While Japan is known for it’s world class railway system and bullet trains, driving in Japan is an underrated way to see the hidden parts of Japan reachable by car. You can rent cars or even rent out a camper van with us to take on a couple day journey out of the city.. Here are some tips and info on how to drive in Japan legally so you can go out on your own amazing trip.

Driving rules in Japan

Most of the driving rules in Japan are similar to Western countries. For Americans, or any other countries who drive on the left - Japan drives on the right like most European countries. The Japan Automobile federation (JAF) does a good job at explaining the rules in depth here.

Drivers License

If you want to be driving in Japan, you need to have an International Drivers Permit (IDP) BEFORE you come to Japan. You cannot obtain one in Japan so it’s good to plan ahead. To get your permit, it usually does not require a test and you can obtain it for pretty cheap. When you go to car rentals in Japan, you will usually need to present your IDP, your home drivers license and possibly a passport. Based o the country you are from, there may be different rules. Please refer to the JAF website on IDPs here.

What can you do with a car in Japan?

If you have a jam packed schedule and only plan on visiting the main cities, it’s probably better to stick with their world class railways system. You can go anywhere in the city with a train, bus or taxi. In fact, having a car is probably a bigger hassle and a lot more expensive to use in the city. There are no places to park, parking is very expensive and there is traffic everywhere. However, if you have a more relaxed schedule and plan on venturing out of the city, you can hit up day trips from Tokyo at places such as Chiba, Shimoda, Izu, Hakone and Yamanashi. The countryside has unreal scenery. On long road trips, you can stop by rest stops in Japan. The rest stops are also worth a look. Each rest stop will have a small like convenience store, a food court (which some are known to have excellent food), bathrooms, sometimes hot springs/showers and even small activities/events. It’s easy to drive by them but make sure to stop by! You can also look into our Dream Drive tabs where you can book a camper van. We even have some itineraries that you can follow.

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So you’ve planned a trip to Japan. You’ve taken time off work, bought the plane tickets and eagerly waiting for the day to visit Japan. You might have a general idea of what to do in Japan and where to see. You already know some of the foods you want to eat. But, you want to make sure you don’t miss out on anything during your precious time in Japan. So, we’ve come up with a list of things to do in Japan during your stay here. In our list, we will have a general list of things to do, but have links to specific lists of things to do in Tokyo.

WHAT TO DO IN JAPAN: CHECKLIST

1. Visit shrines and temples: Visiting a shrine and a temple are a must during your trip to Japan. Here are some of the best shrines and temples in Tokyo.

2. Stroll around a Japanese garden: Japanese gardens are famous around the world. While Kyoto is famous for gardens, Tokyo still competes for having beautiful gardens.

3. Soak in an onsen: Onsen, or hot springs are famous in Japan due to it’s high volcanic activity. Places like the Oedo Onsen Monogatari is a nice place for foreigners.

4. Party in year round festivals: Depending on the time of year you come. You can participate in festivals and events. Don’t worry we have a list of famous events and festivals for every season!

5. Watch Sumo and Baseball: Sumo tournaments are held only 6 times a year. Three in Tokyo (January, May and September), one in Osaka (March), one in Nagoya (July) and one in Fukuoka (November). Baseball season is from March - October. Here’s our comprehensive Sumo and Baseball Guide.

6. Mt. Fuji: If you have a day to venture out into Mt. Fuji, it’s definitely a trip worth 1-2 days. You can either climb Mt. Fuji for a couple day adventure, or enjoy a nice view of Mt. Fuji accompanied with a scenic view of nature from Hakone. Mt. Fuji/Hakone is roughly 1-4 hours away from Tokyo depending on where and how you get there.

7. Eat sushi and ramen but….: Japan is home to the most Michelin stars in the world. There is more than just sushi and ramen. We have a full list of affordable Michelin recognized restaurants, foods to try and unique to drinks to sip on.

8. Eat and drink at an izakaya: Izakaya’s are drinking establishments in Japan that serve chicken skewers and alcohol. What more do you need?

9. Karaoke: Anyone who has seen the movie Lost in Translation knows that a night out at karaoke is a guaranteed fun night.

10. Art and history: Japan is no stranger to art and history - both contemporary and traditional. Some famous must see museums in Tokyo are teamLAB and Miraikan. See a full list of museums here.

11. Shop: Japan offers some of the most unique stores such as Don Quijote and very traditional stores that have been around for hundreds of years. Find out where to shop at on this full shopping guide list.

If you’re able to hit a good amount of the items on this list, we would hope that we answered your question in what to do in Japan. Of course there are many other activities not on this list that we would also recommend. For a breakdown of districts and stores to visit in districts you can see out tour itineraries page for more.

Photo Credit: Live Japan

A popular night time activity in Japan - especially among young people and salary men (working class people) - is hashigo-zake, or bar hopping. Tokyo is filled with thousands of bars tucked away in every nook and cranny of the city. Whichever city or town you hit in Tokyo, chances are you can bar hop at some local bar/izakaya.

A very common place to go bar hopping is at an izakaya. An izakaya is a drinking establishment that often serves grilled chicken skewers and other chicken dishes along with drinks. It’s common for salary men to go with their co workers to loosen up after work. Here are some of the most famous and popular spots in Tokyo:

1. Gado Shita - underneath the railroads of Yurakucho Station, you can find izakayas and bars tucked under the railways.

2. Omoide Yokocho (Piss Alley): A very small alleyway with dozens of very small izakayas and bars famous with both locals and foreigners.

3. Golden Gai: Opening at night and until early morning, Golden Gai is a community of bars in the darkened corner of Shinjuku. Often times, some places are reserved only for locals.

4. Asakusa Hoppi Street: It’s close to the world famous Sensoji Temple in Asakusa and filled with great izakayas and places for drinks. What more is there to ask? *Near the temple, Kamiya Bar sits near the station. Kamiya Bar is Japan’s oldest western style bar. They have their own signature drink called the denki bran which loosen you up for sure.

There are many other individual bars that have made it onto the best 50 bars in the world list. Check out the list of some of Tokyo’s best bars here. Also, ask a local Japanese tour guide to help you out in bars and izakayas as many places might not have foreign menus!

Tokyo Travel: The denki bran at Kamiya Bar

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Did you know you can create your own Cup Noodle at the Cup Noodle Museum in Yokohama? This fun and interactive museum allows you to explore the life of Momofuku Ando, the founder of Nissin Foods and the inventor of instant ramen, Cup Noodles and Space ramen. The museum features quirky exhibits, hands on workshops and a theater to learn about the history of Cup Noodles and understand the power of creativity and imagination.

The highlight of their museum is there Cup Noodle Factory. For an extra 300 Yen, you can purchase an empty Cup Noodle. You can then bring it to a work station where you can design the Cup to your liking. After your unique design is complete you bring it to the factory where the staff will help you pick your broth flavor and toppings. They seal it off for you and give you a cool little bag to keep it in so you can bring home to eat!

There is a lot to do around Yokohama and one of the highlights is this museum. In a full package deal, you can also tour other parts of Yokohama such as Minato Mirai and China town with the Cup Noodle Museum experience included.

Yokohama Travel: Make your own customized Cup Noodles at the Yokohama Cup Noodle Museum

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Garden art in Japan is a renowned practice that has received attention on the international level. Dating back to a little over a thousand years, the Japanese garden has evolved into different varieties and purposes. Visiting a garden in Japan, is a must do! Kyoto is famous for having some of the best gardens in Japan, but you can still find a good amount of gardens in Tokyo.

Here are some of the most recognized and photogenic gardens in Tokyo.

1. Kiyosumi Garden: This traditional Japanese garden features a pond and a tea house.

2. Happo-en: The name means “The Garden with 8 views”. It’s often used for photo shoots and weddings with it’s beautiful banquet halls connected to the garden.

3. Hamarikyu Garden: This garden offers a unique scenery with a traditional Japanese garden with a tea-house in the middle of the lake.

You can find a full list of some of the best gardens in Tokyo here.

Tokyo tours: The garden behind Nezu Museum in Aoyama

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Apart from Tokyo’s famous neon lights at night, late night drinking, bar hopping and mind boggling skyscrapers, the small district of Yanaka still has a shitamchi vibe - an old town feel reminiscent of Tokyo’s past decades.

Yanaka is arguably most famous for the Yanaka Ginza shopping street. It’s a shopping street lined up with all sorts of food joints, antique shops and cafes. It also has a cute cat theme to it. It’s a nice stroll where you can eat and drink a long the way and experience old town Japan.

Aside from this shopping street, Yanaka is also famous for its high concentration of temples. You can go temple hopping during the day and straight into bar hopping at night in the middle of Tokyo. Near the temples is another famous attraction of Yanaka - the Yanaka cemetery. This massive cemetery is where the locals lay to rest their loved ones. The tombs are decorated and landscaped and the paths are wide and pretty. The main road of the cemetery is lined up with cherry blossom trees making for a beautiful scenery in the spring time. Tokugawa Yoshinobu - the last shogun of the edo period also lays to rest in this cemetery. If you stroll around a little more, you might find the burial of Saint Nicholas - the first person to introduce the Eastern Orthodox Church to Japan. Yanaka, although quiet still holds many other attractions to stroll through.

If you have some time, you can even participate in a small green tea ceremony or a wagashi (Japanese sweets) making class over at Gallery Okubo. This family owned tea/antiques shop is a nice place to spend the afternoon to try their delicious tea and sweets. You can even book tours of the Yanaka area which includes the tea ceremony in a package.

Tokyo tours: Witness a green tea ceremony in Yanaka

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When you’re wandering the streets of Tokyo, it’s hard not to bump into a shrine or a temple. In fact, this is the case for almost every city/village/town in Japan. It is estimated that there are roughly 75,000-80,000 registered shrines and temples in Japan. While Kyoto is famous for having a high concentration of some of the most well known shrines and temples, Tokyo is definitely a contender in this category. Sure, it’s nice to explore Japan’s famous nightlife scenery and have an unforgettable night out at karaokes and bar hopping, but don’t forget to take some time to explore the traditional side of Japan through their shrines and temples.

What many tourists might not know is that there is a difference between shrines and temples in Japan. The key difference is that a shrine is for the religion of Shintoism, while a temple is for Buddhism. There are also contrasts in structural differences and manners where you can read about it here.

In your short visit to Tokyo, it can be daunting on deciding which shrine and temple to visit. There are over thousands of temples and shrines in Tokyo alone! For starters, the Meiji Shrine and the Sensoji Temple are arguably one of the most famous and popular ones. Check out some other must see temples and shrines in Tokyo on this compiled list of breathtaking shrines/temples in Tokyo.

Tokyo Guide: The Sensoji Temples Pagoda with the Sky Tree in the background.

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Not sure when to visit Japan? Well there here are some of the basics of the best time to visit Japan.

Periods you should be aware of

Japan has three major periods throughout the year where domestic travel rises, resulting in longer queues to going places and sightseeing, crowded trains and overall more expensive.

The first is New Years holiday. New Years holiday lasts from around the last few days of December and typically the first 3 days of January. New Years is considered Japan’s biggest holiday and it is when everyone goes home for New Years to get a fresh start into the new year. Everyone goes home…we mean it. Most shops/restaurants, sight seeing spots and events/activities will be closed making much of Tokyo look like ghost towns. However, if you are here during this time than you can certainly enjoy and partake in this festivity by visiting shrines and temples where New Years celebrations will be made.

The next is golden week. Golden week is typically near the end of April to the beginning of May (depends on the year). This week has consecutive holidays lined up where much of the week is taken off. Due to many people having this week off, it calls for a rise in domestic travel making it crowded everywhere you go.

The last is during Obon. Obon is a holiday typically the week of August 13-15. People go back home to celebrate the lives of deceased family members. Businesses and shops may be closed during this time and there might be crowding but it’s a bit more dispersed than the New Year holidays and Golden Week.

Best time to visit Japan

It’s hard to choose the best time to visit Japan - each season has something to offer. The winter (December-February) time can be quite romantic with lots of illumination throughout the city with possible snowfall. The fall (September - November) offers mild temperatures and beautiful autumn leaves. But, there could be some typhoon scares to be aware of. The summer (June-August), although is hot and sticky, is the season for festivities, activities and beach parties. Then there’s the spring (March-May) when the weather if perfect and if you’re lucky, the cherry blossoms are blooming. You can also check out our festivals/events guide page to know what annual festivals and events occur during each season.

However, overall if you’re looking for ideal conditions, there’s a few ways to approach this decision. The spring time is considered one of the best times to visit Japan. The weather is beautiful and the cherry blossoms come out where everyone celebrates by outdoor picnics and events. But, due to the popularity in cherry blossoms, it could get quite busy. The fall time is another option, especially during the months of October - November. With ideal weather conditions and nice autumn leaves it’s also a relatively quiet period for domestic and international travel. Check out the graph at the bottom of the page to understand the busy periods of Japan

Overall it really depends on you!

It really depends of when you can come to Japan and what you would like to see as well. Just remember depending on when you come to Japan, the scenery could be completely different! No mater what time of year you come, it’s guaranteed that you’ll enjoy it or find something interesting. Figure out what’s best for you.

Photo Credit: Live Japan

The JR lines or the Japan Railways offers a Japan Rail Pass that foreigners can claim to ease travel throughout Japan. It can be used on any JR Lines (The pass can only be used on JR Lines only. This includes bullet trains. Cannot be used for Tokyo Metro and other private lines such as Tokyu) throughout the country making it a very popular pass to get for foreigners. They offer two passes: one is a green car pass and the other is a standard pass. The green car pass gives you access to all JR Line AND to the green cars on JR Lines which are comfier and more spacious cars. The standard pass does not include the green cars. The passes have three different options of purchase - 7 days, 14 days or 21 days.

Who’s eligible for the Japan Rail Pass?

The pass is only available to foreigners who are visiting Japan (special exceptions for Japanese nationals who reside abroad). The foreigner must be a visiting tourist from abroad for sight-seeing under the entry status of “temporary visitor”. The Japanese immigration law states that visitors can stay in Japan for 15 or up to 90 days for sight-seeing. Upon entry into Japan, you MUST get this stamped on your passport to be eligible for the pass. *If you go through customs through the automated machine, you will not get a stamp. Please go through a manned station or ask where you receive the stamp.

Ways to purchase

• Purchase pass on reservation website. Pick up the pass at a JR office found at the airport or at major JR stations.

• Purchase an exchange order at a JR-designated sales office or agent overseas. Pick up at designated offices after arriving in Japan

• Purchase at a ticket office in Japan. Check offices available here

  *Note: Bring your passport when purchasing and picking up your pass. You need to show your visitor stamp that you received at customs.

Pricing and options

IF PURCHASED AT A TICKET OFFICE OR ONLINE

7 day Green Car JR Pass: 44,810 YEN for adult, 22,400 YEN for children

14 day Green Car JR Pass: 72,310 YEN for adult, 36,150 YEN for children

21 day Green Car JR Pass: 91,670 YEN for adult, 45,830 YEN for children

7 day ordinary JR pass: 33,610 YEN for adult, 16,800 YEN for children

14 day ordinary JR pass: 52,960 YEN for adult, 26,480 YEN for children

21 day ordinary JR pass: 66,200 YEN for adult, 33,100 YEN for children

IF PURCHASED AN EXCHANGE ORDER AT DESIGNATED OFFICES OR OVERSEAS TRAVEL AGENT

7 day Green Car JR Pass: 39,600 YEN for adult, 19,800 YEN for children

14 day Green Car JR Pass: 64,120 YEN for adult, 32,060 YEN for children

21 day Green Car JR Pass: 83,390 YEN for adult, 41,690 YEN for children

7 day ordinary JR pass: 29,650 YEN for adult, 14,820 YEN for children

14 day ordinary JR pass: 47,250 YEN for adult, 23,620 YEN for children

21 day ordinary JR pass: 60,450 YEN for adult, 30,220 YEN for children

The Japan Rail Pass is worth it if:

• You are on a short trip (7-10 days) and moving quickly through cities

• You are visiting many places and travelling long distances. For example if you are moving through major cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima with round trip, you would be getting your moneys worth.

• You are not on a backpackers budget. There are overnight buses that are much cheaper, but take MUCH longer for backpackers.

  These cases would be easier to have the pass. Make sure to purchase the pass AHEAD OF TIME. More info about the passes here.

  The Japan Rail Pass might NOT be worth it if:

• You are backpacking or have a lot of time in Japan. The JR pass must be used consecutive days from when you pick up the pass.

• Your only destinations is one region of Japan. For example only the Kanto area (Tokyo, Fuji, Yokohama) or the Kansai area (Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Nara). Regional passes like the Mt. Fuji pass, Kansai thru pass or Hakone pass are cheaper and give transit access.

  We find that if you are exploring Japan more thoroughly and with time, it’s easier and cheaper to alternate between buses, train tickets and using regional passes.

  Overall

  If your circumstances are unique you can always use the JR pass calculator to see if your trip is worth more or less than the pass here. Depending on your trip, it could be well worth purchasing the JR purchase. Make sure to check out the https://japanrailpass.net/en/ website for full information on purchasing your JR pass.

Photo Credit: JR rail pass website

One of the greatest observation decks in all of Tokyo. This observation deck features a 360-degree observatory overlooking all of Tokyo. It also includes a bar, comfortable seating, and unique light shows to enhance your experience 230 meters above the ground.

Availability: 7 days per week. any time from 10:00 - 22:30 (Last admission at 21:20).

Duration: 45 minutes - 1 hour

Price: 25 USD for adults (18+ years old), 20 USD for kids (6-17 years old), 7 USD (3-5 years old).

Location: This experience is in the Shibuya district of Tokyo. If you include this experience in your tour we will also show you around Shibuya. More information on Shibuya can be found here.

This can be booked as an add-on (extra) to a private customized tour. Please select this ‘extra’ during the check-out when booking your tour.