The Best Online Resources for Planning a Trip to Japan

Japan is currently closed to most international tourists, but it's never too early to start planning a trip! I've compiled a list of the best online resources for Japan travel planning, including everything from safety apps to Instagram accounts. If you're hoping to travel to Japan in the future, you'll find these resources extremely helpful. 

This is not an exhaustive list, but these are the online resources that I've found most useful when planning my many trips to Japan. Do let me know if there's anything I've missed in the comments! 

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links for JR Pass. I only include affiliate links for products and services that I use and believe in. I have travelled using a JR Pass several times and always recommend it to friends and family. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

getting started

Japan is a big country with a complex culture and countless incredible things to see and do. Planning a trip to Japan can feel daunting at first, especially if you only have a limited amount of time, but the websites below will help you get started. 

japan-guide

This comprehensive website is an excellent place to start your travel planning. If you're not sure where you'd like to travel to in Japan yet, try searching by region or interest. Once you have a rough itinerary in mind, you will find detailed information about how to get to and around each area of Japan. There are also sections of the website which aim to address specific traveller needs such as travelling in Japan as a Muslim, travelling with children and accessible travel in Japan. 

One of the things I like most about japan-guide is that it's so up-to-date. There's a list of sights that are undergoing renovation and construction work, and cherry blossom and autumn colour reports are published each year. You can also find relevant travel alerts such as volcano closures and, of course, information about the Covid-19 pandemic.  

matcha

Matcha is a web magazine with 3.4 million monthly visitors - so it must be doing something right! 

There's plenty of general travel information on Matcha, but it's the detailed articles and guides that keep me coming back. You'll find everything from a guide for vegan travellers to a guide to Fukushima, one of the prefectures that were affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. 

Another excellent feature of the website is that you can view it in 10 languages, including easy Japanese (やさしい日本語), which is perfect if you're learning Japanese and want to get some practice in while you plan your trip.  

live japan

Live Japan's "how to" section is a fantastic resource for first-time travellers to Japan, with articles covering topics such as eating with chopsticks and visiting Japanese shrines. 

You can also use Live Japan to learn some useful words and phrases ahead of your trip. This article about how to say no to unnecessary plastic packaging in Japanese is particularly useful, as is this list of phrases to use when staying in a hotel or ryokan.  

instagram inspiration

For many of us, vicarious Instagram travel is the only kind of travel we've been able to do since the pandemic started. After our travel plans were cut short and we returned to the UK (we're still here 18 months later!), I didn't feel like looking at peaceful Japanese temples and Tokyo street photography on Instagram. Once I was over that initial lockdown low, I started finding new Japan-based accounts and saving posts for future trips - 113 saved posts and counting! Check out my favourite Japan Instagram accounts below. 

@japan_travelistagram

Japan_Travelistagram is my favourite Japan Instagram account and I've already added a ton of places to my must-visit list thanks to the recommendations on here. The account is run by a Japanese woman who works in the tourism industry and she shares so much quality content that you could plan a pretty great trip to Japan using just her account. She shares detailed itineraries and lots of dessert and cafe recommendations - another reason I love this account! 

@visitjapanjp

This is the account for the Japan National Tourism Organisation (whose website is also worth a look) and they share breathtaking photos from every corner of the country. Following this account is also a great way to find other Japan-based photography and travel accounts - just check out the captions to see whose photo is being shared. 

@thewanderingcam

If you're hoping to visit Japan during cherry blossom season, make sure you follow The Wandering Cam. This account is run by a self-titled sakura hunter who lives up to the name by sharing stunning sakura spots from around the country. The Wandering Cam also sells a beautiful cherry blossom guide for Tokyo which will help you get the most out of your springtime trip. 

@tanaka_tatsuya

Tanaka Tatsuya is a miniature and mitate (the ancient Japanese tradition of likening everyday objects to other things) artist whose creativity brings a lot of joy to my Instagram feed. Much of his work references traditional Japanese culture or Japanese pop culture, and typical Japanese food items also feature heavily. I'm not going to try and describe his work as there's no way I can do it justice, so you'll have to take my word for it that you won't regret giving him a follow. 

Tanaka's book "Miniature Trip in Japan" is a beautiful and unique way to learn about some of Japan's most famous sights, celebrations, folk tales and food.  

@ig_haruchan

This photography account focuses on Kyoto and Osaka and captures the beauty of both traditional and modern Japan. It's a particularly good account to follow if you want to visit lots of temples and shrines in Kyoto as you'll find the locations in all posts. 

@tokyo_streets_shots

If you're dreaming about visiting Tokyo, follow this account. It captures everything that's wonderful about the city: the hustle and bustle, the tiny izakayas, the neon lights, the quiet backstreets, the impressive architecture. You'll be booking a flight in no time! 

@blossomtheproject

Blossom The Project focuses on mental health and social justice issues and most posts are in English as well as Japanese. Although many of the topics discussed are global issues, some posts focus specifically on what's happening in Japan. If you're interested in learning more about Japanese society, this is a great account to follow. 

Japan travel blogs

The travel blogs below are mostly or entirely focussed on travel in Japan and the bloggers behind them share lots of recommendations that you likely won't find in guidebooks. 

away from origin

Natasha is an American expat in Japan and her blog and Instagram are full of useful travel tips, recommendations and inspiration. I particularly like her posts about Fukui, a non-touristy rural prefecture where she used to live and work. Away From Origin also offers free resources, including a handy Japanese study kit, which has lots of useful words and phrases and a list of recommended language apps to download before your trip. 

ryokou girl

Tanja, who runs Ryokou Girl, has written tons of useful posts and itineraries, especially for first-time visitors. If it's not your first trip to Japan or you want to escape the crowds a bit, check out her suggested day trips from Tokyo. I haven't heard of any of the cities she recommends, but they're high on my list for my next trip to Japan. 

onigiro

Onigiro is a great looking site with guides to less well-known cities, such as Tottori and Ise, as well as seasonal guides and itineraries.  

Nagoya Foodie

If Nagoya is on your Japan itinerary, make sure you check out Nagoya Foodie. Lena, who founded Nagoya Foodie shares everything you need to know to plan a trip to Nagoya, including hotel recommendations, transport tips and day trip suggestions. As the website name suggests, there's a big focus on food with restaurant reviews and descriptions of Nagoya's speciality dishes. You can also download a free list of the best food to try in Nagoya and join one of Nagoya Foodie's tours. 

all things tokyo

As much as I encourage people to get out of the cities and explore less touristy parts of Japan, Tokyo was my home for three years and it remains one of my favourite cities. It's also easier than you might think to experience Tokyo away from the tourist traps, and seeing as it's where most people fly into, it's well worth at least a few days of your itinerary. 

dessert highway

My list of ten hidden gems in Tokyo is an excellent place to start if you want to see more than the main tourist sights or if you're eager to avoid crowds as much as possible. You can also use my itinerary for Harajuku and Shibuya to plan a day in this popular part of the city. 

time out tokyo

You've probably come across Time Out at some point in your travels as they have a presence in most major cities. As you'd expect, Time Out Tokyo is a comprehensive guide to the city with plenty of restaurant and bar reviews which you can filter by area, price range and star rating. 

I particularly like Time Out Tokyo's One day in... neighbourhood guides. A sprawling megalopolis like Tokyo can be quite overwhelming so spending a full day in one area is a good way to get to know a single neighbourhood.

Time Out Tokyo also has an LGBT section with news articles and recommendations for LGBTQ+ friendly venues. 

tokyo cheapo

If you're on a budget, you'll want to check out Tokyo Cheapo and their list of 101 Cheap and Free Things to Do in Tokyo. They also have cheapo tips for finding accommodation, eating out and travelling further afield. 

Even if you're more of a mid-range or luxury traveller, Tokyo Cheapo is still worth a look for their detailed area guides and event listings.  

go tokyo

Go Tokyo is the official Tokyo travel website of the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau (TCVB). 

You can search for things to do in Tokyo by interest, area or by the month you plan to visit. You will also find lots of practical tips, such as how to stay connected while in Tokyo, advice on the best time of year to visit, and how to take advantage of tax-free shopping.

It's a little known fact that Tokyo prefecture is home to several stunning islands which would make for a memorable off-the-beaten-path adventure. Go Tokyo's Izu and Ogasawara Islands section gives an overview of each of the islands, including how to get there and some ideas for things to do and see. 

Back on the mainland, if you want to experience a different side of Tokyo, head to the waterfront section which focuses on things to do on and along the city's waterways. 

metropolis

Metropolis is a free English magazine with an excellent website. Alongside event listings and restaurant reviews, Metropolis has an in-depth travel section with off-the-beaten-path neighbourhood guides, recommendations for quiet beaches near Tokyo and hotel reviews. 

Although Metropolis focuses mostly on Tokyo and the surrounding areas, their culture section is worth a browse no matter where you're planning to travel to in Japan. If you're an audiophile, you'll want to check out the regular round-ups of new music releases to add to your "Japan Travel Planning" playlist. If you're more of a bookworm, you're sure to find something to read before or during your trip thanks to Metropolis's lists of recommended Japanese novels and reviews of new releases.    

You can pick up a physical copy of Metropolis at various locations around Tokyo, but you can also read all their past issues online. 

getting around

Given that Japan is home to some of the world's most densely populated urban areas, navigating public transport can be a bit overwhelming. The resources below will be a huge help when it comes to train travel, but you may need to hire a car to explore some of the country's more rural areas. For more information on car hire in Japan, check out Japan Guide and Tokyo Cheapo. 

hyperdia

When it comes to planning train routes in Japan, there's no better site than hyperdia. It's simple, easy to use, and an absolute lifesaver when it comes to navigating trains and the underground in Japan's biggest cities. 

When searching long-distance routes, such as Tokyo to Hakata or Tokyo to Sapporo, hyperdia's results will often show options that include flights. To filter this out, click on "more options" before searching or scroll to the bottom of the search results page to search again with your desired filters. 

jr pass

Travelling by train is undoubtedly the best way to see Japan, and if you want to visit several destinations during your trip, Japan's shinkansen (bullet trains) are the way to go. Shinkansen tickets aren't cheap, but a JR Pass, which you can buy online, will save you money. You can calculate exactly how much you'll save using their fare calculator.

JR Pass offers 7-day, 14-day and 21-day unlimited train passes which you can use on all JR trains and shinkansen (excluding Nozomi and Mizuho). The JR Pass isn't limited to train travel; you can also use it on JR local buses and the Hiroshima-Miyajima ferry. Even if you don't plan to travel long distances in Japan, you could still save money on train travel with one of the 21 regional passes available. 

You can also buy pocket WiFi when you order your JR Pass, and it's worth considering as free public WiFi isn't that common in Japan. Somehow, when I lived in Tokyo, I managed with a flip phone and no on-the-go internet access, but now I always buy pocket WiFi. It makes navigating using hyperdia and Google Maps so much easier. You can collect and drop off pocket WiFi bought through JR Pass at all major airports.

getting off the beaten path

As with any country, there is so much to see outside of Japan's most famous tourist sights, and given that English is a lot less common in rural areas, it becomes quite the adventure. Having said that, you don't necessarily have to travel to the remotest areas to get off the beaten path. There are plenty of smaller cities to explore and lots of hidden gems in even the most well-known locations. 

dessert highway

If you want some inspiration for off-the-beaten-path trips in Honshū (Japan's largest island), check out my detailed itineraries for Niigata City and Gifu prefecture. 

people make places

People Make Places focuses on the people behind some of the most beautifully designed and lovingly-run shops, restaurants, galleries, cafes and bars in Tokyo (and a few in Kamakura). Browse the People & Places library and you'll find out why a fourth-generation kōji maker is so passionate about this unique fungus that grows on rice, why a former chef started making traditional Japanese sweets and how a bartender has created a truly unique cocktail experience. 

Many of the small businesses featured on PMP are located away from the main tourist sights and it's, therefore, an excellent resource for planning some offbeat itineraries in the capital. 

tokyo weekender

Although Tokyo Weekender is an expat magazine focussed on life in Japan's capital, the travel section of their website has tons of articles to inspire your adventures. Their recommendations cover every region of Japan, so you're sure to find something to add to your itinerary. 

japantravel

JapanTravel is a great place to find off-the-beaten-path recommendations, thanks to its community of over 30,000 members. I found one of my favourite Tokyo hikes on the site and also used the Nakatsugawa and Mino guides to help plan a road trip to Gifu prefecture. 

two scots abroad

This is not a Japan-focused site, but Two Scots Abroad's post on 11 Secret Destinations in Japan has some great suggestions for getting off the beaten path. Most of the destinations are in Hokkaido, so you could use the post to create an alternative itinerary to the usual Tokyo - Kyoto - Osaka - Hiroshima route. (Not that I'm dissing that route - it's exactly what I did on one of my first trips to Japan!)  

goats on the road

There are some excellent travel guides on Goats on the Road, including guides to Aomori, Okayama and Akita. I also recommend this guide to sento (public baths) in Tokyo. Although many tourists visit onsen (hot springs) in Japan, fewer go to sento, and they are a great way to experience a different side of city life. 

eating gluten-free in Japan

Avoiding gluten in Japan can be tricky, but gluten-free diets are becoming popular and awareness about gluten intolerance and celiac disease is increasing. It's generally a lot easier to find gluten-free food in major cities than it is in the countryside, so consider stocking up on snacks where you can or bringing some supplies from home. The resources below will help to take some of the stress out of your travel planning. 

gf guide japan

This website is a game-changer for gluten-free travellers heading to Japan, especially if you're celiac.

Planning where to eat out as a gluten-free traveller can be challenging, but GF Guide Japan has a map that highlights hundreds of places that offer gluten-free food. The map is colour coded according to whether the location is 100% gluten-free, has gluten-free options, or has been known to accommodate gluten-free diets. Fellow sweet-toothed travellers will be happy to hear that there are plenty of bakeries on the list!

GF Guide Japan's blog has useful articles on topics such as what convenience store products are generally safe for gluten-free travellers, which Tokyo coffee shops also serve gluten-free treats and a gluten-free guide to Fuji Rock music festival. 

All the information provided by GF Guide Japan is detailed and well-researched, making it an invaluable resource for anyone concerned about avoiding gluten in Japan. 

dessert highway

During my last trip to Japan, I made it my mission to find the best gluten-free desserts in Tokyo and I was pleasantly surprised by how much choice there was, including two 100% gluten-free bakeries. Read about the amazing desserts I found here. 

eating vegan/vegetarian in Japan

Travelling in Japan as a vegetarian or vegan can also be hard due to ingredients like dashi (stock that is usually made from fish) which are often present in otherwise vegetarian/vegan dishes. It is, however, possible to eat well with the help of the resources below. 

the shooting star

The Shooting Star is a wonderful responsible travel blog run by Shivya, a vegan traveller. Although it's not always easy to find vegan food in Japan, Shivya managed to spend a whole month in the country and has written about her experience in this detailed guide. It's a must-read if you're a vegan or vegetarian traveller and her tips and recommendations will make you feel more confident about finding suitable things to eat.

Don't miss Shivya's other Japan posts which include a guide for first-time travellers and a look behind some of Japan's most interesting traditions.

happy cow

Happy Cow is a website and app that helps you search for vegan and vegetarian food around the world. Although you're unlikely to get results for the most rural locations in Japan, you will find a decent amount of listings in most major cities, including Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya and Himeji.  

learning japanese

It's always a good idea to learn a few polite phrases in the language of the country you're travelling to and ,thankfully, there are now a lot of online resources to help you do so. Below are the resources I think are most helpful for learning everyday words and phrases that you'll need while travelling. I haven't included any language learning apps because I haven't used them for Japanese, but I do know people who have found both Duolingo and Memrise useful for learning basic Japanese. 

japanese pod 101

Japanese Pod 101 is a subscription-based online learning tool that is particularly useful for complete beginners. It's free to set up an account and you can then stick with the free lifetime account or upgrade to the Basic, Premium or Premium PLUS subscription. You can access plenty of content with a free account, including lists of vocabulary and key phrases, a dictionary, and some lessons. The Japanese Pod 101 YouTube channel is also a great resource with both language-focused videos and practical videos to help you once you get to Japan. 

italki

iTalki is an online language learning platform with over 15,000 teachers offering 1-to-1 lessons at affordable prices. You can choose a teacher based on your goals, interests or budget, and you can use trial lessons to see if your chosen teacher is a good fit for you. 

Lessons on iTalki likely won't be necessary if you're only going to Japan for a short trip. But if you're looking at spending longer in Japan or if you're planning to spend a lot of time in rural areas, getting a few lessons in beforehand could help you master some of the basics like greetings and ordering in a restaurant. 

I've been having Japanese lessons on iTalki since May and they are one of the highlights of my week. I'd never had online lessons before and was pleasantly surprised at how effective they are and that the sense of connection you have with an in-person lesson isn't lost. What would we do without technology, eh?!  

staying safe

In general, Japan is an incredibly safe country to travel in, but the one thing you do need to be aware of are potential natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons. The websites and apps below will help you stay safe and informed should anything happen. 

japan meteorological agency

As you might imagine, this site is home to everything weather-related, including forecasts, weather warnings, earthquake information and the routes of any nearby typhoons. If you plan to travel to or climb any of Japan's volcanoes, you can also use the website to check for volcanic warnings. 

safety tips

Safety Tips is an app that can send you alerts for earthquakes and contains lots of helpful information for emergency situations. To set up the alerts, the only information the app needs is your country of origin, language and up to five locations that you would like to receive earthquake early warnings for. Once this is set up, you can also see if there are any active weather warnings for the areas you've selected. 

The "learning materials" section of the app is particularly useful. You can find flow charts that show you what to do in various emergencies, such as if an earthquake has occurred or if a heat stroke alert has been issued. 

The app also includes emergency numbers, useful Japanese phrases and a list of embassies and consulates for your country. 

nhk world-japan

NHK is Japan's public broadcaster and NHK World-Japan is their international broadcasting service. NHK World-Japan has an app that is available in 18 languages and can send you an alert if there is an earthquake or tsunami warning. You can also get news updates, including live news coverage, through the website or app. 

Whatever you most want to see and do in Japan, I hope these resources will help you plan the trip of a lifetime. For more inspiration and recommendations, download my free Tokyo guide below, or send me an email. I'm always happy to chat about travelling in Japan! 

Happy travel planning! 

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