We are such beginners. Such ‘tourists’!
There are so many things that we learnt and would do differently. That’s why we thought a beginners guide to Japan and planning would be a perfect way to start our travel posts off.
Japan is a country we had talked about and was at the top of our list of places to visit. It is a place where the first thing that comes to mind is ‘sensory overload’ but is also contrasted with so much history and culture.
So how did it all start?
We got an email. Both Shane and I have signed up to multiple travel agencies and airline companies, which means we get a lot of emails notifying us of sales. And some, some are just tempting enough to get us.
The title of the email ‘Fly over, fly back free!’, it had us. It didn’t matter when the flights were for, we jumped at the opportunity to go to Japan. A place we had not been before, and somewhere we had been wanting to explore.
That’s our first tip for beginner travelers.
Sign up to travel companies and different airlines mailing lists! It is generally free and you get emails notifying you of upcoming sales, special offers, and just general travel information. It is a perfect way to make sure you are saving money and getting a good deal. However, before jumping on the first sale that pops up, shop around. Just because they say it’s a great offer and you are saving money, make sure you do your own research just to confirm.
That’s exactly where we started. The prices sounded great. What was the catch? Reading the fine print, it was a base fair, it did not include luggage allowance or a meal, and it was to Narita Airport, which meant for us leaving from Sydney, there was a stopover at the Gold Coast. The flight from Gold Coast to Narita is just over 9 hours. However, luggage could be added on to the flight and it would still be a good price, we could eat at the airport, take snacks onto the plane and it looked simple enough to get from the airport to Tokyo. It was decided, Shane and I had purchased our tickets to Japan!
Sales come with downsides –
Spur of the moment sales and flights, come with downsides. Typically they are only for certain dates. For us, this meant we were going to Japan in the middle of their Summer, and also over a Japanese public holiday. Being from Australia, both Shane and I are used to the heat so assumed it wouldn’t be too bad. One thing we did not expect was the humidity; definitely something to keep in mind if you are going to Japan in Summer – be prepared to sweat!
We researched and found that during the Obon festival, (the public holiday occurring while we were going to be there), a lot of places closed during this time, and a lot of people returned to their home towns to be with their families. For us, we decided on this day, travel would not be advisable, and maybe just exploring the local area of the town we were in would be a good idea. We ended up taking a trip to Shibuya to check out one of the busiest crossings in the world. As it was a holiday, there was a festival on and the streets were blocked off to traffic. This was an amazing experience and ended up working out in our favour as at any other time we would not have been able to experience this traditional festival.
The different seasons –
Japan’s seasons are opposite to Australia’s, so while it is Summer here, it is Winter in Japan. Each season has it’s own unique characteristics, which makes it a well-rounded place to travel anytime during the year. Spring has the cherry blossoms; a pale pink flower which covers the trees and provides magical sights. Summer is very hot and humid which we learnt! However, it is a great season to go if you are interested in festivals and fireworks as there are a lot during this time. Autumn is the time where the weather cools down and becomes more mild. The landscape changes colour and shows just how beautiful it really can be. Finally Winter; Japan is renowned for it’s Winter and fantastic places to snowboard, ski, and experience snow festivals. It really is such a diverse place and every season has something to offer.
So now that the sale was done and booked, it was time to decide where we wanted to go in Japan and what we wanted to see so we could plan our itinerary.
Why we chose what we chose, and other ideas we considered –
There are so many things to see and do in Japan, you should research. Think about what you want to do, what you want to see and where you want to explore. For us, Japan was an extremely different atmosphere to anything we have ever experienced and was very overwhelming. It really was a sensory overload! If we had gone with no plan or idea with what we wanted to do, we would of missed out on so much, and had no idea how to do a lot of the things we did.
So we researched. We wrote lists, word documents, got a map and studied it. We worked out where we could go, what we could do when we were there, and because we had a basic plan, we could work out how many nights we would stay in each place and where we would travel from that ‘base’ hotel.
Tokyo was decided on first, (being that we flew into Narita Airport late at night, it made sense we would stay here first), then travelling to Osaka, and then returning to Tokyo before flying out of Narita.
There is a downside to planning; missed opportunities.
As much as you can research, there are so many hidden gems that aren’t advertised and you can’t plan for them all. One thing we would recommend is to allow a day or two spare, wherever you are for these things you may not have planned for. When we decided to stay in Osaka, we had planned for a day just to explore around the city. It wasn’t worth it for us. We found it to be a very commercial and business like area with not many attractions or sites.
Kyoto was initially planned to explore in one day. When we arrived there via train, we realized just how amazing it was and how much there was to see and do. There was so much culture and beauty that we decided to return the following day to go back. In doing this, it pushed back our plan to go to Hiroshima to the next day where the Shinkansen tickets were all booked out every way we tried. This meant we missed being able to go to Hiroshima which was a huge disappointment.
So while it is great idea to plan and organise your trip, it is also advisable to allow spare time for things that you may not have considered or realized.
Getting around –
It was time to work out how we would get around while we were there. Every article, travel website, and blog recommended the Japan Rail Pass.
The Japan Rail Pass is a widely used pass that allows a visitor access to local and express trains. The pass also gives you the option of using the Shinkansen (the bullet train – a must!), local buses and more. It is available to anyone who is classed as a ‘visitor’ to Japan and obtains a visitor stamp in their passport on arrival.
Now, it is expensive, a 14 day pass, which is what we purchased, will set you back AUD $565 per person, and you have to order, and wait for it to arrive before leaving to go to Japan as they do not sell them locally. They do also have a 7 day pass, and a 21 day pass, with options to change the class, and smaller passes which just cover certain areas of Japan.
However, we recommend it 100%. It was fantastic! At every train station, there is a manned gate and you walk up, a quick flash of the pass and through you go. We decided to check the price of the trains and the Shinkansen on their own and found with the amount we used it (multiple times a day!), it was definitely money well spent. The Shinkansen on their own are quite expensive, approximately AUD $165 one way from Tokyo to Osaka or Kyoto, so if you are going to be travelling large distances, even just for this you should consider it. We traveled on the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka and back again.
Even though it is a bullet train, it does not feel like you are travelling as fast as you are, and you still get to experience the beauty of the surrounding areas just as you would on any normal train. You get an allocated seat, and there are trolley carts rolled around offering food, free wi-fi, and comfortable chairs that can be extended back. We recommended booking in advance for these, as we said earlier, they can book out quickly. It is quite simple to book, at most major stations there is an information centre/ticket office, where you can book directly and ensure you get a seat.
Wherever you want to go, from a main station, there is generally a express or standard train every few minutes. They are very full and always on time. If they are late for any reason there is notifications advising you. The signs are in Japanese and English. They also typically have a kiosk in English where you can check times and platforms. So if you are like us and barely know any Japanese except ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’, you will be fine!
In Kyoto, we found the best way to get around was by bicycle! Japan are renowned for their use of bicycles and in being so, have made it very user friendly. There are bike stations everywhere, where you can hire bikes, park bikes and more. They are inexpensive, and if you are like me and not so great at cycling, you can even get a electric assisted one. In AUD they only cost around $10-$12 per day. We were given a free bike map of the city and cycled around 30km viewing all different temples and sites.
There is so much culture everywhere in Kyoto that you are constantly riding past something unique and beautiful. Even just the experience of riding the bicycle was one to remember. The feeling of wind running through your hair as you cycle past restaurants and markets, temples and gardens. It was amazing and the highlight of our trip.
Look at a map –
When it came to booking where we were staying, we were a little bit fussy. We like great quality, but at an affordable price. I don’t want to brag, but I have become a little bit of a master at shopping around.
There are a lot of districts in Tokyo, so we decided to start there and work out which district we wanted to stay in.
The districts all known for different things; culture, fashion, food, nightlife and more.
We got out a map. Marked out the train lines and the major stations, marked out where we wanted to go and where would be a perfect base place. That’s when we decided on Shinjuku. Shinjuku is a major hub in Tokyo, a place of lights, colour, sound, food and everything else in between. Shinjuku for us, would be the definition of ‘sensory overload’. It is extremely overwhelming but such an experience. There are constantly lights, and sounds and tempting smells around every turn, no matter the time of day. It is also home to a major red light district. So when you arrive at 10pm at night, make sure you know how to get to your hotel from the train station because…. trust us, it’s very easy to get lost. When you are sleep deprived and have jet lag, it is not a fun experience!
Once we had decided on our first location, we then continued looking at the map and decided on our next base place for a few days – Osaka. This would allow us to be able to do day trips to Kyoto, Hiroshima and more.
As we were flying out of Narita airport, we decided to stay in Tokyo again prior to flying out so as to break up the travel a bit. We stayed in the Shinjuku district again. Looking back now I am not quite sure what prompted us to stay here again, there were so many other districts and places and yet we chose another hotel a few hundred metres from the first one. I actually think it may have been that Shane wanted to stay in the hotel with the fire breathing Godzilla. This is one thing I would change if we were to go back, not stay in the same district twice.
There were so many other interesting places. We explored most of the districts and found that we loved Harajuku. The streets were full of markets and stalls, food and culture. There were owl, cat and hedgehog cafes, and so many different options for food. We should have decided to shake it up a little!
Shopping around for deals –
Now that a base plan was decided on, it was time to pick our hotels. This is my domain. I am a bargain hunter, a sale monger, anything you want to call it!
I researched, read books, studied travel magazines and everything in between. Tokyo is quite expensive to stay and for us, budget was something we were needing to consider. We wanted quality and yet affordability.
Now, I knew my local travel agent provided a ‘price match’ policy so I used that. I found the hotels I wanted for each of the 3 stops, found the best price online on all the hotel sale sites and I took those details to our travel agent. With this, you need proof. I had the websites with up to date prices ready to go, so it was simple. I showed the travel agent my choices, the prices I found, and they lowered theirs to match and we were in.
Be prepared, if you are going to do this, you need to generally be able to pay straight away. As they were price matching, they did not allow us to pay it off. We had also gotten cash out of the bank as opposed to using a debit or credit card as they charge a surcharge. I believe in just doing that we saved around AU $18!
With each of the hotels, we walked out getting the rates at around 50% off the standard. They were all 4 or 5 stars and we got them at a great rate. I was happy. Don’t be afraid to shop around and be savvy if you want to, it definitely helps those on a budget.
The hotels we decided on were Granbell Shinjuku for our first stay. Then the Crowne Plaza Osaka, and finally the Gracery in Shinjuku on our last stop in Tokyo. So many people warned us that the rooms in hotels were very small in Japan; so we were not surprised when we arrived and they were tiny! Nice, but tiny. In all of the hotels we stayed, the staff were extremely accommodating and very friendly. Of these hotels, 2 included breakfast. Please be aware, breakfast is very limited in Japan! We found we had trouble finding anywhere for breakfast as a lot of places don’t open until at least 10am. So it was extremely handy to have a continental breakfast available in the hotel.
If we were to do it again, not only would we not stay in the same district twice, but we would also stay in a Ryokan; this is a traditional Japanese Inn and would have been such a cultural, one of a kind experience. We would not have stayed in Osaka for so long, and stayed in Kyoto instead. There was so much more to see and do. We also would head further out of the main cities to places like Nara.
Pre holiday preparation –
This might sound obvious, however it is definitely not something to skip!
Pre-holiday preparation isn’t just about booking flights and hotels, it’s getting everything prepped to go; airport transfers to and from the hotel to avoid the issues like we had.
Travel plugs; Japan uses the same adapter as the USA so it can easily be found at most electronic stores, or luggage places. We found by just purchasing one and taking a power board, it covered all our needs.
Money is a big one.
There are a lot of ATM’s available in Japan and quite often you can be charged extra to use them. Some fees can be quite steep. Shane and I found taking some cash which had already been changed into the local currency, Yen, was best. Then, when we withdrew from local ATM’s, we took out enough cash to last for a few days so as to lessen the ATM charges.
Travel insurance is a must. Overseas medical costs can be very expensive. The small price to pay for insurance it is worth it if anything were to happen. Our credit cards cover travel insurance, this could also be an option for you to check if you have one.
It’s also about checking the weather, making sure you have the right foot ware, umbrella, jackets and more.
Medication is a big one; make sure you have them all in their correct boxes and packaging and check what is and isn’t allowed into the country (some medications that are allowed here in Australia, and in other countries are prohibited in Japan). The list is too long to check so jump onto this site and read just in case.
And then it is just the little things; making sure you have someone to take care of the house and animals, copying your passports and travel documents and leaving them with someone at home, just in case. Also registering your travel plans with Smart Traveller (An Australian government service that allows you to register where and when you will be going) and keeping updated on local news and issues occurring prior to leaving.
We also decided on a Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card while we were there, to save money on currency conversion and ATM fees. A travel card could be worth the investment as most standard debit and credit cards carry hefty fees for overseas transactions.
If you are staying in Japan as a tourist for less than 90 days, you are not required to obtain a VISA. However if you are going for longer or are going to work, you will need to look into the requirements that is needed.
Depending on where you are travelling in Japan, you may also require vaccinations. It is a good idea to have a chat to your GP regarding this to get the most correct and up to date information.
There are so many things to consider, and this is just the beginning!
I find writing a list helps. Start writing down things a couple of weeks prior to leaving, that way when you think of something on the spot, it’s not too late. I have never forgotten a charger yet!
So that’s our beginners guide to Japan. It is a place where the senses go absolutely wild. It is beautiful, bright, colourful and loud. There is flashing, music and sound constantly. It is such a busy and fun place full of culture and life. When you step outside the city, it is quiet and peaceful. We would change a few things if we were to go back again, however, we would definitely go back in a heartbeat!
