Are you currently planning your first trip to Japan? Congratulations, this trip is going to be one of a kind.
Japan is an amazing country to explore, but planning your first Japan itinerary can also feel a little overwhelming. There is so much to see, so much to eat, and so many places that look like absolute must-visits.
Everyone’s journey is different, of course, but these are some of the mistakes I made on my first Japan trip and the things I did differently on my later trips. Hopefully, you can learn from them and avoid making the same mistakes on your first visit to Japan.

When we first arrived in Japan, we were exhausted, completely sleep-deprived, and hungry. As you can imagine, that was not the best state to figure out the Japanese public transport system for the first time.
Nothing made sense to us in that sleepy state, and we were stuck for almost an hour before we finally found the right way to our hotel.
So please do yourself a favor and check your route from the airport to your hotel before you land.
Look up which train, subway, or bus you need to take, where you have to change, and how long the journey should take. You can even save screenshots or notes in case your internet does not work right away.
It will make your arrival in Japan much less stressful, especially after a long flight.

Depending on when you travel to Japan, you might have a few rainy days during your trip.
Of course, you can still visit shrines, temples, and outdoor sights when it rains.
But let’s be honest: it’s not always that much fun when you are walking around in wet shoes, holding an umbrella, and trying to enjoy the view through grey skies.
That is why I recommend planning 1-3 rainy-day alternatives before your trip. This way, you are not overwhelmed or stuck wondering what to do when the weather suddenly changes.
Japan has plenty of museums, indoor attractions, shopping streets, cafés, and galleries.
Some museums are even free to visit!
Since I am a volunteer firefighter, I took the chance to visit the Fire Museum in Tokyo, and it was absolutely worth it.
A little bit of backup planning can make a rainy day feel like part of the adventure instead of a problem.

You are going to walk a lot in Japan. And I really mean a lot.
On one day of my trip, I walked almost 40,000 steps.
Between train stations, temple grounds, shopping streets, parks, and sightseeing areas, the steps add up quickly.
On my first trip, I travelled with a pair of old regular sneakers and didn’t think much of it.
By the end of the second day, my feet were swollen and hurting like never before.
Since then, I have bought shoes that are actually made for walking long distances, and it made such a big difference!
On later trips, my feet were completely fine, even after long days of exploring.
So before your first Japan trip, make sure to choose comfortable, supportive shoes.
And whatever you do, don’t bring brand-new shoes that you have never worn before. Wear them in at home first.

Yes, you can always go to a Konbini as a last resort, and honestly, Japanese convenience stores are great. But you are in Japan to try real Japanese cuisine, right?
One mistake I made was waiting until I was already hungry before looking for a restaurant.
That sounds harmless, but in Japan, popular restaurants often have long queues, limited seating, or require reservations.
This can quickly become stressful when you are tired, hungry, and walking around trying to find a place that still has space.
My advice: take a little time earlier in the day to research where you might want to eat.
Check opening hours, look at the menu, and make a reservation if possible.
That way, you already have a plan, know what to expect, and don’t have to wait until you are starving to figure everything out.

I know there are so many incredible things to see in Japan.
It’s very tempting to plan a full day packed with temples, shrines, viewpoints and every social-media-hyped location you saved.
But please don’t make the mistake of only rushing from sight to sight.
This is exactly what I did during my first time in Kyoto. My day was completely packed with temples, shrines, and popular photo spots.
By the time I left Kyoto, I was actually “happy” to leave and thought the city was nothing special.
Why? Because I had spent most of my time sitting on buses, trying to get from one sight to the next.
There was no time to wander around, slow down, or experience the “real” atmosphere of Kyoto.
On my second trip, I returned to Kyoto with a much slower itinerary. I left time to walk around, get a little lost, explore quiet streets, and simply enjoy the city.
And suddenly, Kyoto felt completely different. I left with a new love and appreciation for it.
So yes, visit the famous sights, but don’t forget to leave space in your Japan itinerary for slow moments, spontaneous discoveries, and simply being there.

If your itinerary allows it, I would recommend staying at least two nights in one place.
On our first trip, we thought: “There probably is not that much to see in Hiroshima, so one night should be enough.”
Oh, how wrong we were!
There was actually so much to see and experience in Hiroshima, but we just didn’t have enough time.
Our Shinkansen for the next destination was already booked for the next day, so we couldn’t really slow down or properly enjoy the city.
We saw a few things, but we didn’t have enough time to fully soak in the atmosphere.
That was one of our biggest learnings for future trips: whenever possible, stay at least two nights in one place.
It doesn’t matter where you are going — for us, one night was usually too short to really connect with a city.

Some mistakes are part of the experience, but others could be avoided with a little planning.
The biggest lessons I learned were to slow down, prepare for the basics, and leave enough space in the itinerary to actually enjoy the trip.
Plan rainy-day alternatives, bring comfortable shoes, research restaurants before you are starving, and do not try to see everything at once.
Japan has so much to offer, and your trip will be much more enjoyable if you give yourself enough time to experience it properly.
Let me know if the tips were helpful, and feel free to share which mistakes you made on your first Japan trip.