Japan Travel Tips -

Traveling in the land of the Rising Sun

Our Japan travel tips cover everything from how to time your visit to see the beautiful Cherry Blossoms to tips on how to avoid offending the people you meet there (and how to apologize!). Japan is a beautiful with rich traditions and polite, helpful people. If you're thinking of planning a trip, I can't encourage you enough!

My college roommate was an exchange student from Japan. Ever since she went back to her home, I've been hoping to visit. Unfortunately I've yet to make it- we are, however, planning on going later this year so I'll be updating this page with our pics and advice from a Western Perspective afterwards. In the meantime, Yoriko has provided us with a local's travel advice for visiting this island nation. These are also her wonderful pictures!

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Japan Background

Closed to outsiders until 1854, Japan travel tips once included how to sneak onto the island by going over the side of a boat. However, since it's opening to the west, Japan has risen become one of the leading world powers since it's defeat in World War II.

Although it has a strong military for defensive and peace keeping purposes, Japan's government focuses on economic development and has officially renounced it's right to declare war. If that doesn't tell you something about its people, the fact that it has the highest life expectancy and is in the top 10 standard of living index worldwide should.

The Japanese people are very polite and welcoming to foreign visitors. Japan is known to be a very safe place to travel to, especially for visitors who behave themselves. In fact, if you have a hankering to try hitchhiking but have worried about safety, head to Japan's rural districts. Out there it's not only safe but often the only means of transportation to more remote areas.

Beyond it's famous cities and monuments, Japan is also home to some of the few UNESCO World Heritage sites that are pure nature. Make sure to check out the southern islands for amazing forests and huge trees found nowhere else on the globe but astutely protected by the Japanese Government.

Basic Japan Travel Tips

If you're traveling to the Land of the Rising Sun for the first time, here are some basic Japan Travel Tips to help you plan and make the most of your visit.

Want to see the beautiful Cherry Blossoms you see on all your brochures? Plan ahead! The blossoms bloom from the end of March through the beginning of April and is celebrated across the islands by the annual Sakura Festival. However, this is also the beginning of the Japanese school year and business year, so many people travel at this time and it can be an expensive time to visit. Book ahead for the best deals and check with one of the many sites that track the blooming as it spreads from the southern most islands to the very northern most tip so you can know exactly when and where you can get the best viewings.
From Christmas to New Year is a time of much cultural celebration, culminating in the New Years festivities and New Year's Day temple prayers. This is a great time to visit if you really want to experience modern Japanese culture, however if you're trying to see a bunch of the sights, be aware that most businesses (including attractions and tourism) are closed during the week between Christmas and New Year's Day.
One of the best Japan Travel Tips I ever got was to get a public transportation map in the airport when you arrive or even before you leave your home country. Especially in Tokyo. There is public transportation to get you everywhere, however it is so complicated that even locals carry their maps with them at all times.
While signage and transportation are easy to understand for foreigners because they've got numbers and English translations, most Japanese persons cannot communicate readily in English. It's best to get and carry a simple phrasebook to help facilitate communication, although you don't need to be fluent by any stretch.
Great Japan travel tips for the agoraphobic (or curious): If you really want to see a REALLY crowded train, try heading for the center of Tokyo between 7am and 9am on a weekday. Otherwise, best to wait till after 9am to catch your city-bound public transportation.
If you're going to Tokyo, Kamakura is a lovely side trip with lots of traditional Japanese cultural attractions and numerous temples and shrines. The most famous of these is the Hase Temple where there's a huge statue of Buddha. Additionally, you can ride the Eno-den, the seaside tram, for beautiful sunsets.
The Tokyo tower is a famous sightseeing spot in downtown Tokyo. It is an Eiffel Tower inspired antenna structure and draws tourists in much the same way as the Eiffel Tower does. It's the 2nd highest man-made structure in all of Japan - the Tokyo Sky Tree will be taller (already is) but it's not finished yet.
New York might be "the city that never sleeps" but Tokyo really is. Convenience stores are located everywhere and you can get whatever you need whenever you need it.
Japan is very safe, even women feel comfortable going around by themselves after midnight. That said, it's not crime free so make sure to still use your own common sense.
The best of my Japan travel tips? Eat and enjoy! While traditional Japanese cuisine is known mostly for it's presentation value, Japan's growing selections of international cuisine are known for their high quality, even compared to their home countries. Remember, Japan is the country that gave us the shows like "Iron Chef" and other competitive cooking shows, taking culinary skills to the extreme.

Staying Safe

Japan travel tips for staying safe are very basic: don't do anything stupid and you'll be fine. Japan is basically a safe place to travel. Of course, you should use your own common sense - but even women traveling at night are safe within reason. However, places with lots of tourists are more prone to things like pickpockets, so if you're in a hostel be more careful.

Japan Travel Tips from Other Travelers

What do you wish you'd known before you went to Japan? Where do you wish you'd had more time to visit and where wasn't worth the effort? What were your favorite experiences and what was a let down?

Got a great photo from your trip to Japan? Include it with your Japan Travel Tips to get entered in our Monthly Top Travel Guide contest! You could become one of our Certified Travel Guides and even win prizes!

What do you wish you'd known before you went to Japan?

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