Travel advisory · JapanSome governments advise against travel to parts of Japan.The warnings cover only these areas: Fukushima Daiichi evacuation and restricted zones.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice

Areas with warnings

Fukushima Daiichi evacuation and restricted zones · avoid all travel · Germany, France

Government	Advice	Updated	Read the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)	No advice against travel to the country	–	Read the advice
United States (State Dept)	Exercise normal precautions	May 15, 2025	Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)	Take normal security precautions	–	Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)	No advice against the whole country; travel to other parts of Japan is radiologically harmless (regional advisories)	Oct 13, 2026	Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)	Exercise normal safety and security precautions	–	Read the advice
Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs)	Normal Precautions	–	Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)	No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

Asia

Japan

Japan is known for old temples and cities linked by fast trains, with Mount Fuji, hot springs and mountain trails beyond the big cities.

Start with the essentials Where to stay Plan a trip to Japan

Japan is a country of islands in East Asia, with the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Sea of Japan on the other. It is made up of about 14,125 islands. Four are main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. Okinawa is often counted as a fifth. About three-quarters of the land is mountainous or hilly, so most people live on the narrow coastal plains. Tokyo is the capital in practice and the largest city, while Kyoto and Nara are old capitals with many temples.

Travelers come for temples, shrines and castles, for food such as sushi, ramen and tempura, and for hot springs and mountain trails. Mount Fuji, at 3,776 m, is the country's highest peak. Shinkansen bullet trains link the big cities. The climate varies widely: Hokkaido has cold, snowy winters, while Okinawa is subtropical, with a rainy season that starts in early May and hot summers. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons across most of the country.

Five things to know before Japan

Get an IC card before your first train
Suica and Pasmo work on most trains, buses and many shops in the big cities. Many small shops, rural places and shrine offerings still need cash, so carry some yen too. Money in Japan: cash, cards and IC cards
Price your route before you buy a JR Pass
The pass covers JR trains but not private railways, and its price changes. Add up your own legs before you buy. A trip inside one region can cost less without it. Is the JR Pass still worth it? Price your route first
Check the tattoo rule before you bathe
Many onsen and public baths refuse people with visible tattoos, and each place sets its own rule. Read the sign at the entrance and ask staff before you undress. Onsen etiquette and the tattoo rule: what signs say
Set up data before you land
Maps and transit apps help you find platforms and exits from the first hour. Buy an eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi before you arrive so you do not have to look for a shop with your bags. Phones and eSIM
Ask your hotel about quakes and tsunami
Japan sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, so earthquakes and tsunami are real risks in many regions. Ask where the evacuation route and shelter are on your first day, and save the emergency numbers.

Japan travel guides

Practical guides from writers who live there.

Best time to visit

Month by month, with the rainy season, heat and autumn color.

Read the guide Getting around

Trains, buses and how to pay for them across the country.

Read the guide Money and costs

Cash, cards and what a day in Japan costs.

Read the guide Visas and entry

Entry rules by passport and what to expect at the border.

Read the guide Where to stay

Hotels, hostels and ryokan by region, with availability checks.

Read the guide

Top places to visit in Japan

See all attractions in Japan

Landmark · TokyoShibuya CrossingFor an overhead view, try the Starbucks beside the crossing or Shibuya Scramble Square; window seats at Starbucks can be hard to find.

a group of people standing in front of a tall building

Temple · TokyoSensō-jiGo early or late in the day if you want fewer people in your photos.

white and black concrete building near green trees during daytime

Castle · OsakaOsaka CastleGo early or on a weekday to avoid the busiest periods, especially Sunday around noon.

brown wooden fence near green trees during daytime

Shrine · KyotoFushimi Inari TaishaGo early or later in the day for a quieter walk.

Destinations in Japan

Cars driving through a neon-lit intersection in Shibuya, Tokyo, at night

CityTokyoExplore

boat on river between high rise buildings during nighttime

CityOsakaExplore

Mount Fuji rising above a dark lake at night in Fujinomiya, Japan

National parkMt FujiExplore

a group of boats that are sitting in the water

IslandOkinawaExplore

A large sign that says be kobe in front of a building

CityKōbeExplore

CityKyotoExplore

a beach with a sandy beach and green bushes

IslandMiyakojimaExplore

CityNagasakiExplore

Where to stay in Japan

Neighborhood first, hotel second.

All stay guides

OsakaWhere to stay in Osaka: six neighborhoods compared by trip type

A river flows through a lush mountain valley

Central HonshūWhere to base in Central Honshū: five towns, from Nagoya to Nagano

Itineraries

2 daysOsaka in 2 days: the south one day, the castle and Umeda the nextA two-day Osaka itinerary: Kuromon, Shinsekai and Dōtonbori on day 1, Osaka Castle, Tenma and Umeda on day 2, with a base for each night and a rain plan.

7 daysTokyo to Kyoto via the Japan Alps: a 7-day route with train timesA 7-day Tokyo to Kyoto route over the Japan Alps: Matsumoto, Kamikochi, Takayama, Shirakawa-go and Kanazawa, with JNTO train times and a winter version.

brown and white temple surrounded by green trees during daytime

4 daysFour days on the Kumano Kodo, inn to inn, with one bag sent aheadThe Nakahechi route from Takijiri to Hongū in four days: how to book the inns, send a bag ahead each day and end in the baths at Yunomine.

a man in a boat on a lake surrounded by trees

7 daysShikoku in 7 days: a rail itinerary from Takamatsu to MatsuyamaShikoku in 7 days by rail: Takamatsu, Kotohira, Iya Valley, Kochi and Matsuyama, plus how to decide whether the All Shikoku Rail Pass or a car pays.

10 daysThe first-timer's loop: Japan in 10 daysTokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto and Osaka in 10 days on single train tickets: what to do each morning, afternoon and evening, where to sleep and how to price the trains.

a large red structure on a beach with Itsukushima in the background

1 dayHiroshima and Miyajima in a day: a timed route from 7:30am to dinnerPeace Museum at opening, JR and ferry to Miyajima by 11:15, the shrine at the right tide and back for okonomiyaki. A one-day route with times and fees.

10 daysTohoku by local train: 10 days from Sendai to AomoriSendai to Aomori in 10 days on local trains: Matsushima, Yamadera, Ginzan Onsen, Hiraizumi, Kakunodate, the Gonō coast and Hirosaki, with times and costs.

When to go

Rainy days

Best

JanuaryClear6 rainy daysHigh10°Low2°Cold, dry
FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh11°Low3°Cold, dry
MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Spring, mild
AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Cherry blossom
MayRain12 rainy daysHigh23°Low16°Golden Week
JuneRain14 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Rainy season
JulyRain16 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Hot, humid
AugustRain15 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Hot, humid
SeptemberRain15 rainy daysHigh28°Low23°Typhoon risk
OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh22°Low16°Autumn color
NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°Autumn color
DecemberClear7 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Cold, dry

Average daily high and low in Tokyo, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to JapanPut the places you like in Japan on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Right now in Japan

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 4°
Humidity: 98%
Wind: 10 km/h
Chance of rain: 90%

Japan

05:05 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+9

Today10°4°90%Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 90%.
Wed13°4°12%Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 13°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 12%.
Thu13°7°85%Thursday: Rain. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 85%.
Fri18°4°12%Friday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 12%.
Sat6°-3°22%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 6°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 22%.
Sun8°-3°8%Sunday: Snow. High 8°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 8%.
Mon8°-2°6%Monday: Fog. High 8°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 6%.

Updated 01:46 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 157.5 JPY

Amount

Converted to

JPY · Japanese Yen

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Japan

Big events, festivals and concert tours

Events calendar

Sumo wrestlers compete in a packed arena

JanuaryGrand Sumo in TokyoJan 10 – 24, 2027

A group of people standing around a lit up fountain

FebruarySapporo Snow FestivalFeb 4 – 11, 2027

cherry blossoms line the trees along a river at night

MarchCherry blossom in JapanMar – Apr 2027

Festivals by month

JanGrand Sumo in TokyoTokyoHatsumōdeAcross Japan
FebSapporo Snow FestivalHokkaidoSetsubunAcross Japan
MarCherry blossomAcross JapanHinamatsuriAcross Japan
AprTakayama FestivalTakayamaShingen-ko FestivalFuji Five Lakes
MayTado FestivalNagoyaHiroshima Flower FestivalHiroshima
JunSannō MatsuriTokyo
JulGion MatsuriKyotoHakata Gion Yamakasa FestivalFukuoka
AugAwa OdoriShikokuFukagawa MatsuriTokyo
SepKishiwada Danjiri MatsuriOsaka
OctNagasaki KunchiNagasakiJidai MatsuriKyoto
NovShichi-Go-SanAcross Japan
DecKobe LuminarieKōbe

On tour in Japan: Stray Kids World Tour "RUN IT" Tokyo, Nov 6 – 8, 2026 · ENHYPEN World Tour 'BLOOD SAGA' Tokyo, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Osaka, Dec 1, 2026 – Feb 20, 2027 · Bruno Mars The Romantic Tour Nagoya, Sapporo, Tokorozawa, Osaka, Fukuoka, Tokyo, Jan 4 – 28, 2027

Before you go to Japan

eSIM for JapanMaps and transit apps from landingRead the guide Travel insuranceCheck hiking and medical coverRead the guide Cash and cardsCash for shrines and small shopsRead the guide Stays in JapanRyokan, hotels and hostelsRead the guide

Rules for Japan, checked

Check your entry status on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa page before you book, since visa-free stays depend on your passport.Read more

Remove your shoes when entering homes, some temples and traditional inns, and treat tatami mats with care.

Japan's Firearm and Sword Possession Control Law strictly restricts civilian guns and swords, and carrying a weapon is a serious offence.

Follow posted rules at shrines and historic sites, which may limit photography and call for quiet behaviour.

Stories from Japan

All stories

Field reportKumano Kodo inn to inn: what the hosts told us about bookingHaruki Sato · Oct 3, 2026

a bunch of colorful paper hanging from a line

CultureWhy Sensō-ji hands out so many bad fortunesDaniel Okafor · Oct 3, 2026

A large boat that is sitting in the street

Field reportGion Matsuri float days: where we stood and what we missedDaniel Okafor · Oct 3, 2026

Japan FAQ

Do I need a visa for Japan?

Many passports can enter visa-free for short stays, but the allowed length and conditions depend on your nationality. Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa page before you book.

What currency is used in Japan?

The yen (JPY). Card acceptance varies, so small shops and rural places may need cash.

Is Japan safe for tourists?

Violent crime is very low by international standards, according to UN Office on Drugs and Crime data. The main risks are earthquakes, typhoons and heavy rain in late summer and early autumn.

Do you tip in Japan?

No. Tipping is not expected in restaurants, taxis or hotels.

What language do they speak in Japan?

Japanese. Signs in major cities and transport hubs often use English, but English skills vary widely.

When is the best time to visit Japan?

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons across most of the country. Hokkaido has cold, snowy winters, and Okinawa's rainy season starts in early May.