Japan is a beautiful destination with so much to do. From the heights of Tokyo Tower in buzzing
Tokyo, to the historical Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, Japan has attractions and experiences for
everyone. On our bucket list tours and cruises, you can step foot of Mount Fuji, immerse in the
buzz of Osaka’s Dotonbori district, visit Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park and so much more.
Thanks to our huge range of Japan deals, you can choose the time of year to travel that best
suits you! However, we’ve found popular times to visit Japan are generally from September
through November to see the changing Autumn colours, and during spring from March to May, to
catch the famous cherry blossom season.
All TripADeal packages to Japan include return flights from select capital cities including
Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. For departures from Adelaide and Perth, please refer to the
checkout on each deal page, or talk to one of our friendly team to learn more.
Famous for their speed and efficiency, a ride on a bullet train (Shinkansen) is included in some
of our tours. For those that don’t include a ride on the train, there are often days at leisure
in major cities where you can arrange this for yourself, with the help of your guide.
Most of our Japan tours include free time/free days where you can choose to explore however you
wish. This is a great opportunity to book a ticket to “The Happiest Place on Earth”.
Japan is a country with various climates from North to South, but all enjoy four seasons.
Spring Spring has mild days and cold nights, with temperatures ranging from 2°-
24°C.
Summer Summer starts with higher rainfall in June, followed by a humid July and
August. Daily temperatures range 16°-30°C.
Autumn Autumn has mild days with cooler nights and daily temperatures ranging
from 7°- 27°C.
Winter Winter is cold and dry, with snow in the north. Daily temperatures
ranging from 6°- 20°C.
It largely depends on when you are travelling, however here’s a guide based on seasons:
Spring (Mar-May) To enjoy the mild days and cool nights, pack layers from
t-shirts up to knitwear and/or a jacket.
Summer (Jun-Aug) Breathable fabrics work best in the humid Japanese summers.
Shorts and sundresses are acceptable, except in some shrines and temples.
Autumn (Sep-Nov) Pack layers at the start of the season to prepare for mild
days and cool nights. Towards the end of autumn, be sure to have a coat and scarf handy.
Winter(Dec -Feb) Be sure to pack warm knitwear and a good coat to stay warm
during the Japanese winter, especially in northern locations.
In an effort to tick off Japan’s bucket list locations, we use modern buses, bullet trains and
ferries to transport you in comfort and safety. On long travel days, we encourage you to use
this time to relax and refresh between our busy tour days. Our scheduled stops also include
excellent food and shopping options, so even in-transit, you’re experiencing authentic Japan.
We work hard to find the best accommodation available for our tours with excellent service
provided. Please note, Japanese hotel rooms are generally more compact than western hotels, but
are always comfortable and impeccably clean.
Australian citizens, residents and permanent visa holders do not need a visa for Japan for stays
less than 90 days, and can just enter normally on arrival. For more details on visas and travel
to Japan for Australians, we recommend checking the
Smartraveller website.
In Japan, the whole country is on one time zone, GMT +9. Japan is 2 hours behind Sydney, so for
example, 10am in Sydney is 8am in Japan. As the time zones between Japan and Australia are very
closely aligned, any jet lag from your trip to Japan will likely be minimal!
Japan’s currency is the Yen, with a rough exchange rate of 1 AUD to 100 Yen (100 AUD = 10,000
Yen). Japan has a comprehensive ATM system, so you can easily withdraw Yen using an Australian
bank card or travel card when there. You can also convert AUD to JPY at many currency exchange
offices and banks.
In Japan, cash is the most widely accepted form of payment. Card facilities are available on
some tours, but it’s always a good idea to carry a mix of cash and card. We recommend a minimum
of AUD$100-150 per day spending money based on our experience and feedback from customers.
We appreciate tipping is not customary in a hospitality setting in Japan, however it is common
practice to tip tour guides, leaders and/or drivers. This is only a recommendation, it is not
mandatory.
If you require full connectivity while on tour, we recommend getting a travel sim or activating
a roaming package on your phone prior to departing Australia (most major Australian networks
allow you to activate international roaming that covers you in Japan).
If you don’t have a travel sim or roaming activated however, it is possible to connect to
networks while in Japan, as there is free Wi-Fi on public transport, in most major shopping
centres and at hotels.
Japan uses the Type A and B plug. We recommend travelling with a travel adaptor - you can buy
one at home before your trip, at the airport, or at many convenience stores when you land in
Japan.