The Essential Japan Guide

We've created The Essential Japan Guide to provide you with all the info you need to plan for and get the most out of your visit or stay in Japan and learn more about Japan's unique and fascinating culture. Explore and enjoy the site!

Here is just a tiny sampling of all there is to see and do in Japan:

Plunge head first into the sea of humanity on the vibrant streets of Tokyo and absorb the youthful energy of Shibuya, the otaku and electronics universe of Akihabara, the Japanese street fashions of Harajuku, the upscale glitz of Ginza, and the vibrant nightlife of Roppongi.

Explore ancient Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines found in historically rich and culturally important destinations like Kyoto, Nara, Kamakura, and Nikko.

Take a speeding shinkansen bullet train across the country while you gaze at a picturesque view of Mt. Fuji from your window. Check out the Essential Japan Guide section on Japan Train Travel to learn how to get around in Japan by rail.

Spend a night in a ryokan and soak away your stress in a soothing onsen hot spring in Hakone, followed by a delicately crafted multi-course traditional kaiseki meal in a Japanese-style room decorated with tatami mat flooring and shoji paper screen walls and surrounded by a serene Japanese garden. The Essential Japan Guide Japan Lodging and Accommodations section provides you with the info you need to find just the right accommodations to fit your budget and travel style.

Experience the thrill of a Grand Sumo Tournament up close and in person, check out a Japanese baseball game, or take a front-row seat at a live mixed martial arts event.

Climb Mt. Fuji. Practice Zen meditation. Train in the martial arts. Take part in an authentic Japanese tea ceremony. Learn how you can participate in all of the unique and fun activites that can only be experienced in Japan.

Savor unbelievably fresh sushi at the Tsukiji Fish Market, a bowl of artfully prepared ramen noodles, or some grilled yakitori with a pitcher of ice-cold Asahi beer or a warm bottle of sake. Our essential Japan Guide to the foods of Japan serves up the full menu of astounding food options to be enjoyed in Japan.

Sample an eclectic mix of foods at an izakaya Japanese-style pub, pile up a stack of plates at a revolving (kaiten) sushi restaurant, grab a bento boxed lunch at a Japanese convenience store, or gather around a grill with friends and create your own okonomiyaki Japanese-style pancakes.

Learn Japanese. Live in Japan. Teach English in Japan. Find a job in Japan. Do business in Japan. Study abroad in Japan. Get married, find employment, and spend the rest of your life in Japan.....

Are you ready to experience Japan? The best place to get started is in our Japan Travel Planning Guide. Your Japan adventure awaits...