In this Japan travel guide, the best time to visit is spring, from late March to May, for cherry blossoms, or autumn, from October to November, for red maple leaves and clear skies. Summer is hot and humid with festivals everywhere, while winter brings powder snow to Hokkaido and quiet temples in Kyoto.

Getting around is a pleasure: the shinkansen bullet trains connect the main cities in hours, local trains and metros cover the rest, and an IC card like Suica or Pasmo pays for almost every ride. A Japan Rail Pass can save a lot of money if you travel between several cities. The currency is the yen, cards work in cities but cash is still common in small shops and rural areas, and for official travel information, start with the Japan National Tourism Organization.

Japan is one of the safest destinations in the world, including for solo travellers and families. A few customs help a lot: bow slightly when greeting, remove your shoes where asked, stay quiet on trains, and do not tip — good service is already included. Learn a few Japanese words; even a simple arigato opens smiles everywhere.

Where you stay shapes the trip. In the old cities, book a ryokan: a traditional inn with tatami floors, futon beds, and a hot-spring bath, often with a kaiseki dinner included. This Japan travel guide recommends booking the first two nights in advance, then deciding the rest once you feel the rhythm of the place. In big cities, business hotels are small, clean, and cheap, and in Kyoto, a machiya townhouse puts you minutes from the temples.