Japan Essential Links Guide

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

The official source for Japan tourism. Regional and seasonal detailed information plus latest event updates will expand your travel inspiration infinitely.

Japan Guide

Japan's largest tourism information site. Stunning seasonal photos and detailed reports make their cherry blossom and autumn foliage calendars essential for trip planning.

Go Tokyo (Official Tokyo Tourism)

Tokyo's official tourism site. From latest event info to hidden gems, this local perspective guide offers endless new discoveries.

Kyoto Official Travel Guide

The official guide to ancient Kyoto. Understand the essence of this city where tradition meets modernity through seasonal feature articles.

Art & Culture Basics

Google Arts & Culture: Ukiyo‑e

View masterpiece ukiyo-e from museums worldwide in high-resolution. It's a luxurious experience of museum-hopping from your own home.

JNTO Official App

Official app with offline maps and coupon features. From travel tips to great deals, it's complete support from armchair travel to actual trips.

Shrines & Temples (Spiritual Experiences)

Japan National Tourism Organization - Shrines & Temples

JNTO's official shrine and temple guide. Detailed English explanations of historical background and worship etiquette let beginners enjoy spiritual experiences with confidence.

Sensoji Temple Official

Official Sensoji Temple site. As Tokyo's oldest temple with 1,400 years of history, this sacred site provides detailed English introductions to worship methods and annual events.

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Official Fushimi Inari Taisha site. World-famous Kyoto shrine with thousands of torii gates, offering mystical experiences as the head shrine of Inari worship.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Official Kiyomizu-dera site. UNESCO World Heritage temple famous for its "Kiyomizu Stage," where you can experience seasonal beauty and historical value.

Meiji Jingu Shrine

Official Meiji Shrine site. Modern shrine nestled in Tokyo's sacred forest, offering dignified worship experiences dedicated to Emperor Meiji.

Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion)🇯🇵

Official Kinkaku-ji (Rokuon-ji) site. Kyoto's iconic golden pavilion with its beautiful reflection in the pond creates unforgettable scenic memories.

Todai-ji Temple🇯🇵

Official Todai-ji site. UNESCO World Heritage site famous for Nara's Great Buddha, where you can experience the power of Japan's largest wooden architecture and giant Buddha statue up close.

Theme Parks & Entertainment

Tokyo Disney Resort

Official Tokyo Disney Resort site. Experience world-class entertainment in the magical worlds of Disneyland and DisneySea.

Universal Studios Japan

Official Universal Studios Japan site. Enjoy cutting-edge attractions using the latest technology in Hollywood movie worlds and Nintendo World.

Fuji-Q Highland

Official Fuji-Q Highland site. Holy land of extreme rides with Mt. Fuji as backdrop, offering thrilling experiences with world-record-class roller coasters.

Tokyo Skytree

Official Tokyo Skytree site. Breathtaking views from the world's tallest broadcasting tower with cutting-edge observation experiences offering panoramic views of Tokyo.

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

Official Kaiyukan site. World's largest-class aquarium displaying Pacific marine life, with whale shark encounters providing spectacular experiences.

Nintendo Museum

Official Nintendo Museum site. Located in Kyoto Uji, this facility lets you experience Nintendo's history and culture while learning about gaming evolution and creativity.

Sanrio Puroland🇯🇵

Official Sanrio Puroland site. Indoor theme park where you can experience Hello Kitty's world, with character interactions as the main attraction.

Legoland Japan🇯🇵

Official Legoland Japan site. Family-friendly theme park in Nagoya offering creative attractions utilizing the LEGO block world concept.

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2. Planning

"What's Visit Japan Web?" "How do I book Kabuki tickets?" From entry procedures to cultural experiences, turn your pre-trip "What do I do?" into "All set!" with these practical guides.

Entry & Procedure Preparation

Visit Japan Web

Official government service digitalizing entry procedures and customs declarations. Pre-registration dramatically reduces airport waiting time - a real lifesaver app.

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

Official comprehensive tourism information source. From latest entry info to disaster alerts, plan your trip with confidence using reliable official information.

Itinerary Planning & Reservations

NAVITIME Trip

Excellent planning tool with AI-generated optimal itineraries. Just drag and drop tourist spots to create efficient routes.

Accommodation Booking

Booking.com

World's largest accommodation booking site. International user-friendly interface with clear cancellation policies for worry-free bookings.

Airbnb Japan

Local lifestyle experience platform. For long-term stays or culture-focused travelers, you'll find unique properties in abundance.

Rakuten Travel🇯🇵

Japan's largest accommodation booking site. Rakuten point rewards and extensive Japanese accommodation info for comfortable, budget-friendly stays.

Jalan🇯🇵

Booking site specializing in hot springs and ryokan info. For authentic Japanese accommodation experiences, their locally-focused detailed information is invaluable.

Cultural & Entertainment Reservations

Kabuki Web (Official Kabuki Guide)

Official English booking site for Kabuki-za. Performance schedules with English synopses let beginners enjoy traditional performing arts with confidence.

Nohgaku Performers' Association

Official Noh association site. Performance info for the world's oldest theatrical art form with English explanations for deep cultural understanding.

Japan Sumo Association

Official Japan Sumo Association site. From tournament ticket booking to wrestler info, it's a comprehensive source for everything about Japan's national sport.

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3. Arrival & Move

"I don't know how to transfer trains!" "How do I set up PayPay?" Get moving smartly from day one with carefully selected apps from NAVITIME to Mobile Suica that work instantly on the ground.

Transit & Timetables

NAVITIME

Japan's ultimate transit app. Complete support from train delay info to walking navigation - navigate Tokyo's complex transit network without getting lost.

Jorudan Route Finder

Transit service excellent for fare comparisons. Popular with budget travelers for "cheapest route" displays, also handy for Seishun 18 ticket trips.

Taxi & Rideshare

Uber Japan

World-standard rideshare app. Limited to urban areas but the English UI and international usability make it especially valuable for late-night travel.

GO Taxi🇯🇵

Japan's largest taxi dispatch app. Cashless app payments with upfront pickup fee display for worry-free rides.

S.RIDE🇯🇵

Revolutionary taxi app with instant one-swipe dispatch. Multilingual support and coupon features make it popular with foreign tourists.

DiDi Taxi🇯🇵

Chinese company-operated taxi app. Mainly urban areas but expanding to regional cities, providing stable service.

Maps & Location

Google Maps

World-standard map app. Offline map download feature and accurate Japanese store hours make it an essential traveler's tool.

Transport IC & Payments

Mobile Suica🇯🇵

Essential app for trains, subways, and buses throughout Japan. Also works for convenience store and shop payments, so I recommend installing it first. Nearly universal across Japan on iPhone & Android. Charge history lets you track your travel footprints too.

PayPay🇯🇵

Japan's most widespread QR payment app. Works everywhere from convenience stores to street vendors, with limited-time campaigns for great shopping deals.

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4. Lifestyle & Experience

"This ramen is amazing!" "I want to try on kimono!" "I want to visit anime pilgrimage sites!" From gourmet to traditional culture to subculture, open doors to authentic Japan experiences that engage all five senses.

Food Culture - Basic Knowledge & Cultural Understanding

Washoku (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage)

Official UNESCO explanation of washoku registered as Intangible Cultural Heritage. Understanding Japanese cuisine's philosophy and seasonality makes dining experiences much deeper.

Japan Sake & Shochu Information Center

Comprehensive sake and shochu information center. From basic knowledge to brewery visit info, detailed English explanations of Japanese drinking culture.

Urasenke Tea Ceremony School

Official Urasenke tea ceremony site. Tea ceremony experience bookings available - touch Japan's spiritual culture through graceful movements in serene spaces.

MAFF Washoku Portal🇯🇵

Ministry of Agriculture's official washoku information site. From seasonal ingredients to regional cuisine, learn washoku culture deeply through government-certified accurate information.

Food Culture - Restaurant Reservations & Gourmet

Gurunavi

Multilingual restaurant booking site. Rich search functions for foreigner-friendly establishments let you enjoy meals without language barriers.

OpenTable Japan

International restaurant booking platform. Familiar booking system makes it easy to find English-speaking restaurants.

Tabelog🇯🇵

Japan's largest gourmet review site. Strict rating system and detailed reviews help you find truly delicious restaurants.

Ikyu Restaurant🇯🇵

High-end restaurant specialist booking site. The go-to service for special occasion dinners, business entertainment, and upscale dining experiences.

Beauty & Fashion - Hair Care

Shiseido Professional

Professional salon-exclusive hair care line. Experience the secrets of Japanese women's lustrous hair and cutting-edge beauty technology.

Milbon

Damage care brand beloved by professional stylists. World-class technology delivers noticeable hair quality improvement results.

Kao Essential🇯🇵

Excellent drugstore hair care line. Achieve professional-level results at affordable prices - the ultimate cost-performance brand.

Pantene Japan🇯🇵

Japanese version uses different formulations than overseas versions. Unique blend tailored for Japanese hair types makes it worth trying locally.

Beauty & Fashion - Skincare & Cosmetics

Shiseido

150-year-old Japanese cosmetics pioneer. Fusion of cutting-edge technology and traditional aesthetics, with exclusive limited items unavailable overseas.

SK-II

Luxury skincare featuring "Pitera™" inspired by the beautiful hands of Japanese sake brewers. A brand worthy of treating yourself.

FANCL

Pioneer of additive-free skincare. Preservative and fragrance-free, gentle on sensitive skin, recommended for those prioritizing safety.

@cosme🇯🇵

Japan's largest beauty site with over 20 million real reviews. Perfect reference for Japanese women's latest beauty trends and souvenir shopping.

Beauty & Fashion - Contemporary Fashion

Uniqlo

Japanese practical fashion brand. Perfect balance of functionality and design, with limited collaboration items not to be missed.

Hypebeast Japan

Cutting-edge media for street and high fashion. Essential reading for fashion-conscious people, with exclusive collab and drop information.

ZOZOTOWN🇯🇵

Japan's largest fashion e-commerce site. Latest trends at a glance, though time sale notifications can be addictive - proceed with caution.

WEAR🇯🇵

Real coordinate posting SNS. Read Japanese street fashion and emerging trends through regular users' posts.

Fashionsnap🇯🇵

Fashion media renowned for industry news speed. Real-time Tokyo Fashion Week reports are particularly comprehensive.

Houyhnhnm🇯🇵

Lifestyle media specializing in sophisticated men's fashion. Refined playfulness and quality selections are truly appealing.

Beauty & Fashion - Traditional Clothing (Kimono)

Kimono Yamato🇯🇵

Perfect entry point for casual kimono at this established kimono retailer. Thoughtful consultation from rental to purchase supports your kimono debut.

Ichikura🇯🇵

Kimono specialist with wide range from furisode to visiting wear. Provides authentic kimono suitable for formal occasions.

Tansuya🇯🇵

Established recycled kimono chain store. Fun treasure hunting experience with authentic kimono at reasonable prices.

Kyoto Kimono Yuzen🇯🇵

Authentic kimono specialist featuring Kyoto traditional techniques. Experience the beauty of yuzen dyeing and craftsmanship by actually wearing them.

Subculture & Pop Culture - Manga, Anime & Otaku

Pixiv

World's largest illustration posting SNS. Directly experience the passion of Japan-born creative culture and trending genres through creators' works.

The Association of Japanese Animations (AJA)

Official Japan Animation Association site. Objectively understand anime industry realities through industry statistics and market trends.

Comic Market (Comiket)🇯🇵

Official site for the world's largest doujinshi convention. If planning otaku culture pilgrimage, checking event dates is essential.

Animate Times🇯🇵

Official Animate news site. Latest anime info, merchandise updates, voice actor interviews - packed with must-see content for fans.

Comic Natalie🇯🇵

Industry-leading manga and anime news site for breaking news speed. Catch new announcements and hot topic updates first.

Subculture & Pop Culture - Music & Live Events

Billboard Japan

Japanese edition of the authoritative music chart Billboard. Weekly J-pop hit chart updates help discover next breakthrough artists.

Music Natalie🇯🇵

Music news site covering J-pop to rock extensively. Renowned for high-quality artist interviews and live reports.

Barks🇯🇵

Veteran music fan information site. Deep interview articles and industry analysis help understand the essence of Japan's music scene.

J-Wave News🇯🇵

News site from Tokyo's stylish FM station. Attractive refined urban culture info where music and lifestyle merge.

LiveFans🇯🇵

Comprehensive live concert ticket information site. Covers everything from advance booking info to premium tickets.

Traditional Crafts & Performing Arts - Traditional Crafts

Japan Crafts & Design Council🇯🇵

Organization promoting fusion of Japanese traditional crafts and contemporary design. Young craftspeople's works available for purchase - perfect for one-of-a-kind souvenirs.

Traditional Crafts & Performing Arts - Traditional Performing Arts

Kabuki Web (Official Kabuki Guide)

Official English guide site for Kabuki-za. Detailed synopsis explanations for beginners let you enjoy traditional performing arts without language barriers.

Nohgaku Performers' Association

Official English site for Noh association. Experience the mystique and serene beauty of the world's oldest theatrical art through detailed explanations.

Japan Sumo Association

Official Japan Sumo Association site. Provides precious experiences touching the essence of Japanese culture through sumo's history, traditions, and tournament viewing.

Bunraku Association🇯🇵

Official Bunraku association site. Learn about the delicate techniques and expressive power of ningyo joruri, Osaka's world-renowned traditional performing art.

Rakugo Association🇯🇵

Official Rakugo association site. Experience Japan's unique humor culture and storytelling art, feeling the universal nature of laughter transcending language barriers.

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5. Arts & Learning

"I want to know more about this ukiyo-e!" "I'd like to read Agency for Cultural Affairs materials!" When intellectual curiosity strikes, dive deep with researcher-level sources from Tokyo National Museum to academic institutions.

Government & Public Institutions (Maximum Reliability)

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)

Command center for Japan's cultural policies and educational administration. Check government-level latest information and policies in English, from cultural property protection to international exchange.

Agency for Cultural Affairs

Central institution for cultural arts promotion. Official information source covering the full scope of Japan's cultural administration, from important cultural property designations to cultural projects.

Japan Foundation

International exchange organization responsible for overseas expansion of Japanese culture. Rich Japanese cultural event information and cultural exchange programs worldwide.

Japan Heritage

Official site for Japan Heritage certified by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Opens doors to deep Japanese understanding by introducing regional historical charms as stories.

Domestic Museums (Treasure Troves of Primary Sources)

Tokyo National Museum

Japan's oldest and largest museum. Luxurious experience viewing the pinnacle of Japanese art up close through permanent displays of national treasures and important cultural properties.

Kyoto National Museum

National museum collecting the essence of Kyoto culture. Experience the aesthetic sense and cultural accumulation of the thousand-year capital through world-class collections.

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

National art museum systematically introducing Japanese modern and contemporary art. Learn the flow of Japanese art history chronologically from Meiji to present.

Ōta Memorial Museum of Art

Private museum specializing in ukiyo-e. Deeply explore ukiyo-e's appeal through research-level special exhibitions and rich collections.

Sumida Hokusai Museum

District museum specializing in Katsushika Hokusai. Clearly introduces the life and works of Hokusai, symbol of Edo culture, using latest exhibition technology.

Overseas Museums & Cultural Institutions (International Perspectives)

British Museum

British Museum's Japanese collection. World-class collection richness with detailed materials viewable online, optimal for research.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Boston Museum of Fine Arts associated with Okakura Tenshin. As a holy site for Oriental art research, it houses academically valuable Japanese art collections.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Metropolitan Museum's Japanese art department. Known for collection quality with comprehensive digital archives.

Art Institute of Chicago

Art Institute of Chicago official site. World-famous for Impressionist collections, but Japanese art collections including ukiyo-e are also outstanding treasures not to be missed.

Rijksmuseum

Rijksmuseum's Japanese art research. As a base for Japanese art research in Europe, their unique perspective is fascinating.

Digital Archives (Researcher-Level Information)

Ukiyo-e.org

World's largest ukiyo-e database. Cross-search 220,000 works - optimal platform for artwork comparison and detailed research.

Library of Congress Prints & Photographs

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. Houses numerous precious historical photos and prints related to Japan, optimal archive for historical research.

National Diet Library Digital Collections

National Diet Library Digital Collections. Functions as the ultimate weapon for primary source research by publishing Meiji to Showa books in full text.

Edo-Tokyo Digital Museum

Edo-Tokyo Museum digital archive. Precious collection of materials recording the transition from Edo to Tokyo in detail from a lifestyle history perspective.

Waseda University Kotenseki Database🇯🇵

Waseda University classical texts database. Access first-class materials essential for Japanese literature research through digitization of old books and classical texts.

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5. Arts & Learning (Additional)

Academic & Research Institutions (Peak of Specialization)

University of Tokyo

Japan's premier comprehensive university. Deepen specialized knowledge through Japanese cultural research projects and latest academic achievements from various faculties.

Kyoto University - Institute for Research in Humanities

Kyoto University Institute for Research in Humanities. As a holy site for humanities research, provides numerous database publication projects and academic papers.

International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken)

International Research Center for Japanese Studies. As a specialized institution for Japanese cultural research, publishes treasure troves of online papers and research materials in English.

Waseda University Theatre Museum

Waseda University Theatre Museum. As a base for theatre and performing arts research, provides comprehensive digital collections and academic materials.

Tokyo University of the Arts

Tokyo University of the Arts. As Japan's premier art education institution, disseminates latest artistic trends from student works to faculty research.

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6. Live & Settle

"I'd love to work in this country..." "How do you get permanent residency?" Turn that "I want to live here" feeling from your trip into reality with guidance from visa procedures to housing search for your new life path.

Visa & Residence Procedures

Immigration Services Agency of Japan

Official Immigration Services Agency site. Supports the first step in long-term stay planning with detailed English explanations of latest residence status information and procedures.

Housing Search - General Rentals

SUUMO (English)

Japan's largest real estate portal site. Find your ideal home efficiently with detailed search functions and abundant property information.

LIFULL HOME'S🇯🇵

Major real estate information site. Supports housing search with high-quality photos, detailed property information, and smooth viewing appointment systems.

Housing Search - Foreigner-Focused & Public Housing

UR Housing (English)

Urban Renaissance Agency public rental housing. Clear accounting with zero key money and renewal fees - the ultimate cost-performance housing option for long-term residents.

Leopalace21 (English)

Established furnished short-term rental company. Service accommodating temporary returnees with low initial move-in costs and flexible contract periods.

GaijinPot Apartments

Rental site specializing in foreigner-welcome properties. Secure housing without language barriers from English inquiries through contracts.

Housing Search - Share Houses

Tokyo Sharehouse

Internationally diverse share house specialist site. Community-focused housing choice where you can enjoy cultural exchange while keeping housing costs down.

Living Guides & Public Services

Tokyo Multilingual Living Information

Tokyo Metropolitan Government's official multilingual living guide. Reliable information source covering all information necessary for Tokyo living, from disaster prevention to medical systems.

Multilingual Living Information (CLAIR)

Council of Local Authorities for International Relations multilingual living information. Provides nationwide municipal information in multiple languages, also helpful when considering regional relocation.

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7. Emergency & Medical Support

"Is it 119 to call an ambulance?" "Where are English-speaking hospitals?" Don't panic in emergencies - check these like a good luck charm, from emergency calls to foreigner hotlines to medical facility info.

Emergency Calls & Disaster Information

National Police Agency (Emergency: 110)

National Police Agency official site. Lists emergency call methods and English response information - definitely bookmark for safety assurance.

Fire and Disaster Management Agency (Emergency: 119)

Fire and Disaster Management Agency official site. Supports safe stays in earthquake-prone Japan with rapid disaster information distribution and disaster prevention knowledge in English.

Japan Meteorological Agency

Japan Meteorological Agency official site. National-level reliable information source distributing accurate weather and disaster information in English, from weather warnings to earthquake updates.

Foreigner Hotlines

Japan Visitor Hotline (24h Multilingual)

24-hour multilingual hotline provided by the Japan Tourism Agency. Service you'll definitely want to keep contact info for as an emergency consultation window for sudden illness or accidents.

AMDA International Medical Information Center

AMDA International Medical Information Center. Becomes a reassuring ally in medical settings where language barriers are felt, through medical interpretation services and medical consultations.

Medical Institution Search & Interpretation

Tokyo Medical Institution Information "Himawari"

Tokyo Metropolitan 24-hour medical institution search service. Reliable system for instantly finding nearest medical facilities during nighttime and holiday emergencies.

Japan Healthcare Info

Comprehensive medical information site for foreigners. Receive medical care with peace of mind through easy-to-understand English explanations from Japan's medical system to insurance mechanisms.

Embassies & Consulates in Japan

U.S. Embassy Tokyo

Official U.S. Embassy in Japan site. Plays important role as communication window with home country through immediate travel advisory updates and consular service information.

British Embassy Tokyo

Official British Embassy in Japan site. Provides official UK government information and latest consular information including post-Brexit procedural changes.

Australian Embassy Tokyo

Official Australian Embassy in Japan site. Unique Southern Hemisphere perspective with comprehensive services for young people including working holiday information.