, teachers, skilled professionals, and students. Visas are usually job‑sponsored or points‑based for high‑skill applicants; long-term independent living requires planning for housing, health insurance registration, and cultural adaptation. Cities offer excellent services; rural Japan offers lower cost but fewer English resources.

Long-Term Visas: Work visas required for most long stays; Highly Skilled Professional visa offers expedited routes to residency.

Working There: Work is employer‑sponsored for most visa categories; freelance work possible but requires proper visa status.

Cost of Living: Tokyo is among the pricier global cities; regional Japan is far more affordable for housing and daily life.

Health & Wellness: Universal health insurance (NHI) covers residents, typical co-pay around 30%, good healthcare infrastructure.

Banking & Finance: Banks require residence card and inkan; cash still commonly used, but cards and mobile payments growing.

Taxes: Residents taxed on worldwide income once fiscal residency established; employer payroll withholding common.

Popular Places to Live in Japan

Deciding where to live is about urban convenience versus regional affordability. For strong international connections and coworking choose Tokyo or Osaka; for lower costs and a relaxed pace consider Fukuoka or regional cities.

• Tokyo - Best for connectivity, coworking, flights, and expat services; highest rents and busiest lifestyle.
• Osaka - Major commercial hub, great food culture, more affordable than Tokyo with solid coworking.
• Fukuoka - Compact city popular with startups, lower rent, good transport links to Asia.
• Sapporo - Northern city with outdoor lifestyle and lower costs, seasonal climate and fewer international flights.

Japan’s remote‑work scene is concentrated in Tokyo, Osaka, and select regional hubs where connectivity and coworking are strong. Since March 2024 Japan has offered a six-month digital nomad visa for high earners from eligible countries; everyone else needs an employment or other residence visa, and tourist entry is not a route to long-term remote work.

Nomad Visa: Yes, since March 2024: up to 6 months for remote workers earning about ¥10 million a year (see below).

Long Term Rentals: Long-term rentals common via real estate agents, guarantor often required; share houses and monthly rentals available.

Internet: Excellent urban internet with fiber and 5G; pocket Wi‑Fi and eSIMs easily rented at airports.

Monthly Cost: Higher in Tokyo, moderate elsewhere; rent is the biggest monthly expense, regional cities cheaper.

Coworking: Many coworking spaces in Tokyo/Osaka/Fukuoka; growing network of niche spaces and chains.

Fitness & Wellness: Gyms, onsens, outdoor activities widely available; urban wellness services plentiful in big cities.

Community: Active expat meetups and industry events in larger cities, smaller communities outside urban centers.

Time Zone: Japan Standard Time (JST) UTC+9, no daylight saving time.

Japan Digital Nomad Visa

• Stay Duration: 6 months (non-renewable; reapply after a gap).
• Validity: Up to 6 months.
• Eligibility: Remote workers from visa-waiver/tax-treaty countries earning ~¥10 million/year (~US$68,000), with private insurance.
• Application: Apply at a Japanese embassy or consulate.

Popular Nomad Hubs in Japan

Nomads typically base in major cities for connectivity and community, or in regional hubs for lower costs. Cities give strong internet, coworking, and flights; smaller cities trade convenience for quieter living and lower rents.

• Tokyo - Top transport and coworking choice, huge expat community, highest rents and fastest pace.
• Osaka - Lively urban center, good food scene, cheaper than Tokyo and strong coworking options.
• Fukuoka - Regional hub popular with startups, lower costs, good balance of city life and access.
• Okinawa - Island lifestyle and warmer climate, slower pace, fewer direct international flight options.