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Japan is a country with countless unique cultural and culinary features, breathtaking cherry blossoms, distinctive architecture, and delicious food. While deeply rooted in tradition, Japan also impresses tourists with its cutting-edge technology.
When is the best time to visit Japan?
As a country blessed with breathtaking natural beauty stretching across its land, Japan is a great place to visit at any time of year. However, April remains the busiest month for tourists due to the peak cherry blossom season. If you want to travel on the most affordable airfare, you should book your tickets at least two months in advance.
As a country blessed with abundant natural beauty stretching across its land, Japan is a great place to visit at any time of year.
There are many different airline and flight options to Japan to choose from. If you choose flights with a layover in China, opt for those with only one stopover to avoid the additional cost of a Chinese visa – approximately $120 USD.
Tips for booking accommodation in Japan
Booking a hotel when traveling in Japan isn't difficult, but it's not too easy either, especially for those unfamiliar with the locations of tourist attractions. The simplest way to book your desired hotel room is to search online using websites that support searches by tourist destination.
In Japan, box-style hotels are suitable for solo travelers, typically costing between 1,200,000 and 1,400,000 VND. However, you will have to share common areas such as bathrooms and toilets. Three-star and five-star hotels are more expensive because they are usually located in convenient locations near tourist attractions and train/bus stations, and often offer better service and free breakfast. Similar to airline tickets, booking your hotel early can save you a significant amount of money and help you avoid the situation of rooms being fully booked.
In Japan, matchbox-style hotels are ideal for solo travelers.
However, if you have the opportunity, try experiencing a traditional inn, also known as a ryokan (inn), which is steeped in tradition with mattresses on the floor and rooms separated by walls—a very distinctive feature of Japanese culture.
However, if you have the opportunity, you should try experiencing a traditional inn, also known as a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn).
Currency exchange when traveling in Japan
Typically, Japan only accepts its own currency, so it can be inconvenient for tourists who don't have Japanese Yen readily available for transactions. Since Japanese Yen is also a very common foreign currency in Vietnam, you can obtain it at local banks.
Additionally, airports in Japan have very convenient and user-friendly automatic currency exchange machines. When exchanging Japanese Yen, you should exchange all denominations, including coins. Japanese people tend to use all denominations in daily transactions, and even coins are very common when buying goods or using public transportation.
When exchanging Japanese Yen, you should exchange all denominations, including coins.
Transportation options in Japan
The majority of Japanese people use public transportation to get around.
- Subway
The subway is one of the most popular modes of transportation in Japan because it's convenient, punctual, and very affordable. If you're visiting Tokyo or Osaka, you can easily travel around the city for about 600 yen. And don't forget to download a subway app to keep track of train schedules and routes.
- High-speed train
Trains operate similarly to subways, but they can travel much longer distances. You can even travel from Tokyo to Osaka by train for around 13,000 yen.
High-speed trains and subways are among the most popular modes of transportation in Japan because they are convenient, punctual, and very affordable.
- Bus
Buses are the cheapest form of public transportation in Japan, costing only 130-150 yen per day. Furthermore, the Japanese bus system allows tourists to travel to various cities at long-distance fares ranging from 3000-5000 yen.
- Taxi
Taxis are the most expensive mode of transportation in Japan, with quite high fares per trip. Therefore, you should only use a taxi as a last resort. In large cities like Tokyo, the price will range from 600-700 yen for the first 2 kilometers and 300 yen for each subsequent kilometer.
The JR Pass is a product specifically designed for tourists, allowing you unlimited use of public transportation over a wide area for a specified period – this could be the entire country of Japan or a particular prefecture or region, depending on the type of JR Pass you choose. Owning a JR Pass will help you save a lot on transportation costs.
The JR Pass is a product designed specifically for tourists, allowing you to freely use public transportation over a wide area.
Experience sustainable tourism when visiting Japan.
As a country rich in natural resources, culture, traditions, and people, Japan has always developed tourism in conjunction with the goal of protecting the natural environment and traditional culture. You can experience this tourism trend anywhere in Japan.
- Immerse yourself in the charm of old Japan in the ancient village of Miyama, formerly the capital of Kyoto.
Miyama is a small town located about two hours by train and bus from Kyoto Station. It retains the pristine beauty of Japanese scenery, with charming thatched-roof houses nestled amidst lush nature. With 96% of Miyama covered in forest, you'll be able to breathe in the fresh, invigorating air when you visit.
You can choose to spend the night in the village in various ways, such as in thatched-roof houses, homestays, or ryokans (traditional Japanese inns), and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the village in the early morning mist, as well as experience local cultural activities such as the harvest festival parade and the rice planting festival.
Since 96% of Miyama town is covered in forest, you'll be able to breathe in the fresh, invigorating air when you visit.
- Enjoy green tea at Obuchi Sasaba Tea Farm in Shizuoka Prefecture.
From Tokyo Station, it only takes about an hour by Shinkansen to reach Shin-Fuji Station in Shizuoka Prefecture – a region with fertile lands and a tea-growing history spanning nearly 1,000 years. Obuchi Sasaba is a famous tea plantation located at the southern foot of Mount Fuji in Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Surrounded by tranquil forests, it is one of the few places where visitors can enjoy stunning views of Mount Fuji and the tea hills without being obstructed by modern buildings or power lines.
The Obuchi Sasaba Tea Festival, held annually in May, attracts approximately 3,500 visitors. Female students from local junior and senior high schools dress up as tea pickers in traditional attire to kick off the festival. The tea leaves are transported to a nearby tea factory to be processed into fragrant and flavorful green and black teas. A portion of the revenue from the tea products is used for the preservation of the Obuchi Sasaba landscape.
The Obuchi Sasaba Tea Festival, held annually in May, attracts approximately 3,500 visitors.
- Explore Shinto culture at the ancient Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is a Shinto shrine with a history of over 800 years located in Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture. During the Kamakura Shogunate, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine was the starting point for the rich history and culture of the Kamakura region, a spiritual sanctuary for the people, and the home of the patron deity of Kamakura and the samurai.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is a Shinto shrine with a history of over 800 years located in Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
- Visit the Shibori dyeing area - Arimatsu town, Nagoya city.
Despite being located in the bustling city of Nagoya, the town of Arimatsu still retains many traces of Edo-era culture and history. The town has been recognized as a Japanese Heritage Site, with traditional buildings featuring tiled roofs and mushikomado windows that shape the town's landscape and continue the story of its past prosperity.
The Arimatsu-Narumi Shibori dyeing technique has been passed down from generation to generation as a traditional craft. The artisans use various methods to tightly press the fabric, then dye it and remove any loose threads to complete the desired product. Making a single roll of fabric can sometimes take 3-4 days of work.
The Arimatsu-Narumi Shibori dyeing technique has been passed down from generation to generation as a traditional craft.
The Arimatsu Shibori Festival, held annually in June, is an opportunity for visitors to learn Arimatsu Shibori dyeing techniques and participate in handkerchief dyeing classes.
Note:
- Rent a portable Wi-Fi device or 3G SIM card at the airport for about 200,000 VND/4-5 days. Public Wi-Fi is very rare in Japan.
- Always carry a power bank because there are no power outlets on the streets or in restaurants in Japan.
Finding trash cans in Japan can be quite difficult, so be sure to bring your own bags to collect your personal waste. You can dispose of it when you return to your hotel.
- On average, you'll walk about 5-10 km each day, so remember to bring your running shoes.
- If your purchase exceeds 5000 yen, you will be exempt from tax. Therefore, always bring your passport and inform the cashier when paying.
