Japan
Eastern Asia · JPN
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Japan
Japan balances meticulous city life with temple towns, mountain scenery, and one of the most rewarding food cultures in the world. It works equally well for first-time Asia trips, rail-based multi-stop itineraries, and travelers who want a destination where logistics are unusually smooth.
Popular For
Things To See
- Tokyo
- Kyoto
- Osaka
- Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Mount Fuji
- Himeji Castle
Best Months
Best Months For Winter Travel
Know Before You Go
- Spring and autumn are the easiest all-round seasons for first visits.
- Intercity transport is excellent, so multi-city itineraries are practical even on shorter trips.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Japan.
Guidebooks
Lonely Planet Japan
Lonely Planet
Comprehensive guide with detailed itineraries, insider tips, and coverage of all major regions.
View on Amazon →
Fodor's Essential Japan
Fodor's Travel Guides
Full-color guide with carefully curated recommendations and practical planning tools.
View on Amazon →
Lonely Planet Japanese Phrasebook & Dictionary
Lonely Planet
Pocket-sized phrasebook with 3,500 words and essential phrases for communicating with locals.
View on Amazon →Tours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Japan.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Tokyo
- Population
- 123,210,000
- Area
- 377,930 km²
- Region
- Eastern Asia
Languages
- Japanese
Currency
Japanese yen (¥)
JPY
1 USD = 157.41 JPY
Cost of Living (World Bank)
62.4
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 56.8
- Restaurants
- 30.3
- Rent
- 14.7
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Tokyo (35.68°N, 139.75°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
40/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 20/100
- Lived safety
- 76/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.925
Very high human development
- 5-year change
- +0.004
- 10-year change
- +0.013
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.970
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.059
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.785
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (26)
- 🏛️
Sado Island Gold Mines
Inscribed 2024
- 🌿
Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island
Inscribed 2021
- 🏛️
Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan
Inscribed 2021
- 🏛️
Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group: Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan
Inscribed 2019
- 🏛️
Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region
Inscribed 2018
- 🏛️
Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region
Inscribed 2017
- 🏛️
The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement
Inscribed 2016
- 🏛️
Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining
Inscribed 2015
- 🏛️
Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites
Inscribed 2014
- 🏛️
Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration
Inscribed 2013
- 🏛️
Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land
Inscribed 2011
- 🌿
Ogasawara Islands
Inscribed 2011
- 🏛️
Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape
Inscribed 2007
- 🌿
Shiretoko
Inscribed 2005
- 🏛️
Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range
Inscribed 2004
- 🏛️
Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu
Inscribed 2000
- 🏛️
Shrines and Temples of Nikko
Inscribed 1999
- 🏛️
Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara
Inscribed 1998
- 🏛️
Itsukushima Shinto Shrine
Inscribed 1996
- 🏛️
Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome)
Inscribed 1996
- 🏛️
Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama
Inscribed 1995
- 🏛️
Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)
Inscribed 1994
- 🏛️
Himeji-jo
Inscribed 1993
- 🌿
Shirakami-Sanchi
Inscribed 1993
- 🌿
Yakushima
Inscribed 1993
- 🏛️
Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area
Inscribed 1993
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 29.5%
- Forest cover
- 68.4%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 29
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 50
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
84/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Winter Sports
83/100
Ski infrastructure & alpine pedigree
Combines ski resort depth, ski resort density, and Winter Olympic skiing results. Separate from climate comfort.
Luxury Infrastructure
92/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Reissued after periodic review without changes. Exercise normal precautions in Japan. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Japan. If you decide to travel to Japan, U.S. citizens should always exercise caution when traveling abroad. Use these general tips to stay safe: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and Alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Japan. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel and return to the United States. We highly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of August 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data