Plan your first trip to Japan with confidence

Free tools

5 free calculators that answer the questions every first trip starts with — with numbers, not paragraphs. No signup, no email, nothing stored.

• Cherry Blossom PlannerYour dates in, blooming cities out — from the JMA 30-year bloom normals.
• Japan Itinerary BuilderTrip length, pace and interests → a printable day-by-day route.
• Japan Trip Cost CalculatorYour days, travellers, style and season → an itemised budget in seconds.
• Japan Packing List GeneratorYour month and plans → a printable checklist with the Japan-only items.
• JR Pass CalculatorEnter your route and see whether the rail pass actually beats single tickets.

All 5 tools →

Routes: what each leg costs

Real fares and journey times between cities, with the bus and the flight compared honestly — including the legs where the train is not the right answer.

• Tokyo → Kyoto¥14,000 · 2h15 by Nozomi.
• Kyoto → Osaka¥580 · 30 min — and why the shinkansen is the wrong call.
• Tokyo → Hakone¥2,470 · 85 min, and when the ¥6,100 Freepass pays.

All 9 routes →

Plan your route

• First Trip to Japan: 14 Day ItineraryA realistic two-week route with pacing that survives jet lag.
• 7 Day Japan ItineraryOne week done right: Tokyo, Kyoto, and a smart Osaka exit.
• Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka: The Classic RouteWhy the golden route works and how many nights each city deserves.
• Tokyo Itinerary: 3 Perfect DaysWest-side icons, old-town east, and a choose-your-own day three.
• Kyoto 2 Day ItineraryHit the highlights without spending your day on buses.
• Osaka 2 Day ItineraryEat your way through Japan's kitchen — Dotonbori, markets, and the castle.
• Best Day Trips from TokyoEight trips compared by time and cost — and the one rule for fitting them in.
• Kamakura Day TripThe Great Buddha, temple trails, and the seaside tram — an hour from Tokyo.
• Hakone: Onsen & the LoopRyokan nights, the pirate-ship circuit, and honest Fuji-view odds.
• Nara Day TripBowing deer, the Great Buddha, and a perfect half-day plan.
• Where to Stay in TokyoPick a practical base by neighborhood, not by hype.
• Onsen GuideHot springs without fear — the steps, the tattoo answer, the best towns.
• Ryokan GuideYour first night, hour by hour — kaiseki, yukata, and the dawn soak.
• Where to Stay in KyotoFour areas that make sense — and when to sleep in Osaka instead.

Get around

• Narita or Haneda to TokyoThe easiest airport transfer after a long flight, by airport and destination.
• Japan IC Cards: Suica, Pasmo & MobileHow to pay for trains, buses, and convenience stores with one card.
• Japan eSIM GuideStaying connected for $15 — set it up at home, land online.
• Is the Japan Rail Pass Worth It?Do the math before you buy — or use our free calculator tool.

Practical prep

• Cherry Blossom Guide (2027)When sakura peaks, when to book, and the backup plan if you miss it.
• Japan in MayAfter Golden Week goes home: the year's most comfortable stretch.
• Japan in JuneRainy season, honestly — half the month is dry, and the temples are empty.
• Japan in SeptemberThe shoulder-season gamble: typhoon risk early, golden weather late.
• Japan in OctoberThe best all-around month — and the truth about foliage timing.
• Japan in AprilBlossom finale, the secret mid-month window, and the Golden Week trap.
• Japan in DecemberClearest Fuji views and empty temples — plus the New Year trap.
• Japan in NovemberPeak foliage week by week — and the crowd tactics that beat Kyoto's crush.
• Japan in JanuaryCheapest month, emptiest temples, clearest Fuji — after the New Year week.
• Japan in MarchTwo months in one: quiet plum season, then blossom-mania.
• The Best Time to Visit JapanWeather, crowds, and prices season by season — and the weeks to avoid.
• How Much Does a Two-Week Trip Cost?A realistic budget with numbers you can adjust to your style.
• Japan on a Budget$70 a day done well — because Japan's cheap tier is excellent.
• Japan Packing ChecklistPack for trains, small hotel rooms, and four distinct seasons.
• Vegetarian & Vegan JapanThe dashi problem, the phrases that work, and how to eat brilliantly.
• Tokyo Food GuideWhat to hunt, where locals eat, and the tactics that beat the language barrier.
• Solo Travel in JapanWhy it's the world's best first solo trip — counters, capsules, confidence.
• Japan with KidsThe family playbook: rooms, trains, food, and the big attractions by age.
• Japan Etiquette GuideWhat actually matters — and the worries you can drop.
• Common First-Timer Mistakes to AvoidThe planning mistakes almost every first-timer makes — and easy fixes.

Browse all 40 guides → — itineraries, day trips, stays, transport, food, and month-by-month timing.

About this site

Japan Travel Planner publishes independent editorial content and digital planning resources for travelers preparing trips to Japan. Guides are written for first-time visitors and updated for current prices and rules where possible. Always confirm schedules, prices, and entry requirements with official sources before you travel.