2024 Japan Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in September)

Ine Town, Japan: A Serene Travel Spot Ideal for June 2024

Ine Town🇯🇵 is located in the northeastern part of the Tango Peninsula, primarily known for its fishing and tourism industries. It is said to be the setting for the story of Urashima Taro and also the landing site of Xu Fu, a Chinese sage from the Qin Dynasty, when he arrived in Japan📍 Ine is quite remote and considered a less popular tourist spot within Kyoto Prefecture, resulting in very few visitors and a tranquil environment. The main reason visitors, like the guy with bushy eyebrows, make the trip to Ine is to see the unique traditional architecture, the 'funaya' or boat houses.🏚️⛺️ The funaya are two-story buildings constructed along the coast, with the first floor serving as a small boat dock for mooring boats, and the second floor as living quarters for fishermen. However, as times change, the first floors are now often used as garages.

Fairytale Alike Village in Japan 🇯🇵

#japantrip 📍Shirakawa-go, Japan Visited Shirakawa-go, which is also known as Shirakawa village while travelling to Japan and we were in awe the entire times that we were here! It is a rural mountain village surrounded by mountains. The unique architectures called Gassho-zukuri farmhouses were nicely built in the land of Shirakawa-go, whereby no nails or any other metal materials were used during the construction of the house! The village is almost like it is straight out of the fairytale with its snowy mountains, snow-covered rooftops of the farmhouses. The panoramic view of Shirakawa-go was absolutely stunning and breathtaking. We spent 2 days here and couldn’t get enough of the sight! Would definitely recommend this place! 10/10!

Travel Tips and Taboos in Japan, make sure to take advice

👀 Before traveling to Japan, it's necessary to understand some essential information to avoid unnecessary trouble during your trip. 🚫Taboos: 1️⃣ Do not make loud noises in public places 2️⃣ Do not eat on the streets 3️⃣ Do not spit in public 4️⃣ Do not disturb others on public transport 5️⃣ Do not smoke in public places ✅Tips: 1️⃣ Please do not walk on the bicycle lanes 2️⃣ Please do not touch the decorations of shrines or temples arbitrarily 3️⃣ Please do not swim in hot springs or enter wearing a swimsuit 4️⃣ Please do not make loud phone calls in public places 5️⃣ Please do not use mobile phones or cameras in toilets 📍20 Must-Do Things in Japan 1️⃣ Stroll through Tokyo's busiest street—Omotesando 2️⃣ Taste authentic sushi and ramen 3️⃣ Visit Shimane Prefecture in Okayama Prefecture to see the beauty of Matsue Castle 4️⃣ Dress up in a kimono for a photo 5️⃣ Watch a traditional Japanese Kabuki show 6️⃣ Visit ancient shrines and temples in Kyoto 7️⃣ Go to Osaka's Tsutenkaku to overlook the city's beautiful scenery 8️⃣ Try grilled eel and takoyaki 9️⃣ Enjoy skiing and hot springs in Hokkaido 🔟 Visit Senso-ji Temple and see the famous Kaminarimon 1️⃣1️⃣ Go to the foot of Mount Fuji to see the World Heritage Site—Mount Fuji 1️⃣2️⃣ Explore Hiroshima and Nagasaki to understand history and culture 1️⃣3️⃣ Experience traditional culture in Japan's small towns 1️⃣4️⃣ Go on a pilgrimage in Shikoku to see ancient temples and beautiful scenery 1️⃣5️⃣ Have a fun time at Tokyo Disneyland 1️⃣6️⃣ Visit the lovely zoos in Hokkaido 1️⃣7️⃣ See Japan's lantern festivals and fireworks 1️⃣8️⃣ Go to Lake Kawaguchi to see the reflection of Mount Fuji 1️⃣9️⃣ Visit the modern high-tech city of Nagoya 2️⃣0️⃣ Eat salmon and crab in Hokkaido 📍Places Not to Visit in Japan 🚫Places not to visit: 1️⃣ Do not go to worship 2️⃣ Do not visit private residences or buildings 3️⃣ Do not go to some entertainment venues 4️⃣ Do not go near nuclear power plants or hazardous areas 5️⃣ Do not go to places of illegal trade ✅Must-know: 1️⃣ Please do not take photos near train stations and bus stations 2️⃣ Please do not take photos of others in public places 3️⃣ Please do not cross the fences of public facilities 4️⃣ Please do not litter in public places 5️⃣ Please do not feed animals in public places 🌸 Hope this helps you, and wish you a pleasant trip in Japan!

Tokyo Kawaguchiko Kyoto Osaka Trip

Traveling through multiple cities in Japan during October: Tokyo (Art aQuarium, science museum, Asakusa, Tokyo station, Shibuya), Yokohama (Gundam), Kawaguchiko (music forest museum, Oishi park), Gotemba outlet, Oshino Hakkai, Kyoto (Kiyomizudera, Kinkakuji), and Osaka (USJ, Tempozan, Kaiyukan, Osaka castle). Travel between cities is by car, and within cities, the Subway is used.

Charter in Tokyo city area

✅Recommended routes in Tokyo city area Shinjuku Gyoen - Meiji Shrine - Yoyogi Park - Kabukicho Asakusa Temple - Akihabara - Ueno Onshi Park - Tokyo Sky Tree Tokyo Tower - Imperial Palace - Ginza - Tsukiji Market One-day tour of Tokyo Disneyland ✅Two-day tour route of Izu Atami: D1: Tokyo - Atami Castle - Jōgasaki Coast - Ōmuroyama - Shirahama Coast - Stay in Izu D2: Izu - Dōgashima - Koibito Misaki - Jōren Falls - Shuzenji - Tokyo ✅Two-day tour route of Mount Fuji and Hakone: D1 Tokyo - Mount Fuji one day (Stay in Mount Fuji or Hakone hotel) Tenjō-yama Park - Arakura Sengen Shrine - Hidaka Toki Clock Shop - Oshino Hakkai - Lake Yamanaka D2 Hakone - Ōwakudani - Lake Ashi - Hakone Shrine - Tokyo ✅One-day tour route of Kamakura Route one (classic gameplay) Komachi Street - Tsurugaoka Hachimangu - Kamakura Daibutsu - Hase-dera - Kamakura High School Mae Station - Enoshima Route two (historical ancient temples) Engaku-ji - Kenchō-ji - Hokoku-ji - Komachi Street - Kamakura Daibutsu - Hase-dera - Enoshima

Get ready for the autumn leaves 🍁

As summer's warmth begins to wane, a spectacular transformation sweeps across the Land of the Rising Sun. Japan's autumn foliage is a masterpiece of nature, a breathtaking symphony of reds, yellows, and oranges that paints the landscape in vivid hues. 🇯🇵✨ In this post, we'll be your guide to experiencing the enchanting autumn leaves in Japan. Discover when and where to witness the mesmerizing spectacle of autumn leaves as they create a stunning tapestry of colors. 🍁🍂 According to the Japan Meteorological Corporation's official forecast, the peak time for momiji (Japanese red maple leaf) viewing in Tokyo will be around November 30. On December 3, Osaka will follow, and by December 11, the maple leaves in Kyoto will be in full bloom. Around November 8, Sapporo residents should anticipate the crimson momiji to sparkle. For the golden ginkgo leaves viewing - Hokkaido, the northernmost prefecture of Japan, will experience the first autumnal transitions around November 6, when Sapporo's ginkgo trees will begin to bloom. According to the prediction made on September 4, Tokyo's bright ginkgo display will occur around November 25. Kyoto's leaves will peak around November 27, while Osaka's ginkgo trees are anticipated to peak one day early on November 24.

Basic Japanese Phrases for Travel

It's always helpful to learn a few basic Japanese phrases to make your Japan travels smoother and more enjoyable. While many Japanese people speak English, knowing a few key phrases can go a long way in showing respect and making connections with locals. Here are some essential Japanese phrases to help you get started: Hello - こんにちは (Konnichiwa) This is a standard greeting that can be used throughout the day. Thank you - ありがとう (Arigatou) This is a polite way to express gratitude. Excuse me - すみません (Sumimasen) This can be used to apologize, get someone's attention, or ask for help. Yes - はい (Hai) This is a simple way to agree or confirm something. No - いいえ (Iie) This is a polite way to decline or disagree. Please - お願いします (Onegaishimasu) This can be used to make a request or ask for a favor. Goodbye - さようなら (Sayounara) This is a formal way to say goodbye. Do you speak English? - 英語を話せますか？(Eigo wo hanasemasu ka?) This can be used to ask if someone speaks English. How much is it? - いくらですか？(Ikura desu ka?) This can be used to ask for the price of something. Where is the bathroom? - トイレはどこですか？(Toire wa doko desu ka?) This can be used to ask for the location of the restroom.

Shinoyoshida station

Was at shimoyoshida station while I was in kawaguchiko and you can take really nice pictures of the mountain even from just the train station. Looks so magical and it was definitely a great experience. Train frequency here is really slow but there is a room for you to sit inside while waiting for the train. So it is not too bad. The trains are also very beautifully decorated as seen in the wallpapers and have many different cute designs like Japanese anime naruto and even Thomas the train Cartoon.

Kawaguchi asama shrine

I hiked up the kawaguchi asama shrine when I was at kawaguchiko and it was a really long hike up filled with stairs. There is an alternative slope platform but there were too many rounds and it’ll take a longer time. The steps were not extremely steep hence still manageable. You can visit the shrine and take some nice pictures. Halfway through the hike you will be able to catch a nice view of Mount Fuji if you are in luck. Suggest coming here if you have time.

hike up to tenku no tori

#wecreate I tried hiking up to the famous tenku no tori gates during my trip to kawaguchiko Japan. it is recommended to drive up if possible otherwise the hike up is actually quite steep and takes a bit of a time. you will also need to hike down afterwards as there’s no nearby public transport. require a fee to go in to take some nice pictures and unfortunately there’s no sight of Mount Fuji on the day that I went. nevertheless it was a good experience and view up there was nice and pretty. will recommend checking the weather forecast before coming for a nicer picture! and of course to drive if possible.

Japan's top hidden mountain resort hotel.

Hidden in the misty mountains, Japan's top resort hotel | RokuKyoto Located in northern Kyoto, Japan, RokuKyoto resort hotel was designed by BlinkDesignGroup, a design firm based in Bangkok, Thailand. The slender columnar web structure, inspired by the swaying bamboo in the wind, creates a vivid scene that connects guests with nature.

Five-day tour of Northeast Japan | Don't waste a single minute of your JR PASS① ||| It was a spur-of-the-moment decision to go to Northeast Japan with friends. The first thing to do is to buy the JR PASS Tohoku 5-day ticket (except for foreign tourists, foreign residents in Japan can buy it with just their passport). For each trip on the Shinkansen, you can use this coupon to exchange for a designated seat at the machine or window. Unlimited exchanges (should be). We exchanged for a train in advance but missed it, so we directly exchanged for the next train at the machine without any problem. This step is worth noting: please please keep this JR PASS safe, because once it is lost, there is no way to retrieve it except to buy a new one. (My friend lost it on the second day and had to buy a new one, which was very sad.) Next, let me share our five-day-four-night itinerary: ❄️DAY1: Tokyo → Sendai → Morioka First, I went to the Northeast to check out the statue of Lu Xun, and next to the statue was the Lu Xun Museum, where they had his report card from back then, haha! After leaving the university, I searched for a highly rated restaurant nearby and had a lunch of beef tongue prepared in two ways, grilled and stewed, for just over 1,000 yen, which was very satisfying. Then I took a bus to the area near the Da Guan Yin temple, where you can actually go inside and see over 100 small Buddha statues. After that, I had a sweet soybean dessert near Sendai Station and ordered a soybean milkshake to take on the Shinkansen. In the evening, I chose to stay in Morioka, where the hotels near the station were very cheap and they even gave me a 2,000 yen voucher. I went to a restaurant that served Morioka cold noodles and ordered a set meal of cold noodles and grilled meat, which just happened to use up the voucher. ❄️DAY2 Morioka → Hachinohe → Aomoriya Actually, I wanted to go to the Tenshotei Art Museum that day, but I overslept and didn't have time, so I could only leave regrets. I went straight to the Hachinohe Shokudo Center seafood market when I arrived in Hachinohe. There is a special bus for 100 yen at the bus stop, which takes about ten minutes. Then you can buy seafood in the market and rent a grill to cook and eat by yourself. The rental fee for the grill is 400 yen per person, and it comes with basic soy sauce and salt. Eat on time and take the bus back to Hachinohe Station (remember to plan the time to stay in the market, as the bus runs once an hour). I booked the Aomoriya hotel, which has its own courtyard. It's beautiful when it snows, and there is a sleep demon lamp. You can take a half-hour walk around and come back to the starting point, where there is a footbath to soak in. Back at the hotel, you can continue to soak in the hot spring and drink apple juice. I made an appointment in advance for the Sleep Demon Festival performance, which costs 1500 yen per person. ❄️DAY3 Aomoriya → Aomori → Akita Take a bus from Aomori Station to Aomori Prefectural Museum of Art. Although we only had a brief visit due to time constraints, I really enjoyed the atmosphere and many cute details of this museum. When we returned to the station to take the Gonō Line, we found out that the starting section was suspended due to heavy snow. A bit confused, we asked the station staff who told us to take another bus to a certain station and then catch the Gonō Line from there. We had reserved a private compartment on the Gonō Line in advance, and although the weather was bad that day, there was a unique beauty to it. We slowly enjoyed the sea view all the way to Akita. We had planned to eat the famous Akita dish "Kiritanpo Nabe", but because I was lazy and didn't make a reservation, we couldn't eat at the designated restaurant.

Lovely views of Mount Fuji 🗻

With today’s weather forecast predicting clear skies, we proceeded with our day trip plan to visit Mount Fuji right after landing in Japan and leaving our luggage at the hotel. A 150-minute train ride & a 30-minute shuttle bus ride later, we were along Lake Kawaguchiko and witnessing the snow-capped volcano in its full glory 😍 Sipping on hot coffee latte whilst munching on handmade muffins, we watched in silent amazement as the sunset slowly bathed Fuji in gorgeous hues of yellow. The 2-way journey was time-consuming, but it was definitely worthwhile. 富士山がとてもきれいです! 🏔❤️

fuji mountain

Land of the Rising Sun 🇯🇵

Been to Japan for a few days. It's really a great experience for me. I went to a lot of places in Tokyo (Akihabara, Asakusa, Shinjuku) + Kyoto. Nice people, nice view, and nice environment. Their hospitality is really good, they are really helping even though both of us have language barriers. Am planning to go again probably next year 😅 (or 2024). There are still a lot of places I wanna be. #wintergetaway #urbanexplorer #japan

Fast Speed Train

#celebratewithtrip The Shinkansen, commonly known in English as the ‘bullet train’, is an icon of Japanese design and technology. The Shinkansen rail system link up with all cities in Japan making it convenient to get around and fast . Interval timing also fast average 15min per train . Food and drink are sold on board and they are washroom too. If you pay more you will have a reservation seat. If not free seating also available.

Tokyo/Kyoto

To get lost in Tokyo is a pretty common thing and that's what happened to us. We also took the bullet train to Kyoto. For this trip, had to lay over from Singapore to Tokyo in Pudong(China) Oh Dear....The Weather!!! We were freezing!!! #tokyo #kyoto #cupnoodlesmuseum #yokohama #takeshitastreet #harujuku #kyoto #bambooforest #fushimiinarishine #sannenzaka

Green Travel in Japan

#greentrip #greentravel #japan With the recent news of Japan set to open up soon by October, there will soon be a lot who will be looking forward to visiting Japan soon. On our last Japan trip, we had mostly used the train, which is considered as one of the sustainable & eco-friendly ways of traveling around. Do you know that electric trains emit a lot less CO2 as compared to road & air travel? Traveling by train can be around 10 times less CO2 emissions as compared to traveling by air. Traveling by train is also more efficient as a lot more people can board a train than other public transportation such as buses & cars. In addition to these, it's also more enjoyable as you can admire the scenery while the train brings you to the different cities. We had bought the JR West Pass & used the trains to go to Kyoto, Nara and Hikone, where we then walked quite a fair bit around the different attractions, temples, parks and Hikone Castle. With the cool spring weather, walking while taking in the beautiful scenery is recommended, and of course a much more eco-friendly way of travel too. Just make sure that you travel light and have a water bottle/reusable bottle.

🍜 Ichiran Ramen 🍜

Ichiran Ramen I will tell you, go to this ramen shop and it is always open 24 hours. Also, they have a halal ramen shop too. So please go to this ramen shop and eat some delicious ramen for me. Remember to add an egg and seaweed when you buy your ramen noodles coupon from the vending machine. Then you will select the intensity of your noodles texture, green/white onions and level of spice. They also have the instant noodles version but it is so different. Just eat it hot in this ramen noodle shop. Add a beer if you feel happy, otherwise the ice eater is free. Opps, don’t forget to visit their toilets, they have tonnes of toilet paper hanging on the wall. Yeah, it is funny. #japan #createwithtrip #overseastripmoments #urbanexplorer

Rabbit Island

Japan also have rabbit island where there are many 'wild' rabbit which goes around without anyone supervising. Villagers here take turn to feed and care for the rabbits. I love Japan islandside where everyone is so friendly and warm. They didn't treat me as tourist but like their own people. Although communicating with them is quite difficult but it doesn't matter because they do understand by gesture. Japanese people are very observant in reading people's gesture. They are more expressive than the rest of Asian people. While exploring and get tired, try out their dessert served by cart in a car. It's so cute that they also put rabbit biscuit as decoration. 😋 Worth to try and explore, in every season. #japan #traveltojapan #explorer #explorejapan #traveltokyo #japanese #culturetrip

iwata & shiga adventure 😊

Spring feels🌼🌸🌺

The magnificent sceneries during Spring#japan #nationalpark #travelinspiration

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Autumn memories

Kiyomizuyama in Fukuoka Prefecture is one of the 500 best walking paths in Japan, and when the leaves change color in autumn, it is exceptionally beautiful and spectacular. This is the perfect place to recreate your "all to well" parody! #urbanexplorer #momentsmission #thanksgiving#luxuryhotel#skiing#nationalpark#lakes#beaches#deserts#romanticrestaurant#bestislandtraveltowns#museumquest#beautifulsunsets#themeparks#café#historicculture#scubadiving#paragliding

A must try in Japan!

At Kinosaki Onsen located in Hyogo Prefecture, there are five quintessential activities that visitors should experience!! While onsen-hopping, don a yukata and geta to immerse in the onsen culture of Japan. Visitors can also ride the Kinosaki Ropeway, stay in a traditional Japanese inn, and learn about local traditional craft, to complete their experiential stay at Kinosaki Onsen. #urbanexplorer #momentsmission #thanksgiving#luxuryhotel#skiing#nationalpark#lakes#beaches#deserts#romanticrestaurant#bestislandtraveltowns#museumquest#beautifulsunsets#themeparks#café#historicculture#scubadiving#paragliding

Rice crackers!

Cracker Museum is more than just a place to shop for well-known “Bakauke” crackers – you can get limited edition products, from Bakauke croquettes to rice cracker ice cream. You can also have a go at grilling and customising your own rice crackers with lettering or even drawings; many people come here to make monster-sized crackers with a drawing in the centre! #urbanexplorer #momentsmission #thanksgiving#luxuryhotel#skiing#nationalpark#lakes#beaches#romanticrestaurant#bestislandtraveltowns#museumquest#beautifulsunsets#themeparks#café#historicculture#scubadiving#paragliding

Cute little penguins

Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium houses half of the world’s nine species of penguins – from the large King penguins to the inquisitive Gentoo penguins – all under one roof. The facility consists of the Aquarium where you can see the penguins in their enclosures, as well as the Nature Zone where Humboldt penguins swim freely in the natural ocean. Never skip visiting to an aquarium every vacation! #urbanexplorer #momentsmission #thanksgiving#luxuryhotel#skiing#nationalpark#lakes#beaches#romanticrestaurant#bestislandtraveltowns#museumquest#beautifulsunsets#themeparks#café#historicculture#scubadiving#paragliding

Glimpse of China in Japan

You can’t visit Yokohama without making a pitstop at Japan’s largest Chinatown. It’s been around since 1859, after the area became one of the first Japanese ports opened to foreign trade. Always a must try! #urbanexplorer #momentsmission #thanksgiving#mapletrees#luxuryhotel#hiking#aurora#islandtravel#camping#naturalwonders#bestislandtraveltowns#beautifulsunsets#themeparks

Best place to have picnic

If you’re feeling hemmed in by tall buildings, head over to Negishi Forest Park. It’s well-loved by local joggers and runners, and is generally a great place for a picnic. There are also 350+ cherry blossom trees planted here, which means a riot of pink and white in spring. If you’re here for the sakura, don’t forget to bring your own food for the picnic. Train: 15-minute walk from Yamate Station on the JR Negishi line. #urbanexplorer #momentsmission #thanksgiving#mapletrees#luxuryhotel#hiking#aurora#islandtravel#camping#naturalwonders#bestislandtraveltowns#beautifulsunsets#themeparks

Yamashita park

When I stayed in Japan, this is my favorite park. Locals and visitors love the park for picnics, pretty views of the water, and gorgeous flowers in spring. There’s a giant ocean liner in the water beside the promenade, which was converted into a museum after it was retired from sea journeys in 1960. Yamashita Park is also a great place to walk, jog, or run. #urbanexplorer #momentsmission #thanksgiving#mapletrees#luxuryhotel#hiking#aurora#islandtravel#camping#naturalwonders#bestislandtraveltowns#beautifulsunsets#themeparks