One country.
Seven ways in.

Spend on what matters

Pick one paid highlight per day, mix in parks and neighbourhoods, and compare lunch menus. A rail pass is not automatically cheaper: total your actual journeys and check coverage before buying.

Travel with fewer barriers

Ask for the exact lift exit, boarding assistance and venue entrance. Short outings and read-aloud stories help with planning, but do not certify step-free access or provide navigation for blind travellers.

Leave room for children

Pair one major visit with a park, snack and toilet break. Place cards include imagination challenges. In Nara, watch deer from a respectful distance; in Hiroshima, choose museum content with care.

Be a considerate guest

Keep train conversations quiet, follow photography signs and protect private doorways. Eat where market vendors ask you to, and confirm ingredients rather than assuming a dish is vegetarian.

Tokyo: your first day

Check whether you land at Haneda (HND) or Narita (NRT); they need different routes. Choose rail or an airport bus for your hotel area, then save the exact station exit and final walk. Allow for immigration and a delayed flight before booking onward travel.

Tokyo Station is large: save the operator and exit, not only the station name. Avoid combining distant neighbourhoods on arrival day.

Official arrival guide ↗

Kyoto: your first day

For Kansai Airport (KIX), compare the train and airport-bus options to Kyoto, then plan the final connection to your hotel. Kyoto Station is an arrival hub, not the same place as the historic lanes you may be visiting.

Leave luggage at your accommodation or an appropriate storage service before busy sightseeing. Choose one district rather than crossing the city for every stop.

Official arrival guide ↗

Osaka: your first day

Check whether your flight uses Kansai (KIX) or Itami (ITM). From Kansai, choose the rail or bus service that best matches your accommodation area; save the onward local connection as well.

Osaka and Shin-Osaka are different stations. Check the exact station on a shinkansen reservation before setting off.

Official arrival guide ↗

Nara: your first day

Nara has no airport. Plan from Kansai or Itami using the official access guide, comparing connections and the arrival stop with your hotel location. Check the current bus or rail timetable before travel.

JR Nara and Kintetsu-Nara are different stations. Save the correct one for your return journey; do not rely on just the city name.

Official arrival guide ↗

Hiroshima: your first day

From Hiroshima Airport (HIJ), check airport buses to Hiroshima Station or Hiroshima Bus Center and choose the stop closest to your accommodation. Allow extra time for traffic and queues, especially on your return to the airport.

Hiroshima Station and the Peace Memorial Park area require a separate local connection or walk. Keep a museum visit and your onward train comfortably apart.

Official arrival guide ↗

Sapporo: your first day

From New Chitose Airport (CTS), check the JR service toward Sapporo and the onward route to your accommodation. Verify your flight airport: New Chitose and Okadama are different airports.

In winter, allow extra time for icy pavements and transport disruption. Check a step-free route rather than assuming an underground entrance has a lift.

Official arrival guide ↗

Fukuoka: your first day

Fukuoka Airport’s subway station connects to the domestic terminal. If arriving internationally, check the terminal-transfer instructions before following subway signs. Choose Hakata or Tenjin onward connections to match your hotel.

Hakata is the main shinkansen station. Do not confuse it with Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin); save your operator and exact station name.

Official arrival guide ↗

Train confidence

Check the operator, station, platform and destination before boarding. An IC card works on many local services, but is not a universal ticket or a rail pass. Book the appropriate ticket for limited express and shinkansen journeys; check seat and large-luggage rules with the operator. Compare individual fares before buying a pass.

Everyday etiquette

Queue where marked, keep calls off local trains and give priority seats to people who need them. Follow photography signs, remove shoes where requested and carry a small bag for your rubbish. Do not photograph people without permission or block residential entrances.

Food and dietary needs

Fish stock can appear in dishes that look vegetarian. Ask about sauces and broth as well as the main ingredient. Prepare a clearly translated dietary or allergy card before travel and show it to staff; a phrase alone does not confirm safe preparation. Useful questions: “Eigo no menyū wa arimasu ka?” (Do you have an English menu?) and “Niku ya sakana wa haitte imasu ka?” (Does it contain meat or fish?).

Stay connected, even offline

Check that your phone supports your chosen SIM or eSIM before buying. Save your hotel name and address in Japanese, arrival route, reservations and a local map while online. Carry a charged power bank and some cash; do not depend on a single phone or payment method. Download the city essentials below for a text copy that works without internet.

Pack for the season

Check the forecast close to departure. Plan shade, water and indoor breaks in hot weather; bring layers and rain protection for changeable days. In winter, check snow and ice conditions before walks. Allow flexibility for weather disruptions rather than packing every day with timed bookings.

Rest stops, families and access

Save a toilet and a seated break near each outing, checking venue opening hours. Ask operators about lifts, step-free entrances, boarding assistance and stroller arrangements before committing to a route. A temple or station may have stairs even when the surrounding area is level. Blind travelers can request staff assistance; arrange support ahead when needed.

A calmer first day

Choose one neighbourhood and one main stop after arrival. Leave time for station exits, luggage storage and breaks. Save the last return service before an evening outing. Police: 110. Ambulance or fire: 119. Keep your accommodation contact available offline.