Japan is easier to enjoy when you understand how it works.
The Japan We Know is a practical guide to Japan for international travelers — especially those planning their first trip.
Japan can be an incredibly easy country to travel around once you understand the basics. But before you do, even simple things can raise a surprising number of questions.
Which train should you take? Do you need cash? How does an IC card work? What should you avoid doing at a restaurant? Is a JR Pass actually worth it? And why is everyone so quiet on the train?
That’s where The Japan We Know comes in.
Practical advice, with the context behind it
We cover the things that can make a real difference to your trip: transportation, trip planning, connectivity, payments, food, accommodation, etiquette, common mistakes, and everyday Japanese customs.
Some articles will help you solve a practical problem. Others will simply help you understand something about Japan that might otherwise seem confusing or unusual.
The goal is the same: to make Japan a little easier to understand before — and while — you experience it for yourself.
More than a list of places to visit
There are already plenty of guides telling you what to see in Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka.
The Japan We Know also focuses on the questions behind the trip: how things work, why people do things a certain way, what visitors often misunderstand, and which choices actually make sense for different travelers.
We aim to explain Japan rather than simply recommend it.
Built in Japan, for people discovering Japan
The Japan We Know is created from Japan with an emphasis on practical, understandable information for international visitors.
We use modern tools, including AI, as part of our research and production workflow, but technology is not a substitute for judgment. Information that can affect your trip — such as prices, rules, transportation, opening conditions, or service details — should be checked against reliable and current sources whenever possible.
Japan changes. Our guides will too.
Whether you’re planning your first visit or coming back to discover something you missed, we hope The Japan We Know helps you travel with a little more confidence — and understand a little more of the Japan around you.