Plan Your Trip to Japan

By Shizuko Mishima, About.com Guide to Japan Travel

Now, you have decided to go to Japan. What do you need to do next? You might want to find out when the best time to visit Japan is or might need to decide places to stay in Japan. Let's start your travel planning from here.

1. Basics of Japan
2. Japan Maps
3. When to Go to Japan

4. Getting to Japan
5. Transportations in Japan
6. Places to Stay

Basics of Japan

Do you know about Japan well? If you plan to visit Japan, you might want to gather basic information about Japan, such as weather and money.

• Japan Country Profile
• Japanese Money
• Visa Related Links
• Local Time in Japan

• The Typical Japanese
• Japanese City Names
• Packing for Japan
• Etiquettes in Japan - Bowing

Japan Maps

Maps are essential for travel planning. Here are some Japan country maps and regional maps. Japan prefecture maps show some cities of main tourist interest in each prefecture.

• Asia Map
• Japan Map - Prefectures in Japan
• Clicable Map of Japan - Regions in Japan

• Tokyo Map - Wards and Cities
• Tokyo Maps
• Japan Map Index

When to Go to Japan

When is the best time to visit Japan? You can enjoy four distinct seasons in Japan, but it's good to know the climate. For example, Japan has a rainy season called tsuyu. Here are helpful information for you to decide when to go to Japan.

• Climate in Japan
• When to Go to Japan
• Rainy Season in Japan

• Golden Week in Japan
• Winter Holiday Travel
• Japanese Holidays

Getting to Japan

If you are visiting Japan for the first time, it's good to join a guided tour. Find great tours to Japan. Also, check to find discount airtickets to Japan.

• Japan Travel Deals
• Japanese Travel Agencies
• Cheap Flights to Japan

Transportations in Japan

How do you plan to travel around Japan? Taking trains is the most convenient way for getting around Japan. You might want to consider purchasing a rail pass.

• Cheap Flights in Japan
• How to Get to Tokyo from Narita Airport
• Airlines in Japan
• Airports in Japan
• Japan Rail Pass
• Railways in Japan

• How to Take a Train in Japan
• Tokyo Subways
• Shinkansen - Bullet Trains
• Before You Buy a Rail Pass
• Japan Bus Travel
• How to Take a Taxi in Japan

Places to Stay

Where would you like to stay in Japan? You have many choices. There are nice hotels, business hotels, capsule hotels, guest houses, Japanese inns, and more.

• Ryokan - Japanese Inns
• Guest Houses in Japan
• Homestay in Japan
• How to Stay at Japanese Inns
• Cheap Ryokan in Tokyo
• Shukubo - Temple Lodging in Japan

• Tokyo Hotel Listing by Price
• Kyoto Hotel Listing by Price
• Osaka Hotel Listing by Price
• Tokyo Capsule Hotels
• Osaka Capsule Hotels