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.

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Category

Historic monuments 10003 Museums 705 Places of worship 7699 Nature sites 7899 Viewpoints 399 Food and drink 213 Markets and shopping 813 Entertainment 274 Nightlife 11447 Family attractions 588 Art and culture 2054 Activities 21

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 397 1 to 2 hours 2

Interests

History 0 Art 0 Museums 0 Nature 392 Sea and beach 0 Viewpoints 392
  1. Umeda Sky Building Umeda Sky Building
    01 1 hr 30 min

    Umeda Sky Building

    The Umeda Sky Building is a distinctive high-rise structure in Osaka's Kita district, completed in 1993.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Osaka
  2. Tsūtenkaku Tsūtenkaku
    02 1 hour

    Tsūtenkaku

    Tsutenkaku is an observation tower in Shinsekai, in Osaka's Naniwa ward, and it is the second tower to stand on the spot.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Osaka
  3. Mount Hiei Mount Hiei
    03 20 min

    Mount Hiei

    Mount Hiei is a mountain located northeast of Kyoto, Japan, straddling the border between Kyoto Prefecture and Shiga Prefecture. The local name is 比叡山.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Kyoto
  4. Mount Atago Mount Atago
    04 20 min

    Mount Atago

    Mount Atago is a mountain in Kyoto, Japan, bearing the local name 愛宕山. The mountain holds religious significance as the site of Atago Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to fire prevention and safe hearth.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Kyoto
  5. Mount Kurama Mount Kurama
    05 20 min

    Mount Kurama

    Mount Kurama is a forested mountain in northern Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, known for its association with the Tengu, mythical long-nosed goblins of Japanese folklore.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Kyoto
  9. Ōeyama
    09 20 min

    Ōeyama

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Kyoto
  13. Harukas 300 Harukas 300
    13 20 min

    Harukas 300

    Harukas 300 is an observation deck located at the summit of Abeno Harukas, a prominent skyscraper in Osaka. The facility occupies the building's top three floors, offering visitors elevated views across the Kansai region.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Osaka
  14. SHIBUYA SKY SHIBUYA SKY
    14 20 min

    SHIBUYA SKY

    Shibuya Sky is an observation facility in Shibuya, Tokyo, offering panoramic views of the metropolitan area. Located within the Shibuya Scramble Square complex, the attraction occupies upper floors of a prominent high-rise building.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Tokyo
  25. Showazan Showazan
    25 20 min

    Showazan

    Showazan, known locally as 昭和山, is a notable visitor place in Osaka. It appears in the city's tourist information pool as a recognized destination for visitors exploring the urban landscape.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Osaka
  57. Fuji View
    57 20 min

    Fuji View

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Tokyo
  68. Kyoto Tower Kyoto Tower
    68 20 min

    Kyoto Tower

    Kyoto Tower stands as a prominent observation structure in Kyoto, Japan. The tower rises near Kyoto Station in the Shimogyo Ward district, making it one of the most immediately recognizable landmarks for arriving visitors.

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Kyoto
  72. Naka-dori
    72 20 min

    Naka-dori

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Tokyo

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.