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Book
in the right order
Some sights release tickets weeks ahead, at a set time; others sell nothing on the spot. Here is the calendar, earliest first, with a button for each.

The calendarWhat to book, and when
Times are Japan time: 13 hours ahead of New York (14 in winter), 16 ahead of Los Angeles (17 in winter), 8 ahead of London (9 in winter).
1Once your dates are setthe flight, then hotels and the ryokan
22 to 3 months aheadTokyo's big sights
3One month ahead, 10 a.m.trains with reserved seats
42 weeks aheadat midnight
5Before you leaveat home, with travel insurance
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PlanJapan · Japan, the complete guide · 2026–20271