When travelling to Japan for tourism or business, over 60 countries including the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, Scandinavia and Brazil are not required to obtain a visa before traveling to Japan, and will receive a visa-on-arrival passport stamp instead. The maximum period for short-term stays is 15 days for Brunei, Indonesia, and Thailand, 30 days for the UAE, and 90 days for the remaining countries and regions. Citizens with a passport from China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, India, or Russia will need to obtain a visa from their local embassy before travelling.

Choosing the best time to visit Japan isn’t easy. It’s a rich and varied country which you can visit for the culture, the snow, the seasonal blooms, or to avoid the crowds. Ski enthusiasts will want to visit Hokkaido during February, while many travellers will want to catch the cherry blossom in late March or early April (though be warned, the crowds will be busy). Nature lovers will want to visit during the beauty of autumn’s fiery foliage during late September to November.

Japan has four distinct seasons: spring is relatively crisp, averaging around 21°C (70ºF); summer is hot and humid, and in Tokyo temperatures reach above 30°C (86°F), with rainy season falling from early June to mid-July; fall brings more moderate temperatures for exploring, with afternoon temperatures ranging from 19ºC to 23ºC (66°F to 73°F), though be prepare for typhoon season; and winter gets very cold in Japan, averaging -4°C (25°F) with heavy snowfall in some areas.

The Japanese currency is the Yen (¥), and Japan is the only country to officially use the Japanese Yen.

Be careful: tipping is not customary in Japan, and can even be considered rude. Exceptions to this rule apply to private tour guides or drivers, and if you've had exceptional service at a ryokan then you could leave a tip at the end of your stay. On a Trafalgar tour, we have pre-paid certain tips and gratuities for you such as baggage handling at hotels, service charges and tips for hotel wait staff (for included meals).

There are thousands of ATMs across Japan, but look out for ATMs at 7 Bank or 7-Eleven convenience stores (which are open 24 hours a day), as these accept international credit and debit cards and don't charge fees to international customers.

Tap water in Japan is excellent quality and safe to drink, meeting some of the highest standards in the world – and that includes water found in parks, gardens, and public bathrooms.

We highly recommend guests purchase travel insurance prior to your trip. Please ensure you add the details of your insurance to the My Trafalgar portal.

Your insurance should cover trip interruption, personal injury, medical expenses, and evacuation and repatriation cover including during pandemic events.

There is so much to see in Japan, general consensus is 10-14 days is a substantial enough amount of time for first-time visitors allowing you to visit key cities like Kyoto and Tokyo, as well as more rural areas and mountain areas – though that's not to say if you can only go for a week that you shouldn't go. Any time spent in Japan is well worth it!

A well-thought-out packing list is essential when preparing for your Japan trip. Pack by considering your trip duration and the activities you plan to do. Include clothing essentials such as lightweight tops and shirts, breathable trousers, dresses, shorts, comfortable walking shoes and sandals, as well as a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen for sun protection.

Winter in Japan varies from mild temperatures in the southern regions to cold and fairly snowy in the northern areas. To prepare for this, pack warm clothing items such as thick sweaters, thermals, waterproof boots and coat as well as gloves, socks, scarves and beanies.

In spring and autumn, Japanese weather can vary, with sporadic rain showers. Bring along light layers of clothing, including long- and short-sleeved t-shirts, and thin sweaters. Pack a thick jacket, a raincoat and an umbrella to prepare for those unexpected showers.