Japan travel guide · updated 27 Oct 2026
Japan, one stop at a time.
Clear, checked answers for first-time visitors: buying trading cards and model kits, riding the trains, eating well for less, and the new 2026 rules on tax-free shopping and travel fees.
From 1 November 2026, tax-free shopping becomes a refund. You pay the 10% tax at the till and claim it back after a customs check when you leave Japan.
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Japan's new tax-free system from 1 November 2026
You now pay the 10% consumption tax at the till and claim it back after customs confirms, at the airport, that the goods are leaving Japan. Here is exactly what to do at each step.
Every new travel fee in Japan for 2026, in one place
A tripled departure tax, Kyoto's steep new hotel tax, pricier rail passes and an online entry permit on the way. What each one costs you and when it applies.
Buying Pokémon cards in Japan without getting burned
Sealed boxes, single cards and release-day lotteries. How shops price cards, how to spot resealed product, and how to get your cards home flat.
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How to book the shinkansen as a foreign visitor
Which website covers which line, why foreign cards get declined, the 30-day booking window, oversized luggage rules and what Tokyo to Osaka costs.
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Skyliner vs Narita Express: which airport train to take from Narita
2026 fares, journey times and the N’EX round-trip deal compared, with worked costs for Ueno, Tokyo Station and Shinjuku, plus the cheaper Keisei trains and when a bus wins.
Japan in December: weather, winter lights and year-end closures
Average December temperatures for Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Fukuoka and Sapporo, the big 2026 illuminations with dates, the New Year closures to plan around, ski season openings and what to book early.
How to book Pokémon Cafe in Tokyo or Osaka
When Pokémon Cafe reservations open (18:00 Japan time on the 1st of the previous month), how to book, party and seat rules, arrival times, the cancellation deadline and what happens if you miss out.
A Mt Fuji day trip from Tokyo: train, bus or tour
How to see Mt Fuji in a day from Shinjuku: Fuji Excursion train and highway bus fares and times, the Kawaguchiko sightseeing buses, Chureito Pagoda, the 5th Station bus and when a tour makes sense.
Universal Studios Japan Express Pass: which one, and is it worth it?
How USJ Express Passes work in 2026, current starting prices, timed slots, Super Nintendo World entry, when they go on sale and sell out, and the free alternatives in the official app.
teamLab Planets or teamLab Borderless? Tokyo tickets and tips for 2026
The difference between teamLab Planets in Toyosu and teamLab Borderless at Azabudai Hills, 2026 ticket prices, closed days, how far ahead to book, what to wear and how to get there.
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