Japan trip prep checklist
eSIM, Visit Japan Web, tax-free, insurance — done in one read.
Pre-Trip
Trip Essentials
eSIM, Visit Japan Web, tax-free, insurance, weather — every pre-trip essential covered. (10 field-tested guides)
Prep · Essentials
Prep · eSIM
Best eSIM for Japan 2026: 5 brands tested
27 speed tests across Tokyo, Kyoto, Hokkaido. Honest ranking.
Prep · Entry
Visit Japan Web Guide 2026
Tax-free QR, immigration — done in 10 minutes.
Prep · Tax Free
Japan Tax-Free Shopping Guide 2026
Thresholds, process, 2026 rule changes explained.
Prep · Konbini
Japan Konbini Must-Buy 2026: 7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart Compared
Field-tested 50+ items across the big three: signature differences, limited snacks, markdown windows, payment.
Prep · Climate
What to Wear in Japan 2026: 4 Regions × 4 Seasons Packing Guide
A 4,500-word pillar: climate physics, region-by-region clothing strategy, four-season packing lists.
Prep · Weather
Japan Weather by Month 2026: 4-Region Quick Table
Hokkaido to Okinawa monthly temps, rain, what to wear — one table, 30-second lookup.
Seasonal · Summer Hanabi
Japan Fireworks Festivals 2026: 8 Hanabi Worth Flying For
Sumida 7/25, Nagaoka 8/2–3, Suwa 8/15, Yodogawa shifted to 10/17 — field-tested ticket timing, hidden viewpoints, weather rules.
Prep · Lodging
5 Best Japanese Onsen Ryokans 2026
From a 1925 Cultural Property to Michelin 3 Key — five definitive Japanese onsen inns.
Prep · First Night
First Night at Narita: 3 Hotels Compared + What to Do Tonight
Flight lands 6pm+, dragging luggage to Tokyo is brutal — 3 airport hotels + the AEON Mall rescue route.
Other categories
Tokyo Guides
From Shinjuku to Asakusa, from family trips to Mt. Fuji day excursions.
Browse →Kansai Guides
Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara — every Kansai travel essential covered.
Browse →Transit & Passes
JR Pass, regional passes, airport transit — the difference between an easy and an expensive trip.
Browse →