Practical travel information to help you plan and travel Japan smoothly.
Shiga · Lake Biwa · Floating Torii Shirahige Shrine and the floating torii in Lake Biwa. A vermillion gate standing thirty metres out in Japan’s biggest lake. Mountains on the horizon. A small shrine across a busy road. Nothing about…
Japan · Payments · 2026 Field Report Japan cash vs card in 2026: what actually works, tested across all 47 prefectures. The old advice was “bring a wad of cash, Japan barely takes cards.” The old advice is dead. Japan…
Comparison · 2026 edition JR Pass vs Individual Tickets in 2026 — Honest Math Short answer: for most first-time visitors, the JR Pass stopped being worth it in October 2023. Here’s the long answer — with real numbers for four…
Japan is one of the easiest countries to travel in — once you know the small rules that aren’t in the guidebooks. Since 2024 several practical things have shifted: a tourist card got discontinued, Kyoto closed off private alleys, Mt.…
A week in Japan in 2026 costs anywhere from ¥60,000 to ¥350,000 depending on how you sleep, eat, and move. The yen is still weaker than it was five years ago, which helps international travelers — but the country has…
Kamikochi has no train station. No road open to private cars. Every single visitor arrives by bus — there’s no other way in. The 2026 season runs April 17 through November 15, and outside those dates, everything shuts down. I’ve…
![Mt. Fuji Huts 2026: Rooms, Meals & Booking Rules [7 Photos]](https://hiddenjapan-gems.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/top2-768x308.webp)
2026 Update: Yoshida Trail gate closes at 4:00 PM. No mountain hut reservation = no entry. Booking opens in early May. Read the full booking timeline below. Every Mt. Fuji climbing guide tells you to book a mountain hut. None…
2026 Update: The Ariake Ferry schedule has been adjusted for the spring season. We’ve updated all drive times from Tara Port and added new parking details for Unzen Jigoku based on our latest visit. Forty-five minutes on the Ariake Ferry…
Yamanashi · Mt. Fuji · 2026 Climbing Mt. Fuji 2026 Official opening dates, the new ¥4,000 fee, gate timings, and the four trails compared. Climbers silhouetted against a sea of clouds on Mt. Fuji’s upper slopes — the reason 300,000…
![A Night at Hoshinoya Kyoto: Boat Ride, Kaiseki & River Views [Stay Review]](https://hiddenjapan-gems.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_4741-768x432.webp)
2026 Update : Hoshinoya Kyoto continues to operate its exclusive boat access from the Arashiyama pier. Due to the increasing popularity of the Arashiyama area, we highly recommend arriving at the private waiting lounge at least 30 minutes before your…