Planning Your First Trip to Japan

Most first-timers need 10-14 days to comfortably cover Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka without rushing. A week is workable if you focus on one or two cities, while three weeks allows a slower pace and additional stops like Hiroshima or Hakone.

US and Canadian passport holders do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Check the visa guide for your specific passport, since rules differ for other nationalities.

It depends on your route. If your itinerary covers three or more cities connected by long shinkansen rides, such as Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima, the JR Pass usually pays for itself. For a single-region trip, individual tickets are often cheaper.

Packing too many destinations into too little time. A shorter list of cities with more time at each one almost always makes for a better trip than a fast-paced circuit through five or six places.

It helps but isn't necessary. Major cities have English signage on trains and in stations, and translation apps cover most everyday situations. Learning a handful of basic phrases goes a long way for politeness, even if you're not fluent.

Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka, in that order, is the classic first-time route sometimes called the "Golden Route." It covers Japan's most iconic sights by bullet train in 10-14 days without needing a domestic flight.