Japan
Japan is having a travel heyday right now – and rightfully so – it’s an incredible country. In fact, it’s one of my favorite countries to travel to. However, in my quest to find the lesser-traveled places wherever I go, I spent a lot of time in Japan off the beaten path on multiple trips to Japan!
I’ll give you ideas on going beyond the traditional Tokyo to Kyoto route and getting away from the crowds.
Unique things to do in Japan
- Watch a sumo wrestling match or training
- Eat delicious ramen in a little cubicle
- Hike the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage
- Go to a wasabi farm
- Go really local and visit a public bath house
- Visit cat temple and cat island
- Go to a shot bar
- Dance on Udon dough in a noodle making class
- Visit Tokyo’s cat neighborhood
Best Time to Travel To Japan
Japan is quite popular and it honestly hard to find a time when it’s not busy! The least busy time is probably winter. Regarding weather – beware of the hot, humid summers. Of course there is always the popular Cherry Blossum season and Autumn leaves festivals. The good news is that no matter when you go – there’s always festivals going on!
- Average Temps: 70° – 90° F
- Very crowded
- Hot and humid
- Fuji climbing season
- Fireworks
- Macha ice cream!
- Average Temps: 5°F to 41°F
- Hokkaido skiing and snowboarding
- Illuminations and light festivals
- Hot springs
- Fewer crowds
- Average Temps: 57°F to 77°F
- Cherry blossoms
- Autumn colors
- Sumo wrestling
- Seasonal foods
- Less humid
My Favorite Food and Cocktail Tours in Japan
How to get around Japan
With so many public transportation options to get around Japan, it can be confusing to figure out how to compare prices and timetables. However, 12Go helps you compare different modes of transportation in Japan easily from their website or mobile app. You can search on dates and locations and find all of the options and book right from the site – including buses, ferries, trains, hotel-airport transfer, and more.
The best way to get around is to purchase a Japan Rail Pass. These passes will allow you to include unlimited transportation options around the country, including airport transfers and fast Shinkansen trains. They are offered in different durations and regions.
Must-know Japan etiquette for travelers
Japan isn’t just another country — it’s an entire system of customs, etiquette, and unspoken social contracts that seem to operate like clockwork. I’ve traveled to over 75 countries, but the first time I traveled to Japan, it baffled me. It’s the only highly developed country that I’ve been in where everything is so completely foreign to me. I’m used to that feeling when visiting more underdeveloped countries, but I wasn’t expecting the “Why do they do that” thought that ran through my head constantly in Japan.
If you’re wondering what to do (and not do) in Japan, this guide is your etiquette cheat sheet. These cultural tips for visiting Japan cover what you’ll encounter in both the bustling streets of Tokyo and the quiet alleys of smaller towns, where the vending machine might be the only thing awake past 9 p.m.
