Japan

1. Jan Fine, with caveats: cold
2. Feb Fine, with caveats: cold
3. Mar · Good
4. Apr Good: crowds and high prices
5. May Good: crowds and high prices
6. Jun Fine, with caveats: rain
7. Jul Fine, with caveats: heat
8. Aug Fine, with caveats: heat
9. Sep Fine, with caveats: typhoons
10. Oct · Good
11. Nov · Good
12. Dec Fine, with caveats: cold

Good Fine, with caveats Hard cold crowds and high prices rain heat typhoons

Cheaper and fewer tourists: Jun–Sep, Dec–Feb - the trade-off: cold, rain, heat, typhoons

Peak season: Apr–May - prices are higher, book early

Country-wide average; mountains, coasts and the far north or south can differ.

• New Year holidays - December 29, 2026 - January 3, 2027
  Many shops, museums and offices close; trains are busy.
• Golden Week - April 29 - May 5, 2027
  Peak travel: trains and hotels are booked out and prices go up.
• Obon - August 13 - 16, 2027
  Peak travel: trains and hotels are booked out and prices go up.

• Sockets: type A, B · 100 V, 50/60 Hz
  Phone and laptop chargers usually work (100–240 V); you may need a plug adapter.
• Traffic drives on the left
• Tap water is safe to drink
• At temples, mosques and churches cover shoulders and knees and take off shoes where asked
• Jul–Aug: sunscreen, a hat, light clothes, a water bottle
• Jun, Sep: a light raincoat or umbrella, a waterproof phone pouch
• Dec–Feb: a warm jacket, hat and gloves

• Common cold and allergy medicines with pseudoephedrine, and stimulant ADHD medicines (e.g. Adderall), are banned. More than a month’s supply of a prescription medicine needs an import certificate (Yunyu Kakunin-sho) before the trip. source
• Meat products such as sausages, bacon and ham cannot be brought in without animal quarantine permission: heavy fines or prison. source
• Always carry your passport (or residence card): police can arrest you if you cannot show proof of your visa or residence status. source
• Zero tolerance for drugs: traffickers get 6 to 17 years. Suspects, even for minor offences, can be held without charge for up to 23 days. source
• Carry prescription medicines in their original packaging with a copy of the prescription.

• Taxi & Cars: Uber Japan, GO, DiDi Japan
• Public Transport & Maps: Suica, Japan Travel by NAVITIME
• Food & Groceries: Uber Eats Japan
• Telecom, Internet & Apps: Saily, Nomad, Ubigi
• Shopping, Classifieds & Parcels: Amazon Japan, DHL Express, FedEx
• Travel: Tickets & Hotels: Japan Airlines (JAL), ANA, JR-EAST Train Reservation

Based on our checks of each service. Banks may add a fee for payments abroad.

• Suica - Regular Suica ¥1,000 incl. ¥500 deposit; Welcome Suica no deposit, top-up ¥1,000–10,000
• Japan Airlines (JAL) - Japan Explorer Pass for visitors: e.g. Tokyo–Osaka from about €68 one way (2026)

Prices as each service lists them, from our latest check (the date is in the line). Tap a service for details.

• eSIM, set up before the flight: Saily - Japan from $3.99 for 1 GB / 7 days; unlimited 5 days $18.99 (October 2026); Nomad - Japan from $4.00 for 1 GB / 7 days; unlimited 3 days $11.00 (October 2026); Ubigi - Japan from $3.50 for 1 GB / 3 days; unlimited from $25 for 8 days (October 2026); Airalo - Japan from $4.00 for 1 GB / 3 days; unlimited 3 days $11.50 (October 2026)
• Mobile operators and eSIM →