🧳 Plan your Japan trip, step by step

Read these in order: first pick your dates around the holidays and festivals, then learn the temple and shrine basics, and finish with what to book and eat.

1Japan Public Holidays 2027: Full List, What Each Day Means and Golden WeekAll 17 Japanese public holidays in 2027 with weekdays, what each day means, Golden Week, long weekends and bank, museum and shinkansen tips. Checked 20 Oct 2026.
2What to Wear in Japan in November: Weather by City and Week (°C and °F)Tokyo drops from 65°F highs to 45°F nights within November, and Sapporo goes below freezing. Official 30-year averages for six cities, week by week, and what to pack.
3Japan New Year Holiday 2026–27: What's Closed and What's Open (Dec 29–Jan 3)Banks shut Dec 31–Jan 3 and some ATMs stop on New Year's Eve. What still runs, from 7-Eleven ATMs to all-night shrine visits, with official dates.
4Autumn Festivals in Japan: 7 Float and Fire Festivals from September to NovemberSeven big autumn festivals in Japan, September to November: 2026 and 2027 dates, seat prices, the Nagasaki Kunchi postcard lottery and getting there.
5Japan Autumn Leaves Forecast 2026: Peak Dates for Kyoto, Tokyo and NikkoKyoto's official maple date is in December, not November. 2026 forecasts by spot, the JMA city table, night light-ups from ¥1,000 and Kyoto's maple tunnel train.
6Shrine vs Temple in Japan: Etiquette and How to Pray RespectfullyShinto shrine vs Buddhist temple in Japan and the etiquette at each: torii, washing hands, bowing and clapping, incense, photos and clothes. Checked 10 October 2026.
7Goshuin Stamps in Japan: How to Ask, Costs and Where to Buy a GoshuinchoGoshuin are handwritten after your visit and cost a few hundred yen. How to ask, office hours, and where to buy a goshuincho: temple, shop or online.
8Cultural Experiences in Japan: How to Choose and Book (Without Japanese)Tea ceremony, kimono, sushi and wagashi making, pottery, kintsugi and sumo: how long they take, which run in English, and what to check before you book.
9How to Watch Sumo in Japan: 2027 Tickets, Dates and Morning PracticeAll six 2027 tournament dates, when tickets go on sale, Tokyo C chair seats at ¥5,000 from 2027, why resale tickets can get you turned away – and free practice.
10Kyoto Experiences to Book: Tea, Kimono, Fushimi Inari and the 2026 Hotel TaxKyoto experiences to book ahead: tea ceremony, kimono and guided Fushimi Inari walks. Plus the hotel tax from March 2026 (200 to 10,000 yen a night) and Gion's rules.
11Hikone Castle & Hikonyan: The Recycled Castle, Tickets and Mascot TimesHikone Castle's keep was moved here from another castle. Tickets (¥1,000), opening hours, Hikonyan's daily appearance times and its UNESCO status in 2026.
12Mt Fuji Day Trip from Tokyo: Tour or ¥2,200 Bus, and the Months You'll See ItYes: a ¥2,200 bus reaches Lake Kawaguchi in 1 h 45 min. But the whole peak was visible at 8 am on only 36.7% of days. Tour vs DIY, Hakone, best months.
13Koyasan Temple Stay (Shukubo): Price, Access, Zazen and Sutra CopyingKoyasan temple stay: price per night with two meals, getting there from Osaka (no JR Pass), cash or card, plus zazen in Kyoto and sutra copying at Tōdai-ji.
14Tokyo Food Tours: Which One to Book (Shinjuku, Tsukiji, Tuna Auction)Evening food walks, market tours, sushi and ramen classes, and the free Toyosu tuna auction lottery: prices, length and who each suits. Checked 16 October 2026.
15Yoshoku meaning: omurice, napolitan and Japan's own 'Chinese' foodWhat yoshoku and machi-chuka are, where omurice, napolitan, doria and champon were born, where to eat the originals today and what is in the sauces. Checked Oct 2026.
16Sushi Making Classes in Japan in English: 7 Compared, Plus Sushi EtiquetteSeven sushi making classes in Japan in English compared: Tsukiji market tour, 90 minutes in Asakusa, Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya. Plus sushi etiquette. Checked 16 Oct 2026.

Guides to read in order