{"id":9127,"date":"2020-07-22T09:57:44","date_gmt":"2020-07-22T08:57:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wendywutours.co.uk\/blog\/?p=9127"},"modified":"2021-04-19T10:21:58","modified_gmt":"2021-04-19T09:21:58","slug":"japan-travel-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wendywutours.co.uk\/blog\/japan\/japan-travel-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan Travel Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There’s nowhere in the world quite like Japan<\/a>, a wonderful country of unique culture , traditions and etiquette. Of course what makes it so special can also make it seem a little intimidating to the uninitiated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well no need to worry. We’ve been the number one tour operator to Japan for over 20 years so know the country inside out. Here’s our practical guide to travelling in Japan so you can know what to expect and how to make your trip as smooth as an Udon noodle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hotels & Lodging<\/a>
Food & Drink<\/a>
Getting Around<\/a>
Suggested Packing List<\/a>
Money<\/a>
Shopping<\/a>
Staying in Touch<\/a>
Safety<\/a>
Health<\/a>
Etiquette<\/a>
Suggested Reading List<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Hotels & Lodging<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Hotels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hotels in Japan offer similar facilities and standards as\nyou would expect in the West. Rooms feature heating\/air-conditioning, television\nand an ensuite bathroom. Bathrooms in all but the very top end hotels tend to\nbe quite small, with a half size bath with a shower over it. There is often a\nstep up to the bathroom, so please be observant of this. In-room safes, fridges\nand tea\/ coffee making facilities are reasonably common but you may not find\nthem in all hotels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

City hotels may have a bar, gym and swimming pool but please\nbear in mind that hotels in rural areas may be more basic. Double beds are not\ncommon; please note that we cannot guarantee their availability. Please note\nthat space is at a premium in Japan\u2019s cities, so all hotel rooms tend to be on\nthe small side \u2013 this is especially true of single rooms. While we usually use\nWestern style rooms, on occasion you may stay in a Japanese style room.\nJapanese rooms feature a futon bed with a mattress lying directly on the floor.\nIt is still common to smoke in hotels throughout Japan. We will endeavour to do\nall we can to ensure you have a non-smoking room, however this cannot be\nguaranteed. In alpine regions, due to the nature of the environment, you may\ncome across local insects in your hotel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ryokan <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ryokans are traditional Japanese inns and offer the perfect opportunity\nto experience traditional Japanese culture. The rooms at a traditional ryokan\nare basic, with tatami-matted rooms, paper sliding doors, futon bedding and\nshared bathrooms. There is usually no central heating. There are also more\nwesternised versions of ryokans which include a tatami-matted area but have proper\nbeds and a private toilet and bath\/shower. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The usual loungewear at a Ryokan is a \u2018yukata\u2019 (Japanese\nrobe), which is often provided. In keeping with the traditions of a Ryokan,\nguests must remove their shoes before entering the inn and must wear slippers\naround the hallways. Only bare or stockinged feet are permitted to tread on the\ntatami straw mats, so all footwear must be removed entirely prior to entering\nthe guestrooms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dinner and breakfast are included in the price of the room\nand usually consist of a \u2018kaiseki\u2019 meal, featuring numerous small and varied\ndishes. Most ryokans have bathing areas making use of any local hot springs \u2013\n\u2018onsens\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Shukubo\u2019 \u2013 Temple Lodging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your tour includes lodging at a temple, this offers an\nexcellent chance to get a taste of the simple, traditional lifestyle of\nBuddhist monks. Accommodation here is traditional and basic, offering Japanese\nrooms with tatami floors, sliding doors (fusuma) made of rice paper, and shared\nbathrooms. The bedding is single futons that are laid out on the tatami floor.\nThe evening meal is a Buddhist vegetarian dinner, known as Shojin Ryori,\nusually served at 6pm. The temple is staffed by monks who generally do not\nspeak English. There are no TVs on the premises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Onsens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The ritual of bathing in onsens has been enjoyed by the Japanese\nfor centuries \u2013 they are revered for their healing properties and ability to\nbreak down social barriers. Using an onsen bath is governed by etiquette but\nthis is nothing to worry about as you will see information in your room about\nhow and when to use the onsen in your hotel\/ryokan. Onsen baths are segregated\n\u2013 there will either be one for men and one for women or there will be different\ntimings for men and women. Onsen baths do not allow bathing suits \u2013 you leave your\nyukata and towel in a basket or locker in the changing room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may be provided with a small towel that you can take\nwith you into the bathing area, but it must not go into the water \u2013 you will\nsee many people placing it on their head while they soak. You must use the\nfacilities to wash yourself off before entering the hot baths. The waters can\nbe very hot, usually around 40 degrees. Onsens are not for swimming, but\nsoaking and quiet contemplation. Please note: people with tattoo sleeves or\nlarge, very visible tattoos could be asked to not use the public onsen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

ELECTRICITY<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is an electricity supply of 100 volts in Japan. Plugs\nare two flat pins, similar to those of the US plug. Whilst phone\/ tablet\/laptop\/camera\nchargers are universal voltage, some of your appliances may not be, so you may\nfind that they do not work well in Japan. You can buy adaptors, also known as\nconversion plugs, from hardware, department and duty-free stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TIPPING<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tipping is not part of Japanese culture so it is not\nmandatory. If you would like to tip for exceptional service then this will be\ngreatly appreciated, but you do not need to leave tips in restaurants, taxis,\nhotels and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EATING IN JAPAN<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The <\/a>Japanese cuisine is renowned around the world for three qualities: the seasonality of the food; the quality of the ingredients; and the exquisite presentation. The country\u2019s cuisine is based on combining staple foods, typically rice or noodles, with a soup and okazu \u2013 dishes made from fish, meat or vegetables to add flavor to the staple food. These are typically flavored with dashi, miso and soy sauce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most famous Japanese food is sushi, but Japan has a huge\nvariety of wonderful food types:<\/p>\n\n\n\n