Japan Travel Guide

JapanVisitor aims to provide the best travel advice on Japan whether you are looking for a flight to Japan, a hotel, a Japan rail pass or renting a mobile phone for your stay.

Japan is a country with a rich historical past and a modern technological present. Whether your interest is in the traditional or the contemporary, Japan offers both in abundance.

From the modern electronics mecca of Akihabara, Tokyo to the peaceful temples of Kyoto, a vacation in Japan has something for everyone.

Sumo or baseball, fugu or fast food, Japan has a rich balance of old and new.

Japan has a long history -- Nara and Kyoto were the nation's early capitals established way back in the 6th and 7th centuries. Tokyo became the political and economic center of the country from the late 19th century, as Japan began to westernize and industrialize.

Never colonized, Japan has a long, unbroken cultural tradition stretching back many centuries. There may be no sword-bearing samurai strutting on Japan's streets but history is everywhere around you: in Japan's many ancient Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, its preserved castles and in performances of kabuki, noh and the tea ceremony.

Japan is an archipelago of 100s of islands in the Far East stretching nearly 3,000km north to south. The four main islands are: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. To get around such large distances, visitors will need to fly or buy a Japan Rail Pass to use the hyper-efficient and extensive rail network.

Hotels in Japan are no problem and range from modern 5-star western-style hotels to traditional Japanese-styles inns or ryokan where you can experience the novelty of sleeping on a tatami floor in a futon.

With a land area similar in size to the British Isles and a population of around 127 million, Japanese cities may feel crowded, but the mountains and countryside are pleasantly spacious and offer Japan visitors good skiing, hiking and a relaxing dip at a hot spring onsen resort.

Japan's banks exchange travelers' checks, most shops and restaurants accept credit cards and the nation's post office have international ATMs so you should never run short of money.

On the whole the country is extremely safe and crime should not be an issue for the Japan tourist.