Dates
Two kinds of date matter for a trip to Japan, and they are worth separating.
Dates the country takes off
Public holidays, and the three periods when everyone travels at once. Two of the three are built from public holidays; Obon contains none at all, which is why a holiday calendar alone will mislead you about August. Check your dates
Dates the rules change
Japanese rules take effect on fixed days, and several land inside one eighteen-month window. If your trip straddles one of these, the answer to "what does this cost" is different on either side.
| Date | What changes |
|---|---|
| 1 Jul 2026 | The departure tax tripled to ¥3,000. Tickets issued earlier keep ¥1,000 |
| 1 Oct 2026 | Rail pass prices rise at overseas agencies — but not on the official site |
| 1 Nov 2026 | Tax-free shopping becomes a refund confirmed by customs at departure |
| 1 Apr 2027 | Tokyo's lodging tax becomes a flat 3% |
Every calculator on this site takes your date and applies the rule that was in force on it, rather than describing "the current system". That is the whole reason the tools exist as tools.
Onsen rules — the government's own bathing standard, and what it says about tattoos
Washing before you get in is in the Environment Ministry's standard, not folklore. Pregnancy came off the posted contraindication list in 2014. And the tourism agency told the industry in writing that refusing someone solely for a tattoo is not appropriate.
Daylight hours in Japan — sunset is earlier than you think, and not on the day you think
Sunset in Kyoto on 1 December is 16:45 — already the earliest of the year, and it stays there until 10 December. The shortest days come around the solstice, and the latest sunrise not until the New Year. Published observatory tables for eight cities.
Cherry blossom and autumn leaves — the published normals, and the fortnight of spread nobody quotes
Where your dates sit against the meteorological agency's own normals for first bloom, full bloom, maple and ginkgo, plus what actually happened in each of the last six years. No forecast, on purpose.
Japanese emergency alerts — the names changed in May 2026, and the three most serious never say special warning
Weather warnings now carry their alert level in the name, and a new Level 4 Danger Warning tier exists. Tsunami, eruption and earthquake special warnings keep their ordinary names, so watching for the words will not help.
Visa-free stay in Japan — how long, and the conditions on 25 of the 74 countries
Being on Japan's visa-exemption list is not the whole answer. Eight countries need an ICAO ePassport or entry is refused, Uruguay's new passport is not recognized at all, and seven countries get 90 days at the border despite a six-month arrangement.
Japan holiday and peak season checker — are your dates the busy ones?
Golden Week, Obon and New Year decide what a trip costs and what is open. Check whether your dates fall in one, using the Cabinet Office's published holiday list — and find out why Obon is not a public holiday at all.