How to choose and book a ryokan in Japan
A practical 2026 guide to ryokan: what's included, how to read plans, room and bath types, tattoos, taxes, how to book in English or on Japanese sites, and how to stack official travel discounts.
Guides · ガイド
Japan travel guides
Practical, sourced guides to spending less on trains, cards and stays in Japan.
IC cards and ski lift cards in Japan: Suica, PASMO, ICOCA, Welcome Suica and resort IC lift cards
How Japan's IC cards work in 2026: Suica, PASMO, ICOCA and Welcome Suica Mobile for trains and shops, plus how resort IC lift cards, deposits and online recharges work at Niseko, Rusutsu, Tomamu, Nozawa, Hakuba and more.
How to use the JR Pass (and when regional passes beat it)
A plain-English guide to the Japan Rail Pass in 2026: who can buy it, current prices, Nozomi tickets, seat reservations, and when a cheaper regional JR pass is the better deal.