Are you considering travel to the home of sublime sushi, kawaii (cute) culture and J-pop? In 2026, Japan remains a relatively affordable destination that has lost none of its fascination for UK travellers.

We’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy several self-organised trips – it takes some planning – over the years. Having recently been asked for advice by a couple of first-timers, here are some of the tips Mrs H and I found most useful as novice travellers to Japan.

Though the country’s renowned springtime sakura zensen ‘cherry blossom wave’ is one of Japan’s top attractions for both locals and visitors, we always travelled in autumn. While popular due to its stunning foliage colours, autumn isn’t as overwhelmingly busy as sakura season – now is the perfect time to plan and book for this year.

Don’t try to see too much

Our top tip? Don’t try to see too much during your visit. Japan looks small but it is actually big. Even with world-class public transport, it’s easy to visit too many places, cover too much distance and experience nothing in detail. If you like train travel, a prearranged Japan Rail pass – and the legendary high-speed Shinkansen – is perfect. Buses are good too, but don’t rule out car hire, particularly outside major cities. We drove on Hokkaido and loved it – the Japanese even drive on the left like us!

Japanese is notoriously hard for native English speakers, but less challenging than it once was: bilingual tourist staff, translation apps, widespread English signage and Japanese willingness to help visitors make a big difference.

Learning some key words and phrases, such as Dōmo arigatō gozaimasu – thank you very much – works wonders and delights locals. So does polite Japanese-style bowing. By the way, tipping is generally not practised or expected, but do take some postcards – pretty Cotswold Villages or Gloucester Cathedral – as giveaways. They’re always well received!

Watch the movie ‘Lost in Translation’ before you leave. It gives an appetite-whetting taste of Japanese cities’ aural and visual impact that you’ll experience on first arrival. Another thing: you’ll be tired after the long flight, so plan ‘recovery’ days in Tokyo or Osaka before exploring further. And try to avoid Tokyo’s subway during rush hour – especially with lots of luggage.

Japan delights adults and kids alike

Visit Japan and, like us, we’re sure you’ll return. With its reputation for culture, cuisine, Akihabara’s electronics stores, wonderful scenery and more, it delights adults and kids alike. From Tokyo’s iconic Shibuya Crossing to Mount Fuji and Hiroshima’s profound poignancy, Japan won’t just reward your first visit – it will plant the seed for the next.



Al Hidden is a seasoned traveller and retired writer, delivering snapshots of the world to Gloucestershire 400 words at a time.