Guide

Japan

Preparing your trip to Japan

Everything worth knowing before you go, based on our own trip (May 2024)

01 Flights02 Itinerary03 Hotels04 Formalities05 Transport06 Internet07 What's changed

Japan isn't really a country you improvise — but you don't need an agency either. With a bit of organisation, you can handle the whole thing yourself. Here are the six steps we followed to plan our 15 days there, without (too much) stress.

✓ Travelled in May 2024

01The flight

Once your dates are fixed, book without dragging your feet. March to June is high season — and the first week of May, Golden Week, is when the whole of Japan travels at the same time as you.

We flew with Air France, from 1 to 17 May 2024. Tickets booked in early January: €1,500 per person, economy, direct, landing in Tokyo and flying home from Osaka. Yes, it's expensive — but we found nothing better on those dates.

✎ flying into one city and out of another saves you retracing your steps, and gains you a full day on the ground — a multi-city ticket rarely costs more than a standard return

02Planning your route

On a first trip to Japan, it all comes down to pace: covering several cities, or taking the time to know one or two properly. We chose to keep moving, with this route:

4 nights

Tokyo

2 nights

Kawaguchiko — Mount Fuji

4 nights

Kyoto

including a day in Nara

5 nights

Osaka

including a day in Kobe and one at Universal Studios Japan

03Booking hotels and activities

Once the route is set, book your hotels quickly — availability tightens fast, especially in high season. It isn't easy to choose in cities that big without knowing the neighbourhoods. It also depends on what you're after: staying with a family, in a former temple, or simply somewhere well located and practical.

Every one of our hotels, with the prices we actually paid, is listed in the full itinerary article.

As for activities, some need booking well ahead to be sure of a slot: TeamLab Borderless, or the Express Passes for Universal Studios and DisneySea.

04Formalities

Good news for European citizens: no visa to apply for, either before you leave or on arrival. France is on the visa-exemption list, and a 90-day short-stay permission is simply stamped into your passport when you land.

Before landing, the crew hands out two forms (Japanese/English) for customs — just enough to confirm the purpose of your trip, its length and where you're staying. You can save time by filling them in online at Visit Japan Web, which generates a QR code to show on arrival.

No particular vaccinations are required, though it's worth being up to date on your usual boosters.

05Getting around Japan

This was the part that worried us most before leaving. In practice, once there: everything is clearly signposted and tickets are easy to buy.

The JR Pass covers most of the country (a few Shinkansen lines excepted), but its price jumped by roughly 65% in October 2023 — the 7-day pass going from ¥29,650 to ¥50,000 — and it has risen again since, reaching record levels. On a route built around two or three cities, it no longer pays for itself at all.

For everyday metro, bus and train travel, the Pasmo / Suica card does the job perfectly — valid 28 days, tourists only, ¥1,500 to buy and then topped up with cash at station machines. It can now also be added to your phone wallet, which saves having to track down a physical card.

Pasmo / Suica card (daily travel)top-ups

Mount Fuji express bus + Shinkansenbought individually

Total transport / pers. (15 days)€175

✎ you don't need a JR Pass if you're sticking to 2 or 3 cities — buying Shinkansen tickets individually cost us €175 per person over 15 days, nowhere near the price of the pass

06Internet and money

Without a worldwide roaming plan, you'll have no data once you land. Three options:

Pocket Wifi

€67 · 16 days, insurance included

Connects up to five devices, collected at the airport or your hotel. The cheapest option when travelling as a pair.

Prepaid SIM card

Bought locally

Available in Japanese shops and airports. Handy if you're travelling alone.

eSIM

Connected from day one

Activates before you even land, so you're online on arrival without waiting to collect a pocket wifi. Check your phone is compatible first.

Revolut account

Fee-free exchange and withdrawals

Cash is still essential in Japan: ATMs, Suica top-ups, small shops and temples. The machines in 7-Eleven convenience stores accept foreign cards.

07What has changed since our trip

We travelled in May 2024, and several rules have moved since. Here's what to factor in if you're planning a trip now.

The departure tax has tripled

Since 1 July 2026

It went from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000, around €18. Nothing to pay on the spot: it's automatically included in your air ticket.

Tax-free shopping no longer happens at the till

Since 1 November 2026

Gone is the tax-free price applied in store on presentation of your passport. You now pay the 10% consumption tax at purchase and claim the refund at the airport or port of departure. Two consequences: budget for the cash flow, and get to the airport considerably earlier on your last day.

Kyoto's lodging tax has been overhauled

Since 1 March 2026

It moved from three brackets to five and can reach ¥10,000 per person per night in luxury properties. Nights under ¥6,000 stay at ¥200, so if you're in business hotels the impact is nil. Several other cities have adjusted their rates too.

JESTA is coming, but not before 2028

Nothing to do for now

Japan is introducing an electronic travel authorisation along the lines of the American ESTA. It only becomes compulsory in 2028, for nationals of the 71 countries currently exempt from visas. Until then, your passport is enough.

✎ don't confuse the two — the fee increase announced for 1 October 2026 applies to residence permits: work, study, family reunification, working holiday. Tourist stays under 90 days are unaffected, and a valid passport is still all you need.

I hope these few tips help you plan your own trip to Japan, stress-free and with a smile!