Practical travel information to help you plan and travel Japan smoothly.
Verdict First: Who Japan Is Better For If you have only five days for your first international trip and want a predictable experience where plans are less likely to fall apart, Japan generally works better. The country’s infrastructure and systems…
New Year’s Greeting 明けましておめでとうございます。 In Japan, we say:“Akemashite omedetō” = Happy New Year“Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu” = Let’s have a good year together This year, I made a quiet resolution. Not to chase something new, but to reconnect with what…
Visiting a Japanese shrine during the New Year period is a memorable experience, but many foreign travelers find the customs around Hatsumōde (the year’s first shrine visit) confusing. Questions about proper etiquette, when to go, and what to do can…
Date: 2025-12-25 (JST) Navigating Japan’s extensive train and bus network can feel overwhelming. While several transit apps promise to simplify the process, they often create a new layer of confusion. Many travelers are unsure which app to use, what the…
Money & cash · 2026 edition Japanese bank branches keep banking-business hours that surprise foreign visitors — weekdays only, 9 to 3 in many cases, locked tight on national holidays, and shut for almost a week at New Year. The…
This article explains how to use Japan’s highway toll system when you rent a car. It focuses on the three main payment methods: renting an ETC card, paying with cash or credit card, and using regional expressway passes. The goal…
This article is a practical guide to Japan’s prepaid IC cards, not a travelogue. It clarifies that these cards are for payment, not discounts, and addresses the common confusion travelers face regarding which card to buy, where to get it,…
Riding a Shinkansen or limited express train in Japan requires two separate tickets — a Basic Fare Ticket (乗車券) for distance and a Limited Express Ticket (特急券) for speed and seat. Local trains and subways use one ticket or an…
Travel Tips · 2026–2027 A practical calendar for what stays open and what shuts down — last normal day Mon 28 Dec 2026, closed 29 Dec – 3 Jan, back to work Mon 4 Jan 2027. Updated Sep 2026 Closed:…
This article explains the practical rules of photography etiquette in Japan. It is not a guide to finding photogenic spots, but a manual for understanding what you can and cannot photograph. We cover the unwritten rules for temples, people, shops,…
Field notes, weekly
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Nearly every image on Hidden Japan Gems was photographed by me on a Sony α7 across five years of walking Japan; a few licensed photos fill the gaps. Please don't re-use my photos without permission — reach out if you'd like to.
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