Japan
Independent hotel guides, travel articles, and travel videos for Japan.
Destinations within Japan
Hotel guides
Travel videos
youtube.com
Karl Watson: Travel Documentaries is a YouTube travel channel featuring Karl Watson’s long-form films about his travel adventures.
This itinerary video is especially useful for first-time Japan planning, comparing 14-day, 21-day, and one-month routes across Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima, Nagano, and Kanazawa.
youtube.com
Hey Nadine is a YouTube travel channel by Nadine Sykora, offering destination videos, travel advice, and practical expertise.
This guide video gives practical Japan travel tips across places to see, things to do, transport, food, and destinations including Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Nagano.
youtube.com
Wolters World is a YouTube travel channel giving first-hand travel advice about destinations, culture, planning, and common visitor mistakes.
This guide video is helpful for understanding visitor etiquette in Japan, including chopstick use, subway crowds, and other cultural considerations tourists should know.
youtube.com
Creative Travel Guide is a YouTube travel channel from a British couple living in Bangkok and exploring Asia.
This video presents a positive Japan overview through ten reasons to visit, combining travel-place suggestions, vacation planning angles, and discussion of why expats choose to relocate there.
youtube.com
Jon Barr is a YouTube channel focused on food experiences in New York City and beyond, with travel videos also included in its wider archive.
This travel video gives a concise activity-led Japan roundup, listing ten things to do from Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, the Iya Valley, and other Japan series episodes.
youtube.com
The Endless Adventure is a YouTube travel channel by Eric and Allison about places, foods, and ongoing travel experiences.
This travel video adds a good transit-and-food perspective on Japan, following a bus journey from Tokyo to Kyoto with road trip snacks along the way.
Travel articles & blogs
A Little Adrift is a long-running travel site focused on responsible tourism, slow travel, and practical destination guides. Their Japan travel guide is a strong pre-trip resource, bringing together broad planning context and practical advice for visitors.
Traveling Japan is a fascinating, disorienting experience. This Japan travel guide offers comprehensive advice to know before you go.
alittleadrift.com/japan/
ViaTravelers is a travel media and planning site combining destination guides with structured trip-planning and comparison tools. Their Japan destination guide gives travelers a well-rounded planning overview across culture, seasons, transport, landscapes, and food.
An archipelago where ancient Shinto shrines stand minutes from neon-drenched skyscrapers, where bullet trains link snow-capped volcanos
viatravelers.com/destinations/japan/
Legal Nomads is a food, travel, and celiac travel site with a strong personal perspective and practical resources. Their gluten-free Japan guide is a practical resource for celiac travelers, pairing food navigation advice with a translation card.
I spent many weeks in Japan, and learned how to navigate food as a celiac. Here's my guide + a translation card so you can too!
legalnomads.com/gluten-free/japan/
Going Awesome Places is an itinerary-focused travel guide site built around detailed trip routes and practical planning resources. Their Japan guide supports detailed trip planning with useful coverage of things to do, where to eat, where to stay, expectations, and planning advice.
The ultimate Japan travel guide, with tips and advice on things to do, where to eat, where to stay, what to expect & more to plan your trip.
goingawesomeplaces.com/destination/asia/japan/
The Travel Hack is a weekend-break and short-trip travel blog focused on practical travel advice and efficient planning. Their beginner guide to Japanese onsen visits is a helpful primer for first-time hot springs travelers who want the basics explained clearly.
Travelling to Japan? Don't miss the traditional onsen (hot springs) experience! This complete guide offers all the info you need to enjoy your first onsen.
thetravelhack.com/japan/japanese-onsen-guide-beginners/
Uncornered Market is a sustainable travel site and tourism advisory focused on experiential, community-aware travel and food guides. Their Japanese food guide is a thoughtful resource for travelers who want traditional dish ideas and practical tips on what to eat and drink in Japan.
Japanese food guide with an extensive list of traditional Japenese dishes and tips on what to eat and drink when you visit.
uncorneredmarket.com/japan-food/
Girl Eat World is a one-woman food and travel blog publishing practical destination advice, itineraries, and food-led planning guides. Her Japan train guide is a practical first-timer resource, explaining domestic rail travel and whether the JR Pass is still worthwhile.
Is it still worth it to get JR Pass when you're visiting Japan? Read to find out
girleatworld.net/trains-in-japan/
Wild Junket is an adventure and experiential travel blog with strong coverage of family adventure and detailed destination guides. Their Japan with kids article turns family trip lessons into helpful guidance on attractions, activities, and practical travel tips.
My Japan family trip guide shows how to travel Japan with kids, featuring must-see attractions, kid-friendly activities, and tips from my adventure.
wildjunket.com/japan-with-kids/
Y Travel Blog is a long-running travel site covering destination guides, family travel, travel advice, and practical trip inspiration. Their ten-day Japan itinerary gives first-time visitors a useful route framework with highlights, food, and cultural experiences.
This 10 days in Japan itinerary is perfect for first time visitors. See the highlights, taste the food, and experience culture!
ytravelblog.com/japan-itinerary/
Earth Trekkers is a family adventure travel site specializing in detailed destination guides, itineraries, hikes, and route-based planning. Their Japan guide is a strong route-planning resource, covering trip planning and destinations including Kyoto, Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nara, and Kamakura.
Japan Travel Guide: including Kyoto, Tokyo, sumo wrestling, Hiroshima, Nara deer, Kamakura, and first impressions of Japan.
earthtrekkers.com/destination-japan/
Wanderlust Chloe is a UK travel blog covering destination inspiration, food, hotels, family travel, and polished first-person guides. Her Japan onsen guide is a helpful primer on etiquette, bathing basics, rules, and what to wear or avoid before visiting one of the country's hot springs.
From how to bathe to what to wear (and avoid), this guide has everything you need to know about visiting an onsen in Japan.
wanderlustchloe.com/japan-onsen-guide/
NOMADasaurus is an adventure travel and photography blog with destination guides, sustainable tourism content, and practical trip planning resources. Their Japan budget travel guide gives practical backpacking advice, cost-saving tips, and real cost examples for planning a more affordable trip.
If you've ever wondered if it's possible to enjoy budget travel in Japan, this post will tell you exactly how to do it, with plenty of tips and actual costs.
nomadasaurus.com/budget-travel-in-japan/
A Dangerous Business is Amanda Williams' travel blog focused on realistic planning, personally tested itineraries, and fitting travel into everyday life. Her Japan travel tips are especially useful for first-time visitors, outlining twelve important things to know before the trip.
Traveling to Japan for the first time? Here are the top Japan travel tips and things to know before traveling in Japan.
dangerous-business.com/japan-travel-tips/
Goats On The Road is a travel guide site and travel-lifestyle business resource by Canadian travelers Nick and Dariece. Their list of 21 things to do in Japan offers a well-rounded mix of history, food, hiking, road trips, onsens, and other memorable travel experiences.
There are endless things to do in Japan, but this insider's guide shares the best 21. Explore history, eat, hike, road trip, soak in onsens and much more.
goatsontheroad.com/things-to-do-in-japan/
Solo Traveler is a specialist digital publication focused on resources and guidance for people who travel alone. Their Japan solo trip planning guide brings together useful planning resources, itinerary ideas, and budget context for independent travelers.
Japan solo. It's going to be fantastic! Here's my trip planning process including my favorite resources for Japan travel, my itinerary and my budget.
solotravelerworld.com/japan-solo-trip-planning/