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Some experiences you simply have to see in person. From incredible food to unforgettable traditions, Japan has something around every corner 🍣✨
Experiences worth booking
- Food tours: a local guide gets you into the tiny counters and market stalls you'd walk straight past
- Tea ceremony or kimono experience in Kyoto
- Sumo: a tournament if your dates line up, or a morning practice visit
- Day trips: Mount Fuji and Hakone from Tokyo, or Nara's deer from Kyoto and Osaka
Getting there
Tokyo has two airports, Haneda (HND), which is closer to the city, and Narita (NRT). Osaka Kansai (KIX) is great if you're starting in Kyoto or Osaka.
Practical tips
- Get an IC card (Suica, PASMO or ICOCA) on your phone for trains, buses and convenience stores.
- Check whether a rail pass actually saves you money for your route. Often individual shinkansen tickets work out cheaper.
- An eSIM makes navigating the train network much easier from the moment you land.
Where to stay
In Tokyo, Shinjuku and Shibuya are lively and well connected, and Asakusa is quieter and traditional. In Kyoto, stay near Gion or Kyoto Station, and treat yourself to at least one night in a ryokan.
