Travel in Japan: seasons, rail, stays and money
Japan is one of the easiest countries to travel in once its systems are clear: rail passes and IC cards, luggage forwarding, ryokan etiquette and a cash-and-card mix. These guides explain how things work — prices and timetables are left to the official sources.
When to visit JapanshikiFour distinct seasons across a 3,000-kilometre archipelagoCherry blossom in Japansakura zensenThe sakura zensen, a wave of blossom moving north for four monthsJanuaryFebruaryAutumn leaves in JapankōyōMomijigari: going out to hunt for red maplesSeptemberOctoberGetting around JapanOne of the world's densest, most punctual public transport networksShinkansenshinkansenThe 'new trunk line' that reshaped travel in JapanJapan Rail PassNationwide rail travel on one ticket, for visitors onlyIC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA)kōtsūkei IC kādoTap in, tap out: the stored-value cards behind Japanese transportAccommodation in JapanFrom capsule to temple: the many ways to spend a night in JapanRyokanryokanTatami, futon, onsen and kaiseki: hospitality in the Japanese styleMoney and payments in JapanenCash, cards and IC: paying your way in a country in transitionMobile internet and connectivity in JapaneSIM, pocket Wi-Fi or roaming, and a plug adapterLuggage forwarding in JapantakuhaibinTravel light: sending the suitcase aheadSafety and emergencies in JapanLow crime, high preparedness: what to know before something happensPlanning a first trip to JapanThe Golden Route, from neon Tokyo to the temples of Kyoto and HiroshimaAirports in JapankūkōWhere international flights land and how to reach the cityOne week in JapanThe classic first route from Tokyo to Kyoto in seven daysTwo weeks in JapanFrom Tokyo through the Alps to Kyoto and HiroshimaSkiing and snow in JapansukīDeep powder, snow monsters and a hot bath after the slopesGetting around TokyoTōkyō no kōtsūOne of the world's densest rail networks, made simpleGetting around KansaiKansai no kōtsūCompeting railways linking four historic citiesShopping and souvenirs in JapanomiyageDepartment stores, craft shops and the art of omiyage