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Having lived in Japan for over a decade, Tokyo-based journey author Kim Kahan reveals her skilled suggestions and recommendation – whether or not going solo or on a small-group tour.
The primary time I arrived in Japan, as a girl in my early 20s, was in 2017. I used to be spat out into Tokyo’s Narita Airport – simply me, my rucksack, and I – frantically looking for a recognisable trainline amongst a swirl of Japanese script. Fortunately, an area passer-by confirmed me the best way, asking my vacation spot and pointing me in the direction of the fitting ticket machine and corresponding prepare.
I’ve by no means forgotten it. As I’ve moved by means of my 20s and clocked up a decade of dwelling in Japan, I’ve tried to cross this small act of kindness on. Be that to mates who’re planning journeys a yr prematurely, others simply passing by means of in want of a pleasant face or strangers in prepare stations – and sure, you studying this text.
Right here, you’ll discover my important suggestions and methods – a very powerful issues to know earlier than travelling to Japan. From the very best issues to pack, the place to go when and (in fact) the way to navigate the trains; I hope that it bestows you with the arrogance of a shinkansen professional as you progress seamlessly by means of Japan in your subsequent journey.
1. Plan smarter, not tougher – however be versatile
A few of Japan’s most enjoyable and/or widespread experiences require advance reservations, be that taiko drumming workshops, tickets to Ghibli Museum or TeamLab exhibitions. And no, that doesn’t imply the day earlier than. Clearly, you may take the time to do that your self, by doing intensive analysis and navigating native web sites. Or – *time-saver alert* – you may ebook a small-group tour and let an area chief deal with all of the trav-min for you.
Likewise, if there’s a specific restaurant or cafe that you simply’d like to go to, test its newest opening occasions. This may increasingly imply through social media or by giving them a name. Many eating places in touristy areas are likely to have seasonal opening hours and family-run outlets could shut when it’s grandma’s birthday.
That stated, somewhat than planning day by day all the way down to a T, it’s additionally necessary to have some flexibility. You need to have the ability to keep out all night time karaoke-ing with strangers-turned-friends, with out worrying about lacking your 5:45 am hike the subsequent day. And belief me, should you’re on a tour for folks of their 20s and 30s, you’ll wish to get a number of late-night karaoke rounds in.
2. Pack necessities, and go away some house
What ought to I pack for Japan? That’s usually high of traveller’s minds earlier than they go away. However belief me – much less is extra, so go away room in your suitcase. I’ve seen mates purchase new suitcases once they run out of room to take dwelling all of the souvenirs they’ve snagged. Simply consider the KitKats…
What’s extra, on most trains and in some cosy homestays and cheaper resorts, house for baggage is commonly restricted, so there’s a sensible purpose for taking a compact backpack or soft-shell case that can assist you navigate these transport and hospitality hubs with ease. You need to use a luggage-forwarding service to ship your larger objects onto your subsequent vacation spot.
One other important – you’ll want money, in addition to a card. Many institutions in larger cities like Tokyo and Kyoto will take playing cards, and you might even come throughout some which might be cashless. But in addition be aware that hidden-away spots corresponding to that backstreet soba-noodle stand or Shinto shrine prayer providing you’re trying to make are typically cash-only.
Yet another important merchandise: the IC journey app or card, which you’ll decide up at a serious prepare station. It covers not simply trains, subways and buses, but additionally features as a digital pockets, which can be utilized at comfort shops, helpful prepare station baggage lockers or merchandising machines (whats up, scorching corn soup). They’re primarily a one-stop-shop for journey across the main cities. When you’re travelling from the airport, it helps to have this app pre-loaded onto your cellphone to make transport smoother. In smaller, rural cities, you might not be capable to use your IC app, so – once more, in these situations – ensure you deliver money for transport tickets.
3. Get the pacing proper
By far the largest query I get is ‘how lengthy ought to I spend in X place?’ It’s unimaginable to depend the quantity of occasions that mates have despatched over itineraries with 5 days in Tokyo, 5 days in Osaka and one other 5 in Kyoto. However except they’re right here for a number of months, know folks or plan to journey exterior the principle cities on excursions, I virtually at all times inform them to scale back the period of time in Kyoto and Osaka, and discover different locations in Japan.
Sure, everybody needs to see the Golden Route hubs, however the principle Kyoto and Osaka areas are fairly small, and shut to 1 one other – about half-hour away by prepare. You’ll be able to see loads of sights in every metropolis in two or three days.
When you’re travelling to Japan for the primary time, I’d recommend spending three weeks in whole – possibly travelling solo and doing a little independently, maybe on the finish whenever you really feel extra assured, but additionally lining up a highlights-based group tour and even simply commitment-free day journeys so you may journey and make new mates amid the protection and safety of an expert-led pack.
4. Take pleasure in nature all year long
Relating to when to go to Japan: throughout my years as a Japan-based journey author, probably the most in-demand query is normally ‘When’s the very best time to see cherry blossoms?’.
After all, you may take a look at the Japan Cherry Blossom Forecast, which covers the official sakura prediction for every year. Technically, it’s right, and factors to the very best time to run to a park to picnic below the blooms in true hanami model. However this forecast is, in fact, at all times topic to seasonal change. I’ll always remember the yr they bloomed late and other people had been as an alternative desperately looking out: ‘What to do when there are not any cherry blossoms.’
That is to say, don’t rely completely on the cherry blossoms. Different features of Japan’s pure world are simply as lovely and ephemeral: magnolias and plum blossoms in early Feb-March, wisterias mid-April-Might, momiji (maple) season for beautiful autumn leaves from October to November. Whichever you select, you’ll discover magnificence all year long.
5. Profit from the tradition
Talking of nature’s affect, there are a large number of distinctive cultural experiences in Japan – one among which is consuming particular wagashi, conventional Japanese sweets which might be formed in response to seasons.
However within the nation that virtually invented the quirky cultural expertise, the record of issues you are able to do is countless. From experiences you’ve lengthy dreamt of to ones you could possibly by no means think about: there are conventional tea ceremonies to faucet into, Shinto shrines to go to (even shrine-to-shrine pilgrimages), sumo matches to attend, geisha dinners and the very best sushi to strive – I say this at the same time as a vegetarian. There are robotic cafes to swing by and high-speed trains to whizz across the nation on; you may meet feminine sake brewers in Hagi and rub shoulders with bowing deer in Nara.
There are myriad generic ‘greatest issues to see in Japan’ articles however keep in mind your personal private preferences – should you’re an enormous historical past buff, you would possibly wish to go to a shrine day by day, but when not, possibly one or two all through the journey will do. For busier shrines like Kyoto’s Kinkaku-ji, head there early within the morning to beat the crowds.
6. Navigate transport fastidiously
Regardless that travelling round Japan is mostly protected, it may be a tad complicated. The infrastructure is roofed by a number of massive non-public corporations, in addition to the occasional town-specific one, which takes away consistency.
Ensure you do your analysis – which trains to get, the place to purchase bullet-train tickets, how usually the buses run – earlier than you come. Tokyo’s multiple-train-company system, particularly, could be mind-boggling, although every line is at the very least fortunately colour-coded.
It’s, in fact, completely potential to do it as a solo traveller. Nevertheless, should you’re on a gaggle journey, you may go away all of it to the chief who’ll deal with the ticketing and navigation for you, leaving you to deal with which ekiben (prepare bento field) you’re going to snag for the journey.
7. Be a accountable vacationer
One other query that I’m requested often is the way to navigate the nation’s cultural customs and behave respectfully in public locations in Japan. In response, I level out that merely asking the query is a good begin. Simply observe folks round you – and be thoughtful. If everybody else on the subway is being quiet, and nobody is consuming, try this. Likewise, on the bullet prepare, they’ll be promoting lunch packing containers, which is a fairly strong indicator that consuming is okay.
When you’re on a tour, you’ll have an area information to seek the advice of who’ll be capable to provide the greatest etiquette recommendation on your scenario – whether or not you’re a feminine travelling solo or household group.
Journey by means of Japan like a professional by reserving a small-group journey or curated excursions.
