When to Visit Japan? A Guide

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If you desire to travel to Japan on cheap, then you have to make sure when to visit Japan and how. Figuring the right time and method on traveling to Japan is recommended because you can save a lot of travel expenses. Many travelers think that Japan is a very expensive travel destination and for many people even seems out of reach. But these days, the new Japanese government’s economic policies that is beneficial for travelers, especially for budget travelers. The key is deciding when the right time is and the right method. The methods includes avoiding Japanese traveler’s peak season to save money on accommodation, using free guiding services to save money on paying tour guides, and also taking local transit to save money for few more trips.

Traveling Off Peak

When you’re figuring the right time and method on traveling to Japan, the first aspect you need to keep in mind is to travel during off season. You must avoid Japanese traveler’s peak season. This way, you will be able to save money on accommodation. Autumn foliage times and Cherry times, which is usually around April to November are the peak season of Japanese travelers. That means peak hotel rates. You can save a bundle if you’re traveling during off-season, which is late autumn through March, not including the New Year’s holiday season.

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Free Travel Guides

If you would like to travel on cheap, you need to also use free guiding services. Joining free tours is highly suggested for people who desire to save money on paying tour guides. In Nara, Tokyo or other cities, there are volunteer guides that provide free tours. They are usually friendly locals who are trying to make new friends while practicing their English, normally you will need to pay only for the admission fees to sights and also transport for both you and the guides.

Nara Walking Tour

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Take Local Transit

In addition to joining free tours, you might want to take local transit as well. Taking local transit for your trips also allow you to save money for few more trips. Japanese cities are mostly can be easily navigable by tram or rail, at fares cheaper than other countries. For instance, The Tokyo subway starts at $1.71 per trip, while New York subway’s fares starts at $2.50. If you are planning on taking more than a couple of trips, using day passes could also save you money. Consequently, if you desire to travel on cheap, be sure that you understand when to visit Japanand what is the best method.

5 Incredible Things to Do The place Traditional Japanese Culture Blends With Fashionable Miracles

Japanese society, being an intriguing mixture of the old and the brand new, is likely one of the many reasons to go to Japan and discover out extra about Japanese culture and history.

Probably the most standard vacationer locations is Kyoto Japan, an ancient city that was lucky to have escaped the bombing during World Warfare II. Its architectural glory has remained intact and Kyoto historical past can visually unwind earlier than your eyes. 

Kyoto, as soon as the capital of Japan, is renowned for its wealth of shrines and temples. There are so many that you will want several holidays in case you wished to go to them all.And since there are so many potential things to do try to be quite selective in planning your itinerary.

You may wish to take pleasure in exploring the region and absorbing Kyoto history both on a bicycling or a strolling tour.The railway station in Kyoto Japan

Paradoxically, in case you arrive by practice, the first picture you will see in this historical metropolis is a very trendy structure.The railway station itself in Kyoto Japan is large and value exploration in its personal right. If you happen to take the escalators as much as the top you’ll go above roof degree and enjoy spectacular views of the town from the viewing area.

This, an important link in Japan’s railway system, was opened in 1997.Throughout the 15-story advanced you’ll find a shopping mall, a hotel, a division retailer and a cinema.And, yes, there’s even a helipad.In the event you’re traveling on a funds you can simply find numerous accommodations.

The Ryokan Visitor Homes

The Ryokan Visitor Homes, that are highly regarded, current the normal facet of Kyoto Japan.

Inside them you’ll discover tatami floors and shoji screen doorways, true symbols of Japanese culture.

Their furnishings are easy yet comfortable.

There are additionally numerous different visitor homes, hostels, and price range hotels for business travelers in addition to tourists.

Toji Temple

Toji Temple needs to be high on everyone’s listing of things to see.

It is Japans tallest wooden construction and has the biggest pagoda of any in Japan on its grounds.

Nijo Citadel

Nijo Fortress is among the most interesting examples of a fortress in Japan and it also is in Kyoto Japan.

The castle is comprised of a big moat, varied gardens, two tea houses, buildings, and beautiful cherry trees.

Nijo Fortress was accomplished virtually 400 years ago, in 1626, and was given to the town in 1939.

The Kyoto International Manga Museum

The Kyoto Worldwide Manga Museum is one of the extra unusual sights you would possibly wish to visit.

The museum is the home of a group of 200,000 comic books.

Notice that Manga Comics are a central part of Japanese culture and you’ll see not solely why they have develop into fashionable in the west as effectively, but in addition why you would possibly need to read some of them in your go to to the Manga Museum.

Visit Kobe Japan 2013

Kobe Japan is considered as one of the ten largest cities in Japan. It is the capital of Hyogo Perfecture which is located between the sea and  a mountain range what is so called as Rokko. Kobe has been playing an important role to develop the foreign trading in Japan since the 19th century. For many people, especially those who love culinary world.

Kobe is famous of the wagyu beef. Wagyu is considered as a heavenly good meat for steak due to the tenderness and the flavor of the meat. If you want to enjoy this meat, you can visit teppanyaki restaurants. But be ready to spend a lot of money. Besides the wagyu meat, Kobe is also known as a good and wonderful place to visit. It offers several tourist attractions.

1. Sorakuen Garden

It is a Japanese garden located in the center of the city of Kobe. Before being opened in 1941, Sorakuen Garden was the garden in Kodera Kenkichi’s residence. Several buildings used to stand in the garden but all disappeared due to the war except the stable.

1. Kitano

If you visit Kobe, you should visit Kitano. Kitano offers an unforgettable experience to visit several mansions of foreign merchants and diplomats which now are opened as museums. You can adore the architectures and antique furnitures which are mostly different from one mansion to other mansions. By paying 300 to 500 yen, you can visit

• England House

It was built in 1907 and adorned with furnitures from the year.

• France House (Yokan Nagaya)

It is decorated with furnitures originated from France including Louis Vuitton.

• Ben’s House

It used to be a house of Ben Allison, a hunter. The house kept stuffed animals

• Italian House

You can find many goods, artworks, and ornaments in this house.

• Former Chinese Consulate

Chinese furnitures and items make this house look unique and ancient.

• Kitano Foreigners Association

See the club bars, lounge, and old kitchen.

• Yamate Hachibankan

It displays the works of Rodin, Bourdelle, and Renoir.

• Uroko House and Uroko Museum

It keeps the paintings by Russian famous painters and the antique furnitures.

• Dutch Museum and Fragance House

Besides adoring the Dutch furniture, you can smell and buy scented soaps and perfumes.

• Kobe Harborland

As the name implies, Kobe Harborland offers shopping areas, cinema, restaurants, and amusement park along the seashore.

• Kobe City Museum

Kobe City Museum is a unique museum since ut combines the collections from Namban Art Museum and Kobe Archaeological Museum. Therefore, you can find artworks, paintings, maps of all regions in Japan, and artifacts in one museum. The art is called Namban because the style of this art was initiated during the contact with Western through trading in 1500s.

• Meriken Park

This park offers the view of the port. You can visit the Kobe Port Tower and Kobe Maritim Museum. This museum keeps the collections of modern ship models. You can also learn the history about the port and the trading system of Japan with foreign countries. Kobe Maritim Museum spends half of the buildings for Kawasaki Good Time World  which exhibits the machines and vehicles produced by Kawasaki. Spend your time to visit the Kobe Port Tower. On the top of this 108-meter-high tower you can enjoy the view of Kobe from the restaurant and rotating cafe. You can also visit the memorial site to commemorate the victims of the earthquake died in the port in 1995.

• Chinatown

Like Yokohama, Kobe also has its Chinatown. It is located in the Kansai Region. You can visit many shops, restaurants, and food stalls in it.

• Shin-Kobe Ropeway

Experience the sensation of traveling through Rokko mountain from ropeway.You can enjoy the beautiful view of the Nunobiki Waterfall, Nunobiki Herb Garden, and the sky. Traveling through this ropeway also picks you to a restaurant, rest house, cafe, and shop which sells herbal products and aromatic products. Mount Rokko itself is a perfect place to see the view of Kobe and Osaka.

• Arima Onsen

Do you need time to relax? Visit Arima Onseb where you can enjoy the relaxing hot spring. You can have the hot spring bathing in public bath houses like Kim no Yu, Gim no Yu, Taiko no Yu, or Goshobo.

10 Tokyo Best Hotels to Stay

• Tokyo Ryokan

For those who love to watch anime (Japanese cartoon) will wonder about living in such a unique peaceful traditional Japanese house. Tokyo Ryokan is highly recommended. You can stay in this hotel with your friends or family. But only three rooms are provided. Do not worry. It is worth to choose. You can smell the exotic smell of tatami mats and feel the experience of sliding the fusuma or door with paper screens. The rooms are beautifully adorned with wooden Japanese furniture.

In Tokyo Ryokan, you need to share the bathroom. Paying for the bathroom fee is kindly recommended. Though this hotel does not provide meals, you can enjoy Japanese cuisine in any nearby restaurants or food stalls. All rooms cost 3.000 yen for each person. Bicycle rental is provided starting from 200 yen.

• New Koyo

Since the cost is believed as the cheapest all over Tokyo, New Koyo is recommended for backpackers. The facilities include kitchen and toilet in every floor and bathroom in the first floor. The cost for the room starts from 2.500 yen. You can also rent a bicycle for 500 yen for a day.

• The Claska

For all party goers, the Claska is a good choice. This hotel offers a party venue as well as rooftop terraceto delight your party soul. The fancy thing is that this hotel also has art gallery. Since only nine rooms are available while the guests always come, you need to book this hotel early before you arrive. For single room, you need to spend 10.500 yen, while 19.800 yen is for double.

• Yama no Ue Hotel

The name means hilltop hotel. As the name implies, Yama no Ue lies on the top of Surugadai hill, Kanda. This hotel was first opened in 1937. This hotel is the destination for journalists, authors, and scholars to stay due to the peaceful and quiet sorroundings. This was famous as the place for Yukio Mishima finished his novels. Prepare to spend more money. To stay in the single room, you need to spend 15.750 yen, while double room costs 23.100 yen.

• Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza

If you love shopping, it is a perfect choice to stay in Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza. Located in shopping destination, Ginza, this hotel offers you easy access to shop til you drop. The design of this modern and minimalist hotel was by Piero Lissoni, the professional Italian designer. Single room costs 12.500 yen and double room is for 18.000 yen.

• Hotel Charme Meguro

To stay in this hotel, you will go through such unique experience of checking in. To choose the room, what you need to do is just pressing the photograph of the room as if you press a button. You can take a rest for a few hours in this hotel as well as stay overnight. Two hours rest starts from 6.000 to 10.000 yen. If you want to stay overnight, you need to spend 8.000 to 15.000 yen.

• The Hotel Siesta

This capsule hotel enables you to stay in a hotel with less money allocated. Though it is defined by the name as capsule, it is enough for you to sit or watch TV. Though you need to share bathroom with others, it is clean and comfortable. You need to spend 3.300 yen for a capsule room. Regular single room costs 6.600 yen.

• Sakura Hotel

Sakura Hotel has been operating since 1994. The staffs are able to speak English, so they can serve foreign tourists well. During your stay, you can enjoy meals in several restaurants, buy secondhand books in many bookshops, or buy electronic stuffs in the electronic shops. You can also enjoy the free internet access. But, make sure that you are willing to share bathroom. This hotel offers dormitory rooms with 3.150 yen and single rooms for 6.090 yen.

• Park Hotel Tokyo

During your stay in Park Hotel Tokyo, spend your time to visit Edo Tokyo Museum and enjoy Edo meals in Hanasanshou restaurants. To stay in this hotel, you need to spend 19.950 yen.

• Imperial Hotel

If you have extra money, take your time to stay in Imperial Hotel. The luxurious architecture was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1923. You can experience the feeling of staying in the place where bureaucrats and rich people used to stay. Staying in this hotel gives you easy access to Hibiya Park, Imperial Palace, and Yurakucho Shinbashi. Do not get surprised by the fee. To stay in this hotel, you need to pay 39.000 yen as the minimum.

Five Best Places to Enjoy Tokyo Cuisines

Tokyo is a good destination for spending holiday. You can enjoy the pleasure of taking a walk on the Japanese gardens, watching the first sakura falls, visiting the museums, shopping in the shopping areas, or enjoying the cuisine. Talking about the cuisine, it is really recommended to taste delicious foods from Japan, starting from bento to sushi. Here are several restaurants in Tokyo which serve the best foods.

• Namiki Yabusoba

Namiki Yabusoba is well known of its famous soba noodle. It is located near Senso-ji Temple. Soba noodle served in Namiki Yabusoba is guaranteed to be delicate and delicious. The chef has been learning for years to create the delicious flavor and the best texture of the noodle. In Namiki Yabusoba, you can choose the noodle that you like. You can have it with hot broth, dipping sauce, wasabi or seaweed. Plain soba noodle is also available. The noodle is served with different toppings depending on the season, such as tempura, fish, and vegetables. The restaurant sets the peaceful and comfortable surrounding to add the pleasure of enjoying the noodle.

• Toufuya-Ukai

Tofu of Toufuya-Ukai is very special. It is fried twice, then served with delicious seaweed broth and miso sauce. What make the tofu delicious are the ingredients. It is made of good water and high quality soybeans. To season it, they use soymilk. Besides serving tofu, Toufuya-Ukai also serves other delicious Japanese dishes. To taste this delicious tofu, you can visit this restaurant which is near the famous Eiffel tower of Tokyo namely Tokyo Tower and near Zen garden.

• Isen

If you feel hungry after shopping in Ginza and you do not know where to go, do not get puzzled. For those who eat and like pork, Isen is a good place to visit. Located in Ginza makes Isen is easy to reach. But you need to really pay attention to every spot in this area since Isen is hidden from the crowd. It is exactly located on the second floor of an office building. You can enjoy the delicious and perfect combination of pork and fresh cabbage in one bite while watching the chef cooking the meal.

• Sushi-Dai

Are you a sushi lover? If the answer is yes, it is a perfect choice to visit Sushi-Dai. All sushi is made of fresh and healthy materials. Moreover, the fish used comes from the Tsukiji Fish Market which is famous of the fresh fish. The combination of all fresh materials creates a good taste of sushi. The fish is freshly and perfectly sliced and served for you right away.

• Ten Ichi

Ten Ichi has been serving the best tempura for more than 70 years. Any kinds of delicious fried food are served, including seafoods, lotus roots, asparagus, eggplants, and sweet potatoes. They are dipped into a mixture before fried in a special sesame and corn oil. The tempura is served together with vegetable salad, vegetable and bonito, miso soup, or rice.

Visit Yokohama Japan 2013

Being the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama becomes the second largest city and the city with largest population in Japan. It is located in Tokyo Bay, in the south of Tokyo city. It is the home for 3,7 million people. Yokohama is a rapid developing city in Japan. It offers several tourist attractions which are really worth to visit.

1. Sankeien garden

Do you want to watch the ancient and historical buildings in Japan? You can visit Sankeien garden which is located in the southern Kyoto. You can see a daimyo or a residence of the feudal lord, tea houses, pagoda, and hall. This Japanese style garden is sorrounded by pond, small rivers, flowers, and trails. Sankeien garden was built by Hara Sankei which then became the origin of the name. It was opened for public visit in 1904.

• Minato Mirai 21

Minato Mirai means the harbor of the future. As the name means, Minato Mirai is located in the seaside in the central Yokohama. It is a unique seashore urban area which provides several tourist attractions. They are Observatory Skyline, Cosmo World (an amusement park), Manyo Club (a body relaxation place which offers spa, body massage and body therapy including hot spring air), shopping centers (Queen’s Square, Landmark Plaza, World Porters, and Red Brick Warehouses), unique museums (Nippon Maru and Yokohama Port Museum, Cup Noodles Museum, Yokohama Museum of Art, Mitsubishi Minatomirai Industrial Museum).

• Chinatown

When you visit this place, probably you will be confused where in the world you are. Are you in China or Yokohama? The answer is you are in Chinatown in central Yokohama. Chinatown was the residence of Chinese traders who ran their business in Yokohama. It was built in 1873. Until now, Chinatown remains sturdy, strong, and beautiful. You can visit many Chinese stores as well as Chinese restaurants. There is also a colorful Chinese temple. You can also attend events and festivals held in it, including Chinese New Year.

• Zoorasia

Zoorasia is the newest and the largest zoo in Yokohama opened in 1999. It brings two themes of ‘Symbiosis with Nature’ and ‘Harmony with Nature’. The animals are well-treated and kept in seven ecological areas based on their habitat like Asian Tropical Forest, Amazon Jungle, Subartic Forest, Oceanian Grassland, Japanese Countryside, African Tropical Rainforest and Central Asian Highland. The most famous animals which attract the visitors’ attention are polar bears, elephants, probosis monkeys, and black bears. If you are hungry, you can visit the cafes and restaurants inside the zoo.

• Ramen Museum

Are you a ramen lover? If yes, ramen museum is a perfect place for you. Shinyokohama Ramen Museum consists of several floors which display different things. In the first floor, you can see the history of ramen including various kinds of noodle, soup, topping, and bowl. In two basement floors, you can experience the development of ramen depicted in the replica of Shitamachi streets and houses in the year of 1958. You can also purchase ticket in the vending machine to try ramen.

• Osanbashi Pier

Osanbashi Pier is a international cruise ships’ passengers terminal known as the Osanbashi International Passenger Terminal. It is located between Yamashita Park and Minato Mirai. This perfect place for walking and enjoying the view of Minato Mirai skyline was built in 1894 and reconstructed in 2002.

• Yamashita Park

Yamashita Park is a 750 meter park stretching all around Yokohama seashore. You can see Hikawa Maru, the imperial cruise ship and Yokohama Marine Tower. This place is always crowded of people who come to enjoy the view of the bay and the ships.

• Hakkeijima Sea Paradise

It is an amusement park where you can see many water animals in aquarium. Entering the park is for free. You only pay for admission fee to enter Aqua Resorts and Pleasure Land. Aqua Resorts are divided into three sections, Aqua Museum, Dolphin Fantasy, and Fureal Lagoon. In Aqua Museum, you can see walruses, turtles, dolphins, seals, sea lions, whales, and other sea animals. Dolphin Fantasy requires you to walk through a tunnel to see dolphins and other dish swim. In Fureal Lagoon, you are allowed to touch some sea animals. Pleasure Land offers you the experience to ride rollercoaster and carousel and fall from 107 meter.