Plan the perfect trip to Japan | Japan Holiday Guide

Asia, one of the most beautiful continents, full of incredible landscapes that you will enjoy seeing, and quite interesting cultures. A new world to discover! This time we bring you a very special and popular country. Ohayo gozaimasu, and welcome to Japan, an island country that has it all.

Located in East Asia, it has more than 125 million inhabitants. The Nihon country is known for its traditional culture, famous gastronomy, discipline, and respect. In Japan, you can enjoy many sights like Mount Fuji in Honshū, the Shinkansen (bullet train), imperial palaces, and much more. Keep reading and learn more about this Asian country and all the things you can enjoy in it!

How to get there

If you plan to travel to this country in the Pacific Ocean soon, here we will show you the most popular international airports, which you can reach from all over the world.
You are probably planning to visit its capital (Tokyo) first. Luckily, this city has the two most important and popular airports in the country.

The busiest one is Haneda Airport, which is also the fifth busiest in the world. You can find many stores and restaurants there to enjoy upon arrival and it has a train connection to downtown.

The other airport in Tokyo is the Narita International Airport. With 33.4 million passengers in 2018, it is the second busiest airport in Japan. This airport is very important because connects Japan to many destinations worldwide. It is accessible by road and rail.

Besides, we want to mention the Kansai International Airport located in Osaka, the Fukuoka Airport in Fukuoka, and the New Chitose Airport in Sapporo. If you want to go directly to any of the cities they serve, those airports are an excellent option.

Visa Information

If you want to travel to Japan on your next vacation, you must know that depending on your country of origin, you may need a tourist visa to enter Japan. For example, countries in Asia, Africa, and most of South America require a valid visa. However, citizens of the rest of the countries need to have a valid passport to be able to stay up to 90 days in the country.

Best time to visit the country

The spring season, between March and May, is one of the best times to visit Japan. During spring, you can expect temperatures from 12°C to 25°C, depending on the area where you are. Spring is a great time to enjoy the cherry blossom trees, especially in the northern part of the country. Just remember that this is the time when Japan looks the most beautiful, which means that hotels and attractions are going to be very busy. So it is important to plan and book in advance. Without a doubt, spring in Japan will enchant you, with a dry and warm climate to enjoy outdoor activities such as picnics in local parks and the Takayama Matsuri, one of the most famous festivals during this season.

Safety

According to travelers and citizens residing in Japan, this country is generally very safe. The risk of pickpocketing is very low even in touristic places; however, always remember to use common sense and try to foresee any misfortune. Something that you should keep in mind is to consult the weather report daily, so you will know if a storm is approaching, and if so, keep informed of what the evacuation protocols are. However, during spring very little rain is expected, so it is a very good time to travel to Japan.

Budget

Probably you are wondering how much your trip to Japan will cost. Of course, it is going to depend on how many days you are staying, the season, and the type of trip that you prefer and can afford. Here we will show you the average budget for a standard trip. Per day, you could spend around ¥13,775 ($130). If you are staying for a week, it could cost around ¥96,422 ($909.08) and for two weeks ¥192,845 ($1818.17).

Let’s see how much you can afford with ¥13,775 ($130) per day:

• Hotel or Hostel: ¥6,661 ($62.80)
• Food: ¥3,088 ($29.11)
• Local transportation (taxis, buses, subway): ¥2,114 ($19.93)
• Entertainment (shows, movie tickets): ¥1,623 ($15.30)

Let’s break down some more specific food and drinks prices:

• Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: ¥680 ($6.41) – Noodle soup.
• Mid-range restaurant: ¥2,430 ($22.91) – Three-course meal.
• Soft Drink: ¥133.49 ($1.26) – 0.33-liter bottle.
• Beer: ¥450 ($0.034) – 0.5-liter draught.

Currency

The official currency in Japan is the Japanese Yen (JPY). The bills come in 1,000 Yen, 2,000 Yen, 5,000 Yen, and 10,000 Yen denominations. The coins denominations are 1 Yen, 5 Yen, 10 Yen, 50 Yen, 100 Yen, and 500 Yen. 100 Japanese Yen is equal to $0.94. One of the most used methods in Japan is cash, which is used in many places and to pay for taxis or buses. It is very common to use low denominations bills. Credit and debit cards are now widely accepted, especially in big cities. Hotels, department stores, mid to high-end restaurants, outlets malls accept payments by credit card (Visa and MasterCard are the most accepted brands).

Interesting facts about the culture

Japan is an Asian country located in the Pacific Ocean, comprised of thousands of islands, the most important being Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Its official language is Japanese, which consists of three different alphabets called Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana.

If we mention Japanese food, you probably will think about sushi. This food is known and eaten all around the world. It usually consists of a roll filled with rice, vegetables and (of course) fish, because in Japan they eat lots of fish with their meals. There are different varieties of sushi including makizushi, nigiri sushi, and inarizushi. Other famous and popular dishes are Udon noodles, tofu, tempura (crispy fried food), and ramen (a noodle soup).

In Japan, the society is very structured and traditional. Some important values for them are respect, education, and patience, and there are some things you ought to need before going there. First, personal space is very important so do not stand too close to another person and avoid talking in a loud voice. When you meet someone, bow to show respect and courtesy. Finally, avoid showing affection in public places since this is not well seen and can be considered a sign of disrespect.

Another important thing to know is that the main religions are Shinto and Buddhism. Finally, sumo is the national sport, and judo and karate are also an important part of Japanese culture.

What to do in Japan

Japan is a mixture of modernity and tradition, for example, we can admire the great technological advance in cities like Tokyo, in which you can see from neon-lit skyscrapers to historical temples. Besides, you can enjoy a relaxing bath in the open-air hot springs, you can see the Sakura (pink cherry trees) ride on the fastest train in Japan (Shinkansen), taste Japanese sushi and ramen, and many more things.

The best sights

• Mount Fuji, in Honshu Island: Considered sacred since ancient times, it is the highest mountain on Honshu Island and Japan. With 3776 meter high, it is ideal for mountaineering.
• Fushimi Inari-Taisha, in Kyoto: Shinto shrine from 711 A.D on the side of a mountain with a path of hundreds of Torii (Japanese traditional door).
• Shibuya Crossing, in Tokyo: It is a popular scramble crossing in Shibuya, which is often featured in movies and television shows that take place in Tokyo.
• TeamLab Borderless, in Tokyo: It is the first digital art museum. Inside we find around 60 works of digital art, created from 520 computers and 470 digital projectors. These are animated works of art that do not stop changing and moving on the walls, floor, and ceiling.
• Osaka Castle, in Osaka: It is one of the most famous castles in the country and played an important role in the unification of Japan during the 16th century.

You will not only enjoy seeing places in the Nihon country, but there are also places where you can do fun and relaxing activities. The nightlife is very active in the major cities of Japan where you can eat delicious food, sing karaoke, play videogames in a game center, go to a nice club and much more.

The best activities

• Soak in open-air hot springs: A trip to Japan is not complete without a long, relaxing soak in the hot water. Enjoy the relaxing waters of Japan and the great views of the beautiful landscapes. You will never forget a wonderful activity like that. The best hots springs are Amagi Yugashima Onsen in Shizuoka Prefecture, Kusatsu Onsen in Kusatsu, Hakone Onsen in Kanagawa.
• Festivals: Something very common and loved by all Japanese people are festivals, special events where people gather to have fun, eat, see fireworks, see lanterns, and do recreational activities. The best festivals are Nagasaki Lantern Festival in Nagasaki City (25 Jan – 8 Feb), Yuki Matsuri in Sapporo (4 Feb – 11 Feb), Kanda Matsuri in Tokyo (May).
• Eat sushi right off a conveyor belt and sample wild boar ramen: The food in Japan is exotic but very delicious. In any restaurant, you will be surprised by different dishes, like sushi (Uramaki, Maki, Nigiri, and more) or tasty ramen. Easy to find anywhere in Japan.
• Take a ride in the Shinkansen (bullet train): Enjoy the full speed experience of the fastest train in Japan. It is a train that reaches 320 Km/h. Connects most of the island cities of Honshū and Kyūshū.

How to get around in Japan

Japanese people are well known for doing what they set out to do right, and transportation is not the exception. The best way to travel through Japan is undoubtedly by train. If you travel to Japan, you will not be able (nor will you want to) avoid riding the famous Shinkansen bullet train. This train travels at a speed of up to 320 Km/h (199 Mph). There are currently five routes that will take you to the most popular places in Japan. On the other hand, if you need to travel long distances, the best option is to travel by plane. Finally, if you want to get to small towns or more remote areas, there will be buses that can help you to get there.

How to stay connected in Japan

Last but not least, the final question is: How am I going to stay connected to this new country? Well, there are several options for you to avoid that terrible feeling of not being able to communicate. First, you can rent a phone in a hotel or online. It is an accessible way to have the internet and stay connected, however, probably you will want to use your phone. If that is your case, one option is to rent a Pocket WiFi. This small device as the name suggests is a portable WiFi. So, if the only service you need is the internet, that option will work perfectly for you.

Another option is to use international roaming, however, most of the time it is very expensive, so here we have our final suggestion: buy a prepaid SIM card! Yes, with a SIM card, you will have all the services that a full package offers (data, SMS, and calls). Four main operators in Japan offer communication services. Those are NTT Docomo, au by KDDI, Softbank, and Rakuten Mobile. Alternatively, a good option if you are traveling around Asia for a long time, you can order an international SIM card by a company called SimOptions, which offers the best international cards around the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I rent a car?

It is not a good idea because of the traffic. It is much better to travel by train.

Which airports can I fly to?

The best airports are Haneda Airport and Narita International Airport.

What are the most popular types of hotels?

The most popular accommodation types are the “comfort hotels” also called “western-style” hotels.

How much does a holiday cost?

You can spend around ¥13,775 ($130), including standard accommodation, food, transportation, and entertainment.

What are the best things to do?

If you are traveling to Japan, you have to see the Japanese cherry blossom (Sakura) and Mount Fuji.

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