A tourist to japan. Travel tips and tricks for Japan

Traditions

The number of traditions and rituals, obligatory or recommended for observance, is simply enormous. Almost all spheres of the country's life are permeated with a network of traditions and ceremonies, this is especially noticeable in communication between people and in public life.

General rules

Electricity

Tipping and taxes

Price level

Personal experiences of travelers

Maria | august 2016

aerobulochka | spring 2016

travel_rm | winter 2015

shkaf_gingemy | winter 2015

It is the cherished dream of many Russians. However, not everyone succeeds in fulfilling it because of the high cost of this trip. Country rising sun is considered one of the most expensive cities in the world, and Tokyo has been in the top five most expensive cities for tourists for several years. But still, nothing can prevent those who want to see Fujiyama and the blooming spring sakura with their own eyes. Our article is for such travelers, here is collected the most important information, which will allow you to spend an inexpensive and interesting vacation in the original Japan.

A little about the country

If you are planning a trip to Japan, then prepare to be amazed. You will have to do this constantly, because the Land of the Rising Sun cannot be compared with other Asian states. There is nothing from China, Vietnam or Thailand, but, nevertheless, traveling in Japan, you seem to penetrate into the very heart of Asia and hear its beating on every street of noisy metropolises.

Tourists are attracted here by the incredible combination of modern technology with ancient traditions, which are rigorously observed by every generation of the Japanese family. If you're lucky, you can see a colorful holiday dedicated to, for example, kokeshi Or sit quietly in the garden, enjoying the beauty of cherry blossoms at sunrise or sunset. And in megalopolises you will be greeted by numerous cafes, shops and shopping centers. Here you can buy something, dine, and in some even stay overnight. All in all, traveling to Japan will be the biggest and most significant adventure in your life. And, which is doubly pleasant, you will never regret the money spent on it.

Japan: solo or group trip?

First of all, before traveling to the Land of the Rising Sun, you need to decide on the budget and travel options. And there are not many of them - a group trip to Japan or an independent one. What to choose? It directly depends on your budget and capabilities.

Traveling to Japan on your own is quite possible, but it will require very careful preparation. You will have to think through absolutely everything:

• flight to Japan;
• hotel booking;
• route of movement around the country;
• food outlets and excursion program;
• money exchange options;
• types of communication with the local population.

All these aspects have a good travel will take you a very long time, and also require some experience in independent travel... In addition, on the road you will encounter certain difficulties, which can only be overcome by non-spoiled and sociable tourists. For example, it is worth knowing that in Japan, few of the local population know English... Therefore, you will not be able to simply ask for directions from a passer-by. Perhaps, after a while, a young Japanese man who knows the basics of the English language will come across, but there is a high probability that this will not happen. In addition, the inscriptions in the country are not duplicated, they are all written in hieroglyphs. This fact significantly complicates the rest in Japan.

If the above difficulties scare you, then it is better to buy a travel package. It, of course, is not cheap, but you will be free from all worries, including visa.

Travel cost

If you are planning a flight from Moscow, then two weeks in Japan will cost you one hundred and fifty thousand rubles. This amount includes flights, travel around the country, accommodation and several excursions. Meals are served according to the breakfast system; the tourist must pay for the remaining meals on his own. Traveling to Japan from Vladivostok is much cheaper. Our compatriots can choose a ferry tour, which on average costs about sixty thousand rubles. From Vladivostok, you can get to the Land of the Rising Sun in different ways and with various travel packages on hand. This is the most popular tourist destination among locals.

Reviews about independent travel in Japan allow you to perfectly plan your trip and save a lot. On average, courageous tourists can spend thirty to forty thousand less on a trip than buying a tour. This money will be very useful to you on vacation, because you can bring a lot of useful gizmos from the Land of the Rising Sun home. How to plan budget travel to Japan on our own, we will tell you a little later. Now let's try to find out the most important aspects of preparing for the trip.

When to go to Japan?

A big trip to Japan can be planned for any time of the year, but traditionally tourists try to visit the country in spring or autumn. In these seasons, the Land of the Rising Sun appears in a special beautiful form... In the spring she is dressed in the pink foam of sakura flowers, and in the fall she just cuts her eyes from the red maple leaves. It seems that they are everywhere here, and the Japanese even came up with several special rituals to observe this beauty.

In winter, it is possible to ski in Japan, and several main resorts are characterized by high comfort and equipped with the latest technology. But for those who are not attracted to skiing, it will be rather uncomfortable to see Japanese sights and enjoy the trip in winter. Moreover, in winter season it can be very windy in the country, which is quite unusual for most of our compatriots.

In summer, the country is very hot and stuffy. Air conditioners are ubiquitous in cities, and tourists suffer from fluctuations in temperature. Many take sweaters or jackets with them to wear in restaurants or shopping centers... But if you prefer a beach holiday, then go to Okinawa. Here you will receive an incredible level of service and enjoy swimming in the hot sun.

Where to go to Japan?

If you take the trouble to read reviews of independent travel in Japan, then it's easy to create your own travel itinerary. For the first time, a week will be enough for you to get to know the Land of the Rising Sun. The following cities are suitable for this:

• Tokyo.
• Nara.
• Kyoto.

Moving between settlements on high-speed trains, you will inspect beautiful parks, swim in hot springs, visit the most famous temples and, of course, taste the bustling and noisy life of megacities.

If you are already a little familiar with travel, you can choose a little different, and the time of stay in this country can be increased to two weeks. During this period, tourists will be able to see Hiroshima, Osaka, Kobe and other extraordinary places. In general, you can schedule a tour of one city per day. In this case, the trip program will be very eventful.

Visa processing: nuances and features

Any trip to Japan begins with the most difficult thing - obtaining a visa. Not every even a very experienced tourist can do this. The thing is that in order to apply for a visa, Russians need a special letter on an official letterhead. In addition to him, you will need to confirm the hotel reservation (and this is quite problematic for independent trips) and send a package of documents using a special mail (the cost of postage will be at least seventy dollars).

Many of our compatriots come to an agreement with travel agencies and pay them for a visa. This usually takes two weeks and saves a lot of time.

Where are the best places to stay in Japan?

To remember your trip to Japan for a long time, a photo must be taken almost everywhere. Hotels and small hotels deserve special attention. It is worth noting that in the Land of the Rising Sun there is a fairly large selection of places to stay. But, if you want to save a little, then they will all be very unusual and entertaining.

Many tourists stay overnight at spas. Don't be surprised, this is quite common in Japan. For about thirty-five dollars, you get a small room with a bathtub and sun lounger. There will also be a TV and all other amenities, and you can go down to the restaurant for dinner. Guests will be offered a variety of treatments and massages.

This is exotic for Russians. They are fairly inexpensive and have a very high level of comfort. There are even double capsules for couples traveling. This pleasure will cost approximately thirty-five dollars a night.

Hotels for love are very unusual place for spending the night. These structures are intended for love dates and provide the possibility of renting from one hour to several days. The design of these hotels is rather exotic, but equipped in the highest class. In addition, they are much cheaper than regular rooms. A night in such a hotel will cost from eighty to one hundred and fifty dollars.

Meals while traveling

Of course, you can eat daily in restaurants, but budget vacation does not imply such a luxury. Therefore, make your choice in favor of Japanese fast food, it is extremely healthy and tasty here. No burgers or fries, only seaweed, sushi and seafood. This pleasure will cost about 5-6 dollars.

If the choice of dishes in a cafe confuses you a little with a large number of incomprehensible names, then buy a ready-made lunch in a supermarket. Its cost will be the same as in a cafe, and through the transparent film you will always see the contents of the package.

Gourmet trip

Experienced tourists choose a special type of vacation - a culinary trip to Japan. It is worth noting that this is something incredible. Of course, there are still few Russians willing to spend money on such a tour, but every year their number is increasing. What attracts gourmets in the Land of the Rising Sun so much? Michelin-starred restaurants, of course.

The fact is that as soon as Tokyo was included in the Michelin directory, there were restaurants with stars. And tourists who want to experience gastronomic delight rushed to them. Every year, the number of gourmet restaurants is increasing and Tokyo has already significantly surpassed the recognized gastronomic center - Paris in terms of these characteristics.

For example, in the oldest quarter of Tokyo, Ginza, there are sushi restaurants with three Michelin stars. In one of them, the cook Jiro works, about whom feature films were even filmed. His work seems to be a real art, and the price of the dishes prepared by him exceeds several thousand dollars.

Each city in Japan has its own culinary traditions, so gourmets in search of a special taste can travel the whole country. One of the most popular Japanese foods is noodles. There are just a lot of options for its preparation - boil, fry, steam and the like. Each region in the country has its own recipe. We can say that a culinary tour allows tourists to discover new facets of an already familiar country.

Money exchange

With the exchange of money for many inexperienced tourists problems often arise. Keep in mind that buying yen is best at home. Otherwise, you may find yourself in a very unpleasant situation, because in many ATMs and terminals the card of the European payment system may not be accepted. This is due to the fact that Japanese terminals operate on their own system. Only a few ATMs in large shopping centers accept absolutely all bank cards.

It will not always be possible to exchange money in a bank, because tourists can get into on holidays, and it is impossible to exist in Japan without money. Therefore, experienced travelers advise to carry the main amount of money in cash, and bank card leave funds to pay for restaurants and purchases.

Going to the Land of the Rising Sun, tourists need to know a few simple rules of stay in Japan that will make the trip easier. We have collected the most important recommendations:

• Don't try to tip in Japan, you shouldn't. There is no tipping system throughout the country.
• In Japanese bars, in honor of a friendly location, it is customary to pour alcoholic drinks from your bottle, so if you are honored with such an honor, be sure to make a return gesture of respect.
• Never point your finger at objects and people - this is extremely impolite, but you can point at yourself.
• In a restaurant, it is enough to wave your palm in front of your nose, and the waiter will remove the dirty dishes.
• In the Land of the Rising Sun, it is customary to take off your shoes in many rooms. You may be asked to take off your shoes in some areas of a restaurant, hotel, apartment building, temple, and so on. It is considered especially indecent to step on the mat with a booted foot, it is perceived as an insult.

• When heading to the hot springs, keep in mind that those with tattoos on their bodies are escorted to separate baths. They are not allowed to be in the common room with the rest of the guests.
• When you receive an invitation, be sure to bring a gift with you. This is considered an act of courtesy and respect.

Of course, it is difficult to list all the nuances of traveling in the Land of the Rising Sun, because a lot is learned only after an independent trip.

Japan travel: reviews

Not a single tourist had an angry comment about Japan, in any case, we did not meet such. This means only one thing - you can and should go to this country. It will open up a lot of interesting things even for those who are very poorly aware of the culture and traditions of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Seasoned tourists prefer Japan to all other Asian countries. Ask them why. We think the explanation will take several hours. After all, describe this amazing country and her people in a nutshell is simply impossible. Travelers are delighted with historical monuments Japan, its cities, cuisine and distinctive traditions. Tourists say that you can come here many times, and each time you find something extraordinarily exciting for yourself.

What do you need to decide on a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun? Yes, quite a bit - desire, the spirit of adventurism and more money. And then you can tell your friends when you return home about what an incredible journey through Japan you have had.

Many tourists dream of seeing the Land of the Rising Sun, and whoever succeeds will remain impressed by the perfect trip for a long time. Japan cannot be compared to any Asian country- she is so original and mysterious. And for every tourist who has been here, it opens in its own way, generously endowing with unforgettable emotions. Holidays in Japan can be very different. Someone comes here to stroll through the seething and mega-modern Tokyo, while someone, on the contrary, likes the contemplative and beautiful Fujiyama volcano and no less soulful Japanese temples and pagodas. After the sad events in 2011 in Fukushima (recall, due to a strong earthquake there was an accident at a nuclear power plant), the flow of tourists to Japan has noticeably thinned, but today we can confidently say that the situation has changed for the better.

In order not to be left without a long-awaited vacation in Japan, plan a decent vacation budget in advance. Traveling to the Land of the Rising Sun will have to spend an order of magnitude more than, for example, Thailand or Vietnam.

You can plan a vacation in Japan at almost any time of the year, as there is always something to do and see. So, in winter, tourists rush to the local ski resorts... The most famous of them are Naeba, Furano, Hakuba and Hokkaido. The height of the slopes and infrastructure on Japanese skiing is in no way inferior to European winter resorts. Caught in Japan the day before new year holidays, don't miss the grand parade in Tokyo and the Sapporo Ice Festival. With the onset of spring, holidays in Japan are becoming even more popular. Still: the beautiful sakura turns this country into a large blooming garden. This trip is best combined with a visit to the famous thermal springs and balneological resorts in Japan. There are spas both in Tokyo and other cities. This, for example, famous resorts Atami, Hakone, Ibusuki. Having stopped here even for a short time, you will return home refreshed and full of energy.

Holidays in Japan

In summer, vacationers in Japan are chosen by beachgoers and go closer to the sea - to the islands of Okinawa. The long and tiring flight will be instantly forgotten as soon as you find yourself on the coast and stay in cozy and modern hotels of the resort. And the impeccable service provided in all hotels will completely relax you. By the way, it is good to have a rest here with the whole family: interesting leisure and a whole range of entertainment (water parks, dolphinarium) await not only adults, but also young tourists... You can sunbathe on Japanese beaches in early autumn, but be prepared that the weather can pump up, and the sun will be replaced by coolness.

But at this time (to be more precise, in October), holidays in Japan can be diversified by visiting, literally, the burning fire festival, which is held annually in Kyoto.

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In order not to be left without a long-awaited vacation in Japan, plan a decent vacation budget in advance. Why? Traveling to the Land of the Rising Sun will have to spend an order of magnitude more than, for example, the same Asian Thailand or Vietnam. But whatever costs lie ahead, they cannot be compared with the baggage of emotions and impressions with which tourists return home after a vacation in Japan. Finally, about the nuances of organizing a trip. All foreign tourists require a valid visa to enter the country. This, of course, is not a Schengen visa or an American visa, which is sometimes very problematic to obtain, nevertheless it is better to deal with this issue as early as possible before the desired travel date.

As practice shows, tourist visas in Japan can actually be issued in one to two weeks. If running around the embassy offices with a pile of documents is not your element, entrust this issue to your travel agency.

Security

Crime rate inlaw-abiding Japan is extremely low, but forget about elementary precautions all it's not worth it.

Meet at the street of an English-speaking passer-by- a very rare piece of luck. It is also a common misconception that all employees in hotels and restaurants in Japan speak English. The language of communication in Japan is Japanese ... and a foreigner will be helped either by a guide or by gestures ...

Transport

Taxis are quite expensive in the country.Tariff starts with 640-770 JPY in Tokyo and 500-580 JPY in other cities. Further- 80-90 JPY per a certain distance, forevery minute of downtime is charged an additional 45-50 JPY. From 23:00 to 6:00 the tariff is 30% higher.

Have the opposite is true for Japanese taxi drivers: a green "light" on the windshield means that the car is busy, red- free, yellow on empty car - driving on phone call.

Forgotten in In a taxi, things can be returned with a high degree of probability by calling the United Lost and Found office of taxi companies.

Telephone communications

There are two cell phone standards in Japan - CDMA and 3G ... In this regard, tourists oftenquestions arise whether their phone will work in Japan, and if not, how to provide themselves with cellular communications.

There are several options:

Rent a Japanese phone and insert your ownSIM card. You will have your old number. Everyone who calls you will dial your regular phone number and will not even suspect that you are in Japan. For calls to Russia, you must dial international code connections with Russia and the desired phone number.

You can rent a phone only at Narita Airport and in the business centers of large hotels ( Imperial Hotel, New Otani, Hyatt, Four Seasons ). The rental price is approximately $ 10 per day (including insurance in case of loss or theft). Additionally, outgoing calls are paid at the rate of your operator.

Phone rental requires a passport and a valid credit card in Japan.Don't forget your SIM pin code. You will need to enter it in order to connect the SIM card to the phone.

Rent a phone with a Japanese number. You will have a Japanese phone number.Anyone who will call you must dial the international dialing code for Japan and the rented phone number.You should do the same for calls to Russia.

You can rent such a phone only at Narita Airport and in the business centers of large hotels ( Imperial Hotel, New Otani, Hyatt, Four Seasons). The cost of such a lease is $ 10. per day (including insurance against loss or theft).Additionally, outgoing calls are paid at the rate of a Japanese telecom operator.

Renting a phone requires your passport and a Japanese credit card.

Buy a dedicated local phone. Softbank sells special phones for tourists. You buy a special prepaid phone card for the phone and enter its number into the phone. The phone starts working like a regular Japanese phone with a regular Japanese number. When the limit on the card is exhausted, you need to buy a new one. The cards are sold in all convenience stores throughout Japan. The phone costs $ 80.

When you leave Japan, you can throw your phone away or take it with you as a souvenir.Phones are sold at the airport at the Softbank store and at any Softbank store throughout Japan.

All you need to buy a phone is your passport.Payment by credit card or cash.

Multi-system telephone. Latest Nokia models released with simultaneous support for multiple standards cellular- 3G and GSM. If you have such a phone, and you have paid for roaming with your operator, then upon arrival in Japan you can call home directly from the plane ramp.

You can also call from the hotel.The cost of the international call will be charged to your account. You can buy a regular phone card and call from a gray phone booth in Japan.

Money

Banks work with 9:00 to 15: 00-17: 00 on weekdays and from 9:00 to 12:00 on the first and last Saturday of the month, Sunday- day off.

V Narita International Airport (Tokyo) exchange offices work around the clock. Von holidays all banks are closed.

It is best to exchange large amounts inarrival airport, as inhotels do not change more than 300-500 USD per person per day, and in banks, the exchange procedure is complicated by bureaucratic formalities.

Currency exchange offices in stores are extremely rare, and atthe streets are not there at all.

Credit cards

There are times when a tourist's credit card does not work. Moreover, there is no system in failures: one and the same credit card is accepted in one store, but not in another. To avoid an unexpected situation, before traveling to Japan, contact the bank that issued you the card and ask to check if the block on the use of credit cards abroad, and especially in Japan, has been lifted.

You will definitely need a card when renting a cell phone.

In Japan, credit cards are accepted in all major restaurants, shops, hotels and even taxis. Although the Japanese themselves still prefer to pay in cash. It is best to have cash with you at all times.

Appliances

The voltage in Japan is 110 volts. For the plugs of electrical appliances, adapters are needed thatcan be purchased at the airport for 400-500 yen. A 4 * hotel cannot always providetourists with adapters.

Medicine, insurance

Japanese medicines are not always suitable for people of other nations, and therefore it is better not to rely on local miracle medicines, to bring your usual medicines with you.

Cosmetics - especially expensive lines - are different in Japan than in Europe and the United States. There are no European lines, but there are their own, which differ in biochemical composition. Therefore, it is better to take the minimum necessary cosmetics with you.

Tourists usually buy health insurance in their home country before leaving. Therefore, their hopes that in the event of an insured event everything will be free are in vain. When you get sick, the first thing to do is call your insurance company and find out which hospital in Tokyo or another city you can go to for help. At the hospital, you will have to pay in cash, take a check, and then return the money back to your home country. In a simple case, an appointment with a doctor and medication will "pull" at least about 30,000 yen.

The insurance does not apply to appointments with a dentist, gynecologist, most of surgical operations, with the exception of injury in an accident.

To see a doctor, you will most likely need an interpreter, for whose services it is also necessary to provide funds in the travel budget.

About using health insurance abroad - we recommend reading:

The sizes of clothes and especially shoes in Japan are small, gravel paths lead to the temples, so you need to take comfortable hiking shoes, a light windproof jacket, and sunglasses from the sun. It is not easy to buy anything in Japan at your size ....

Tips

Tipping is not customary in Japan. But the Japanese do a lot on their own, do not rely on the help of the service personnel. Nobody expects that the bus driver will carry and load his things into the trunk of the bus. If the driver does so, he usually counts on a 100-200 yen tip from each passenger. If you want the guide to book a table for dinner, write the name of the store for the taxi driver in Japanese, advise and mark pharmacies, shops after work, provide other assistance, then it would be right to offer the guide a tip of about 1-2 thousand yen.

If you have been provided with an additional or personal service in a restaurant or hotel, then no one will consider it offensive to receive a tip, with the help of which the client expresses his gratitude.

Losses on the street are handled by the police, losses in the hotel are handled by the client himself, since the hotel is not responsible for the safety of things. At the same time, things left at the hotel usually go to the Lost and Found office of the hotel and are not lost.

The transport company sends the things left on the bus by mail to the hotel at the expense of the client.

Help - Japan Help Line (around the clock, English): 0120-461-997

Emergency communication:

Fire brigade, ambulance -119

Police -110

Called for free. When calling from a street phone, press the red button before dialing the number.

Planning to travel to Japan in 2020? Great choice! In this review, we will tell you all about the seasons, weather and where is the best to go and what to see in a given month. We will also find out where the best beach vacation is and what advice tourists give.

Japan is a world of sophisticated exoticism. Jewelry combination of tradition and modernity. A place of harmony of spirit and body. You can pick up many more epithets, but you can understand their meaning only by visiting the Land of the Rising Sun.

Where to find cheap tickets? This is most conveniently done using search engines and Skyscanner. To find best price, check in both and see tickets for different dates. Read also the instructions,. The cost of tickets is approximately the following: a round-trip flight to Tokyo or Osaka from Moscow and St. Petersburg can be from 25-30 thousand rubles, from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Khabarovsk - from 15-20 thousand. For the list of cities in Russia for which the cheapest tickets to Japan are found, see.

When is the best time to go on vacation to Japan?

Spring

First of all it is hanami, the Japanese national tradition of flower viewing. Nature begins its performance with the flowering of the Japanese ume plum from late December to late March. However, the main event of the hanami is the sakura blossom. Thanks to the climate, this magical sight can last more than three months (from late February to late May). There are times when, for example, on the island of Okinawa, sakura begins to bloom in January. A wave of Japanese cherry blossoms has been sweeping across the country since south island Kyushu and ends its turn in northern Tohoku.

Flowering lasts only 8-10 days, so there are two options: either follow the "wave" across the country, or seize the moment. In addition, other beautiful flowers begin to bloom from May: azalea, shiba-zakura and wisteria.

Thousands of tourists from all over the world come to see the khans. However, the real excitement in the country is from April 29 to May 6. At this time, a series of official holidays: Planting Day, Constitution Day, Greenery Day and Children's Day. The period of the celebrations is collectively called the "Golden Week". It entails traffic jams and queues, as well as difficulties with hotel reservations. In addition, the prices for vacations in Japan at this time rise sharply. We advise you to take this into account when planning your trip.

It is also worth mentioning that traditional festivals begin in mid-May, including Kanda Matsuri and Sanja Matsuri in Tokyo, as well as Aoi Matsuri in Kyoto.

(Photo © SteFou! / Flickr.com / CC BY 2.0 license)

Summer

The beginning of summer is not the best time for holidays in Japan. The so-called tsuyu(rainy season) and lasts until mid-July. Summer in the country is very hot, the air temperature is between + 34 ... + 38 ° С, and the humidity can exceed 90%.

Nevertheless, only in summer you can conquer one of the main attractions of Japan - Mount Fuji, located on the island of Honshu. Officially climbing Mount Fuji is allowed only from July 1 to August 27. With the end of the season, you will not find the accompanying professionals and rescue services to ensure safety in the summer.

Summer in Japan is the season of festivities and grand fireworks. If you want to see one of the festivals, then we advise you to plan the route in accordance with the country's holiday calendar. View the calendar of festivals by major tourist cities... There is also another calendar. Both sites are in English.

In mid-August, the Japanese celebrate smell... It is believed that at this time the souls of the dead descend to earth. Locals visit the graves of their ancestors and pay tribute to the memory. People disperse to their homes to see their relatives. Moreover, in August in children school break, so there may be problems with hotel reservations and ticket purchases.

Autumn

Judging by the weather, September is not the best way holidays in Japan in 2020. The heat has not subsided yet, the humidity too. In addition, at this time, the country is especially prone to typhoons, which are characterized by strong gusts of wind and heavy rains.

By the end of September weather soften, the number of tourists decreases and begins, in our opinion, the most favorable time to travel to Japan.

October and November is the time of the traditional momiji, it is also called the season of red maples. As sakura once covered Japan from south to north, so now in reverse direction(from north to south) red and yellow waves of autumn leaves color the country. The best place to observe Momiji is in Kyoto. Travelers are also advised to enjoy Japanese autumn in Tokyo, Okayama and Hiroshima.

In reviews of their holidays in Japan, tourists celebrate the October festivals. One of the most representative holidays - jidai matsuri, a festival of eras dedicated to the history of the country. You can visit it on October 22 in Kyoto.

(Photo © Freedom II Andres / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0 License)

Winter

Going on vacation to Japan in winter is perhaps the most interesting of all from mid-December, when the country is immersed in the New Year's atmosphere. However, it should be borne in mind that the Japanese themselves at this time are constantly traveling to their hometowns and traveling. We advise you to book accommodation in advance and plan your itineraries as carefully as possible, as prices for vacations in Japan increase during this period.

Japanese landscapes get dull in January and February, so to see the snowy beauty, we advise you to stick to the northern regions. Feel all the delights of the famous Japanese hot springs onsen advise near Mount Fuji. A combination of natural hot tub, Japanese winter and view snowy peaks legendary volcano is perhaps the best atmosphere in which to appreciate an onsen.

When traveling Japan in winter, be sure to visit the world famous Snow festival in Sapporo, which is held annually in early February and lasts 7 days.

Where to stay in Japan? Living in the country is not cheap. We advise you to search for hotels on the search engine Roomguru, it will select the most profitable options among many booking systems. For example, in Tokyo, a night in a hostel with excellent reviews costs from $ 26, but rooms in decent hotels in Tokyo are much more expensive - for example, the price for staying in double room at the hotel starts from $ 95.

Beach holidays in Japan

The Japanese themselves are not the biggest fans of seaside vacations, since the traditional fashion for pale skin in the Land of the Rising Sun has survived to this day. Nevertheless beach resorts is found on almost every island in the country, and tourists can sunbathe on the coast while touring the country.

Choosing a beach destination in Japan depends on your needs and hobbies. For fans of surfing, the Kamakura resort is more suitable. However, most popular with amateurs active rest enjoys the archipelago on the water Ryukyu and his large island Okinawa. The sea is always warm here, and the minimum water temperature here is + 20 ° C. The colorful coral reefs attract divers from all over the world. Also on the islands Kerama located near Okinawa, tourists can take advantage of the exceptional opportunity to watch whales.

In reviews of beach vacation in Japan with children, tourists advise the city Miyazaki on the island of Kyushu. In addition to luxurious beaches, there is a famous water park "Ocean Dome", which can accommodate more than 10 thousand people.

Truly unique place for a vacation in Japan by the sea is considered a city Shirahama that on the island of Honshu. Snow-white quartz sand was brought to its coast from Australia. The resort's well-maintained beaches, hot springs and modern hotels beckon both tourists and locals.

The name of the city of Ibusuki (Kyushu Island) translates as "a city on the hot earth." Thermal waters here they come so close to the surface of the earth that the temperature sea ​​water can reach + 40 ° C. Not surprisingly, the city is called Japanese Hawaii.

There is such a saying: "The patient is bitter and honey." So that the rest is not spoiled by ailments, we advise you to collect the right one.

(Photo © Shinichi Higashi / flickr.com / License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

When planning a vacation in Japan in 2020, you should understand that the concept of a low season in the country practically does not exist. Each season here has its own uniqueness. In addition, domestic tourism in the country is developed just as well as external. Locals move around the country en masse during national holidays, so this period is characterized by difficulties with booking accommodation, problems with buying transport tickets and widespread long lines. Also during the holidays there is an increase in prices for vacations in Japan.

Japan is a very law abiding country and the crime rate is extremely low. Nevertheless, one should not forget about elementary precautions, and even more so to become a source of violation of law and order (as our compatriots sometimes like to do in popular resorts). Not everyone is fluent in English in Japan, so it is best to seek help from the police in case of anything. In addition, for the convenience of foreigners, metro inscriptions and road signs are duplicated in Latin letters.

It is important for tourists going on vacation to Japan to know a couple more things that are considered the norm in some countries (even an unspoken obligation), but here they will be perceived as an insult:

1. In Japan, it is not customary to leave a tip, the usual 5-15% incentive is already included in the price of a product or service.
2. In the country, they are not traded either in shops or in markets.
3. In addition, I would like to give a little advice on shaking hands. The Japanese pay great attention to issues of personal space and restraint of behavior. Do not be the first to reach out for a handshake, as this type of European greeting may not correspond to the values ​​of every local.

Those who like to bring something "from overseas, ocean" should take into account that souvenirs and delicacies can be produced exclusively in one or another region of the country. For this reason, we advise you not to postpone the purchase of what you like. In reviews of their holidays in Japan, tourists are advised to purchase jewelry and bijouterie. Although the prices for them do not differ from European ones, the quality and design are the highest level... If Japan can attract girls with natural cosmetics based on pearls and algae, then men will certainly not be left indifferent by ultramodern and computer games.

(Photo © Moyan Brenn / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0 License)

Introductory Image Source: © risaikeda / flickr.com / CC BY-NC 2.0 License