
Oct 10, 2026
Japan Tourist Tax 2026: What the ¥3,000 Departure Tax Means for Travelers
Japan’s international tourist tax increased to ¥3,000 on July 1, 2026. Here’s who pays it, when it is…
October in Japan
October brings comfortable travel weather, harvest festivals and some of Japan's first peak autumn colors in Hokkaido, Tohoku and higher elevations. Plan the right route for where the season is at its best.
Choose your base
Each city hub collects relevant itineraries, accommodation, transport and practical planning guides in one place.

Big-city energy, neighborhoods and easy day trips.
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Temples, traditional districts and seasonal beauty.
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Food, nightlife and a practical Kansai base.
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Historic temples, parks and an easy day trip.
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History, Miyajima and western Japan routes.
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Onsen, mountain scenery and a slower break from Tokyo.
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Sand dunes and a distinctive western Japan landscape.
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Fuji Five Lakes, viewpoints and day-trip planning.
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Winter city experiences, food and Hokkaido trip planning.
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Plan smarter
Use these quick tools to narrow a realistic route and get a rough on-the-ground budget before opening the detailed guides.
Trip planner
Suggested route
UpdatedA balanced first-trip route with enough time for the major neighborhoods, Kyoto highlights and an Osaka finish.
Budget calculator
Estimated trip budget
¥154,000
7 days × 1 traveler × ¥22,000/day
Planning estimate for accommodation, meals, local transport and typical sightseeing. International flights, major shopping and premium experiences are not included. Accommodation can vary substantially by exact dates, destination, weekends, holidays and events, so use this as a baseline rather than a seasonal hotel-price quote. Currency conversions use automatically refreshed daily reference rates dated 2026-10-10. Actual bank, card and cash-exchange rates may differ.
Latest practical guides

Oct 10, 2026
Japan’s international tourist tax increased to ¥3,000 on July 1, 2026. Here’s who pays it, when it is…

Oct 10, 2026
Compare the Narita Express, Keisei Skyliner, low-cost airport bus and private transfer to choose the best Narita Airport…

Oct 8, 2026
Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it in 2026? Compare the 7-, 14- and 21-day pass with individual…

Oct 4, 2026
Kyoto or Osaka as your Kansai base? Compare sightseeing, nightlife, transport, hotel areas and trip length to choose…

Oct 3, 2026
Traveling from Kyoto to Osaka? Compare JR, Hankyu and Keihan by station, neighborhood, luggage, passes and door-to-door convenience.

Oct 1, 2026
Planning Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen? Compare Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama, seat reservations, luggage rules, Mount Fuji views…
First trip to Japan?
Use the Start Here guide to narrow destinations by trip length and interests, then open only the guides relevant to your route.