Practical information about Japan

The Japanese take great pride in having four distinct seasons, and many even believe it to be a uniquely Japanese phenomenon. In truth, Japan’s seasons are remarkably similar to ours and arrive at roughly the same time each year.

Japan enjoys a temperate climate, although the country’s long, narrow shape means the weather can vary slightly depending on whether you’re in the south, centre, or north of the country.

You can read more on our blog about the best time to visit Japan.

Japan’s four seasons:

• Spring runs from March through to May and is one of the best times to visit Japan. Temperatures are pleasantly mild, ranging between 10 and 20 degrees, and rainfall is generally limited, although the odd shower can occur. For around three weeks in March and April, the cherry trees—known as sakura—come into bloom, marking a highlight of the year that’s celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country. Read more in our guide to the cherry blossom season in Japan.
• Summer, spanning June to August, is Japan’s hottest and most humid season, with daytime temperatures between 25 and 32 degrees. July and August in particular bring high heat and humidity, while the rainy season (tsuyu) starts in June and varies in both length and intensity. Typhoon season runs from May to September, with the highest likelihood of storms in August—mainly affecting southern Japan.
• Autumn runs from September through to November, with temperatures often ranging between 15 and 25 degrees. The high humidity of summer has eased significantly by this time, making it a pleasant season to explore. From early November, the koyo marks the transition from lush green landscapes to shades of red, gold, and bronze – an unforgettable sight that gives the scenery a completely different character compared to the other seasons.
• Winter spans from December through to February. During these months, the Japanese Alps receive considerable snowfall and frost, which occasionally extends to Kanazawa, Nagano, and Sendai. The cities along the Pacific coast, however, rarely experience snow or frost, with daytime temperatures typically around 10 degrees. In early December, you might still be lucky enough to see the last fiery autumn leaves (koyo), while February heralds the blossoming of the beautiful plum trees and the early cherry variety, Kawazu-zakura.

Japan has a temperate climate, but due to its long, narrow shape, the weather can differ slightly depending on whether you’re in the south, central, or northern Japan. This means the climate also varies between cities, as you can see from the weather statistics below.

As a British citizen, you must be in possession of a valid British passport. Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay.

British citizens are not required to have a visa to enter Japan.

Click here to check the visa regulations on the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website.

To minimise your waiting time at immigration upon entry, we recommend registering on Visit Japan Web no later than 6 hours before arrival via the following link.

Prior to your departure, you can download our App here to find your travel documents and your contact details for TourCompass and our local partners.

We recommend that you download the WhatsApp app to your smartphone and add the phone numbers of our business partners. You can send messages and call them for free using the app when you have a Wi-Fi connection.

We recommend that you contact your GP or an authorised private vaccination clinic for information about vaccinations. You can also read more about the rules regarding travel vaccinations here.

Please be aware of the rules about yellow fever – especially if you are entering via another country where yellow fever is present. Some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination upon entry. Your vaccination certificate should therefore always be carried with you in your hand luggage when you travel.

Please read our general travel terms and conditions carefully, as these are part of the agreement terms for tours purchased at TourCompass. Tours purchased from us are covered under the “Package Travel Act”.

Click here to read our travel terms and conditions.

All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay, you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels, and other services) is listed on it.

Please see our booking conditions for further information, or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate, click here.

We always advise you to obtain comprehensive travel insurance when heading off on your dream holiday. It is also highly recommended to acquire cancellation insurance for extra protection.

Click here to proceed to our page on insurance, where you can read more about our recommendations.

The Japanese currency is called the Yen (JPY). The current exchange rate of the Yen can be found here.

International credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are now widely accepted, particularly at hotels and in international shops and restaurants in the major cities. However, Japanese people generally prefer cash payments, so we recommend exchanging some money into yen.

To withdraw cash using an international credit card, you can use ATMs found at Lawson, FamilyMart, or 7-Eleven convenience stores, which are available in almost every town and city.

If you’re bringing US dollars or euros, you can visit the tourist information centres, where you will usually find currency exchange machines.

During your tour in Japan, you will receive an IC card as part of your welcome pack. This card can be used as a means of payment on most metro lines, regional trains, and buses. It can also be used for purchases in many larger retail chains and at convenience stores such as Lawson, FamilyMart, and 7-Eleven, where you can easily top up the card with extra credit.

Tipping is generally not practised in Japan. If you leave money at a restaurant, the waiter will often run after you to return it. If you’d like to show appreciation to your guide or housekeeping staff, it’s more appropriate to give a small symbolic gift as a token of thanks.

Read more about the tipping culture in Japan here.

At the vast majority of our destinations, we are able to take allergies, as well as allergens or preferences, into account when it comes to food; however, it is important that you inform us of this when you book the tour.

Telephone & Wi-Fi:

Making calls, sending texts, and using mobile data abroad can be expensive if these services aren’t already included in your mobile plan. We therefore recommend contacting your mobile provider to check which services are covered by your plan and what rates apply when travelling internationally.

Regardless of your coverage, you can freely use Wi-Fi at hotels and most restaurants during your tour. This allows you to call or message home using apps such as FaceTime, Messenger, or WhatsApp. Alternatively, you can purchase an eSIM before departure or a local SIM card with data upon arrival.

Read more about how to get online when you travel, on our blog here.

Electricity:

The voltage in Japan is 100V. We recommend that you bring an adapter with you, as the Japanese plugs have two flat pins.

Make sure you pack all your important and indispensable things in your hand luggage. This applies to items such as passports, visas, vaccination cards, travel documents, insurance documents, credit cards, money, computers, mobile phones and cameras, as well as information about your health and vital medicines.

If you are going to Japan, you can download our recommended packing list as a PDF below.

Download our PDF packing list here.

Visitors are not permitted to bring plants, seeds, fruit, and other plant products into the UK from their travels outside the UK, unless they are accompanied by a plant health (phytosanitary) certificate. These rules also apply to smaller quantities of plants and plant products.

Read more about the rules here.

Please note that our tours are not generally suitable for people with impaired mobility. Please contact us for information about your options in relation to your specific needs.

Most airlines have electronic tickets (e-tickets).

It is essential that you check the names provided. We only use Surname/First given name for each traveller. These must match the Surname/First given name as shown in your passport. Any middle name(s) are omitted from your booking, as these are not required. If there is a hyphen in your name, it will be removed and the names joined together.

Please check the attached itinerary, along with all name details, and you must reply to us within one working day with any comments. Changes to flight itineraries at a later date will be subject to extra charges. 

The airline will assign you a seat on the plane at check-in. If you have specific wishes regarding where you sit on the plane, you can make a seat reservation yourself on the airline’s website or in their app. Please note that most airlines require payment for a seat reservation.

It varies when airlines open for seat reservations, but as a general rule, you can book seats from the time of booking and up to 48 hours before departure.

We also point out that the airline has complete control over all seats on the plane and that they are therefore entitled to make changes to the reservation at any time. If you do not make a seat reservation before departure, the airline will assign you a seat at check-in.

Your passport and your booking reference, which appears on your itinerary, are required to check in.

We recommend that you download the airline’s app on your phone. In the app, there is an option for online check-in, which typically opens 24 to 48 hours before departure. The app also allows you to stay informed of any flight changes and other important information about your flight.

Please note that the flight times may have changed in relation to those listed on the travel itinerary you received when you booked your holiday. It is always the flight times in the airline’s app or on the airline’s website that apply.

For your outbound journey, we recommend arriving at the airport no later than 2 hours before departure, while on your return journey, you’ll usually be dropped off at the airport around 3 hours before your flight.

You can easily keep up to date via the airport’s website for the latest information.

We work with a wide range of airlines for our destinations. You can check the exact rules for hand luggage and checked luggage on the airline’s website or in their app.

Please note that when travelling by public transport in Japan, space is limited. There are therefore specific rules regarding the size of luggage you may bring on the trains:

• If the total dimensions of your luggage do not exceed 160 cm (height + width + depth), you may bring it on board without a reservation and without paying the additional fee of 1,000 JPY.
• Luggage must be stored in the designated luggage areas, behind the last row of seats, or between your legs, provided it does not block the passage for other passengers.
• A smaller cabin suitcase and a handbag are usually accepted, as long as they do not obstruct other passengers. Smaller luggage should be stored in the overhead racks or kept by your seat.

You can also make use of the Takkyubin luggage delivery service, which allows you to send your suitcase to your next hotel. The cost is approximately 2,000–2,500 JPY per suitcase. If you’d like to use this service, you can enquire at the hotel reception, where staff can usually assist with filling in the label and arranging the delivery.

Delivery takes between 24–48 hours, which means you should keep any personal and essential belongings with you in a small cabin suitcase, backpack, or handbag.

Please note that this service is not included in the price of your tour and must be paid directly to the hotel or luggage service. If you need advice on when it might be worthwhile to use a luggage delivery service, our local partner will be happy to assist you at your destination.

If your baggage is delayed, please contact the staff in the baggage reclaim area to report your missing baggage.

It is important that you have your baggage receipt when completing your PIR (Property Irregularity Report).

Please note that you must not leave the baggage area at the airport until you have completed the report.

In the event of delayed baggage, we ask you to contact our partner, who will ensure that your guide/driver waits for you.

Should any changes occur in connection with your flight reservation before departure, we will of course contact you to let you know.

Should your flight be delayed after check-in, the airline is responsible for rebooking your flight. They will typically book the next possible flight and arrange any meals and accommodation if necessary.

Our partner checks for any changes in arrival times and will naturally still wait for you, even if your flight is delayed.

If, due to a delay or cancellation, the airline books you on another flight number after you have arrived at the airport, please contact us on TourCompass’ emergency number.

Immigration:

When you arrive at your final destination, you will pass through immigration. Here, your passport, entry documents, and visa will be checked. In many places, you will be asked to provide fingerprints, and a photograph of your face will be taken for biometric identification. You may also be asked questions about your travel plans in the country or the address of your accommodation.

We recommend registering on Visit Japan Web at least six hours before arrival via the following link. This will help minimise your waiting time at immigration when entering the country.

Customs:

Once you have passed through immigration and collected your luggage, you must go through customs. If you have nothing to declare, proceed through the ‘nothing to declare’ channel. If you do have items to declare, make sure you go through the ‘declare’ channel. It is your own responsibility to check the customs regulations that apply in the country you are travelling to.

2026:

Kyoto and Tokyo – the heart and brain of Japan: Your welcome guide will be waiting for you out in the arrivals hall, holding up a sign with your name on it. He or she will accompany you to the transfer bus, which will drive you to your hotel in Kyoto. In the unlikely event that you cannot find your guide, you should head to Terminal 1F and find the South Yasaka Kanku Shuttle desk. If it takes more than 60 minutes from the time you land until you’re in the arrivals hall, please contact our partner on their emergency number and they will arrange a new transfer for you.

The highlights of Japan: Your welcome guide will be waiting for you out in the arrivals hall, holding up a sign with your name on it. He or she will accompany you to the transfer bus, which will drive you to your hotel in Osaka. In the unlikely event that you cannot find your guide, you should head to Terminal 1F and find the South Yasaka Kanku Shuttle desk. If it takes more than 60 minutes from the time you land until you’re in the arrivals hall, please contact our partner on their emergency number and they will arrange a new transfer for you.

The best of Japan: As you come out of the arrivals hall, your driver will be waiting for you, holding either a Green Tomato or a Cherry Tomato sign. They will then escort you to the transfer bus that will take you to your hotel in Tokyo. If it takes more than 90 minutes from the time you land until you reach the arrivals hall, your transfer will have departed, so you'll need to contact our partner on their emergency number and they will arrange a new transfer for you.

2027:

After arriving in Osaka, collect your luggage and proceed to the arrivals hall. Here, you’ll be met by a driver holding a sign with a logo displaying either “Green Tomato” or “Cherry Tomato.”

In the unlikely event that you’re unable to locate your driver, please contact our local partner using the emergency number listed in your travel documents.

Normal check-in time is typically at 3:00 p.m., so you shouldn’t expect to access your room before this time. If you’d like early check-in, you can request it at an additional cost when booking your tour.

At check-in, you’ll receive a welcome pack containing your daily itinerary, an IC card, and the relevant bus and train tickets for your tour. These documents will be reviewed by your guide the following day during the welcome meeting.

The receptionist will usually register your credit card and may reserve an amount. This isn’t an additional charge, but standard hotel procedure to cover any incidental expenses such as minibar use. When you check out, the amount will be automatically released if there have been no charges posted to your account.

It is quite common for hotels to take a copy of your passport. In some places, this is a requirement from the local authorities.

Check-out is usually around 11:00 a.m. If you are travelling onward later in the afternoon or evening, you can store your luggage until your departure. If you prefer a late check-out, this can be arranged for an additional charge when booking your tour.

Our tours to Japan are individual tours; however, excursions take place in international groups of 1–14 people and with TourCompass’ own guests only.

Some of our optional tours are exclusively for TourCompass’ guests, while others may include participants who have not booked through TourCompass. This will be stated in the tour description.

In the event of unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather, road closures, or similar, it may be necessary to adjust the order of sightseeing tours and attractions in the daily itinerary.

Train travel in Japan

Your tour in Japan includes one or more journeys on the Shinkansen, express, or local trains, which you will take independently. Tickets for these journeys, along with your IC card, are included in your welcome pack and will be explained by your guide during the welcome meeting the following day. Should you need any help, the guide will also be happy to show you how to use the IC card on public transport.

Travelling by train in Japan is not only fast and efficient but also surprisingly easy. All train and metro stations have clear signage in English with information about departure times, platforms, and station exits. If you have mobile data, Google Maps is incredibly useful and works extremely well, helping you navigate the cities – including checking departure times for the next train, metro, or bus.

Please note that when travelling by public transport in Japan, space is limited. Therefore, there are specific rules about the size of luggage you are allowed to bring on trains:

• If the total dimensions of your luggage do not exceed 160 cm (height + width + depth), you may bring it on board without a special reservation and without paying the additional fee of 1000 JPY.
• Luggage must be stored in the designated baggage areas, behind the last row of seats or between your legs, provided it does not block the passage for other passengers.
• A small cabin suitcase and a handbag are generally accepted, as long as they do not obstruct other passengers. Smaller pieces of luggage should be stored in the overhead racks above the seats or kept in your own seating area.

You can also use the Takkyubin luggage delivery service, which allows you to send your suitcase ahead to your next hotel. The cost is approximately 2,000–2,500 JPY per suitcase. If you wish to make use of this service, you can ask at the hotel reception, where the staff are usually happy to help you fill in the label and arrange the delivery.

Delivery typically takes between 24 and 48 hours, so you should carry your personal and essential belongings with you in a smaller cabin suitcase, backpack, or handbag.

Please note that this service is not included in the price of the tour and is settled directly with the hotel or the luggage delivery company. If you would like advice on when it’s best to use this service, our local partner will be happy to assist you at your destination.

We have a 24-hour emergency hotline so that you can always get in touch with us should anything unforeseen occur during your tour. You will also be sent the telephone numbers and emergency telephone numbers of our partners at the destination. In some cases, it may be easiest and fastest to contact our partners due to time differences, if, for example, you find yourself in a situation where your pick-up for an excursion or transfer is more than 15 minutes delayed.

We rely on happy travellers, and we would therefore very much like to hear from you after your return home. Send us an email at info@tourcompass.com or call us on tel.: 01279 704 135.