Essential information about traveling to Japan. Accommodation in Japan: where is the best place to stay? Japanese transportation system

My friend in Tokyo
Was waiting for me to visit
One step away from Ginza.

While you were reading this introductory verse, at Shibuya Crossing on green light Fifty thousand people managed to pass. And 80 visitors climbed to the 45th floor of one of the skyscrapers of the city hall. Disneyland, meanwhile, sold two hundred tickets. And in the Emperor's garden, the wind, like four hundred years ago, sways the bushes of cherry blossoms ....

This is Tokyo, the world's most populous metropolis, as fast as the movement of a samurai's sword and as slow and thoughtful as a traditional tea ceremony.

Journey to Japan, Tokyo

If you are planning a trip to Tokyo, or are just dreaming about it, our article will help you plan your trip as accurately as possible, calculating the budget and not missing a single important detail.

By the way, about dreams - Japan has ceased to be an expensive and inaccessible country for many, having independently compiled a route, you can quite do without the services of travel agencies and guides, keeping within a very modest amount. But what about English? Forget it, no one knows him there anyway ... And now, in order.

How to get a visa to Japan

An ordinary tourist can enter Japan for a period not exceeding fifteen days (entry corridor - 90 days). To obtain a tourist visa, you need to apply to the Japanese Embassy in Moscow, or to one of the Consulates located in St. Petersburg, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Having collected all the necessary documents, you can submit them personally or through a trusted person (acquaintance, travel agency) at the Embassy, ​​or at the nearest Consulate. You can also send documents using Pony Express mail.

What will be required of you: international passport, valid for more than 6 months on the day of the intended trip, a completed questionnaire in Russian or English language, confirmation of your income; it is also recommended to attach a hotel reservation and copies of air tickets in both directions.

Usually visas are issued on the 5-7th business day, if necessary, other supporting documents are requested, but this happens extremely rarely. The failure rate is low. Before applying for a Japan tourist visa, it is best to call the Embassy or Consulate for the list of required documents and opening hours.

The addresses of all missions are listed on the website http://www.ru.emb-japan.go.jp/ in the "Links" section. There is no consular fee - visas are issued free of charge.

How to save on tickets

If you can afford not to think about the cost of a plane ticket, you can skip this section. For the rest, we offer universal advice on how to save money on the purchase of a travel document in the most efficient way.

If you are flying from Moscow, it is best to plan your trip in advance, at least 1-2 months in advance. During this time, it is recommended to monitor websites for discounts and special offers, and, starting from the average cost of a round-trip ticket of 30 thousand rubles, find something cheaper.

For example, a request for a Moscow-Tokyo flight on the dates January 26 - February 5 on the website www.buruki.ru issued a minimum price of 25,437 rubles, including all taxes and fees. By slightly changing the search dates (January 25 "there" and February 7 - "back"), you can save 2,921 rubles, i.e. a ticket for actually neighboring dates already costs 22,516 rubles. A trifle, but nice. With this money, you can have a great sushi and sashimi dinner in a good, real, Japanese restaurant.

Unfortunately, ticket prices to Tokyo from anywhere in Russia do not differ much from each other, the air transportation market in some regions is highly monopolized: for example, the most cheap ticket"Round-trip" Vladivostok-Tokyo, because there is nothing to fly, for the same January 25-February 7 it costs 28,756 rubles.

We change the city of departure to Novosibirsk - the cheapest offer starts from 40,804 rubles. Why? Because we are flying through Vladivostok! You can try your luck and call travel agencies in search of burning places on charter flights, but this only makes sense if you have a Japanese visa in your passport.

How to get from the airport to Tokyo Central Station

Japan is a country of expensive transport, even ordinary subway trips can end up eating up a significant part of your budget. Therefore, it is best to abandon the taxi ride (about $ 200) and get from the airport to central station metro on a comfortable bus for $28.

But the best choice there will be trains: they run every 15-20 minutes, the ticket price is $27. The station is located in the building of the Narita airport on floor B1, then follow the signs (attention! due to ignorance of the Japanese language, this tip will come in handy more than once). In less than an hour you will find yourself at the central Tokyo metro station, and from there you can get to the hotel you need.

Don’t let the Tokyo subway map scare you, most of all looking like tangled wires from headphones, it’s quite simple to figure it out: the center is the Tokyo station, branches go from it, each of which is marked with a certain color. One of them will definitely lead to your hotel - the subway in Tokyo is found at every step, the stations are located so close to each other that the subway can become the only and most convenient means of transportation around the city. By the way, it works from 5 am to about 1 am.

Choosing the right hotel

Of course, when visiting Tokyo for the first time, many people want to see the sights first, so let's keep in mind that you will only be staying at the hotel for the night.

In terms of access to the main tourist routes, the most convenient and quiet places for accommodation - Ueno, Nihombashi or the old, but very pretty Asakusa area. Of course, you can settle in the noisy and forever young, awake Roppongi, or choose the Shibuya or Shinjuku areas with a high concentration of boutiques and department stores per square kilometer.

Someone wants to know all the luxury of Ginza - the most expensive street in the world: the choice is yours. Each district has a whole range of hotels, both five-star and more modest. On average, accommodation in 5 stars for two will cost you from $ 500 per day, in 4 - 300-400, 3 stars offer more affordable prices at 130-200 dollars, two - in the region of 80-120.

Here it should be noted that Japan is a country of exceptional service. In any, even the most modest and budget hotel, you will be offered excellent service, a toilet with a shower, clean linen and a hot breakfast.

You can book a hotel on any website of the relevant subject. A little tip - the Toyoko Inn and Villa Fontaine chains, whose hotels are located in every district of the city, offer a booking service on their websites without making an advance payment and providing payment card information. A very convenient service, you do not have to wait and worry when the bank will unfreeze the already not extra money.

What to see - top 10 best sights of the Japanese capital

Of course, during one trip you want to see everything at once, but if your goal is to see the main attractions, our list will save you a lot of time looking for really worthwhile places.

Famous tokyo disneyland and Disney See (Disney See), which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Even if you are over 30, over 40 or even over 70, visiting this place, you will be happy to ride the rides along with the screaming kids. It is impossible to resist, besides, here and there actors play various performances, stylized kiosks sell popcorn and cotton candy, and a glazier in a gingerbread house blows another Sleeping Beauty out of the molten mass. Ticket price - about 120 dollars;

Tokyo Tower - Tokyo Tower, 333 meters high. Being an exact copy eiffel tower, but painted red, it does not seem so tall compared to the surrounding skyscrapers. Inside there are shops, restaurants, small exhibitions-museums. There you can also climb observation deck, and admire the city from a height of 150 meters;

Tokyo Dom Stadium and nearby shopping mall worth a visit just to see the huge building, similar to a chicken egg, the core of which can accommodate up to 100,000 people on event days.

And at the shopping center there is an amusement park, and its main highlight is the giant roller coaster. But everything is done in a very Japanese way: first you are lifted to the height of a 20-story building, the cart stops - what will happen next? And then you will be rushing at supersonic - according to sensations - speed from a vertical, almost 90 degrees, cliff. And so several times. This is worth experiencing in order to thank heaven later simply for being alive.

Those who like to look at the city from a bird's eye view will like observation decks, located in the buildings of Roppongi Hills and the city hall - Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, both skyscrapers have high-speed elevators, 360-degree views and special tourist kiosks where you can get city maps, guidebooks and other brochures in English for free;

The Emperor's Palace and the park adjacent to it have been invariably quiet and calm here for the past 400 years. Familiar Japanese architecture, neat gardens and gazebos, and, of course, sakura. This place is quite suitable for the middle of your journey - you can relax, streamline your impressions and think about the eternal;

Pedestrian street (weekends) Ginza - worth a visit, if only because a square meter of rent here is one of the most expensive in the world. As a result, all the most fashionable boutiques of world designers are concentrated in Ginza. Even if you didn't come to Tokyo for shopping, it will be interesting just to look.

Asakusa area - an incredible number of Japanese temples, as well as an old shopping street with all kinds of souvenirs and just cute things. Having visited it, you can proudly show your friends photos of that very old Japan of the era of geishas and samurai.

And especially for those who shed tears while watching "Hachiko" - a monument to the famous dog is located at the exit of the Shibuya subway station. Rub a polished dog's nose and your wish will surely come true.

Where, what, for what: about shopping, entertainment and food

Shopping centers, small shops and artisan shops are located in every quarter of the city, but the Shibuya and Shinjuku areas are considered the mecca of real shopaholics. There you can visit the famous department store "Shibuya 109" with boutiques of European and Japanese brands, buy souvenirs and various trifles.

The oldest shopping center "Takashimaya" is designed for a more demanding customer. The stores of world famous brands amaze not only with prices, but also with first-class service. Getting there is easy - the metro stations of the same name will take you to the right address, and there will be shops literally everywhere.

If you want to buy high-quality electronics, head to the Akihabara area - there is the largest street with thousands of shops selling absolutely everything that can be plugged into a power outlet: from juicers to cameras, the cost of which is comparable to the price of a small plane.

The most persistent tourists who are not tired of walking around Tokyo for many hours can pass the evening and part of the night in the bars and discos of the Roppongi area. It has been popular with foreigners for over forty years and offers entertainment for all tastes.

Dance? Please! Drink traditional sake or Japanese whiskey "Suntory"? Put up a glass! Sing karaoke - and it's possible. Pubs, clubs and other places of entertainment are presented for every taste.

And for sophisticated ladies and gentlemen, the New York bar opens its doors, located on the top floor of a chic hotel. Park Hyatt that in the Shinjuku area. If you watched the Oscar-winning melodrama Lost in Translation, you will immediately recognize the interiors of the establishment, most of the scenes were filmed in this bar.

First-class service, a wide selection of drinks and unobtrusive live music will perfectly complement a glass of expensive wine or whiskey, and the lights of Tokyo at night will create an exceptional romantic atmosphere.

By the way, in Tokyo it is absolutely impossible to stay hungry. Shops, restaurants and fast food cafes often work around the clock and are located at every turn. And keep in mind - there will be no trace of your stereotype that the Japanese eat only sushi.

Raw fish is an expensive treat for an ordinary city dweller, and the main offer in mediocre restaurants is either noodles with various additives, or the usual European food. Good sushi and sashimi are expensive, but there are simply no bad ones here. If you allow yourself to visit the real Japanese restaurant, the quality of the dishes on offer will amaze you so much that you won’t be able to eat “Japanese” anywhere else, except in Japan itself. Why not come back here again?

Tokyo is beautiful beyond the seasons: whenever you visit, you'll find yourself in a quirky mix of high-tech society and traditional Japanese lifestyle. Skyscrapers side by side with small, almost toy-looking temples; girls dressed in the latest collections of fashion houses walk arm in arm with their mothers, shod in traditional geta ... Everything is so amazing that you will not pay the slightest attention to the weather. And when you get home, be sure to start planning new trip in Tokyo.

Self-guided trip to Japan during cherry blossom season.
I have a separate article with a photo on my site -.

Quite spontaneously decided to go to Japan.
I was relaxed about the trip - I almost didn’t prepare, I read the DK guide a little and looked at the pictures in it, choosing approximately the points where I want to go.
There is enough time to get acquainted with Japan for the first time: 10 days, but then it will be clear: I will come here once a year or once a decade.

First impressions of Japan

My impressions for the first day of my stay in Tokyo: the country is essentially no different from any other country in the Asia-Pacific region.
- Issues are resolved on the spot as in Thailand.
— Restaurants and cafes operate in the same mode as in Hong Kong.
- A set of products in stores like in Malaysia.
— People on the streets like in Singapore.

That is, arriving at the airport Narita(Tokyo), I completely relaxed: everything is familiar and understandable. Put on sunglasses on his nose, rented Pocket WiFi having provided himself with mobile Internet both on the street and in the subway (more on this here:) and began to slowly move towards a hotel booked for one night from Moscow in the area. One of the goals of the trip to Japan was to get acquainted with real Japanese cuisine.

Hotel in Tokyo

I can recommend the hotel to those who want to stay close to Tokyo fish market: APA Hotel Tsukiji Eki Minami.
Single occupancy is quite comfortable.
Comment: In most hotels where I stayed, the Internet was through the wire. Not WiFi.
It didn't bother me as it was. Mobile Internet And ethernet to usb adapter for macbook.

How to travel around Japan without knowing the language

I walk around Tokyo calmly, slowly, with my hands in my trousers. The state of being in a foreign and incomprehensible country is not like that. It's like he's been here before.
Therefore, advice to those who will go to Japan for the first time: relax, everything is simple here. The truth is more expensive than in the same Thailand, but then excuse me - this is Tokyo for you, not Pattaya.

You can't smoke outside in Japan: a bit annoying ban on smoking on the streets. Or rather, not even a ban - a recommendation, well, the Japanese follow these recommendations as obedient citizens, and I, as a guest on a visit, also accepted the rules of the game: it’s impossible, it’s impossible. There are special places in the open air, usually fenced with hedges of plants, where there are ashtrays - you can smoke there

Japanese visa

I obtained a visa to Japan on my own at the Consulate of Japan in the area of ​​Prospekt Mira in Moscow.
The main thing you need to get it: set of documents from the inviting Japanese side . I had a private invitation.
What is required from the invitee: to provide correspondence, telephone bills for international calls or joint photos with the one who invites. I didn’t have any photos together, so I just took some photo from the autumn Forum Slaughterhouse, where 4 drunken men stand against the background of the Vinsky Forum banner, including me in a Circassian hat. The consulate said:

• How can it be: a woman invites you, but where is she in this photo? To which I replied:
• Here her husband is standing next to me, and she just walked away at that moment ...

It worked, although they thought for about 40 minutes - to accept documents or send me ....
I wrote more about how I got a Japanese visa in a separate article.

May 24th, 2016 03:59 am

Before describing the beauty, unusualness and attractiveness of Japan, I would like to give a few practical advice and answer questions that I myself had when planning a trip to Japan.

1. Route through Japan. How to build? What to see? How to choose?

When planning my route, I focused on the historical sights of Japan, deciding that I would like to see Kyoto more than Hiroshima. Here, of course, everything is individual, but for example, here is my route for 10 days plus the day of arrival and the day of departure:

Arrival day and one full day in Tokyo - two days in Nikko - five days in Kyoto with trips to Himeji, Nara and Osaka - passing through Kamakura - a day and a half in Tokyo.

Great website in English detailed information about the sights of Japan, opening hours, recommendations on how to get there, etc. - http://www.japan-guide.com/ . It was this site that helped me plan the route by day, and it was from there that I printed out the name of all the places I needed in Japanese - it helped a lot when traveling in a taxi!

2. When to go to Japan?

Again, it's all very subjective! Traditionally, there are two periods when everyone aspires to Japan. The first, of course, is cherry blossom (as a rule, from the end of March to the beginning of April). The second is the time of "red leaves", in our opinion - golden autumn =)

It is very hot in Japan in summer and quite chilly in winter. The weather in May suited me completely - almost all days it was over 20C, we walked in T-shirts and shorts, and only a couple of days it rained.

3. How to travel by train and metro? Why do I need a Suica card?

Japan has a very developed network of railway transport, which, unlike Russia, is owned not by Russian Railways alone, but by several private companies, which, of course, have their own trains and platforms and their own tickets. In big cities, underground and elevated metro and monorail lines are added to this, which can drive an unprepared traveler crazy.

To prevent this from happening, the Japanese made a website where you can get directions by specifying the destination stations. The smart system will offer you several route options, calculated by minutes, with platforms, lines, travel time and cost. The name of this router is http://www.hyperdia.com . Unfortunately, their iPhone application cannot be downloaded in Russia, so you have to use the site.

The cost of a trip on public transport in Japan depends on the distance traveled. At each station, above the ticket machines hang giant cards with indication of the cost of travel to different stations. Looking at these cards, you feel dizzy, you want to hide in a corner and, clasping your arms around yourself, cry =)) Therefore, to make your site easier, you need to purchase a card on which a certain amount of money is put and debited when passing turnstiles - and you do not need to rack your brains over the cost tickets and waste time buying tickets at a vending machine or ticket office. The most common such card is Suica. It can also be used to pay in supermarkets like a regular credit card, spend the balance at the airport or return it after receiving a deposit of 500 yen (~ 300 rubles).

Suica balance is replenished through machines at any metro station.

For big cities with tons of subway lines like Tokyo or Kyoto, the Suica card is indispensable!

4. What is Japan rail pass? Is he needed?

As I mentioned, the railway network in Japan is owned by different companies, but JR is considered the largest carrier. Their branches cover almost all of Japan, they are the "owners" high-speed trains, so-called shinsansen.
Transport in Japan is very expensive. For example, a Tokyo-Kyoto trip will cost ~ 8,500 rubles one way per person!

To alleviate the plight of travelers, JR offer the so-called. Japan Rail Pass - a kind of all inclusive travel card for 7 or 14 days, which allows you to use JR lines without limits.

The JR Pass voucher can only be purchased Foreign citizens and only outside of Japan. There are several authorized offices that sell passes, it seems that there are even offices in Moscow. But I ordered online here https://www.japan-rail-pass.com. Vouchers delivered by Fedex 3 days after purchase!

Upon arrival at the airport, vouchers must be exchanged directly for a JR Pass at the JR East counter.

The cost of the pass is rather big - $260 for a week or $420 for 14 days. It is easy to understand whether the cost of a pass in your case can be paid off - make a route of your movements on the website http://www.hyperdia.com and calculate the total cost of tickets that you will have to buy without a pass. In principle, the pass pays off with the Tokyo-Kyoto-Tokyo route alone. If the cost turns out to be slightly less than or equal (or even more so) than the cost of the JR Pass - feel free to buy it! The pass saves a lot of time - show it to the controller when passing through the turnstile and go! No cashiers, no tickets, no queues..

By the way, JR Pass also covers the cost of an express from Tokyo (Narita) Airport to the city, and it costs about 1,500 rubles!

However, it is worth remembering that some trains (especially high-speed or long distance) require seat reservation - in this case, you just need to go to the ticket office, show a printout of your route (I just took a screenshot from the hyperdia website and showed it to the cashier on the phone) and you will be given free tickets indicating the car and seats.

A few words about the Green JR Pass - such a pass gives you the right to travel in extra-comfort carriages. The seats in such cars are wider and more comfortable, there is more legroom and fewer people. But in general, there is not much difference. Our trip fell on the peak season (public holidays "Golden Week", when the Japanese massively travel around their country), and besides, we had men under two meters tall in our company, so we bought a Green JR Pass, which cost ~ 150 dollars more expensive (~$90 cheaper for a week pass).

JR Pass is also sold for children aged 6-11 and costs 2 times cheaper than an adult ticket.

Conveniently, JR Pass does not have to be activated by the date of the voucher exchange at the airport - you can specify any date! For example, if your trip will last 10 days, but only days 3-9 will be active for movement between cities, feel free to activate the pass from the 3rd day and in this case, a week pass will be enough for you.

5. How is the Internet access? Do our mobile phones work in Japan?

We had MTS and Megafon on iPhone and Samsung phones - cellular worked great everywhere!

In my opinion, mobile Internet is extremely important when traveling in Japan! Plot a route? Check train departure time? Read about the attraction? This almost always requires the Internet! You can get it in two ways - by renting a phone with a Japanese SIM card or a portable wi-fi router. All these services are offered immediately at the airport.

I decided to leave my phone - it's more comfortable and convenient for me. But I ordered a wi-fi router (in order to save time) online in advance here: https://www.econnectjapan.com/. The envelope was waiting for me at the reception of the hotel, the kit included an additional charger (a very necessary thing, since the charging of the router itself is enough for half a day), as well as an envelope with a return address, in which on the last day I just put the router with all the bells and whistles, sealed and dropped it into the first mailbox that came across.

A router with maximum speed (you could even download a movie!), The ability to connect up to 10 devices cost me ~ 3,600 rubles for 12 days of use. Behind early booking give discounts.

6. Luggage delivery within Japan? Is it true that you can send luggage to the next hotel, and go yourself with a minimum of things?

I don't know other countries, except Switzerland, where there is such a mega convenient and inexpensive (this does not apply to Switzerland =) way to move luggage between cities.

Imagine - in the morning you check-out at a hotel in Tokyo and move to Kyoto, deciding to visit a few more along the way. interesting places. And all this time you are dragging a suitcase with you, rushing around the stations with it in search of the right line, looking for a luggage room of the right size so that waypoints destination at least the city is normal to see ... Represented? Now think about how much your life has become better, because you travel light - with a backpack or handbag, and your Tokyo hotel sent your suitcase to the Kyoto one!

This amazing service costs ~ 900 rubles for a large 25 kg suitcase. You can drop off your suitcase directly at the reception of most hotels or at any collection point (http://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/en/), and you can also pick it up at your next hotel or selected collection point.

The only negative is that you need to give your suitcase before 12 noon on the day following the day of your check-in at the next place.

7. Is it possible to pay credit cards in Japan? How to withdraw cash from an ATM in Japan?

Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere except for some taxis, restaurants and souvenir shops. Of course, paying in cash is much faster and more convenient - for example, when buying tickets to temples.

There are currency exchange points, but they still need to be looked for. And if you fall in the period public holidays, then the opening of the bank will have to wait =)

We are proponents of cash withdrawals from ATMs. What a shock we had when the cash began to run out, and the ATMs of different banks into which we tried to put our cards were either only in Japanese (!), Or they rejected the operation under various pretexts like "wrong pin", " authorization failed", "try later"!

An Internet friend helped, who said that Japanese ATMs work on some other platform that is not compatible with the platform of European banks and therefore they do not consider our bank cards as human! =)) There are only a few banks whose ATMs are kind to tourists , - the largest of them is 7 Bank, which is owned by - ta-da-dam! - Seven-Eleven supermarket chain, so almost every supermarket has an ATM suitable for international cards!

8. Tax free in Japan

VAT in Japan is small, about 8% (but still money!) and is provided for purchases over 5,000 yen.
Tax Free can be provided in two ways. 1) In small stores, a discount is made immediately at the checkout and you pay a smaller amount. 2) In large department stores, after paying for the goods at full price, you must go to the counter tax free and get a cash refund.

In both cases, a receipt will be attached to your passport with a stapler (!) and stamped, and the goods will be packed in sealed bags as in duty free(Clothes are placed in a regular bag). Further, according to the rules kindly given in the brochure that you will be given in the store, shopping bags (without unpacking!) must be presented at the airport (before check-in - if you check in your luggage) or after passport control(if you take the purchase in hand luggage).

In practice, which is confirmed by my experience and the reviews of other travelers that I have studied on this issue, no one looks at purchases, and you can either tear off checks from your passport yourself or go to the Customs window after passing through security and good Japanese customs officers, who, in theory, should check your purchases, take the checks from your passport (even despite the list and the cost of what you bought!), smile and let go in peace.

I took out all my purchases from the bags, took off the packaging and other tinsel that took up space (I bought mostly cosmetics), packed it into a suitcase, which I put in my luggage. I did not have any problems with the return of tax free.

9. Visa to Japan

About getting a visa to Japan, I already wrote a separate post on my blog, who are interested and relevant - come in =)

Today I will tell you about how to take and go to Japan. This is a wonderful country, about which I have already written a lot in my blog. And now I offer you a simple guide with which you can organize your own trip. If you like to plan your own trips, but are more accustomed to traveling around Europe, this post is for you - here I will explain what to see on your first trip to the Land of the Rising Sun.

And if you've been to Japan before, scroll through this text to make sure you haven't missed anything. Or vice versa give me advice!

There are many links to other posts that describe in more detail certain aspects of a trip to Japan. But I tried to build this post as simply as possible to give a general idea of ​​​​how to ride for the first time. If you have friends who are going to Japan, feel free to send them to read this post, and if you yourself are not ready yet, but would like to go in the future, it is better to bookmark it for the future!

My friends here often ask me: "I'm going to Japan for the first time. Where should I go there? What to see? How is the security? Internet? English?" I also put together this post so that in the future they could just give a link! (Yes friends, this is for you!)

When is the best time to go to Japan?

Main tourist seasons this (usually at the beginning of April), and (at the end of November). These are approximate numbers for Tokyo and Kyoto. During these two periods, Japan is incredibly beautiful, but because of this, there will be many tourists everywhere, and many hotels will be booked in advance.

Summer is a great time to go if you're walking (I did it at the very end of June, a few days before the official season opens). And winter will give you the opportunity, this is also a very beautiful sight.

If it doesn’t work out for so long, then in general it doesn’t matter either, any time spent in Japan will make you feel that you need to come here for a longer time.

Where to go in Japan?

If you don’t have too much time, try to spend at least 2-3 days in Kyoto, and you’ll see how it turns out in Tokyo. If you have more time, then it is worth traveling around the country, and maybe even driving to one of the islands in addition to the main Honshu (there are four main islands in Japan).

How to move around the country?

Trains run strictly on schedule, and you can get on them wherever you need to - the Japanese love for rail transport shows itself on a national scale.

True, Shinkansen are an expensive pleasure. A one-way ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto costs about $100! To save money on these transfers, you should book yourself in advance JR Pass, a pass that allows you to use most trains for 7, 14 or 21 days. A seven-day pass costs about $250 (depending on the yen), and generally pays off if you go to Kyoto and ride some more shorter distances. Please note that it can only be ordered before arriving in Japan! ()

If you came to Japan for 10 days, then it is better to spend the first two in Tokyo, and then, after activating the seven-day JR-Pass, go to Kyoto and beyond. Then return back to the capital on the evening of the seventh day, when the pass expires.

And for those moments when the JR-Pass is not activated, or for private metro lines where it is not accepted, I advise you to purchase a card Suica. Suika costs 500 yen, which you can get back by returning it before you leave. Then cash is put on it, and the card is used to pay for trains, and a bunch of other things. Suiki accept more and more points, it is convenient to pay with them throughout the country.

Unlike JR-Pass, Suika can be picked up upon arrival in Japan, at any railway ticket office. Do not forget to put money on it, and it will greatly facilitate your trip.

And is it safe there? Am I not lost?

Plus, Google Maps knows everything about Japanese streets and trains. You can click on a point on the map and Google will tell you the best way to get there by public transport, when the next train is, and how much it will cost! ( .)

In addition to this, Japan is one of the most safe countries in the world, . Nothing bad will happen to you.

Tell us about Tokyo!

"So for two, or for three?!" you ask. "Yes!" I will answer you.

The whole secret is that upon arrival in Tokyo, you need to rent a hotel in the area Ueno- It is convenient to get here by express train from Narita Airport. Ueno is a relatively inexpensive and relatively quiet area. On your first day in Tokyo (let's say it's Friday) you can watch it eastern part, moving south from Ueno, or going down to Ginza, and rising to the north. Your JR-Pass won't be valid yet, so you'll be using Suiki to get around.

And on the second day (Saturday), you will go to kamakura- one of the ancient capitals of the Japanese Empire. It's a lovely place about an hour's drive from central regions Tokyo, here is the seashore, ancient temples and the statue of the Big Buddha. Here you can spend most day, and even ride on.

Well, on Sunday your JR-Pass will begin to operate, you will sit on a shinkansen and go to the side. It is important to take a seat by the window on right! You don't want to miss this view:

You will return back to the capital by the evening of the seventh day (Saturday), when the railway pass will expire. And this time you will settle in the west of Tokyo, in an area named Shibuya.

If you've ever seen a picture of Japan where crowds are running through a huge pedestrian crossing, that's exactly what Shibuya is. The drive is crazy and there seems to be an endless amount of people, but it's worth spending an evening here and you will be drawn into this crazy zen. .

Morning is the time to go explore western part cities - this is the second half of my guide. We'll see the trendy district Harajuku, the shrine of Emperor Meiji, and located next to it yoyogi park. Oh, did you notice that we ended up here on a Sunday? It's not easy! It is on Sundays that they pass in front of the entrance to the park!

Well, in the evening you can get to Shinjuku, the area where it is located! After an evening spent here, you will not be sorry to fly home.

And what about Kyoto?

But besides the temples, you should just take a walk along the old streets of the city. Here you will meet Japanese people in beautiful traditional clothes (most likely they are tourists, like you), you can taste the old local cuisine, and.

I advise you to settle in the area Sanjo Ohashi Bridge and spend in Kyoto about four days. No, you will not be walking around temples all this time. In Kyoto, and besides them, there is something to see. Here are just some of the nearby attractions (you can spend half a day or a whole day on each):

• with a huge wooden temple and tame deer
• - red gate sanctuary
• Arashiyama- a mountain in the north-west of the city, where the famous bamboo grove is located
• Path of the Philosopher in the northeast, cherry blossoms are especially beautiful along it, and there are many ancient temples.

About other places.

If you have a few extra days of JR-Pass action and want to look at some more unique places, feel free to take a shinkansen in Kyoto and drive further to the southwest!

And between Osaka and Himeji there is also Kobe, the city that .

As you can see, there is enough choice to complete the seven-day, 14-day, and even 21-day JR-Pass. And what's great: all these places are easily accessible by trains!

What's with the money?

You can often hear that Japan is expensive. Compared to the rest of Asia, no doubt. But if we compare, for example, with Europe, then in Japan only housing and trains are expensive, and even then not much more expensive than European ones. We have already saved on trains with the help of JR-Paz, but you will have to pay for housing if you want to live in the center of everything (I recommended such places). But if you want, you can save money here. Yes, there are many high-quality expensive things in Japan - restaurants, clothes, etc., but if you wish, you can get through here on a modest budget.

One problem is that credit cards are not accepted everywhere (especially far from cities). Cash will help us out, but there are few exchangers, and some ATMs refuse to understand Western cards. Fortunately, ATMs at 7-Eleven are ready to dispense money to tourists from Europe and America. And there are plenty of these 7-Elevens in Japan. (ATMs are not in everyone, but many are.) Also, they say in post offices There are also friendly ATMs.

Hotels? Ryokans? Apartments?

Ryokans: These are classic Japanese "bedrooms", in traditional style. Because of this, staying in them is the most expensive option. But it's very cool: you can sleep on straw mats tatami(don't worry, a mattress will be laid for you) and dress in. Many ryokan have traditional hot tubs - onsens, and the opportunity to dine the way the Japanese ate back in feudal times. In short, ryokan is total immersion. But they cost starting from $100 per person per night! Up to 4-5 people can fit in one ryokan room, although the price for each will not drop much from this, since payment is made precisely for the number of people.

Ryokan is the best place to live in Kyoto. But I advise you to book them in advance, as places in those that are relatively affordable can be occupied several months in advance.

Next we go rented apartments on sites like AirBnB. (and sometimes -!) but the price can be cheaper than comparable hotels. An apartment can be a good option for Tokyo, especially if you are traveling in a group of 3-4 people, it will be cheaper than taking several hotel rooms.

Ordinary western-style hotels in Japanese cities are quite expensive. Personally, I try to avoid these. But I love taking pictures. They are relatively inexpensive, and I love how thoughtful everything is to cram all the amenities into a small space. It is profitable to rent such hotels in small towns, where a double room can cost $60-80, or in Tokyo, where they will already be $80-120.

In Japanese hostels I never stopped, but I know they are. Although if you really decide to save money, I would recommend you. They cost $20-$30 a night, many have great onsens, and overall it's a great experience. Japanese culture. The only thing is that they are usually either only male or only female (less of the latter).

Every life - food, internet, English.

Sockets: Outlets in Japan are similar to North American sockets with two flat pins. Most plugs from the USA, Canada or China can be plugged without adapters (except for plugs where one of the pins is wider than the other). But Russians and other Europeans will definitely need adapters.

Here you go. I hope it is now approximately clear to you how to go to Japan, and what to see there. If you have questions or comments, I will be glad to them in the comments. I will also update this post as needed.

Japan is a beautiful, mysterious and unique oriental country that has attracted travelers at all times. And today it is a favorite vacation spot for millions of tourists from all over the world. globe. True, in fairness it should be noted that a trip to Japan is not at all a cheap pleasure. It will require a fairly significant financial investment from you. In addition, for many Russians who dream of visiting this country, the visa issue becomes an obstacle. According to the current diplomatic agreements, citizens of our country need a visa to visit Japan. At the same time, its design requires a fairly extensive set required documents and is fraught with many difficulties and pitfalls. Such a complex visa regime between our countries has existed for many years, and 2019 was not marked by any changes in this regard. Japan is a fairly closed state, and getting into its territory is not so easy.

In this article, we will tell you about all the difficulties that are likely to lie in wait for you on the way to obtaining a visa, and how you can avoid them.

Various visa options

On this moment Japanese diplomatic missions issue the following types of visas:

• Transit visa. It must certainly be available for those persons who fly to a certain third country with a stopover in Japan. This usually applies to travel to those countries where there are no direct direct flights (for example, to Australia or New Zealand). Such a visa allows not only to be at the Tokyo airport, but also to go beyond it to explore the city and its surroundings. The validity of this type of visa is three days.
• Tourist visa- the most common variety. It is for this type of travel documents that most applicants apply. Read more about how to get such a visa and what papers are required for this, read below.
• Work Visa. To qualify for it, you must have a formal contract with an employer in Japan. Despite the fact that there is a constant shortage of labor in Japan, the government of the country does not welcome the attraction of foreigners as labor migrants. Therefore, obtaining a visa of this type is often very difficult.

• student visa- issued to citizens of foreign countries who want to receive higher education in Japan. Today, there are many specialized programs, participating in which, residents of other countries can get a real chance to study in Japan. True, this requires a lot of effort. Participants in such programs must demonstrate excellent knowledge in several subjects, as well as an adequate level of Japanese language proficiency. The conditions for foreign students who manage to enter a Japanese university are very good: the government of the country even pays for such citizens air tickets to Japan and provides a good scholarship, quite sufficient for a comfortable and comfortable existence. Besides, student visa It gives you the opportunity to work in Japan after graduation.

Child visa

Japan - beautiful place for family trips. In the event that you plan to take your children on a trip, you will have to comply with certain formalities and, in addition to other papers, prepare the following additional documents:

1. A copy of the birth certificate of each child.
2. Certificate received at the place of his study.
3. A power of attorney signed by one or both of the parents (depending on who the child is traveling with).

These are quite standard requirements, after which you can take your children on a trip.

Required documents and application procedure

Today, you can get a visa to visit Japan on your own, or you can through one of the many travel agencies. According to experienced travelers who have repeatedly visited the country rising sun It is much easier to apply for a visa through specialized companies. Such organizations usually obtain visas for their clients with ease within just a few days.

Regardless of which method you choose, you will have to prepare a significant amount of different papers. main feature To apply for a visa to Japan, applicants will certainly need an official invitation issued by an individual or (in most cases) by an organization existing in Japan. Under no circumstances A visa to Japan without an invitation is not issued. Such papers can be sent to you, for example, by your friends or relatives permanently residing in Japan, or by a Japanese tourist agency from which you can buy a tour in advance. The inviting party must send you the following set of documents:

• A formal letter explaining the purpose and reason for your trip.
• Detailed travel plan for every day of stay in the country.
• Letter of guarantee.
• Documents on the organization acting as a guarantor (certificate of registration, letter describing the type of activity, certificate of payment of all necessary taxes, documents confirming the purpose of the trip and indicating full payment for the tour).
• Confirmation of hotel reservation and flight ticket reservation.

Directly by the applicant who needs tourist visa must submit the following papers:

Only with all these documents in hand (including papers sent by the inviting party from Japan), you can apply to the embassy for a visa.

When your plane lands in Tokyo, you will have to go through a series of specialized immigration controls, including hand scans and facial photographs. Representatives of diplomatic missions, minor children and tourists traveling in transit are exempted from passing such control. For all other categories of foreigners, such immigration control is strictly mandatory.

Video: about tourist and private visas

Financial side

Perhaps the only positive side in everything related to obtaining a visa to Japan, it is no consular fee. True, you still have to incur certain costs, in particular, to spend money on sending documents from Japan. This figure fluctuates around 15-17 dollars.

If you decide to shift the work of applying for a visa to the travel agency, be prepared to spend. Each organization independently sets the cost of its services, usually for obtaining a visa without a personal presence, travel companies charge about one hundred dollars.

If you need to get a visa urgently, please note that the Japanese Embassy does not provide an opportunity to expedite the processing of applications with an additional fee. All documents are reviewed general order within 4 days to 2 weeks. Be sure to keep this in mind when planning your travel dates.

Possible difficulties

As you can see, getting a visa to Japan is not easy. To be able to visit this traditionally very closed and conservative country, you will have to go through a series of bureaucratic procedures and collect a lot of documents.

The main difficulty is that a visa to Japan without a tour and an official invitation from the Japanese side is not issued. The presence of an invitation or a prepaid tour is a prerequisite for issuing a visa.

In addition, employees of Japanese missions very carefully and thoroughly study each document provided by the applicant, checking all the information, and if even the slightest and slightest error or violation is found, they refuse permission to enter. Moreover, if the passport is refused, a special stamp is put, and after that it is possible to submit a new application only after six months.

Despite all these difficulties, getting a visa to Japan is still quite realistic. The main thing is to approach the process of registration of all necessary documents very responsibly and carefully. In no case should you provide inaccurate or even more unreliable data and false documents. Try to arrange everything perfectly, in compliance with all strict rules and requirements, so that the embassy representatives cannot find fault with the execution of your application. A little perseverance, patience and self-control - and you will surely be able to get the coveted visa.

Unfortunately, for many years there has been such a rather complicated visa regime between Russia and Japan. For many citizens of our country, Japan remains something unknown and incomprehensible, solely because this state is not open to everyone and does not accept a huge number of tourists on its lands. And the financial side of such a trip often becomes a reason to choose another, more affordable option. For residents of the Central and European part of Russia, a flight to Japan for many thousands of kilometers will cost a significant amount. This series of reasons served to the fact that Japan today is not very popular in our country as a tourist destination.

However, despite all the difficulties visa regime and high cost, it amazing place remains a dream country for many travelers who are ready to endure all the bureaucratic delays and pay any amount just to visit this fabulous eastern state and touch its unique culture. The Land of the Rising Sun combines an amazing respect for ancient traditions with modern trends. Ancient pagodas and ancient architectural monuments here quite organically and naturally coexist with glass skyscrapers and fancy avant-garde buildings. And in matters of technological progress, Japan has long been several steps ahead of even the most developed Western countries.