how to find your way around japan

I will definitely use Asia Highlights again for my next trip to Asia. 2023 Lonely Planet, a Red Ventures company. Some buses are quite luxurious, with reclining seats for overnight trips and even salons. If you are looking for apartments and houses in Kyoto, click here. They were originally only aiming at busy businessmen that were looking for a place to crash for a few hours. The best time to see these cute monkeys is in Winter or early Spring when theyre bathing in the onsen. Theres also no need to book these flights long in advance. Tokyo Disney and DisneySea: Tokyo Disney is very much like Disneyland anywhere else in the world. You can choose between a pocket WiFi device and a local tourist SIM card. This is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites without extra cost to you. Bus travel is the best budget option Japan has a comprehensive network of long-distance buses connecting the islands of Honsh, Shikoku and Kysh. Long-distance buses travel between major cities, such as Tokyo and Kyoto, with much cheaper fares than trains, unless you have a JR Pass. You may want to add a third day if you dont want to feel rushed. words written by Despite it being so close many tourists skip Osaka and only visit Kyoto. You have Jetstar, Peach Aviation, Vanilla Air, and Fuji Dream Airlines to name just a few. Most travelers to Japan who want to do more than a simple return from Tokyo to Kyoto will get great value out of the national Japan Rail Pass, specifically designed for travelers. But don't you worry. Our guide in Tokyo, Fuki, was outstanding. GetYourGuide. Such accidents happen when you least expect them. Tickets can be purchased from either touch screen vending machines in major train stations (most have an English function, and those for shinkansen journeys accept credit cards), from midori-no-madoguchi, which functions as JRs in-house travel agency and can be found at major JR stations, or from travel agencies in Japan, which can also often be found within train stations. On clear days, Mount Fuji is visible in the distance. You can read our complete privacy policy here. What we love about GetYourGuide is its outstanding customer service. Dont worry that you will stick out, the Japanese put on these traditional clothes for all kinds of festive occasions. Below is an overview of the different seasons in Japan with the pros and cons of each season. Tsugi no tri o migi e. (Turn) right (at) the next street. Just having proof of your vaccination or test results is also OK to be allowed in the country. Click here for more information on getting around Japan. It is an online marketplace for tour operators. The JR Pass cannot be used on subways, so you need to buy a ticket from a vending machine or ticket window. Is the Japan Rail Pass still worth it in 2023: Tips and Tricks. Let us craft the best journey for you and your loved ones and create a remarkable experience for you in Japan. The Timeline for Your Japan Trip Planning, Here are some tips to find cheap flights to Japan, Japan Highlights Top Japan Destinations, forecasts on the site of the Japanese tourist board, this glorious natural phenomenon in Tokyo. 2.5 Day 5: Fushimi Inari Taisha Temple in Kyoto. Some have a free Wi-Fi system in place. Japan has a comprehensive system of long-distance buses. Klook is a major Asian ticket-booking site aimed at independent travelers. Write down the full address of your hotel or destination to show to someone, in case you lose your way. teamLab Borderless: A very popular experience in Tokyo unlike anything else you have seen before. Kyoto takes the cake with prices that can reach $800/night and higher for a standard room in a 4-star hotel in the high season. The cars were extremely comfortable and the hotel she chose for us was beautiful!! His English was excellent and he shared important insights about history and the magnificent sites we visited. Travelers from most nations are able to drive (both cars and motorcycles) in Japan with an International Driving Permit backed up by their own regular license. Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA). It includes Tokyo, Hakone/Mt. June and July statistically know the most rainfall. Reserved-seat tickets can be bought anytime from a month in advance to the day of departure. Were almost there. To truly appreciate Japan, and its people, we recommend taking at least two weeks to explore this fascinating country. Sometimes you will see it described as a low-budget Ryokan. Where to stay in Tokyo for the first time? And if you're looking for a maps app to help you out, there are more and more Japanese-made apps popping up by the day (thanks in part to the failure of Apple Maps). Well definitely contact Asia Highlights for our trip again! Great, you reached the end of this post! Each district has its own appearance and charm. JR Yamanote loop line is the most important and most used line in Tokyo. Mon in Bangkok was friendly and provided a great day there; Eak in Chiang Mai gave us a world-class food-tour and day touring the city and its surrounding temples with lots of laughs; Tommy in Hanoi kept us from getting killed in the traffic and gave a stupendous food and architecture/history tour - so very friendly and funny; the fishing village tour in Hoi An, as well as the side-car tour in Saigon, were both unforgettable! Below is our advice on the things you shouldnt miss if this is your first trip to Japan. Once youve decided on a certain period you can start looking for flights. Experience: Onsen. Asking locals for help Find your ideal Japan accommodation How to Travel in Japan (When You Don't Speak Japanese) by Rob Dyer Japan without Japanese - Quick tips Buy a phrasebook, app or learn a few key Japanese 'survival' phrases suitable for travel Use public transport, many signs, station names, departure boards, etc are also in English They needed a Spanish guide and she coordinated everything so they wouldnt have any trouble when they got there. Services are less frequent at weekends and on public holidays. Leave all the booking work to us, including international and internal If youre traveling with children or friends it might be better to look for an apartment instead. Hotel rooms in Japan can be on the small side. What else do I need to say? A Natsumatsuri is a summer festival. When you visit Japan in October, youll normally still be able to enjoy pleasant temperatures that exceed 20 degrees Celsius. You can save a lot of money by booking these several months in advance. Opt for a small ryokan for the best experience. You may think that because you have a phone with an internet connection, you're invincible. Rooms in Japan tend to be small. Nara. Korea Trip, Japan-Thailand 2.8 Day 8: Ferry to Miyajima Island. The snow monkeys: Being animal lovers this was a true highlight of our trip. There are a couple of sleeper train services still in operation. Do you already know how you will get from the airport to your hotel? That can be kind of a culture shock to people used to something different. 2 How to spend 2 weeks in Japan. To avoid missing out on fun experiences like these it is best to book your tickets well in advance. We go into much more detail about the cost of these 3 items in our Japan Travel Guide. 2. All of the most popular travel destinations in Japan are covered in great detail in this atlas, including: Tokyo, Mt. Lets wrap it up by wishing you a Japan vacation of a lifetime! In this group, you can exchange tips with fellow Japan Travelers to fine-tune those last details of your trip. They can be a little tricky to use, usually requiring advance registration online; follow the online directions. Fuji. You can basically forget about them in Japan. Hotels will take the largest chunk out of your travel budget. Major sights are often accessible, even if not obviously so: shrines and temples, for example, often have back entrances with ramps. Going by rail is the most thrilling way to see Japan, especially if you're only in the country for a short visit. Some come with some Western comforts but all have a traditional Japanese interior. Japans official tourism website has an Autumn leaves guide. Millions have already booked their tours with GetYourGuide. It is! Several restrictions apply; for example, tickets must be purchased outside of Japan after buying the international tickets, and there are certain blackout dates. Most major ferry companies have English websites for booking tickets; otherwise, book through a travel agency likeJTB. Biking in Japan is enjoyable too. The Japanese government highly recommends using the online application but it is not mandatory. Have a look at whats available in your country and compare this with whats offered by SafetyWing and HeyMondo travel insurance. Attending this crazy robot show might be one of the highlights of your trip. Not all activities offered by Klook can be canceled 24 hours in advance. Make sure you grab one as you board. Here you can find all our ryokans posts: Different cultures have different eating etiquette and it wont come as a surprise that Japan also has a number of rules about eating with chopsticks. Insurances only cover accidents that occur after taking out and you dont want to lose this money in case things suddenly turn awry. On overnight ferries, 2nd-class travel means sleeping in common rooms on plastic mats or the floor; however, you can pay a little extra to upgrade to a dorm room (or a lot extra for a suite). The Japanese brighten up these cold months with various winter festivals featuring ice sculptures and fairytale-like lights. Pay attention to this when booking if your plans are not 100% fixed. the use of cookies. In case you cannot use your JR Pass, tickets for monorail can be purchased from the vending machine or ticket window. Family, 2 Weeks for JR Yamanote Loop. planning will be made easy with just one specialist throughout. The most popular tourist hotspots of Tokyo and Kyoto are located between those two regions. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. As borders reopen, here's a look at current or proposed mandatory quarantine arrangement for travellers around the world. EXPERIENCE MORE Helping you find your way through Japan. . that we will never forget! They have long working hours, a high work ethic, and also something known as Tatemae which means you must be an upstanding, ideal citizen to everyone except maybe your close family. This ticket allows you to skip the line. Transportation is the second-largest cost item. Lonely Planets Experience Japan is your guide to unforgettable experiences and local surprises. The properties almost always have a full kitchen to prepare your own meals. So dont worry if you dont understand Japanese. Its also possible to rent a car or a van. But let me reassure you immediately, it is very easy to travel independently in this country. We had contacted Asia Highlights to organise our trip for us. Those things that cars drive down and have names? We hope it will reopen somewhere in the near future. These are the sites we used: Who doesnt know Booking.com? You can also visit idyllic villages such as Shirakawa-go that are very enchanting when theyre covered by a layer of fresh snow. Japanese roads are generally in excellent condition. apartments and houses in Kyoto, click here. The term Minshuku is not as widely known as many people probably just refer to these hotels as Ryokans. He heard my daughter's request for specific Cambodian food, and changed our itinerary to go to a village and eat at a locally known shop. Your tour will be tailor-made to suit you by a destination expert. Monorails are easy to ride. The prices for the flights are usually very good thanks to this fierce competition. Intrigued by what we write above? Some days are dry, while some days have light rain and other days come with massive downpours. Alisa also provides very detailed information about each experience, location, guides, private car transfers, trains, hotels. You will need 4 to 5 days to get an impression of the various districts. Japan is very easy to tour on your own. Borin has been a wonderful guide, the best so far in Southeast Asia, explaining the history and culture of Cambodia through his tours of the temples in and around Angkor, as well as the Landmine museum. The best time to travel to Japan for first-time visitors who want to see the highlights of the country is Spring and Autumn. Use travel comparison sites such as Momondo, Skyscanner and Kayak to instantly compare the prices of all the low-cost carriers. Look for shtengai (; market streets), which are often pedestrian-only, covered arcades; most cities have them. You will find yourself at home in this country in no time. At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey your dates, your destinations, at your pace. Long-distance ferries may provide a more relaxing and cheaper alternative to planes. In March and April, you may experience an occasional shower, during May it starts raining more often and more heavily. With a history of around 1,400 years, Sens-ji has been the spiritual and cultural lifeblood of Asakusa for centuries. Would definitely use again for future trips! The room is comparable to that found in a ryokan. Tickets can be booked one year out until the very last day and over the course of this period, the price follows a stretched-out U curve. Your personal Miss Peggie Lyoo was very helpful, super-friendly, very professional and very prompt with all her replies! And if you have a week you can visit Tokyo and make some side trips to nearby places such as Hakone and Nikko or even Kyoto and Osaka. Enjoy having your own personal local guide and ride. Hi Cathy! Sure, there is often a language barrier to deal with, but it's nothing a savvy traveler can't handle. If you want to make a city trip, check out Tokyo is the perfect destination for a 4 or 5-day city trip. He brought it all to life, and created a couple days of Ankor Wat, etc. Visit Nagano's Onsen-Bathing Monkeys. Kyoto. 2.2 Day 2: Day trip to Kamakura. You're far more likely to encounter roadworks in progress than a road in need of repair. Did you come here expecting a list of things absolutely not to miss in Japan? If you're receiving directions, you'll need to know some direction verbs, like "to go" and "to cross." You can also use the Osaka Limousine bus or a private or shared transfer. Let's assume that you're in Japan and that you have phone service. I definitely recommend this company and if you can ask to work with Alisa. Ferry schedules, however, are subject to seasonal changes and also vary according to the weather, so for up-to-date details of times and prices its best to consult the local tourist information office. Go beyond the sightseeing. Check out ourJapan travel planner! If you have no JR pass this train is a good alternative. Opinions differ as to what a Minshuku is. As written above a stay in a Ryokan, a traditional Japanese family hotel can be a real treat. Kyoto Evening Gion food tour. On clear days the mountain can be seen from the capital but you better not count on that to happen. Japan Travel Planning and Tips Facebook group. The Narita Express is one of the quicker options, whisking you into Tokyo Station in approximately 60 minutes. Read our Privacy Policy. From the fastest travel options to the most scenic, here's how to get around in Japan blanscape / Getty Images. Passes are available for 7, 14 or 21 days. In addition, the other guides (minus one which was switched out immediately) were stupendous. Apple Maps has been even worse in Japan than the rest of the world (although it's been getting better), and if you're old-fashioned and have a dedicated GPS (instead of a phone), you can forget about it. The most well-known is the Japan Rail Pass but we also cover other passes on our site such as the Tokyo Metro Pass (Tokyo Subway Ticket) and the Hakone Free Pass. Many visitors to Japan take the option of buying rail passes, which can make train travel in the country cheaper if you are looking to undertake numerous rail trips during your visit. Visit an onsen: Living in Japan can be stressful. Tsugi no tri o hidari e. (Turn) left (at) the next street. Transportation sounds like the least inviting among these tantalizing images. Viator is just like GetYourGuide a middleman that brings tourists in contact with local tour companies. In a Ryokan, you sleep on a futon on the floor, believe me when I say that it is much more comfortable than it sounds. The most challenging aspect of riding trains in Japan is navigating the sometimes enormous stations with their multiple routes. Japan Travel Bureau (JTB) has branches everywhere. From the beginning we were impressed with their services. Overnight Bus. The site is completely trustworthy, it has already been featured in several reputable business magazines (such as Forbes) and we have used it, as well as thousands of other users, without any problems. 5. The townhouses have been restored, respecting all elements of Japanese traditions. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us! Its good practice to be prepared and book your rooms as soon as youve got your Japan itinerary fixed. Shewas available during our trip to answer our questions and readily agreed to the itinerary changes.Everything was arranged - accommodation,breakfast, guide, car, entrance fees and train tickets. Soaking in an onsen is one thing you absolutely must do while in Japan, but please read a little about basic onsen etiquette before you do. Read our review to see what this show is about. She is such a professional in the ways she conducts herself and serves her clients. Spring is an excellent season to visit Japan. In central and South Japan it is around 10 degrees Celcius. What you Should Know When Booking Accommodation, Ryokan in Kanazawa: 9 BEST Traditional Japanese Inns To Stay At, 15 of the coolest hotels in Tokyo you must stay in (2023 edition). She is very open to requests for additional experiences which require research on her part to arrange. Getting Around in Tokyo Your most frustrating moments in Tokyo will probably occur when you find that you're totally lost. Snow is possible in higher elevations as early as November (October in Hokkaid) and may keep mountain passes closed as late as April, and while roads are signposted in English, weather warnings and road closures typically aren't. Designed for the adventurous traveller and containing 148 maps, this atlas includes many maps that are available nowhere else. We also mapped some things against a timeline so you know how far in advance you should take care of some of the more important things. 4. Great job!! We recommend tracking the price of your flights before you book. No need for a tour guide. Here is our Japan bucket list and famous landmarks you shouldnt miss! We recommend renting through VRBO, Booking, and Airbnb. Your passport needs to be valid for the duration of your stay and not longer.

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