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This is a classic route for first-time visitors to Japan. It hit many star attractions, can be done year-round and takes advantage of the excellent value seamless travel offered by a Japan Rail Pass. Approximate time to finish this itinerary are two weeks.

Understand

Start with a couple days in Tokyo, getting your bearing and taste of big-city in Japan — the skyscrapers, the bustle and all the neon. Then hope on the bullet train for Kyoto.

You'll need two or three days (minimum) to sample the best Kyoto's temples and gardens. From here you can make side trip to Nara, home of the Daibutsu (Great Buddha), and Osaka, famous for its vivid nightscape and street food.

Take a one-night detour to the mystical mountain monastery Kōya-san (where you can spend a night in Buddhist temple). Then head west on to Himeji to see Japan's best castle, Himeji-jō.

Next stop is Hiroshima, for the moving Peace Memorial Park. Further down the coast is Miyajima, with its photogenic floating shrine. You can spend night in ryokan (traditional inn) here before taking the train back to Tokyo. On your way back there, drop into the mountain hot-spring resort of Hakone to get your onsen fix.

Prepare

Bring a phrasebook

As this journey takes you far off the beaten path, don't expect anyone to speak English. Bringing a Japanese phrasebook is not only recommended to help the traveler socialize with fellow cabin mates during the trip, and thus enriching the experience of this trip immensely - but also perhaps more importantly, it's invaluable help should you encounter any emergencies.

Reservations

Bookings can mostly be made online in English, through booking sites or directly from lodging's homepage, except for some older, traditional inns. Many smaller, independent inns and hostels offer slightly better rates if you book directly (rather than through a booking site). For hotels of all classes, rates can be vary tremendously, and discounts significantly below the rack rates can be found online. Many hotels offer cheaper rates if you book two weeks or a month in advance. Not all tourist information centres can make bookings, but the ones in smaller towns and cities, where finding accommodation might be challenging, usually can. Note that these can close as early as 5pm in rural areas. Providing you speak clearly and simply, making phone reservations in English is usually possible at larger hotels and foreigner friendly ryokan.

LGBTI Travellers

Gay and lesbian travellers are unlikely to encounter problems in Japan. There are no legal restrains on the same sex sexual activities in Japan apart from usual age restrictions. Some travellers have repored to being turned away or grossly overcharges when checking into love hotels with a partner of the same sex. Otherwise discrimination is unusual (though you'll likely given a hotel room with twin bed). One note: Japanese people, regardless of their sexual orientation, do not typically engage in public displays of affection.

Insurances

A travel insurance policy to cover theft, loss and medical problems is essential. Worldwide travel insurance is available at here. You can buy, extend and claim online anytime — even if you're already on the road.

Health insurances and medications

Japanese hospital only accepted Japanese insurance. For medical treatment, you'll have to pay up front and get reimbursement when you get home. Pharmacies in Japan do not carry foreign medications. There is substitute but maybe lower dosage than you used to. Thrush pessaries are only stocked behind counter (you'll have to ask) and many pharmacies don't carry them. Drugs contain ADHD are strictly prohibited in Japan. To bring narcotics (such as painkiller), you need to prepare a yakkan shōmei — an import certificate for pharmaceuticals. See the Ministry of Health Labour & Welfare's website for more details about which medications are classified and how to prepare the form. No vaccinations are required for travel to Japan.

Customs regulations

To bring a sword out of the country, you will need to apply for a permit ; reputable dealers will do this for you. Pornography that clearly show genitalia is illegal n Japan. They has typical customs regulation for duty-free items; see Visit Japan Customs for more information.

Smoking is banned

In many cities including Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, smoking is banned in public places but allowed inside bars and restaurants. Designated smoking areas are set up around train stations. But in Tokyo, smoking inside of bars and restaurants are banned.

Purchase a Japan Rail Pass

The pass can only be purchased outside of Japan from specific vendors listed on the official website which includes Japanese airlines JAL and ANA if you are travelling with them. Additionally there are many vendors who will purchase one for you for a markup or fee. Although the price is in Japanese Yen, you will generally pay in your local currency with the local price altered usually monthly or weekly depending on the exchange rate and the vendor. Upon purchase, you are given a paper Exchange Order, which can be exchanged at most major JR stations in Japan, including all of the stations nearest to airports, for the Rail Pass itself. At the time of exchange, you will need to have your passport with you, and know the date upon which you will want the Rail Pass to start. Dedicated counters specifically for Rail Pass exchanges are available at Tokyo, Shinjuku and Nagoya stations; wait times are little and as soon as you receive the pass you can start making free seat reservations immediately at the counter (recommended if you're travelling on less-popular routes that might fill up, or if you are travelling with a large group).

Rent a pocket wi-fi device

Japan has some free wi-finetworks but they can be clunky. Constant wi-fi means you can use navigation apps.

Cash

Be warned that there are still many places in Japan — particularly outside the cities — that don't accept credit cards. Ryokan and smaller restaurants and shops are common cash-only places. It's wise to assume you'll need to pay cash; stock up when you're in a town with an ATM.

Slip-on shoes

As you'll be taking off you shoes a lot.

Pack as little as possible!

Hotel rooms are small and trains can be crowded. You can buy most things you'll need.

Get in

Main article: Visa in Japan

For most travellers, entering Japan is simple and straightforward. Visas are given on arrival for many nationalities. Foreigners are fingerprinted and photographed on arrival.

Air

Tokyo and the Kanto Region are served by two large airports. Narita (NRT) offers both domestic and international flights and is convenient as a transit airport for those travelling between North America, Europe and The Middle East to most major Asian cities. Haneda (HND), located close to central Tokyo, was typically used for mostly domestic flights but in recent years has seen an increase in daily International flights to major centers throughout the world.

Note that if your final destination is the Tokyo or Kanagawa region then flights to Haneda are much more convenient and economical for getting into Tokyo and vicinity.

Narita Airport

Main article: Tokyo Narita Airport

Tokyo's main international gateway is Narita Airport (成田空港) (NRT ^IATA) , located near the town of Narita nearly 70 kilometers northeast of Tokyo and covered in a separate article.

A brief summary of options for getting there and away:

• Fastest: Keisei Skyliner train to Nippori (JR Yamanote Line) or Ueno, then connect to local train or taxi. ¥2,570, 36 minutes to Nippori.
• Cheapest: Keisei bus to Tokyo station, then connect to local train. ¥900, 90 minutes or so.
• If you have a JR Pass: JR Narita Express to Tokyo, Shinagawa or Shinjuku, free with pass (without ¥3,070), 55-60 minutes to Tokyo station.

Haneda Airport

Main article: Tokyo Haneda Airport

Tokyo's second international gateway is Haneda Airport (羽田空港) (HND ^IATA) .

Ibaraki Airport

Ibaraki Airport (茨城空港 IBR ^IATA) in Omitama, Ibaraki, some 85 km north of Tokyo, is aimed squarely at low-cost carriers. Skymark currently operates domestic flights to Sapporo, Kobe and Okinawa, and Spring Airlines operates daily service to Shanghai.

The best way to travel between Ibaraki Airport and Tokyo is by bus service, operated by Kantetsu Bus several times a day. The trip takes about 2 1/2 hours and costs ¥500 for air passengers and ¥1000 for non-air passengers. Reservations are required, and free English reservations are available online. The fare is payable when boarding the bus.

Even if you intend to use a Japan Rail Pass, there are no exchange offices in the immediate vicinity. It will be best to take the bus to Tokyo Station and visit the exchange office there.

Sea

There are a number of international ferries to Japan from South Korea, China, Taiwan and Russia; but some are not straightforward arrived to near Tokyo, so listed down are the best routes that save your cost to start near Tokyo. These are not particularly price competitive with air tickets, and also often have long travel times.

South Korea

Ferries from South Korea's second city Busan offer an alternative to flying, with the Fukuoka service being a particularly quick and practical way to travel between the two countries.

• Busan-Osaka: Barnstar Line, +81 66 271-8830 (Japan) or +82 51 469-6131 (Korea), offers thrice weekly service. 18 hr; ¥13,700+.

China

• Shanghai-Osaka/Kobe: Japan-China Ferry, ☎ +81 78 321-5791 (Japan) or +86 21 6326 4357 (China), thrice weekly service. 45 hours; CNY17,000 from China, ¥20,000+ from Japan.

Buy

Muslim products

• 7 Eleven. Most 7Es in Japan are Muslim friendly more info). (updated Nov 2017)

Tokyo

Drinks in Shinjuku

Main article: Tokyo/Shinjuku#Drink

The gate to Kabukichō at night

The Kabukichō (歌舞伎町) district, to the northeast of JR Shinjuku station, is Tokyo's most notorious red-light district - although during the daytime you might not even notice, especially if you can't decode the elaborate Japanese codewords on the billboards. At night it's a different story though, as sharkskin-suited junior yakuza gangsters hustle and girls in miniskirts beckon customers amid the adults-only vending machines. Night or day, it's always packed with people, and until recently quite a bit of gangland violence went on in the vicinity (though at any rate outsiders are generally not involved).

Fashion tribe in Harajuku

Main article: Tokyo/Harajuku

Harajuku fashion in Yoyogi Park

For the young and fashionable teenager, spending time in Harajuku (原宿) on the weekends is practically a necessity. Even older folks will want to visit the area, though, to see Meiji Jingu shrine and Yoyogi Park.

Sensō-ji

Main article: Tokyo/Asakusa#Sensōji

Soaking up the atmosphere at Asakusa's centuries-old temple.

City Walk in Yanesen

Main article: Tokyo/Yanesen

Losing yourself in the vestiges of the old city.

Sumo tournament

1 Ryōgoku Kokugikan (両国国技館), 1-3-28 Yokoami, Sumida-ku (JR Sobu line to Ryōgoku, west exit to Ryōgoku Sumo Stadium), ☏ +813-3623-5111. If you are in a town when a tournament is on — for 15 days each January, May and September — catch the big boy in action at Japan's largest sumo stadium. Doors open at 8am, but the action doesn't heat up until the senior wrestlers hit the ring around 2pm. ¥2200-14,800. (updated Nov 2017)