More expensive than expected, better than expected — and you'll want to come back immediately
Peak backpacker window — best all-round weather and prices still reasonable.
Hanami festivals everywhere — touristy and fully booked, but magical
Heavy rain or typhoons — consider a neighbouring country if flexible.
90 days visa-free for Germans — unrestricted again since 2023. No application, no fee. Valid for tourism.
Sign in to see the exact rules for your passport — duration, cost, steps. Takes 30 seconds, no password.
Sign in →Works perfectly for Japan — shows subway lines, transfers and walking times. Best transit app.
Best app for train connections + JR Pass planning. Multiple route options with real-time prices.
Japan's Yelp — reviews in Japanese, but Google Translate helps. Real local recommendations.
Japan is still very cash-driven — withdraw JPY. 7-Eleven ATMs work with foreign cards.
Japan has solid eSIM support — Airalo works well, IIJmio is cheaper for longer stays. Pocket WiFi rental at the airport is the fallback for older phones.
Best app for local bus connections outside Tokyo — Google Maps has gaps there.
Thousands of red torii gates up the mountain — early morning (5–7am) you'll be alone.
Maruyama Park Kyoto, Shinjuku Gyoen Tokyo — sake and onigiri from the konbini.
Honbasho tournaments in Jan, May, Sep (Tokyo) and Mar, Jul, Nov — book tickets early.
Niseko (Hokkaido) has the best powder snow in the world — Dec–Feb, après-ski atmosphere.
A must at least once — traditional inn with hot springs. Hakone is the closest option.
Anime, manga, retro games — Super Potato for old Famicom games from €1.
Largest city in the world — Shibuya Crossing, Akihabara, Shinjuku, no end in sight
Former capital — Geisha district Gion, 1,000 temples, best autumn foliage city
Dotonbori, best takoyaki in the world, more relaxed than Tokyo
Free-roaming deer in the city — Todai-ji with Japan's largest Buddha
Climbable Jul–Aug — book huts, 8-hour ascent
Sapporo Snow Festival, Niseko skiing, Hakodate night view — Japan's wild north
Cash is still king in Japan — always carry 10,000–20,000 JPY (~€70–140)
7-Eleven and FamilyMart aren't just for emergencies — onigiri and sandwiches are genuinely good
Buy the JR Pass before your trip — more expensive in Japan itself and some itineraries don't justify it
Quiet on subways and trains: phone calls are frowned upon, so is talking loudly — headphones are enough
Ryokan etiquette: shoes off at the entrance, bathrobe (yukata) is the house outfit, onsen nude
Google Maps works perfectly in Japan — no other app needed except for trains
Prices, routes, safety, budget hacks. Trained on the same dispatch you just scrolled — plus every field report we've logged from the ground.
Hey! I know Japaninside and out. Ask me anything — prices, routes, safety, budget hacks. I'll tell you what actually works on the ground.
AI answers may contain errors · Always verify locally