Japan is a country of fascinating contrasts. Ancient temples stand in the shadow of skyscrapers, bullet trains glide past rice elds, and centuries-old traditions live on in one of the most modern societies in the world. In a single trip, you can cross the neon-lit streets of Tokyo, walk through thousands of red torii gates in Kyoto, soak in a hot spring with a view of Mount Fuji, hike through ancient cedar forests and end your journey on a white beach in Okinawa. Japan is also one of the easiest and safest countries to travel in. Trains run on time, streets are clean, and people are kind and helpful. Yet many travelers only see Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. This guide invites you to go further: to snowy Hokkaido, the quiet north of Tohoku, the mountain villages of the Japanese Alps, the art islands of the Inland Sea, the volcanoes of Kyushu and the tropical islands of Okinawa.
How this guide works
Part 1 – Practical Japan gives you everything you need to prepare: entry rules, money and IC cards, internet and eSIMs, apps, rail passes and transport, health and safety, packing tips, etiquette and the best time to travel to each region.
Part 2 – The 100 Destinations takes you through Japan from north to south, region by region. Every destination opens with a small map showing where it lies in Japan, followed by the highlights, the best time to visit, food to try, where to stay, how to get there, a daily budget and an insider tip.
Part 3 – Routes and Itineraries you turn your wishes into a real trip, with readymade routes from one week to three weeks, and special routes for Hokkaido, Tohoku, Shikoku, Kyushu and Okinawa.
The numbers of the destinations match the numbers on the overview map at the front of this
book, so you can always see at a glance where you are and what lies nearby.
A few words of advice
Japan changes too. New trains and hotels open, prices and entry rules are updated, and some sights close for renovation. All prices in this guide are given in US dollars and are meant as an indication. Before you book, always check the latest official information, especially about entry requirements, opening times and seasonal schedules.
And one practical tip that will make your trip much easier: stay connected. In Japan, you will use your phone for almost everything: maps, train timetables, translation, restaurant bookings and even paying for the train. With a travel eSIM from esim4nomads.com, you have mobile data from the moment you land, without searching for Wi-Fi or a SIM card shop.
Enjoy the journey
Whether this is your first trip to Japan or your fifth, we hope this guide inspires you to go further, stay a little longer and discover places you had never heard of before. Taste the food, sleep in a ryokan, soak in an onsen, bow to the deer of Nara and let Japan surprise you.
Have a wonderful journey
$10.00
Buy now