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Kyoto

Countries in the atlas · East Asia

Japan

The temples of Kyoto, sacred Fuji and wild Hokkaido: a country where tradition and order show in every detail.

Russian passport: visa required · 90 daysprices ×1.9 vs Russia

Photo: Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Kyoto
Photo: Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Japan · World’s best

Kyoto

Access 1/5 · easyJFMAMJJASOND

Kyoto was the capital of Japan for more than a thousand years. The Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto are a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, Ryoan-ji and hundreds of other temples.

Thousands of orange gates at Fushimi Inari climb the mountainside, and the Arashiyama bamboo grove is best early in the morning. In spring the cherry trees blossom; in autumn the maples turn red.

Getting there
Fly to Osaka (Kansai), then about 75 minutes by train; from Tokyo, 2 hours 15 minutes by shinkansen.
Fees and tickets
Since 01.03.2026 the accommodation tax has been 200 to 10,000 yen per person per night, depending on the room price.
Sources (3)
Mount Fuji and the Five Lakes
Photo: Alpsdake · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Yamanashi and Shizuoka, Japan

Mount Fuji and the Five Lakes

Access 2/5 · fairly easyJFMAMJJASOND

Fuji (3,776 metres) is the highest mountain in Japan and a UNESCO World Heritage Site as “a place of worship and a source of inspiration”. The best views are from Lake Kawaguchi and the Chureito Pagoda.

The official climbing season runs from July to early September: people climb through the night to meet the sunrise on the summit.

Getting there
From Tokyo, about 2 hours by bus or train to Kawaguchiko.
Fees and tickets
The climbing fee is 4,000 yen, with online registration; from 14:00 to 3:00 only those staying the night in a mountain hut are let onto the trail.
Sources (5)
Shiretoko
Photo: 663highland · CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons

Hokkaido, Japan

Shiretoko

Access 3/5 · needs planningJFMAMJJASOND

The Shiretoko Peninsula is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: wild forests, waterfalls that drop into the sea and one of the densest brown bear populations in Japan. An elevated boardwalk leads to the Five Lakes.

In winter, drift ice from the Sea of Okhotsk reaches the shore: people walk on it in drysuits, and sea eagles fly overhead.

Getting there
Fly to Memanbetsu or Nakashibetsu in Hokkaido, then 2–3 hours by car to Utoro.
Fees and tickets
Five Lakes trails: outside the bear season, a briefing and a 450-yen ticket; from 10 May to 31 July, only with a guide, from 4,000 yen.
Why it’s hard
Far from big cities, with infrequent public transport and bears on the trails: some routes are open only with a guide and only in certain months.
Sources (5)

Before you go

Japan: entry, safety, money, flights, laws and budget — with sources.

Entry

Russian citizens need a visa. Documents are submitted through Japan visa centres (VFS Global) in Moscow and other cities; Russian citizens pay no consular fee, but the centre’s service fee is separate. Processing usually takes 5–10 days.

You need a day-by-day itinerary, bookings and proof of funds. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after you return. The final decision on entry rests with the border inspector.

Rules for any passport

Checked 2 November 2026. These are the rules for a Russian citizen with an international passport on a tourist trip. For other passports and purposes, see the official website — the button above.

Sources (5)

Safety

No Russian Foreign Ministry advice to refrain from travel (as of 02.11.2026).

Sources (2)

Money and cards

The Mir card does not work. Bring cash: Japan runs on cash, and yen can be withdrawn at post office ATMs.

Sources (2)

Flights

There are no direct flights from Russia. Connections are via Beijing, Shanghai, Istanbul, Dubai and Doha.

Sources (2)

Laws and bans

  • Medicines: without a permit, up to a month’s supply of prescription drugs and two months’ supply of others. Stimulants (amphetamines, including Adderall) are banned even on prescription; pseudoephedrine and other “precursor” substances require a permit.
  • You must carry an identity document — not having one is considered a serious violation.
  • All drugs are banned; the penalties are severe.
  • Taking more than 1 million yen in cash out of the country must be reported to Japan’s Ministry of Finance.
Sources (4)

Budget

prices ×1.9 vs Russia · price level 0.69 (US = 1), 2025

Prices are almost twice as high as in Russia. The departure tax is 3,000 yen from 01.07.2026 (included in the ticket), Kyoto’s accommodation tax is 200 to 10,000 yen a night, and climbing Fuji costs 4,000 yen.

The price level is the ratio of purchasing power parity for household consumption to the market exchange rate (World Bank). These are national averages: resorts and capitals cost more, the countryside less. Flights are not included.

Sources (5)