Japan

Japan is an island country of East Asia, in the northwest Pacific Ocean. A country with a great combination of hiking possibilities, culinary discoveries, ancient culture, lively urban life and unique traditions. You can then relax from all these experiences with a long soak in an Onsen. But, most of all, you will feel welcome by the people of Japan, always ready to help you and make your stay better.

Highlights

Temples and shrines

“嚴島神社, 厳島神社, いつくしまじんじゃ, Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, 宮島, Miyajima, 廣島, Hiroshima” by bryan… is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Castles and palaces

Bamboo forests and zen gardens

Cherry blossom and autumn foliage

“弁天堂” by minoir is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Mount Fuji and the Japan Alps

“File:Lake Kawaguchiko Sakura Mount Fuji 3.JPG” by Midori is licensed under CC BY 3.0

Vibrant cities

Pilgrimage routes and sacred sites

“kumano kodo” by mathias-erhart is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Tropical and subtropical islands

“small village at Amami island south area” by taiyofj is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Onsens and ryokans

663highland, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

“Ryokan” by DocChewbacca is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

When to go

The best moment to visit Japan is between April and June with warms days and cool nights. During the summer (June-mid September) the weather is hot and humid because is the rainy season. Also, during the autumn (September to mid-December) is usually cool and clear, but in some places the temperatures are low, but it is another best moment to visit Japan. From January to March is winter, consequently the temperatures are low and cold weat

Snorkelling and Diving: the water in the tropical islands of Japan is quite warm (an average 20º in winter and 30º in summer). The best time for diving and snorkelling is generally from late March until October, but it depends on the island you want to visit. For example, May to September is the best season for Okinawa, Ogasawara and Kerama islands, while July or August to October is the best period for Izu Shichito, Kakeroma Jima and Motobu islands.

Historical Places and Temples: late March to mid-June if you want to avoid hot summers in Honshu and Kyushu islands. From mid-September until mid-November the weather becomes mild again.

Hikings: spring and autumn are the best seasons to discover Japan´s nature. In Honshu and Kyushu islands avoid the period from late November until mid-April, not the best moment for hiking because of the wind, snow and heavy rains. In Hokkaido, hiking is best from end of May to September.

Winter sports: from December to March, ski areas in the Japanses Alps and in Hokkaido are open. Japanese Onsens (hot springs) are a great way to relax and recover after a day in the slopes.

Snow monkeys: Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park is in Yamanouchi, Nagano Prefecture. It is famous for its heavy snowfalls and its large population of wild Japanese macaques. The best season to visit the snow monkeys is December to March

Practical information

Currency

The Japanese Yen is the official currency. Typically, 110 to 135 yens per Euro and 100 to 120 yens per US Dollar.

Language

Japanese. English is well understood in most businesses where there is regular contact with tourists, including shops, main train stations and restaurants.

Visa

Visa is required by all visitors, available on arrival at international airports for stays up to 90 days.

ATM & credit card

ATMs are available, although some do not accept foreign cards (those in 7-Eleven shops seem to work well with foreigners), and credit card payments are typically accepted in hotels and department stores but only some restaurants and ryokan accept them. Japan is a cash society.

Opening times

Cafes, restaurants from 11 am to 2pm, and 6pm to 11pm (close one day a week), small shops from 9am until 5pm. Department stores 10am to 7pm, closed one or two days a month.

Time: GMT + 9 hours.

Main airports

Narita International Airport (is one of two international airports serving the Greater Tokyo Area. It is about 75 kilometres east of central Tokyo. By car, it takes 50 minutes)

Kansai International Airport (it is located on an artificial island. The distance from the airport to the centre of Osaka is 52 kilometres, by car, it takes 40 minutes)

Chubu Centrair International Airport (serves central Japan and is located 7 km of Tokoname city, by car, it takes 6 minutes)

Naha Airport (is located on the island of Okinawa. The distance from the airport to the centre of Okinawa is 25 kilometres, by car it takes 22 minutes)

Public transport

Japan has a perfect net of public transport covering almost every corner of the country with timely and regular train services. Japanese train system is fast, clean, frequent and efficient, you can get a train almost anywhere. It is important to check which route you are planning and purchase the Japan Rail Pass that best suits your needs. There are also local buses to cover more remote areas.

Things to avoid

Wearing shoes indoors, loud phone conversations while on public, pointing, invading people’s personal space at shrines and temples, eating on commuter trains, sticking your chopsticks vertically in your rice bowl.

Food

Sushi both traditional (Edo-style sushi), where you will sit at a quiet counter to eat as the sushi is prepared right before your eyes, and more modern (and cheap) Kaiten Sushi, where sushi is prepared in different small plates and placed in a conveyor belt allowing each table to pick what they prefer. Sashimi (raw fish sliced into easy-to-eat pieces) is another must-try food, similar to sushi but without the rice. There are also many restaurants that specialize in unagi (fresh water eel) dishes. Udon and soba the main noodle varieties eaten in Japan, traditionally made from wheat and buckwheat flour, respectively. Ramen, a noodle soup dish consisting of wheat noodles, and Okonomiyaki, savoury pancakes with sliced cabbage and other ingredients, are also some of Japan’s affordable specialities. Takoyaki also known as ‘octopus’ balls’ or ‘octopus’ dumplings’, is delicacy usually sold by street vendors.

Electricity and plug types

All Japan uses 100V. Tokyo and eastern Japan are on 50Hz, and western Japan, including Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka, is on 60 Hz. Plug types A and B (US type).

Health and insurance

Every person with an address in Japan is required to enrol in some form of public health insurance by law, where eligible people receive insurance coverage up to 70% of their health costs. On the other hand, visitors cannot enrol in this public insurance and will be required to pay the entire cost of medical fees, so you may want to consider a private travel health insurance. The only vaccination you could need for travelling to Japan is Japanese Encephalitis, you may need this vaccine if your trip will last more than a month, depending on where you are going in Japan and what time of year you are traveling. You should also consider this vaccine if you plan to visit rural areas in Japan or will be spending a lot of time outdoors, even for trips shorter than a month. More information.

Other

Tips in Japan are not common, only if you want to show your gratitude to someone.