Japan Travel Guide
Tourist season
Are December and January good months to visit Japan?
December
Shoulder
season
January
Shoulder
season
Did you know?
The surface area of Japan is 145.9 thous. mi², which puts the country in position number 63 in terms of the area in the world.
How far is it?
1. The site uses the Great Circle method of calculating distances between two points on the Earth
2. To change the cities for comparison, change Your Country in settings
The distance between Tokyo (JP) and Washington D.C. (US) is 6775 miles
To calculate distance between your location and Tokyo click here
Country Comparison
Compare Japan to any country in the world and see key differences between them side-by-side.
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Cities and Top Tourist Attractions
From historical cities to picturesque landmarks and fascinating places - don't miss out on these attractions when planning a visit to Japan
| Miles | Tokyo | Kyoto | Osaka | Nagoya | Yokohama | Nara | Kobe | Sapporo |
| Tokyo | - | 230 | 250 | 164 | 17 | 232 | 267 | 517 |
| Kyoto | 230 | - | 27 | 66 | 220 | 23 | 39 | 631 |
| Osaka | 250 | 27 | - | 86 | 239 | 19 | 18 | 658 |
| Nagoya | 164 | 66 | 86 | - | 155 | 69 | 103 | 595 |
| Yokohama | 17 | 220 | 239 | 155 | - | 221 | 257 | 533 |
| Nara | 232 | 23 | 19 | 69 | 221 | - | 36 | 650 |
| Kobe | 267 | 39 | 18 | 103 | 257 | 36 | - | 666 |
| Sapporo | 517 | 631 | 658 | 595 | 533 | 650 | 666 | - |
A Brief History of Japan
Important historical events that significantly shaped the nation's trajectory throughout the centuries
500 - 600
BuddhismBuddhism comes to Japan. Today, more than 70% of Japanese are Buddhists.
1274 - 1281
Shoguns rule JapanMilitary dictators known as shoguns rule Japan and successfully keep invaders out of their country.
1853
Perry ExpeditionUnited States commodore Matthew Perry enters Japan. He demands that Japan trade with the U.S.
1868 - 1912
Emperor MeijiUnder Emperor Meiji, Japan becomes wealthy and powerful. The country wins wars against China and Russia.
1910
Korea under Japanese ruleJapan takes over the Korean peninsula and rules it for 35 years, until 1945.
1923
The Great Kanto EarthquakeThe Great Kanto Earthquake, one of the worst quakes in world history, destroys Tokyo and Yokohama. More than 140,000 people are killed.
1926
Shōwa EmperorHirohito became emperor of Japan on December 25, 1926, following the death of his father.
1931
War with ChinaJapan invades Manchuria, China. In 1937, Japan goes to war against China.
1940 - 1941
World War IIJapan becomes an ally of Germany and Italy in World War II. On December 7, 1941, Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, the U.S. naval base in Hawaii.
1945
Bombing of Hiroshima and NagasakiThe U.S. drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan surrenders.
1964
Summer OlympicsTokyo hosts the Summer Olympics. It's the first time the Games are held in Asia.
1995
The Great Hanshin EarthquakeA major earthquake hits central Japan.
2010
EconomyChina overtakes Japan as the world's second largest economy.
2011
Tōhoku earthquake and tsunamiA massive offshore earthquake and tsunami cause major damage to cities. The country faces a nuclear threat when a power plant is severely damaged.
Best Ways to Experience Japan
- Cuisine
- Art
- Animals
Practical Information for Travelers
- Budget
- Currency
- Vaccinations
- Visa
- Electricity
Determine the expenses for your travel or vacation budget, as well as the expenditures associated with residing in another country
MoreBackpacker's budget
Daily budget for one person, assuming that two people travel in a standard close to 1 star (hostels, public transport). When traveling alone, the cost may be slightly higher (hotel room) or the same (dormitory accommodation).from
Tourist's budget
Daily budget for one person, assuming that two people travel (they share the cost of a hotel room, taxis, etc.) to a standard close to 3 stars. Costs for a solo traveler will be higher.from
Currency
MoreYen (JPY)
- EUR
- GBP
- JPY
- USD
- EUR
- GBP
- JPY
- USD
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Vaccinations
MoreAll travelers
You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. Some vaccinations may also be required in Japan.
Some travelers
Vaccinations and medications that may be recommended under certain conditions, depending on where you will be, the length of your stay and the nature of your stay.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a digestive disease caused by the hepatitis A virus and is closely related to a lack of good hygiene.It can be asymptomatic, moderate, or very severe.Prevention
- Get vaccinated
- Eat and drink safely
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a disease caused by the hepatitis B virus.Infection occurs through contact of injured skin or mucous membranes with virus-infected blood or other secretions (e.g. during sexual contact, through contaminated needles or as a result of medical procedures).Prevention
- Get vaccinated
- Avoid sharing body fluids
- Avoid non-sterile medical or cosmetic equipment
With or without a visa?
Visa requirements for citizens of
- United States
visiting 
Japan for tourism
A visa is not required.
- Allowed stay: 3 months
- Japan is reopening to individual travelers but needed to obtain visas from travel agencies organized by Japanese government. All visitors are fingerprinted and photographed.
- Beginning on October 11, 2022, U.S. citizens may enter Japan without a visa for stays not exceeding 90 days.
Electricity
100V (50 Hz / 60 Hz)
In Japan the standard voltage is 100V and the frequency is 50 Hz / 60 Hz. Type A, B sockets are used.
Click on the socket icon to see more information
Type A
Type BFacts and Figures
Fundamental socio-economic statistical data pertaining to the country
Population | 11 / 231 Ranking | 126 476 461 Japanese 98.5%, Koreans 0.5%, Chinese 0.4% |
Area | 63 / 230 Ranking | 145.9 thous. mi² It is approximately 4% of the territory of United States. |
Life expectancy | 3 / 196 Ranking | 84.7 Life expectancy expressed in years.men 81.7women 87.7 |
Median age | 156 / 157 Ranking | 48.6 Average age of population expressed in years.men 47.2women 50 |
Population growth | 157 / 172 Ranking | -0.37% The difference between live births and deaths. A negative value means natural loss. |
Literacy | 11 / 131 Ranking | 99% Ability to read, write and count.men 99%women 99% |
GDP | 35 / 194 Ranking | 41 733 INT$ GDP per capita is gross domestic product converted to international dollars (Int$) using purchasing power parity rates and divided by total population. |