Tokyo
Kantō
Thirteen cities in one. Late-night alleyways, quiet shrines and the best eating in the world — if you know where to look.
The Sakura Insider Guide
Japan, but better.
Plan your first Japan trip around the places you want to experience: choose a route, find your city bases and prepare trains, money and mobile data before you fly.
Explore
Where will Japan take you?
Start with Tokyo for neighbourhoods and food, Kyoto for temples and gardens, and Osaka for lively evenings. Fuji, Hiroshima and Nara add a different rhythm when your travel days allow it.
Explore Japan
Plan your trip
Your Japan itinerary, sorted.
Seven days suits one region; ten links Tokyo with Kyoto and Osaka; fourteen leaves room for a mountain stop and western Japan. Compare the nights and transfers before adding another destination.
Featured itineraries
7 DaysJapan in 7 Days
Tokyo → Hakone → Tokyo
A first week built around one base, with day trips instead of daily packing. Ideal if you'd rather go deep than wide.
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10 DaysJapan in 10 Days
Tokyo → Kyoto → Nara → Osaka
The classic route, paced properly. Three cities, one rail line and enough room to keep evenings unplanned.
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14 DaysJapan in 14 Days
Tokyo → Fuji → Kyoto → Hiroshima → Osaka
Cities, mountains and a slower stretch in between. The trip most first-timers wish they had booked.
View itineraryInsider picks
Things worth leaving the hotel for.
Food, culture, nature, nightlife, hidden gems and day trips — chosen by people who keep going back.
Insider picks
Travel Tips
Japan eSIM Guide: What Tourists Need to Know in 2026
A clear, practical guide to eSIMs for travellers in Japan in 2026. What to expect, how to prepare, and how to avoid common pitfalls.
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Transport
Japan Rail Pass: Is It Worth It for Tourists?
Is the Japan Rail Pass still worth it for tourists? This 2026 guide breaks down who saves, who doesn't, and how to decide using current prices and rules, with no guesswork.
Read more
Food
Where to eat ramen in Tokyo
How to read a ticket machine, when to queue and how to find the shops locals actually return to.
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Culture
Kyoto after dark
The city empties at dusk. A walking route through lantern-lit lanes once the tour buses leave.
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Hidden gems
5 experiences worth booking before you fly
A short list of the things that genuinely sell out — and the ones you can safely decide on later.
Read moreNightlife
Tokyo's best hidden neighbourhoods
Beyond Shibuya: where to spend an evening when you want the city, not the crowd.
Read moreStay
Where to stay in Japan
Choose a neighbourhood for the journeys you will actually make, then compare accommodation. Our city guides explain the trade-offs between convenience, atmosphere and changing hotels.
Where to stay in Japan
Stay
Tokyo
Design hotels, quiet neighbourhood stays and where to base yourself for a first visit.
Stay
Kyoto
Traditional ryokan, machiya townhouses and the districts worth paying more for.
Stay
Osaka
Central, well-connected stays for a city you'll mostly explore on foot at night.
Sakura Insider tips
Know before you go.
The practical decisions that shape a trip — explained once, properly.
Sakura Insider tips
Moving between hotels? Plan luggage forwarding before packing. For arrival-day essentials, use the mobile-data checklist and money and payments guide alongside your route.
Transport01
JR Pass & Trains in Japan
A practical guide to the Japan Rail Pass: eligibility, coverage, reservations, trains, activation and how to use it across Japan.
Transport02
IC Cards: Suica, Pasmo and ICOCA
The single card — or phone — that opens almost every turnstile in Japan.
Practical03
eSIM & Mobile Data in Japan
Landing with working data, without hunting for a counter at the airport.
Planning04
The Best Time to Visit Japan
What each season actually feels like, and which months suit which kind of trip.
Culture05
Japanese Etiquette for Visitors
The handful of customs that matter most to travellers, without the lecture.
Practical06
Money & Payments in Japan
Where cards work, where cash still rules and how much to carry.
Offers from our partners
Live selections from our booking partners. Prices and availability come from them; booking through these links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
Restaurants in Tokyo
Bookable tables and food experiences in Tokyo.
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Tokyo activities and experiences
Tours, workshops and experiences to book during your stay in Tokyo.
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Tokyo transport and travel services
Transfers, transport passes and practical services for getting around Tokyo with ease.
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