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Japanese pagoda under blue sky near Kyoto
🇹🇭 East Asia · 125M people

Travel to Japan: the complete 2026 guide

Buzzing Tokyo, ancient Kyoto, wild Hokkaido. The land of sakura, ryokans, shinkansen and JR Pass. Our guide to plan 10 days, 2 or 3 weeks in Japan — season by season, city by city, with detailed budget.

📅 When to go? 🗺️ See itineraries

Japan at a glance

Capital

Tokyo

Language

Japanese

Currency

Yen (¥)

Time diff

+7h / +8h

Flight from Paris

~12h direct

Average / day

€120-250

Visa

Best season

March-May (sakura) or Oct-Nov (momiji)

Photo : Cosmin Georgian / Unsplash

In 30 seconds

Why visit Japan

  • 1

    Total cultural shift, 12 hours away

    Japan = another cultural planet. No other directly accessible country offers this level of difference from Europe.

  • 2

    Absolute safety, impeccable order

    Tokyo is statistically the world's safest megacity. Trains on time to the second, negligible crime rate.

  • 3

    Four distinct seasons, four different trips

    Sakura in April, beach in July in Okinawa, momiji in November, powder skiing in Hokkaido in January.

  • 4

    UNESCO-listed gastronomy

    Tokyo holds the world record for Michelin stars (200+). But the essentials are eaten in konbini, izakayas and ramen stands.

  • 5

    No visa for EU nationals < 90 days

    Valid passport, return ticket. That's it. JR Pass to buy before departure if trip > 7 days.

Calendar

When to go to Japan

Four very distinct seasons. Avoid June (tsuyu, rainy season) and early August (typhoons + stifling heat). Prefer March-May for cherry blossoms, October-November for red maples.

Full when-to-go guide →
Ideal Fair Avoid · Click for details

01

Jan

🌡 2-10 °C

02

Feb

🌡 2-11 °C

03

Mar

🌡 6-14 °C

04

Apr

🌡 11-20 °C

05

May

🌡 16-25 °C

06

Jun

🌡 20-27 °C

07

Jul

🌡 24-31 °C

08

Aug

🌡 25-32 °C

09

Sep

🌡 21-28 °C

10

Oct

🌡 15-23 °C

11

Nov

🌡 10-17 °C

12

Dec

🌡 4-12 °C

Detailed programs

Recommended itineraries

1 week

1-week itinerary

📅 1 week 💰 📍 Tokyo · Kyoto
See itinerary →
2 weeks Best-seller

2-week itinerary

📅 2 weeks 💰 📍 Tokyo · Hakone · Kyoto · Osaka · Hiroshima · Miyajima
See itinerary →
1 month

1-month itinerary

📅 1 month 💰 📍 Tokyo · Hokkaido · Kyoto · Kii · Hiroshima · Naoshima · Kyushu
See itinerary →

Destinations

Cities & islands of Japan

Shibuya crossing lit up at night in Tokyo Capital

Tokyo

Megacity 14M
Path of vermilion torii at Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto Culture

Kyoto

1,600 temples

By traveler profile

Which trip suits you?

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Families

Perfect safety, fun infrastructure (Studio Ghibli, theme parks, Nara deer), clean metro. 12 days minimum.

💑

Honeymoon

Upscale ryokans in Hakone, romantic Kyoto, kaiseki dinner, sakura viewing. €5,000-8,000 for 14 days.

🎒

Backpacking

Capsule hotels €25/night, konbini €5/meal, JR Pass for unlimited transport. Possible at €1,800/14 days excluding flight.

👤

Solo travel

The IDEAL country for solo travel. Safety, infrastructure, hospitality. Perfect for first Asia solo trip.

🥂

Luxury & gastronomy

Tokyo has 200+ Michelin stars. Ryokans with private onsen €800/night. Aman, Mandarin Oriental.
❄️

Skiing & nature

Hokkaido (Niseko) = world's best powder, Jan-March. Combine with onsen and Tokyo.

In pictures

Japan in photos

Japanese pagoda under blue sky near Kyoto

Japan

 Shibuya crossing lit up at night in Tokyo

Tokyo

 Path of vermilion torii at Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto

Kyoto

Must-do

Signature experiences

✨

Sakura (cherry blossoms)

Late March - early April
✨

Onsen (hot springs)

Hakone, Kusatsu, Beppu
✨

Shinkansen (bullet train)

Tokyo-Kyoto in 2h15
✨

Tea ceremony

Kyoto, Uji
✨

Fish market

Toyosu, outer Tsukiji
✨

Traditional festival (matsuri)

Over 300,000/year
✨

Studio Ghibli + DisneySea

Tokyo, Mitaka
✨

Ryokan + kaiseki

Traditional 10-course dinner

Plan your trip

Practical info

📄

Japan visa 2026

French citizens (and most EU nationals) benefit from a visa exemption for tourist stays of less than 90 days in Japan. Requirements, upcoming JESTA system, and special cases for 2026.

Read the guide →
💰

Japan budget 2026

Between €70 and over €300 per day depending on travel style. A detailed breakdown of accommodation, meals, transport and activities to plan a Japan trip in 2026.

Read the guide →
📄

Japan airports 2026

Haneda is twice as close to central Tokyo as Narita. A full comparison of Japan's airports, transfer times, prices and tips for choosing your flight wisely.

Read the guide →
📄

Japan currency 2026

Japan still runs largely on cash despite its ultra-modern image. Yen, credit cards, IC cards and reliable ATMs: the complete guide.

Read the guide →
📄

Japan power plug 2026

Japan uses type A outlets, at 100 volts. A simple adapter covers most devices, but not all of them. What you actually need to pack.

Read the guide →
📄

Japan time difference 2026

Japan is 8 hours ahead of Paris in winter and 7 hours in summer, because the country never changes its clocks. How to calculate it, jet lag tips, and the best times to call.

Read the guide →
📄

Japan vaccines 2026

No vaccine is mandatory to enter Japan. Here are the vaccines recommended by health authorities, and the ones that are pointless for this country.

Read the guide →
📄

Language in Japan 2026

Japanese is the only official language. English remains limited outside tourist areas. What to know, essential phrases, and the best translation apps.

Read the guide →
📄

Safety in Japan 2026

Japan is one of the safest countries in the world for crime. The real risks lie elsewhere: earthquakes, typhoons, and, more surprisingly, bear attacks in rural areas.

Read the guide →
🛡️

Travel insurance

Japan medical costs among the highest in the world. Essential.

Compare →
📡

Japan eSIM

Limited public WiFi, unlimited data eSIM from €9.

Compare →
📋 See all practical info →

How much

Japan budget

💰 Calculate my budget →

Backpacker

€1,800

  • ✈️ Flight: €700
  • 🏨 Capsule / hostel: €25/night
  • 🍜 Konbini + ramen: €20/day
  • 🚄 14-day JR Pass: €350
Recommended

Comfort

€3,200

  • ✈️ Flight: €800
  • 🏨 3★ business hotel: €80/night
  • 🍽️ Mixed meals: €45/day
  • 🚄 JR Pass + metros: €450

Premium

€7,500

  • ✈️ Business flight: €2,500
  • 🏨 4-5★ ryokans: €250/night
  • 🍽️ Starred restaurants: €120/day
  • 🚖 Private drivers: Included

Combine with

Combine with

Boats in Halong Bay, Vietnam 🇻🇳

Vietnam

Budget stopover before/after
Green terraced rice fields in Bali 🇮🇩

Indonesia

Tropical contrast after Tokyo
Longtail boat between limestone cliffs in Thailand 🇹🇭

Thailand

Beach + culture combo
Sigiriya rock surrounded by tropical forest 🇱🇰

Sri Lanka

Nature and spirituality

Vol 2h ou ferry, combo Asie de l'Est

FAQ

FAQ

Do you need a JR Pass for Japan? +
Worth it beyond 7 days if you do at least 1 round-trip Tokyo-Kyoto. Buy BEFORE departure (prices are 10-30% higher on site since 2023). 14-day JR Pass ~€450.
When to see cherry blossoms (sakura)? +
Peak in Tokyo and Kyoto: March 25 - April 10. In Hokkaido: early May. In Okinawa: late January-February. Blooming is very short (5-10 days) and unpredictable.
How much does a Japan trip cost? +
Backpacker: €1,800-2,200 for 14 days, flight included. Comfort: €3,000-3,500. Luxury: €6,000-10,000. Japan is more expensive than Thailand but less than Iceland.
Can you pay by card in Japan? +
Yes in most hotels, modern restaurants, department stores, konbini. But cash mandatory for: small traditional restaurants, markets, temples, rural taxis. Always carry ¥5,000-10,000 in cash.
Do you need to speak Japanese to travel? +
No. English limited to Tokyo and Kyoto (tourist areas). For the rest, translation apps and goodwill are enough. Learning 10-20 polite phrases helps a lot.
Which season to avoid in Japan? +
June (tsuyu = rainy season, 90% humidity). Late July-August (heatwave + typhoons). December 28 - January 5 (local holidays, everything closed).

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist

Last updated: May 25, 2026.

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