Japan Tips: A Completely Stress-Free Experience for First-Time Visitors

Recommendation / Link	Brief Description
eSIM from Klook*	We used this eSIM in Japan. It worked reliably. We were very satisfied.
eSIM from Holafly*	This is where I currently book all our eSIMs for our trips. Use the code “GUDESPOTS” to get a 5% discount.
Easybank Credit Card*(VISA)	My actual credit card. Works reliably everywhere, including for rental car bookings abroad. Make payments and withdraw cash worldwide without fees.
C24 Credit Card*(Mastercard)	My debit credit card from Check24. Make payments worldwide for free, with no foreign currency fees. It comes with sub-accounts, perfect for managing your vacation budget.
Our Accommodation in Osaka*	Traditional accommodation with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a balcony, and located near the subway.
Our Accommodation in Kyoto	Traditional two-story Japanese-style house. Extremely authentic. We loved it.
Our accommodation in Tokyo	Industrial-style apartment in Shinjuku.
Google Flights	My go-to flight search engine. As a second option, I also check Momondo* and the airlines’ own offers.
Visit Japan Web	Official Japanese website for entry formalities and tax-free shopping.
Shinkansen Tickets	The official website for booking JR tickets for the Shinkansen.
DeepL Translation	The best app for translations. Better than Google Translate. Although you can now use just about any AI tool.

You’re planning your first trip to Japan and feel like you’re facing an insurmountable wall. Unfamiliar characters, massive metropolises with millions of people, a confusing train system, and the constant fear of making an expensive mistake while planning that will cost you precious vacation days.

I can put your mind at ease. It’ll work out just fine. Honestly. Japan is one of the best-organized and most tourist-friendly countries in the world—once you understand the system behind it. We spent a total of 16 days in Japan, and in this guide, I’ll provide you with a detailed, chronological roadmap and share our experiences.

Multi-stop flights instead of a traditional round-trip

The first—and most expensive—mistake often happens months before the trip: choosing the wrong flight route. Out of habit, many people book a classic round-trip flight to the same airport, usually Tokyo. The problem: You’re forcing yourself into a round-trip itinerary. If you end up in the south at the end of your trip, you’ll have to make an expensive and time-consuming trip back to Tokyo just to catch your flight home. That’s wasted vacation time.

Our strategy for the classic first-time visitor route is: multi-stop flights. The result of our research: We flew to Osaka, traveled across the country via Kyoto to Tokyo, and flew out from there. No retracing your steps, no unnecessary transfer times. When booking your flight, always check whether a layover that’s necessary anyway can be put to good use for a short visit—on our return flight, we extended our stopover in Seoul directly to three days.

Travel Duration and Destination Selection

We recommend an absolute minimum of 16 days for Japan, including travel to and from the country. Anything less than that just leads to stress. You want to understand the country, not just check things off a list.

That’s why we deliberately limited ourselves to three core destinations: Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. You really get to know the layout of a city when you spend at least three full days in one place. Otherwise, constantly packing your bags every other day ruins any chance of relaxation.

Entry and “Visit Japan Web”

As a German citizen, you don’t need a visa applied for in advance to visit Japan, nor do you need any special vaccinations. Upon entry, you’ll automatically be granted “Temporary Visitor” status for up to 90 days.

However, for a stress-free start, be sure to use “Visit Japan Web.” This is the Japanese government’s official digital platform. Before departure, you can conveniently enter your passport information, flight number, and the address of your first accommodation there, and generate a QR code at the end. With this code, you can use the modern “Joint Kiosks” at major airports and enter the country via the fast track.

An essential note regarding identification requirements: Japan has strict passport requirements. You must always carry your original passport with you when out in public throughout your entire stay. Copies are not sufficient in the event of a check.

The First 30 Minutes at the Airport

Your top priority at the airport is getting set up. You’ll need internet access and a way to pay for public transportation. The most efficient way to get internet these days is with an eSIM. No long lines for a physical SIM card, and no need to carry around an extra pocket Wi-Fi router. Download an eSIM in advance and activate it as soon as you land. Without a constant internet connection, you’ll be lost in Japan, since your most important tool is Google Maps.

Next, get a prepaid IC card. In Osaka, it’s called ICOCA; in Tokyo, it’s usually Suica or PASMO. Top up this card with cash at a vending machine, and from then on, just hold it briefly up to the scanner at every subway turnstile. No ticket hassle, no need to figure out fare zones. The amount is automatically deducted down to the last millimeter.

Transportation and Shinkansen Luggage Rules

Do you need a rental car in Japan? For our classic first-time visitor itinerary, the answer is a resounding no. The public transit network is flawless, extremely punctual, and runs on a tight schedule. Google Maps not only provides you with the exact connection but also tells you the price, the correct platform, and often even shows you which car to board.

For long distances, take the Shinkansen. Here’s an extremely important travel tip: If you’re traveling with large suitcases, you must reserve seats with oversized baggage storage (“Oversized Baggage Area”) when booking. Without this reservation, you risk fines or may not even be allowed to board the train with your large suitcases.

A Daily Schedule Without Planning Stress

The biggest mistake first-time visitors make is completely overloading their itinerary. No one can take in three museums and five temples in a single day. The key lies in a digital map. We simply marked all the places of interest on Google Maps with a pin in advance—without setting specific dates.

Once there, we committed to a maximum of one main destination per day, for which we’d booked tickets in advance. The rest of the day remained flexible, as we spontaneously connected nearby pins into a logical route. This way, you can go with the flow instead of rushing around chasing an Excel list. Also keep transit times in mind: A day spent traveling from Kyoto to Tokyo isn’t a full day of sightseeing.

Money and the Language Barrier

Japan is a highly technologically advanced country, but at the grassroots level, cash is still very much the norm. Admission fees for temples, donations for incense sticks, or street food are paid in cash. However, you don’t need to exchange yen in Germany beforehand; instead, simply go to the ATMs at convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson) once you’re there and withdraw cash fee-free using a travel credit card.

There’s no need to worry about the language barrier. The solution is the “DeepL” app for text translations and Google Translate for live translation of signs using your phone’s camera. The locals are also incredibly polite, helpful, and respectful.

The 3 Golden Rules of Behavior

If you want to return this respect, keep three simple rules in mind: First, tipping is not done in Japan. Ever. It’s often even taken as an insult. Second, there are hardly any public trash cans. Bring a small bag with you and take your trash back to the hotel. Third: Absolute silence is expected on public transportation. Cell phones must be on silent mode, and no calls are made.

The Cost of a 16-Day Trip

How much does a 16-day trip to Japan of this quality really cost in the end? Japan is considered expensive, but due to the extremely weak yen, it’s currently cheaper than it’s been in decades. We spent just under 3,000 euros per person, including flights.