travelism.jp Editorial Team– Author –

Planning to visit Japan during the summer?Summer festivals offer a chance to experience Japan beyond sightseeing. Fireworks, traditional dances, food stalls, lanterns, and local celebrations bring communities together and create a lively atmosphere that is different from an ordinary day of travel.This guide explains...

Should you stay in Osaka or Kyoto on your first trip to Japan?Both cities are easy to combine in the same itinerary, but they offer very different ways to experience Kansai. Osaka is a better fit for travelers who enjoy food, shopping, nightlife, and the energy of a large modern city. Kyoto is the stronger choice if...

Taxis are not usually the cheapest way to get around Japan, but they are worth considering when you have luggage, arrive late, travel with children, or need to reach somewhere far from a station.You can take a taxi from a taxi stand, hail an available cab on the street, or request one through an app. Payment options...

Wondering how much English is spoken in Japan—and whether you can travel comfortably if you do not speak Japanese?Spoken English varies widely, but most first-time visitors can travel successfully without Japanese. English signs, transport information, multilingual machines, and digital tools are common in many plac...

This update summarizes the most important Japan travel news announced during June 2026, along with practical advice for travelers visiting Japan in July and beyond. Planning a Trip to Japan This Summer? If you're planning to visit Japan in the coming months, June brought several important updates that could affect y...

Japanese etiquette can seem complicated before a first trip, but you do not need to memorize a long list of rules. In most everyday situations, the same principle goes a long way: pay attention to the people around you and avoid creating unnecessary inconvenience for others. This guide covers the customs first-time ...

Buying Shinkansen tickets in Japan is usually straightforward. Most first-time visitors can buy them after arriving in Japan from an English-language ticket machine or a staffed JR ticket counter at a major station.You can also book online before your trip, but there is no single reservation website for every Shinka...

Planning to use trains, subways, or buses in Japan?An IC card is usually the simplest way to pay for everyday local transportation. This guide explains how Suica, PASMO, ICOCA, visitor cards, and mobile IC cards differ, so you can choose the option that best fits your phone, arrival point, and length of stay. What I...

Paying for trains in Japan is simpler than it may first appear. For most local trains, subways, and urban rail services, the easiest option is to use an IC card such as Suica, PASMO, or ICOCA and tap it at the ticket gates. You can also buy a paper ticket before entering the station.For Shinkansen and many limited e...

Using trains and subways is one of the most practical ways to explore Japan. The network may look complicated at first, but most first-time visitors can travel confidently once they understand how to find the correct station, platform, train, transfer, and exit.This guide focuses on the actual experience of using Ja...