Autumn 2025. We – Sam and Danny, Michel and Wille, and Timothy – are travelling to Japan for a quite classic tour of the Land of the Rising Sun. We are flying separately as we used miles. On the planning: Tokyo, Kanazawa, Shirakawa, Osaka, and Expo 2025, Hiroshima, Himeji, Miyajima, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Hakone, and back to Tokyo. Three weeks plus some extra days.
Prior to the group trip, I – Timothy – am solo in Tokyo. Using artificial intelligence, I concocted a busy four days featuring Ito on the Izu Peninsula and Sawara, also known as Little Edo. I also end this Journey Across Japan with a solo spell in Minato, near Taito and Tamachi Station.
This Journey to Japan has long in the making. We expected to go in 2021 or 2022, after the 2020 Australia – New Caledonia – Fiji – Vanuatu Odyssey. But COVID-19 happened, Danny met Sam, life happened, Japan is now overrun by overtourism partly due to a week yen. So the circumstances are quite different. And certainly compared to my first trip to Tokyo, Hakone and Kyoto in 2013.
2025 v. 2013
When planning our upcoming trip to Japan, I’ve noticed something that didn’t strike me when I last visited back in 2013. This time, everywhere I look, there are suggestions to book ahead—sometimes months in advance.
Whether it’s cafés, museums, trains, or even observation decks, it seems like spontaneity has taken a back seat. Naturally, I started to wonder: should I be worried about travelling to Japan and missing out?
The truth is, there’s no need for nerves—but being prepared can make all the difference.
Why travel in Japan feels more intense than it used to
Since my last visit, Japan’s popularity has exploded. The country has welcomed record numbers of tourists, and post-pandemic demand has only intensified things.
Attractions that once allowed walk-ins are now booked solid weeks in advance. High seasons—like cherry blossom in spring, autumn foliage in November, or the cluster of national holidays known as Golden Week—only make matters more competitive.
As a result, planning ahead has become less of a travel hack and more of a survival strategy.
What really needs to be booked in advance
Let’s start with accommodation. If you’re planning to stay in Kyoto, Tokyo, or anywhere even slightly popular—especially in boutique hotels or traditional ryokan—it’s wise to book three to six months ahead.
That’s the best way to secure a decent rate and a central location. The good news is that most bookings are refundable, so you’re not locking yourself into something inflexible.
Then there are the experiences. TeamLab’s immersive art installations, whether in Tokyo or elsewhere, now open bookings around two months in advance. Shibuya Sky and the Tokyo Skytree both release tickets several weeks ahead, and if you’re after a sunset slot, you’ll want to book as early as possible.
The Ghibli Museum in Tokyo is another story. Tickets are released on the 10th of each month for the following month, and they’re gone within minutes. If you’re aiming for a visit, set a reminder and act fast.
Theme parks
Theme parks have followed suit. Universal Studios Japan, especially the Super Nintendo World section, can require timed-entry passes that must be booked through the park’s app or included with a special early entry ticket.
Themed cafés such as Pokémon Café or Kirby Café are so popular that reservations open weeks ahead and fill almost instantly.
We bought express passes, but that still requires scheduling.
And yes, Disneyland and DisneySea are just as competitive as their Western counterparts.
Shinkansen
Even travel on Japan’s famous shinkansen (bullet trains) can benefit from early planning. Although most routes allow you to reserve seats the day before or even the day of travel, that changes during national holidays.
If you’re travelling in a group or want specific seats, book a few days in advance. The Japan Rail Pass also allows you to make seat reservations once you’re in Japan.
And finally, don’t forget about cultural activities. Cooking classes, tea ceremonies, kimono rentals, and private tours in Kyoto often require bookings a month or more ahead—particularly in peak season or on weekends.
For our own trip, we secured tickets in advance for the Mazda Museum in Hiroshima, as well as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, both of which are timed and must be reserved online.
Booking trains in Japan: how far ahead and how to do it
Train travel in Japan is famously efficient and user-friendly, but advance planning still pays off—especially in 2025, when more tourists are travelling with regional passes and JR services are busy.
Most long-distance shinkansen journeys (like Tokyo to Kyoto or Hiroshima to Osaka) allow you to book reserved seats online in English using platforms such as SmartEX or JR West’s e5489 service.
If you’re travelling with a Japan Rail Pass, you can use the ticket machines at major stations or visit a JR office in person to reserve seats at no extra cost.
That said, outside of peak seasons and major holidays, you often won’t need to book seats more than a day or two in advance. Trains run frequently and usually have a mix of reserved and non-reserved carriages.
For added convenience, some regions now offer digital seat reservations and QR code boarding, reducing the need to queue at stations.
Just remember that the Japan Rail Pass itself must still be collected in person, and that it doesn’t cover every private railway or metro line.
Expo 2025 in Osaka: what to know and how to book pavilions
One of the most significant events in Japan next year is Expo 2025 in Osaka, running from 13 April to 13 October. The site, located on Yumeshima, a reclaimed island in Osaka Bay, features over 150 pavilions from around the world, themed around the future of life and sustainable society.
While general admission tickets can already be purchased online (including day passes and multiday options), entry into some of the most popular national and corporate pavilions will operate via a reservation system—and in some cases, a lottery system for timed-entry slots.
Now that the Expo is open, many of the most popular pavilions—such as those from Japan, the United States, and the European Union—require visitors to reserve time slots in advance via the official Expo 2025 app or website.
Some pavilions use a daily lottery system to allocate limited entry slots, particularly during busy periods like Golden Week or the summer holidays.
It’s strongly recommended to check availability early and set reminders, as reservations can fill up quickly.If you’re planning to visit the Expo, it’s best to purchase your admission tickets now and keep an eye on the official channels for pavilion booking announcements.
As with Ghibli Park or TeamLab, setting calendar reminders and preparing in advance will be key to making the most of your time at this once-in-a-generation event.
For the Expo, we decided to just try and book the Gundam Next Future pavilion and wing it for the rest of the park.
Universal Studios Japan
Universal Studios Japan is one of the most popular attractions in the country—and with good reason. From the magical streets of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to the colourful chaos of Super Nintendo World, it offers world-class themed entertainment that rivals anything in Florida or California.
But don’t be fooled. Visiting USJ without a plan can easily lead to long queues, missed attractions, or even being turned away from entire areas of the park. In 2025, with larger crowds drawn in by Expo in nearby Osaka Bay, it pays to be well-prepared.
The first thing you’ll need is a dated admission ticket. This gives you access to the park, but not necessarily to its most in-demand areas or rides. Ticket prices vary depending on expected crowd levels. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to find your preferred date. While the official USJ website offers ticket sales, many international visitors find it easier to book through third-party platforms such as Klook or KKday, which provide English support and local payment options. These platforms also offer bundles that include the ever-useful Express Pass.
Ideally, you should book your ticket four to six weeks in advance, especially if you’re planning to visit during weekends, Japanese holidays, or the Expo’s peak months.
Once you have your base ticket, you’ll need to decide whether to purchase an Express Pass. This is not a general front-of-line pass, but a time-saving tool that allows you to skip the regular queues for a specific set of rides.
There are different types available, each covering a selection of attractions. The Express Pass 4 typically includes four priority rides, while the Express Pass 7 covers seven. These may include major draws such as ‘Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey‘, ‘Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge‘, the ‘Flying Dinosaur’, or ‘Hollywood Dream‘.
Each Express Pass comes with timed entry slots. You are allowed one ride per attraction included in your pass, and you must visit within the allocated window.
If you miss the time slot, there are no second chances. Prices for Express Passes vary with demand, but in general you can expect to pay anywhere from ¥8,000 to over ¥15,000 in addition to your standard admission ticket.
While costly, it’s often worth the time saved—particularly if you want to see everything in a single day.
If you don’t buy an Express Pass, there is still a way to access areas like Super Nintendo World or the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but it’s not guaranteed.
You’ll need to apply for timed entry slots through the official USJ app once you’ve entered the park. These reservations open each morning and fill quickly. Without one, you won’t be allowed into those areas at all. On the other hand, if you’ve already secured an Express Pass that includes those lands, you’ll be granted entry at the assigned time and can bypass the in-park lottery system entirely.
It’s also worth noting that the park often opens earlier than its posted opening time—sometimes as much as an hour early. Local visitors are well aware of this, and queues at the entrance can start forming long before the gates lift.
If you’re hoping to secure a timed-entry slot via the app, arriving early gives you a better shot. Once inside, you can use the app to monitor real-time wait times and make the most of your visit. Some attractions offer single-rider queues, which are usually much shorter than the regular lines.
Eating at USJ is part of the fun. From Minion-themed churros to mushroom pasta in Kinopio’s Café, the park is filled with themed food options. Sit-down restaurants in areas like Super Nintendo World or Harry Potter tend to fill up quickly, so if you plan to dine there, allow for extra time or book early if that option is available.
Visiting USJ now requires more forethought than it once did, but that planning gives you far more freedom once you’re inside. For those with only one day to experience the park, an Express Pass can turn a stressful day of queuing into a smooth and exciting adventure. For those who prefer a more spontaneous approach, it’s still possible to enjoy USJ, but it will take flexibility, an early start, and a bit of luck with the app.
Either way, a well-planned visit to Universal Studios Japan can be one of the highlights of your trip. The rides are spectacular, the atmosphere is immersive, and the memories will be more than worth the effort.
Booking a USJ Express Pass in practice
Booking an Express Pass turned out to be quite daunting. Going in October, we ‘clashed’ with Halloween. We could only select one Express Pass 7. So while I looked on my computer, Danny looked on his phone.
We decided to wait. After dining at 3 Pavāru in Riga in Latvia (review will follow), we each could book an Express Pass 7, but at different time slots. A third one? Not sure that was possible. So, there was no way Sam, Danny and I could stick together.
So that was the issue, time slots went fast. As we are three (and five) we only had one option: booking ‘only’ an Express Pass 4. It’s much less expensive, of course.
The rise of lottery systems
In recent years, Japan has introduced lottery systems for some of its most sought-after attractions. Known as chūsen (抽選), these lotteries don’t guarantee you a ticket—they only give you the chance to buy one.
One of the best-known examples is Ghibli Park in Aichi Prefecture, which uses a monthly lottery to allocate its limited visitor slots. Unlike the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo, which uses a first-come-first-served system, the park asks visitors to apply through the Boo-Woo Ticket site (mostly in Japanese) and wait for the results.
Even Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios sometimes limits entry via an on-the-day lottery on the park’s app. If you don’t win a slot, you won’t be allowed in that section of the park—unless you’ve bought an early access pass in advance.
Other places, like Pokémon events, limited-edition shops, or even seasonal temple illuminations, sometimes use lotteries too. Unfortunately, many of these systems are available only in Japanese, but services like Klook, Voyagin, or JTB offer workarounds for international visitors.
We applied for the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto. We’ll see what happens.
What you can still leave open
Thankfully, not everything in Japan requires rigid planning. Most temples, shrines, gardens, and natural sights are walk-in friendly, even in busy seasons.
You can wander through places like Fushimi Inari, Nara Park, or Tokyo’s Ueno Park without a ticket in sight. Ramen shops, izakaya, and casual eateries are almost always open to walk-ins—queues are normal, but usually worth the wait.
Likewise, local train systems, buses, and city subways don’t require reservations. Even some regional express trains allow you to hop on without planning far in advance.
So while it helps to plan the highlights, there’s still plenty of room to explore freely and discover unexpected gems along the way.
How far in advance should you plan?
It helps to think of planning in stages. Start with your international flights and accommodation about six months ahead. Around the three- or four-month mark, book your must-do experiences like Ghibli Park, special museum exhibitions, or hotel stays in smaller towns.
Then, one or two months before departure, you can lock in your tickets to TeamLab, theme cafés, or Tokyo’s various viewpoints. In the final two weeks, confirm restaurant reservations or guided tours, and start planning your day-to-day rail travel.
This staggered approach avoids burnout and keeps your itinerary balanced—without losing the magic of spontaneity.
So?
Travelling to Japan today isn’t necessarily more difficult—but it does require a shift in mindset.
A decade ago, you could arrive in Tokyo with a guidebook and a rail pass and figure things out as you went. Today, the same approach risks missing out on key experiences, simply because you didn’t click ‘book’ soon enough.
But that doesn’t mean you have to plan everything to the minute. By locking in the essentials—especially the high-demand attractions—you actually free yourself to enjoy the rest of your journey with confidence. Think of it as building a flexible framework: secure the foundations, then leave space for surprises.
After all, it’s still Japan. Whether you have a ticket or not, you’ll stumble upon something extraordinary.
2013 Japan Family Trip
- JAPAN 2013 | Solo in Tokyo.
- JAPAN 2013 | Tokyo ft. Ueno Park and the Shibuya Crossing.
- JAPAN 2013 | Tokyo ft. Sensō-ji, Hamarikyu Gardens and the Imperial Palace East Gardens.
- JAPAN 2013 | Meiji Shrine and Harakuju in Tokyo.
- JAPAN 2013 | Tokyo ft. Tsukiji Fish Market, Ginza, Zōjō-ji Temple, Tokyo Tower and traditional restaurant Jomon in Roppongi.
- JAPAN 2013 | Tokyo – Hakone by train.
- JAPAN 2013 | Hakone Yumoto – Lake Ashi – Owakudani.
- JAPAN 2013 | Hakone Yumoto Onsen Tenseien.
- JAPAN 2013 | Kyoto’s Philosopher’s Path and Anraku-ji Temple.
- JAPAN 2013 | Kyoto’s Ginkaku-ji or Temple of the Silver Pavilion.
- JAPAN 2013 | Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto.
- JAPAN 2013 | Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto.
- JAPAN 2013 | Kinkaku-ji or Temple of the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto.
- JAPAN 2013 | Kyoto’s other temples: Eikando Zenrin-ji, Nanzen-ji, Chion-in, Shoren-in, Ninna-ji, Tenryū-ji.
- JAPAN 2013 | Kyoto’s Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.
- JAPAN 2013 | Impressions of Kyoto.
- JAPAN 2013 | Looking back on and looking forward to a Japan trip.
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