Japan Travel Guide: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka & Where to Go in 2026

Citizens of 70+ countries — including the EU (all Nordic countries), UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea — can enter Japan visa-free for up to 90 days (Thailand and Indonesia: 15 days; check your specific nationality). Russian, Chinese, and Indian citizens still need a tourist visa applied for through the Japanese embassy in their home country, typically 5–10 working days. From 2024, Japan merged immigration and customs into the mandatory Visit Japan Web system — register your trip and flight details on the official portal before arrival, get one QR code, and skip the paper forms. Passport must be valid for the duration of your stay (Japan doesn't enforce the 6-month rule but airlines may ask). Departure tax rises to ¥3,000 from July 2026 (up from ¥1,000), automatically added to airline tickets.

For most 7- to 10-day itineraries, no longer. The April 2023 price hike pushed the 7-day pass to ¥50,000 (around $325), and another increase is scheduled for 1 October 2026. A typical Tokyo + Kyoto + Osaka loop with one day-trip no longer breaks even — buy individual shinkansen tickets via the smartEX app or Klook instead, plus a Suica or PASMO IC card for local transit. The JR Pass still makes sense for long loops covering Tohoku, Hokkaido, or Kyushu, or for travelers doing four or more shinkansen legs in a week. Price each leg on Navitime or the Japan Travel app before deciding. Regional passes (JR East, JR West, Hokkaido) are usually better value than the nationwide pass if you're focusing on one area.

Two iconic windows. Cherry blossom season typically peaks late March to early April — Tokyo's full bloom in 2026 was around 27 March, Kyoto around 1 April, similar dates expected in 2027. Crowds and prices peak hard; book 4–5 months ahead. Autumn foliage (kōyō), mid-October to late November, is the locals' favorite — Kyoto's temple gardens are stunning, weather a comfortable 15–22°C, slightly fewer foreign tourists than spring. Avoid Golden Week (29 April–6 May 2026) when domestic travel surges and intercity transport sells out. May after Golden Week, early June before tsuyu (rainy season mid-June to mid-July), and late September are the quietest good-weather windows. The weak yen since 2023 makes Japan unusually affordable for foreign travelers — a $10 ramen now closer to $6–7.

The Golden Route is the standard for good reason — 10–14 days covers it well. Tokyo (4–5 nights): Shibuya, Shinjuku, Asakusa, the teamLab Planets/Borderless installations, day trips to Nikko and Kamakura. Hakone (1 night) via Romance Car for the iconic Mt Fuji view from Lake Ashi (clearest in winter). Kyoto (3–4 nights): Fushimi Inari at sunrise (to dodge the crowds), Arashiyama, Gion, Kinkaku-ji, and a kaiseki dinner. Osaka (1–2 nights) for food in Dotombori, Universal Studios Japan, and as a base for Nara and Himeji Castle. For a quieter 2026 alternative, consider Kanazawa (ryokans, the Kenroku-en garden), Fukuoka (Kyushu's food capital), or the Seto Inland Sea (Naoshima art islands) — all far less touristed than the Golden Route.

Japan is still more cash-friendly than most developed countries — convenience stores, big hotels, chain restaurants, and department stores accept cards, but smaller restaurants, temples, taxis outside major cities, and many ryokans want cash. Carry ¥10,000–20,000 as backup at all times. For ATMs, 7-Eleven's Seven Bank ATMs reliably accept foreign cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, even most Chinese cards) — 24/7, English menus, in every neighborhood. Suica/PASMO IC cards (¥500 deposit) work for nearly all trains, buses, vending machines, and convenience stores; load via cash at any station machine. The Welcome Suica (red card, ¥500 no-refund deposit) is the tourist-specific version. Mobile Suica is also available in Apple Wallet for iPhone users. Tipping is unwelcome and may be returned — service is included.