Japan is the first destination we are writing in full for Australian travellers. Use this hub to reach seven city guides and the First-Time Japan guide, or follow the journey from Tokyo through Hakone and Mount Fuji, then Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Hiroshima. Prices are approximate estimates, shown in your currency, with Australian dollars as the default.
What is the Japan journey we recommend?
When you have about two weeks, this is the route we would plan first. It starts in Tokyo, adds a mountain overnight in Hakone and around Mount Fuji, then uses the Shinkansen west to Kyoto, a day in Nara, time in Osaka, and finishes in Hiroshima and Miyajima. Shorter trips can stop after the classic Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka triangle.
First-Time Japan explains why ten days is a comfortable first visit, and when a nationwide Japan Rail Pass is worth doing the maths on.
Build your own version of this route in the Trip Planner: pick your days, cities and budget, and get a day-by-day plan.
How should I plan my Japan trip?
Four planning guides answer the questions most Australians ask before they book.
- 7, 10 and 14-day Japan itineraries: day-by-day routes from Tokyo, with official rail fares.
- Best time to visit Japan from Australia: weather, Japan holidays and 2027 school holidays by month.
- Japan cherry blossom 2027: average bloom dates by city and where to go if you are late.
- Is the JR Pass worth it in 2026-27?: official prices and worked examples in Australian dollars.
City guides
First-Time Japan
Budgets, packing, routes and the questions people ask before a first visit.
Tokyo
Five to ten days in the capital, with neighbourhood notes and a booking order.
Hakone
Onsen towns, Lake Ashi and a short escape from Tokyo.
Mount Fuji
Kawaguchiko views and mountain stays, when the weather cooperates.
Kyoto
Temple mornings, craft and a city that rewards an early start.
Nara
Japan’s first permanent capital, close to Kyoto and Osaka.
Osaka
Japan’s kitchen, and a straightforward base for Kansai.
Hiroshima
A city of memory and recovery, with Miyajima close by.
When should Australian travellers go?
Late October and November are often the most comfortable months: clearer, drier weather and autumn colour, without the full intensity of cherry blossom week. Late March to early April is beautiful and busy. May is a quieter spring option. July and August are genuinely hot and humid in the cities. December to February is the quietest, and often the clearest for Mount Fuji views.
How do I get there from Australia or elsewhere?
Official airline pages, last checked on the date in the sourced table, list direct Qantas services between Tokyo (Haneda) and Sydney, Tokyo (Narita) and Brisbane, and Tokyo (Narita) and Melbourne, plus a seasonal Sapporo-Sydney service from 7 December 2026 to 31 March 2027. ANA lists daily Haneda-Sydney and Narita-Perth services in its 25 October 2026 to 27 March 2027 table, and JAL lists daily Haneda-Sydney and Narita-Melbourne flights for the same winter season. Travelling from somewhere else? The search below picks a departure city near you. Flying times are not quoted here; check the airline site for current durations when you book. The First-Time Japan guide has the fuller airline, airport and IC-card notes, with sources.
Do I need a visa for Japan?
It depends on the passport you hold. Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs keeps the official list of countries and regions whose citizens can make a short visit without a visa, with the allowed length of stay and any ePassport conditions. Whatever passport you travel on, including an Australian one, check it there before you book.
Check your passport on the official visa exemption list (MOFA). You can also enter your arrival details ahead of time on Visit Japan Web, the government’s official service for immigration and customs. Last checked 14 November 2026.
How do I book flights and hotels?
Most first-time visitors, from Australia and elsewhere, fly into Tokyo (Haneda or Narita). Kansai International Airport is the usual arrival if you start in Osaka or Kyoto. Search links below open Aviasales with a departure city near you (Sydney if we cannot tell), and Trip.com’s hotel search for your region. These are starting points, not quotes.
Which figures have been checked against official sources?
Yen amounts below are as published on the official pages, last checked 14 November 2026. Australian dollar figures are approx. conversions using the ECB reference rate via Frankfurter on 13 November 2026 (1 AUD = 108.56 JPY). They are estimates, not a ticket price.
| Item | Official figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Japan Rail Pass, ordinary adult, official online purchase | 7-day 50,000 yen (approx. approx. A$461); 14-day 80,000 yen (approx. approx. A$737); 21-day 100,000 yen (approx. approx. A$921) | JR Group, Japan Rail Pass types and prices |
| Japan Rail Pass, ordinary adult, overseas agency from 1 October 2026 | 7-day 53,000 yen (approx. approx. A$488); 14-day 84,000 yen (approx. approx. A$774); 21-day 105,000 yen (approx. approx. A$967) | JR Group, Japan Rail Pass types and prices; see also the 9 April 2026 JR Group notice |
| Qantas published Australia-Japan routes (no airborne times quoted) | Direct: Tokyo Haneda-Sydney; Tokyo Narita-Brisbane; Tokyo Narita-Melbourne. Seasonal Sapporo-Sydney from 7 December 2026 to 31 March 2027. No direct Japan-Perth service listed on this page. | Qantas, international flight routes |
| ANA published Australia routes, 25 October 2026 to 27 March 2027 | Daily Haneda-Sydney (NH879/889 and NH880/890) and daily Narita-Perth (NH881/882). | ANA, international route information |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Japan?
It depends on your passport. Check it on the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa exemption list, which shows the countries and regions that can visit for a short stay without a visa and for how long. JESTA, Japan’s planned travel authorisation, is not required yet. See the MOFA list.
How long do I need in Japan for a first visit?
Ten days is a comfortable first visit: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and a Nara day. Seven days is possible but fast. Fourteen days is enough to add Hakone or Mount Fuji, and Hiroshima with Miyajima, without treating the trip as a checklist.
Do I need a Japan Rail Pass?
Not automatically. Since the 2023 price rise, the nationwide pass only tends to pay off with two or more long Shinkansen legs. For a Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka triangle, individual tickets or a regional Kansai pass are often cheaper. Compare your actual legs against the official prices in the table above.
Is Japan a good first trip from Australia?
Yes, for most travellers who want a country that is safe, well signposted on the main routes, and rich in food and culture. It is not a beach holiday, and it is not as cheap as parts of Southeast Asia. Learn a little etiquette and you will be looked after.
Photo credits
- Hero image: Photo: Martin Falbisoner, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- First-Time Japan: Photo: 電車(新幹線)でゴー！, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Tokyo: Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Hakone: Photo: Guilhem Vellut, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Mount Fuji: Photo: Romain Guy, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Kyoto: Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Nara: Photo: Zairon, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Osaka: Photo: Immanuelle, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Hiroshima: Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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