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10 Tips to Make Your First Trip to Japan Amazing
Japan can be intimidating if you’ve never been there. With more than 100 million people, nearly 7,000 islands and several millennia of history (much of it chaotic), the Japanese archipelago is one of the most rewarding places in the world for travelers to discover, but also one of the most perplexing. It can be difficult to know where to start, to say the least. It does make sense to start with the capital Tokyo which has so many things to do and places to see.
These Japan travel tips for your first trip to Japan will make it go a lot smoother, regardless of where you’re currently at in planning. Think of this list as a fun homework assignment, and re-visit it throughout your trip whenever you feel overwhelmed.
1. (Try to) go during Sakura season
Believe the hype: Japan’s cherry blossom season is one of the most beautiful spectacles on the planet, and makes a great backdrop for your first trip to Japan if you can sync things just right. However, it can be difficult to get just right, since weather patterns in late February and early March determine when precisely the season (which takes place during April in most of the country) starts.
If you’re planning a long trip to Japan (say, two weeks or more) you can be assured to see some sakura as you wander, since the flowers move south-to-north in what’s known as a “cherry blossom front.”
2. Plan it out, but leave breathing room
Japan is organized and orderly—and so are the best trips there. Planning your trip in advance is a good idea, even if you only get as far as deciding upon a general path through the country and book hotels with this in mind. With this being said, much of the magic of traveling in Japan is in random walks through cities and unexpected vistas during the time in nature, so avoid planning each of your days out too specifically.
For more information about Japan and how to prepare for your first visit to this enigmatic country here is some additional read.
3. Throw in a few wild cards
There’s a reason cities almost everyone visits cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, and why many trips to Japan follow the same trajectory, irrespective of their length. Even if you plan a rather standard itinerary—it’s your first trip to Japan, after all—visit one or two places on the stranger side. From Hiroshima, for example, you can take a day trip to Okunoshima, an island with more rabbits than people. While in Tokyo, ride a driverless train to Odaiba island, which is home to a fake Statue of Liberty, and a museum with some truly incredible robots. You can also head out of Tokyo for a unique day trip to the Zao Fox Village.
4. Learn some basic Japanese
It’s no secret that Japanese people don’t speak much English—most will freely admit this. While amazing signage and features within the “Japanese” section of Google Translate (you can take a photo of Japanese text, and the app will translate it to English) make this less serious a matter than it might be elsewhere, having a few words and phrases at your disposal will make your life easier. Most important among them are “konnichiwa” (hello), “arigatou” (thank you), “oishii” (delicious) and, of course, “kawaii,” which means “cute.”
5. Book a wide range of accommodation
If it’s your first trip to Japan, you might think the only place you can stay in Japan is a traditional ryokan guest house—or you might not know what one is at all. A great way to experience the diversity of Japan is by staying in a diverse range of accommodation. While guest houses are a great choice for historical places like Kyoto, futuristic capsule hotels make the most sense in crowded, expensive Tokyo and Osaka. In smaller, less-cramped cities, economical business hotels are popular, while Airbnb is an option throughout the country, in spite of its recent controversy in Tokyo.
6. Buy a Japan Rail Pass
No matter where you go in Japan or how long you stay, you’re going to use the country’s trains. Whether that entails simple local services or Shinkansen bullet trains depends on the specifics of your trip, but with very few exceptions a Japan Rail Pass is going to be cheaper. It’s also more convenient. Simply flash your JR pass (which affords unlimited—with a few exceptions—train travel for a period of 7, 14 or 21 days) at the entrance gate and you’re on your way.
7. Bring a (Japanese) book or two
Whether it’s your first trip to Japan or not, context is always helpful is a country this old and complicated. Personally, I love the work of magical realist author Haruki Murakami, and read a different book of his every time I visit Japan. Even if you prefer something more realistic, like the Sea of Fertility tetralogy by Yukio Mishima, reading (English translations of) books by Japanese authors gives you a connection to the country that can be priceless in unlocking new ways of understanding.
8. Read up on history as well
A tangible background can be as helpful when traveling to Japan as an esoteric context. Visit your local bookstore (or library!) before your trip, and check out books relating to the history of Japan. Periods of the country’s history that aren’t taught in school, such as the Tokugawa Shogunate (check out Samurai Revolution by Romulus Hillsborough) or the period just after World War II (Embracing Defeat by John W. Dower is great), will prove particularly relevant to your trip.
9. Be adventurous with food
Many people who’ve never been to Japan think everything is sushi and sashimi, with a little bit of tempura and ramen thrown in for good measure. In fact, Japanese food is as diverse as the country’s architecture and landscapes. In Osaka, you can snack on chewy takoyaki octopus fritters as you traipse through strange cityscapes; the specialty of Hokkaido island is the world’s best milk products—I love the soft-serve.
Japan is a place you travel at least as much with your taste buds as you do your eyes or ears, so eat often and a lot.
10. Leave your expectations at immigration
For your first trip to Japan especially, it’s natural to have wild fantasies (and very real concerns) about how your visit will go. However, Japan is a place whose existence is difficult to reconcile even for those of us who’ve spent a lot of time there, so it’s best to arrive with as open a mind as possible. You’re going to walk the streets of megacities, marvel at the majesty of temples and encounter some of the most unique characters (literal and figurative) on the planet. Beyond this, anything else is possible, so long as you leave room for it.
Japan Tourism
How To Get To Japan
Book cheap flights, hotels, and cars on rent here.
How To Book Your Stay When Visiting Japan
Japan hotels – If you are planning to visit Japan then you must be wondering where to stay in Japan or the best hotels in Japan or the best hotels in Tokyo. Stay options to suit your budget are available at Japan and can be easily booked. For best accommodation – hotels in Japan we suggest checking out our favorite sites to book here. We always use these sites to book our stay. Japan hotel booking can be done through HotelsCombined or Booking.com to save huge and get best deals on booking your stay in Japan.
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Tours/Activities available in Japan
Japan points of interest are many and if you are wondering what to see in Japan or what to do in Japan, then look no further. Japan attractions pass are available for the best Japan tours. You can now book tours in Japan as well as activities in Japan. Plan the best places to visit in Japan and experience Japan.
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Driving around Japan
If you are looking at getting the best deals on car rental in Japan, then look no further. You can rent a car to explore and experience amazing Japan.
The Bottom Line
Make your first trip to Japan one for the record books. From practical tips like mixing tourist hot spots with quirky destinations off the beaten path to esoteric advice on the importance of reading Japanese literature, following a few simple guidelines can make any Japan adventure extraordinary. The more you enjoy your first trip to Japan, the more likely you’ll be to return—and that’s when the magic really begins to happen.
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Japan has been on my list for a very long time and I want to go and check out the cherry blossoms. But to be honest, its the nature, mountains and the culture that I want to see, not bullet trains and techy stuff. 🙂
We utterly adore Japan, we have made three trips so far (our first in 2012 and the next one a mere 12 months later), and we are eager to go back again and again. Your tips for first time visitors are spot on, on all counts. I would particularly recommend for the accommodation to include one splurge ryokan which serves the traditional kaiseki meal, and a traditional breakfast too. Unbeatable!