As my Japan blog keeps growing (with about 120 articles), I thought it would be useful to summarize resources from my blog as well as other websites and apps that I use to plan for my own trips to Japan. I hope they may serve you as well!
Some links on this page are affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you book through them. I only list tools I have used myself and genuinely recommend. Thank you for supporting Travely Notes!
My Blog Ressources
Start Here
Where to Stay
Favorite Destinations and Itineraries
One Day in Osaka: My Favorite Itinerary for a First-Time Visit
My Osaka Bucket List: Best Things to Do, Hidden Gems and Travel Tips
For Those Looking for Lesser-Known Destinations and Slow Travelers
Accommodation
Japan has everything from capsule hotels and modern business hotels to centuries-old ryokan. When booking accommodations, I usually compare prices and reviews across several platforms before booking, as deals and cancellation policies vary. I mainly use:
Booking.com for its wide choice.
Agoda as I find it often competitive on Japanese hotels and ryokan.
Both websites often offer no upfront payment and free cancellation as well as special discounts through their fidelity programs.
For Japan, I also occasionally compare price and availability on Trip.com or Rakuten Travel, as I’ve found that they sometimes have other hotels and ryokans that are not listed or have more limited availability compared to Agoda and Booking.
Transports
Trains
Japan Rail Pass and regional passes: since the 2023 price increase, the national pass rarely pays off compared to individual tickets (you can use the Japan Guide's pass calculator to compare options). On the other hand, regional train passes may be more interesting. During my recent trip around the Kansai region for instance, I’ve booked the JR West Kansai Area Pass and JR West Kansai Wide Area Pass through Klook to save money, and the whole process to redeem each pass was straightforward.
Shinkansen tickets: Can be booked on Klook, the Smart EX app, or directly at JR ticket counters (Midori no Madoguchi).
Buses
Highway buses can be very economical way to travel in Japan, especially overnight buses as they save a hotel night. I mainly use Willer Bus and Highway Bus.
Flights
For international flights to Japan, I use flight comparison tools like Skyscanner or Google Flights to find the best deals.
Tickets & Experiences
Klook and KKday: for attraction tickets, passes and tours, with instant mobile confirmation and often discounts. I’ve booked for instance during my last trip the Umeda Sky Building & Kuchu Teien Observatory Ticket in Osaka and the teamLab Biovortex Kyoto Ticket through Klook.
GetYourGuide: curated tours with local guides. To give you an idea, I joined this evening food tour in Shinsekai, Osaka, and had a wonderful experience.
Wabunka: private traditional experiences with an interpreter. Read my review of a private wagashi making experience in Tokyo.
AirKitchen: cooking classes in Japanese homes. Read my Osaka vegan class review.
Internet & Apps
eSIM: I recently tried the Klook eSIM for my last Japan trip and can recommend it. It took around 10 minutes to set up after landing in Japan, and it was easy to track data consumption and to purchase additional data in the app.
Google Maps: the app I use the most when I travel, super convenient for train and bus timetables. I particularly like that the app provides real-time train platform numbers and transfers options. I sometimes compare itinerary results from Google Maps with the website Japan Transit Planner.
Google Translate: the camera mode is great for menus and signs.
Safety Tips and Yurekuru apps: for earthquake and typhoon alerts.
Tabelog: to find new restaurants and make table reservations.
AllTrails: an app I often use to discover new hiking trails (in Japan and other countries)
Sakura Navi: provides forecasts for the start and peak bloom dates of cherry blossoms at 1,000 locations across Japan. I used the 2026 edition during my last trip; it was helpful for tracking the progress of the bloom and discovering new spots. Please note that the app requires a one-time purchase valid for a single year, so you will need to purchase it again if you wish to use it in a different year.
MyMizu: An app showing all the public spaces, cafes and restaurants where you can fill up your water bottle when passing by.
Language
Beyond simply relying on Google Translate, learning some basic Japanese phrases can significantly enhance your travel experience and help you connect with locals on a deeper level. For my part, I have reached a comfortable level of Japanese proficiency after studying the language for over ten years. Speaking Japanese has helped me on countless occasions: it has kept me from getting lost, led to new encounters, and, more generally, enriched my travels—especially since I enjoy exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations, where you encounter far fewer English speakers than in Japan’s major cities. I will soon be writing an article about some free resources for learning Japanese that I particularly recommend.
Interested in learning Japanese and considering joining a course? I’m happy to share about a collaboration between Travely Notes and Japanese with Hikari, a native teacher who offers three online, fun and culture-focused MasterCourses by level (beginner, intermediate and advanced) which can also be purchased as a bundle, as well as JLPT preparation courses for N5, N4 and N3. You can get a special 20% discount using the coupon TRAVELY if you make a purchase through my links.
Events and Festivals
Tokyo Cheapo and Time Out Tokyo are two websites I regularly check for upcoming events.
My guides: 15 Summer Festivals in Tokyo, Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri, Gion Matsuri
Other Japan Resources
Japan Guide: comprehensive destination info. Their etiquette guide is excellent.
Japan National Tourism Organization: official tourism info.
For fall foliage:
To Conclude
Planning an unforgettable trip to Japan can be time-consuming and, at times, overwhelming. I hope this page can be helpful as you put your travel plans together. I will update it regularly, so don’t hesitate to bookmark this page and check back again before your next trip.
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Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I may earn a small commission when you click on them and make a purchase. And if you do, thanks for your support! Purchasing through these links is a great way to support Travely Notes, as this helps with the costs of running my blog.
