How to Plan Your First Trip to Japan – 2026 Edition
All the tips you need to get started planning your trip to Japan!
⬇️Helpful links to everything we mentioned below!⬇️
Introduction (00:00)
📆 When to Travel 00:15
• Our detailed breakdown of each month video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8sg1cdO6w0
⏱️ How Long? 01:48
• Countries exempt of visa: https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/novisa.html
✈️ Airports 02:50
• Haneda Airport: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2430.html
• Narita Airport: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2027.html
• Osaka Airport (KIX): https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2033.html
📍 Where to go? 03:52
• Our website: https://www.japan-guide.com/
• Our community forum: https://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quedisplay.html
🚃 Transportation 05:18
• Domestic Air Travel: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2365.html
• Highway Buses: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2366.html
• Driving in Japan: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2022.html
• Trains: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW_sw77sqvE
• IC Cards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-Lz88WOHK8
• RAIL PASS CALCULATOR: https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/
• Shinkansen with Mobile Tickets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gM6-SZMkvE
🧳 Luggage 07:26
• Delivery Services: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2278.html
• Our Luggage Delivery video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1ylEzOexfs
🛌 Where to Stay? 08:25
• Our Ryokan video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdYiNdI2kPE
• Temple Lodgings: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2025_temple_lodgings.html
• Capsule Hotels: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2025_capsule_hotels.html
💴 Money 09:29
• Our dedicated Money page: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2196.html
🛜 Internet 10:15
• Staying connected in Japan: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2279.html
🇯🇵 Manners 11:26
• Our etiquette guide: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e622.html
_____________________________
*Video Credits*
Host & Editor: Charles Sabas
Filming: Aimee Gardner
Produced by: Stefan Schauwecker
15 Comments
Does the third time count?😅
Damn, I’m going in September 😅
I almost thought this must be a new guy.
Then it dawned on me that he was a 2 min. Guy without facial hair😮
Gee, when was the last time he showed his face?? I remember I got a glimpse of him in the background as a videographer, but even that was a long time ago.
I am happy to know Charly is still alive and kicking with this organization, and aging well 🎉
Very good tips. The mid-to-late-April Tohoku tip is really great and worked on me personally too, though the average tourist is probably more interested in the golden route so I'd recommend it to second-timers and above. There's also the question of either going north (to prolong the bloom period throughout your trip, but the timing is riskier and there are fewer variations of flowers) or going south (guaranteed to encounter cherry blossoms but shorter bloom duration, more variations).
Autumn is great too but lately the country transitions from summer to winter too quickly, and the leaves look burnt and roasted. And of course the days are shorter. So yeah, I'd recommend spring too before autumn.
Between 10-14 days is my sweet spot and what I think is sensible for the average person. So many busy businessmen/women spend 5 days or fewer which baffles me. I would feel bad for them and yet they seem to have enjoyed their trips despite the rush and short duration, so good for them I guess.
Very good point on traveling light. A 40L backpack is all you need. Shame that some people can't (or refuse to) accept the idea of minimalism (unless you're traveling with kids).
Ryokans are expensive as hell. Not many people can afford them. To me, business hotels are a good compromise.
I definitely have to check out Jorudan (Japan Transit Planner). Navitime used to be my go-to app but lately they've been paywalling everything so I'm guessing Jorudan is the go-to app now.
Personally, I think pocket wifi is overrated. You save some money, sure, but you're more at risk if you group splits up or someone gets lost (happened to my group once). You also have to charge it every night and allocate time for the pick up and return. Not for me.
Your Rail Pass Calculator is so helpful! Thank you! 🙏🏻
Not much about onsens
Excited to go to yunishigawa onsen for the first time this winter 😄 Thanks for the transit app rec!
Great travel guide! I have a friend who will be visiting Japan this year and will make sure to share this with them.
Whether Haneda or Narita is better for you really depends a lot on where you stay.
If you're staying in the northern/north-eastern part of Tokyo like Ikebukuro, Ueno, Asakusa, Narita airport can actually be more convenient or at least have equal travel time.
Internal flights are great. Last time I flew from Haneda to Matsue, slowly making my way back to Haneda from destination to destination. This year I'm flying to Osaka then making my way back to Haneda. The change in price to the JR Pass has really changed the way I plan my trips to Japan. It's no longer all rail. It's more regional in scope.
Another great video Japan Guide! Although I have travelled to Japan a number of times, I still check at Japan guide and I always recommend your website and videos to friends travelling.
Website is very helpful ❤
OMG ISN'T THAT CHARLY FROM 2MIN JAPAN VIDEO? I loved him so much, so glad to see he's showing his face again, hope to see more videos like this in the future, very engaging.
I'm planning a 2 week trip in October
Awesome video and I love your site… it's my inspiration for past and future trips to Japan 😊 would be great if you could cover some more of Shikoku 👍
I was able to visit Japan twice last year. My first trip was late-April, my second trip was the first half of December. On my second trip I focused on Fukuoka.
I think Fukuoka is a gem that doesn't get as many mentions. It's a big city with a much more relaxed vibe, and the airport is about as convenient as you could possibly get, as well as Hakata Station.