Japan Cities Guide

Citizens of most Western countries including the US, UK, EU nations, and Australia can enter Japan visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism. Always check your specific country's requirements on the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website before booking.

Japan is consistently ranked among the safest countries in the world for tourists, including solo female travellers. Violent crime is extremely rare, people are helpful even with a language barrier, and getting genuinely lost is more of an adventure than a danger.

Honestly? Very little. Major cities have excellent English signage, most train stations have English announcements, and young Japanese people especially often speak conversational English. A few basic phrases go a long way and are always appreciated.

Ten days is the minimum to feel like you've scratched the surface. Two weeks is the sweet spot for a first visit. Three weeks lets you breathe and explore beyond the Golden Route into places like Hokkaido, Hiroshima, Kanazawa, or the Japanese Alps.

The Shinkansen bullet train is the answer — specifically the Hikari or Nozomi services from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station. The journey takes between 2 hours 15 minutes and 2 hours 40 minutes depending on the service. Comfortable, fast, reliable, and genuinely thrilling the first time.