Travel blog
Japan travel guides
Practical guides for planning a trip to Japan, every fact checked against official sources: entry, money, trains, food and the best seasons.
Latest guides
3 guides
IC cards in Japan: Suica, PASMO and ICOCA for visitors
An IC card is the easiest way to ride trains and buses in Japan: tap in, tap out, and the fare comes off your balance. If you use an Oyster card or tap a contactless bank card in London, or OMNY in New York, you already know the idea. This guide explains which card to get, what the visitor-only Welcome Suica can and cannot do, where your card works and where it does not, and how to top up without fuss.23 Oct 2026
Japan Rail Pass: prices, rules and when it pays off
The Japan Rail Pass gives you unlimited JR trains, including most shinkansen, for 7, 14 or 21 days. It is great value for a big loop around Japan and poor value for a city break. Here are the 2026 prices, exactly what the pass covers, the rules that catch people out, and a simple way to decide whether it is worth it for your route.23 Oct 2026
Japan visa-free entry: rules for US, UK, Canadian, Australian and EU travellers
If you hold a US, Canadian, UK, Australian or most European passports, you can visit Japan as a tourist for up to 90 days without a visa. The rules are simple, but a few details catch people out: what you may and may not do on a visa-free stay, the arrival forms, the customs allowances, and some everyday medicines that are banned in Japan. This guide walks you through all of it, from booking to the arrivals hall.23 Oct 2026
