Travel guide: Japan 🇯🇵

Best time to visit

• Spring is the Sakura Season (cherry blossom)
• Autumn is great for seeing the red maple leaves and autumn colours
• Summer can be very hot, although most of the establishments are equipped with air-conditioning
• Winter is great for skiing in the north

Good to know

• Kyoto is stunning with its traditional architecture, and it is a good place to learn about Japanese culture, such as traditional tea ceremonies or Geisha culture
• Tokyo is a huge metropolis, and each district can take a day to explore. If you plan to visit places such as the Ghibli Museum, booking in advance is essential
• Respect cultural norms such as bowing and taking shoes off when going indoors, such as when visiting people’s homes
• If you want to visit Kyoto for the Sakura Season, it won’t be too early to plan a year in advance, as hotels are booked out well before the season starts.
• If visiting rural Japan, bring some cash for purchases in shops
• We urge travellers to NOT visit aquariums with captive cetaceans, which fuels Japan’s annual Taiji Dolphin Hunt when hundreds of dolphins are chased and slaughtered.
• Whaling is unfortunately still being practised in Japan despite international pressure
• Winter is great for skiing in the north

Check out Kodama Travel's Japan Tours