Hello friends!
After putting out a call for guest articles, I was recently contacted by Caroline, a well-traveled long-term expat, and a wonderful writer. Here's some more about her:
Caroline offered to share her top tips for first-time travelers to Japan, and I'm super happy to share these with you today. If you're considering traveling to Japan sometime in the future, this article has some fantastic advice, so I highly recommend reading. Let's get started!
A Beginner’s Guide to Japan
After putting out a call for guest articles, I was recently contacted by Caroline, a well-traveled long-term expat, and a wonderful writer. Here's some more about her:
Caroline is a long term expat and traveler
who has lived in various locations across the world including Japan. Although
she has a day job, writing about her international experiences is her passion. Traveling
from a young age with her family, Caroline’s goal is to see as much of the
world as possible and soak up as much culture as she can!
Whether you are a worker in the tech industry or a traveler, it is
not unusual to find Japan calling to you. This island nation of roughly 126
million inhabitants manages to combine history, natural beauty, modern
electronics, and all the amenities that a traveler might need into one easy
package. Visit shrines and temples, stunning landscapes, or tech showrooms and
allow yourself the adventure of a lifetime.
Cost of Living
Although the cost of living in Japan—and especially in Tokyo—can be
much higher than the cost of living in surrounding countries, don’t let that
stop you from visiting this unique country. You will likely pay about $7 for a
meal in a cheap restaurant and about $15 a night ($715 per month) on
accommodation in either a hostel or a small apartment. The cost of groceries is
not too bad. And there are plenty of free activities to do around the country
that can help you save some money.
Transportation
If you’re looking to travel around Japan while you’re there (which
you should, as each city has its own flavor!), you’ll need to figure out how
you want to do that. Obviously you can rent a car, but this can get expensive.
There is an extensive
network of trains linking various cities in Japan, and you could
look into getting a rail pass. Or look into low-cost flights either on national
airlines like ANA or Japan Airlines or regional budget carriers like Air Asia
or Jetstar
Japan.
Apps
Travelling with a smartphone makes figuring out the logistics of
travel easier and easier. Before you travel to Japan, you might want to equip
your device with the Navitime Japan app, which is a free app that will
allow you to search transit times, train routes, and free Wi-Fi hotspots around
Japan. You may also want to download Triposo,
another free app, which will show you many of the attractions in the area
around you. Remember that you will probably want to set
up a VPN to protect your personal information any time you plan to
use your smartphone abroad!
Festivals
You’ll want to think hard about when you wish to be in Japan, as the
country hosts many wonderful festivals annually. In fact, some estimate that
roughly 200,000 festivals are held in Japan over the course of a year—check
out a list here. The most popular festivals are the spring Cherry
Blossom Festivals, Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri Festival in July, and the Sapporo
Winter Festival. Festivals can be a great way to immerse yourself more fully in
the culture, so be sure to plan your visit to coincide with at least one of
these!
Tokyo
Tokyo is the current capital of Japan, and although widely known to
be one of the most expensive cities in the world to
visit, there are many free opportunities for you to avail yourself of. Learn
about traditional Japanese arts at the Japan Traditional Craft Center, and explore the
more modern side of Japan at the Sony
Showroom or the Panasonic Showroom where you’ll be able to browse
through and get your hands on many of the companies’ current and upcoming
products. If you’re interested in architecture or religion, be sure to check
out the 7th-century Sensoji
Temple or the Shinto Meiji Jengu Shrine.
Kyoto
The city of Kyoto, once the capital of
Japan, retains a lot of impressive and historical charm. You’ll want to check
out the imperial palaces and villas—but know that you’ll need to fill out an
application at the Kyoto Imperial Household Agency Office a few days
prior to your intended visit. You should also visit the city’s three
Geisha districts, where you’ll be able to see Geishas going along
the streets on their way to entertain wealthy patrons with performances. Also
head up to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, which sits on a mountaintop
and thus offers great views of the city. Near the temple are open-air pavilions
where you can shop for food and souvenirs.
Hiroshima
This city, most famous for being the site of the world’s first
nuclear attack in 1945, should be included on your itinerary for your trip.
Visit the Peace
Memorial Park and Museum and contemplate the atrocities that occurred
there. The park itself is free, and the entry fee to the museum is nominal.
Also visit the Flame of Peace, which has burnt since the mid-‘60s and which
will continue to do so until all nuclear weapons are destroyed. Although a more
sombre note to your trip, this is an important place in history and bears
remembrance.
Outdoor Activities
One important and recognizable icon of Japan is Mt Fuji. If you’re
looking for something to do outdoors, you might want to try climbing it. Or head
to Nagano, host of the 1998 Winter Olympics, for some excellent skiing and
snowboarding. Are the mountains not your thing? There are also plenty of places
around Japan where you can go diving. Don’t worry if you aren’t a city person;
this country still has plenty to offer you!
Although the places to visit in Japan are far too many to name
comprehensively, this guide has hopefully given you some insight into what the
country has to offer. Whether you’re planning a sightseeing vacation or an
active adventure, Japan has something for you! Experience as much as you can.
Thank you so much for your guest post, Caroline! The information is really useful for people coming to Japan for the first time, and provides a great overview of travel recommendations and tips. I definitely echo her recommendations about travelling by train, and checking out the rail pass. And as you can see by some of my own posts about festivals, I think they are wonderful events to check out, and one of the best ways to experience traditional Japanese culture. Finally, I love that you included my personal favourite place in Japan, Hiroshima! If you have any questions for Caroline (or me) be sure to leave them in the comments below. Or, if you'd like to see your post featured on Origami Kiwi, contact me at theorigamikiwi@gmail.com
Caroline, ありがとうございました!
- Annabelle.
Thank you so much for your guest post, Caroline! The information is really useful for people coming to Japan for the first time, and provides a great overview of travel recommendations and tips. I definitely echo her recommendations about travelling by train, and checking out the rail pass. And as you can see by some of my own posts about festivals, I think they are wonderful events to check out, and one of the best ways to experience traditional Japanese culture. Finally, I love that you included my personal favourite place in Japan, Hiroshima! If you have any questions for Caroline (or me) be sure to leave them in the comments below. Or, if you'd like to see your post featured on Origami Kiwi, contact me at theorigamikiwi@gmail.com
Caroline, ありがとうございました!
- Annabelle.
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