Top Japan hotels
Night Out Tokyo
10 Reviews When visiting Roppongi and Kabukicho, you will more than likely be approached by a never ending procession of people (often African) inviting you to visit this bar, that club, they've got beer, girls,...
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Scams Kyoto
3 Reviews At 650 yen a pop most people bought two or three of these "Johnny Jumpers". Hey, that seems like a bargain to the duped customers handing over the Yen. A couple of thousand Yen and they're already...
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traffic / getting lost Osaka
6 Reviews Umeda Station's underground maze is extremely confusing. It took me a few visits before I could navigate without running in circles. The trick is to follow the signs very carefully, and try to draw a...
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Cash / Money Tokyo
16 Reviews Please carry enough japanese yen with you, as it is very difficult and near to impossible to change money there. The few moneychangers only accept selected currencies. AND the exchange rate is very...
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Street Safety Kyoto
2 Reviews As stated before, Japanese bike riders and pedestrains do get a little close to you when you transerse their sidewalks. What I find is that they are really just trying to second guess where you'll be...
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money Osaka
3 Reviews Japan is expensive- bring enough money! The cheapest accomodation you will likely find will be about \4000 pp as there are not many youth hostels and when there are they are not often close,...
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People to Avoid Tokyo
16 Reviews With very few exceptions, if women use common sense they will be safe in Tokyo. Much safer than any US city. Don't walk down dark alleys alone at night, etc. Use a buddy system if you are drinking. If...
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Traffic / Transportation Tokyo
16 Reviews Are you thinking about renting a car in Japan? Are you going to be able to deal with driving where most of the world considers to be on the wrong side of the road? Do you hate being splashed by...
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Public Peace Tokyo
11 Reviews Tokyo has one of the lowest crime rates of any large city in the world. I have never felt unsafe, even wandering alone at night in some of the seedier sections. In fact, Tokyo is so safe that it is...
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Law / Rule Tokyo
4 Reviews You need to check carefully any over-the-counter medicines which maybe commonly used in the U.S. or other countries, into Japan. Some of these you might not think twice about but they are not all...
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Communication Tokyo
3 Reviews You may be tempted to buy a Japanese T-Shirt because it might look cool to walk around with flashy kanji or hiragana on your body -- you'll look worldy and sophisticated, after all. If you think that,...
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Nature / Weather Tokyo
4 Reviews How exciting Tokyo might be, the biggest metropolis in the world is indeed clean but if you look at what's in the air this does not apply. Admitedly, it is not as bad as in Mexico City or Cairo, but...
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Equipments / Products Tokyo
6 Reviews EVERYTHING in modern Japanese apartments is high tech. You use a keycard to get in, but the real innovation is the bathroom. I had to turn the faucet on by hand but everything else seems to work...
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Local Customs Tokyo
1 Review There is an element of flirting with danger when eating this fish. The fugue fish is highly poisonous and a few people have been known to have died eating it. In Japan, only a few selected...
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Generally a pleasant enough society that is quite considerate of others especially when it comes to noise. One major exception to this is the really loud and annoying vans that drive during the day blasting among other things right wing political messages. These things are an assault on your ears and decency. The only thing you can do at this point is cover your ears and hope they don’t circle the block all day.
For the most part, public transit in Japan is awesome. Not always as cheap as I would like to be, but effective and far reaching. The major problem however is the rather inconvenient time trains, subways and bus stop running, which is usually before midnight, even in Tokyo. Please be very aware of this when going out for the night. You three options will be, walk, take an expensive taxi or wait until 5 in the morning and catch the first train.
Generally speaking, taxis in Japan will not rip you off by driving you in circles and I’ve never heard there being black or illegal taxi. As well, I’ve never even heard of there being a taxi with a fixed meter. Taxi drivers, like most Japanese, are honest to a fault. So, what’s the problem with taxis? Well, its just that are extremely expensive. So expensive that you would think the meters are fixed. Be very weary of using taxis. Even short rides will set you back a good deal. Count on a 20 to 25 minute ride setting you back over 3000 yen.
Every traveler who comes to Japan must be prepared for the occurrence of earthquakes. They happen frequently and it’s just a fact of life here. Knowing what to do might just save your life.1. Very important, stay away from glass. As with hurricanes, wounds resulting from shattered glass are the number one injury.2. Don’t panic. Easier said than done, I know cause I freaked out during my first earthquake. Try to say calm. Remember, most earthquakes last less than a minute.3. don’t use elevators, even after a quake. Air on the side of caution4. Try to get to someplace safe when the quake is happening. Japanese recommend going under a table, but since most are only about 2 feet high, the better place to head is a doorway. The idea is you don’t want debris and such falling off the walls or shelves and hitting you. Besides being a source of secure architecture that doorway means having to...
As with the tip before this, Japanese people tend to act in a way that some Westerns find socially bizarre. One thing that kind of bugs me is the fact that Japanese will stake a place a week before a festival, lay a tarp and think it’s forever theirs. I come from the mind set that if you want to stake a claim to area for an event, which isn’t reserved seating, you have to physically stay there. I.e., first come first serve on the day of the event and if you move your feet than you lose your seat. This however is counter to Japanese thinking. Don’t try to move other people’s tarps when they’re not there. You’ll just be a load of trouble afterward. It won’t be good.
Japan is not the place to go if you have agoraphobia (fear of crowded places). Even the country side can feel quite claustrophobic. That being said, there are a few things to keep in mind. Even though most Japanese people are socially pleasant they will push and shove without apology. That’s just the way it is here. If you get angry with someone about this you will lose face. Best to just brush it off and keep going. There also seems to be a “me first” attitude amongst most people. This is very evident when shopping. Old ladies will try to out run you to the register, even though they have 3 shopping carts and you a pack of gum. No one will ever offer you to go ahead of them. It just doesn’t happen. That’s how it is here.
Thinking of going to a beach in Japan? Think again, cause it’s more like going the dump. In a strange anomaly, Japan which is ultra clean has the most disgusting beaches in the first world. The Japanese will swear that it comes for Korea or China, but it’s easy to find many products with katakana ect ect. It’s really a sad situation. The only acceptation to this is Okinawa, which has some fantastic beaches.
For those unaware, Japan can be a very patriarchal society, especially compared to some western countries. Japanese men do expect their women to care for them and almost practically wait on them hand and foot. Women seem to foot the bill and play the part though. It is a changing system though. What you might see, women carrying something so the man doesn’t have too, men first, women holding the umbrella for men and absolutely, women pouring drinks for the man and never vice versa. No matter your feeling, this is how it is for Japan. Any complaints will fall deaf ears. If you’re a guy though, it might out kind of nice for you!
My 1st vist to Japan was in year 1996. My last visit to Japan was year 2004, after the last visit I told myself I wont visit Tokyo again!! U know why?? Earthquake ofcourse!!!Our Hong Kong born, married into Japan tour leader told us that the underground tunnel had completed their 6th generation (60th level underground!). If there's any strong earthquakes strikes, what will happen to the whole of Tokyo??I could not imagine!!Not to mean to scare you away from Tokyo, but be play safe den sorry. There are many more better places in the world still yet for me to explore....therefore I won't risk my life!(Can anyone provide me more information about the underground danger?) My wish is to visit Hokkaido in winter ... but not Tokyo again.
I was walking down the shoreline in Kamakura one late afternoon. Sand felt nice under my feet, the ocean was not to cold. I was munching away on an icecream. Then it happened. Something hit the back of my head. I ducked as a reflex. Then somebody snatched the icecream from mmy hands. Confused I looked up. There was nobody but me on the beach. What had just happened? Seaside ghosts with a taste for choc-ices? =/Hehe, nope. It was giant birds. Huge eagles with claws big enough to rip anybody's eyes from their heads. The hit on my head was its wing when it went down for my icecream. So just an advice. Before bringing food onto a beach look for warning signs at the entrances. I saw the sign at this beach too late and it could have costed me my eyes. However all it got away with this time was one yummy chocolate and vanilla sandwich.
Park Hyatt Tokyo Tokyo
7 Reviews and 526 Opinions Most memorable
Hotel Granvia Kyoto Kyoto
6 Reviews and 743 Opinions We stayed 3 nights at Kyoto Granvia Hotel from Feb. 27 to Mar 1, 2008. We paid Yen 17,600 per night,...
The Ritz-Carlton Osaka Osaka
1 Review and 353 Opinions
Reviews and photos of Japan attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Japan sightseeing.
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Q: Hi there, Will arrive in Tokyo, Narit Airport for a layover and wanted to take advantage of seeing something. I will arrive at...
A: youre lucky to be arriving so early, so you will likely pass through immigration fairly quickly. lets still count with an hour just in case. you can either take the...
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