Japan 2026

Practical Info

Flights, transport, money, weather, food, etiquette, and everything you need to know before departure.

Trip at a Glance

Arrive

June 5 — Tokyo (HND)

1:35 PM · 5 nights in the Ginza / Tsukiji area

Hakone

June 9 – 11 · Private leg

Ryokan stay · Not a group portion

Osaka

June 11 – 15 · 4 nights

Dojima / Umeda area · Day trips to Kyoto (Fri) & Nara (Sat)

Depart

June 15 — Tokyo (HND)

5:45 PM · Return to Tokyo by shinkansen on June 14

Quick Reference

CurrencyJapanese Yen (¥)

Rough exchange~¥150 = $1 USD

TippingNever

Voltage100V / Type A plug

Time zoneJST (UTC+9) · No DST

Emergency110 police · 119 ambulance

Tap waterSafe to drink

Book in Advance

Activity	City	Planned Date	Book By	How to Book
Sumo Stable Morning PracticeBook Now	Tokyo	June 8 (Day 4 morning)	By March 8	Via tour operator (e.g., Viator, GetYourGuide) — stables rarely accept direct foreign bookings
Ghibli MuseumBook Now	Tokyo	June 5–9 (any Tokyo day)	By May 10	Lawson convenience store ticket machine (in Japan) or via lawson.co.jp — tickets released on the 10th of each month for the following month
Sumo Experience Dinner	Tokyo	June 8 (Day 4 evening) — same day as sumo morning	By May 8	Via tour operator (Viator, Klook, or WithLocals) — several operators run chanko nabe + sumo demonstration evenings in Ryogoku
Yakatabune Dinner Cruise	Tokyo	June 7 (Day 3 evening)	By May 15	Via tour operator (Viator, Klook) or direct with Tokyo Yakatabune Association
Tokyo Giants Baseball	Tokyo	June 6 (Day 2 evening)	By May 24	npb.jp, Ticket Pia, or Lawson Ticket — check schedule at npb.jp for June 6 home game
Kabuki-za Single-Act Ticket	Tokyo	Any Tokyo evening	No advance booking	Single-act (hitomaku-mi) tickets sold at the door from 30 min before each act — ~$10–20. English audio guide available.
Mizuno Okonomiyaki (Dotonbori)	Osaka	June 13 (Day 9 dinner)	By June 6	Call directly (+81-6-6212-6360) or arrive at opening (11 AM) — queues form quickly

Everything Else

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Flights

—Arrive HND (Haneda) — June 5, 1:35 PM
—Depart HND — June 15, 5:45 PM
—Haneda is the preferred Tokyo airport — central, fast immigration, direct metro to Ginza

🚄

Getting Around

—Shinkansen Tokyo → Osaka (Nozomi): ~2 hrs 30 min · ~$100 per person
—Tokyo metro IC card (Suica or Pasmo): $1.50–$2.50 per ride
—Osaka metro IC card: same card works across all JR and subway lines
—Taxis: expensive but convenient for late nights — ~$2 base + ~$1.50 per km
—Kintetsu express Osaka-Namba → Nara: ~45 min · ~$5
—JR Osaka → Kyoto (Inari Station, direct): ~30 min · ~$2
—Hankyu Umeda → Kyoto (Kawaramachi): ~40 min · ~$3

💴

Money

—Japan is largely cash-based — carry $50–$100 in cash at all times
—Use 7-Eleven or Japan Post ATMs (accept foreign cards reliably)
—No tipping — ever. Not in restaurants, taxis, hotels, or anywhere else
—Major credit cards accepted at hotels and department stores; less reliable at smaller restaurants
—IC transit cards (Suica/Pasmo) can also be used for convenience store purchases

🌧

June Weather

—Rainy season (tsuyu) — bring a compact umbrella every day
—Tokyo: 64–82°F (18–28°C), high humidity, frequent light rain
—Osaka: similar to Tokyo, slightly warmer and more humid
—Hakone: low-to-mid 60s°F, often misty — layers recommended
—Rain gear: a light waterproof jacket is more practical than an umbrella in wind

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Food & Drink

—Casual meal (ramen, soba, curry): $6–$12 per person
—Mid-range dinner (izakaya, sushi counter): $20–$45 per person
—Kaiseki tasting menu: $80–$350+ per person
—Street food (takoyaki, tamagoyaki, onigiri): $1.50–$5 per item
—Beer at a convenience store: ~$2 · Beer at a bar: $5–$8
—Vending machines are everywhere — hot and cold drinks from $1.50

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Language & Etiquette

—English is limited outside hotels and major tourist sites — Google Translate camera mode is invaluable
—Bow slightly when thanking someone — a small nod is sufficient for tourists
—Remove shoes when entering a home, ryokan room, or any space with tatami mats
—Eat and drink while walking is frowned upon — stop at a stall or find a bench
—Escalators: stand on the left in Tokyo, right in Osaka (genuinely different)
—Quiet in trains — no phone calls, keep voices low
—Queuing is taken seriously — join the marked queue at train platforms

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Connectivity

—Pocket Wi-Fi rental: ~$5–$8/day, pick up at the airport on arrival
—eSIM (Airalo, Ubigi): cheaper option, set up before departure
—Google Maps works well for transit navigation — download offline maps for Tokyo and Osaka
—IC card top-up: at any station machine, accepts cash only
—Emergency number: 110 (police) · 119 (ambulance/fire)

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Health & Safety

—Japan is extremely safe — petty crime is rare, violent crime rarer still
—Travel insurance: strongly recommended, particularly for medical coverage
—Pharmacies (薬局 yakkyoku): widely available; staff may not speak English — bring a photo of any medication you need
—Tap water is safe to drink throughout Japan
—Heat and humidity in June: stay hydrated, use sunscreen, take breaks indoors