Your first week in Japan: a city-by-city primer

Your first week in Japan is equal parts logistics and discovery. Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka all reward the same approach: sort housing and transport first, then let the city teach you its rhythm.

Tokyo — Relentless energy, precise fits, miles of walking.

Kyoto — Temples, quiet streets, elegant simplicity.

Osaka — Food, neon, practical streetwear.

Japan rewards a compact kit. Trains are the backbone of daily life — Tokyo's network, Kyoto's buses, Osaka's loops — and you'll be standing, walking and storing bags in tight spaces constantly. The winning wardrobe is precise: a sharp overshirt, a considered knit, footwear that eats kilometres.

Wherever you base yourself, arrive with a documents wallet at hand and a power bank charged — the first 48 hours are a lot of queues, keys and maps.