Guide to traveling to Japan – 15 Essential Tips (our experience)

No one doubts that Japan It is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world and every day more people are thinking of visiting it, or if they have already done so, getting to know more cities again.

But due to culture shock, the trip to countries of Far East It always tends to raise doubts when organizing it and in this article we want to help you.

The advice we are going to give you is based on the experience of our recent Trip to Japan, as soon as the borders opened after the global crisis of the pandemic, which has meant our first contact with said country, visiting the essential places.

We have also been lucky enough to travel accompanied by a expert traveler to Japan, how is Pachinko, who has been a great guide and has also allowed us to start getting to know a culture as peculiar as the Japanese.

As background, we have also already visited several countries in that area of ​​the world, such as China, Cambodia, Vietnam , Laos. o Indonesia, specific Bali.

And, also, coinciding with the launch of the guide of Lonely Planet dedicated to Japan, we had the opportunity to chat with the most prestigious journalists and travel communicators from Spain, who transmitted their experiences to us throughout their various trips to the country.

In that very interesting chatting they shared very useful experiences and advice We believe that to every traveler who is thinking travel to japan they may be useful to you.

Essential tips for traveling and visiting Japan

When we plan a trip of these characteristics, we must always be clear about several points that vary depending on each person.

1 Is it expensive to travel to Japan?

Japan It is not a cheap country, but the costs of traveling to Japan They are no longer what they were years ago, which is why every day more people can afford them.

The issue of budgets It is very variable depending on the purchasing power of each person and the number of days spent in the country.

Throughout the article we are going to give information about some prices, but to give you a quick idea...

The most expensive thing by far now are the flights, and already in the country, the accommodations, are currently much more affordable than a few years ago, although the rooms are usually smaller compared to other destinations.

On the other hand, the cheapest thing in Japan is to eat, what you can do from 10 euros.

2 Buy a flight to travel to Japan

It is essential book flights well in advance, more so nowadays, because after the pandemic Flights from Spain have become much more expensive, since before you could find prices starting at 600 euros round trip and, currently, they are starting at 1.200 euros.

Apart from the cost of the flights, with the experience of our recent trip, we can tell you that for a stay for a 10 day trip, you must have a budget of between 1.500 and 2.000 euros per person, staying in 4-star hotels.

3 Travel to Japan for how many days?

In your first trip to japan, you should have a minimum of 10 days during which you can visit the essential cities and places, as was our case.

Specifically, as we have already mentioned, you will have time to visit Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto y Nara.

4 Japan Travel Guide

When we travel for the first time to a country we don't know, we like to carry one of the guides of Lonely Planet, being appropriate for this occasion the Japan travel guide.

Many times we do not have internet and we need to search for information, whether it be restaurants, maps, places to visit or in general, any type of information.

Therefore, a guide is always with us at hand.

5 Best time to travel to Japan

La Cheapest time to travel to Japan It is from January to March, but it must be said that at that time in Japan it can be very cold, including heavy snowfall.

That is why some of the visitors who arrive in those months usually go skiing, specifically to the Japanese alps or hokkaido islandWell, as surprising as it may seem, Japan It has more than 500 ski resorts.

From June to July and from September to December, it is rainy season and in certain areas even typhoons occur.

Therefore, the high season to travel to Japan It's been since the beginning of April (a time when hotel prices rise due to the cherry blossoms, a special event throughout the country) until the end of May.

August is also considered high season, but it is usually quite muggy.

6 What requirements are needed to enter Japan

To travel to Japan from Spain, no need to apply for a visaNow, at the Tokyo airport you will have to pass three different controls,

Therefore, prior to your trip, it is essential to go to the Visit Japan website for fill out three forms online, which will allow you to use the Fast Track (fast line) to enter Japan.

At the outset, you must fill out your personal and flight information, and then, successively, the registration forms. customs (Custom), that of immigration and, finally, that of Covid.

You must have a good photo of your passport, with the image very clear because you will have to upload it and wait for them to review it online and give you approval.

To complete the aforementioned form of Covid, at the time of writing this article, you will need to upload online the Covid Certificate with three vaccines, and if you don't have it, a PCR test made no earlier than 72 hours before your arrival in the country.

Once each form is filled out, and they give you approval for the review, you will see a unit’s QR code that you will use later to go through the Fast Track in the airport.

7 Take out insurance to travel to Japan

If you don't have health insurance, don't travel... it's that clear; With how expensive medical treatments are worldwide, it is essential to travel insured.

Having a travel insurance It becomes essential, and if something happens to you and you don't have it, you would have to pay several thousand euros, so it is not worth taking the risk.

We have hired a annual insurance with IATI, but if you don't travel much throughout the year, insurance that covers just the days of your trip is enough.

8 Where to sleep in Japan: traditional hotels and accommodations

The hotel prices in Japan It usually takes up a very important part of the budget.

Small rooms at high prices, since you mainly pay for the space you occupy, rather than the quality of the hotel's services, especially in large cities.

The wide variety of prices is determined mainly by three aspects, almost always in this same order, the location, the size of the room and the type of hotel.

When searching, it is advisable to look carefully at the photos of the hotels to know what type of accommodation you are going to book and thus compare prices.

As in any city in the world, in Japan there are also hotels of different levels and with very variable prices.

This is how you find everything from a hostel with shared rooms for 30 euros, to the famous capsule hotels for a similar price, even large Luxury hotels.

But beyond the classic hotels, there are options that allow you to get to know part of Japanese culture.

You can stay in a Ryokan, Which is a traditional japanese inn, the classic image of a house that we all have in our minds, with paper doors and wooden and bamboo structures, all very authentic.

Some of them, especially the most expensive ones, have onsen, which are hot springs of volcanic origin.

You also have the option of a minshuku, which is actually renting an apartment or a room from a citizen, in the purest style Bed and Breakfast.

The only thing that tends to be difficult, because not all areas offer this type of accommodation through Internet and in English.

Another very peculiar alternative is to sleep in a shukubo, a Buddhist temple accommodation; It is not very common, and even less so for tourists, but in some places it is already possible.

And familiarize yourself with these terms; “In most hotels they usually give you traditional cotton kimonos.”yukata"; "geta” are the classic wooden-soled slippers; and "futons” are the thin mattresses that are placed on the floor to sleep on.

9 What is essential to see on a trip to Japan

Depending on the days you want to spend in Japan, you can do some routes or others, and don't expect to visit the whole country in 10 days, it is impossible.

Most routes include the Tokyo visit as a starting point, very modern Asian city of shopping and culture, and Kyoto as a second important city, with its traditional temples.

You would need at least three days to see the capital, and to go to Kyoto, you will have to go south on Bullet train but also Osaka.

It is also essential to visit Nara from Osaka, and also visit the iconic Inari Shrine.

From here, the offer to choose from begins to grow.

You can go down south to Hiroshima, or go up to the ski villages with traditional wooden houses in the Japanese alps via Kanazawa.

Another option is, after visiting Tokyo, to head towards the natural surroundings of the emblematic Mount Fuji.

And already visiting the extremes of Japan, in the northern Hokkaido island you find an impressive volcanic area of ​​smoky onsen, as well as a natural area where you can see a large number of wild animals, such as cranes, or more imposing ones, such as bears.

And if you are one of those who repeat, you may want to plan a visit to the most unknown Japan, the south, with cities like Fukuoka.

In short, prioritize what you want to see on your trip, since you cannot see the entire country if you don't go for at least a month.

10 How to pay by card and where to change currency in Japan

Although the majority of purchases and payments you have to make in Japan can be done with your credit card, to change currency you have to look for the ATM machines, where, by choosing the English language, you can withdraw yen.

You could also change currency at hotels or exchange stores.

For your calculations, you should know that the current euro/yen exchange rate It is 146 yen for one euro.

11 How to get around by transportation in Japan

At this point you have to stop for a moment, since it is almost mandatory to use the Japan Rail Pass for traveling around the country.

This is a card to be able to use most railway transport, from metro in Tokyo until bullet trains.

We leave you the link with all the information for buy the JR Pass because it is essential to do so before entering the country; When you arrive in Japan, you can no longer purchase this pass.

12 What to eat in Japan: types of restaurants

Although it may seem strange, in Japan it is not so easy to find sushi to eat

The idea that has emerged outside of Japan is that in Japan they only eat sushi, but in fact everything is eaten and only a small part is sushi, because what you will find is different Theme restaurants, with different types of foods.

In most of the restaurants or Menus for about 10 euros at lunch time, which doubles the price at night.

The best thing you can do is go with the flow and try everything you see, both in restaurants and local supermarkets, which is a unique experience visiting them.

In addition to the aforementioned sushi, you can eat in restaurants Windows: Of Yakiniku or Korean-style beef barbecue; guy Tonkatsu of pork, shrimp, vegetable or fish batter.

Or also restaurants Yakitori, grilled chicken, or japanese curry, or of Okonomiyaki, poorly known as “Japanese pizza”.

When looking for restaurants or typical dishes, the guides usually highlight the best ones, so if you organize your trip, take a look at the guides and you will surely discover something interesting.

13 Tours and guided visits in Japan with a guide in Spanish

If when you plan what you want to see you prefer to do it with the help of a guide in spanish, too easy.

Another alternative is to sign up for one of these tours and excursions in Japan of one or several days in duration, as well as guided tours in spanish, in different cities.

14 Hot spring baths in Japan (Onsen)

One of the most popular activities is enjoying the hot springs with the calls onsen.

Being a volcanic country, its soils are very hot, which produces these hot springs.

In rural areas there are onsens free exteriors, in addition to interiors in special enclosures for this, even for prices around 10 dollars.

It is said that these hot springs are good for the body due to their high mineral content.

14 How to have Wifi internet in Japan

La experience of our trip confirms that it is essential to buy one prepaid eSIM card with Internet connection, which will be very useful for using an application that is also as essential as Google Maps.

With a price from 19 euros for 5 days and 34 euros for 10, based on our experience we can assure you that you will have Wifi without problems throughout your trip (apart from hotel Wi-Fi).

Another option that you also have, and that has also worked well, is to rent a Wi-Fi Pocket which you will pick up at the first hotel where you stay, and return at the end of the trip.