Travel to Japan in Spring 2025

Gosh, it seems like late planning to me for spring in Japan. I think that is a very popular and expensive time as cherry trees are blooming. Check out Japan-guide.com. Good luck!

Thanks, Tammy, for the tip - let’s hope it’s not too late to make this Spring!

I'm a total Ricknik and visited Tokyo for only two days and three nights in 2019. I wish I had had more time to stay longer and wish I had visited other cites in Japan.

My favorite site was the stunning Rikugien Garden: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3026.html). It was started by a warlord around 1710 and thus is older than the U.S.

I also loved the Senso Ji temple site in central Tokyo: https://www.senso-ji.jp/english/.

The Tokyo National Museum was excellent: https://www.tnm.jp/?lang=en. As you see from my name, I live in Chicago. Unbelievably, I found an artifact from the 1893 Columbian World's Exposition held in Chicago at the Tokyo National Museum.

Finally, I love the Tokyo subway. It's very complex, even for a frequent rider of transit, but the Lonely Planet guidebook has everything you need to know about it. Just riding the Tokyo Subway is a blast.

Take a look at this thread https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/beyond-europe/japan-5af6c49f-5393-499f-b2aa-6cf6b4392ecb

Definitely read through the thread mentioned above.

Quick recs:

When to travel: You will want to avoid sakura (cherry blossom) season (varies by year), and Golden Week (around the 1st week of May). Both are extremely busy, and popular areas will be crowded and expensive. We traveled last year from about May 10-30, which had beautiful weather and fewer crowds.

Sumo: The national sumo tournament takes place 6 times a year in designated cities; the May tournament is in Tokyo, and you can get ticket info here:

https://www.sumo.or.jp/EnTicket/year_schedule/

We went last May and it was definitely a highlight of our Japan trip, though tickets can be hard to get.

If you're baseball fans, you might also be able to see a professional baseball game. Tokyo has 2 teams.

Good luck, and enjoy. We absolutely loved Japan.

Some visit Hiroshima as a day trip from Kyoto. Possible because of the bullet trains.

Hakone is a popular stop between Tokyo and Kyoto. Hiking, volcanic activity and exploration at Owakudani, art museums, history - Takaido Road. Mt Fuji views, although not "at the base".

Hakone is right on the main train line between Tokyo and Kyoto. I can recommend the Hyatt Hakone. Not your definition of "authentic", I suspect. If not to your liking, there are many onsen that you might be more interested in. I (female) have traveled with a male relative about your nephew's age. We stayed at the Hyatt which is why I thought of it. Comfortable for both of us.

I would start checking into accommodation immediately. I've had last minute business trips - if "authentic" places are booked, try Hilton, etc. Many hotels don't open booking earlier than 6 months out, but I would start checking - Kyoto will be very popular during May.

The "Golden Route" is popular with Japan travelers: https://www.japan.travel/en/in/itineraries/golden-route/

Osaka and Kyoto are commuting distance. If you wanted to visit both, choose one for hotel and day trip to the other (my opinion). Saves changing hotels. My 30 something traveling companion loved Osaka. I can take it or leave it....

I usually plan my trips to Japan on relatively short notice - currently looking at March - accommodations will be available for the Spring though may be harder to find in heavily touristed areas such as Kyoto.

End of April, beginning of May is Golden Week - three closely space holidays so a tough time to travel and find accommodations but outside of that finding hotels should be doable.

Consider using the Japan Digital Entry site to ease your entry into the country: https://services.digital.go.jp/en/visit-japan-web/
You will get a QR code for your phone and that will speed you through the process.

A Suica card - https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/welcomesuica/with_ic_special_pass.html - is a handy way to pay - just tap and go. Can be used on trains, subways, convenience stores and many other locations. The Welcome Card expires so I now use the Suica app on my phone rather than the card. Easy to use and easy to reload. In one instance my wife realized her eSuica did not have enough money to pay for her train ride so she reloaded it on the spot. The hard cards can be reloaded as well but only at certain JR stations.
We purchase eSims for our phones and that makes things easy for travel for us.

HIroshima - Kyoto - Tokyo is a lot of ground to cover in that short a time. Doable but you will spend a lot of time traveling. Though transit is Japan is so good that will not be unpleasant.

And while credit cards are easy to use, we still found cash handy in some places and at odd times. The ferry from Shikoku to the art island of Naoshima was cash only when we traveled there this past November. Ran into a few other cash only spots though that is more likely if you are off the beaten path so to speak. Easy enough to get cash at an ATM if needed.

Have fun. Japan has become my favorite place to travel - clean, safe, easy to get around and generally very nice people. (When my wife dropped 20,000 (roughly $US150) on the ground pulling something out of her pocket we only discovered it when someone came running down the street after us to give it to her. And we seem to have gotten somewhat old and gray and so people constantly try to help us. In Osaka, one woman insisted on carrying my wife's bag up the stairs at the train station!)

Visited Japan some years ago as a delegate from our sister cities association visiting our Japanese Sister City. A friend and I Flew into Osaka and went straight to Kyoto for a few days. Found a nice traditional guest house (Ryokan) near the station and temples that worked for us. Enjoyed Kyoto, temples and gardens and the incredible Kyoto station a destination in itself with a department store, supermarket, restaurants, a roof garden, oh and trains, bullet trains and regular commuter trains. From Kyoto went to Okayama and then on to Nimmi where we were guests of the town and were treated royally. After the stay in Niimi we spent a couple of days in Kurashiki enjoyed.wandering the old town area along a canal Wherever we went in Japan people were friendly and helpful. There was good multi-lingual signage in hotels, airports and train stations and staff usually wore badges indicating language spoken.

Thanks so much everyone for the great advice. Many of you suggested Japan-guide.com which has been very helpful along with the Monday night taping on Japan. I have successfully made the basic reservations to go in March, avoiding the cherry blossom season seemed to make availability relatively easy. Now I’m just filling in the days - with so many choices, it’s not been easy to decide!

One question I had was when using Japan-guide and moving on to Booking.com for reservations, one of the accomodation providers wanted to “check our passports” on the Booking.com message Center. This seemed odd to me, especially given the message Center warns against sharing personal and payment information on it. The accomodation provider says they are merely trying to follow the law and given the property is unattended, this is what they need to do. Have any of you ever heard of this?

Thank you for coming back with the update! I agree that there are too many choices for 10 days.

You've probably found them, but here are a couple Kyoto specific websites that are good:
https://www.insidekyoto.com
https://kyoto.travel/en/

I particularly recommend Arashiyama for some exploration - short train ride from Kyoto. You'll find lots of info. The Bamboo Grove if you and nephew are new to bamboo groves is fun (go early - popular), boat and scenic train ride options, hiking, temples, preserved street, more. The area is quite popular, but I have been in heavy tourist season and it's easy to avoid crowds outside the small village.

https://www.asisbiz.com/Japan/Kyoto/pages/0-Kyoto-walks-Map-Arashiyama-Area.html

Edit - adding to respond to your question re passports. I have not been asked for a passport number when booking, but on check-in, my passport along with travel companion's has always been photographed/copied. I wouldn't over-worry giving the passport number up front. I have needed to give a passport number in some Asian countries in a couple circumstances - all were legit. (caveat - personal experience, no particular expertise)

I have been asked to submit passport information or photo prior to arrival a couple times in Western Europe (Netherlands, and Italy) but it has been asked a day or two before my arrival. In once case it was for speedier check in and in another because it was unstaffed at my arrival time. For the latter, I had a choice of submitting via Booking.com messaging or via WhatsApp.

Everyone has been so helpful - so I’ll try to tap into the larger brain one more time.

I was wondering if anyone had advice on getting yen - is it best to pick up after getting to Japan or should we get some cash before we go? We’re flying into Osaka, if that makes a difference.

Thanks again!

I get yen from my US bank before a trip if I don't have enough left over from the last visit. That is my personal preference. I may pay a bit more in poorer exchange rates, but, for me, it's one less thing to remember on arrival.

I know many people prefer to get foreign currency at an ATM on arrival. Here is the link for Kansai services: https://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/service/money
No personal experience.

I am not a big ATM user in Japan (or Europe for that matter). My understanding is that not all ATMs in Japan take foreign cards. More info from the US Embassy in Japan which might be helpful. https://jp.usembassy.gov/services/emergency-financial-assistance/#:~:text=VISA%2C%20VISAELECTRON%2C%20PLUS%2C%20MasterCard,Bank%20ATMs%20in%20convenience%20stores.

Thanks! I think I’ll take your advice and get some yen before we head out!

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One word, ATM.
Don't even bother overthinking it. Don't you use an ATM in the US. Well, same for anywhere overseas.
I typically use an ATM in the airports on arrival. I have done this all over the world, including "third world" countries. You google maps can be used to find ATMs near you. My only caveat is to try and use a bank ATM and not the for profit ones.
The beauty of an ATM is that you can take out whatever amount at will. Right now you are wondering how much to get in JPY at your local bank before you go. What happens if you do not get enough?
Then what, ATMs?

"A considerable number of automatic teller machines (ATMs) in Japan do not accept credit, debit and ATM cards that are issued outside of Japan."
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2208.html

In the OP's situation, I would find it best to be aware of situations specific to Japan,. The above can be validated by any number of other articles, blogs, and various forum discussions.

I, personally, avoid over reliance on ATMS wherever I am - US, Europe, Asia, Australia. Why? My card was skimmed - hopefully a one-off, but once burned, twice careful for me. Others are free to differ!

(And, yes, I do carry an ATM card for emergency use. I have very rarely needed it.)

Thanks so much for all your advice - and the trip to Japan is now very close!

While in Kyoto, I wanted to have a special meal and “Kyo-Kaiseki” sounds very nice (high Japanese/Kyoto cuisine with multiple courses). Has anyone done this and/or know how I could go about getting recommendations/reservations at a place which offers it?

Appreciate any views….