About
An independent guide, built like it matters
Japan changed faster than the guidebooks could keep up: a major rail-pass price hike, the cashless revolution, new tax-free rules. The result: millions of first-time visitors planning trips with forum posts from five years ago. Japan Travel Navi is our answer — a small, fiercely maintained guide that treats accuracy as the whole product.
Every page is dated
Each guide and destination page carries a "Verified" date — the day its facts were last checked against official sources. If a page is older than three months, treat it as a prompt for us to re-check it.
Two sources or it doesn't ship
Pass prices, tax-free rules, booking policies and opening hours are confirmed from at least two independent references — official portals, licensed operators, or recent on-the-ground reports — before we publish them.
No sponsored anything
We don't sell tours, we don't take placement fees, and when a famous sight isn't worth your limited days, we say so plainly. Recommendations reference neighbourhoods, not pay-to-play venues.
Local-language first
Our writers read Japanese-language official announcements directly, so policy changes reach this site in days — not months after they show up in translated forum posts.
Image credits
All photography on this site comes from Wikimedia Commons contributors under Public Domain, CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA licenses. We're grateful to the photographers who make open travel knowledge possible. Licenses are listed below; CC BY and CC BY-SA photos are used with attribution to their authors.
| Used on | Photo | Author | License |
|---|---|---|---|
| destinations/ | Beppu Umi-jigoku04n4272 | 663highland | CC BY 2.5 |
| destinations/ | Beppu City | Japanexperterna | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Beppu Kannawa Onsen01n4272 | 663highland | CC BY 2.5 |
| destinations/ | Myoban Onsen 01 | STA3816 | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Lake Kinrin in Yufuin, Oita - Aug 24, 2018 (1) | HyunJae Park | Public domain |
| destinations/ | Dancing fountains, Canal City, Fukuoka, Japan.jpg | OKJaguar | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | 20100719 Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine 3328.jpg | Jakub Hałun | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Nakagawa River from Fukuhaku Deaibashi Bridge 4.jpg | そらみみ | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Bodhisattva of Fishes and Buddha of Mackerel in Nanzoin Temple in Sasaguri, Kasuya, Fukuoka.JPG | そらみみ (Soramimi) | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Ōhori Park Matsushima viewed from Shōgetsubashi Ōhorikōen Chūō-ku Fukuoka 20260609 154945.jpg | Hirho | CC BY 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Nakasu Yatai Stalls (19979437930).jpg | Yoshikazu TAKADA from Tokyo, Japan | CC BY 2.0 |
| destinations/ | Aerial view of Goryokaku(26262233707) | MIKI Yoshihito | CC BY 2.0 |
| destinations/ | Mount-Hakodate Night-view | MaedaAkihiko | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Fishing for squid, Hakodate Morning Market, Hokkaido, Japan | OKJaguar | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Motomachi Catholic Church in Hakodate Hokkaido Japan01n | 663highland | CC BY 2.5 |
| destinations/ | Hakodate Bay seen from Mount Hakodate in sunset time | 掬茶 | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Late autumn in Onuma Quasi National Park | 掬茶 | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Ancient Cedar Avenue, Hakone old road - Hakone, Japan - DSC05941.jpg | Daderot | CC0 |
| destinations/ | View of Mount Fuji from Lake Ashi.jpg | Quercus acuta | CC0 |
| destinations/ | Torii on Lake Ashi @ Hakone Shrine (13776878594).jpg | Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France | CC BY 2.0 |
| destinations/ | Hakone Open-air Museum 20211202-5.jpg | Suicasmo | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Ōwakudani Station 20211202.jpg | Suicasmo | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Hakone Ropeway - Hakone, Kanagawa, Japan - DSC07952.jpg | Daderot | CC0 |
| destinations/ | Himeji Castle, November 2016 -02.jpg | Martin Falbisoner | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Engyoji Maniden in 1,1.2007.JPG | by Reggaeman | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Himeji castle in may 2015.jpg | Nikos Kitsakis | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Himeji Koko-en Garden NIK 0898.jpg | Netnet1000 | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Hakuturu-sake-museum.jpg | Bittercup | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Hiroshima Castle, West view 20190417 1.jpg | DXR | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Atomic Bomb Dome, Hiroshima, South view 20190417 1.jpg | DXR | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | 20181111 Itsukushima Shrine torii-2.jpg | Balon Greyjoy | CC0 |
| destinations/ | Hiroshima-Style Okonomiyaki (40283556800).jpg | Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA | CC BY 2.0 |
| destinations/ | Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park cenotaph.jpg | TimMilesWright | CC0 |
| destinations/ | 20100722 Hiroshima Shukkeien 4387.jpg | Jakub Hałun | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Enoden train @ Hase station @ Kamakura (9399520921).jpg | Guilhem Vellut d'Annecy, France | CC BY 2.0 |
| destinations/ | Daibutsu of Kotoku-in.jpg | あかれぎ | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Tsurugaoka Hachimangu 001.jpg | Ocdp | CC0 |
| destinations/ | Hase-dera Temple, Kamakura, Japan (14645090803).jpg | Mustang Joe | CC0 |
| destinations/ | Sea sparkle at Kamakura Yuigahama Beach, Japan on March 2017.jpg | Doricono | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Komachi Dori-Kamakura.jpg | Urashimataro | Public domain |
| destinations/ | Kanazawa Kanazawa-jo Ishikawa-mon Außen.jpg | Zairon | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | View towards Hanami-bashi with sakura, Kenroku-en, Kanazawa, 2016.jpg | DimiTalen | CC0 |
| destinations/ | Higashi Chaya District (50153812728).jpg | Raita Futo | CC BY 2.0 |
| destinations/ | View of Kasumigaike Pond at Kenrokuen.jpg | Tbatb | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Nagamachi samurai district.jpg | sergejf | CC BY 2.0 |
| destinations/ | Kanazawa Omicho Market, Japan (48876956676).jpg | dconvertini | CC BY-SA 2.0 |
| destinations/ | Arima Onsen Kobe05s5s3200.jpg | 663highland | CC BY 2.5 |
| destinations/ | Kobe beef meal served in a steakhouse in Kobe.jpeg | ZhengZhou | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Kobe Port Tower and Harborland at night 20190202-1.jpg | そらみみ | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Weathercock House Kobe Kitano Ijinkan 風見鶏の館（旧トーマス住宅）.jpg | Manish Prabhune | CC BY 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Kobe Meriken Park01bs3200.jpg | 663highland | CC BY 2.5 |
| destinations/ | Night View from Mount Rokko 2008-02.JPG | Mugu-shisai | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Koyasan - Koyasan894 | lumoplank | CC0 |
| destinations/ | Danjô-garan (Wakayama Kōyasan) Temple hdsr S5 to02 | Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert | CC BY 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Koyasan-Okunoin-sando | KENPEI | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Kongobuji Temple, Koyasan, Japan - Banryutei rock garden | Daderot | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Lanterns inside Toro-do, Okunoin, Koyasan, 2016 (2) | DimiTalen | CC0 |
| destinations/ | Buddhist vegetarian food, Shukubo of Kongosanmaiin - May 3, 2011 | Szabolcs Arany | CC BY 2.0 |
| destinations/ | Arashiyama-Bamboo-Grove-Sunset.jpg | Bjørn Christian Tørrissen | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Fushimi Inari Taisha- Part II - FushimiInari243.jpg | lumoplank | CC0 |
| destinations/ | Shirakara Canal, Gion, Kyoto.jpg | MichaelMaggs | CC BY-SA 2.5 |
| destinations/ | Yasaka-dori early morning with street lanterns and the Tower of Yasaka (Hokan-ji Temple), Kyoto, Japan.jpg | Basile Morin | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Golden Pavilion Kinkaku-ji 2024.jpg | Nacaru | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Stage of Kiyomizu dera 01.jpg | Houjyou-Minori | CC0 |
| destinations/ | View of the Former Dutch Trading Post on Dejima from Tamae Bridge, Nagasaki, 20240815 1501 3720 | Jakub Hałun | CC BY 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Glover Garden Nagasaki-150821367 | Immanuelle | CC BY 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Night View of Nagasaki Port 20151024 | そらみみ (Soramimi) | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Nagasaki City view from Mt Inasa01s5 | 663highland | CC BY 2.5 |
| destinations/ | Oura Catholic Church - Nagasaki,Japan | Michael Crossroad | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | 20190202 Nagasaki Peace Park Peace Statue-3 | Balon Greyjoy | CC0 |
| destinations/ | Atsuta-jinguu torii.JPG | Saigen Jiro | CC0 |
| destinations/ | Nagoya Castle(Larger).jpg | Base64 | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Skyscrapers of Meieki from Heiwa Park.jpg | Alpsdake | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Oasis 21 and Nagoya TV Tower.JPG | Alpsdake | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Ōsu Kannon (Naka-ku, Nagoya) VLux5 hdsr d03.jpg | Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert | CC BY 4.0 |
| destinations/ | MLX01-1 SCMaglev and Railway Park.jpg | Morio | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Deer of Nara, Japan; August 2018 (02).jpg | Steffen Flor | CC BY-SA 2.0 |
| destinations/ | 003 Nara deer in Japan - deer of Nara Park under autumn leaves.jpg | Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) Photo portfolio | CC BY 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Stone Lanterns lead to The Kasuga Shrine, Nara, Japan.jpg | Ray in Manila | CC BY 2.0 |
| destinations/ | Naramachii02n4592.jpg | 663highland | CC BY 2.5 |
| destinations/ | Nigatsu-do, Nara (3810585513).jpg | Andrea Schaffer from Sydney, Australia | CC BY 2.0 |
| destinations/ | Tōdai-ji Daibutsuden, June 2019.jpg | Cun Cun | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Nikko Toshogu Yomeimon gate (9411949884).jpg | Maarten Heerlien from Voorschoten, The Netherlands | CC BY 2.0 |
| destinations/ | Jizo alley, Kanmangafuchi abyss, Nikko (2483536474).jpg | KimonBerlin | CC BY-SA 2.0 |
| destinations/ | Kegon Taki.jpg | Jordy Meow | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Lake Chuzenji and Mt. Nantai view from Mt. Hangetsu Observatory.jpg | Miyuki Meinaka | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Shinkyo (Nikko) -2.JPG | Saigen Jiro | CC0 |
| destinations/ | Three Wise Monkeys of Nikko Toshogu - May 23, 2017.jpg | foooomio | CC BY 2.0 |
| destinations/ | White sand blue water - panoramio.jpg | jared goss | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Whale shark at Churauma Aquarium, Okinawa.jpg | Mokkie | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Okinawa Ocean Expo Park Emerald Beach hdsr Vlux5 02.jpg | Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert | CC BY 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Naha Kokusai Street 202005 01.jpg | Kugel~commonswiki | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Onna Okinawa Japan Cape-Manzamo-01.jpg | CEphoto, Uwe Aranas | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Naha Okinawa Japan Shuri-Castle-01.jpg | CEphoto, Uwe Aranas | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Donjon of Osakajo 大坂城天守閣 - panoramio.jpg | lienyuan lee | CC BY 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Dōtonbori at night, Osaka (19551420339).jpg | Kristoffer Trolle from Copenhagen, Denmark | CC BY 2.0 |
| destinations/ | Neon signs in Dotonbori at night,16th August 2014 (1).JPG | Tokumeigakarinoaoshima | CC0 |
| destinations/ | Kuromon Market - panoramio.jpg | DVMG | CC BY 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Shinsekai Tsutenkaku at night 2022-04-23.jpg | Dick Thomas Johnson | CC BY 2.0 |
| destinations/ | UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN GATE.jpg | Tokumeigakarinoaoshima | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Vintage beer barrels at Sapporo Beer Museum, Sapporo, Hokkaido.jpg | Choi2451 | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Sapporo TV Tower at Odori Park 01.jpg | ノボホショコロトソ | CC BY 4.0 |
| destinations/ | City nightscape of Sapporo from Mt. Moiwa 20260703a.jpg | 掬茶 | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Odori Park (15982613668).jpg | redlegsfan21 | CC BY-SA 2.0 |
| destinations/ | Sapporo Snow Festival 2025 (8846078).jpg | U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Fischer | Public domain |
| destinations/ | Night view Sapporo Susukino.jpg | Purity Standard | CC BY 2.0 |
| destinations/ | Sendai statue Date Masamune | Tōru Komuro | Public domain |
| destinations/ | Matsushima Bay - Matsushima6238 | lumoplank | CC0 |
| destinations/ | Jozenji-dori 2022 | 掬茶 | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Fukuura.bridge | ブルーノ・プラス | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Osaki Hachiman-gu 20130819b | Tak1701d | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Zuiho-den12s3200 | 663highland | CC BY 2.5 |
| destinations/ | Shirakawa-go Full view | MaedaAkihiko | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Myozenji of Shirakawago | Alpsdake | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Shirakawa Go At Night | Yoshiyuki Ito | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Ogimachi Village-01 | Bernard Gagnon | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Wada House-01 | Bernard Gagnon | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Takayama Matsuri-2017-5.jpg | Chme82 | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | 260922 Sanmachi Takayama Japan01s3.jpg | 663highland | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Japan 110416 Hida No Sato 05.jpg | Oren Rozen | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Morning market (11272886764).jpg | KimonBerlin | CC BY-SA 2.0 |
| destinations/ | Hida Takayama old town streets (48519369602).jpg | Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan | CC BY 2.0 |
| destinations/ | Sake barrels outside brewery in Takayama, May 2017.jpg | Celuici | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| destinations/ | Shinjuku nights - Flickr - Franck Michel.jpg | Franck Michel from Antibes, France | CC BY 2.0 |
| destinations/ | Torii gate for the Meiji Shrine (14628328081).jpg | Mustang Joe | CC0 |
| destinations/ | Kaminarimon (Fūraijinmon) at Sensōji in Asakusa, Tokyo, 2019 - 412.jpg | Another Believer | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo, 20240822 0931 5358.jpg | Jakub Hałun | CC BY 4.0 |
| destinations/ | Tokyo Skytree in winter.jpg | VaneTrz20 | CC0 |
| destinations/ | Tsukiji Outer Market.jpg | Christophe95 | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| guides/ | Gachapon.jpg | Charles Nguyen | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| guides/ | Cherry blossoms @ Meguro River (13592700445).jpg | Guilhem Vellut | CC BY 2.0 |
| guides/ | Karuizawa - Karuizawa6410.jpg | lumoplank | CC0 |
| guides/ | Torii gate for the Meiji Shrine (14628328081).jpg | Mustang Joe | CC0 |
| guides/ | Tokyo Disneyland 006.jpg | Emran Kassim | CC BY 2.0 |
| guides/ | Mt. Fuji Yoshida Trail Jun 21 621am.jpg | Photos of Japan | CC0 |
| guides/ | Shibuya crossing at night, Tokyo, Japan.jpg | Joli Rumi | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| guides/ | Sushi platter, Nikko, Japan.jpg | Joli Rumi | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| guides/ | N700 in Tokaido Shinkansen &Mt.Fuji.jpg | Charlie fong | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| guides/ | Yen 2.jpg | Astelus | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| guides/ | JapaneseMacaqueM2180.jpg | Fg2 | Public domain |
| guides/ | Holiday Packing List - Packing Luggage for Vacation.jpg | Familydestinationsguide.com Images | CC BY 2.0 |
| guides/ | Koban (police box) from Sudo-cho.jpg | MichaelMaggs | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| guides/ | Niseko United Ski Resort in Hokkaido Japan.jpg | Alisterio1010 | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| guides/ | Meiji Shrine, Tokyo; April 2009 (01).jpg | MIKI Yoshihito | CC BY 2.0 |
| guides/ | Kibune station automatic ticket gates.jpg | Hahifuheho | CC0 |
| guides/ | Tokyo-International-Airport T3 Arrival-lobby.jpg | MaedaAkihiko | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| guides/ | Our room at Seikansō Ryokan (6156061472).jpg | Maarten Heerlien | CC BY 2.0 |
| itineraries/ | Looking up the Nakasendō in the central part of the village, Tsumago-juku, Nagiso, 2016.jpg | DimiTalen | CC0 |
| itineraries/ | Akihabara at night.jpg | Stéfan Le Dû | CC BY-SA 2.0 |
| itineraries/ | Cherry blossoms and boat at Chidorigafuchi.jpg | Kirin7739 | CC BY 4.0 |
| itineraries/ | Mount Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi 20170206.jpg | Suicasmo | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| itineraries/ | Ramen-ajinodaiou001.JPG | Gpx-evo | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| itineraries/ | Mount Yufudake and Yufumi-dori Street in front of Yufuin Station.jpg | そらみみ | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| itineraries/ | Lanterns inside Toro-do, Okunoin, Koyasan, 2016 (2).jpg | DimiTalen | CC0 |
| itineraries/ | Matsumoto Castle05s5s4592.jpg | 663highland | CC BY 2.5 |
| itineraries/ | Mount Zao Winter Miyagi 12 Feb 2021.jpg | Raita Futo | CC BY 2.0 |
| itineraries/ | Itsukushima-jinja torii at sunset, Miyajima, Japan, 20240816 1812 4144.jpg | Jakub Hałun | CC BY 4.0 |
| itineraries/ | 小樽雪あかりの路2013（Otaru Snow Light Path 2013） - panoramio (1).jpg | t-konno | CC BY-SA 3.0 |