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Travel Tips
Practical know-how that makes a Japan trip run smoothly — visas and entry, money and payments, eSIM, the departure tax, and local etiquette. The essentials so you are never stuck at the airport, a restaurant, or a shop.
Travel TipsJapan in July: What the Weather’s Really Like (and How to Love It Anyway)What's Japan like in July? Hot and humid (30-34C), with a rainy-season tail then clear summer. City-by-city weather, tsuyu end dates, h…Things to DoTravel TipsOkinawa’s Blue Cave: Snorkeling & Diving at Cape MaedaA complete guide to Okinawa's Blue Cave at Cape Maeda: snorkel or dive (no licence), beach vs boat entry, tour prices, the best time to…Things to DoTravel TipsOkinawa Churaumi Aquarium: The Complete Guide to the Whale-Shark TankA complete guide to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium: the whale-shark Kuroshio Sea tank, feeding times, 2026 ticket prices, the free dolphin s…Things to DoTravel TipsWhy Okinawa Is a Different Japan: The Ryukyu Kingdom StoryWhy Okinawa isn't quite Japan — the Ryukyu Kingdom, the 1609 Satsuma invasion, the 1879 annexation, the 1945 battle and the American de…Food & DrinkGetting AroundThings to DoTravel TipsWhere to StayOkinawa: The Complete Guide to Japan’s IslandsEverything for a first Okinawa trip — when to go, renting a car, the Blue Cave and Churaumi, the Kerama, Miyako and Yaeyama islands, wh…Things to DoTravel TipsPokéPark Kanto: The Complete Guide to Tokyo’s New Pokémon Theme ParkEverything about PokéPark Kanto, Japan's first permanent Pokémon park at Yomiuriland: the 600-Pokémon forest, rides, shows, 2026 ticket…Things to DoTravel TipsTokyo Disney, Done Right: Disneyland vs DisneySea, Must-Rides & Beating the LinesTokyo Disneyland vs DisneySea: which park to pick, 2026 ticket prices, the new Fantasy Springs, Premier Access strategy, and how to get…Getting AroundTravel TipsJapan’s Departure Tax Is Now ¥3,000 — What It Means for YouJapan's departure tax rose to ¥3,000 on 1 July 2026. Who pays, who is exempt, how it is collected in your airfare, and the other airpor…Getting AroundTravel TipsNarita or Haneda to Tokyo, Fast and CheapThe best way from Narita or Haneda Airport to central Tokyo in 2026: Skyliner, N'EX, Keikyu, Monorail and limousine bus compared by tim…Travel TipsCash or Card in Japan? The Answer Surprises PeopleHow much cash to bring to Japan, where cards work, how to use 7-Eleven ATMs on a foreign card, always pay in yen, and the 1 November 20…