Things to Know Before Travelling to Japan for the First Time.

 

I can near my eyes and picture myself standing awestruck at the fascinatingly busy Shibuya crossing in Tokyo. Gaping on the marvelous lighting fixtures, fancy skyscrapers and ratings of businessmen darting approximately in darkish suits. I turned into traveling to Japan for the primary time, and it became my first day in Tokyo. In equal parts, I felt excited, intrigued and frightened, recalling all the Japan journey recommendations I’d read on line. I had dreamt about Japan for see you later, however now that I was in the end here, I couldn’t help but surprise what spending a whole month exploring the u . S . A . Would be like.

In the months due to the fact I left Japan, I faced a odd despair… and a barrage of reader questions. Many of you reached out to me to ask, “When is the pleasant time to go to Japan?” “Is the Japan Rail skip really worth it?” “Do they speak in English in Japan?” “How to live to tell the tale as a vegetarian / vegan in Japan?” “Do you’ve got any Japan tour tips?”

I’ve eventually put together this submit to answer all of your questions on visiting to Japan for the primary time – which include visas, flights, where to move, what to eat and the way to stay connected.

How to attain a Japan visitor visa on an Indian passport?

Boarding a ferry to Yakushima island in Japan.

Until 2016, it changed into a ache to get a Japan traveller visa for Indians. We needed to get an invitation letter from a sponsor in Japan and undergo a tedious software process.

Luckily, the Japan visa necessities for Indians have eventually been at ease. Although a Japan visa on arrival for Indian citizens remains  dream, the Japan visa application now takes most effective four running days to be processed, with out the want for a sponsor. The utility must be filed at VFS Japan – the professional visa software centre for the Japan Embassy in India.

 The method is similar to the Schengen visa software, with return flights, accommodation bookings, and bank statements had to rating the visa.

When is the best time to go to Japan?

Most humans tend to devise their ride during the a lot-expected cherry blossom season in Japan. It’s a lovely time, however it’s additionally when Japan tends to get the most crowded and luxurious.

I landed up in Japan in early March 2018 and stayed exactly a month. Although Honshu, the principle island domestic to Tokyo and Kyoto, was pretty chilly, I loved the quiet shoulder season. And I got a risk to trap the Ume – plum blossom – almost as stunning because the cherry blossom yet by hook or by crook more introspective. I then headed south to Kyushu Island, which was hotter, with many offbeat places to discover.

While visiting to Japan for the primary time, I obtained a unmarried-access Japan visa on my Indian passport. It allowed me to live inside the united states for 30 days. I have become given 2.Five months from the application date to use it.

Cherry blossom time in Japan

My plan turned into to leave simply before the cherry blossom began in Japan. But as luck (and weather change) could have it, the cherry timber bloomed early that yr!

One of my maximum crucial Japan tour pointers – even in case you’re traveling to Japan for the primary time – is don’t be hell bent on seeing the cherry blossom. Nature received’t time itself in line with our dates. And Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are significantly crowded in the course of that point. There is a lot more to Japan that I surprisingly advise touring in late wintry weather, autumn or early summer season.

Cheapest time to visit Japan / off-season in Japan

I witnessed lodging fees in Tokyo skyrocketing and availability falling appreciably among the start (iciness) and quit (spring) of my ride. It receives exorbitantly high priced in Japan in spring and I changed into forced to downgrade myself from a captivating ryokan (traditional motel) to a pod hostel to financially live on the previous couple of days of my experience. Autumn and summer time are pretty popular too. That leaves iciness as the off-season.

If you experience iciness, prepare to be spellbound as famous towns grow to be wintry weather wonderlands from November to February. With heating indoors, suitable clothes, few vacationers and relatively low prices, it’ll be pretty a pride.

Best time to visit japan climate clever

Early spring and overdue autumn are stunning and wonderfully heat throughout the usa. They aren’t the busiest, mainly far from the primary cities.

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What to pack for Japan Tour

A rainy, misty morning in Nikko.

What you p.C. For Japan totally relies upon on when you tour there. And where you propose to head. If you’re travelling to Japan for the first time, probabilities are, you’ll spend time on Honshu, exploring Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. The island pretty reports all four seasons – and might get very warm or very bloodless, even in spring or autumn.

Among my Japan journey recommendations, I constantly say p.C. In layers. Carry garments that you can upload on or get rid of. In my luggage, I constantly have heat inner put on, t-shirts / tops, a couple of sweaters, a rain jacket and a mild winter jacket. If you’re travelling in wintry weather, truely bring warm socks, boots and a real wintry weather jacket. As a person who attempts to avoid wool and down feathers for moral reasons, I propose the synthetic cloth jackets at Decathalon and people made with recycled plastic at Save the Duck.

Essentials to p.C. For Japan:

• Towel: I was surprised to find out that most accommodations in Japan don’t provide towels! If they do, you need to rent them at an additional cost. Definitely carry your personal.
• Adapter: I used my commonplace tour adapter that works quite a lot anywhere around the sector, consisting of Japan.

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How to get internet service in Japan?

Sunset madness in Fukuoka

Japan is the land of modern-day era and excessive velocity internet. But it comes at pretty a fee. Outside of the massive towns and educate stations, Wifi isn’t as simply to be had as I’d hoped. And yet I located it critical to have net in Japan to use Google Maps, Google Translate and other apps to make existence easier – specifically on account that I became journeying in Japan for the primary time.

Airtel global roaming plans for Japan

Before I started out taking part with Airtel final yr, I had no idea it was sincerely possible to shop for an global roaming plan for Japan. Compared to SIM card charges in Japan, the gives appears very promising (and is legitimate across eighty two nations):

• 1 GB facts with one hundred mins of incoming and outgoing calls – legitimate for 30 days – costs INR 1199. Data usage can be tracked at the Airtel App.
• 1 GB records in keeping with day with limitless incoming calls and 500 mins of outgoing calls – valid for 10 days – fees INR 4999 (coming quickly).

Local sim card in Japan

Japan is probably one of the maximum pricey international locations whilst it comes to shopping for a local SIM card! Mine value 6000 yen (INR 3850) for 1 GB for a month – information best. The other choice became 7000 yen (INR 4500) for 200 MB/day. Local SIM playing cards are to be had at global airports and 7-11s across the u . S . A ..

Wifi in Japan

Many inns and restaurants in Tokyo offer rapid and free Wifi. But lamentably, Wifi availability gradually decreases as you to move to the geographical region.

Where to move if you’re visiting to Japan for the primary time?

Japan tour pointers: Choose a mixture of famous and offbeat locations in Japan.

Japan is a huge usa and it could be quite overwhelming to parent out where to go! I spent the primary week within the town on project for Japan Tourism Board. We explored the Kantou vicinity of Honshu, together with Tokyo, Matsumoto, Nagano and Nikko. After that, my accomplice and I spent  weeks visiting south to Fukuoka and Hiroshima on Kyushu island, after which all the way to Yakushima island. And I spent the ultimate week exploring extra of the Honshu countryside and a chunk of Kyoto by myself.

If you’re touring to Japan for the first time, I recommend splitting some time among the popular cities and getting a glimpse of offbeat Japan:

First time in Tokyo

I stayed in three distinct regions of Tokyo, and most loved the vibe of the Asakusa neighborhood. It keeps the antique world charm of the city with antique Buddhist temples, little shops, a walkway alongside the river and captivating sushi bars and izakayas (neighborhood bars). It’s additionally home to the stunning 14th century Sensoji temple – Tokyo’s oldest. I consider placing out there past due at night, when the crowds were gone, and witnessing breathtaking “sakura rain” at the way returned. Oh how I pass over Japan!

First time in Kyoto

I accidentally hit Kyoto at some point of the cherry blossom season – and must confess it became way too touristy for my liking. I borrowed my host’s bicycle for lovely early morning rides to a few parks and temples. But the overtourism thereafter killed the vibe. I consider it ought to be a pleasure in wintry weather even though.

First time in Osaka

Osaka is just a quick teach ride from Kyoto – and a everyday Japanese town with out much of the antique-global charm. I’d endorse choosing certainly one of Kyoto or Osaka – if in any respect, on your first time in Japan. I hopped over to Osaka for a vegan cooking lesson, based on macrobiotics and yin and yang concepts, with a nearby Japanese own family – and it was sincerely one of the highlights of my ride!

Offbeat locations to visit in Japan

Outside of the cherry blossom season, you are not going to stumble upon the crowds of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka anywhere else in Japan. Places like Nara, Nagano, Hiroshima and Matsumoto, although no longer offbeat, are beautiful sufficient to spend a while moving into the Japan vibe at the same time as nevertheless having access to the comforts of tourism. Some people talk English, eating places have English menus and there are masses of accommodations to choose from.