Plan Your Trip
Where to go on a first trip to Japan, and how to choose between the places everyone names before you commit to a route.
Passport Requirements for Japan
What passport do you need to enter Japan? Here's the validity, blank-page, and documentation guidance for US and other visa-free travelers.
Do Americans Need a Visa for Japan? (2026 Entry Guide)
US passport holders can visit Japan visa-free for up to 90 days. Here is exactly what you need to enter in 2026, the edge cases (extensions, kids, prior convictions), and the online forms you can skip.
What to Expect at Japanese Immigration
Landing in Japan? Here's exactly what happens at immigration and customs, what you'll need, and how to get through quickly.
Visit Japan Web: How to Use It
Visit Japan Web lets you pre-register immigration and customs for a faster airport arrival. Here's what it is and how to use it (and whether you need to).
Flights to Japan from the US: Routes, Times & Booking Tips
Nonstop flights connect major US hubs to Tokyo and Osaka. Here are the routes, flight times from each coast, how to book a good fare, and why flying open-jaw can save you a travel day.
Japan eSIM and SIM Card Guide for Travelers
How to get mobile data in Japan — eSIM, physical SIM, or pocket WiFi. Here's how each works, who they suit, and the popular providers.
Pocket WiFi vs eSIM in Japan: Which Should You Choose?
Pocket WiFi or eSIM for your Japan trip? Here's how the two compare on cost, convenience, and who each option suits best.
Cherry Blossom Season in Japan: When to Go and What It Costs
Japan's bloom window is roughly a week long and moves north across the country. Here's the regional timetable, what the season does to prices, and why no one can promise you a date.
Golden Week in Japan: What Closes and What It Costs
Golden Week is built from four public holidays at the turn of April into May. What actually shuts, what is merely crowded, and what to do if your dates cannot move.
Autumn Foliage in Japan: Timing Your Trip
Autumn colour moves from Hokkaido in October to Kyoto in late November. The regional timetable, why it is easier to plan than spring, and where to see it without the worst crowds.
Obon in Japan: What Changes in Mid-August
Obon is not a public holiday, yet it is one of Japan's heaviest travel weeks. What the observance is, what closes, and how to travel through it without being caught out.
Japan's Rainy Season and Typhoons: What They Mean
The rainy season moves north across Japan from May to July, and typhoon season peaks in late summer. What each actually does to a trip, and when they are worth planning around.
Winter in Japan: Snow, Onsen and the Quiet Season
Outside the New Year week, winter is Japan's quietest and cheapest season. Where the snow actually is, why Kyoto probably will not have any, and what the cities are like empty.
Best Time to Visit Japan (and When to Avoid)
Spring cherry blossoms and fall foliage are Japan's peak seasons. Here's what each season offers and the crowded periods to skip.
