Country guide

Japan

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.

Tokyo
Photograph · Morio · CC BY-SA 3.0

Tokyo 22,494 places
Kyoto
Photograph · Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0

Kyoto 10,060 places
Osaka
Photograph · Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0

Osaka 11,503 places

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

January: seasonal closure recorded
February: seasonal closure recorded
March: seasonal closure recorded
April: seasonal closure recorded
May: seasonal closure recorded
June: no seasonality data recorded
July: no seasonality data recorded
August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
September: seasonal closure recorded
October: seasonal closure recorded
November: seasonal closure recorded
December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

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

Clear all filters

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.

🇯🇵Japan

Cities

Practical information

Planning a visit

Top things to see

Filter the list

Kamiya Bar

Shibuya O-East

Womb

Grand Salon Juso

ageHa

Bar lupin

Blue Note Tokyo

MOGRA

Shibuya O-West

Cotton Club

Kyoto Brewing

SOD LAND

○

08

101 hidari

115

135 Sakaba

135酒場

13BASE

146 State

15 Queen

16's Stairing Steps Case

17 MILE DRIVE

19 20

193

1994

1dL

1G

20000V

209

2½

29HOUSE

2ND LOUNGE

2peace

30+1

315 Mid Point

317

33 kitchen

+356

360°DINNER

3.6.5酒場

3.6.5酒場

3・6・5酒場

369

371 Bar

38 Kiosk

3K

3rd ROOM

3人むすこ家

4

44sonic

456酒場

4C's Bar Rosso

4REST

4坪牡蠣小屋 キヨリト

51

526

56bar

5 doller

5ばんてお

5丁目

634 BAR

64 Barrack St

⑥HusBAND

703TEI

7seas BAR

7th-chord

8039

808LOUNGE

817

82 ale house

82 Ale House

82 ALE HOUSE

88 tenpai

Japan

4坪牡蠣小屋キヨリト