{"id":7065002,"date":"2026-09-23T17:44:51","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T17:44:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/whats-it-like-in-japan-31-travel-tips-for-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-09-23T17:44:51","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T17:44:51","slug":"whats-it-like-in-japan-31-travel-tips-for-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7065002","title":{"rendered":"What’s it Like in Japan? 31 Travel Tips for 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"


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There\u2019s nowhere in the world like Japan.<\/p>\n

From the moment I first stepped foot in Tokyo, I felt I was on a whole other planet. The neon, the noise, the sheer number of people: it was overwhelming, for sure, but in a thrilling, rather than a terrifying, way.<\/p>\n

I had high expectations for my time in the country. Practically everybody I knew who had been to Japan had come back and announced it was their favourite place in the world. I wondered if it could possibly live up to the hype, or if I\u2019d built it up so much in my head that I could only be disappointed.<\/p>\n

I wanted to write this specific post about Japan, because my biggest surprise from my trips here has been just how different<\/em> it was to what I\u2019d expected.<\/p>\n

Everyone says Japan is bonkers, right? That every street corner offers something outrageous, every vending machine sells something you can\u2019t even imagine, and that life here is chaotic and confusing. I was bracing myself for sensory overload and utter madness.<\/p>\n

The reality? Japan is kind of, just, normal<\/em>. There are moments when it feels mind-boggling \u2014 especially those first few days in Tokyo! \u2014 and times when you have absolutely no idea what is going on, but it\u2019s not like that most of the time. In fact, outside of the cities, I found it to be incredibly peaceful.<\/p>\n

So did I love Japan? Absolutely. And every time I\u2019ve returned, I\u2019ve fallen for this country even more. My most recent trip \u2014 exploring the little-visited island of Kyushu over three weeks \u2014 was one of the best I\u2019ve ever taken.<\/p>\n

Today, I\u2019m going to share with you what it\u2019s like to travel in Japan, so you can be more prepared than I was. These are my favourite type of blog posts to write \u2014 you can browse my growing collection of them on my What\u2019s It Like to Travel In?<\/em> page<\/a> \u2014\u00a0as they allow me to blend a detailed travel guide with random observations, fun stories, travel tips, and missteps to avoid.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Going to Be Overwhelming for the First Few Days<\/h2>\n
\"Crowded
The crowded, chaotic streets of Osaka<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Does my photo of Osaka look like the exact opposite of peaceful?<\/p>\n

Most people kick off their Japan adventure in either Tokyo or Osaka, as that\u2019s where most of Japan\u2019s international flights arrive. These two cities are some of the most overwhelming in the country, so you shouldn\u2019t be surprised if your first few days hit you with a heft dose of culture shock.<\/p>\n

You can expect bright lights, neon signs, loud noises, unfamiliar smells, and crowds of people: this is the chaotic Japan you\u2019ve been dreaming of.<\/p>\n

The added problem, however, is that many travellers to Japan have taken a long-haul flight to get there and the jet lag can be brutal. I personally had the worst jet lag of my life in Tokyo, and felt like I was wandering around in a dream the entire time, unable to process what was going on around me.<\/p>\n

The good news is that the sensory overload doesn\u2019t last for long, and you\u2019ll soon get used to how Japan works.<\/p>\n

Just maybe see if you can add an extra day or two to the start of your trip to help with the jet lag and culture shock.<\/p>\n

Japan Really Isn\u2019t That<\/em> Weird<\/h2>\n
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\"Funny\"Funny
My favourite translated sign from my time in Japan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Now, I don\u2019t know about you, but when I first started planning my trip to Japan, I prepared myself to see<\/em>\u00a0things<\/em>. Strange things. Unexplainable things. Extraordinary things.<\/p>\n

And\u2026 I didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

I arrived in Tokyo, fully expecting to hit the ground and start taking photos of a thousand peculiar sights. I planned on barely sleeping during my trip, because I thought there\u2019d be so much unfamiliarity to absorb.<\/p>\n

Nope.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

I landed in Tokyo and it felt like a big city. A regular city. A familiar city. Most definitely a busy city, but I wasn\u2019t like, Wow! This place is ~*cRaZyYy!!*~.<\/em><\/p>\n

Which isn\u2019t to say it wasn\u2019t special \u2014 I adored Tokyo \u2014 but just that it felt like a normal city filled with normal people. I didn\u2019t run into people cosplaying on the streets, I wasn\u2019t served by robots in restaurants, I wasn\u2019t surrounded by outlandish fashion choices, I didn\u2019t spot vending machines filled with used underwear.<\/p>\n