Japanese pagoda under blue sky near Kyoto

🇹🇭 East Asia · 125M people

Travel to Japan: the complete 2026 guide

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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).

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

Jan

🌡 2-10 °C

Feb

🌡 2-11 °C

Mar

🌡 6-14 °C

Apr

🌡 11-20 °C

May

🌡 16-25 °C

Jun

🌡 20-27 °C

Jul

🌡 24-31 °C

Aug

🌡 25-32 °C

Sep

🌡 21-28 °C

Oct

🌡 15-23 °C

Nov

🌡 10-17 °C

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

Capital

Tokyo

Megacity 14M

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

Japan

Tokyo

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

No visa < 90 days for EU nationals. Everything you need to know.

Read guide →

🚄

JR Pass

Buy BEFORE departure. 7/14/21 days, unlimited shinkansen access.

Compare passes →

🛡️

Travel insurance

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

Compare →

📡

Japan eSIM

Limited public WiFi, unlimited data eSIM from €9.

Compare →

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

Our picks

Prepare your trip to Japan

Our tested and updated comparisons for a smooth trip to Japan.

🏢

Best travel agency for Japan

Tailor-made agencies, organized tours, free quotes. Our selection for Japan.

See comparison →

🛡️

Travel insurance for Japan

Medical coverage, repatriation, cancellation. The best insurance for Japan.

See comparison →

📡

eSIM for Japan

Data plans, network coverage, pricing. The best eSIM to stay connected in Japan.

See comparison →

Combine with

🇻🇳

Vietnam

Budget stopover before/after

🇮🇩

Indonesia

Tropical contrast after Tokyo

🇹🇭

Thailand

Beach + culture combo

Sigiriya rock surrounded by tropical forest

🇱🇰

Sri Lanka

Nature and spirituality

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).