Get the transit card sorted
A digital transit card in your phone is the simplest option; physical IC cards are still sold at major stations. You can also buy single tickets, but you will queue more and fumble more.
Country hubAsia
Where to stay in Japan
Neon and temple bells, usually in the same trip.
Japan is easy to love and surprisingly hard to pace. Trains are precise, rooms are small, and a city can change character in two subway stops. Start with one city and one base rather than trying to collect the country in a week. Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka work as a first triangle: Tokyo for energy, Kyoto for temples and Osaka for food, with short train rides between them.
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Japan
03
3 city guides
Country hub
- City guide
- Tokyo · Kyoto · Osaka
- Country hub
- Asia
- On the desk
- Kanazawa · Hiroshima · Sapporo
City guide
3 city guidesCity guides in Japan
One city, deeply mapped — more are being researched.
Asia01Japan7
Tokyo
The right base turns an enormous city into a walkable one.
ShinjukuShibuya+5
$120–$550 per night
Asia02Japan3
Kyoto
A city best seen early — so sleep within walking distance of the first temple.
Gion & HigashiyamaDowntown & Kawaramachi+1
$90–$650 per night
Asia03Japan3
Osaka
Eat first, plan second — Osaka is the easiest city in Japan to enjoy.
Namba & DotonboriUmeda & Kita+1
$80–$450 per nightBefore you book
The country-level things that change the stay.
Japan · Country hub
Carry a little cash
Card acceptance is wide, but small restaurants, temples and older bars still prefer cash. A few thousand yen in your bag removes a lot of friction.
Do not over-plan the trains
Rail passes only make sense for specific long-distance routes. For a Tokyo-only trip, load a transit card and take the trains as they come. Reserve the Shinkansen only when you are leaving the city.
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Not sure which city to start with?
Tell me how long you have and what you want from the trip. I’ll help you choose the city and the base.
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Ask about your routeA note from the editor
“I’d rather tell you which area to skip than sell you another list of ‘best hotels’.”
The guides are independent. Booking links may earn a commission; they never change the shortlist.
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