Japan for the First Time: Routes, Trains and Everyday Etiquette

Our practical guide to a first Japan itinerary: bases, trains, reservations and everyday etiquette from a 12-day journey.

Our visit

Our October 2025 route lasted 12 days: six based in Tokyo and six in Kyoto, with day trips to Hakone, Nara and Osaka. That structure avoided daily hotel changes while still providing variety.

We used the shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto and saw Fuji from the train en route. Within the cities we combined rail, subway and a great deal of walking.

What to know

Reservations, fares and luggage rules vary by train service and season. Official English information is available from JNTO and railway operators, so verify close to departure rather than relying on an old screenshot.

At temples, markets and residential streets, follow local signs: do not photograph people closely without permission, block paths or assume eating while walking is acceptable.

Planning the visit

For our family, it worked well to reserve the highest-demand experiences—teamLab, the Hakone day tour and the mochi workshop—while keeping most neighborhood walks flexible.

Mobile data, a backup payment method and comfortable shoes are basics. Even with excellent public transport, a current navigation app saves time in large interchanges.

For a wider route beyond the cities, compare transport and car-rental options in advance and decide what the itinerary actually requires.