Planning your first trip to Japan? Start with two decisions: where you want to stay, and what you need from your room. Go Japan First brings together guides to Tokyo and Kyoto so you can move from a broad travel idea to a useful shortlist.
Choose an area first, explore the room details that matter to you, then connect your stays with a trip plan.
Start by Choosing Your Area
Use these guides to consider how different areas fit your arrival, sightseeing plans and evenings.
- Where to stay in Tokyo — start here if you are deciding which part of the city to use as your base.
- Where to stay in Kyoto — compare Kyoto Station, Shijo-Kawaramachi and Shijo-Karasuma for your first visit.
Find a Room That Fits Your Trip
Narrow your search around the details you will use every day. These guides focus on specific room arrangements and the questions to resolve before booking.
- Tokyo hotels for three adults — compare three regular beds and alternatives for the third person.
- Connecting rooms in Tokyo — check what the named room arrangement includes and how your group will share space.
- King beds in Tokyo — compare published bed width and length alongside the exact room category.
- Separate bath and toilet in Tokyo — distinguish bathroom layouts and room categories.
- Hotel rooms with kitchens in Kyoto — compare cooking facilities for the meals you plan to prepare.
- Private onsen options in Kyoto — understand the room or bathing arrangement before choosing your stay.
Connect Tokyo and Kyoto in One Trip
Use the seven-day Tokyo and Kyoto itinerary as a starting point. Read it alongside the area guides, then adjust the plan around your arrival, departure and priorities. Your itinerary and hotel choices should work together.
Meet chika
I'm chika, a homemaker in Japan and the person behind Go Japan First. I want to share Japan with people around the world. I run this site as an individual project, focusing on practical planning questions for your first visit.
Meet chika and learn how the guides are created.
How to Use These Guides
The hotel comparisons organize published room information and link to supporting sources. AI tools assist with research, planning, drafting and a separate AI-assisted checking step. I make the final decision to publish each article.
Before booking, confirm current room details, prices, availability and conditions with the provider. To flag a detail that needs checking, use the contact page.
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