Japan is the country that many travelers dream of visiting. For some Japan is mysterious geishas and brave samurai, for others the iconic Mount Fuji, the city of thousands of temples Kyoto, and for others country of robots. Japan is a country where everyone whether he is an artist or the director of a company generating billions in turnover, whether he is a retiree or a student, whether he is traveling for work or planning to live and travel according to a special program throughout the year, everyone will find something that suits his heart. You want nature? Here you are enjoy it all around Japana. If you want an urban concrete jungle, Tokyo is offering this kind of experience. You want tropical islands with coral reefs. Please go to Okinawa. If you want a pilgrimage. Here you are with Kuma no kodo ancient road for piligrims. The land of the rising sun has extremely versatile tourism resources. It is not for nothing that 35 million tourists came to Japan in the last year in pre-corona times. The number of tourists has doubled in the last ten years. Considering the geographical position and what the Japanese can offer to the world I think this number can double if not triple.
I hope this blog will help you get to know Japan better. Taking into account the questions people ask on my facebook and my long life experience I decided to share insights, tips what a person traveling to Japan for the first time should know.
Plan about 10 days for the trip and don’t set out to cover all of Japan
Although Japan may appear to be a small country at first glance don’t be fooled. The land of cherry blossoms is quite big. It is about 800 km from Tokyo to the northern island of Hokkaido and another thousand kilometers from Tokyo to the southern prefectures on the island of Shikoku. And what about the tropical island of Okinawa to which you will have to fly for about three hours. The islands of the Ogasavara Archipelago belonging to the Tokyo metropolitan area can be reached by high-speed boat or ferry from a few hours to a half-day trip. If you want to go east from Tokyo that is towards the Sea of Japan and such prefectures as Nagano and Niigata you will have to turn at least 300 km again. So the first piece of advice especially for first-time travelers is not to set out to visit all of Japan. Concentrate on where you must go as a first-time tourist. If you’re lucky and there’s a chance to wander into the mountains during your trip that’s great. If there is an opportunity to visit a Japanese provincethat would be great too. If you manage to see a matsuri festival it’s fantastic.
Plan about 10 days for your trip to Japan. Bearing in mind that a few days will be lost due to the flight, you will have about 8 days to actually enjoy the land of the rising sun. I think this is the optimal travel time for a sightseeing trip. Some solo travelers come to Japan for two weeks or more. In this case I suggest at least a few days to include elements of a vacation trip because you will just be tired. As far as I have noticed while traveling with different groups of tourists after a week a person simply gets very tired of the enormous flow of new information and the abundance of impressions. So if you have planned a longer trip take time to relax by the sea or in nature in hot springs resorts.
When to travel
While advising when to travel to Japan you should keep in mind the main destinations for travelers: Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima. To answer to the question of when to travel I think it would be simpler to say when it is better not to travel.
First, anyone who has traveled to or lived in Japan will advise you to avoid traveling to the land of the rising sun between mid-July and the first week of September. Summer in Japan is very, very hot. Hot and humid. If you think that heat does not break bones you are very wrong. If possible never travel to Tokyo in August. At that time the temperature outside is like a sauna. At one point in the summer there were more than 30 days when the air temperature exceeded 30 degrees both day and night and the humidity was crazy. Lately it is not at all surprising when the temperature column in summer in Tokyo hovers around +38 degrees. This is hell on earth. So a strict no for summer in Japanese.
Second, avoid traveling during the first week of May. At that time, there is a Golden Week holiday in Japan. A series of national holidays fall on those days every year. This means that workaholic Japanese robots get a chance to rest for about one week. What this means for ordinary travelers. First of all, hotel prices are increasing several times, and you can be happy if you manage to make a reservation. Second, it’s a logistical nightmare. All high-speed shinkansen trains and planes are fully booked. So don’t be surprised that if you happen to go somewhere in Kyoto during the golden week, you may just not get tickets to return to Tokyo for a few days. At that time the whole of Japan is traveling. Third, there will be a sea of people at the main tourist attractions at this time. So if you usually have to wait twenty minutes for the mountain train in Hakone during Golden week don’t be surprised that your waiting time for the train or cable car will be at least three times longer.
A similar period in addition to the Golden week,when all of Japan travels is also in the middle of August during the so-called Obon holiday. Also, avoid traveling from December 27 to around January 7 when there will be New Year holiday time.
Travel blogs often write that the tsuyu rainy season begins in the second half of June. However these are definitely not tropical rains. It’s just that at that time it can rain much more often than usual. Light rain may last throughout the day. However due to climate change the tsuyu rainy season has changed quite a lot. In recent years there has not even been such an exceptional season. You may also have to deal with typhoons in the second half of September and the first half of October. Typhoons primarily mean a lot of rain. If the typhoon hits into the main islands the wind can be strong. For this reason train traffic and flights might be canceled. A typhoon is like a lottery. If you have already hit it what will you do? One of the alternatives is to follow the news and let’s say if there is a report of an approaching typhoon in the Tokyo area you can simply go to Kyoto or even further areas.
Well if we return to the most suitable time for travel two periods can definitely be distinguished. The blooming time of Japanese cherry trees – sakura. Usually cherry blossoms bloom in Tokyo in the last week of March. Cherry blossoms usually bloom for about two weeks. There is a whole series of pages where information about the blooming status of cherry blossoms is published. In one place it is written that the buds are still spreading, and in other regions it may already be in full bloom. Of course if your travel plan is later than the last week of March then you can try to catch cherry blossoms in the northern regions of Japan. Because as we know,the colder it is the later cherry blossoms bloom. For this reason in Aomori or the northern island of Hokkaido cherry blossoms begin to bloom at the end of April. Another important thing to mention don’t be fooled when looking at a map of Japan. The majority of travelers tend to think that the southern islands of Kyushu should be characterized by a milder climate they are seriously mistaken. Yes the island of Kyushu is in the south but it is quite close to the mainland of Asia that is the coast of Korea so Kyushu is quite cold.
Another time when it is really worth traveling to Japan I think is from the second half of October to the middle of December. The temperature column will show above 20 degrees celcium. Neither too hot nor too cold, just perfect. In addition in the second half of November the color changing season of Japanese maples begins. This season is also known as the koyo season. Personally for me koyo is even more beautiful than sakura. It is simply impressive when the entire mountain slope is painted in red yellow-green colors. Bright colors beautiful small leaf Japanese maples, perfect weather, just the perfect time to get to know Japan.
Islands and their characteristics
The Japanese archipelago consists of thousands of islands but it is worth highlighting a few of the largest.
Honshu Island. It is the central the largest island of Japan and is home to the major cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Sendai, and major tourist attractions. Less frequently visited part by tourists is the east coast of Japan where the Sea of Japan lies. This side of Japan is also called ura nihon, i.e. backdoor Japan. Relatively few Japanese people travel here compared to other areas. Ura nihon is characterized by particularly fresh seafood. There are fewer tourists here but there are definitely places worth visiting and the first thing to recommend is Kanazawa also known as the little Kyoto.
The northern island of Hokkaido. This is Japanese kitchen as the northern climate and surrounding oceans allow for the cultivation of many foods. In this island dairy farms flourish. Potatoes and wheat are grown here. And of course the seafood is simply fantastic. The climate of the island itself somewhat resembles Europe. Very clear seasons. In winter, it is quite cold and there is also a lot of snow. Hokkaido is always worth visiting for several reasons.
First, wonderful nature. Mountains, plains, lakes, and relatively small urbanization are especially attractive to travelers who miss nature.
Second, Hokkaido is a paradise for food culture. Dairy farms are flourishing on the island but you can try local dishes unique to this island, such as chingischan.
Third, the island is a paradise for skiers. In the most popular resort towns of the island you might find tourist from China or even distant Australia. Fluffy snow and fantastic skiing infrastructure.
Fourth, European architecture. In the Hokodate town of Hokkaido you can find many buildings of particularly beautiful European architecture. So if you are interested in history and architecture it is worth visiting.
Fifth, the local Ainu people. Northern Japan has been home to a local population called the Ainu since ancient times. Ainu culture and customs are completely different from traditional Japanese. If you are interested in cultural history and want to get to know the local Ainu people better please visit Hokkaido.
Sixth, a paradise for motorcyclists and motorists. As I mentioned the island has many wonderful natural corners and relatively little urbanization which means that a little further from Sapporo which is the capital of the prefecture you can enjoy riding a motorcycle on the excellent roads of Hokkaido. Quite a few travelers go to Hokkaido and rent or even bring their own motorcycles just to enjoy riding in the open spaces.
How to get to Hokkaido? The most convenient fastest way would be by plane from Haneda Airport. There are at least three or four airports in Hokkaido therefore it is important to choose the right airport for your destination.
By high-speed shinkansen train. It is also a very convenient trip. It takes about four hours and you will arrive in Hakodate city in the southern part of the island. The ticket price is about 23.00 JPY. If you are a tourist and have bought a JR rail pass ticket then the trip will not cost you anything.
Shikoku Island. This island located a little to the south right next to the city of Kobe has not yet been visited by myself. When the Japanese talk about Shikoku several important aspects can be distinguished. For all Japanese people Shikoku is primarily associated with katsuo fish which is smoked raw on straw and can then be eaten with onions dipped in a special sauce. Also udon is a wheat-based noodle that is completely different from the ramen we know. It’s a joke that real Shikoku residents eat udon for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For us tourists Shikoku is primarily associated with the pilgrimage program. A special program is dedicated to visiting one hundred temples on the island of Shikoku. For tourists, whether you travel by bike or on foot, I would recommend you to try at least a small part of this pilgrimage route. Another thing I would recommend is the awaodori one of the biggest and funniest dance festivals in Tokushima prefecture. If you look stupid, if you dance you look stupid, it’s still because you look stupid come and let’s dance together. In Tokyo at the end of August one of the biggest awaodori festivals is organized in the surroundings of Koenji station.
Well, the last thing that attracts tourists to Shikoku Island is the Art Island which I will talk about in more detail in other texts.
Kyushu Island. The southernmost island of Japan’s main archipelago. First of all, you need to visit the city of Fukuoka which is famous for its street food. Another particularly popular tourist attraction is Kumamoto Castle which was badly damaged in the last major earthquake.
Okinawa. Japan’s tropical island. It’s like another world. For many centuries Okinawa existed as a separate Ryukyu Kingdom. I have written more about Okinawa in other blog texts.
Currency
The local currency used in Japan is the yen. The exchange rate of the yen is relatively stable, but once a decade there are quite large changes in the exchange rate. At the time of writing, one euro was worth 140 yen, 1 USD =130 JPY. A few years ago, we used to get about 125 yen for one euro. So such a drastic exchange rate change means that now is the best time to travel in Japan.
A few notes about currency exchanges. The Japanese are not big fans of credit cards or other digital payment methods. Therefore exchange at least a few hundred EUR/USD when you arrive in Japan.This amount should be enough for unforeseen expenses where you will have to pay in cash. I also advise you to exchange currency at the airport exchange. The exchange rate at Narita or Haneda airports is quite normal. Secondly it is quite difficult to exchange currency in the banks in the city. The absolute majority of bank branches do not provide such a service.
Language
In Japan the official language is japanese. Many people think that japanese and chinese languages are quite similar but this is complete nonsense. Japanese adopted part of the hieroglyphs from the chinese language but besides that japanese language still have two alphabets. One alphabet is for writing words of japanese origin and is called hiragana while the other alphabet is for words of foreign origin and is written in katakana.
For foreigners the most relevant question is whether it is possible to communicate in English in Japan. I have to disappoint you. Although English is compulsory from primary school this is not a country where you can communicate freely with the locals in English. Even young people speak very, very poor English, and often do not speak English at all. Thanks to the Tokyo Olympics and the extremely fast growing tourist traffic you will find English signs on public transport and some announcements will be voiced in English, Chinese and Korean. So you can travel but catching public transport in big cities or in the province can be a difficult task.
Price level
Japan is a country of choices. Ten years ago or even earlier we associated Japan as a very expensive country. Today I can unequivocally say that Japan is a country of choices. Let’s say dinner. You can order a fancy premium Kobe beef steak for 50 EUR. If you are a sushi lover Sushiro restaurant chain is definitely recommended. My family of five people usually pays only 40-50 EUR for dinner at this chain’s sushi restaurant. The popular ramen noodles can be enjoyed for 7-9 EUR.
When it comes to tourists in Japan,the largest part of the expenditure line is accommodation and transport costs. Let’s say an express train ticket to Kyoto costs around 100 EUR. But you as a tourist can buy a special Japanese railway ticket in advance that gives you the right to travel for a week or two weeks without limiting your needs. Just buy a week-long JR rail pass and you can travel as much as your heart desires. Locals can travel by bus to save money. A trip by express bus from Tokyo to Kyoto will cost around 30 EUR. So Japan is by no means Scandinavia and the prices will not surprise you. Of course there are expensive things but these are matters of choice.
Taxi
You can take a taxi without fear of being scammed. All the counters are correct, no one cheats their customers so you can drive without fear if the hotel reception calls you for a taxi or you get caught on the street. You will pay as much as you go. At least in Tokyo many taxi drivers accept all forms of payment including credit cards. However if you do not have cash and intend to take a taxi then ask in advance if you can pay by credit card. The biggest challenge when using taxi services is communicating. My recommendation is to tell the taxi driver the desired place where you want to go by phone. Talking to old taxi drivers is not an easy task for a foreigner.
Taxi service rates are quite complicated and vary from city to city. Just to give you an idea though the first boarding will cost around JPY 420 (around EUR 3) and will cover your ride for 1052 meters, then every 233 meters will cost 80 yen. Calling a taxi again costs about 3 EUR. In the evening from 10 p.m. taxi services cost 20 percent more expensive. If you drive slower than 10 km/h, which means you are in traffic then 80 yen will be charged every 1 minute 25 seconds. If you are in central Tokyo and want to take a taxi back to your hotel or go somewhere nearby 20-40 EUR should be enough to cover short distances.
What not to do in a taxi. First and foremost don’t leave a tip. Tipping in Japan is something of a misunderstanding at best or can even be considered an insult. Second don’t open the taxi door. Taxi drivers open the doors themselves. If you are taking taxi alone it is still customary to sit in the back seat.
Smoking
In Japan smoking in public places is quite ambiguous. Smoking is not prohibited in restaurants. So you can enter a restaurant or bar where a customer sitting next to you will smoke a cigarette while enjoying himself. Some restaurants have separate smoking and non-smoking areas. Don’t be surprised if you are asked where you want to sit in the kinennseki (smoking area) or kitsuenseki (non-smoking area). The same applies for hotels. When booking a hotel I would advise you to pay attention to whether the room is for smokers or not. Such rooms can be cheaper but if you are not a smoker you will definitely be very unpleasantly surprised if you book such a room. Please be very careful with hotel room reservations.
Smoking in public spaces is a bit simpler. At least in Tokyo or other big cities smoking on the streets is prohibited. There are often signs on the streets or sidewalks warning about the prohibition of smoking. No one will think anything of it but theoretically the police can fine you almost two hundred euros for violating the aforementioned requirement.
Water
In Japan all water is drinkable. So if you run out of water at the hotel or somewhere you can safely drink from the tap. In general there is no shortage of water of any kind and especially high-quality water in Japan.
Weater and air temperature
Since the Japanese archipelago stretches several thousand kilomethers from north to south it is quite difficult to estimate the air temperature in the regions. Let’s say the northern island of Hokkaido or the mountains of Nagano may still hold a meter or more of snow while the temperature column on the tropical island of Okinawa may show plus twenty celcium.
As for the general trends in the regions of Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka the best time to travel is from the second half of March to the middle of July. Summers in Japan are extremely hot and humid so you should focus on other seasons. Later, mid-September to mid-December will again be a great time to travel. Autumn is one of my favorite seasons. During the day the air temperature is about twenty degrees plus neither too hot nor too cold. Late autumn is again a very beautiful time because of the maples that change their colors.
The water temperature would probably be relevant for those who intend to swim in the ocean or sea. Swimming in the lake is somewhat unusual here. On the one hand many freshwater reservoirs belong to some association. Only somewhere deeper in the wilderness or where the campsites are located by the lakes will not look askance at you. I remember at Mt.Fuji where are five lakes of great beauty I caught up with a local old man and asked if it was possible to swim in the lake. He looked at me like some freak from another planet.
When it comes to swimming in the sea there are again some nuances. At least in the Tokyo region the swimming season opens on July 15. By the way this day is sea day and it is a national holiday. It is from this day until the end of August that all swimming pools open. If it is an official beach then there will be a lifeguard and also what is very important there will be showers where you can take a shower. Water is like tea in summer. Warm but very very salty. Therefore if you do not have fresh water with you to wash or if there are no showers nearby I would advise you to refrain from swimming. Otherwise you will ride the train covered in salt. Even in mid-September the sea water temperature is still around 27 degrees celcium. Coming back to the comment about why the Japanese don’t bathe until July 15th one of the answers is jellyfish. There are quite a lot of jellyfish in the sea in June thereforethis period is not the most suitable for swimming. Of course if you decide to go to the tropical island of Okinawa or other islands the water temperatures and swimming season start much earlier and end later than in the Tokyo region.
Accommodation
AirBnB or similar accommodation platforms are relatively unpopular in Japan due to strong regulation. So naturally the supply is also quite limited.
A very wide selection can be found in the hotel segment. Let’s say a very interesting thing would be to try capsule hotels. You get your bed in a plastic box and that’s it. There is not even a place to put your shoes. A very unique experience.
If you are looking for a cheap hotel chain for travelers you should first look at the APA hotel chain. This is a very large hotel chain that has expanded rapidly in recent years. As a rule,APA is located close to train stations so it is really quite a convenient option for travelers looking for a budget option. Another similar budget hotel chain would be Nishitettsu. Overall Japanese hotels are value for money. Book a hotel with breakfast. As a rule you will get 15 square meters of space in this type of hotel, TV, internet, bath, breakfast, and what else a traveler needs. More expensive hotels will be able to offer better location options, more luxurious breakfasts, better surroundings but in principle budget hotels will definitely be enough.
Travelers in Japan should also stay at least one night in a traditional Japanese-style hotel called a ryokan. Ryokans as a rule are located in resort areas in the provinces of Japan surrounded by nature. In ryokan one of the essentials is the traditional Japanese dinner with a “dozen” of plates. Onsens are spectacular places to bathe. The rooms are also in Japanese style, i.e. instead of the usual floor you will have to sleep on tatami mats, traditional Japanese mats, on which special mattresses will be placed. Really authentic experence that you should definitely try.
What is really worth seeing in Japan and how to make a proper travel plan?
When making a travel plan the first thing to pay attention to is the versatility of the trip. One of the biggest mistakes is to focus too much on temples in the Tokyo region. My advice would be to skip Kamakura ancient capital and Nikko Toshogu complex if you are going to Kyoto. Kyoto is after all the cradle of capital cities and culture. It is a city of thousands of temples where each temple is like a separate complex. They are all so interesting similar but different at the same time. So definitely don’t splurge on the Kanto region visiting temples but save space for the fantastic Kyoto. So the first tip is to visit Kyoto.
Second tip if you have the opportunity please visit one of the Japanese castles. If you are traveling near Kyoto the best option would be to see Himeji Castle. Japan is a country of samurai so you should visit at least one castle.
Third tip if you have the opportunity go to nature and stay in a Japanese ryokan. Hakone or some other resort town would be perfect for that. Japan is not just a concrete jungle it is a country with fantastic mountains and beautiful nature. During the time you stay at a ryokan you will be able to get to know the authentic home environment. Tatami mats, tokonoma, bathing culture, etc. and the fantastic gourmet dinners are also worth special attention.
Fourth tip, I recommend visiting Horoshima and nearby Miyajima. Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Museum will not leave you indifferent. Miyajima Island is famous not only for the fantastic Itsukushima Temple which is built in the sea but also tourists often miss the opportunity to go up the mountain with a cable car which offers a view of one of the three most beautiful Japanese views Setonai Bay.
Fifth tip if you have the chance visit a Japanese province. The number one target should be the traditional village of Shirakawa-go but it is not that easy to get there so you need to plan in advance with logistics. Another option to consider is the possibility of going to Yamanashi Prefecture which is adjacent to Tokyo.
Rules of what to do and what not to do in Japan
- Don’t leave a tip. Tipping in Japan is like an insult like saying a person didn’t do their job well. So never leave a tip anywhere
- See where to take off your shoes. Japanese people walk without shoes in many tourist attractions, temples and some restaurants, so don’t be a pig and when you enter a restaurant or other place, check if your shoes are on the porch.
- When eating with chopsticks do not point at another person. Also don’t stuck the chopsticks into the rice bowl. A bowl of rice with sticks stuck in it means that it is for a dead person. This is how the Japanese feed the departed souls.
- Don’t talk on your cell phone on public transport. Whether it’s a bus or a train don’t talk on your phone because it’s a huge disrespect to those around you. If you are traveling in a group do not start talking loudly. The Japanese are calm people and respect each other especially in public spaces.
- Respect business cards. If you are traveling on business and planning a meeting with partners then hand your business card to your partner holding the edges of the card with both hands so that your name and surname are facing the colleague. When you are given a card accept it with both hands. Then carefully read the position, name, surname, in other words, pay attention to the business card. And don’t put it in your wallet or jacket pocket. Respect must be maintained.
- When addressing a person if you know their name add the word san. Tanaka-san, Suzuki-san, Murata-san. In this way, you will show respect to your interlocutor.
- Don’t litter. The Japanese love order and cleanliness. In big cities there will often be no trash cans. So if you drank a can of coca cola or a bottle of water put the empty container in your backpack and take it back to the hotel. Of course if you see a trash can on the way you can throw it away but again pay attention to the rules for sorting trash.
- Respect, respect, respect. After living in Japan for more than twenty years, I think the key word when talking about Japan is respect for those around you. Try to use common sense, respect local people and rules.
The most important things to remember when going to Japan
- Passport. The passport must be valid for more than 6 months
- Flight tickets
- Insurance.
- Credit cards and cash. You can exchange euros or dollars for yen upon arrival at a Japanese airport.
- JR rail pass. If you intend to travel for more than a week and plan to go to Kyoto, you should order JR rail pass tickets online. You will activate them after your arrival in Japan.
- Mobile internet. It is advisable to order mobile internet online. It will be a small wi-fi device that you can connect to with your mobile phones. The device can be ordered at any airport in Japan.
- Local guide services. If you have the opportunity and desire I recommend ordering the services of a guide. You will save a lot of time while traveling around Tokyo. You will hear a lot of new, relevant information not only about tourist attractions but also about everyday life in Japan. And you will also stop by where the tourist roads usually bypass. I promise it will be interesting.
