Things to See and Do
- Go Shopping in Tokyo
- Enjoy a full of humanity in Osaka
- Enjoy traditional temples and shrine in Kyoto and Nara
- Learn the peace in Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- Skiing in Hokkaido
- Diving in Okinawa
- Experience ice ship in Hokkaido
My Favorite Places
- Kanazawa, Ishikawa
- Mt. Aso, Kumamoto
- Fukuoka, Fukuoka (Fukuoka Travel Guide)
- Yakushima, Kagoshima
Typical Costs
Suggested Budget
Money-Saving Tips
- Stay at capsule hotel :
- Buy meals at grocery stores after 7 or 8pm :
- Eat tasting food at food floor of department stores : Typically there is a floor to sell foods at department stores. Usually Basement floor. There are a lot of small shops to sell a little luxury foods and nice sweets. Most of stores have tasting food for potential customers. You can try at first. If you like, you can purchase.
- Buy JR Pass for bullet trains :
Where to Stay
There are various styles of accommodations in Japan. Staying at western style hotels is most common way, but I recommend to stay at Japanese style Hotel or B&B to feel the real Japanese culture.
- Hotel : There are various hotels in Japan. Economical hotel to Luxury one. Some western hotel brands also have their branch hotels in Japan such as Marriott, Sheraton, Hilton etc. There are Japanese hotel brands such as Hoshino Resort, Imperial Hotel, New Otani, ANA Hotel, APA Hotel, Dormmy Inn etc. Among Japanese, Hoshino Resort gets more popular nowadays. They offer economical rooms to luxury rooms in several cities. Personally I love “Dormmy Inn Premium Hotel”. Their rooms are small, but they offer nice hot springs and tasty authentic Japanese style breakfast. Usually their rooms are clean.
- Japanese Style Hotel (Ryokan) :
- Japanese Style B&B (Minshuku) :
- Capsule Hotel : Good for budget travelers. You are literally assigned only to a bed. You do not have any other space for yourself. You will share bath and shower rooms with other travelers. Japanese people use this if they miss the last train to their home. However, nowadays this is popular for foreigners. Some capsule hotels are new and clean, some are not. There is a nice capsule hotels at Tokyo Narita international airport as well. If you just want to experience it, you can try at Narita Airport.
- Hostel : There are some hostels in cities. Those used to be old and dated facilities. However we have newer ones nowadays. Although the beds are bunk beds, they have modern living room, nice kitchen and clean shower rooms. I had a very nice experience at some Japanese hostels. Just check the review at Booking.com before making a reservation. If the review score is over 8, it should be okay to stay based on my experience.
How to Get Around
Japan has a well-developed public transportation system, so in urban areas such as Tokyo and Osaka, public transportation such as trains and buses are sufficient for sightseeing.
Fares are also inexpensive, ranging from about 100 yen per ride, depending on the route and distance. These days, it is easy to pay with electronic money, so you can easily use public transportation without worrying about coins or fees.
Public transportation in Japan is safe. There are sometimes drunk people sleeping around late at night, but usually there are few suspicious people, so you can ride comfortably.
- Taxi : Cabs are expensive compared to other countries, so if you are concerned about the cost, I would not recommend using cabs. I have never taken a cab unless I had a special reason such as missing the last train. If you are going to take a cab, I would recommend a cab with the word “Private” written on the lamp above the body. They are popular among Japanese people as they have nice cars and are comfortable to travel in.
- Rental Cars : Roads in Japan are narrow and difficult to drive on, and renting a car is expensive, so it is best to rent a car only when going to the suburbs.
When to Go
If you do not have any specific goal, I would recommend spring or fall from temperature perspective. In spring, you will enjoy cherry blossom. In autumn, mountains are colored in red, yellow and orange. Based on my 30-year living experience in Japan, I will not recommend June, July and August because it is very hot and humid, rainy (specifically in June), and travel cost is expensive.
For more information and suggestion, here is the best time to visit Japan and what you can enjoy each season.
How to Stay Safe
Japan is a safe country, as is well known. However, petty crimes are common every day. When I lived in Tokyo, I was a victim of petty crime several times. As long as you follow the basic rules, you will be fine, but even in a safe country, you need to be careful about the following
- Avoid stores with touts: Some stores in downtown areas such as Kabukicho will charge you exorbitant prices.
- Avoid dark, deserted streets: pickpockets and perverts may be targeting you.
- Avoid crowded trains: Especially in Tokyo, the morning and evening commuter rush is truly amazing. Pickpockets and perverts are targeting you, so I recommend carrying your luggage in front of you and paying attention to the people around you. Also, to avoid being mistaken for a pervert yourself, hold the change strap with both hands.