Blog Japon

Practical guides and checked advice to plan a trip to Japan: itineraries, budget, trains and seasons.

Cheap flights to Japan: when to book, Haneda or Narita
No. 11

Cheap flights to Japan: when to book, Haneda or Narita

When to book cheap flights to Japan: nonstops from Europe, Haneda or Narita, Osaka and the traps to avoid. Prices read on 6 October 2026, each one dated.

Japan eSIM: networks, prices and traps before you buy
No. 10

Japan eSIM: networks, prices and traps before you buy

Japan eSIM: which network (docomo, au, SoftBank), what it costs, when to install it and which traps to avoid. Prices read on 6 October 2026.

Renting a car in Japan: licence, ETC card and costs
No. 9

Renting a car in Japan: licence, ETC card and costs

Renting a car in Japan, as of 6 October 2026: from €31 a day, the 1949 permit or a licence translation, the ETC card, the NOC charge and where it pays off.

Things to Do in Tokyo: Tickets to Book Ahead (2026)
No. 8

Things to Do in Tokyo: Tickets to Book Ahead (2026)

Things to do in Tokyo: teamLab, Shibuya Sky, the Ghibli Museum, sumo, day trips and free sights. Prices and booking dates read on 6 October 2026.

Where to Stay in Kyoto 2026: Areas and the New Tax
No. 7

Where to Stay in Kyoto 2026: Areas and the New Tax

Kyoto changed its lodging tax on 1 March 2026. What each neighbourhood really costs, transport included, and how to read a scale most guides get wrong.

Getting Around Japan: Suica, Metro and Trains in 2026
No. 6

Getting Around Japan: Suica, Metro and Trains in 2026

On 14 March 2026 JR East raised fares for the first time in 39 years. What it really changes for your Suica card, the metro and every journey you make.

Best Time to Visit Japan: the April Rule Has Aged
No. 5

Best Time to Visit Japan: the April Rule Has Aged

Cherry trees now open five days earlier than thirty years ago, and the forecast lands after your flight is booked. The honest month-by-month calendar.

JR Pass 2026: Worth It Only Above This Threshold
No. 4

JR Pass 2026: Worth It Only Above This Threshold

The honest arithmetic, with checked fares: the break-even point, the Nozomi supplement, and the two prices the same pass has had since 1 October 2026.

Where to Stay in Tokyo: Pick the Loop, Not the District
No. 3

Where to Stay in Tokyo: Pick the Loop, Not the District

Eight neighbourhoods compared, their line, and the two things that actually decide: the Yamanote loop and which airport you land at. Verified 2026 fares.

Japan Budget for 2 Weeks: The Real All-In Cost
No. 2

Japan Budget for 2 Weeks: The Real All-In Cost

The measured average is ¥229,000 per visitor. Here is the bill rebuilt line by line, with the three 2026 taxes no older guide can carry.

Japan Itinerary 2 Weeks: The Route for a First Trip
No. 1

Japan Itinerary 2 Weeks: The Route for a First Trip

Fourteen days, four hotel changes, and the three calculations nobody does: the JR Pass loses by ¥34,000 on this route, and your suitcase decides the rest.