Japan rewards the prepared traveller and punishes the careless one. It is an extraordinary country — the most intricate, polite, clean, efficient, bizarre, and delicious place many travellers will ever visit. But it has its own rules, and breaking them by accident can be genuinely embarrassing. This guide covers what the guidebooks skip.
Japan Practicalities Nobody Tells You
- ›Cash is still king. Many smaller restaurants, temples, and rural accommodation are cash-only. Carry ¥20,000–30,000 at all times. Post offices and 7-Eleven ATMs accept foreign cards.
- ›7-Eleven is not a convenience store, it is a gourmet experience. Onigiri, fresh sandwiches, hot karaage chicken, quality coffee — and it is absolutely everywhere.
- ›Get an IC Card (Suica or Pasmo) on day one at any major train station. You tap in and out of every subway, bus, and many vending machines with it. Reloadable, no queuing.
- ›Never eat or drink while walking. Consume at the place you bought it. Japan has almost no public rubbish bins, yet the streets are immaculate — because nobody drops litter.
- ›Shoes you can slip on and off easily are essential. Ryokans, traditional restaurants, and many temples require removing shoes.
- ›Download Google Translate with Japanese offline pack and enable the camera feature. Point at menus, signs, and train boards for instant translation.
10-Day Japan First-Timer Itinerary
| Days | City | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–4 | Tokyo | Shibuya crossing, Senso-ji, Shinjuku Golden Gai, teamLab, Tsukiji |
| Day 5 | Day trip: Nikko or Kamakura | Giant Buddha at Kamakura (90min from Tokyo by train) |
| Days 6–8 | Kyoto | Fushimi Inari at dawn, Arashiyama bamboo, Gion district, Nishiki Market |
| Day 9 | Osaka | Dotonbori, street food crawl, Osaka Castle |
| Day 10 | Osaka → fly home | Morning at leisure, Kansai International Airport |
Buy the JR Pass before you leave home if visiting multiple cities. A 14-day pass costs ~$450 (¥68,000) and covers unlimited Shinkansen bullet trains between Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and beyond. If you are only visiting Tokyo and Kyoto, individual Shinkansen tickets (~¥13,000 each way) might be cheaper.
Japan Budget Guide
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation/night | ¥3,500–6,000 (hostel) | ¥10,000–20,000 (hotel) | ¥25,000+ (ryokan) |
| Food/day | ¥2,000–3,500 | ¥4,000–7,000 | ¥15,000+ |
| Transport/day | ¥1,000–2,000 | ¥2,000–4,000 | ¥4,000+ |
| Activities/day | ¥1,000–2,000 | ¥3,000–6,000 | ¥10,000+ |
| Total/day (USD) | $55–85 | $110–180 | $360+ |
Cherry Blossom Season: Worth the Hype?
Yes — but it is the most overcrowded and expensive time to visit Japan. Late March to early April in Tokyo, early to mid-April in Kyoto. Prices triple. Accommodation books up six months ahead. The blossoms themselves last only 7–10 days. If you can handle the logistics and expense, it is magnificent. If you cannot book ahead, October (autumn leaves) is equally beautiful with a fraction of the crowds.
