Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Japan

A photograph of Japan
Photograph · Midori · CC BY 3.0

Around three quarters of Japan is mountain and forest, which pushes almost everyone onto the eastern coastal plains and makes the country far narrower in practice than 377,975 km2 suggests. Forty-seven prefectures, eight traditional regions and more than 14,000 smaller islands, and yet a first visit usually runs along a single rail corridor with Tokyo at one end and Kyoto and Osaka at the other. Tokyo is the capital and largest city of a country of almost 123 million people. Hokkaido in the north and Okinawa in the south are different climates rather than day trips, and both need their own week.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information
Language spoken
Japanese
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+81
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Japanese yen (JPY)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
110 police · 119 fire and ambulance
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A · 100 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Safe from the mains
JNTO states that tap water is safe to drink

Planning a visit

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: seasonal closure recorded
  5. May: seasonal closure recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

Filter the list

100 places match
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Category

Historic monuments 10003 Museums 705 Places of worship 7699 Nature sites 7899 Viewpoints 399 Food and drink 218 Markets and shopping 813 Entertainment 274 Nightlife 11447 Family attractions 588 Art and culture 2054 Activities 21

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 218

Interests

History 0 Art 0 Museums 0 Nature 0 Sea and beach 0 Viewpoints 0
  1. Sukiyabashi Jiro
    01 1 hour

    Sukiyabashi Jiro

    すきやばし次郎

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  2. Hantei
    02 1 hour

    Hantei

    はん亭

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  3. Dotenoiseya
    03 1 hour

    Dotenoiseya

    Dote no Iseya

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  4. Kanda Matsuya
    04 1 hour

    Kanda Matsuya

    神田まつや

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  5. Rakurakuso
    05 1 hour

    Rakurakuso

    がんこ 京都 亀岡 楽々荘

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Kyoto
  6. Tōkasai-kan
    06 1 hour

    Tōkasai-kan

    東華菜館

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Kyoto
  9. Asahi Sky Room
    09 1 hour

    Asahi Sky Room

    展望ラウンジ アサヒスカイルーム

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  10. Coffee Bunmei
    10 1 hour

    Coffee Bunmei

    珈琲文明

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  11. Gyugujo
    11 1 hour

    Gyugujo

    焼肉　牛宮城

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  12. Kanda Yabusoba
    12 1 hour

    Kanda Yabusoba

    神田藪蕎麦 (Yabusoba)

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  13. Ladrio
    13 1 hour

    Ladrio

    ラドリオ

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  14. L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon
    14 1 hour

    L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon

    ラトリエ ドゥ ジョエル・ロブション

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  15. Meikyoku Kissa Lion
    15 1 hour

    Meikyoku Kissa Lion

    名曲喫茶ライオン

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  16. Starbucks
    16 1 hour

    Starbucks

    スターバックス

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  17. Takasegawa Nijōen
    17 1 hour

    Takasegawa Nijōen

    がんこ高瀬川二条苑

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Kyoto
  18. Tofuya Ukai
    18 1 hour

    Tofuya Ukai

    東京 芝 とうふ屋うかい

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  20. Hyotei
    20 1 hour

    Hyotei

    懐石料理 瓢亭

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Kyoto
  21. Matsumotoro
    21 1 hour

    Matsumotoro

    日比谷 松本楼

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  23. Berg
    23 1 hour

    Berg

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  24. Cafe gallery Kinone
    24 1 hour

    Cafe gallery Kinone

    カフェギャラリーきのね

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Osaka
  25. Café Paulista
    25 1 hour

    Café Paulista

    カフェ パウリスタ

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  26. Coffee L'ambre
    26 1 hour

    Coffee L'ambre

    らんぶる

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  27. Esaki
    27 1 hour

    Esaki

    えさき

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  28. Far East Cafe (Store)
    28 1 hour

    Far East Cafe (Store)

    ファーイーストカフェ

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  29. Gokkei
    29 1 hour

    Gokkei

    極鶏

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Kyoto
  30. Hariju
    30 1 hour

    Hariju

    はり重うどん

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Osaka
  31. Heihachi Jaya
    31 1 hour

    Heihachi Jaya

    山ばな 平八茶屋

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Kyoto
  32. Ishikawa
    32 1 hour

    Ishikawa

    神楽坂 石かわ

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  34. Kanda
    34 1 hour

    Kanda

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  35. Komakata Dozeu
    35 1 hour

    Komakata Dozeu

    駒形どぜう

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  36. Kototoi Dango
    36 1 hour

    Kototoi Dango

    言問団子

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  38. Minami-Senju Sunaba
    38 1 hour

    Minami-Senju Sunaba

    砂場総本家(南千住砂場)

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  39. Muromachi Sunaba
    39 1 hour

    Muromachi Sunaba

    室町 砂場

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  41. Nakasei
    41 1 hour

    Nakasei

    天麩羅中清

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  42. Namiki Yabusoba
    42 1 hour

    Namiki Yabusoba

    並木數喬麥

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  43. Narisawa
    43 1 hour

    Narisawa

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  44. Obana
    44 1 hour

    Obana

    尾花

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  45. R25 café
    45 1 hour

    R25 café

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  46. Rengyokuan
    46 1 hour

    Rengyokuan

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  48. Soranoiro
    48 1 hour

    Soranoiro

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  49. The Garden Oriental Osaka
    49 1 hour

    The Garden Oriental Osaka

    ザ・ガーデンオリエンタル・大阪

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Osaka
  50. Umezono
    50 1 hour

    Umezono

    浅草 梅園

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  54. 麦
    54 1 hour

    麦

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  57. Usaboku Coffee
    57 1 hour

    Usaboku Coffee

    うさぎとぼく

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Osaka
  59. 極み鶏そば 鶏と麦ときどき豚
    59 1 hour

    極み鶏そば 鶏と麦ときどき豚

    Kiwami Tori Soba Tori to Mugi Tokidoki Buta is a ramen restaurant in Osaka specialising in chicken-based broth noodles.

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Osaka
  60. atré Ebisu
    60 1 hour

    atré Ebisu

    スターバックス

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  61. Chitose(Naｍba)
    61 1 hour

    Chitose(Naｍba)

    千とせ 本店

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Osaka
  62. Dojō Iida-ya
    62 1 hour

    Dojō Iida-ya

    どぜう

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  63. SilkRoad Tarim Uyghur Restaurant
    63 1 hour

    SilkRoad Tarim Uyghur Restaurant

    ウイグルレストラン　シルクロード タリム

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  64. Aoki-tei Yashio
    64 1 hour

    Aoki-tei Yashio

    青木亭

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  65. Otonari Stand and Works
    65 1 hour

    Otonari Stand and Works

    おとなりスタンド＆ワークス

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  71. Mitora
    71 1 hour

    Mitora

    麺処 三虎

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  72. nen-nekoya
    72 1 hour

    nen-nekoya

    ねんねこや

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  75. Shōitsu-ya
    75 1 hour

    Shōitsu-ya

    翔軼屋

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  77. Tomita Shokudō
    77 1 hour

    Tomita Shokudō

    富田食堂

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  78. Yuki Usagi
    78 1 hour

    Yuki Usagi

    雪うさぎ

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  79. Yunrinbou
    79 1 hour

    Yunrinbou

    雲林坊

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  80. 諭吉そば
    80 1 hour

    諭吉そば

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  81. Arcmeal
    81 1 hour

    Arcmeal

    フォルクス

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Osaka
  82. at-home cafe
    82 1 hour

    at-home cafe

    ＠ほぉ～むカフェ

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  83. Blue Bayou Restaurant
    83 1 hour

    Blue Bayou Restaurant

    ブルーバイユー・レストラン Blue Bayou Restaurant

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  84. Cafe Plataku
    84 1 hour

    Cafe Plataku

    カフェプラたく

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  85. Daidomon
    85 1 hour

    Daidomon

    大同門

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Osaka
  86. Dotenoiseya
    86 1 hour

    Dotenoiseya

    伊勢屋本店

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  87. Doutor Coffee
    87 1 hour

    Doutor Coffee

    ドトールコーヒーショップ

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  88. Doutor Coffee
    88 1 hour

    Doutor Coffee

    ドトールコーヒーショップ

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  89. Gin no Sara Delivery Sushi Service
    89 1 hour

    Gin no Sara Delivery Sushi Service

    銀のさら

    Gin no Sara, known locally as 銀のさら, is a delivery sushi service operating in Osaka. The establishment functions as a food service business rather than a traditional dine-in restaurant, specializing in prepared sushi delivered to customers.

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Osaka
  90. GLOBEAT JAPAN
    90 1 hour

    GLOBEAT JAPAN

    らあめん花月嵐

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  91. Happo-en
    91 1 hour

    Happo-en

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  92. Holly's Cafe
    92 1 hour

    Holly's Cafe

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Osaka
  93. Holly's Cafe
    93 1 hour

    Holly's Cafe

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Osaka
  96. Ichiran
    96 1 hour

    Ichiran

    一蘭

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  98. Kani Dōraku
    98 1 hour

    Kani Dōraku

    かに道楽

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Osaka
  99. Kirby Café
    99 1 hour

    Kirby Café

    カービィカフェ

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Tokyo
  100. Mizuno
    100 1 hour

    Mizuno

    美津の

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Osaka

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Japan be?

Ten to fourteen days supports four or five days in Tokyo, three or four in Kyoto, and two or three in Osaka. Add Nara or Himeji only after those bases have enough time, and avoid turning every rail stop into a hotel change.

What entry documents are needed for Japan?

Japan's visa exemption or visa requirement depends on passport and travel purpose. Confirm the current rule through Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the embassy responsible for the traveller's residence.

What is the best way to travel around Japan?

The Tokaido Shinkansen links Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, while local rail and buses cover city travel. An IC card simplifies many local journeys but does not replace every reserved long-distance ticket, and luggage forwarding can reduce friction between bases.

When is a practical time to visit Japan?

March to May and October to November are broad options for the main-island route, with blossom and autumn periods creating concentrated demand. Confirm regional weather and reservations for the exact cities rather than assuming one national season behaves uniformly.

What money and payment basics apply in Japan?

Japan uses the yen (JPY). Electronic payment is common but not universal, so carry some yen for smaller businesses, ticket machines, or rural transport without assuming that one stored-value card works for every purchase.

What practical safety details should I save for Japan?

Japan's emergency numbers are 110 for police and 119 for fire or ambulance. Type A sockets operate at 100 V, which is lower than in the other wave-A countries, and mains tap water is recorded as safe.