When to visit Japan?

Citizens of France and most EU countries, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia do not need a visa for tourist stays in Japan of up to 90 days. The waiver is automatic — no consular steps are required before travel. At immigration you receive a 'temporary visitor' stamp valid for 90 days, non-renewable from within Japan. A valid passport is mandatory (Japanese authorities do not accept national ID cards); it must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date. On arrival, all foreign nationals aged 16 and over are fingerprinted and photographed as standard procedure.

For most itineraries lasting two to three weeks, yes — emphatically. The Japan Rail Pass gives unlimited access to all JR-operated lines for 7, 14 or 21 days, including almost all shinkansen (the Nozomi and Mizuho bullet trains on the Tokaido-Sanyo line are excluded). A Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka–Hiroshima circuit in individual tickets would cost upwards of ¥60,000 (around £290 / €365), while a 14-day JR Pass costs around £360 / €430 when purchased abroad. Crucially, it must be bought outside Japan before departure — it is no longer sold to tourists inside the country. For a short stay limited to one city, a rechargeable IC Card (Suica or Pasmo) bought on arrival is the better option.

Budget a minimum of €130 / £110 per person per day for a comfortable trip: a mid-range business hotel room (¥12,000–18,000 / £70–110 for a double), a sit-down lunch at a ramen-ya or sushi counter (¥1,000–2,000), an izakaya dinner (¥3,000–5,000), local transport on an IC Card (¥500–800/day) and a temple or museum entry or two (¥500–1,500 each). The JR Pass — roughly £360 / €430 for 14 days — should be counted on top, adding around €30/day. Budget travellers sleeping in hostels (¥2,500–4,000 per dorm bed) and eating at gyudon chains (¥500–800 per meal) can manage on €80-90/day. Return flights from the UK or France are typically the single largest cost: £600–900 / €700–1,000 in low season, £1,200–1,800+ during sakura and Golden Week.

Both seasons are spectacular but have distinct characters. The __sakura__ (cherry blossoms, mid-March to mid-April) is ephemeral and festive: Japanese families and friends gather under the trees for hanami (flower-viewing picnics), parks are illuminated at night and the atmosphere is joyful and communal. The blossom front tracks north from Kyushu to Hokkaido over three to four weeks, allowing you to chase the season along your route. The __momiji__ (autumn foliage, October–November) is more contemplative: red and orange maples and golden ginkgos frame temple rooftops in a cinematic palette. Autumn is marginally less crowded than spring and temperatures are more stable. In both cases, accommodation in Kyoto books out four to six months ahead — plan accordingly.

Much more easily than you might expect. Most Japanese restaurants display __photo menus or plastic food replicas__ (sampuru) in the window — pointing works perfectly. At ticket-machine restaurants (common in ramen, katsu and gyudon shops), you select your dish on an illustrated vending machine and hand the ticket to the staff. Camera-based translation apps (Google Translate, DeepL) read kanji and hiragana in real time on your phone screen — an indispensable tool for menus without pictures. In convenience stores (konbini), 7-Eleven, FamilyMart and Lawson label most products in English or with clear illustrations. Onigiri (rice balls, ¥130–180), fresh bento, cold soba and nikuman (steamed pork buns) from a konbini counter represent one of Japan's most underrated gastronomic bargains — fresh, tasty and available 24 hours a day.