Questions about Japan Travel - Spring 2027

We went this Spring. We used Cathay Pacific airlines for the way there (using their free 6 night layover in Hong Kong) and Alaska Airlines new nonstop from Tokyo to Seattle for the way home. In general, we like traveling slowly and getting to know spots more in depth.
A favorite destination was Kinosaki Onsen, a town with many hot spring baths. We took a train there from Osaka.
We also took a Shinkansen train from Osaka to Kagoshima on Kyushu island. Kagoshima was a delightful city. From there we traveled around Kyushu which is not overly touristed and full of hot springs/onsen.
In Tokyo we stayed in the Akasuka neighborhood.
The places we didn’t really enjoy, were ones geared towards a party atmosphere, like the Minami neighborhood in Osaka.

Becky--

Thank you so much for the great information. I did not know about the Alaska Air direct flight; we live in Portland, so that would be very easy for us.

Thank you again,
Susanne

I went alone in Spring of 2023 and without a tour, and like you, I went right after Golden Week. Weather was great, hot but manageable. I got 1 day of rain. I only had 10 days total to travel, unfortunately. I visited Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima/Miyajima. I enjoyed them all and would go back easily. I really enjoyed Kyoto and wished I had stayed longer.

If you have time and are up to it, during mid-May through summer, there is a village in northern outskirts of Kyoto that you can visit and enjoy a lovely lunch on wood slabs over the river (if not raining). I also did a hike around there and visited the temples in Kurama. The village is called Kibune and you can easily reach by train from Kyoto Central Station with one exchange.
Speaking of Kyoto, I stayed at the Kyoto Century Hotel right next to the main train station and I really enjoyed it, the breakfast was fabulous with Asian and American/Western options.

Visit Himeji castle - one of the few last standing original castles. It's between Kyoto and Hiroshima (closer to Kyoto). Can be done as a day trip or on the way to Hiroshima.

I usually fly Delta which had a connection in Seattle. But my flight back got canceled, so I was put on a direct flight on ANA Airlines from Tokyo to SFO.

My ticket was to/from Tokyo which wasn't very practical. If you can, arrive from one end and depart from another end of the country.

1) There are many. Pick the ones offering the best price and best times for your trip.

3) If you have a US passport, all you need is a passport for normal tourist trips.

4) Japan is not a third world country. You do not need any immunizations

5) Japan--all of it.

6) Nowhere

7) It varies. Just be aware if you plan to stay more than 30 days, and take prescription meds, you must get a customs declaration from the Japanese government prior to your trip. You are only allowed to take in a one month supply of prescription meds without this declaration. (Two months for OTC meds and vitamins.)

Additionally, Japan has a lot of unwritten rules regarding behavior. Learn them.

Also be aware that not all of Japan has adopted credit cards. Cash is still king. And not all ATM's in Japan accept foreign debit cards. The ones at Konbinis (convenience stores) usually do. You will find a convenience store about every block in Japan. They are a lot more than what we have in the US.

Get a Suica card--either physical or virtual. They can be used to pay for public transportation, at vending machines and at konbini.

We spent 3 weeks visiting in Narch 2025. I would say that Osaka is geared more towards younger travelers (we are in our late 60’s). The food scene is what draws them. We spent 4 nights but 3 would have been enough. Kyoto is beautiful and fun and walkable and a shoppers dream.
I really believe you can’t go wrong wherever you visit.

Thanks to all of you for your great tips.

Yes, @Frank II, I realize that Japan is not a third-world country, and that was not what my question was asking. Some areas require certain immunization records. I do see that Japanese Encephalitis is not prevalent in most areas, and really only around rice-growing regions and during the rainy season.

Thank you for the tip about the prescription medications, that will be useful for my husband to look into, as I hadn't seen that on any other travel site I have seen during my planning.

Again, thanks to all of you for taking the time to add your experiences.

Hi Susan -

I know you said a comfortable bed was high on your list but in my opinion if you don’t spend at least one night at a traditional ryokan you are missing out. It’s probably not a cheap option either, and you have to make your own bed (futon) on the floor and find it concealed in the sliding doors in the walls of the room (our room on entry was empty apart from a TV and a low table with our robes on it (you shower and change into the robes supplied).

The breakfasts can be a shock to the system. I recall that I was in no mood for the honey glazed deep fried whole grasshoppers after a heavy night in the nearby karaoke bar with a 2.00 am (so much younger then!) finish but overall the traditional Japanese inn experience is one not to be missed if you can track one down.

I love Japan - have been twice and would go again at the drop of a hat! Have a great trip!

Ian

@Ian--Thanks for that tip about the traditional ryokan. We would love that experience, and I think our old(er) bones could handle a couple of nights on a futon mattress. Trust me, in some places we have been in Europe, the mattresses felt like sleeping on a stone tablet.

I would not enjoy deep-fried grasshoppers even if I hadn't spent all night at a Karaoke bar (which sounds like a great time)!

I was once served a salad in a little beach town on the coast of Oaxaca, it was dark in the restaurant, and I bit into something hard, pulled it out of my mouth, and it was a huge cricket. I quickly learned the word "Chapulines"! Oh, the fun of travel!

Thanks for your suggestions.
Susanne

I was in Japan for 3.5 weeks in March. Japan is a fascinating country and I liked it much more than I thought I would. I used a company called Inside Japan to plan the trip, and was totally satisfied with their service. I know it’s not exactly what you are looking for, but it might work for you.

I had a phone consultation where I told my rep where we wanted to go, the kinds of experiences we were looking for, and what type of hotels we wanted to stay in. She offered suggestions and asked questions. Then she came up with a plan for me to review. I made some changes and then approved the final plan.

The thing you might like is that they can arrange a full day tour in the places you stay, which might fill your desire for an intro tour. We had terrific guides in Tokyo and Kyoto that provided so much information on the culture and history and things to do.

I thought the cost was very reasonable. Anyway, just something to think about. Whatever you decide, I hope you have a great trip.

Japan is super fun and is one of the handful almost perfect travel destinations: safe, clean, organized, scenic, delicious (not just Japanese cuisine), friendly, ...etc.

Do not go at the end of May/early June. This is the beginning of the rainy/storm season.
Spend some time there during sakura season. It's going to be crowded and somewhat pricey, but it's well worth it.

1. Usually Japan Airlines. If possible, fly their A351 aircraft from LAX or DFW to Haneda airport. It's an awesome aircraft.
2. I have never done tours, but I think a local guide may also work. Tokyo is fascinating, but can be intimidating, just like New York.
3. No. But I think you have to fulfill the online entry form before departure. Should be easy.
4. No.
5. Almost everywhere.
6. None.
7. It depends -- I have done short transit trips to 2-3 week trips. Japan never fails to excite me. However, you have to avoid the rainy and hot/muggyseasons.

@Barkinpark--We looked at weather for May, but you said it's hot and humid then? Would you think March 26-April 26th be a better time for the weather? I see that March is rainy, but maybe the last week in March would be ok.

We want to avoid Golden Week and also the hordes of crowds for the Cherry Blossoms.

Early May is really nice. Warm during the day and cool in the evening. It's a bit warmer at the beginning of June, but still not bad. The humidity doesn't kick in hard until after rainy season. Rainy season came early this year, at the beginning of June rather than the end, so it got a little more humid for the time of year.
If you go right after Golden week, the weather should be perfect. Make sure you arrive the day after Golden Week or later, the airports and trains can be quite crowded on the last day. On account everyone is heading home from their holiday.

Would you think March 26-April 26th be a better time for the weather? I see that March is rainy, but maybe the last week in March would be ok.

It's still pretty cold in Japan in March and the beginning of April. It's also VERY crowded because everyone wants to see the Cherry Blossoms.

May is warmer and soooooo much more chill.

I agree that May is better. I had great weather the week after Golden Week. As I said, it was hot/warm but very manageable. Most crowds I encountered were from big kids in field trips.

We did May last time and it is an excellent time, also means the baseball has started and this is a totally different experience to what you will be used to.
You will never leave any place without thinking you have seen it all.
1: airlines probably not relevant due to location - if you do book via japan airlines check as they do tourist free flights to get you out of the main spots - ie a freebie
2: always just wing it
3: again check locally - i know there was talk of them bringing visa's in
4: you'll be fine
5: loved it all
6: would have to be Nara if being honest
7: 3 weeks each time

About ryokan stays -- don't worry, as many ryokans offer rooms with regular beds. Choose a nice one with an onsen (hot spring) in your room. Relax and enjoy dinner and breakfast. Usually, these are multi-course feasts that will be memorable for a lifetime.

Lots of good questions and answers. I'll add one suggestion. A tour could help you get oriented, but so could a lot of advance reading and YouTube viewing. If you start in Tokyo, I think a great way to get started is to take one of the three food tours offered by Culinary Backstreets. The tours are close to a full day, not cheap, but they have really interesting guides, very small groups, and you'll get to know a bit about an area outside of central Tokyo and the main tourist sites. The guides will help you figure out customs for ordering and eating food, too.

This spring (2026), the weather after the cherry blossoms in central Japan and before Golden Week was beautiful.

1. So many best places! Kyoto or Nara plus others.
2. Osaka - just not my thing.
3. Many different stays, professional and personal, of varying lengths.