Plan Japan right. Before you pay for it.
I put the real costs, smart routes and every booking deadline into one printable planner, so your first or second trip to Japan is sorted before you land.
The complete book — ready to go.
- 10, 14 and 21-day itineraries with nights per city and transport
- Real budget per line, with sources and year
- JR Pass calculator versus single tickets
- Booking calendar: 90, 30 and 7 days out
- 2026 rules: departure tax, tax-free refunds, Kyoto lodging tax, Shinkansen luggage
- Checklists for documents, money, IC card, luggage and internet
- Useful phrases for everyday situations
- Instant access on any device, ready to print
The book + audiobook + all bonus extras in one bundle.
Printable PDF planner · instant access · one-time payment incl. VAT · prices and rules change, please verify before booking
What is inside the planner
How to Use This Planner: Sources, Dates, and Why Prices Change
- Yen First, Dollars Rounded, Always Labeled
- Every Figure Has a Source and a Year — And Why That's Non-Negotiable
- The Blank Fields: Why Some Numbers Are Yours to Fill In
- Why This System Exists — And What It Protects You From
The Real Cost of Japan: A Line-by-Line Budget
- The Eight Core Categories
- The Small Costs That Add Up
- Three Hypothetical Sample Budgets
- The Thrifty Traveler
Choosing Your Route: 10-, 14-, and 21-Day Itineraries
- The Logic Behind Every Good Japan Route
- The 10-Day Itinerary: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka — The Essentials Loop
- The 14-Day Itinerary: Adding Depth and One More City
- The 21-Day Itinerary: The Full Arc, Including the Alps
JR Pass or Single Tickets: The Calculator
- The Myth That Costs Travelers Money
- Step 1: Build Your Segment List Before You Do Anything Else
- Step 2: Price Every Segment as a Standalone Ticket
- Step 3: Check What the Pass Actually Covers — Nozomi vs. Hikari Matters Here
Getting Around Day to Day: IC Cards, Subways, and Airport Transfers
- What an IC Card Actually Is
- Physical Cards vs. Mobile IC Cards
- Loading and Reloading
- Where IC Cards Work — and Where They Don't
Where to Stay: Neighborhoods, Lodging Types, and Local Taxes
- The Four Main Lodging Types, Compared Honestly
- Choosing a Neighborhood: The Criteria That Actually Matter
- Tokyo: Matching Neighborhood to Trip Shape
- Kyoto: Proximity to Stations Matters More Than It First Appears
What to Book and When: The 90/30/7-Day Calendar
- Why Booking Windows Exist and Why They're Not Optional
- The 90-Day Mark: Flights, Anchor Lodging, and Timed-Entry Attractions
- The 30-Day Mark: Shinkansen Seats, Special Meals, and Day Tours
- The 7-Day Mark: Luggage, Internet, and Final Confirmations
The 2026 Rules: What Changed and How to Verify It
- The International Tourist Tax (Departure Tax): Still Here, Still Easy to Miss
- Tax-Free Shopping: The 2026 Refund-Based Overhaul
- Accommodation Taxes: More Cities, More Variation, and Kyoto's Bigger Jump
- The Shinkansen Oversized-Luggage Reservation Rule
Checklists: Documents, Money, IC Card, Luggage, and Internet
- Documents: What to Carry, What to Photograph, What to Leave Home
- Cash Versus Card: Building the Right Wallet for Japan
- IC Card Setup: The Tap-and-Go Backbone of Your Trip
- Packing for Japan's Trains and Small Rooms
First-Timer Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- The Overpacked Day
- The Wrong Rail Pass
- Booking Late, or Booking Nothing At All
- Relying Only on Cards
Useful Phrases and On-the-Ground Reference Sheets
- How Pronunciation Works Here
- Station and Transit Phrases
- Restaurant and Food Phrases
- Shopping and Money Phrases
Everything your Japan trip needs, in one planner
Itineraries
10, 14 and 21 days with nights per city and transport.
Real Budget
Every line priced in yen, with rounded dollars and sources.
JR Pass Calculator
Pass versus single tickets, worked out for your route.
Booking Calendar
What to book 90, 30 and 7 days before you fly.
2026 Rules
Departure tax, tax-free refunds, Kyoto lodging tax, Shinkansen luggage.
Checklists & Phrases
Documents, money, IC card, luggage, internet and key phrases.
Plan Japan right. Before you pay for it.
I put the real costs, smart routes and every booking deadline into one printable planner, so your first or second trip to Japan is sorted before you land.
- Know the real cost of every line before you book, instead of finding out at a counter in Tokyo.
- See whether the JR Pass pays off for your route, or quietly overpay for a pass you barely use.
- Every 2026 rule and booking date in one place, so you are not the traveler who missed the window.
$26.99 $53.99 one-time payment · printable PDF · instant access
Does this sound familiar?
The budget keeps growing
Flights look fine, then lodging, passes, entrance fees, internet and taxes add up, and nobody told you the real total.
The JR Pass question has no clear answer
Half the internet says it is a must, the other half says it is a waste. You still do not know what it means for your route.
You are not sure what to book, or when
Some things should be reserved months ahead, others can wait. Guess wrong and you pay more or lose the option entirely.
“A great first trip to Japan is rarely about luck. It is about knowing the numbers, the route and the dates before you go.”
Only in the Complete Package: your bonus extras
The Japan Timing Dossier: Month-by-Month Crowds, Seasons & Holidays
Helps you avoid landing in Golden Week crowds, typhoon-season disruptions, or sold-out cherry blossom weekends by choosing your dates with the full seasonal picture in view.
Eat Anywhere in Japan: Dining Navigator & Dietary Cards
Helps you order with confidence and eat safely instead of skipping restaurants because of ticket machines, reservation rules, or allergies you can't explain in Japanese.
The Japan Trip Binder: Fillable Day-by-Day Command Sheets
Replaces scattered screenshots and emails with one organized file, so every address, confirmation number, and backup plan is ready when you need it, even offline.
$26.99
What you will finally know
- The JR Pass math most first-timers get wrong
- The booking that belongs 90 days out
- Why a Kyoto hotel bill can surprise you
- The Shinkansen luggage rule to know in advance
- What changed about tax-free shopping
- The cost line most Japan budgets forget
- How many nights each city really deserves
- The first-timer mistake that costs a whole day
- What to sort out before you even pack
- The phrases that make small restaurants easier
This planner is for you if …
The first-timer
You are planning your first trip to Japan and want to avoid the classic mistakes from the start.
The returning traveler
You have been once, loved it, and want a smarter second trip with better routes and fewer surprises.
The careful budgeter
You want to know what the trip really costs, line by line, before you commit to anything.
Frequently asked questions
Is this right for a first trip to Japan?
Yes. The planner is made for first and second trips of 10 days to 3 weeks, with ready-made routes you can use as they are or adjust.
Is it a guidebook or a planner?
A planner. It is built to be filled in and used: itineraries, budget lines, a JR Pass calculator, a booking calendar and checklists, not long travel stories.
How current are the prices and rules?
Prices and rules are listed with their source and year, in yen first with rounded dollars. Prices and rules in Japan change, so please verify key details before you book.
In what format do I get it, and how?
As a printable PDF. Right after purchase you receive an email with your download link, and you can use it on phone, tablet, computer or on paper.
Does it recommend specific hotels or agencies?
No. There is no advertising for hotels or agencies and no discount codes, only routes, costs and booking dates.
How long does it take to plan my trip with it?
That depends on your trip, but the ready-made itineraries, budget template and booking calendar save you from building everything from scratch.