Japan Holidays 2024 and 2025: What You Need to Know for Your Visit

With Japan’s tourism industry back in full swing after the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, everything is back to its lively state, with the addition of new and improved attractions. More and more facilities are offering English language support, making it even easier for travellers to visit and explore the country.

The convenience of traveling to Japan has also improved with direct flights from major cities, saving time and avoiding layovers. There are a diversity of Japan holidays you can experience, from modern attractions to traditional cultural sites, including ancient temples, futuristic cities, tranquil shrines, and gorgeous landscapes.

Here we’ll have a look at some of the highlights to look forward to about a trip to Japan in 2024 and 2025.

Is the Best Time to Visit Japan During Cherry Blossom Season in 2024-2025?

The best seasons to visit on your Japan holiday are spring and late autumn. These seasons are not only the prettiest, with the allure of pink cherry blossoms in spring and a vibrant orange and red foliage in autumn, but they also tend to have the most moderate weather for exploring Japan.

Summer in Japan can be quite hot and humid, and while it coincides with the rainy season and typhoon season, it is the perfect time for hiking in the Japanese Alps, visiting sights up north such as Aomori, Akita, or the island of Hokkaido, or participating in festivals. Winter, on the other hand, can be bracingly cold, with areas north of Tokyo tending to experience picturesque snow scenes, but it is also the clearest weather for seeing Mt. Fuji, and sunny in the world's largest cities like Tokyo and Osaka.

Historically, spring and autumn are often thought of as the best season to visit Japan. Spring is incredibly popular for its pale pink cherry blossom scenes that can be found all over Japan. The cherry blossom season, lasting from the end of March to the middle of April, is a significant time for travellers due to its stunning sceneries of blush coloured flower petals. It does bring crowds, though, particularly to the big cities. You can avoid the crowds by getting outside of the major cities or planning your visit in autumn for similarly moderate weather, and an equally, if not more beautiful autumn scenery.

Requirements to Travel to Japan in 2024-2025

Going on a holiday to Japan has never been easier. In 2024, there are no longer any special requirements to enter Japan regarding covid-19, with the exception of anyone showing symptoms. It is the perfect time to book a direct flight to Japan, attain a visa on arrival, and spend your holiday worry-free.

As for visas, there are many countries that allow entry for tourists to Japan for up to 90 days without applying for a visa. New for 2024, there is now also a digital nomad visa that is valid for remote work for up to six months. You can check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website for more details on tourist visas and digital nomad visas.

To make immigration procedures easier, you can now apply to Visit Japan Web to get a personal QR code. This can help making things easier at the airport on arrival.

What’s New in Japan in 2024

There are always new events, buildings, hotels, restaurants and facilities being created around Japan, but here are some of the highlights for 2024.

teamLab Borderless

Japanese art collective teamLab creates immersive art displays that encourage you to engage with your senses. Their newest installment is a renewal of teamLab Borderless in the 2024 freshly opened business and shopping centre, Azabudai Hills, Tokyo. It is made up of multiple different rooms with “projection mapping” digital art all over the walls and floors, which interact with you as you walk through and as you touch them.

There is even a tea house called En inside, allowing visitors to immerse in the art of traditional tea ceremony while interacting with projection mapping of flowers and butterflies which appear while the tea master fills each cup. Borderless is a popular place for taking pictures, as there are so many different rooms to have fun in. But apart from Borderless, there are teamLab installations in other places around Japan, including other spots around Tokyo like the teamLab Planets in Toyosu, as well as teamLab Botanical Garden in Osaka.

Samurai Restaurant

In the location previously known for the Robot Restaurant, the Samurai Restaurant in Tokyo opened at the end of 2023 with a new zest for life. Perfect for family friendly holidays, the so-called restaurant is less about the food, and more about the spectacle that covers three different acts, crazy costumes, and flamboyant floats. The darkened room is lit up by the bright colours and vibrant music and dancing, making it exciting for even the younger ones.

Ghibli Park

While fans were eagerly waiting for each section of the celebrated animation studio's newest attraction, Ghibli Park to open fully, as of 2024, all the planned sections are open to the public! In the part you will find five sections: Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, the Hill of Youth, Dondoko Forest, Mononoke Village, and the Valley of Witches. Each section takes inspiration from a different popular Ghibli film and is set in the vast former World Expo Park in Aichi prefecture, near Nagoya. The park takes around 3 hours to get to via public transport from Tokyo. Read more about Studio Ghibli Spots here.

Other Events Around Japan in 2024-2025

While many annual events took a break for a few years due to the pandemic, most of them are now back in full swing for 2024 and 2025. Here are a few to look out for around Japan:

• Kyoto Miyako Odori (April) - An exquisite event series of geisha dances and performances in the cultural capital of Kyoto, happening only once a year for over 150 years
• Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival (April-May) - Immerse yourself in the world of pink cherry petals in the northern part of Japan, Aomori
• Ashikaga Great Wisteria Festival (April-May) - One of the most spectacular wisteria park of Japan, with over 350 wisteria trees for flower (and Bridgerton) lovers
• Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival (June) - Kanazawa's biggest celebration of the year, with samurai costumes, ladder climbers, and taiko drums
• Atami Marine Sea Fireworks Festival (All seasons) - Spanning over all seasons and synonymous with Atami, a breathtaking show of fireworks with a finale of Niagara in the Air
• Fire-Walking Ceremony at Daiganji Temple (November) - Miyajima Island's iconic Buddhist ritual of firewalking and warding off evil spirits
• Kayabuki no Sato Snow Lantern Festival (January-February) - North to Kyoto, the villagers of Miyama create stunning snow lanterns along with visitors

Highlights to See in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Mount Fuji

Tokyo and Kyoto are often the top two cities which people want to visit on a trip to Japan, and for good reason! While they are both always thinking of new ways to make their city more exciting for visitors, there are also tons of long-standing attractions as well. Here are some ideas as jumping-off points for your 2024 Japan trip.

Tokyo’s Recommended Permanent Sightseeing Spots

• Tokyo Skytree – A 634m-tall tower with observation deck, shops, and restaurants
• Shibuya Sky – Stylish open-air observation deck, shops, and restaurants in Shibuya, Central Tokyo
• Sensoji Temple – An ancient bright red temple with a five-story pagoda and gigantic lanterns surrounded by souvenir shops in the Asakusa area
• Ghibli Museum - The beloved destination of family friendly holidays in Japan, found in Mitaka, Western Tokyo
• Tokyo National Museum - All things Japan, history, culture and art, with an overflow of priceless National Treasures

New in Tokyo for 2024

• Yokohama Museum of Art – Renovated art museum near Tokyo which reopened in 2024
• Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai - Eat the freshest sushi of the day, shop for Edo-style craft goods, and relax in a hot spring in this new facility in the heart of Toyosu, Tokyo
• Toda Building – Get inspired in a building dedicated to art, in Tokyo’s Jimbocho district opening in November 2024
• Azabudai Hills - High-end shopping district, stylish cafes like Arabica, and the newest teamLab art installations
• Shibuya Scramble Starbucks – Often thought of as the best place to view the world’s busiest crossing (Shibuya Scramble Crossing), the Starbucks café reopened in spring 2024
• Harakado, Harajuku - Tokyu Corporation's newest plaza located on the most convenient part of Harajuku's shopping district opened in 2024 spring

Kyoto’s Recommended Permanent Sightseeing Spots

• Fushimi Inari Taisha - The ever-popular Shinto shrine in Kyoto with its thousands of vermillion-red torii gates and panoramic city views
• Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) - Stunning pavilion of the Shokoku-ji temple complex covered in the purest gold-leaf, commissioned by Ashikaga shogun
• Nishiki Market - The bustling street food market of Kawaramachi, central Kyoto, were everyone can find the food of their desires
• Arashiyama Bamboo Forest - Relax your mind with the sights and sounds of nature in Kyoto's most sought-out bamboo grove in the Arashiyama district
• Yasaka Shrine - One of Kyoto's oldest shrines with an ancient pagoda on the Eastern Hill next to the Gion geisha district

New in Kyoto for 2024

• Noma – Highly acclaimed Denmark-born restaurant opens for a limited time from October 8 to December 18 in 2024
• Matcha Café Ujikyu – A delicious and stylish matcha cafe, opened in March 2024 offering delicious Uji green tea items
• Takashi Murakami x Mononoke Kyoto – an art exhibit at the Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art celebrating their 90th anniversary, from February 3 to September 1, 2024
• Genji Kyoto – A new boutique hotel overlooking Kyoto's central Kamo River
• (THISIS)SHIZEN - A close-to-nature stylish cafe in Shinpuhkan serving meticulously crafted flower ice creams according to season

After checking off your list the main attractions of Tokyo and Kyoto, explore further on Japan's main Honshu Island, and discover its natural beauty. Mount Fuji, with its snow-capped peak, is a must-see natural treasure, and shows a different side in every season.

Ancient castles like Osaka Castle and Himeji Castle are significant and always available historical sites for visitors, while theme parks like Universal Studios in Osaka remains an ever-popular attraction for families and friends. In 2025, Osaka will host the World Expo, and more events connecting to that are to come.

Overall, Japan offers diverse attractions in each season, from relaxing seasides, sacred shrines and ancient temples, to steaming-hot onsen hot springs, historical samurai towns, and lush mountain resorts like Takayama and Nagano. Additionally, the Japanese Alps offer powder-soft snow in winter, making it a prime destination for winter sports enthusiasts.

Getting Around Japan in 2024-2025

Whether you’re staying in one region or travelling across the country on your Japan holidays, Japan’s trains and public transport are still the easiest and most efficient way to get around.

Taxis are not always easy to flag down, and while renting a car gives you more flexibility, it also requires more initial planning and procedures. Japan’s trains, on the other hand, connect to all major cities, and local lines and buses allow you to explore further.

If you are intending to travel to multiple destinations on your Japan holiday, the Japan Rail Pass might be your best option for saving time and making your travel hassle-free. Otherwise, there are a whole host of other regional rail and bus passes that can make short-distance travel easier. Have a look at our introduction to Japan’s different rail passes here!

Excited to visit Japan?

Now that you know some of what you can look forward to on your 2024 trip, why not explore some of our tours and get planning your next holiday to Japan?

For more travel inspiration, check out our latest blog posts for exploring Japan.