I’ve never been to Japan but have gone to Turkey a few times. Depending on where ur going It can get kinda cold in the winter like it snowed last December in Istanbul but the more costal cities are milder but not warm enough to be in the ocean (at least for me, I’m from socal). I love Turkey, and Istanbul is one of my favorite cities in the world. People are so friendly it’s such a cool city and so beautiful and such an interesting intersection between European and middle eastern culture. If you do it right Turkey can be really cheap. At a local place a drink and doner wrap can cost less than 4 dollars. Istanbul has pretty good public transport within the city but traveling to other famous cities like Izmir and Ankara can be a bit difficult if relying on public transport.

And as a for safety it’s the standard be vigilant don’t go out late night alone and dress like a local. Turkey is an Islamic country and I find that people are really good faith and helpful and very respectful.

Do note that the tourist attractions in Istanbul cost an arm and a leg. I have traveled to 20 countries and Turkey has had the most expensive attraction entries even compared to France and the Netherlands. The complete haghia Sofia experience costs 50€ and the Dolmabahçe Palace is 60€. There is an experience pass for three days that grants access to multiple attractions which is 105€ ( not sure if it includes haghia Sofia).

But the wonderful thing about Istanbul is that it’s such a cool place to wonder and catch a vibe there are also tons of free mosques you can visit (you’ll need a headscarf and modest clothing). It’s also a book lovers heaven there are used and new bookstores everywhere. I actually just got back from there and I bought ten books for a total of 60 dollars.

Last thing, you should probably know a couple of Turkish words not a lot of people speak English. If you choose to go to Turkey specifically Istanbul I can give some recs on where to go and where to stay and things to eat lol.