Updated for the 2026 season

What to bookbefore Japan

The tickets, tours and day trips that need reserving ahead — with official prices and the booking route that works from abroad. Then the trip prep: transport, eSIM and money.

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An empty early-morning street in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto, with the Yasaka Pagoda beyond the machiya rooftops

Ticket & tour guides

City hubs: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka

Guides in total

Oct 2026

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Travel Guides

Start with what you need to book, then sort the rest — in-depth, independent guides for every part of your Japan trip.

Things to DoTickets, tours, theme parks and day trips — what needs booking ahead, at what official price, and which booking route works from abroad.37 Guides Getting AroundShinkansen passes, IC cards, airport trains, and city-by-city transport guides.12 Guides eSIM & SIM CardsWhich eSIM to buy, how to install it, network coverage, and honest plan comparisons.19 Guides Money & PaymentTravel cards, ATM access, cash vs card, and how to pay your way across Japan.12 Guides

Destinations

Browse by city

Most trips are planned city by city. Each hub lists every guide we have written for it.

TokyoThe decks, the teamLab slots, Disney, the studio tour — and the four day trips out of the city.29 Guides KyotoMostly walk-in temples, which changes how you plan a day — plus kimono rental and the bus pass maths.4 Guides OsakaWhere a city pass actually pays off, the one attraction no pass covers, and the Kansai day trips.10 Guides Day Trips & ToursMt. Fuji, Hakone, Nikko, Kamakura, Nara, Hiroshima — which itinerary to book, and when doing it yourself is cheaper.9 Guides

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Popular Guides

The articles travellers open most before landing in Japan.

Shibuya Sky Tickets (2026): Price, Best Time & How to BookShibuya Sky is Tokyo's best rooftop view — and its sunset slots sell out fast. We cover prices, the best time to go, and how to book (even with a foreign card).Tickets teamLab Planets Tickets (2026): Prices, How to Book & Planets vs BorderlessOfficial Planets prices, the 30-minute entry slots, opening hours and what to wear for the barefoot water areas — plus how Planets differs from Borderless in Azabudai.Tickets Tokyo Disney Tickets (2026): Disneyland & DisneySea — How to BuyTokyo Disney tickets are date-specified and sell out weeks ahead — with no gate sales. We explain how to buy (even when the official site blocks foreign cards) and how to choose between Disneyland and DisneySea.Tickets Mt. Fuji Day Tour From Tokyo (2026): Which Tour, and What You Actually SeeEvery tour stops at the Subaru Line Fifth Station — what separates them is whether the rest of the day is Fuji or Hakone, and how long you will sit on a coach.Day tour Kyoto and Nara Day Tour From Osaka (2026): Which Itinerary to BookFour itineraries compared on which half of Kyoto they cover, how long the day runs, and whether Todai-ji's ¥800 Great Buddha Hall admission is in the price.Day tour Wise vs Revolut for Japan (2026): Which Travel Card Wins?Wise or Revolut for Japan? We compare exchange rates, weekend fees, ATM limits, and plans — with clear advice on which card suits your spending.Comparison Best eSIM for Japan 2026: Top 4 Picks ComparedAiralo, Holafly, eSIM Go, and Sakura Mobile — compared on price, speed, coverage, and ease of setup. Which one is right for your trip?Comparison Sakura Mobile Review 2026: Best SIM for Long Stays?The only tourist SIM with real English support and voice calls. We review Sakura Mobile's plans, Docomo coverage, and whether the price is justified.Review Osaka Airport Transfer Guide (2026): KIX & ITM to the CityOsaka has two airports — Kansai International and Itami. We compare every way to get into the city from each, with a Haruka vs Nankai Rapi:t head-to-head.Guide Best Travel Insurance for Japan (2026): Compared & ReviewedWe compare Heymondo, SafetyWing, and World Nomads on medical cover, price structure, ski cover, and English support — with picks for every type of Japan trip.Comparison IC Cards in Japan 2026: Suica, Pasmo & How to Use ThemAn IC card is the single most useful thing you can have in Japan. Here's everything you need to know about Suica, Pasmo, where to get them, and where they work.Guide Osaka Metro Pass 2026: Price, 1-Day vs 2-Day & Enjoy Eco Card ComparedThe 1-day Osaka Metro Pass is ¥820, or ¥620 at weekends and ¥310 for children. The two-day option is now a ¥1,200 30-hour pass. With pick-up points and the buses it skips.Comparison

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Ready to plan your Japan trip?

Start with the bookings — the timed tickets and tours are the only part of a Japan trip that can sell out before you arrive.

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