Mysore International Travels logo
📞 +91 96119 57301 Get a Quote
Destination Guide

Japan Tour Packages & Travel Guide

Plan a Japan trip with MIT — Tokyo, Kyoto temples, Mount Fuji, cherry blossom season and the bullet train. Get a customised Japan quote.

Get a Free Quote WhatsApp Us
Japan — travel guide by Mysore International Travels

Japan rewards travellers who plan properly, and frustrates those who don't. It is a country where a thousand-year-old temple sits two subway stops from a neon intersection, where the trains run to the second, and where the cultural gap from India is wider than for any other destination in this region — which is precisely why people find it so memorable.

The standard first trip runs Tokyo-Hakone-Kyoto, often with Osaka and Hiroshima added. Tokyo delivers the scale, the food, Shibuya and Shinjuku, and day trips to Nikko and Kamakura. Hakone or the Fuji Five Lakes gives you Mount Fuji and onsen hot springs. Kyoto is the cultural core — Fushimi Inari's torii gates, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama's bamboo grove, and the Gion district. The Shinkansen bullet train connects them in a couple of hours each.

MIT's proprietor represented South India at the Karnataka Tourism Roadshow in Japan in 2025, so this is a market we work in directly rather than only sell into. Japan requires a visa for Indian passport holders, applied for in advance with supporting documentation, and cherry blossom and autumn colour seasons need booking months ahead. We arrange flights, visa documentation, rail passes, hotels, and the itinerary sequencing that makes a Japan trip work.

Best Time to Visit

Late March to early April is cherry blossom season and the most sought-after window — spectacular, but expensive and crowded, and the bloom dates shift year to year and by latitude. Late October to early December brings autumn colour, arguably as beautiful and slightly easier to book. May and early June are pleasant and less crowded. June to July is the rainy season, and August is hot and humid. Winter (December-February) is cold but clear, good for onsen, snow in Hokkaido, and the lowest crowds.

Weather

Japan has four sharply distinct seasons and spans a considerable latitude range. Spring (March-May) is mild, 10-20°C, with cherry blossom moving northwards through the season. Summer (June-August) is hot and humid, often above 30°C, with a rainy season through June into July and typhoon risk in late summer. Autumn (September-November) is comfortable and clear, 15-25°C, with colour moving southwards. Winter (December-February) is cold, near or below freezing in much of the country and heavily snowy in Hokkaido and the north.

Ideal Duration

8 to 12 days for a first trip covering Tokyo, Hakone or Fuji, and Kyoto, usually with Osaka and possibly Hiroshima. Seven days is workable for Tokyo and Kyoto only. Fourteen days lets you add Hiroshima and Miyajima, Kanazawa, or Hokkaido. Japan is a country where the Shinkansen makes distance cheap in time but the days still fill up quickly.

Budget

Japan is more expensive than Southeast Asia but less so than commonly assumed, and it has become better value as the yen has weakened. Accommodation ranges from capsule hotels and business hotels — small but immaculate and well located — through ryokan traditional inns to international luxury. Food is excellent value: a superb bowl of ramen costs very little, and convenience-store food is genuinely good. The Japan Rail Pass can be worthwhile for multi-city trips, though it needs calculating against your actual route. MIT quotes the full trip including flights, visa support, rail, and hotels.

Must-see

Top attractions in Japan

Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto

Thousands of vermilion torii gates forming tunnels up a wooded mountainside — free, open all hours, and best walked very early to avoid crowds.

Mount Fuji & Hakone

Japan's iconic volcano, seen from the Fuji Five Lakes or from Hakone's ropeway and lake cruise, an area also known for its onsen hot springs.

Shinkansen Bullet Train

The high-speed rail network connecting Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima with famous punctuality — the journey is part of the experience.

Kinkaku-ji & Kyoto's Temples

The gold-leaf Golden Pavilion, alongside Kiyomizu-dera, Ginkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji's rock garden, and dozens more across a city of UNESCO-listed sites.

Tokyo: Shibuya, Shinjuku & Asakusa

The Shibuya scramble crossing, Shinjuku's nightlife and skyscrapers, and Senso-ji temple in Asakusa — the city's scale and contrast in one day.

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Gion

Kyoto's towering bamboo path on the city's western edge, and the Gion district's wooden machiya houses and geiko traditions.

Hiroshima & Miyajima

The Peace Memorial Park and Museum, and the floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine on nearby Miyajima island.

Nara

Japan's first permanent capital, with the Great Buddha at Todai-ji and free-roaming deer in the park, an easy day trip from Kyoto or Osaka.

Getting there

How to reach Japan

By Air
Tokyo's Narita and Haneda airports and Osaka's Kansai are the main gateways, with direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai and connections from Bangalore, Chennai, and Kochi via Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, or a Gulf hub. Total journey time from Bangalore is typically 11 to 16 hours.
Visa
Indian passport holders require a visa for Japan, applied for in advance through the embassy or authorised agents with supporting documentation including itinerary, financial proof, and accommodation confirmations. Processing takes time, so apply well ahead. MIT prepares the documentation as part of the itinerary.
Getting Around
The rail network is superb and is how you should travel. The Shinkansen connects the major cities, and city subways are extensive and punctual. A Japan Rail Pass can be good value for multi-city routes but must be calculated against your actual plan. An IC card (Suica or ICOCA) handles local transport and convenience-store payments.
Make the most of it

Things to do

  • Walk the torii tunnels at Fushimi Inari early in the morning before the crowds
  • Ride the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto, ideally with a Fuji-side seat on a clear day
  • Stay one night in a ryokan with a kaiseki dinner and an onsen bath
  • See Mount Fuji from Hakone's ropeway or from the Fuji Five Lakes
  • Cross the Shibuya scramble, then see it from above from a nearby vantage point
  • Visit Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park and Museum, and the floating torii at Miyajima
  • Walk Arashiyama's bamboo grove and the Gion district's wooden lanes in Kyoto
  • Feed the free-roaming deer at Nara and see the Great Buddha at Todai-ji
  • Eat properly — ramen, sushi, okonomiyaki, and, genuinely, convenience-store food
  • Time the trip for cherry blossom in spring or autumn colour in November, if you can book far enough ahead
Where to stay

Hotels in Japan

Japanese business hotels are the practical backbone of most trips — rooms are small by Indian standards but spotless, extremely well located near stations, and reasonably priced. Ryokan, traditional inns with tatami rooms, futon bedding, kaiseki dinner, and often an onsen bath, are worth building in for at least one night, especially in Hakone or Kyoto. Location relative to a train station matters more than almost anything else in Japan. Book six months or more ahead for cherry blossom and autumn colour, when the best-located properties disappear early.

Where to eat

Restaurants & local food

Japan is one of the world's great eating countries and far more affordable than expected — ramen, sushi, tempura, okonomiyaki, udon, and outstanding convenience-store food. The genuine difficulty is for vegetarians: dashi, a fish-based stock, is used in a great many dishes that appear vegetarian, so 'no meat' does not mean vegetarian in the Indian sense. Indian restaurants are common in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto and are the reliable fallback, and shojin ryori Buddhist temple cuisine is genuinely vegetarian. We flag this clearly at planning stage for vegetarian groups, because it is the single most common source of difficulty.

Before you go

Travel tips

  • Apply for the Japan visa well in advance — it requires supporting documentation including itinerary, financial proof, and accommodation confirmations
  • Book six months or more ahead for cherry blossom and autumn colour; hotels in Kyoto in particular sell out early
  • Cherry blossom dates shift year to year and by latitude — treat any forecast as approximate and build flexibility in
  • Calculate whether a Japan Rail Pass actually saves money on your route; it is excellent for multi-city trips and poor value for single-city ones
  • Vegetarians must plan carefully: dashi fish stock appears in many apparently vegetarian dishes, so identify Indian and shojin ryori restaurants in advance
  • Carry some cash — Japan is more cash-based than expected, though card and IC card acceptance has improved considerably
  • Learn the basic etiquette: no eating while walking, quiet on trains, shoes off where indicated, and no tipping anywhere
  • Get an IC card (Suica or ICOCA) on arrival for subways, buses, and convenience stores
  • Tattoos may bar entry to some onsen and public baths; check ahead or look for tattoo-friendly facilities
  • Luggage forwarding (takkyubin) between hotels is cheap and reliable — use it rather than hauling bags on the Shinkansen
Nearby

Nearby attractions

  • Osaka – food capital and the base for Universal Studios Japan, 15 minutes from Kyoto by Shinkansen
  • Nara – the Great Buddha and deer park, an easy day trip from Kyoto or Osaka
  • Hiroshima & Miyajima – the Peace Memorial and the floating torii gate
  • Hakone & the Fuji Five Lakes – onsen, ropeways, and the best Mount Fuji views
  • Hokkaido – the northern island, for winter snow and summer flower fields
FAQs

Japan — Frequently Asked Questions

Do Indians need a visa for Japan?
Yes. Indian passport holders require a visa applied for in advance through the embassy or authorised agents, with supporting documentation including a detailed itinerary, financial proof, and accommodation confirmations. Processing takes time, so apply well ahead. MIT prepares the documentation as part of the itinerary.
What is the best time to visit Japan?
Late March to early April for cherry blossom, and late October to early December for autumn colour — both spectacular and both requiring booking months ahead. May and early June are pleasant with fewer crowds. June-July is the rainy season and August is hot and humid.
How many days do I need for Japan?
Eight to twelve days for a first trip covering Tokyo, Hakone or Fuji, and Kyoto, often with Osaka. Seven days works for Tokyo and Kyoto alone. Fourteen days allows Hiroshima, Kanazawa, or Hokkaido. Days fill up faster in Japan than most people expect.
How do I reach Japan from Bangalore or Mysore?
There are direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Tokyo, and connections from Bangalore, Chennai, and Kochi via Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, or a Gulf hub. Total journey time from Bangalore is typically 11 to 16 hours depending on the connection.
Is Japan expensive?
Less than commonly assumed, and better value than it was as the yen has weakened. Business hotels are reasonably priced, food is excellent value — good ramen costs very little — and rail is efficient. The main costs are international flights, the Shinkansen if you are not using a rail pass, and peak-season accommodation.
Is the Japan Rail Pass worth buying?
It depends entirely on your route. For a multi-city trip covering Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima it usually saves money. For a trip based mostly in one or two cities it does not. We calculate it against your actual itinerary rather than assuming either way.
Is Japan difficult for vegetarians?
It is the single biggest practical challenge for Indian travellers. Dashi, a fish-based stock, is used in many dishes that appear vegetarian, so 'no meat' does not mean vegetarian in the Indian sense. Indian restaurants are common in the major cities and shojin ryori Buddhist temple cuisine is genuinely vegetarian — we plan around this explicitly.
When is cherry blossom season in Japan?
Generally late March to early April, but bloom dates shift year to year and move northwards through the season — Kyushu blooms before Tokyo, which blooms before Hokkaido. Forecasts are published each year but should be treated as approximate. Build flexibility into any blossom-focused trip.
What is a ryokan and should I stay in one?
A traditional Japanese inn with tatami-mat rooms, futon bedding, a kaiseki multi-course dinner, and often an onsen bath. Yes, at least for one night — it is a genuinely different experience from a hotel, and Hakone and Kyoto are the usual places to do it.
Do I need to speak Japanese?
No. Signage in major cities and on the rail network is bilingual, station staff are helpful, and translation apps handle most situations. English is less widely spoken than in Singapore or Malaysia, but the country is very navigable for visitors regardless.
Is Japan safe?
Japan has among the lowest crime rates in the world and is exceptionally safe, including for solo and female travellers and at night. Lost property is routinely returned. The main practical risks are natural — earthquakes and typhoons — which is worth knowing rather than worrying about.
What etiquette should I know?
Do not eat while walking, keep quiet on trains and take phone calls outside, remove shoes where indicated, do not tip anywhere, and queue properly. Handle money with the tray provided rather than passing it hand to hand. Getting these right is genuinely appreciated.
Can I see Mount Fuji easily?
From Hakone or the Fuji Five Lakes on a clear day, yes, and sometimes from the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto if you sit on the correct side. Fuji is frequently obscured by cloud, though, so treat a clear view as good luck rather than a guarantee — winter offers the best visibility.
Are tattoos a problem in Japan?
They can be. Some onsen, public baths, gyms, and pools bar visible tattoos because of historical associations. Tattoo-friendly facilities exist and are increasingly common, and private onsen at ryokan avoid the issue entirely. Check ahead if this affects you.
Is Japan good for families with children?
Yes. It is safe, clean, and endlessly interesting to children, with Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Tokyo Disney, Nara's deer, and the bullet train itself. The main considerations are small hotel rooms and a lot of walking, both manageable with planning.
What is takkyubin luggage forwarding?
A cheap, reliable courier service that sends your luggage from one hotel to the next, usually arriving the following day. It is standard practice in Japan and makes Shinkansen travel far easier, since you travel with just an overnight bag rather than hauling suitcases through stations.
Should I visit Hiroshima?
If you have the days, yes. The Peace Memorial Park and Museum are a direct and sobering account of the atomic bombing, and nearby Miyajima with its floating torii gate is one of Japan's most photographed sights. It is about two hours from Kyoto by Shinkansen.
Is Japan cash-based?
More than most visitors expect, though card and IC card acceptance has improved considerably. Carry some cash for smaller restaurants, temples, and rural areas. An IC card such as Suica or ICOCA covers transport and convenience stores and is worth getting on arrival.
What should I buy in Japan?
Ceramics, knives from Sakai or Seki, matcha and tea ware, stationery, KitKat and confectionery varieties, and craft items from regional workshops. Department store basements are excellent for food gifts. Prices are fixed and bargaining is not done.
How much does a Japan tour package cost?
It depends on dates — cherry blossom and autumn peak rates are substantially higher — flights and routing, rail pass versus individual tickets, and hotel category. MIT quotes the full trip including flights, visa documentation, rail, hotels, and sequencing.
Does MIT arrange Japan tour packages?
Yes. Our proprietor represented South India at the Karnataka Tourism Roadshow in Japan in 2025, so this is a market we work in directly. We arrange flights, visa documentation, rail passes, hotels including ryokan nights, and itinerary sequencing. Call or WhatsApp +91 96119 57301.
Plan your trip

Get a custom Japan itinerary

Tell us your dates and group size — we'll build a Japan plan around you.

Fill in your details once, then choose how you'd like to reach us — either way we'll call you back. Prefer to talk now? Call +91 96119 57301 (Primary) or +91 96119 57201 (Alternative).