Category "japan"

Why does my hotel booking price change over time?

I have recently booked a few hotels for my trip to Japan next year. I booked some through Agoda and some through Booking.com I have seen that the Agoda price i

Are izakaya where the bartender doesn't stand opposite the bar inauthentic?

Most izakaya I've been to have the bartender standing on the other side of the bar, or even consist solely of a bar. However, I've been to two places that call

Why isn't the direct route between Nagoya to Osaka covered by the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass?

It's possible to go from Nagoya to Osaka using the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass, but only by going via Kanazawa, rather than directly. As someone unfamil

Japan formalities. What does "You may not engage in paid activities." mean?

I was browsing the "Entering Japan" webpage, and there is a very interesting sentence under the "Longer Stays for the Wealthy" heading (emphasized below): I

How to see the mangrove on Kohama island

The tiny Kohama island in the very South of Japan has a mangrove (map): Having never wandered in such an area, I would like to go see it closely. QUESTION:

Are alcoholic beverages more expensive at night in Japan (in bars)?

I just went to a bar in Tokyo and asked for two beers (¥700 each). When we asked for the bill, the waitress charged us ¥2400. When I pointed out the err

Shrine Photography

I was visiting a shrine in Tokyo and I took a picture of the front of the shrine. After I got back home and reviewed the pictures, I noticed that there was a sm

Can tourists in East Asia still receive a massage from a blind masseur?

I've read every now and then about how massages used to be mainly performed by blind people in Japan. I couldn't find much info about the present-day situation

Japan rail travel individual tickets vs rail-pass

I'm going to be travelling from Kagoshima to Tokyo via Osaka with a stop-over in Osaka. Which are the operator websites I will need to buy tickets with, and w

Is Kurama-dera popular with those praying for love? [closed]

A Japanese friend said that Kurama-dera temple in Kyoto, Japan is popular with those praying for love, both with people who are single and tho

Noise in Japanese slot and Pacinko arcades [closed]

I am visiting Japan, I went into a couple of huge Pacinko and slot arcades, just wanted to see them live. I noticed in both of them a very s

Do boarding passes show passport number or nationality?

I am exiting Japan soon and want to show one passport to leave and another to the airline. Does the official who stamps the exit stamp ask to see boarding pass?

Is free camping permitted in Japan?

I'm planning to go to Japan this summer, and after visiting a relative, I'm planning to go on a hike for 5 to 7 days. I was wondering if camping out in the wil

Is it legal to bring a drone to Japan?

I'm going to Japan and planning to bring a drone with me. However, I'm worried that my drone is going to be confiscated at the airport. Is it OK to bring a dr

Is it possible to obtain a Chinese visa in Japan (Tokyo) as a US citizen?

It seems that in general it depends on the country, so I'm wondering if anyone has recent information about doing this from Japan. I'm just assuming Tokyo is th

Snorkeling in South-East Ishigaki (between airport and city)

In Ishigaki, I am planning to walk or cycle from the airport to the city center, along the South-East coast. QUESTION: Are there snorkeling spots on the way?

What etiquette, if any, is there for where the knot goes when wearing a yukata or kimono?

When wearing either a yukata or a kimono, what etiquette, if any, is there about where the knot goes? Do only sex workers (whose work is illegal nowadays in Jap

What are my options for reserving JR Shinkansen tickets in advance over the new year period?

So far after some extensive research it seems that reserving the tickets on eki-net.com when the tickets goes on sale seems to be the surest way of securing my

Is it possible for a US citizen to apply for a visa for Japan from South Korea?

I am a US citizen and I'm going to be studying abroad in Japan in April, 2017. I want to visit Seoul, South Korea for a couple month before then. Is it possi

Can I remove receipts from imported products from my passport?

I have recently imported books into Canada from Japan. As I bought in excess of 5000¥, the purchase was tax free and the receipt was stapled to my passport