START HERE / Japan
How much cash do you need in Japan?
Cash, cards and ATMs: plan how to pay before you arrive.
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PLAN / Before you go
Make more of your time in Japan.
Before you go
FIND YOUR WAY
Find your way through Japan
From planning ahead to everyday customs, explore six ways to make your trip easier.
START HERE
Your first trip starts here.
Cash and a working phone: start with the essentials you will need as soon as you arrive.
EXPLORE JAPAN
Find a place you want to go.
Neighbourhoods, landscapes and seasons. Let a photograph lead you somewhere new.
EXPLORE / Kyoto
A morning walk in Gion: stone paths, townhouses and quiet streets
Walk Gion's stone paths and townhouse streets in the quieter morning hours.
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SEASON / Nara
Walking Yoshino’s cherry blossoms: choosing a route from Shimo to Kami Senbon
Follow the blossoms up the mountain at a pace that suits you.
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NATURE / Nagano
Your first Kamikochi walk: Taisho Pond to Kappa Bridge
Walk from Taisho Pond to Kappa Bridge, with advice on clothing and access.
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WALK / Kanazawa
A half-day Kanazawa walk: Higashi Chaya to Kazue-machi
An unhurried half-day walk linking the tea districts and Asano River.
Read article ↗EAT IN JAPAN
Let the local food shape your trip.
What to eat, where to stop and how to order.
EAT / Kyoto
Eating your way through Nishiki Market: morning stops and market manners
Enjoy the market's food and understand where to eat your purchases.
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EAT / Kanazawa
Sushi in Kanazawa: seasonal fish, choosing a restaurant and ordering
Seasonal fish, restaurant choices and ordering for a first sushi meal here.
Read article ↗WHAT TO BUY IN JAPAN
Bring something useful home.
Discover the story behind an object and choose something you will keep using.
BUY / Japan
Buying Stationery in Japan: Shops, Refills and Easy-to-Pack Finds
Find stationery shops, choose refills and bring your purchases home.
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BUY / Arita, Saga
Choosing tableware in Arita
Browse pottery shops for pieces you will enjoy using after the trip.
Read article ↗What to look for in tableware and stationery, and how to bring your finds home.
STAY BETTER
Make the stay part of the journey.
Hot springs, transport and booking details worth knowing before choosing a stay.
STAY / Yamagata
Staying in Ginzan Onsen: planning time for its riverside streets
Stay in the gas-lit hot-spring town, with ryokan, bus and winter planning.
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STAY / Kumamoto
Taking your time in Kurokawa Onsen: baths, breaks and the bathing pass
Plan your bathing pass and buses for a relaxed walk between baths.
Read article ↗TRAVEL SMARTER
Know what to do before you need to.
A bus you are unsure how to board, full lockers or a typhoon disrupting your route: practical ways to handle common travel problems.
PLACES
Choose a place to explore.
Neighbourhood walks, mountain paths and hot-spring towns: find a way to spend time in a place that interests you.
TORII
A little local knowledge goes a long way.
Buying a ticket, ordering a meal or sending bags to your hotel: everyday tasks in Japan can be unfamiliar on a first visit. These guides explain useful local steps and customs from a Japanese perspective.
Opening hours and transport services can change. Follow the official links in each guide for information covering your travel date.
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