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Japan Travel Guide

 🗝️ Key Facts

🏛️Capital: Tokyo

💶Currency: Yen ¥

🕙Time Zone: +9 GMT

📞Phone Code: +81

🌐Language: Japanese


✈️Best time to visit: Sept-Dec or Mar-Jun

🍴Eat: Teriyaki beef, Tonkatsu meal, Yaki-Soba

🍷Drink: Matcha Green Tea, Sake

🗺️Don't miss: Tokyo Sky Tree Tower, Golden Temple (Kyoto)

🗺 Menu of Contents: 

🙏 Welcome to Japan!
Japan has an incredible ancient culture and history. Much of it is still in perfect condition to visit, like the Kinkaku-ji,(The Golden Pavilion) a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, built in the 14th century.

Japan is one of the most advanced countries in the world, that's a fact we can't argue with. For most people, the image of Japan is an enigmatic one, with the vision of a traditional yet modern nation, full of wonders to discover! From exciting buzzing neon arcades and frenetic TV game shows in the mega Japanese cities to unique ancient culture and traditions in the remote towns and villages.  Japan is indeed a nation of contrasts and those who venture there on holiday will gain a greater understanding of its people, also known for their hard work, politeness and education standards. If that wasn't enough, travellers will have the chance to experience the modern innovations and infrastructural achievements which has made contemporary Japan a powerhouse of the world!

Japan's major cities (Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka) appear on the surface to be westernised, but visitors quickly realise that the sleek modern culture of Japan is expertly blended with millennia of tradition, evident in the Buddhist and Shinto temples dotted throughout the urban centres, intricate social rituals for eating and greeting, and other small reminders of Japan's long and proud history.

Once out of the cities, visitors can explore a different side of Japan, climbing one of the country's 200 mountains, soaking in secluded hot springs, visiting ancient shrines and castles, or attending a sumo match. Whether it's for skiing in the winter, viewing the cherry blossoms in spring, or enjoying the sunshine of late summer, a holiday in Japan is a rewarding adventure for all!

🛬 Getting there and transportation 

Japan is a very accessible destination from around the world and many airlines offer good competitive prices, not only to the capital but to other major cities. 

Coming from Europe or America the best point of entry to the country is to Tokyo, there are several airports in the city, Narita (NRT) and Haneda (HND) are the most common. 
The host airlines are Japan Airlines and ANA (All Nippon Airlines). They offer the best direct routes though they can be expensive. Most European and American  carries have at least one flight a day to Tokyo. However there are many alternatives with other middle east or Asian airlines making prices more competitive with one extra stop. 


If you coming from Asia, then it's worth checking lost cost airlines such as Peach, Air Asia or Jet star as they offer no frills fares. Major Asian airlines also fly into Tokyo and Japan's other gateways, Osaka  (KIX) and Fukuoka (FUK) being the most common. 


When in Japan, the transportation systems are one of the most complex in the world with many metro, rail and high speed lines coinciding in major stations. Despite this, it's very user friendly and good signage in English will help you navigate your way through the many transport modes. Each city can have one or two metro systems running on different tickets.Therefore it's more convenient  if you busy passes that include all modes. 


Japan is also famous for its high speed rail, and many tourists go to Japan just to travel on the bullet type trains which reach speeds of up to 320 km/h. Prices are very expensive for single tickets but if you are visiting for a week or more it's definitely  worth considering buying the Japan JR pass which enables unlimited travel on all the rapid Shinkansen lines. For more information visit jrpass.com

Japan Airlines is the Flag carrier of the country.
ANA, (All Nippon Airlines) is the largest airline operating to and from Japan.
⛅️ Climate and Temperature  🌡️

The climate of Japan is predominantly temperate, but varies greatly from north to south. Generally it resembles to northern European climates and enjoys hot summers but cold-freezing winters. Precipitation is not heavy, but the islands usually develop deep snowbanks in the winter. It can snow heavily in the north specially and the higher terrains. 


The average winter temperature in Japan is 7 °C and the average summer temperature is 25 °C. However in Japan typhoons can hit towards the south of the islands due to the location in the end of the summer (Aug-Sept) and can bring strong winds and heavy rain. The best time to visit Japan is from March to June and from September to December.

However if you planning to see the popular Cherry blossoms, should visit from March to the 1st week of April. 

Also for the Autumn leave fall it's very impressive to see the array of colours and should be visited in late November and early December. Specially at Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto.

🍴 Food and Drink 🍹

Japanese cuisine is famous worldwide and what best to eat it in the original country! Japanese cuisine involves fresh, delicate flavours based on seasonal ingredients. Rice, miso (fermented soy bean) soup, tofu (soy bean curd), pickled vegetables and fresh seafood are samples of the Japanese diet. Traditionally, meat was not eaten because of Buddhist beliefs, but these days, consumption of beef, chicken and pork is widespread.


Sushi is world renowned, but it’s not the only style of cooking and the variety of regional dishes is astounding, ranging from noodle soups and dumplings to meat skewers, octopus balls and some of the finest beef in the world.

Specialities include: Teriyaki, beef, chicken or fish marinated in a soy sauce with mirin wine, and seared on a hot plate. Tempura, seafood and vegetables deep-fried in a light batter. Sushi, Slices of raw fish and vegetables placed on cooked squared rice blocks. Sashimi, thinly sliced fresh fish served uncooked with soy sauce, pickled ginger and wasabi. Ramen, noodles in a meat, fish, soy or miso-based broth with toppings such as sliced pork, spring onions and a boiled egg. Yaki-Soba, buckwheat noodles served hot or cold cold with with bite-sized pork, chicken, vegetables (usually cabbage, onions or carrots) and flavoured with yakisoba sauce, salt and pepper. It is served with a multitude of garnishes. Kushikatsu or Tonkatsu, crumbed fish, meat or vegetables deep-fried on skewers.(normally you can get it as a meal with other dishes). Nattō, a traditional Japanese food made from soybeans fermented. Some eat it as a breakfast food. It is served with soy sauce, karashi mustard and Japanese bunching onion. Yakitori, skewers of bite-sized grilled chicken. Okonomiyaki, a grilled savoury pancake made with shredded cabbage, seafood, pork and noodles.

As for drinksMatcha is a bitter green tea used in tea ceremonies. Sake, dry or sweet rice wine served hot or cold. Shochu, a strong vodka-like spirit often mixed with soft drinks. Asahi and Sapporo, crisp, dry lagers served in most Japanese bars and restaurants. Whiskey's are also quite popular imitating Scottish style distilleries.

❗Attention: Tipping in NOT done in Japan. Due to their hospitality customs Japanese don't expect a tip. So when eating or drinking out there is no need to tip. It can be considered an offence that service was not good enough and to incentive them. Just the opposite of what people in the west are used to! But great for saving those extra coins! If you wish to leave money do it as a donation, to help charities. You will find little boxes next to the cashiers. 

Salmon Sushi
Fried Shrimp Sushi
Matcha Green Tea
Okonomiyaki
Yakisoba
Tonkatsu meal (Fried pork, and shrimps)
📝 Author's Comment  

Each time I travel to Japan it seems like a jump into the future! It's one of the most modern and advanced countries to travel to in the world. It's truly amazing that even its so advanced, in fact, the society is still full of tradition and close family ties and values. 


Every time I come to discover more about its culture, history, the people, cities and it's appealing cuisine! It leaves me an everlasting fascination feeling every time I return home and hoping to discover more about the country and interact with its people. 

Being the key to Japan, it's friendly people, everywhere you go, you are served with a smile, good manners and the most utter politeness and good service. It just increases my desire to explore further and sample all this country can offer! 

(Visited 4 times)

Tourism Information Guides

Region 🗺️ City Guides ✒️
KantoTokyo
ChubuMount Fuji, Nagoya
 KansaiKyoto, Osaka, Himeji, Nara, Kobe
ChugokuHiroshima, Okunoshima (rabbit Island)
Visited regions in green.

Tokyo

Osaka

Kyoto

Hiroshima

Nagoya

Himeji

Nara

Kobe

Mount Fuji

Okunoshima (Rabbit Island)