A first trip to Japan raises a thousand questions: how many days, which cities, do you need Japanese, how do you pay, what should be booked in advance? Here are the answers to the questions every first-timer asks, in the order they come up.

How many days for a first trip?

10 to 15 days is the sweet spot for a first visit: enough to see Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka without rushing, plus one or two side trips (Nara, Hakone, Hiroshima). With one week, focus on Tokyo - Kyoto - Osaka; with two weeks, the full Golden Route opens up.

Which cities should you pick?

For a first time, the Golden Route remains the best choice, not for lack of originality, but because it concentrates the country’s essential contrasts:

  • Tokyo: the megacity, from futuristic districts to neighborhood temples
  • Kyoto: 1,600 temples, the geishas of Gion, the torii gates of Fushimi Inari
  • Nara: free-roaming deer and the Great Buddha (day trip)
  • Osaka: the capital of street food and good times
  • Optional: Hakone or Kawaguchiko for Mt. Fuji, Hiroshima and Miyajima

Want to go off the beaten path right away? Kyushu is an excellent alternative, volcanoes and onsen included.

Do you need to speak Japanese?

No. In major cities, signage is bilingual, station and hotel staff speak functional English, and a translation app covers the rest. Learning konnichiwa (hello), arigatō gozaimasu (thank you), and sumimasen (excuse me/sorry) will always be appreciated.

How do you pay in Japan?

Japan is still more cash-oriented than the West, but cards are now accepted almost everywhere in cities. The right combo:

  • A bank card with no foreign transaction fees
  • Cash withdrawn from konbini ATMs (7-Eleven, Lawson) for small restaurants and temples
  • A Suica/Pasmo card (physical or in your phone) for urban transit and vending machines

How do you get around?

The train rules. Between cities, the Shinkansen; within cities, subway and JR lines. Two things to know:

  1. The JR Pass is no longer automatically worth it since 2023. Run the numbers for your itinerary : Ryokô Planner’s calculator does it in seconds from your stages.
  2. Google Maps works great on the ground for urban routes; plan for an eSIM or pocket WiFi.

The classic first-timer mistakes

  • Trying to see everything: 8 cities in 12 days is a marathon, not a trip. Three to five stages are plenty.
  • Buying the JR Pass on reflex, without checking whether it pays off for your actual route.
  • Booking too late for cherry blossom season or Golden Week (late April - early May).
  • Ignoring hotel location: close to a JR station or a major subway hub saves time every single day.
  • Leaving without a checklist: passport, insurance, power adapter (type A plugs), eSIM… oversights get expensive on the ground.

Prepare your first trip with Ryokô Planner

Ryokô Planner was built precisely for this moment: the first time, when you don’t know where to start.

  1. Pick your interests, culture, food, nature, pop culture, and discover the destinations that match you.
  2. Start from a community itinerary (the Golden Route is there) and adapt it: durations, city order, activities.
  3. Follow the built-in preparation checklist: documents, bookings, packing : nothing left to chance.
  4. Calculate your transport pass so you don’t pay for a JR Pass you won’t use.
  5. With the Ryokô Guide (premium), keep visa, culture, local customs, and practical tips in your pocket, even offline in the Tokyo subway.

Download Ryokô Planner and turn blank-page anxiety into a concrete itinerary.