Our Ultimate Japanese Travel Resources
Travel planning can be exciting, it is great to see what you could explore and see. However finding hidden deals, great websites, and resources can be challenging. Especially in Japan, as local travel websites are often in Japanese only. Which can make your planning a bit of a pain and can turn comparing prices and finding great bargains into a part-time job. And with “bargain” it is not about cheap deals, but great value.
So we went all out and created our ultimate Japanese travel resources for you including transportation, travel hacks, our favourite accommodation, travel insurance, and anything else you might need to know.
Finding great Accommodation in Japan
Booking.com
Booking.com is great, as it is easy to use has plenty of inventory, and often gives you the option to cancel for free (up to a certain date). They are also great for last-minute bookings, which often lets you snag an even better price!
Airbnb
Probably the biggest player in the vacation rental market. It is a great alternative to staying in a Hotel. For bullet prove bookings always keep an eye out for 5* reviews and if you have not used Airbnb before get a discount on your first stay with this link.
Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor is great because you get to see real travel pictures. Perfect to use it to double-check what rooms or food options really look like, especially when the photos on a Hotels homepage are limited.
Tours Worth Taking
Obsessed with Sake
Our very own content creator Cindy Bissig and sake sommelier per excellence is running these fabulous sake tastings and personal experiences. They are pretty rare so make sure to book your spot early!
Arigato Japan
Arigato Japan is a local tour company offering amazing tours, often within a certain area. Which gives you both just sightseeing, but also local food, stories, and access to places you would normally not be able to access.
Klook
I love this site as they have great activities, but even better you can get tickets to Japan’s hottest attractions online and on an English platform, yay!
Airbnb Experiences
Great to meet locals and let them show you off-the-beaten-path place as well as real insights into the culture. You can find a variety of tours and experiences often at a great price and offering exclusive insights.
Viator
Similar to Klook, they have great activities and tours. Whether you are looking for a few hours to pass or a few days, this i s a great place to have a browse.
Transportation
JR Railpass
Only available for tourists and must be bought before arriving in Japan. This is a great way to travel around Japan and save money, especially on Shinkansen trips.
Bookingbuddy
A great tool to compare flights and hotels across different sites. I like to also use it to check availability, as sometimes a hotel might be unavailable on one platform but not on another.
Skyscanner
Skyscanner is a comprehensive flight search site, that will save you a lot of time and money as it is easy to use. Also, its “everywhere” destination option is perfect for those who want to see what is possible. Furthermore, Skyscanner lets you search per Country and shows you all airports and prices. Great for discovering new places…