Japan
Welcome
Motto: No official motto
Anthem: "Kimigayo" (君が代) "His Imperial Majesty's Reign"
Japan is a long-form archipelago that stretches over 3,000 km between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan with all to the north, Russia and to the south, Taiwan.
Capital: Tokyo.
Population: 126,1 million inhabitants.
Gross Domestic Product - GDP (PPP): $5.9 trillion.
Official languages: Japanese.
Area: 377,975 km2.
Water (%): 3,6.
Currency: Japanese yen (JPY).
Safety rating: Ranked 9 on the Global Peace Index with a score of 1.37.
Food
Japan has a very rich, varied and very different culinary tradition from the rest of the world. In fact, apart from sushi and perhaps tempura (fried food in light breading), Japanese food remains a mystery to most of us. The Japanese eat very often in restaurants and this is reflected in the number of restaurants. For example, Tokyo has more than 160,000 restaurants, compared to around 24,000 in New York City. It's enormous. You might think sushi is the most popular, but it isn't. Japanese people are often looking for cheaper, quick-to-eat food, with businessmen probably being the largest clientele of these establishments.
Here are some very popular dishes in Japan:
The Shabu-Shabu
Shabu-Shabu is actually a Japanese fondue. We use broth or boiling water to cook the beef, mushrooms, tofu and vegetables we want to eat. Its name is actually an onomatopoeia of the sound that meat makes when touching boiling water. This dish is very popular because the price is very reasonable and the meat is often at will.
Soba noodles
Soba noodle is made from buckwheat flour. These noodles are usually served cold in the summer, but hot in the winter in a broth. There are several recipes based on soba noodle, but generally, we eat them as is, soaking them in a soy sauce.
Okonomiyaki
Okomomiyaki is mainly served in Hiroshima and Osaka. Its English translation would be "what you like grilled" or "tousqui" grilled. It is a dough, often made from eggs, cooked on a plate with several other ingredients such as vegetables, meats or seafood. We find them especially in specialized restaurants where the chef bakes them in front of us.
Obviously, there are several other really interesting dishes in Japan. You can discover these three dishes and many others with us on our Passion Japon circuit.
Transportation
The Subway
In the cities the subway is ultramodern and works very well. Avoid rush hour however, as the very crowded crowd fills the cars, where one crowds the Japanese way. Most major cities in Japan have their metro network. Tickets are taken from vending machines, and prices vary depending on distance and number of stations.
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Find your way around the metro: in the stations, the network maps are displayed in Japanese, with the names of the stations often written in English. In the wagon, the names of the stations are announced by a voice (in English). At almost every station, the traveler finds a small information desk. At worst, a Japanese driver is asked for directions.
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Prices: in Tokyo, a ticket is worth at least 170 ¥ (1.40 €) from 1 to 6 km, 200 ¥ (1.70 €) from 7 to 11 km... Prices vary according to the companies. I strongly recommend that you purchase Suica cards or Pasmo in Tokyo. It is now valid in most urban transport in other cities of Japan.
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Metro maps: metro maps of the main cities of Japan can be found on the website of the National Tourist Office of Japan.
The bus
A very practical means of transport in certain cities. In Tokyo, however, it is best to take the metro and train.
Bus networks work very well. Efficiency, organization, modernity and sense of service. City bus companies publish clear and practical plans. Tickets can be purchased on the bus.
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Bus connections between cities in Japan: much longer than the train, but very good service. A journey from Tokyo (Shinjuku-JR station) to Kyoto takes 7 hours and costs around ¥ 5,000 (€ 42).
The car
It is not the simplest solution. Driving is on the left, directions in the streets and on the roads are displayed in Japanese with translations in Roman characters. On the main axes, ditto; but on the secondary roads, it gets tougher: the signs are exclusively in Japanese. In addition, foreigners wishing to drive in Japan cannot use the international permit issued in their country. They must have a Japanese translation. Once in Japan, you can drive with the translation accompanied by the original license. In short, driving in Japan for a passing visitor is neither recommended nor economical.
The train
It is the most convenient (and economical) way to travel within Japan. The country also has one of the most developed rail networks in the world. The trains are on time, and the numerous frequencies allow to move quickly and easily from one city to another. On arrival at stations (large or small), buses, funiculars (in the mountains) or racks await travelers. We go from one to the other without difficulty. Tickets can be purchased at ATMs or at green strip counters located next to them. If in doubt, contact a particularly friendly employee, who often provides information in English and with an amazing sense of service.
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The trains of the JR (Japan Railway) network: this network includes 6 railway companies which cover the whole country. Trains serve the main islands of Japan, from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south. They are punctual and comfortable. In addition, the connections between the lines are easy.
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Many private lines: they work as well as the public network, almost at the same price. For Nikko, the Tobu line. For Hakone, the Odakyu Electric Railway line . Around Osaka, private companies provide connections: Kintetsu Railways for Nara, Keihan Railways for Kyoto, Hankyu Electric for Kobe, Nankai Electric Railways for Kansai International Airport.
Shinkansen train (Japanese high-speed train offers very fast and numerous connections (tens per day) between the main cities of Japan.
A Tokyo-Kyoto journey (513 km) lasts 2h20-2h50; ticket: around ¥ 14,000. A Tokyo-Osaka trip (556 km) lasts 2h48; ticket: around ¥ 14,500.
The Shinkansen is elegant and slender, like a long sea fish, with a locomotive that evokes a kind of ultramodern eel. Great comfort, impeccable service. Places must be reserved, but on each train, 3 cars remain available without reservation for last-minute travelers. You have to show up early and wait in line, but without guarantee during rush hour! One of the major railway projects is to replace the Shinkansen by 2025 with an electromagnetic levitation train! Be careful not to confuse them with other trains, certified copies of the Shinkansen, but which are omnibuses and stop everywhere!
The Japan Rail Pass
The Japan Rail Pass, a package sold by the JR company, is interesting (and even essential) for travelers who wish to move around the country, between Tokyo and Kyoto, and beyond to southern Japan (Kagoshima) and the North (Wakkanai). Otherwise, it is not necessarily profitable (it is up to you to calculate according to your itinerary).
This package must be purchased before the trip, in the country of departure. You are given a voucher to exchange for the real pass at a JR station in Japan, where a special counter is often offered to perform this operation. It allows foreigners to make unlimited journeys on the lines of the JR network (trains, metros) and on buses and boats (ferries, only for Hiroshima) affiliated to the JR network. This package is not valid on the Nozomi super express train.
The other regional Japan Rail Passes
There are advantageous packages ( passes ) by region, reserved for tourists, to be purchased in the country of departure. For the Kyoto-Osaka-Nara region, get the Kansai Area Pass: 1 day around ¥ 2,200; 2 days around ¥ 4,300; 3 days around ¥ 5,300; 4 days around ¥ 6,300. We can thus move freely on the railway lines between Osaka, Kobe, Nara, Kyoto and Wakayama, and take advantage of many discounts on tourist visits. You can also buy the JR Hokkaïdo Pass from ¥ 16,500, the JR East Pass (¥ 25,000), the West Rail Pass (¥ 19,000), the JR-Kyushu Pass (¥ 15,000).
The taxi
Even if they don't always speak English, you can explain yourself by showing them the hotel's Japanese business card, or by showing them on the city map (in Japanese) the precise place where we surrender.
If the red light located in the lower left corner of the windshield is on, this means that the taxi is free. The invoice ( ryōshûsho ) is issued by an electronic unit. The treatment varies, depending on the time of year, from 400 to 700 ¥; the counter then increases from 2 km. Particularly interesting therefore for short trips. Never tip it is an insult, they are not beggars.
The plane
2 large companies, among the best in the world: Japan Airlines and ANA ( All Nippon Airways ). Japan Airlines offers a Japan Explorer Pass - which allows you to make 2 to 6 flights at reduced prices - usable over a period of 2 months. The 2 biggest airports in Japan are those of Tokyo-Narita and Kansai, near Osaka, built on the sea (magnificent view when arriving). From America or Europe, direct connections to Osaka (Kansai International Airport) with regular and daily flights, allowing quick access to Kyoto, without passing through Tokyo.
Best things to do
KONICHIWA! Certainly the most western country in Asia, Japan fascinates as much as it seduces. This land of the rising sun oscillates between authenticity and modernity, traditions and innovations, dream and reality. Country of the unusual and the paradox, it sometimes plunges us into the heart of megalopolises or very developed cities then, gently, invites us to escape and to nature. Exotic and intriguing, Japan is full of riches and cultures. On the roads, on the train, on foot and randomly through the streets, we explore and we go from mountain to wonder.
Walk the alleys of the old Yanaka district in Tokyo. Go to Harajuku on Sunday to attend the cosplays parade. Discover the charm, tranquility and romance of the capital's large parks. Sleep Japanese-style in a ryokan. Participate in traditional festivals in Kyoto. Stay in a Buddhist temple on Mount Koya. Bathing in onsen, these natural hot springs. Take the ascent of Mount Fuji.
Best time to visit
The 2 ideal seasons are spring (late March-early April) for the colors around the cherry blossom (note, late April-early May is Golden Week: there are a lot of people) and autumn, pleasant season for its mild temperature and the colors of the trees.
The periods when you should avoid going to Japan (When to go to Japan?):
- The period of the end of year celebrations and the Oshôgatsu (from December 29 to January 5), the end of year celebrations are an opportunity for the Japanese to visit their families in the provinces and to collect in the temples and shrines of the country. On these dates, museums and many businesses close their doors. As a result, the seats in bullets train or shinkansen are taken by storm by the Japanese. (When to go to Japan?)
- The monsoon period in Japan from mid-June to mid-July is the least favorable period for a trip to Japan. Better to avoid planning your visit to Japan during these 3 weeks of monsoon. It can rain non-stop for a whole day. (When to go to Japan?)
- Golden week (from April 29 to May 5) is a week consisting of 4 holidays (the birthday of Emperor Showa Showa no hi on April 29, the day of commemoration of the Kenpoukinen-bi constitution on May 3 , Midori no hi nature day on May 4 and Kodomo no hi children's day on May 5). During this week, all Japanese people leave their holidays to leave and to travel to Japan. The most popular airports, stations and tourist spots are crowded. Finding accommodation or train tickets at the last minute is almost impossible during this period. During the golden week, Japan experiences a spike in tourist activity.
Quick tips
Internet connection in Japan?
The wifi pockets aka the most beautiful invention in the world! These are small boxes that you can easily carry around in your backpack and that allow you to have an internet connection wherever you are. Kind of like you have network after all. It’s super convenient to find your way during the day (especially since the addresses are not very clear to us).
Inexpensive Internet in Japan: there is a free Japan connected Free Wifi app, which allows you to connect to the available hotspots. Another option, a SIM Data card for Japan (duration 7, 15 or 30 days), which allows you to stay connected to the Internet (but it does not allow you to be called or make phone calls). 2 card formats: Micro and Nano . Obviously, you must have a previously unlocked and recent phone, and ask your operator about compatibility with your device.
Clean clean clean!
Something that I LOVED from Japan and that I still miss today is cleanliness in the streets, alleys, shops, etc. It looks like people are brooming outside everyday. There are no cigarette butts or rubbish fluttering in the wind. On trash days, sometimes bags burst and spread, but when you come back in the evening, everything is clean. The contrast with Montreal is striking. I'm so sorry to see all the litter littering the way between the metro and my work now. It seems that they have jumped out at me more since I saw that it was possible to live differently. Don't look for trash can on Japanese streets, there just isn't one. After attacks in the 1980s, they were all removed.
