inspo & info

After three decades living in, visiting, and traveling across Japan, I can tell you this: the question "when is the best time to visit Japan?" has a real answer. Late autumn - October through early December - genuinely offers the best combination of weather, manageable crowds, and natural beauty. But your best time might be different, and that's what this guide is for. Having seen every season myself, I'll break down what each season actually offers and how to plan accordingl

Standing at a Tokyo ticket machine, confused about passes? A Tokyo 72-hour metro pass might be your answer. For most tourists making multiple subway trips across different neighborhoods, it's cheaper & simpler than buying individual tickets and beats Suica too. We break down the real costs (spoiler: if you're making 4+ trips a day, the pass pays for itself), compare all available passes, and show you exactly where to buy.

Here are our top tips for romantic destinations for your Japan honeymoon trip. Book a few nights in these newly-wed hotspots in addition to your Tokyo-Osaka-Kyoto itinerary to escape the crowds, experience real Japanese history, nature and culture, and unwind together in more peaceful surroundings. Our guide includes the best time of year to visit each destination as well as hotel and ryokan recommendations for the ultimate romantic getaway.

Planning a honeymoon in Japan can be daunting. This trip of a lifetime has to be perfect for you, so the Japan honeymoon itineraries you'll find online aren't gonna work. We've been planning Japan trips for ourselves, friends and tour groups for 30+ years and tell you exactly how, step-by-step, you can plan your own honeymoon in Japan: from booking flights and accommodation, to budgeting and planning the perfect itinerary, with all our insider tips and tricks

Which Tokyo airport is better - Narita or Haneda? Having flown into and out of both countless times over the last 30 years, we do usually prefer Haneda for it's comparative proximity to central Tokyo. But under certain circumstances, Narita wins every time. Read our guide before you book to find out which Tokyo airport is best for your Japan trip.

If you’re going to experience an earthquake anywhere, Japan is the safest place to be thanks to its incredibly strict building codes and world-class emergency responses. But having seen firsthand what nature can throw at you (check out our post on Japan's typhoon season, too!), I want to share some practical, stress-free steps to keep you safe and give you total peace of mind.

Which apps for Japan travel are really useful? Navigating the Japanese transport system, tourist attractions and food scene has never been easier thanks to Japan travel apps that all of us can download in an instant. But how do you know what apps are REALLY going to be useful and which are just dead data weight on your phone? Here's our guide to the apps that we at Japansophy have on our own phones and have tried and tested on our last few Japan trips.

Tokyo is a relatively new port on cruises stopping in Japan. Before we get into logistics, though, there is one important thing to flag: many Japan cruise itineraries list "Tokyo" as a port when the ship is actually docking in Yokohama, thirty kilometres to the south. Here's everything you need to know about Tokyo International Cruise Terminal, how to get to/from the city, where to stay and what shore excursions are worth your time.

The weak yen has made a big difference to the price of a Japan trip for European and American travellers in particular. For us Europeans, our euro is worth 30% more against the yen than it was five years ago. That said, costs have shifted dramatically since Covid, and a few corners of a Japan trip can still surprise you. Here’s our honest, up-to-date breakdown of what a trip to Japan actually costs - and where you can shave a bit off.

Tax-free shopping in Japan lets tourists save 10% on fashion, electronics, souvenirs, and more—here’s how it works now, and what’s changing in 2026

Taking the bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka isn't cheap, so you want to get it right. There have been some changes, too, to Shinkansen luggage rules, for example. Here's our essential guide to taking the Shinkansen to Osaka from Tokyo in 2026, from which train to book, bullet train prices, where to get on in Tokyo, connecting in Shin-Osaka Station and including our number one tip specially for the Tokyo to Osaka bullet train that nobody else is telling you!

Every month in Tokyo has a case to be made for it. We're going to try in this guide to give you an honest account of each one, based on our own experience - the weather, the crowds, the costs, the events, and the things that nobody else tends to mention. If you're used to a warm climate, you'll find January and February uncomfortably cold. On the other hand, if you're from a more temperate climate, the heat and, above all, the humidity of the Tokyo summer will have you exhau

Usually only three or four typhoons hit Japan every year, but even the ones that don't actually make landfall can cause strong winds and very heavy rain. This can have major repercussions for transport. Japan is a mountainous archipelago and is susceptible to landslides, which can block roads and rail. Islands like Okinawa can be cut off for days.

Traveling to Japan has changed a lot in 30 years! Forget paper maps and writing to tourist offices; today, staying connected is essential. For the modern traveler, an eSIM is the smartest, most convenient way to access data. Skip the airport queues and tiny physical SIM cards—learn how to set up your connection before you even board the plane. We share our top recommendations, including why we use Airalo to stay connected from the moment we land.

Deciding between a pocket WiFi or an eSIM for Japan depends on your group size and tech. For solo travelers or couples, a Japan eSIM is the cheapest and simplest option—no extra hardware or airport queues. However, for families or groups of three or more, a pocket WiFi often provides better value by sharing one connection across multiple devices. Use this 2026 guide to compare costs, battery life, and setup effort to ensure you stay connected across the archipelago.

Japan is raising taxes on tourists in 2026, you could be paying an extra ¥10000 a night for your hotel, and tourists will soon be paying "more than twice what locals pay." Yes, Japan is changing several things in 2026. Some of them are significant. Most are not the disaster they're being painted as. Let's take a look together at what's actually happening and how it will affect your Japan trip - if at all.

Rainy season in Japan doesn't have to be a washout. Here's our travel guide to make sure you get the best out of your June trip to Japan: Tsuyu dates by region, honest weather expectations, a packing list, and why Japan's rainy season might actually be the smartest time to visit.

Cruising from Yokohama? Discover everything you need to know about Japan’s top cruise port! From navigating Osanbashi, Daikoku, and Shinko piers to simple transfers from Tokyo, Haneda, and Narita airports, this guide covers it all. Explore vibrant Minato Mirai, Chinatown, and top day trips to Kamakura and Mount Fuji—plus the best hotels and shore excursions. Start planning your Yokohama port day now!

Here's our guide to every Japanese cruise port we could find on the cruise itineraries for this year and next. We'll focus on what you could realistically do & see in each port and whether you can easily hop off the ship and do your own thing or if Japan cruise excursions (offered by the cruise ship or locally organised) would be a better option.

There's a reason experienced Japan travellers tend to go quiet when you mention Golden Week. It's not that they won't tell you about it. It's that the look on their face says everything. Golden Week is Japan's perfect storm of public holidays - four national holidays compressed into one week at the end of April and beginning of May, when the entire country seemingly decides to travel at the same time. In 2026 it runs from Wednesday April 29th to Wednesday May 6th. If you're v