It is the cherished dream of many Russians. However, not everyone is able to complete it due to the high cost of this trip. The Land of the Rising Sun is considered one of the most expensive in the world, and Tokyo has been in the top five most expensive cities for tourists for several years. But still, nothing can stop someone who wants to see Fuji and the cherry blossoms in spring with their own eyes. Our article is specifically for such travelers; it contains the most important information that will allow you to spend an inexpensive and interesting vacation in unique Japan.

A little about the country

If you're planning a trip to Japan, prepare to be amazed. You will have to do this constantly, because the Land of the Rising Sun cannot compare with other Asian countries. There is nothing here from China, Vietnam or Thailand, but, nevertheless, traveling through Japan, you seem to penetrate into the very heart of Asia and hear its beating on every street of noisy metropolises.

Tourists are attracted here by the incredible combination of modern technologies with ancient traditions, which are strictly observed by every generation of the Japanese family. If you are lucky, you will be able to see a colorful festival dedicated to, for example, kokeshi. Or sit quietly in the garden, enjoying the beauty of cherry blossoms at dawn or sunset. And in big cities you will be greeted by numerous cafes, shops and shopping centers. Here you can buy something, have lunch, and in some even stay overnight. In general, a trip to Japan will be the biggest and most significant adventure of your life. And what’s doubly nice is that you will never regret the money spent on it.

Japan: solo or group trip?

First of all, before traveling to the Land of the Rising Sun, you need to decide on your budget and travel options. And there are not many of them - a group trip to Japan or an independent one. What to choose? This directly depends on your budget and capabilities.

Traveling to Japan on your own is quite possible, but will require very careful preparation. You will have to think through absolutely everything:

• flight to Japan;
• hotel reservation;
• travel route around the country;
• food outlets and excursion program;
• money exchange options;
• types of communication with the local population.

All of these aspects of a good trip will take up a lot of your time and will also require some experience in solo travel. In addition, on the road you will encounter certain difficulties that only unspoiled and sociable tourists can overcome. For example, it is worth knowing that in Japan, few of the local population speak English. Therefore, you won’t be able to simply ask directions from a passerby. Perhaps after some time you will come across a young Japanese who speaks the basics of English, but there is a high probability that this will not happen. In addition, the inscriptions in the country are not duplicated; they are all written in hieroglyphs. This fact significantly complicates holidays in Japan.

If the above difficulties scare you, then it is better to buy a travel package. Of course, it is not cheap, but you will be free from all worries, including visa issues.

Travel cost

If you are planning a flight from Moscow, then two weeks in Japan will cost you one hundred and fifty thousand rubles. This amount includes flights, travel around the country, accommodation and several excursions. Meals are served according to the breakfast system; the remaining meals must be paid for by the tourist himself. Traveling to Japan from Vladivostok is much cheaper. Our compatriots can choose a ferry tour, which on average costs about sixty thousand rubles. From Vladivostok you can get to the Land of the Rising Sun in different ways and with various travel packages on hand. This is the most popular tourist destination among locals.

Reviews of independent travel in Japan allow you to plan your trip perfectly and save a lot. On average, brave tourists can spend thirty to forty thousand less on a trip than when purchasing a tour. This money will be very useful to you on vacation, because you can bring quite a lot of useful things home from the Land of the Rising Sun. We’ll tell you how to plan a budget trip to Japan on your own a little later. Now let’s try to find out the most important aspects of preparing for the trip.

When to go to Japan?

A big trip to Japan can be planned for any time of the year, but traditionally tourists try to visit the country in spring or autumn. During these seasons, the Land of the Rising Sun appears in a particularly beautiful form. In the spring she is dressed in pink foam of sakura flowers, and in the fall the red maple leaves simply hurt the eyes. It seems that they are everywhere here, and the Japanese have even come up with several special rituals for observing this beauty.

In winter, skiing is possible in Japan; several major resorts offer high comfort and are equipped with the latest technology. But for those who are not attracted to skiing, it will be quite uncomfortable to explore Japanese sights and enjoy the trip in winter. In addition, during the winter season the country can be very windy, which is quite unusual for most of our compatriots.

In summer the country is very hot and stuffy. Air conditioning is everywhere in cities, and tourists suffer from temperature changes. Many people take sweaters or jackets with them to wear in restaurants or shopping centers. But if you prefer a beach holiday, then go to Okinawa. Here you will receive an incredible level of service and enjoy swimming under the hot sun.

Where to go in Japan?

If you take the trouble to study reviews of independent travel in Japan, you can easily create your own travel itinerary. For the first time, a week will be enough for you to get acquainted with the Land of the Rising Sun. The following cities are suitable for this:

• Tokyo.
• Nara.
• Kyoto.

Moving between settlements on high-speed trains, in seven days you will explore the most beautiful parks, swim in hot springs, visit the most famous temples and, of course, taste the bustling and noisy life of megacities.

If you are already a little familiar with travel, you can choose slightly different ones, and increase your stay in this country to two weeks. During this period, tourists will be able to see Hiroshima, Osaka, Kobe and other extraordinary places. In general, you can plan to explore one city per day. In this case, the trip program will be very eventful.

Visa application: nuances and features

Any trip to Japan begins with the most difficult thing - obtaining a visa. Not everyone, even a very experienced tourist, can do this. The thing is that to obtain a visa, Russians need a special letter on official letterhead. In addition to this, you will need to confirm your hotel reservation (and this is quite problematic when traveling on your own) and send a package of documents using special mail (postage cost will be at least seventy dollars).

Many of our compatriots negotiate with travel companies and pay them for visas. This usually takes two weeks and saves a lot of time.

Accommodation in Japan: where is the best place to stay?

To remember your trip to Japan for a long time, you need to take photos almost everywhere. Hotels and small inns deserve special attention. It is worth noting that the Land of the Rising Sun has quite a large selection of places to stay. But, if you want to save a little money, then they will all be very unusual and entertaining.

Many tourists stay overnight at spa centers. Don't be surprised, this is quite common in Japan. For about thirty-five dollars you will get a small room with a bath and a lounger. There will also be a TV and all other amenities, and you can go down to the restaurant for dinner. Guests can enjoy a variety of treatments and massages.

This is exotic for Russians. They are quite inexpensive and have a very high level of comfort. There are even double capsules for traveling couples. This pleasure will cost approximately thirty-five dollars per night.

Love hotels seem like a very unusual place to spend the night. These buildings are intended for love dates and provide the possibility of renting from one hour to several days. These hotels are decorated quite exotically, but equipped to the highest class. In addition, they are much cheaper than regular rooms. A night in such a hotel will cost from eighty to one hundred and fifty dollars.

Meals while traveling

Of course, you can eat in restaurants every day, but a budget holiday does not imply such luxury. Therefore, make your choice in favor of Japanese fast food, it is extremely healthy and tasty. No hamburgers or fries, just seaweed, sushi and seafood. This pleasure will cost approximately 5-6 dollars.

If the choice of dishes in a cafe confuses you a little with a large number of incomprehensible names, then buy a ready-made lunch at the supermarket. Its cost will be the same as in a cafe, and through the transparent film you will always see the contents of the package.

Gourmet trip

Experienced tourists choose a special type of vacation - a culinary trip to Japan. It is worth noting that this is something incredible. Of course, there are still few Russians willing to spend money on such a tour, but their number is increasing every year. What attracts gourmets so much to the Land of the Rising Sun? Of course, restaurants with Michelin stars.

The fact is that as soon as Tokyo was included in the Michelin guide, restaurants with stars appeared in it. And tourists flocked to them, wanting to experience gastronomic delight. The number of gourmet restaurants increases every year, and Tokyo has already significantly surpassed the recognized gastronomic center of Paris in terms of these characteristics.

For example, in the oldest quarter of Tokyo, Ginza, there are sushi restaurants with three Michelin stars. Chef Jiro works in one of them, about whom feature films have even been made. His work seems like real art, and the price of the dishes he prepares exceeds several thousand dollars.

Every city in Japan has its own culinary traditions, so gourmets can travel all over the country in search of a special taste. One of the most popular Japanese foods is noodles. There are simply a lot of options for preparing it - boiling, frying, steaming and the like. Each region in the country has its own recipe. We can say that a culinary tour allows tourists to discover new facets of an already familiar country.

Money exchange

Many inexperienced tourists often have problems exchanging money. Keep in mind that the best place to buy yen is at home. Otherwise, you may find yourself in a very unpleasant situation, because many ATMs and terminals may not accept a European payment system card. This is due to the fact that Japanese terminals operate on their own system. Only a few ATMs in large shopping centers easily accept absolutely all bank cards.

It will not always be possible to exchange money at a bank, because tourists may come on holidays, and it is impossible to exist in Japan without money. Therefore, experienced travelers advise bringing the main amount of money in cash, and leaving funds on a bank card to pay for restaurants and purchases.

When going to the Land of the Rising Sun, tourists need to know a few simple rules for staying in Japan that will make the trip easier. We have collected the most important recommendations:

• Don't try to tip in Japan, it's not worth it. There is no tipping system throughout the country.
• In Japanese bars, in honor of friendship, it is customary to pour alcoholic drinks from your own bottle, so if you are awarded such an honor, be sure to return the gesture of respect.
• Never point your finger at objects or people - this is extremely impolite, but you can point at yourself.
• In a restaurant, all you have to do is wave your palm in front of your nose and the waiter will remove the dirty plates.
• In the Land of the Rising Sun, it is customary to take off your shoes in many rooms. You may be asked to take off your shoes in certain areas of a restaurant, hotel, apartment building, temple, etc. It is considered especially indecent to step on a mat with a shod foot; this is perceived as an insult.

• When going to the hot springs, keep in mind that those with tattoos on their bodies are escorted to separate baths. They are not allowed to be in a common area with other vacationers.
• When you receive an invitation, be sure to bring a gift with you. This is considered a sign of politeness and respect.

Of course, it is difficult to list all the nuances of traveling in the Land of the Rising Sun, because a lot can be learned only after an independent trip.

Japan, travel: reviews

Not a single tourist had an angry comment about Japan, at least we didn’t encounter any. This means only one thing - you can and should go to this country. It will reveal a lot of interesting things even to those who are very poorly informed about the culture and traditions of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Experienced tourists prefer Japan to all other Asian countries. Ask them why. We think the explanation will take several hours. After all, it is simply impossible to describe this amazing country and its people in a few words. Travelers are delighted with the historical monuments of Japan, its cities, cuisine and original traditions. Tourists say that you can come here many times and each time find something unusually exciting for yourself.

What do you need to decide to travel to the Land of the Rising Sun? Yes, just a little - desire, a spirit of adventure and more money. And then you can tell your friends when you return home about what an incredible trip you had in Japan.

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How to organize a trip to Japan

In April 2018, my husband and I went on vacation to Japan.

Marina Safonova

went to Japan

We spent two weeks there, visited Tokyo, Kyoto, the ancient capital of Nara, the mountain resort of Hakone and the ancient Buddhist monastery on Mount Koya-san.

I used to think that organizing a trip to Japan is very difficult: it’s not clear how everything works there, where to go, except Tokyo, how much it costs and how to get a visa. How to get around the country is also unclear: foreign tourists need an international license to drive a car in Japan. There is also left-hand traffic, serious fines, toll roads and parking lots.

It turned out that Japan is great for independent travel. Everyone speaks English, getting a visa is easy, transport works perfectly.

Japanese English is very different from our usual pronunciation. There is no “l” sound in Japanese, and it is customary to break a pair of consonants with a vowel sound. The word fork is pronounced as “foku”, bus - “bass”, beer - “biru”.

There is an opinion that traveling to Japan is expensive. Yes, it turns out to be more expensive than a package tour to the sea. But the most expensive expense is an air ticket: 30-40 thousand rubles in both directions. In second place is travel around the country. Housing in Japan costs about the same as in Europe, and you can safely save on food: everything is tasty and cheap. Tickets to museums and temples are also inexpensive: 200-500 R. The visa for Russian citizens is free.

If you decide to go, here's what to do before you go.

Select travel time

I do not recommend going to Japan during the May holidays. At the end of April - beginning of May there is “Golden Week” - “golden week”, when national holidays last 6 days in a row. At this time, the whole country has a weekend and everyone goes traveling. Train tickets are sold out, housing prices are rising, and churches, parks and museums are crowded.

Summer is also not the best time to travel. In June there are rains in Japan, and then tropical heat until September. It’s good to go in May immediately after the “golden week”: at this time, domestic tourism decreases, because everyone returns to work. There are fewer tourists, prices are lower everywhere. If I were planning a trip again, I would go in mid-May.

If you want to see cherry blossoms, then plan your trip for the end of March - beginning of April, but keep in mind that at this time there is also a tourist rush in the country. In Japan, there is a forecast for cherry blossoms by region; you can see how cherry blossoms bloomed in 2018, and plan a trip around the same dates next year. In October and early November in Japan, “momiji” is the season of red maple leaves. There is also a calendar for momiji.

Buy air tickets

Airfare is the biggest expense when planning a trip to Japan. Focus on 35-40 thousand rubles for a direct flight Moscow - Tokyo.

Direct flights to Tokyo are only available from Moscow from Aeroflot and Japan Airlines. We flew Japan Airlines: the company flies the coolest Boeing aircraft on this route - the Dreamliner. The plane is huge, it has comfortable seats, delicious food, electrochromic window dimming, movies, music and games on the screen built into the seat.

Tickets with transfers can be found for about 3000-5000 RUR cheaper than direct ones. But it is difficult to fly with a transfer due to the long flight and time zone changes, and the difference in price is small.

A ticket with a two-hour transfer in Istanbul is cheaper by only 3,500 RUR

Book accommodation

In Tokyo, choose areas near major metro stations. “Ginza”, “Ueno”, “Tokyo Station”, “Asakusa”, “Shinjuku”, “Shibuya” are excellent - from there it will be easy to travel throughout the city. In Kyoto, the ideal place to live is around the Sanjo metro station.

In addition to regular hotels, hostels and apartments on Airbnb.com in Japan, you can stay in ryokans, love hotels and capsule hotels. I'll tell you about each option.

Regular hotels and hostels in Japan they are the same as all over the world. It is convenient for tourists to stay in chain hotels like APA Hotels: there are many of them in all major cities. The room costs 4500-5500 RUR for two per night. The rooms are small, but they have everything you need. Business hotels are aimed at workers who come on a business trip and do not spend much time in the room. This is also suitable for tourists.

Typically, in all Japanese hotels, check-in is strictly from 15:00. For early check-in you have to pay half the price. Sometimes there are hotels with check-in from 13:00, for example Shinjuku Prince Hotel in Tokyo. We stayed there on the day of arrival only for this reason: our plane landed at 8 am and we didn’t want to wait 6 hours.

Bed in Bunka Hostel - from 1100 RUR per night

Apartment on Air BBC a lot, but they cost more than hotels, especially if you rent the entire property. If you rent an apartment in an old area, be prepared that the house will also be old: with small rooms and a miniature bathroom.

Airbnb apartments in ginza. From this area it is convenient to travel throughout Tokyo, but housing costs from 7,000 RUR per day

In a capsule hotel guests live alone in a small capsule room, in which you can only sit or lie. The bathroom and toilet are shared; rooms with capsules are usually divided into men's and women's. Items can be deposited at the reception. Inside the capsule there is a clock, an alarm clock, and a light setting. Some have a TV built into the wall. Upon check-in, you are given a guest kit: a Japanese yukata robe, a towel, a disposable toothbrush, toothpaste, and a comb.

A night in a capsule hotel costs 1500-2500 R.

This is what the sleep capsules look like at the Tokyo Nihonbashi Bay Hotel capsule hotel. Source: bay-hotel.jp
This is what the capsule looks like inside. Source: bay-hotel.jp

A separate type of housing - the so-called love hotels, or “hotels of love”. Initially they were intended for dates, but are now popular among tourists. Love hotels are usually spacious, with huge beds and unusual room designs. The room costs from RUR 6,000 per night, and the more interesting the interior, the higher the price.

Room with car at the Public Jam love hotel. Source: hotel-public-jam-jp.book.direct

There are also traditional Japanese hotels - ryokans. You need to sleep in them on special futon mattresses, which are spread on the floor. The furniture in the room includes small tables, at which people also sit on the floor. The shower and toilet are usually shared. Ryokans often have an onsen, a hot spring bath.

When you check into the ryokan, you will be asked to take off your shoes and will be given special Japanese slippers, similar to flip-flops. Guests are usually dressed in a special house robe - yukata.

Ryokan is the most unusual type of accommodation for tourists in Japan and the most expensive. A night in a simple ryokan costs 8-10 thousand rubles. If you want a ryokan with a beautiful view, hot springs and a traditional Japanese dinner, then the prices will be higher: 20-30 thousand rubles.

Make a program

I like to organize trips on my own. Before my vacation, I studied the section about Japan on the Vinsky Forum and the website japan-guide.com. This is enough to create almost any route around Japan, especially if you are traveling for the first time and want to see the main attractions.

The Japan Guide project has excellent routes in all cities: for example, walking routes around Tokyo, Kyoto, and there is also a whole trip plan “All the best in Japan in 14 days.”

Anyone who comes to Japan for the first time is usually recommended to go to Kyoto in addition to Tokyo. If compared with Russia, then Tokyo is like Moscow, and Kyoto is like St. Petersburg. Once the capital of Japan, Kyoto is now famous for its temples, cultural attractions and geishas. If you're traveling for two weeks, divide it approximately equally between Tokyo and Kyoto.

From Tokyo you can take a day trip to the cities of Nikko, Kamakura, and the mountain resort of Hakone. One day is worth spending entirely at a Disney amusement park; there are two of them in Tokyo: Disneyland and DisneySea.

From Kyoto you can take a train to Nara - this is another ancient capital of Japan, now famous for its park with tame deer. From Kyoto you can also take a 15-minute train ride to Osaka - this is the country's third largest city. There are few tourist places there, but you can see the five-story samurai castle and the Universal amusement park, comparable in scope to Disneyland.

Our experience. In 12 days we traveled along the route Tokyo - Hakone - Kyoto - Nara - the monastery on Mount Koya - Tokyo. All transfers, hotels, train schedules and attractions were entered into a Google table. The table changed many times, including during the trip itself. You can download our plan template and use it to plan your trip.

A detailed travel plan will be useful for your visa. The required set of documents for a Japanese tourist visa includes a stay program. It must be filled out according to the template: write down each day, indicate a contact phone number, address of residence and program - what you plan to do. We simply wrote Sightseeing everywhere.

Get a visa

Previously, it was difficult for Russian citizens to obtain a Japanese visa: a mandatory invitation from a Japanese citizen was required. Invitations were made through agencies, it was expensive.

Now the invitations have been canceled and the visa has become free. In my experience, to obtain a Japanese visa you need the usual set of documents:

There is no need to register with the embassy to submit documents. You just need to arrive at 9:30 at 27 Grokholsky Lane with all the documents. There are 10-20 people in the queue, it moves quickly. Embassy employees take your documents and tell you on the spot whether they will issue you a visa or not. Sometimes they ask clarifying questions. They didn't ask us anything.

You can apply for a visa using a simple power of attorney written in free form. My friend lives in Nizhny Novgorod. He sent a package of documents for a Japanese visa by mail to his aunt in Podolsk. My aunt came to the embassy with these documents and gave them for processing, showing a power of attorney, and then took the passport with the completed visa.

Visa processing takes 4 working days. We submitted our documents on Monday and picked up our passports on Thursday.

It is important to fill out the stay program in detail and indicate there the contacts of all hotels or apartments on Air BBC. By the time you submit your documents, you should already have reservations for all your accommodation.

If you make an account statement at Tinkoff Bank, embassy staff may find fault with the electronic seal. If possible, ask the bank in advance to prepare a statement with a real stamp for you. If you are submitting a certificate from your place of work, you do not need an extract. We submitted two certificates from work; we were not asked for additional documents.

Buy a JR Pass

The main mode of transport in Japan is railways. Russian driver's licenses are not valid in Japan; there is little parking in the country, many toll roads and left-hand traffic. All tourists travel by train.

There are many different railway companies in the country, the largest is called Japan Railways. Travel is not cheap. A ticket for the Shinkansen high-speed train from Tokyo to Kyoto costs ¥13,910 (RUR 7,800) one way:

To save money, you need a JR Pass. It was invented in Japan specifically for foreign tourists. The JR Pass allows you to travel unlimitedly on all routes of the Japan Railways carrier for a certain period of time (usually a week or two). These are also expressways. Shinkansen trains, and some express trains between cities, and electric trains to Nikko, Nara, Arashiyama and other attractions in the vicinity of the main cities.

JR Pass is expensive. We paid 32,940 RUR for two weekly passes - 16,470 RUR per person. The pass paid for itself in the first three days of the trip. In my experience, the JR Pass is definitely worth buying.

You need to buy such a pass in advance. This will no longer be possible in Japan. I ordered it on the website japan-rail-pass.com two months before the trip. After payment, you will be sent a voucher; already in Japan, this voucher will need to be “activated” - exchanged for a JR pass.

“JAR pass” is a personalized document. When activated, your name, surname and passport details will be written on it. In Tokyo, at Shinjuku Station, we went to the Japan Railways information desk. They showed us the rules for using the travel card and clarified several times whether we really wanted to activate it from today’s date. Then you had to fill out a short questionnaire. In exchange for vouchers, we were given beautiful travel cards with our passport details on the back.

When we went through security with our JR Pass for the first time, they stamped the pass. Then we just had to show it to the employee at the station every time we passed through the turnstiles.

Plan travel to book tickets

In Japan, everyone books trains in advance. If you buy a JR Pass and plan to travel around the country, I advise you to pre-select on the Hyperdia website the shinkansen that fit your schedule. Make a list of when and what time you want to book your train seats. Print it out and take it with you.

When you activate your JR Pass, ask an employee to reserve tickets for you using this list. This is done in one minute. Then you can change your tickets without any problems.

You can travel without reserved seats. On trains, all carriages are divided into reserved ones (they are more expensive) and regular ones. In regular ones you can sit anywhere if there are free seats. If you are planning moves on weekdays, and not on holidays or weekends, then, of course, you can relax and not book anything. We were caught on six Japanese weekends in a row, so we booked the shinkansen a week in advance. Then they made the exchange once: without problems and without a queue, in 2 minutes.

What you need to know about money

The currency of Japan is the yen. 100 yen = 57 R. It is most convenient to travel with dollars: cash or on a card. We took it with us, made our main dollar account and paid from it. Another part of the money was taken in cash dollars. There are many exchangers in Japan, the exchange rate is acceptable everywhere, there are even automatic exchangers, it is safe to change money.

Japan is a country of cash. Most residents pay with bills and coins everywhere. There are hotels that do not accept cards, especially in small towns, but in Tokyo and Kyoto we paid with a card almost everywhere without any problems. To buy tickets for the metro, pay for the bus, or buy water from vending machines, you need cash, most often small coins. Within a couple of days we were carrying a huge amount of coins with us.

How to pay. In Japan there is a special ritual of paying for anything. When you pay at the checkout, you need to put money or a card in a special tray that stands in front of the seller. But the seller will definitely return the change, check and card to you from hand to hand with words of gratitude and a slight bow.

Probably for the same reason, payment through Apple Pay is not popular in Japan. In two weeks, I never saw anyone pay by phone, and I didn’t try it myself.

Tax free. In Japan, taxi free service for foreigners is conveniently organized. An 8% discount is given directly upon purchase if you have your passport with you. Tax-free is available almost everywhere, even in the Seven-Evening grocery store. You don’t have to stand in any line at the airport, like in Italy, for example. Prices in stores are usually indicated without VAT, so the final amount at the checkout may be 8% more than you planned.

Tips. In Japan, it is not customary to leave a tip - they simply won’t take it. In some tourist restaurants, service is included in the bill, but this rarely happens. It is understood that the service is always of the highest standard and does not require additional payment from the client.

You have to pay at the exit in cafes and restaurants. Ask the waiter to bring the bill, take it and go to the cashier. The ticket office is usually located at the exit.

Order a Wi-Fi router

In Japan, there is public Wi-Fi almost everywhere. At museums and other attractions it is usually free and safe to use. If you want to save money, use open networks and skip this step.

If you don’t want to connect to a new Wi-Fi connection every time, rent a router for the duration of your trip. Wi-Fi will definitely come in handy to build travel routes.

The Google Maps app does a great job of creating routes around Japan, including the Tokyo subway, Kyoto buses, and long-distance travel.

You can rent a router right at the airport: at the exit from Narita Airport there are dozens of information stands of companies that provide the Pocket Wi-Fi service.

I ordered the router in advance on the same website japan-rail-pass.com where I purchased the pass. 12 days of rent cost 4348 RUR - that’s 362 RUR per day. An envelope with a router, charger and return rules was waiting for me at the post office kiosk at Narita Airport. The router was already charged. For the entire 12 days, we didn’t even think about where to find Wi-Fi.

To return the router, you need to put it in a postal envelope, seal it and put it in a red mailbox. We did this on the way back, at the same Narita airport. The return envelope was included with the router initially.

Send luggage within Japan

In Japan, it is customary not to travel with suitcases, but to send them from one hotel to another. For this there is a convenient delivery service “Kuroneko Ta-ko-bin”. All hotels in Japan work with it. If you plan to move from one city to another, then it is convenient to send your suitcases by delivery rather than carry them with you.

If you live in hotels, using Kuroneko is simple: come to the reception with your suitcases and ask to be sent to another hotel. , then it will be a little more complicated: the apartment owners will not meet or send suitcases, but you can use any Kuroneko delivery point, there are many of them.

Suitcases are usually delivered within 24 hours. If you send your suitcase this morning, you can pick it up the next morning. For two standard suitcases we paid 2500-3000 RUR.

We used this delivery twice. For the first time, we sent our suitcases from a hotel in Tokyo to the Kuroneko office in Kyoto, next to the station, and with our backpacks we went to spend the night in the mountain resort of Hakone.

How to get there from Narita Airport

From the airport to Tokyo you can get by train, bus and taxi - just like everywhere else.

Flights from Moscow to Tokyo usually arrive at Narita Airport. It is located quite far from the city, in the neighboring Chiba Prefecture. We tried two ways: the Narita Express train and the "Kasei Skyliner". I'll tell you about them.

"Narita Express"- N'Ex. Expensive and fast, it goes to the central metro station Tokyo Station, passing several other large stations, including Shinjuku. Our first hotel was right on Shinjuku, so at the airport we bought tickets for "Narita Express". The train was moving slowly; it turned out that on that day there were some interruptions on the line. According to the schedule, we were supposed to get there in an hour, but the train took about an hour and a half: we managed to sleep. Tickets are expensive, we paid 3000 RUR for two:

It makes sense to take tickets for the Narita Express if you want to activate your JR Pass on the first day. This express train is also included in the pass.

"Kasei Skyliner"- an express train from a private company that took us from Tokyo back to Narita. It departs from Ueno Station and goes non-stop, so we got there in half an hour. Costs 2470 yen (1400 R) for one ticket.

The cheapest way to get from Narita Airport is by bus: 1000 yen, 60 minutes on the road - and you’re at Tokyo Station. I recommend reading the discussion on the Vinsky Forum about other ways to get from the airport.

What else do you need to know?

Traveling around Japan is safe, convenient and interesting. There are a lot of tourists, and all the navigation is specially made so that everything is clear to everyone. If you get lost, they will definitely tell you where to go and what to do.

Bentos are sold everywhere - beautifully packaged meal kits. There is sushi, rice, fried vegetables and fresh fruits, such a set costs about 500 RUR. Thanks to bento, in Japan there is no problem at all with what to eat. Everyone in Japan eats them all the time, and always on trains.

It's the same with food: if you don't know what you want to eat, just look at the cafe window. Most establishments display the most realistic plastic mock-ups of their dishes with prices on their windows. Many menus have photographs, so there are usually no problems with language.

If you know English at a basic level, you will have access to all navigation on the streets, in transport and in other public places. It’s difficult to get lost: there are a huge number of signs everywhere. Sometimes in Tokyo it was even clearer to me where to go than in the passage in Moscow.

Remember

1. Don't fly during the May holidays.
2. Buy air tickets well in advance.
3. Visit Tokyo and Kyoto.
4. To save money, stay in chain hotels.
5. Be sure to buy a JR Pass.
6. Take dollars or a dollar card with you.

Despite the high prices, Japan is one of the most beautiful and friendliest countries in the entire world. From the majestic Mount Fuji to the bustling Tokyo Zen of Kyoto, Japan is a colorful mix of a high-tech world with a respectful attitude towards tradition. If you have decided to travel to Japan on your own, you have come to the right place. Our free Japan travel guide will help you.

I love Japan. It was my long-time dream to visit this country, and when it came true, my impressions of the country exceeded all my wildest expectations. Japan has fantastic food, beautiful temples and shrines, Zen gardens and national parks, and a culture with a long and rich history. Even though Japan is considered one of the most expensive countries, there are still little tricks that can make it affordable. Don't be put off by high prices. And I, in turn, will help you with good advice on how to plan an affordable trip to Japan.

Travel to Japan - cost

Accommodation

The cost of a night in hostels ranges from 2500 - 4000 yen in a dormitory room. Accommodation in a small separate room will cost 3000 - 5000 yen. A double room in an inexpensive hotel costs an average of 8,500 yen.

Food

There are many inexpensive places in Japan that serve delicious ramen, soba and miso noodles. These dishes cost between 250 and 1,250 yen. If you buy food in stores, your weekly budget will be 3700 - 5000 yen. You can order a dish in a restaurant for an average of 2,000 yen. The average bill in restaurants is about 4,350 yen. Sushi costs 125 - 620 yen each. Fast food - 800 yen.

Transport

Transport costs in Japan are high. Trains are the fastest and most expensive way to travel in Japan. A ticket from Osaka to Tokyo will cost you 20,000 yen. Most subway rides will cost between 125 - 250 yen. In major cities, you can buy a day pass for 1,000 yen, which allows you to ride the subway an unlimited number of times during the day on certain trains. A long-distance bus ticket costs about 2,500 yen.

Leisure

Visiting most temples and museums in Japan is free, occasionally tickets to popular attractions will cost you 1250 yen, and temples up to 620 yen. Entrance to most parks is free.

How to save money while traveling in Japan

Visit only free attractions

Most museums, shrines, temples, historical areas and parks are free to visit. Japan is generous with opportunities to get to know its culture.

Buy a JR Pass

If you plan to travel around the country a lot, then buy a JR Pass - this unlimited ticket for traveling on trains in Japan will save you a lot of money.

Get around by bus

Travel by bus is much cheaper than by train, but will take longer. Compare 2 hours by train from Tokyo to Osaka and 10 hours by bus on the same route. Although the unlimited train ticket is valid for 7 days and costs 29,100 yen, if you want to save money and have time, use the buses.

Stores are all 100 yen

There are many discount stores in Japan where all products cost 100 yen. Here you can purchase set meals, food, water, toiletries and household items. In general, everything is the same as ours. Store names vary by region, so ask at the front desk of your hotel or hostel.

Eat at 7-11

At 7-11 (Seven-Eleven), Family Mart and similar small stores you can buy convenience foods for 125-370 yen. You can also buy set meals at the same price in many supermarkets.

Cook it yourself

All hostels have kitchens where you can cook your own meals, thus reducing your food costs to 745 yen per day. By combining going to the "100 yen everything" and cooking yourself, you can significantly reduce your food budget.

Eat curry, ramen and donburi

I basically lived off these meals for the entire 3 weeks I was in Japan. A bowl of curry costs up to 370 yen. Donburi (meat and rice) - 500 - 620 yen per plate. Ramen up to 870 yen. I think this diet is ideal in terms of price/eating and getting full enough.

Work in hostels

If you live in a shared room in a hostel, you can ask to clean it. A few hours of cleaning in the morning will reward you with a free stay for any length of time.

Couchsurfing

This is my standard advice, if you want to live for free for a short time with a resident of the country who will not only provide you with a roof over your head, but also introduce you to the local culture - use couchsurfing. The main thing is to write to the owner in advance; for some reason in Japan they take a long time to respond.

Buy groceries at night

After 20:00, supermarkets significantly reduce food prices, because... If no one buys them, then by law they will have to be thrown away. This little secret will help you save up to 50% on food.

Despite the fact that Japan is not too far from Russia, not many of our compatriots visit this country. Let's say more, for many Russians, Tokyo is practically the only Japanese city that they have ever heard of. So, if you are interested in what special the land of the rising sun can offer a tourist, then this post about traveling to Japan and planning a route around this country is for you.

The itinerary lasts two weeks, which is about the amount of time most tourists spend in Japan. If you decide to follow this plan for your trip to Japan, it will give you a rough idea in advance of how much time is best to devote to each city. According to the proposed program for a Japanese two-week holiday, it is better to start from the south, gradually moving north. Therefore, you can arrive at Osaka Airport (Kansai Airport) and fly home from Tokyo (Haneda or Narita Airport).

Trip to Japan for two weeks

Osaka – 3 days

Osaka can hardly be considered an unusual place, but any large city undoubtedly deserves attention, and here the population exceeds more than 2 million inhabitants. Osaka is a big, friendly, vibrant city, and yet unpretentiously charming.

Osaka is famous in Japan for its unique and fantastic food. The Dotonbori district, one of the main central quarters of the city, is considered the most gastronomic. Here you'll see dozens of vendors using thin sticks to deftly flip balls of dough onto spherical pans. They prepare one of the city's most famous dishes - Takoyaki. After a trip to Japan, many tourists think about it and remember the crowds of people rushing down the Dotonbori pedestrian street and the food of the city of Osaka, those hot dough balls filled with octopus.

Among the attractions, it is recommended to visit the Osaka Aquarium. Even those who are not particularly fond of observing the life of marine life find this place fascinating. The tour starts on the 8th floor and takes you in a circle downwards, around a massive tank of aquatic life that is always located in the center. Along with an overview of the central aquarium, on each level you will see creatures that, for some reason, are housed separately. The effect is really cool.

Trip to Japan: Kyoto - 3 days

Kyoto is home to thousands of temples and shrines, under whose roof tourists flock from all over the world. For over 1,000 years, Kyoto has been the capital of Japan and is home to much of Japan's traditional art, culture and food. It's certainly not some quaint little city, but it still has a gentler pace of life compared to modern cities like Osaka and Tokyo.

But Kyoto should be visited with some caution. I would like to give tourists the biggest advice for Kyoto - do not exhaust yourself by visiting the many temples and shrines. Some visitors to the ancient city become so successful in the race to see multiple attractions that they end up hating Kyoto, and this is mainly because they burned themselves out trying to squeeze a lot of different temples into a short stay.

The right strategy is to choose one or two temples to explore, and not every day, so that you can see them calmly and explore them slowly. Some of the most interesting are Fushimi Inari Taisha, known for its vibrant orange-red colors, and Kinkaku-ji Temple, whose golden house looms over the clear surface of a beautiful lake.

Nara – 1 day

In Kyoto, temples are spread throughout the city, which means you end up spending a lot of time moving from one attraction to another. Therefore, Nara is an ideal option in this regard, because all its temples are concentrated in one area, which is called Nara Park. The city of Nara is only 30 minutes by train from Kyoto, so you can even keep your hotel room by simply visiting Nara for the day.

What's interesting in Nara Park? Wild deer roam here completely freely, sometimes playfully pushing tourists to lure food from them.

There are also a number of temples scattered throughout the park. The Todaiji temple complex alone is worth making the journey to the city of Nara for. The main building of the complex is one of the world's largest wooden buildings and contains a massive 15-meter statue of bronze Buddha.

Japan Trip: Takayama - 2 days

The city of Takayama is often called by its more ancient name, Hida-Takayama.

Hida-Takayama is a city on the banks of the river, where in the morning there are wonderful morning markets, which are interesting to stroll through slowly while tasting sake. The entire city is nestled in the middle of the Japanese Alps, so there are plenty of opportunities to explore the surrounding area.

Tokyo - 4 days

Of course, when traveling around Japan, no one will miss the main city - Tokyo. Many foreigners simply spend their entire vacation in the capital when visiting Japan.

In Tokyo, as in any capital, there is a lot of entertainment for every taste. But what you can’t miss in the Japanese capital is the jazz club. Jazz is very popular in Japan, and one of the memorable impressions you will take with you from this country is the image of a small and delicate Japanese woman who divinely sings an Ella Fitzgerald song in an incredibly rich, soulful voice.

Nikko – 1 day

Nikko is a popular city with a National Park where you can easily spend a few days exploring the waterfalls, hot springs and hiking trails. People also come here to see the oldest temple, Tosho-gu, one of the most ornate temples in Japan. Even if you've already explored many of Japan's attractions, you'll find Tosho-gu Temple, surrounded by massive, centuries-old cedar trees, exceptionally remarkable.

Has your trip to Japan already taken place? What would you like to see and what do you expect from a visit to the land of the rising sun?

Japan is diverse, but homogeneous. Japan is a country where on your left is a thousand-year-old temple, and on your right is an ultra-modern high-rise building.
What to see in Japan, going there for the first time on your own? How to plan a route around the country in order to capture its spirit and not drown in impressions? What to see when you are there with a child?

Some people rightly trust standard tours along the main tourist routes. For starters, this may be quite enough. But if you have at least a little experience of independent travel, don’t be afraid to visit Japan on your own!
This article was written by the author of the site based on his own trip to Japan with his schoolchild. I give recommendations from my own experience, you can follow them as you wish.

When to go to Japan?

The best time to visit Japan is autumn and spring school holidays!
For trips to European countries in other articles, I recommended shifting the dates due to the massive travel of families with children these days (and, accordingly, more expensive tickets), but fortunately this does not apply to Japan. This is not a popular “school” destination, so feel free to plan your trip around the holidays.
Moreover, according to weather conditions, this is the best time. Spring - plums. Autumn – bright colors of deciduous plants. This is the time of “admiring nature” for the Japanese. Join them too.

How many days will it take?
At least a week, optimal days 10. Due to the long flight, you will need time to adapt, as well as “adjustment” to the surrounding reality. She is the same, but different)))
On the other hand, there is no point in planning a trip for a long time (more than 2 weeks) for the first time. The child will be satiated with information and impressions.
A long trip makes sense if, for example, you want to spend some time in Okinawa.

Japan route

For your first acquaintance with the country, it will be enough for you to plan an acquaintance with the two main cities of Japan - Tokyo and Kyoto.
Few? Not at all, believe me. Moreover, we inspect not only their centers, but also go to the surrounding areas. We walk and enjoy the views, contemplate, and be surprised. Instead of running around, getting acquainted with all the sights “for show”.

Plan approximately equal time for each city (for example, if you have 10 nights, then 5 in Tokyo and 5 in Kyoto). We had 9 nights, we allocated 4 days to Kyoto, 5 days to Tokyo. Which we later regretted - it was necessary spend more time in Kyoto.

It's better to start with Kyoto. And then your trip will be not only across cities, but also across time, from antiquity to modernity - and this is very interesting! Kyoto is the oldest city in Japan, where old traditions seem to have frozen (and this is not an exaggeration!). Tokyo is more modern, dynamic, strict.

Having flown from Russia to Tokyo, it is better not to immediately check into hotels in the capital, but to go and settle there. people arrive in Tokyo in the first half of the day; the day of arrival is usually somewhat hectic, so it will be easier and more convenient to spend it on moving.


What to see in Kyoto
After checking into a hotel (or better yet, to fully experience classic Japan), take a walk around the neighborhood on the first evening. Understand where you are))

And then plan the 3-4 days at your disposal to visit the following places:
— (an hour’s drive outside the city, for the whole day, a visit to Nara is a must!),
– visit to Inari (near Kyoto, spend a few hours),
– a walk along the “philosopher’s path”, from to the Kiyomizudzera temple (east of Kyoto, a leisurely walk with sightseeing can take the whole day),
- walk through the northwestern part of Kyoto - Golden Pavilion, Ryoanji rock garden,
— visit to the Emperor's Palace and/or Nijo-jo Castle (center of Kyoto. If you have little time, it is better to choose Nijo-jo).
— Sanjusangen-do Temple (Highly recommended. In Kyoto, relatively close to the train station. A visit can be planned in the morning of the day of departure)

The question may arise: will it be interesting for children to examine all these complexes? The answer to this was given by me in the article.
Among direct children's entertainment in Kyoto, we can mention the KYOTO AQUARIUM Aquarium or the Toei Kyoto Studio Park (www.toei-eigamura.com/)

More details about the details of the route will be written in a separate article about the sights of Kyoto.

I repeat once again - do not waste your time in Kyoto. Its ancient temples, palaces and parks are many times more “authentic” than similar ones in Tokyo. Enjoy Japanese antiquity in Kyoto.

What to see in Tokyo
Plan your move to Tokyo so that it is convenient for you to check out from one hotel and check into another.

In Tokyo, your family entertainment program might look like this:
— (Tokyo area, for the whole day),
— inspection of the imperial palace (the center of Tokyo, if you have already been to the imperial palace of Kyoto, then in general it’s not worth going here)
— visit to the observation tower (there are several to choose from),
— Ueno Park, Tokyo National Museum, National Science Museum (for children),
- entertainment in Odaiba - Maritime Museum, MeSci National Museum of Science and Innovation, Toyota Demonstration Center,
— Tokyo Disneyland (full day).
— go out in the Shibuya area to see the monument to the faithful dog Hachiko.


Well, it will take your time, just like without it. The toy stores in Tokyo are definitely worth a visit!

As you can see, the program can turn out to be very intense. You will begin your acquaintance with the country from the old temples of Kyoto and Nara, and end with views of skyscrapers and an examination of the most modern robots of the Science Museum.
For more information about the attractions of each city, see other articles on the site.
The article and all photos are from the author of the site