Category: Culture & Seasons

Japan’s autumn foliage (koyo) rivals its cherry blossoms — fiery maples, golden ginkgo, and temples framed in red. Here’s when and where to catch the colors.

When does it happen?

• Hokkaido: from mid/late September.
• Tokyo, Kyoto & central Japan: mid-November to early December (peak).
• Southern Japan: late November into December.

Colors move north-to-south and high-to-low elevation. Follow the annual koyo forecast as your trip nears — timing shifts each year with the weather. See best time to visit.

Best places for autumn colors

• Kyoto — temples like Tofuku-ji, Eikan-do, and Arashiyama are stunning; see Kyoto guide.
• Nikko — mountains, waterfalls, and shrines north of Tokyo.
• Hakone & Mt. Fuji area — colors with Fuji views.
• Kamikochi & the Japan Alps — alpine autumn near Takayama.
• Tokyo — Rikugien and the Meiji Jingu Gaien ginkgo avenue.

Don’t-miss experiences

• Evening light-ups at Kyoto temples — magical after dark.
• Momiji-gari (maple viewing) walks and mountain ropeways.
• Seasonal sweets and chestnut (kuri) treats.

Planning tips

• Autumn is peak season — book hotels and a ryokan early.
• Weekends at famous temples get crowded; go early morning.
• Bring layers — mountain mornings are cold. Check the packing list.

Prefer pink? Compare with our cherry blossom guide, and slot autumn into the 7-day itinerary.

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Staying at a ryokan — a traditional Japanese inn — is one of the most memorable things you can do in Japan. Here’s what to expect and how to choose one.

What is a ryokan?

A ryokan is a traditional inn with tatami-mat rooms, futon bedding, communal or private hot-spring baths, and often exquisite multi-course meals. It’s less a hotel than a full cultural experience — hospitality (omotenashi) is the whole point.

What’s usually included

• Kaiseki dinner — a seasonal multi-course feast, often served in your room or a private dining space.
• Breakfast — a traditional Japanese spread (grilled fish, rice, miso, pickles).
• Onsen access — public baths and sometimes private ones. Tattooed? See our tattoo & onsen guide.
• Yukata — a cotton robe to wear around the inn.

Ryokan etiquette

• Remove shoes at the entrance; wear the provided slippers (and separate toilet slippers).
• Wash thoroughly before entering the shared bath; no swimsuits.
• Meals and baths often run on a schedule — check times at check-in.
• More in our etiquette guide.

How much does it cost?

Ryokan are typically priced per person, including dinner and breakfast — often 15,000–40,000+ yen per person. Luxury ryokan go far higher; simpler ones and minshuku (family-run) are cheaper. See our Japan budget guide.

Where to stay in one

• Onsen towns like Hakone, Kinosaki, and Beppu — see best onsen towns.
• Kyoto for machiya-style inns; Takayama and Kanazawa for tradition.
• Book early — good ryokan fill up. Compare on Booking.com and Agoda .

Tips for first-timers

• Book at least one ryokan night — it’s a highlight of any trip.
• Arrive by mid-afternoon to enjoy the bath before dinner.
• Pack light; use luggage forwarding to send big bags ahead.

Weave a ryokan night into our 7-day itinerary.

Onsen (hot springs) are one of Japan’s great pleasures — but if you have tattoos, you’ve probably heard they can be a problem. Here’s the honest, up-to-date guide to soaking with ink.

Why tattoos and onsen clash

Historically, tattoos in Japan were associated with the yakuza (organized crime), so many bathhouses banned them to keep a family-friendly atmosphere. The rule is about appearances, not you personally — but it’s still widely enforced, especially at traditional public baths.

Your options with tattoos

• Tattoo-friendly onsen. A growing number welcome ink, especially in tourist areas. Look for “tattoo OK” / “tattoo friendly” listings before you go.
• Cover-up patches. Small tattoos can be hidden with waterproof skin-tone stickers (sold online and at some pharmacies). Many baths allow entry if the tattoo is fully covered.
• Private baths (kashikiri / family bath). The stress-free choice — rent a private bath by the hour, common at ryokan and onsen towns.
• In-room onsen. Some ryokan rooms have a private open-air bath (rotenburo) — no rules, total privacy.

Where it’s easiest

Big resort areas like Hakone, Kinosaki, and Beppu have more tattoo-friendly and private options. See our guide to the best onsen towns in Japan to plan around private baths.

Onsen etiquette (for everyone)

• Wash and rinse thoroughly at the shower stations before entering the bath.
• No swimsuits — you bathe nude. The small towel doesn’t go in the water.
• Tie up long hair; keep voices low; no photos.

New to Japanese customs? Pair this with our etiquette guide.

Bottom line

Tattoos don’t have to mean no onsen. Book a ryokan with a private bath, use a cover patch for small designs, or seek out tattoo-friendly spots — and you’ll still get that unforgettable soak. Make it part of a wider trip with our 7-day itinerary.

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Japan might be the best country in the world for solo travel: extremely safe, easy to navigate, and full of experiences that are just as good — sometimes better — on your own. Here’s how to make the most of a solo trip.

Why Japan is perfect for solo travelers

• Safety. Low crime and easy to walk around late; solo travelers, including women, generally feel very comfortable.
• Solo-friendly by design. Counter seats at ramen and sushi bars, single hotel rooms, and vending machines everywhere.
• Easy logistics. Great signage, reliable trains, and translation apps mean you rarely feel stuck.

Where to stay solo

• Business hotels — cheap, clean single rooms; ideal bases. Book via Booking.com .
• Capsule hotels — a fun, budget-friendly only-in-Japan experience.
• Hostels — great for meeting people if you want company.

Eating alone (no problem here)

Solo dining is completely normal. Look for counter seats, ticket-machine restaurants (buy a meal ticket, hand it over — no awkward ordering), ramen shops, and standing bars. Konbini and depachika food halls are your friends too.

Things that shine solo

• Quiet temple mornings in Kyoto.
• Wandering neighborhoods at your own pace in Tokyo.
• A reflective soak at an onsen town.

Practical solo tips

• Get an eSIM and an IC card so you’re self-sufficient.
• Share your itinerary with someone at home and keep some cash on hand.
• Learn a few Japanese phrases — locals appreciate the effort.

New to the country? Combine this with our first-timer tips and 7-day itinerary.

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Soaking in an onsen (hot spring) is one of Japan’s great pleasures — and staying overnight in an onsen town, with a ryokan dinner and a soak under the stars, is unforgettable. Here are the best onsen towns and how to enjoy them.

Top onsen towns

• Hakone — easiest from Tokyo, with Mt. Fuji views; see our day trips guide (great overnight too).
• Kinosaki — a storybook town where you stroll between seven public baths in a yukata.
• Kusatsu — one of Japan’s most famous hot-spring resorts, with a dramatic steaming water field.
• Beppu & Yufuin (Kyushu) — a hot-spring wonderland and a chic, arty retreat side by side.
• Nyuto Onsen (Tohoku) — remote, rustic milky baths deep in the mountains.

Onsen etiquette (important)

• Wash thoroughly at the shower stations before entering the bath.
• No swimsuits — you bathe undressed; baths are usually gender-separated.
• Keep the small towel out of the water (rest it on your head or the side).
• Tie up long hair and don’t put it in the water.
• Tattoos can be restricted at some baths — look for tattoo-friendly onsen or private (kashikiri) baths; a ryokan room with a private bath sidesteps the issue.

Staying overnight

The magic is a ryokan with a kaiseki dinner and your own or a shared onsen. Book early, especially in autumn and winter — filter for onsen ryokan on Booking.com and Agoda .

When to go

Onsen are wonderful year-round, but a snowy outdoor bath in winter is peak Japan. See our best time to visit guide, and slot an onsen night into your itinerary.

Some links below are affiliate links. If you book through them, Japan Trove may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Japan is one of the easiest and most rewarding countries to visit with kids: safe, clean, endlessly novel, and full of things children love. Here’s how to plan a family trip that works for everyone.

Why Japan is great for families

• Safety and cleanliness are exceptional; kids can have a lot of freedom.
• Trains are a highlight in themselves — the Shinkansen thrills most kids.
• Convenience stores and vending machines mean snacks and drinks are always close.
• Novelty everywhere — from robot cafés to character shops.

Kid-friendly highlights

• Tokyo: teamLab digital art, Ueno Zoo, character stores in Harajuku, and the Ghibli Museum (book far ahead).
• Osaka: Universal Studios Japan, the Aquarium (Kaiyukan), and easygoing street food in Dotonbori.
• Nara: the friendly bowing deer are a guaranteed hit — see our Nara day trip.
• Anywhere: Pokémon Centers and Nintendo/character shops — see where to buy Pokémon merch.

Practical tips

• Pack light and use luggage forwarding (takkyubin) between hotels — much easier with kids.
• Family rooms and rooms for 3–4 fill up fast; book early via Booking.com .
• Strollers: stations have elevators but they can be a hunt; a compact stroller or carrier helps.
• Baby supplies — diapers, formula, and food are easy to buy at drugstores and konbini.
• Slow down. Fewer stops, more time; build in park and playground breaks.

Getting around

Kids often ride trains cheaply or free depending on age. Grab an IC card each for easy tapping, and check the JR Pass math for your route. Then build your days with the 7-day itinerary.

You don’t need to speak Japanese to travel Japan — English signage and translation apps cover a lot. But a handful of phrases go a long way and are genuinely appreciated. Here are the ones actually worth memorizing.

The essentials

• Arigatou gozaimasu — thank you (polite). The single most useful phrase.
• Sumimasen — excuse me / sorry / thank you (to get attention or apologize). Incredibly versatile.
• Konnichiwa — hello (daytime).
• Onegaishimasu — please (when requesting something).
• Hai / Iie — yes / no.

Eating out

• Kore o kudasai — “this one, please” (point at the menu).
• Oishii! — delicious!
• Okaikei onegaishimasu — the bill, please.
• Gochisousama deshita — “thank you for the meal” (as you leave).
• Vegetarian desu / ___ arerugī desu — “I’m vegetarian” / “I’m allergic to ___”.

Getting around & shopping

• ___ wa doko desu ka? — “where is ___?”
• Ikura desu ka? — “how much is it?”
• Eigo o hanasemasu ka? — “do you speak English?”
• Daijoubu desu — “it’s fine / no thanks / I’m okay.” Very handy.

Pronunciation tips

Japanese is pronounced consistently: vowels are a (ah), i (ee), u (oo), e (eh), o (oh). Keep it flat and even — no strong stress. Even a rough attempt is warmly received.

Tech that helps

Download a translation app with camera mode for menus and signs, and set up an eSIM so it works everywhere. For the cultural side of communicating politely, see our etiquette guide.

Ready to plan? Start with our first-timer tips and 7-day itinerary.

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Cherry blossom season (sakura) is Japan at its most beautiful — and its most crowded. With a little planning you can catch the bloom and still enjoy it. Here’s how the season works and how to plan around it.

When do the cherry blossoms bloom?

It varies by year and region, but as a rough guide:

• Tokyo & Kyoto: late March to early April.
• Southern Japan (Fukuoka): a little earlier, from mid–late March.
• Northern Japan (Tohoku, Hokkaido): late April into May.

Full bloom (“mankai”) lasts only about a week, and rain or wind can end it fast — so build in flexibility.

How to plan around the forecast

• Watch the forecasts published each spring, but treat them as estimates.
• Chase the bloom by latitude: if you miss it in Kyoto, it may still be going north.
• Book everything early. This is peak season — hotels and flights sell out months ahead. Lock in your base via Booking.com .

Where to see them

• Tokyo: Ueno Park, Chidorigafuchi (rowboats under the blossoms), Meguro River.
• Kyoto: the Philosopher’s Path, Maruyama Park, Arashiyama.
• Beyond: Himeji Castle, Yoshino (mountains of cherry trees), Hirosaki in the north.

Hanami etiquette

Hanami (flower viewing) is a picnic tradition. Bring a mat, take your trash with you, don’t shake the trees or pick blossoms, and claim only the space you need. See our etiquette guide for the basics.

Prefer fewer crowds?

If sakura isn’t a must, autumn foliage is just as stunning with less pressure — compare seasons in our best time to visit Japan guide. Either way, plan the days with the 7-day itinerary.

Japan is famously polite, but the “rules” are mostly common sense once you know them. You won’t offend anyone by making an honest mistake — locals are forgiving with visitors — but knowing these will help you blend in and travel smoothly.

Trains & public spaces

• Keep quiet on trains. No phone calls; set your phone to silent (“manner mode”).
• Queue neatly on the marked lines, and let people off before you board.
• Escalators: stand on one side (left in Tokyo, right in Osaka), walk on the other.
• Backpacks off in crowded trains; hold them in front or on the rack.

Eating & drinking

• No tipping — it’s not expected and can confuse staff.
• Say “itadakimasu” before eating if you like; “gochisousama” after.
• Chopstick manners: don’t stick them upright in rice or pass food chopstick-to-chopstick (funeral symbolism).
• Slurping noodles is fine — even encouraged.
• Don’t eat while walking in most places; step aside or eat where you bought it.

Shoes, temples & onsen

• Shoes off where you see a step up and slippers (ryokan, some restaurants, homes, temples).
• At shrines/temples, be quiet and respectful; follow posted photo rules.
• Onsen (hot springs): wash thoroughly before entering; no swimsuits; keep the small towel out of the water. Tattoos can be an issue at some places — check ahead.

Everyday courtesy

• Carry your trash; public bins are rare. A small bag helps.
• Cash handling: place money on the little tray, not into the hand.
• A small bow or nod goes a long way; “arigatou” and “sumimasen” cover a lot.

That’s it — nothing scary. For more practical basics, see our first-time-in-Japan tips, then start planning with the 7-day itinerary.