A Brief Guide To Traveling To Japan

There really is nothing like packing up the family at the end of the year and heading out on that much-desired, much-needed vacation. This is especially true if you are traveling to a new country where you will get to experience new cuisines, new cultures, and new environments for the first time.

There is also no denying that a trip like this can be daunting as well as overwhelming. There are lots of things that you need to get in order as well as lots of things to plan out. You need to call the credit card company and let them know you will be traveling out of the country, you need to get your passport and visas in check, and you need to make sure you have your agenda planned out, just to name a few of the items on your to-do list.

As you can see, you haven't even started packing your clothes yet and you are probably feeling a bit anxious or overwhelmed. This is perfectly natural, but you don't want to let anything ruin your once-in-a-lifetime trip to Japan. Not many people get to take a trip like this and you want to make the most of your opportunity. The following guide and information are going to help you achieve just that.

Get The JR Pass

Chances are that you will be flying into Japan through one of the major airports. Sure, you can have a car waiting for you at the airport or you can even rent a car for the trip, if you're feeling brave enough to take on driving amidst signs in a sometimes difficult language.

However, if you really want to experience the trip in a completely different manner altogether, you should consider picking up a JR Pass. This pass should be considered your golden ticket throughout the entirety of your trip, as it will allow you unlimited access to all JR trains, including the shinkansen, or bullet trains. If you have never been on a bullet train, this is something that you will want to check out at least once. It will be an experience that you will never forget.

Finding A Place To Stay

Another obstacle will be finding a place to stay. Well, this won't be so much of an obstacle as a challenge. Throughout your travels through Japan, you will without a doubt have tons of different luxurious locations to choose from. The question is a matter of just how much money are you willing to spend on accommodations.

If you are looking to save yourself a bit of money, you might want to check out hostels or couch surfing options. If you are traveling with the family and want to do the whole trip in style, then you will want to choose something more luxurious, with both western-style and traditional Japanese options available. Whatever the situation is, there is no denying that you will meet a lot of diverse and exciting travelers along the way.

Keeping Yourself Busy

It doesn't matter if you are traveling by bus, plane, or ship, there are going to be downtimes during your trip. These downtimes will not only be extremely boring, but they could set the tone for your entire trip. This is why you want to make sure that you have something to occupy your time while traveling. Most buses, ships, and planes offer Wi-Fi connections as well as things like in-flight movies.

Get Your Luggage In Order

How you pack for your trip will really depend on the attractions and cities that you are going to travel to. If you are traveling during the summer months, you will want to, of course, back your regular t-shirts and shorts to deal with the often intense heat and humidity. If you are traveling during the winter months, you will want to pack quite a bit warmer.

Whatever the situation is, make sure that you check the weather ahead of time because the country might be experiencing quite different temperatures than what you are used to back home.

• Japan Zone Sightseeing Guide