Category "japan"

Kamakura, Japan: Feasibility of day trip from Tokyo?

I will be in Tokyo for a conference and was hoping to check out Kamakura for a visit. Is it practical to travel to Kamakura for a day trip, or should I look in

Japanese etiquette: Most common (and offensive) mistakes? [closed]

I am aware that Japan has many unwritten rules of etiquette. What are some of the most common (and offensive) breaches of etiquette made by v

Overcoming the language barrier while experiencing traditional Japanese culture

I'd like to see live performance of traditional Japanese culture. For example, watching noh theatre or bunraku, as opposed to merely seeing artworks or pottery.

Internet in Japan

During travel in Japan I would like to have internet in my laptop and Ipad. What is not very expensive solution to do that? Is there any prepaid internet in Jap

Are there Onsen towns with both skiing and geisha?

Last year, I found out that some onsen towns had geisha (and still do!), and that other onsen towns have ski resorts (for example, Zao Onsen), and I wondered if

Are there crowd-sourced websites for travel bucket lists?

I'm in the early stages of planning a three week trip to Japan, and I'm still working out where to go. There's a couple of things on my "to do" list, but I want

Do official health agencies recommend getting the "Japanese Brain Fever" vaccine for travel to Japan?

I will be spending four weeks in Japan, visiting all of the "main islands" except for Hokkaido. Some of the activities would be hiking across the woods and moun

Hard copy travel guides with information on Tohoku post-tsunami

The 12th edition of Lonely Planet Japan entirely removed Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. I ended up bringing the 11th edition (pre-earthquake) with me

Is there a 3G Sim Card that is usable in both Japan and China?

I will be going to Japan and China next month. As I don't want to activate the data roaming on my carrier due to the high charge, I am looking to buy local Sim

Staying on the Nakahechi route without walking

The Nakahechi route is part of the Kumano Kodo walking trail network in Honshu, Japan. I am taken with the idea of staying on this route in particular but do no

Universities open to public in South Korea and Japan?

In California and most other states in the USA, at public universities (and sometimes private universities), it is possible for anyone who is not affiliated wit

Finding cheap apartments for a month in Japan and South Korea?

In these countries, if I decide on a whim that I would like a regular apartment for one month, what's the best method to find something cheap (less than 300 USD

Where can I find a local guide for Japan?

My friends and I are going to Japan in October. A coworker mentioned that there's a site where university students will gladly guide tourists in exchange for tr

What is wrong with eating while walking in Japan? It doesn't seem to be an issue in other Asian countries

I have seen on many etiquette questions about Japan that this is a no no, but I can't seem to find what the reason for this is. I know that in countries like Ta

Ski rental for Mount Gassan

I'm visiting Japan in late May, early June, and I hope to go skiing. Mount Gassan (月山, literally "moon mountain") in Yamagata prefecture seems to

Is it considered "cheap" to not eat dinner at your ryokan?

I'm booking accommodation near Izu Inatori for the dontsuku matsuri (don't google it at work!) and I'm considering whether to book dinner at my ryokan. I suspe

How expensive is a vacation to Japan?

Since I am planning a vacation to Japan this fall, I'd like to have a rough overview about my expenses. I'm flying from Germany (probably Frankfurt) to Tokyo. I

Daisetsuzan (Hokkaido, Japan) Grand Traverse, how hard?

I'm planning a trip to Japan and I'd like to spend one week immerse in Japanese nature. I've read something about the "Daisetsuzan Grand Traverse", which is a 5

Advice on how to attend the auction at the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo

I'm very aware of this question about the Tsukiji fish market but I'd really like to be there in time for the auction so that I can take pictures of it. Since t

Safety [petty crimes, mostly] in Japan

I'm fully aware of the fact that Japan is considered a quite safe country in regards of petty crimes. However, I recently stumbled upon alerts about the Roppong