Japan
Neon Tokyo, temple-filled Kyoto, Mount Fuji views and the bullet train, in a country where every detail is done well.
In this guide
When to go
Cherry blossom usually reaches Tokyo and Kyoto in the last week of March and the first week of April; it is spectacular and busy, and hotels sell out months ahead. Golden Week, from late April to early May, is a Japanese holiday period best avoided. June brings the rainy season, and July and August are hot and humid. October and November are superb, with clear skies and autumn leaves peaking in Kyoto in late November.
Winter is cold and dry in Tokyo, with clear Mount Fuji views, and deep snow in Hokkaido and the Japanese Alps for skiing.
Where to stay and how to plan the route
The classic first trip is the Golden Route: four nights in Tokyo, a night near Hakone or Lake Kawaguchi for Mount Fuji, then three nights in Kyoto with a day in Nara and an evening in Osaka. Our Tokyo and Kyoto holiday follows it, and the cherry blossom group tour, led by Kevin D'Souza, times it for the blossom.
Send big suitcases ahead by luggage forwarding and travel light on the bullet train. Stay near a major station, such as Shinjuku or Tokyo Station, to save time. Hana Kimura plans every Japan itinerary personally; read her first-timer's guide before you go.
Things to do
- Shibuya Crossing from street level and from above at night
- Senso-ji in Asakusa in the early morning
- Mount Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi or a Hakone ropeway
- Fushimi Inari's thousands of torii gates at dawn
- Arashiyama bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji garden
- Kiyomizu-dera and the lanes of Higashiyama
- Nara's deer park and the giant Buddha at Todai-ji
- Street food in Dotonbori, Osaka
Food, money and practical tips
Halal dining is growing: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka have certified halal restaurants, and major stations and airports have prayer rooms. Seafood and vegetarian dishes are good backups, but watch for mirin and sake in sauces. Cash is still used in small places, so withdraw yen at convenience store ATMs. A rechargeable transport card covers trains, buses and vending machines. Tipping is not done and can cause confusion. Speak quietly on trains, queue neatly and carry your rubbish with you, as public bins are rare.
Rules change; we confirm the current requirements before you apply.
Japan holidays from Dubai
A small escorted group from Dubai, maximum 20 travellers, led by Kevin D'Souza through Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka at the height of sakura season, late March to early April 2027.
Four nights in Tokyo and four in Kyoto, travelling independently with private guides on three days, reserved bullet train seats on the Mt Fuji side and your suitcase sent ahead.
Visa services for Japan
Japan: questions we are asked
Do UAE residents need a visa for Japan?
What is the best month to visit Japan?
How many days do we need in Japan?
Is Japan good for families?
Can we find halal food in Japan?
What is the weather like in Japan in December?
Travellers back from Japan
We wanted Japan in autumn without the standard route. Joanna built twelve days around the Kiso Valley post towns, Takayama and Kanazawa before ending in Kyoto for the maple colours. Every ryokan was different, every train connection worked, and the plan arrived as one clear document.
The Japan visa went through without a hitch in the end. We had to provide an extra three months of bank statements after the first check, which delayed the submission by a week. Ana explained why and kept us posted at every step.
Eight nights in Tokyo, Hakone and Kyoto, travelling independently but planned to the minute. Hana gave us a rail pass guide, a list of small local restaurants and a night in a ryokan with its own onsen in Hakone, where we woke to Mount Fuji on a clear morning.
