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Japan travel guides, organised around your decisions
Find ideas and practical advice for choosing where to stay, getting around and booking the experiences you want.
Explore a 7-day Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka itinerary →57 guides, grouped by the next decision. No account is needed to read them.
Arrival
Prepare the route from your flight to the next confirmed stop.
Japan
Getting from the airport to your hotel after a late arrival
Plan your evening transport, hotel arrival time and a backup route for a delayed flight.
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Japan
Using the official Visit Japan Web service
Prepare your arrival information through the official service and understand where it fits into airport procedures.
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Japan
Your first steps after landing in Japan
Follow a practical arrival sequence from immigration and baggage to internet access, money and your first hotel.
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Haneda / Narita / Japan
Connecting to a domestic flight in Japan
Follow the journey from international arrivals to your next flight, including baggage collection and terminal transfers.
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Connectivity
Separate devices, data, phone numbers and the recovery of an existing plan.
Japan
Getting your Japan eSIM connected
Follow the installation and activation steps, then work through the most useful recovery checks if data is not working.
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Japan
Choosing a Japan eSIM with a phone number
Compare voice, SMS and data options for your trip, including when your existing number may already meet your needs.
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Japan
Choosing a SIM for a longer stay in Japan
Compare data allowances, renewal, setup and phone-number options for a stay beyond a short holiday.
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Japan
Pocket WiFi or eSIM for Japan?
Compare ways to get online by your phone, data needs and whether you will share a connection with other travellers.
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Japan
Choosing a Japan eSIM that works with your phone
Find the device, SIM-lock and installation information you need to choose a suitable plan.
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Etiquette
Follow local guidance while respecting the people and places around you.
Japan
A practical guide to everyday etiquette in Japan
Learn the everyday habits that help you enjoy trains, restaurants and shared spaces while respecting local life.
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Experiences
Compare the exact venue and product before choosing a date or paying.
Tokyo / Aichi
Ghibli Museum or Ghibli Park: which should you visit?
Compare the two destinations, travel time and ticket choices to decide which experience belongs in your trip.
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Japan
Find an onsen that suits your visit
Explore private-bath options, tattoo policies and bathing etiquette to choose an experience that fits your group.
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Tokyo / Kyoto
Find your kintsugi workshop in Tokyo or Kyoto
Compare repair methods, materials, session language and timing to choose a workshop that fits your interests.
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Kyoto
How to plan a visit to the Nintendo Museum
Follow the ticket drawing, payment and QR-entry steps, then fit the museum visit into your travel day.
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Tokyo
teamLab Planets or Borderless: choosing your visit
Compare the Tokyo venues, walking experience, bag arrangements and ticket options before choosing your date.
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Chiba
Planning your Tokyo Disney tickets and app options
Learn what park admission covers and how Premier Access, Standby Pass and Entry Request fit into your day.
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Osaka
USJ Studio Pass or Express Pass: what do you need?
Compare park admission, Express Pass benefits and timed-area entry to put together the right tickets for your visit.
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Insurance
Identify the coverage question and responsible policy before relying on it.
Japan
Do you need travel insurance for Japan?
Compare the financial risks of your trip with the protection you already have before looking at new policies.
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Japan
Understanding rental-car insurance in Japan
Learn how CDW, NOC, excess and other cover fit together when choosing protection for a driving trip.
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Japan
What to look for in Japan travel insurance
Work through medical costs, cancellation and baggage cover alongside the policy limits that matter to your trip.
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Money
Distinguish payment, balance, currency and refund conditions.
Japan
Withdrawing yen with a foreign bank card
Find a suitable ATM, understand withdrawal options and work through the next step when a transaction does not go through.
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Japan
Cash or card in Japan: plan your everyday payments
Build a practical mix of cash, cards and transport payments for shopping, food and getting around.
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Japan
Tax-free shopping in Japan in 2026
Understand the shopping process and the planned November transition, including the dates and documents relevant to your purchase.
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Japan
Suica, cards and mobile wallets for your Japan trip
Choose between a phone-based wallet and a physical card, then fit it alongside your other travel payments.
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Planning
Put the booking, accommodation and handoffs in an order that works.
Kyoto / Japan
Enjoy Japan with fewer crowds
Find a better time to visit, group nearby sights and build a flexible day, with Kyoto as a practical example.
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Japan
How to correct a hotel booking name in Japan
Work out whether you need a spelling correction or a guest change, and prepare a clear request for the booking provider.
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Japan
How to store luggage at hotels in Japan
Make more of your arrival and departure days. Learn about bag drop-off, collection times and sending luggage ahead.
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Japan
When to book Japan attractions
Build a booking calendar for the attractions you care about and keep the rest of the trip flexible.
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Japan
Planning around Japan holidays and changing weather
Build an itinerary that can adapt to holiday opening hours, weather updates and transport changes.
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Kyoto / Osaka
Kyoto or Osaka: which base fits your trip?
Compare sightseeing days, evening plans and hotel moves to choose a base for exploring the Kansai region.
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Japan
Luggage forwarding, lockers or carrying it yourself?
Compare the time, convenience and handoffs of three ways to travel with luggage between hotels and destinations.
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Japan / operating carrier
Packing a power bank for flights to Japan
Work through battery capacity, hand-luggage arrangements and onboard use when preparing for each airline on your route.
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Japan
Booking a restaurant in Japan with TableCheck
Understand reservations, card holds, meal payments and changes so you can plan dinner with a clear budget.
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Japan
Where to stay on your first trip to Japan
Choose hotel bases around the places you want to visit, daily travel time and how often you want to move.
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Tokyo
Where to stay in Tokyo: compare four useful hubs
Find a Tokyo base for your sightseeing, airport journey and evenings by comparing four well-connected areas.
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Tickets
Check the official sale, payment, ticket delivery and the person entering.
Japan
How to buy concert tickets in Japan
Find the right sale route, follow payment and ticket delivery, and prepare the phone and identity details needed for entry.
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Transport
Match the ticket, luggage and transfer to the journey you will actually make.
Japan
Japan Rail Pass or individual tickets?
Compare the cost of your planned train journeys, included services and seat options to choose the better fit.
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Japan
The documents you need to drive in Japan
Find the driving-document and translation route relevant to your licence, then prepare for rental-car pickup.
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Japan
How to report lost property on Japan trains
Find the responsible railway, describe your lost item clearly and prepare for the reporting and collection process.
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Okinawa
Getting from Naha Airport to American Village
Compare the available journeys around your landing time, luggage and exact hotel location.
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Okinawa
Naha or American Village without a car?
Compare daily journeys, evening activities and hotel locations to find a base for a car-free Okinawa trip.
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Okinawa
Naha to Churaumi Aquarium by bus
Compare routes, boarding points and return arrangements for an aquarium day trip from Naha.
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Okinawa
Find Okinawa stops beyond the usual shortlist
Choose places that fit your route and interests, using practical access information alongside maps and reviews.
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Okinawa
Okinawa by bus or rental car?
Choose a transport plan around your hotel, favourite stops, luggage and the distances you want to cover.
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Okinawa
Choosing a well-connected Okinawa hotel
Compare airport access, everyday sightseeing journeys and late returns before choosing where to stay.
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Okinawa
An Okinawa itinerary for rain and hot weather
Plan shorter outings, rest stops and transport alternatives for days when the weather changes your plans.
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Okinawa
Planning an Okinawa rental-car trip
Work through driving documents, pickup, parking and insurance alongside the journeys you want to make.
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Tokaido / Sanyo / Kyushu
Taking a large suitcase on the Shinkansen
Learn how to measure your bag and choose the seat and luggage arrangement that matches your train journey.
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Japan
Boarding the Shinkansen with SmartEX
Choose an IC card, QR code or paper ticket for boarding and connect it with the rest of your train journey.
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Japan
What to do when your train is cancelled in Japan
Find your ticket issuer, understand the refund route and plan the next stage of your journey.
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Okinawa
Where to stay in Okinawa without a car
Find a hotel base connected to the airport, buses, rail and the places you want to explore.
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Travel needs
Ask the right provider about the particular access, food or equipment requirement.
Japan
Arranging airport mobility assistance in Japan
Plan the support you need from terminal arrival to boarding, with clear questions for the airport and airline.
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Japan
Planning meals in Japan with food allergies
Prepare ingredient, translation and cross-contact questions for restaurants and packaged foods, with practical ways to communicate your needs.
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Japan
Emergency numbers and visitor help in Japan
Find the right emergency or support contact and the information to have ready when asking for help.
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Japan
A family guide to Japan train tickets
Understand child fares, reserved seats and passes, then work out the tickets your family needs for each journey.
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Tokyo / Japan
Exploring Japan with a stroller
Plan family days around step-free station entrances, manageable transfers and places to pause along the way.
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Japan
Planning a Japan trip around your needs
Bring together access, mobility, food and support questions to plan a trip that fits the people travelling.
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