Japan Travel Guide
Japan is a country with a strong national identity and deep cultural continuity, but it’s best experienced by focusing on individual cities rather than treating it as a single destination. While shared customs connect the country, Japan is best experienced city by city, where food culture, pace of life, and daily routines vary in meaningful ways.
Travelers get the most value by choosing specific cities and understanding how each one works on its own terms — particularly when it comes to dining customs, neighborhood layout, and where to stay.
Food & Travel Across Japan
Japanese food culture is highly regional and closely tied to seasonality. What you eat in Tokyo is not exactly the same as what you’ll find in Kyoto or Osaka. Ingredients, preparation styles, and dining etiquette differ by region and setting.
In general:
Urban centers offer a wide range of regional and international cuisines
Traditional dishes emphasize balance, seasonality, and presentation
Dining ranges from quick, casual meals to highly specialized experiences
Food culture is deeply integrated into daily life at all levels
This variation is why city-specific food guides provide far more value than broad national summaries.
Travel logistics in Japan are efficient and reliable, with excellent rail connections between major cities. Even so, neighborhood choice plays an important role in convenience, dining access, and overall experience.
Cities in Japan
Below you’ll find our city-level guides for Japan. Each city includes:
A City Guide (what to know and how the city works)
A What to Eat guide (local food, dishes, and dining areas)
A Where to Stay guide (best areas and accommodation types)
Tokyo
Tokyo is Japan’s capital and largest city, offering unmatched dining variety and neighborhood diversity. Choosing the right area helps balance food exploration, transportation efficiency, and daily rhythm.
Kyoto
Kyoto is known for traditional cuisine and a slower pace shaped by history and seasonality. Food culture here is closely tied to local customs, and location affects access to dining districts and cultural areas.
Osaka
Osaka has a reputation as Japan’s most food-focused city, with a strong street food culture and casual dining scene. Staying centrally makes it easier to explore food neighborhoods on foot and by transit.
Planning Your Trip to Japan
Japan rewards travelers who focus on a small number of cities and allow time to experience each destination fully. By planning at the city level, you’ll eat better, stay in more suitable neighborhoods, and navigate the country efficiently.
Use the city guides above to plan your trip based on how you want to travel, eat, and stay, rather than relying on broad, country-level overviews.