The land of the traveling sun, the Samurai, delicious sushi, sake, and the famous sumo wrestlers. Everyone in the world seems to know something about Japan but as soon as you land, it is as if you are on another planet. Prepare for a journey you will never forget in a multifaceted country where modern cities are interspersed with quiet, traditional villages! Where centuries-old traditions persist but where technology is of paramount importance. In addition, the friendly and open population will make your trip through Japan one to remember!
You can see and do everything there. Travel on a high-speed train (which always runs right on time) from north to south to get off in between to see farmers at work in their rice fields. One day you can play games in a state-of-the-art arcade while the other day you lie in a hot spring and look at the Sakura blossoms or watch the snow fall. The country is unprecedentedly versatile.
Want to know what the best time is to travel to Japan? How to prepare for your visa or which vaccinations you need? Read our articles below to find out everything you need to know about your trip to Japan.
Japan, the land of the rising sun, Samurai, delicious sushi, sake, and the famous sumo wrestlers. Everyone in the world seems to know something about this country. But as soon as you land, it is as if you are on another planet. Prepare for a journey you’ll never forget in a multifaceted country where modern
Japan, the land of the rising sun, Samurai, delicious sushi, sake, and the famous sumo wrestlers. Everyone in the world seems to know something about this country. But as soon as you land, it is as if you are on another planet. Prepare for a journey you’ll never forget in a versatile country where
In addition to checking out if you need any vaccinations, it is important to arrange your visa for Japan. Fortunately, this is very easy for Japan. If you come for a holiday or a tour and stay in the country for no longer than 90 days, you can (usually) enter the country without a visa.
Japan is a huge country which means it’s a good idea to prepare ahead of time for their many different transportation options. Japanese are disciplined, that is reflected everywhere in their daily life and, therefore, also in their transport. On an annual basis, the train has an average delay of 36 seconds, including delays due
A trip to Asia, in this case, Japan, is in many ways incomparable to a trip in Europe or other parts of the world. The culture, the people, the nature, the faith, everything about Japan is different from other countries. Proper preparation for your vacation is important to prevent unpleasant surprises. One of them is
One of the nicest things about traveling through Japan is the food. Japanese value food and how it is presented. They also say that the Chinese eat with their tongue and the Japanese with their eyes. The food in Japan is a bit more expensive, especially in restaurants. You pay more for the more famous
Japan is more expensive than other Asian countries. It is a modern country that can be compared to Europe and the United States. Until a few years ago, Japan was only suitable for people with a larger budget. However, this is not always the case anymore. A plane ticket to Japan will be the largest
Japan, the land of the traveling sun, the Samurai, the delicious sushi, sake and the famous sumo wrestlers. Everyone in the world seems to know something about this country. But as soon as you land, it is as if you are on another planet. Prepare for a journey you’ll never forget in a multifaceted country
Whether you are walking in Tokyo, visiting the temples of Kyoto or want to see one of the beautiful rice fields, it is useful to know in advance what the weather conditions are like in Japan. Good preparation makes your trip (even) more enjoyable and the weather in Japan is certainly one of them. A
When you think of Japan, you probably think of the beautiful cherry blossoms, the world-famous Samurai, the delicious sushi or the land of the rising sun. You visit ancient temples here where locals make sacrifices to the gods or enjoy the beautiful nature around Mount Fuji. Japan has something for everyone. Many travelers explore this
When you think about camping you usually think of touring around your own or neighboring countries. Who used to drive with his parents in a camper or with a caravan on those dreadful holidays with a huge amount of traffic in the morning? When camping, you don’t immediately think of Japan. Yet it is indeed
The country has so much to offer and is so different from other countries in Asia that it is a shame not to visit it! Nature in Japan is overwhelmingly beautiful. You can climb mountains in the Japanese Alps or go scuba diving at Okinawa. In addition, the beautiful country has a unique culture. From the geishas in Kyoto to the traditional temples in Tokyo. Japan can captivate even the most uninterested traveler.
If you want to rent a car don’t forget to apply for an International Driving Permit (IDP)
Traveling through Japan is an experience that you will not soon forget. The country has a beautiful nature with beautiful rice fields, rivers, mountains, and beaches. In addition, it offers a wealth of culture through the rich history of the country. Read our articles on all the highlights of Japan below!
Tickets for the Olympics are sold through the official Tokyo 2021 website, through the NOC * NSF, and through their designated ticket offices. In most countries, the single tickets were sold out in no time. Because only a limited number of tickets were made available and the demand is high, an attempt is still being
The town of Takayama is wedged between snowy mountain peaks in the heart of the Japanese Alps. A place where you travel back in time thanks to the ancient center, which consists of narrow streets with historic wooden merchant houses, sake breweries, and tea houses. The street scene has changed little here over the centuries
Like nearby Gokayama, Shirakawa-go has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. The village is known for its traditional farmhouses in characteristic gassho-zukuri architectural style. Some of these houses are more than 250 years old. Gassho-zukuri, incidentally, means “built as hands in prayer.” The sloping roofs, therefore, resemble the pressed hands of praying monks.
You’ve planned out your trip to Japan but there’s one thing left. You are not sure whether to purchase a Japan Rail Pass. It’s a dilemma most travelers face, including me. This can cause stress and unrest, something you don’t want. To help you out, I wrote this guide for you. I will
Our reason for visiting Matsumoto was mainly because of Kamikochi, a mountainous nature reserve located about 50 kilometers from the city and a paradise for hikers. Still, we have to say that Matsumoto pleasantly surprised us. It is pleasant and the location between the mountains is beautiful. Furthermore, it is a perfect destination to
The iconic Mount Fuji can be seen from many places in Japan. One of those places is Fuji City, an important industrial city located in Shizuoka prefecture. If you walk there in the center and you look in front of you through one of the long streets, the huge volcano is visible. Together with Fujinomiya,
Japan is famous for being expensive, especially Tokyo. That does not mean that you cannot get great value for your money. I don’t have an unlimited amount of money, and neither do you. What we probably have in common is that we both want to get the most out of our journey. We want to
The Olympic Games in 2021 will be held in 42 different stadiums. Are you going to the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo to see your favorite sport and to encourage your country? Then it is useful to know in which stadium you should be. View the locations of the stadiums and hotels in the area, below.
The Tokyo food scene is unlike anything you’ve seen before. The moment you travel to Tokyo you will experience a totally different culinary world. A vacation in Tokyo means getting acquainted with new dishes, new drinks and sometimes totally different eating habits than you do at home. The journey of discovery through strange kitchens is
If you choose a destination for a day trip from Tokyo, it must be the pilgrim city of Nikko. Here you will find the famous Tōshō-gū shrine which lies between the mountains. This city and, in particular, the Tōshō-gū, is one of the most popular sights in the country. It attracts thousands of Japanese every
Miyajima is an island near Hiroshima and is best known for the iconic torii gate that can be found there. At high tide, it even seems as if this torii floats on the water, which makes for a surreal look. If you read about Miyajima, you would think that viewing this torii is the only
Himeji is a small city between Osaka and Okayama and houses the most beautiful and impressive castle in Japan; the Himeji Castle. The castle is a huge and spectacular building from the 14th century and is also called “Hakurojō” or “Shirasagijō” which means White Heron Castle. This is due to the white walls. It is
The Horyu-ji temple was built in 607 by order of Prince Shotoku, considered by many to be a saint of Japanese Buddhism. The temple is a real shrine in Japan; not only because it is the oldest temple in the country, but also because it serves as a storehouse for some of the country’s rarest
Damage and restorations Since September 20, 2018, trains have been running to Koyasan again after the typhoon damaged it in early September. Although the trains and the cable car are active again, there is damage. Also, keep in mind that the carts of the cable car are planned to be replaced this winter. As a
Nara was one of the very first capitals of Japan. Just like Kyoto, your first thought when you see this city will not immediately go to the heyday of the empire. Yet the city is one of the best sights in Japan. It has lots of interesting historic buildings! In Nara, you will find beautiful
The island of Shikoku has a laid-back atmosphere, friendly people and beautiful beaches. It is the fourth island of Japan and, oddly enough, a lot of travelers skip this island. A shame because with the beautiful Iya Valley, the impressive coastline, flowing rivers, mountain ranges, and a culture that you won’t find anywhere else, Shikoku
Magome is an ancient postal town in the Kiso Valley. During the Edo period, it was an important route that connected Tokyo with Kyoto. The city has been beautifully restored with a wide street, old wooden houses, and picturesque water wheels on both sides. The nearby Tsumago is also a very authentic town. The two
Located in the Japanese Alps, Kamikochi is a paradise for hikers and nature lovers. The landscape consists of a valley with all kinds of forests, picturesque lakes, mountains whose tops are covered with ice, and various suspension bridges. A clear river flows through it. At times we were emotionally back in New Zealand. This
It is August 6, 1945, when a drama of unprecedented magnitude takes place in Japan. At 8.15 a.m., the Americans drop a 4.5-ton nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, to put an end to World War II. Almost immediately this killed ~80,000 people. Due to the disappearance of all communication lines from Hiroshima, this tragedy was not
Are you fed up with the hustle and bustle in the ultra-modern cities? Then Okinawa is the place to unwind. Japan is not very famous for its tropical islands. For a beach holiday, people are more likely to go to Indonesia, Thailand or Malaysia. Yet you don’t have to leave Japan if you want to
Mount Fuji is the most photographed highlight of Japan. This volcano is located on the island of Honshu and is the highest point in Japan at 3,776 meters. Mount Fuji is, fortunately, a dormant volcano. The chance of eruption is therefore very small during your visit! On this page we will tell you the
Kyoto Coronavirus Update (Travel Advice) Kyoto, which is typically flooded with tourists throughout the year, has seen such a dramatic drop in the number of overseas tourists that they’ve announced an “empty tourism” campaign. The campaign basically encourages sightseers to come and enjoy the city while it’s still rarely empty. It’s a great time to
The best sandy beaches in the country, waterfalls, mountains and subtropical jungles in the interior regions, and beautiful clear water. The Yaeyama Islands offer the best snorkeling and scuba diving locations in Japan. In addition, it has one of the last intact jungles. It is no wonder that people from all over Japan come here
About 1,000 kilometers from Japan, but still within the national borders, are the Ogasawara Islands, also called the Bonin Islands. It is a paradise for nature lovers with pristine beaches surrounded by tropical waters and coral. Snorkeling, whale watching, swimming with dolphins, and walking along beautiful trails are all possible here. The Ogasawara Islands
Amami Oshima is the second largest island off the coast of Japan excluding Okinawa. It is a beautiful island with a subtropical climate and special flora and fauna. The coastline of Amami Oshima is perhaps the most beautiful. You will find beautiful beaches, rugged cliffs, crystal clear water and a lot of bays and coves.
Shadowed by the unique culture, the ultramodern cities and the delicious food, the beaches of Japan are often forgotten. With 6,852 islands there are enough beaches to be discovered in Japan. With an abundance of beaches, you can have a great beach vacation. Most of the 6,852 islands are still unaffected by tourism. In addition
Many call Tokyo the New York of the East. Why? Because this gigantic metropolis has something to offer every traveler and is always on the move! Just like the capital, Japan is by far the most developed country in terms of infrastructure, technology and social security in Asia. This is clearly reflected in the fantastic
What many people don’t know is that the country consists of no less than 6,852 islands! The largest of these are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Together these islands represent 97% of the total area of Japan. Traveling in Japan is not cheap compared to other countries in Asia.
However, much has been done by the government in recent years. Prices have fallen in popular places and flying has become much cheaper in recent years.
Traveling in Japan is very different from traveling in Thailand or Vietnam. It is a lot further developed but also less touristy. You will travel more by train and metro than with minivans which makes it more challenging (in our opinion). We have a number of tips for you.