Essential Travel Tips for Exploring Japan

Many readers have sought advice on vacationing in Japan, particularly regarding the best destinations and travel tips for flights and trains. While I’m happy to share what I’ve learned, please keep in mind that my experience is limited. Always verify the information to ensure it is current and accurate.

For inspiration, you may wish to start here: Photos of Japan

Before you leave for Japan, consider this:

Make sure you have all the proper documents needed for entering Japan and re-entering your home country. If you are from the USA, Global Entry can be a time-saver. Be sure to keep a copy of your important documents, including passports, in a separate place from the original. When making a copy of your passport, don’t forget to copy the barcode on the back page.

Check out the US State Department. The STEP program is essential for staying in the “know”.

This checklist can be downloaded to help you prepare for your travels.

Landing in Japan and negotiating the airports and finding land transportation, etc.

I have to give two thumbs up to the travel bloggers who make “how-to” videos for YouTube. These I found to be very simple to follow:

Here is the video for getting around the Tokyo airport: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5LTWb8D74w

Here is the video for getting around the Kyoto airport: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMtmsqI3phw 

Once you arrive, consider the excellent train system to get around the local area and from city to city (or region to region).

This article gives a great explanation of Japan’s rail system

And, if you are visiting Kyoto, don’t miss visiting this “all inclusive” railroad station. Frankly, this is a misnomer as the Kyoto Station is also a mall, concert hall, and so much more!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST2SzFYvBrs

At the LA Travel and Adventure Show I met these representatives from Japn who are involved with USA to Asian destination vacations:

Japan National Tourism Organization

JTB- for rail pass info and more!

Japan Airlines

A photo montage of places to visit once in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and nearby places

Hike the many trails and parks. Signage is often in multiple languages and uses an international picture.

Pathway through a bamboo forest with visitors walking and taking photos, surrounded by towering bamboo stalks.
‎⁨Tenryu-ji Temple⁩, ⁨Kyoto⁩, ⁨Japan⁩
A stone staircase leads up to a statue surrounded by trees and greenery.
‎⁨Tenryu-ji Temple⁩, ⁨Kyoto⁩, ⁨Japan⁩
A winding cobblestone path surrounded by bare trees, with orange safety barriers lining the side, leading through a park or natural area.
‎⁨Arashiyama Park (Kameyama Chiku)⁩, ⁨Kyoto⁩, ⁨Japan⁩
A serene river scene with a sandy shore, rocks, and trees lining the bank, under a cloudy sky.
‎⁨Tenryu-ji Temple⁩, ⁨Kyoto⁩, ⁨Japan⁩

Check out the cuisine! (and skip the “American” chain restaurants!)

A bowl of udon noodles in clear broth, topped with a piece of fried tofu and chopped scallions.
A close-up of a plate with two pieces of tempura: one shrimp tempura on the right and one piece of vegetable tempura on the left, served on a patterned dish.
A green bowl of udon noodles topped with finely chopped green onions, grated daikon radish, slices of pink kamaboko (fish cake), and savory minced meat in a rich broth. A spring roll and chopsticks are visible in the background.
Display case featuring various Japanese rice bowls, including Tempura Don, Oyakodon, and Pork Don, with price tags visible.
A chef in a red shirt is preparing takoyaki, round Japanese street food, on a hot grill with multiple spherical molds filled with the cooked batter.
A hand holding an ice cream cone with green matcha-flavored ice cream on top, against a neutral background.
Macha Ice Cream!
A vendor at a food stall displaying various freshly cooked pastries, including options with cuttlefish, shrimp, cheese, and butter. The stall features a warm atmosphere with steaming windows and illuminated signage detailing prices.
A person standing next to a vending machine outside a traditional building in a Japanese street, with various beverages displayed in the machines.

Immerse yourself in places that are culturally important – temples, cemeteries, national parks, etc.

A serene view of a traditional Japanese garden featuring a thatched-roof structure by a pond, with reflections on the water and greenery surrounding the area.
‎⁨Higashiyama-Ku, Kyoto⁩, ⁨Kyoto⁩, ⁨Japan⁩
A traditional Japanese pagoda with a distinctive red and white color scheme, located on a hillside.
‎⁨Kiyomizu-dera⁩, ⁨Higashiyama-Ku, Kyoto⁩, ⁨Kyoto⁩, ⁨Japan⁩
View of a cemetery path lined with gravestones, framed by greenery and a gated entrance.
‎⁨Higashiyama-Ku, Kyoto⁩, ⁨Kyoto⁩, ⁨Japan⁩
A panoramic view of a cemetery filled with numerous gray tombstones and memorials, some with inscriptions, set on a hillside with stairs leading through the graves.
‎⁨Higashiyama-Ku, Kyoto⁩, ⁨Kyoto⁩, ⁨Japan⁩
View of Osaka Castle with traditional architecture, surrounded by trees and a stone wall on a clear blue sky day.
osaka castle
A bronze sculpture of two ballet dancers holding hands in a graceful pose, set among trees and greenery.
park near the Osaka Castle
A traditional Japanese temple with a curved roof, surrounded by a Zen garden featuring rocks and raked gravel.
‎⁨Tofuku-ji Temple⁩, ⁨Higashiyama-Ku, Kyoto⁩, ⁨Kyoto⁩, ⁨Japan⁩
Wooden plaques with written wishes and drawings, hanging on a wall at a shrine. Some plaques express desires for health, happiness, and safety, while others feature illustrations of foxes and various messages from visitors.
Entrance of a traditional Japanese building with wooden sliding doors and a sign above reading 'かとうう'. A colorful poster of a woman in a blue kimono is displayed beside the door.

Make time to visit Nara- the place where the deer roam among the townspeople and visitors!

A woman takes a selfie with a deer in the foreground and several others lounging in the background in a natural setting.
A close-up of a young deer with large ears and a curious expression, standing on a gravel path surrounded by pine needles.
‎⁨Kofuku-ji Temple⁩, ⁨Nara⁩, ⁨Japan⁩
A deer standing near a pond in a park, with people walking in the background.

More about Japan on this website: Japan photos and Lesson learned from a cemetery in Japan