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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.
Things to DoTravel TipsMiyakojima Travel Guide: Beaches, Bridges, Cars and Direct FlightsMiyakojima has no rivers, so rain soaks into the limestone instead of washing soil out to sea. The beaches, the three toll-free bridges…Travel TipsJapan in August: The Hottest Month, Typhoons, Obon — and the Festivals That Make It Worth ItJapan in August: 32-37C heat, peak typhoon season and the Obon rush — but the best festivals too. Obon dates, Nebuta, Awa Odori and whe…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 a…