When to Visit Japan?
The best time to visit Japan is between September and November when the weather is not too humid or cold, and you have a higher chance of clear days.
That said, many of Japan's best festivals, like Gion Matsuri, are often held in the summer. If you don't mind the heat, you can also visit Japan between June and August. Gion Matsuri, in particular, is highly recommended. I had a hell of a time in Kyoto when I was there in July.
To make your Japan trip even more memorable, try to align your days with one of the many festivals happening around Japan each year. You can check out all upcoming events in Japan here.
How to Get to Japan?
From the US, there should be plenty of flights from the west coast that fly directly to Tokyo. You can either fly into Narita or Haneda Airports. Haneda is a bit closer to the city center, but both are well-connected with the city center by train, so you should have no trouble getting to your accommodation via public transport.
From Europe, you can also take one of the many direct flights leaving from cities like Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and London to Tokyo via JAL or other local airlines.
From Asia, if you want to save money, you can fly on a low-cost airline like AirAsia from major cities like Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur directly to Tokyo. Alternatively, you can go with airlines like JAL or Singapore Airlines and fly direct.
To find a cheap flight to Japan, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
How to Get Around Japan?
Trains are the best way to get around Japan. Within the city, most major cities are well connected via metros and local trains, while long-distance trips are well-covered by the renowned Shinkansen or the bullet train.
JR Pass is not as cheap as it used to be, and you will likely save money if you were to buy the ticket separately. However, if you prefer the convenience of being able to hop on any bullet train and travel across the country without having to fiddle with the ticket machine, it is worth the premium.
If not, you will save a few dollars more by buying the ticket separately as you go. For this itinerary, you won't need to get a JR Pass. It is more convenient to travel to places like Nikko and Kawaguchiko on a regional train, so you won't need a JR Pass there, which leaves around 7 days where the JR Pass might be useful.
With the 2023 price update, the 7-day JR Pass is now priced at $330 USD. According to my calculations, you will end up paying more with the JR Pass, as the cost would only be $290 USD if you were to buy the tickets separately. It's just not as convenient as traveling around with a JR Pass.
If you decide to go for a more convenient route and get the JR Pass, keep in mind that the pass is only valid on JR-operated trains as well as some buses and ferries. To find out which route to take, you can use the NAVITIME app, a great navigation app that allows you to filter trains/bus routes based on the train pass you hold. Very convenient!
For traveling within major cities, consider purchasing the unlimited day pass. This pass provides unlimited access to regional transportation for the entire day, making it an excellent deal if you plan to move around extensively.
You can also get a prepaid IC card, which can be bought from any JR Station (Suica card) or Non-JR Station (Pasmo Card) in most major cities around Japan. You can use it on trains, buses, and even buy stuff in convenience stores like 7-11 or Family Mart across Japan's major cities. All you have to do is fill up the card with money and tap on the machine when you enter and exit the platform.
The IC Card doesn't save you any money per trip, but it does save you time, not having to fiddle with the ticket machine every time you want to travel.
How Much Money Do I Need For A 2-Week Trip To Japan?
From this 2-week itinerary, we can calculate approximately how much money you will be spending here as follows:
Accommodation: You can expect to spend a minimum of 600 USD for 14 days' worth of accommodation.
Food: For 14 days, you can expect to pay around 420 USD for food at regular restaurants.
Transportation: For this itinerary, you can expect to pay around 400 USD for transportation, including long-distance bullet trains (without the JR Pass), regional buses, and trains around major cities.
Activities: Depending on how much you want to follow my itinerary, you can expect to pay around 80 USD for activities, including entrance fees for tourist attractions, ropeways, etc.
Total budget for 2 weeks in Japan: $1,500 USD
What to Pack for Japan?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Japan:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.