Traveling to Japan on your own. How to save money while traveling in Japan. Choosing the right hotel

Japan is one of the few countries in the world where you can feel that there are still corners in the world that retain their authenticity and their own special way of life. Everything here is unusual - from souvenirs in shops to the way of thinking of the Japanese. But inside Japan is very multifaceted: each prefecture is famous for certain ceramics, traditional dishes. We expect to see megacities and super-modern neighborhoods everywhere. In fact, in Japan, traditions are highly valued and respected, which is why it is so interesting to plunge into the life of the patriarchal part of the country.

How to get there

Direct flights from Russia to Japan are carried out in Tokyo, at the Narita airport. It is most convenient to fly with Aerofolot (aeroflot.ru) or JAL (jal.com). The cost of tickets is from 30,000 rubles. You should also follow the promotions of airlines - this will allow you to buy a ticket at a better price.

The cheapest flights from Moscow to Tokyo for the year ahead

Visa

Obtaining a Japanese visa is simple, but you will have to collect a large number of papers and certificates. Visa processing time is 4 working days, consular fee there is none as such - only a fee for sending documents ($ 5-10) is charged. You can find out the details and clarify the opening hours of the consulate on the official website: www.ru.emb-japan.go.jp

Traveling in Japan

The most convenient way to get around Japan is on the Shinkansen - high-speed trains. But if your goal is a leisurely trip, then it is best to rent a car. Warn the company where you will order in advance that you need an English-language navigator, and download spare navigation programs to your tablet or smartphone. As experience shows, there are never too many navigational devices. You can rent a car through one of the global companies: europcar.com or economycarrentals.com

Currency

The official currency is the Japanese yen (Y). You can exchange money at the airport - the rate here is quite acceptable. There are ATMs everywhere, but exchange offices - only in banks, and even then not in all. Almost all restaurants, hotels and shops accept card payments.

Season

Japan stretches from north to south for almost two thousand kilometers, and the climatic conditions here are very different. If there are ski resorts on the northern island of Hokkaido and central Honshu, then subtropics already reign in southern Kyushu. The seasons differ accordingly. April stands apart - the time of cherry blossoms, and the golden autumn, when all of Japan is painted in red fiery colors.

Holidays

JANUARY 1 - New Year (Gandzitsu), one of the most magnificent holidays. As a rule, it is celebrated for 5 days: from December 30 to January 3. IN new year's eve it is customary to pray ha-tsu-mode (prayer for happiness).

According to legend, the stars of the Shepherd and the Spinner, separated by the Milky Way, met that night. The Japanese make wishes at night, writing them down on narrow pieces of paper, and then tying them to a bamboo stalk.

Japanese eYes

Going to Japan, you need to be prepared for the fact that it will not be easy to find European dishes in restaurants. Traditional Japanese cuisine is based on rice and fish. They eat all dishes with chopsticks, and sometimes even with their hands. Rice is the most popular ingredient, it is served with a huge variety of seafood and other additives. Marbled beef is especially popular, and in most cases you need to cook it yourself - on a stove that is built right into the dining table. A special delicacy is buckwheat noodles. For the Japanese, this is the same as for Europeans - oysters. It is usually served cold.

Housing in Japan

Choosing where to live in Japan is a separate issue. You can live in ordinary hotels, which are easy to find on sites like booking.com, or you can stay in ryokans - traditional guest houses. There are a lot of ryoka-novas in Japan, they used to be

Europeans were not very welcome, but now everything has changed and guests from any country can book a place in the ryokan through the ryokan.or.jp website.

You can also do this through a travel agency, but you need to indicate that you need a ryo-kan, and not just a traditional hotel.

As such, ryokans do not have stardom, although they differ from each other. The Japanese believe that hospitality cannot be judged by stars. Therefore, you should not trust guidebooks that strive to rank ryokans by rating.

The most common ryokan is a small Japanese-style building with an extremely simple device and minimalist furnishings. Many of them have their own legends.

Ancient wooden buildings are surrounded by a garden on all sides, guests are treated to dishes here haute cuisine- kaise-ki. There are even special gourmet ryokans called ryori-ryokan-ny, each of which is famous for its specialty. The most expensive ryokans are usually concentrated in areas with hot springs - onsen.

In this case, each room has its own hot tubs.

The cost in Japanese ryokans (as in hotels) is indicated per person, not per room.

The advertised price usually includes not only accommodation, but also breakfast and dinner, as well as the use of the onsen. In addition, a separate line in the bill is the tax for the source, which is usually equal to 150 yen per day.

Each ryokan can accommodate several people, then the total amount will be cheaper.

But according to the law, everyone must be allocated an area of ​​​​at least two tatami mats (3.28 square meters).

air travel

The airline-carrier is responsible for the implementation of air transportation, guided by the laws of its country and international agreements in the field of air transportation. Our company is not responsible for the obligations of the airline, including for the delay in the departure of the flight and the safety of luggage. Claims for the quality of air transportation are sent to the address of the carrier airline.

If the passenger violates the rules of the airline, the latter has the right to refuse to serve the tourist in the future. If such violation on the part of the passenger occurred on the way to Japan, and the airline refused to serve the passenger on the way back without refunding the ticket price, then the purchase return ticket on a flight of another company - at the expense of the passenger !!!

Customs control in Japan

Import and export of any means of payment is not limited. Payment means Japanese or any other foreign currency, checks, including travel, debt and securities. However, amounts over 1 million yen or its foreign currency equivalent must be declared. This can be done both in writing and orally. The same applies to products from precious stones and metals, if their total weight exceeds 1 kg.

It is strictly forbidden to bring into Japan pornographic materials, counterfeit securities and banknotes, books, magazines, photographs, drawings and prints of obscene content, printed publications and other materials that undermine public order, things and items that damage the trademark, copyright and patent law.

It is strictly forbidden to bring into Japan drugs, inhaled stimulants (including Vicks and Sudafed inhalers), psychotropic substances and certain medications (in particular, those containing 1-deoxyephedrine), as well as equipment for their use. The offender faces imprisonment, followed by deportation and a life ban on entry into the country.

The import of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as foodstuffs of animal and vegetable origin, is prohibited.

The transport of weapons is strictly regulated: firearms and cold steel and sports, as well as ammunition for it and parts of weapons, which require appropriate certificates.

We allow duty-free import of the following goods:

• no more than 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500 gr. tobacco;
• up to 3 bottles of alcoholic beverages (up to 0.7 liters);
• up to 2 ounces (56 ml.) of perfume;
• gifts and souvenirs with a total value of up to 200,000JPY.

When these products are imported in excess of the established limits, an additional duty is charged, for example, alcoholic beverages obtained by distillation are subject to a duty of 225JPY per bottle (0.75 l), wine - 150JPY per bottle (0.75), other alcoholic beverages - 15 % cost. Some alcoholic beverages have a special premium rate. Thus, excess whiskey and brandy (all based on a capacity of 0.75 liters) are subject to a duty of 375JPY; rum, gin, vodka and the like - 300JPY; liquor - 225JPY, beer - 150JPY. You will also have to pay for each extra cigarette - 6.5JPY each.

Commercial items are not exempt from taxes and duties, as they are not considered everyday items.

The export of art and antiques from Japan without the permission of the relevant authorities is prohibited. When exporting these items from the country, a certificate from the Ministry of Economy will be required.

For other customs information, please visit the Japan Customs website: http://www.customs.go.jp

Passport control in Japan

Citizens of Ukraine cannot travel to Japan without a pre-arranged visa. A visa is also issued for children traveling with their parents, regardless of the age of the child and whether he travels on his own passport or is inscribed in the parents' passport. In case of violation of the visa regime, a fine and restrictions on visiting Japan in the future are imposed.

To cross the Japanese border, you must have a valid foreign passport, visa, return air ticket. Please note that in accordance with international conventions, the competent authorities of a foreign state have the right to refuse entry into the country to any person with or without indication of reasons. In the event of your deportation, you will bear all the costs associated with this.

In Japan, as in other countries, there is a system of "green" and "red" corridors. Going to the "green corridor", you thereby declare that in your luggage there are no items prohibited, restricted for import or subject to customs duty.

Health insurance

You should learn in advance about preventive protective measures, as well as other measures that are necessary based on your state of health. It is advisable to consult your doctor about health risks.

Please read the Terms of Service carefully medical care and insurance company services specified in your insurance policy. On the onset insured event you need to call a phone in Japan or a 24-hour hotline indicated directly on the insurance policy. Collect all checks and receipts for medicines and medical services paid by you personally. It is also necessary to collect all documents and certificates about the treatment provided to you. All these documents will make it easier for you to receive the sum insured from the insurance company upon your return to Ukraine.

If you have any kind of complaints and reclamations, we recommend that you first of all contact the representative of the insurance company by phone. It is advisable, while in Japan, to draw up a protocol on the shortcomings of medical care with the participation of a guide and a representative of the hotel administration.

Currency exchange

The monetary unit of Japan is the Japanese yen (JPY). The exchange rate fluctuates in line with changes in the financial market. 1USD = 80 JPY (January 2011).

In circulation are banknotes in denominations of 10,000, 5,000, 2,000 and 1,000 yen, as well as coins in denominations of 500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1 yen.

In addition to the Japanese yen, no other currency is accepted anywhere. Please be aware that the currency exchange rate at the receptionist at the hotel is limited to 300USD.

At Tokyo and Osaka International Airports, exchange offices operate during airport opening hours.

Banks are open daily from 9:00 to 15:00-17:00 on weekdays, from 9:00 to 12:00 - on the first and last Saturday of the month. On Sundays and public holidays - all bank branches are closed. Currency exchange in bank branches is associated with an extremely formalized procedure, sometimes protracted in time, which causes certain inconveniences.

Credit cards

In Japan, the system of payment by credit cards is widespread in almost all payment banking systems. Misunderstandings may arise in some cases when withdrawing cash from ATMs and in small shops. Some exclusive shops and restaurants do not accept credit cards as a matter of principle - you can find this information at the entrance. Before traveling to Japan, we recommend that you contact your bank and agree on a cash withdrawal limit.

VAT and Tax-Free

All sales in Japan are subject to a 5% sales tax. Purchases over JPY 15,000 are subject to an additional 3% tax. When making purchases in duty-free shops, the cost of taxes is refunded, provided that these goods are taken out of the country. To do this, the buyer will be asked to present a passport, to which they will attach a check indicating the purchase. This check, along with the goods, will need to be presented to the customs officer when leaving the country. Depending on the store, the minimum purchase value for tax refund varies, as a rule, the purchase amount should start from 10000JPY.

Office Hours

Banks are open daily from 9:00 to 15:00-17:00 on weekdays, from 9:00 to 12:00 - on the first and last Saturday of the month. On Sundays and public holidays - all bank branches are closed.

Huge department stores, 10-15 floors, are open every day from 10.00 to 20:00. On national holidays and on Sundays department stores are open from 10:00 to 19:30. Some department stores are closed two or three times a month on weekdays, which is announced in advance.

Private shops, as well as shops at hotels, work according to their own schedule. There is also a chain of Convenience stores that operate around the clock, but offer a limited range of goods.

Most museums are open to visitors from 10:00 to 17:00 daily, including national holidays. In many museums, Monday is a day off.

The post office is open on weekdays from 9:00 to 17:00. Sundays and public holidays - all post offices closed. Some major post offices are open seven days a week.

Phone, mail, internet

When calling from Ukraine to Japan to a landline Japanese phone, dial:

0 - beep - 0 - 81 - (area code) - (number of the called subscriber).

In Japan phone codes cities start with the number "0", for example: Sapporo - 011. But when dialing numbers from Ukraine, city codes must be dialed without the first "0" in the code. Here are the codes of some cities (for calls from Ukraine):

Akita - 188, Wakayama - 734, Yokohama (Kanagawa) - 45, Kawasaki - 44, Kagoshima - 992, Kyoto - 75, Kitakyushu - 93, Kobe - 78, Nagasaki - 958, Nagoya - 52, Okayama - 86, Osaka - 6 , Sapporo - 11, Sendai - 22, Takamatsu - 878, Chiba - 43, Tokyo - 3, Fukuoka - 849, Hakodate - 138, Hiroshima - 82.

pay phones

In Japan, you can call everywhere from street pay phones. They are of four types - international: gray or green with the inscription "ISDN" (they work with phone cards of various denominations from 1000 to 5000JPY), yellow and blue intercity ones work (they work with both phone cards and coins of 10 and 100JPY) and local red telephones, somewhat smaller and only accepting 10JPY coins. The rules for using the phones are explained in the pictures inside the booth.

cellular

Mobile phones of the generally accepted GSM standard in Ukraine do not work in Japan!!!

You should know that the Japanese mobile operator, with which the Ukrainian operators have a roaming contract, provides services in the 3G standard (W-CDMA 2GHz "FOMA" or "Vodafone 3G"). This means that if you need to use the mobile services of this operator using your permanent number while in Japan, then before the trip you need to purchase or rent a Nokia 6630, Nokia 7600, NEC V-N701 or other telephone set in advance, which supports the specified standard.

Mobile phones operating in the required standard can be rented for tourists who come to Japan at international airports in Japan. To do this, at the mobile phone rental point, you must present a passport with a visa. It is possible to pay for phone rental services only by credit card.!!!

Emergency telephone numbers:

Transport

Japan is one of the most developed countries transport infrastructures in the world. Transport works like a well-oiled mechanism, everything is clean, comfortable and completely safe to use. The service staff is extremely polite, ready to help with any question and, in addition, at airports and major railway stations and in the subway it gradually becomes English-speaking.

Aircraft

There are several international airports in Japan, but tourists from Europe arrive mainly in international Airport Narita (Tokyo) and, more rarely, Kansai International Airport (Osaka). Domestic flights across the country are operated by JAL, ANA ( All Nippon Airways) and JAS (Japan Airlines System). Domestic flights are carried out to all major cities of the country.

Trains

A well-developed railway network is very convenient for traveling around the country. Japan's railway system is considered to be the safest and most punctual in the world. Railways literally permeate Japan, it seems that almost the most remote village can be reached by rail

Passenger trains in Japan can be divided into four categories: Local trains, Rapid express trains, trains long distance and bullet trains "Shinkansen". The fare ranges from 15 to 440 dollars depending on the distance traveled and class of train. distances are bought at special ticket offices at major stations and the ticket must be kept until the end of the trip.

"Shinkansen"

"Shinkansen", although literally translated as "new track", the more popular name is "bullet train". The network of Shinkansen lines consists of 6 routes: Sanyo (from Osaka to Hakata), Tokaido (from Tokyo to Osaka) and 4 radial lines diverging from Tokyo to the north and northwest. These are legally separate companies, trains never run from one line to another and are painted in different colors (exception: trains of the Tokaido and Sanyo lines). The frequency of movement is from 15 minutes ("Tokaido") to half an hour ("Sangye"). Trains do not run at night (from 24:00 to 05:00).

Superexpress cars are divided into general, without seat numbering, and with numbered seats, which require a ticket with a surcharge, which is checked by the conductor. It happens that passengers who entered at an intermediate station travel 200 or more kilometers while standing, but when you sit down at the final station, this usually does not happen. Station names are announced in Japanese and English and are duplicated in a running line. In the cars and toilets - perfect cleanliness.

JR trains

Trains run every 5-10 minutes on average. In train cars, citizens and passengers observe cleanliness and public order, do not smoke, do not litter, and ... do not give up their seats to either women or the elderly. Smoking is allowed on platforms only in designated areas. In the carriages hanging from the ceiling are "pendants" - handrails hanging on leather straps, as in old trams, and advertising posters hung across the carriage. All announcements in the car are accompanied by a variety of music and other sound signals and are made both by the conductor in the tail car and in a pleasant female voice, clearly of tape origin. Mobile phones are used exclusively in vestibules, where there is a vestibule; many carriages are of the "metro" type, without vestibules.

In the schedule and in reality there are quite "distant" electric trains that go from one end of the "local" zone to the other. There are specialized express trains, for example, going from Tokyo to Narita Airport (Narita Express). In them, as a rule, the seats are numbered, and tickets are sold "with a seat". In many electric trains there are so-called "green cars", "green cars" - they are considered first class - there are also places with numbers, and an additional fee is charged for travel.

On the diagrams suburban area all lines have strictly fixed colors, and trains are painted according to the color of the line. This greatly facilitates navigation and orientation in the railway space, as well as the fact that the names of the stations are written not only in hieroglyphs, but also in Latin and Japanese alphabets.

Fares start at 120 yen. The ring road takes you to any station for 250 yen. Keep your ticket, as it must be returned at the end of the trip when exiting the turnstiles. At most stations you can find a stand with information about the stations in English. If not, just take the cheapest ticket, you can pay extra at the end of the trip when returning the ticket. Tickets are valid only on the day they are purchased.

Metro

The Tokyo Subway is the third largest subway system in the world. In total, there are 30 lines and 224 stations in operation. Such a large number of lines and stations, as a rule, allows you to drive close enough to right place. You can change from one metro line to another or from metro lines to suburban trains private companies and JR trains. This makes commuter travel convenient, with the exception that the network configuration and transitions between lines are tortuous and confusing. The fare in the subway is comparable to the cost of public transport. The payment system is the same as on trains - a magnetic ticket at the entrance and at the exit. Escalators, of course, as well as other traffic, are left-handed - stand on the left, walk on the right. The metro is open from 5:00 am to 1:00 am. If you got off at the wrong station to which you bought a ticket, then you will have to pay extra in a special machine (if you traveled more than you paid) or get change (if you traveled less than you paid) and get a new ticket, after which you will be released .

Bus

There are a lot of bus routes, like any other transport in Japan, buses as transport are quite convenient and affordable. Transportation services are provided by numerous bus companies and therefore ticket prices vary slightly from each other, but usually the fare on the intracity route is about 200 yen. There are intercity bus routes. The buses themselves are not particularly comfortable, with small and narrow seats and low ceilings. Majority intercity buses Arrive and depart from Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Bus Terminal.

Compared to rail and air transport, the bus is more suitable for travelers who prefer to save on ticket prices and are not bound by time limits. Let's say the Shinkansen high-speed train can take you from Tokyo to Osaka in 3 hours, and scheduled bus overcomes this distance in 12 hours, but the cost of a bus ticket is 3 times lower.

Taxi

Japanese taxi is one of the most expensive in the world. It is curious that the green light behind the windshield means that the taxi is busy, the red one is free. Taxis are private and public. Taxis take a maximum of 3 people, but if you are going to take a taxi with four people, then the state taxi may not be put, you can negotiate with a taxi driver from a private company. Raise your hand to hail a taxi on the street. Do not try to open or close the car doors yourself - they are automatic. It is impossible to get into the car from the side of the roadway, the doors are closed tightly.

Taxi fares in Japan are among the highest in the world. The meter starts at 650 yen upon landing and then 80 yen for every 280 meters. If you get stuck in traffic, for every 135 seconds of inactivity, the meter will charge 90 yen. From 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. the tariff increases by 30%. High prices offset by excellent service: taxis are clean and comfortable, doors open automatically. A polite driver will take you short route and won't wait for a tip. If you forget something in the car, you are entitled to compensation of almost 100% of the value of the lost item.

Time

Unlike Ukraine, Japan does not switch time between winter and summer. It always remains in one unchanged time zone and is + 9 hours GMT.

When in Ukraine they switch to summer time, the hourly difference between Kiev and Tokyo is + 6 hours, during the winter time this difference is + 7 hours.

Electricity

In Japan, the mains voltage is 100V everywhere with a current frequency of 50Hz in Eastern Japan (including Tokyo, Yokohama, Tohoku region, Hokkaido) and 60Hz in Western Japan (including Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Shikoku and Kyushu), however, these differences cannot make any changes to the operation of ordinary household electrical appliances.

Be careful when buying electrical appliances in Japan that you intend to use upon returning to Ukraine. Not every store sells devices and devices that will work from electrical network with a voltage of 220V.

Before starting a trip, make a copy of your international passport and other documents proving your identity (driver's license, etc.), and air tickets, and keep them separately from the originals. In case of loss of documents, you will have fewer problems when processing documents for returning to Ukraine.

In case of loss of your passport, air ticket or baggage, please immediately inform the representative of the airline, the Ukrainian embassy or a representative of our company, who will tell you how you can solve the problem.

If you are on medication, please be sure to take it with you. Create a first aid kit that will help you with minor ailments, save time searching medicines and get rid of communication problems foreign language. In addition, many medicines have other names abroad. IN summer season it is advisable to have sunglasses and skin care creams. Do not neglect hats, being in the sun for a long time.

As a guest, you must respect and be tolerant of the customs of the country in which you have arrived. In order to prevent unwanted incidents, Ukrainian citizens are advised to: show friendliness to the local population, take into account their way of life, be patient, do not be rude, do not raise their voices, do not humiliate the dignity of the local population, respect local customs and traditions, do not show arrogance and disregard for local culture, as well as not to allow offensive statements in relation to the citizens and leaders of the country. Do not appear in public places or on the street while intoxicated, as well as not drink alcohol or smoke in places not designated for these purposes. Travel company "Krugosvit" develops individual tours to Japan, Bhutan, South Korea, South Africa for those who like to travel on their own, who want to see more than in classic tours for those who don't like group tour dates...

Until this day, the blog published only articles that came out from under my crooked pen. But for the sake of an article from my classmate Rimma_in_Israel, which I like to read since the time of school notes, it is really worth making an exception. Moreover, this article will be about the country that I have been dreaming of for a very long time - Japan. After a two-week journey through Japanese cities and towns, Rimma dispelled some of her and our common stereotypes, and wrote a minimum instruction for use (the maximum will be published in several volumes). I hope that by the end of the article, for all of us, the dream of going to Japan will become much more real.

Preparing for a trip to Japan

What do we think about representing Japan? Sumo, sushi, sake, ... Why does everything start with an "s"? Okay, there's also kimonos, Fujiyama, Hiroshima, chopsticks, ninjas, totoros, and scary and terrible characters.

Japan has been my secret dream for a long time and was as far away as possible, until I heard that my husband was planning a tour of the orchestra. Talking about the trip, I realized how many people actually want to go there and, just like me, put off the idea because it's far, expensive, strange and scary. I hope that the experience of our trip will serve as an impetus, a base or a good adviser for those who want, but are afraid to afford a trip to this exotic country.

Lyrical digression: the author of this opus has never been fond of Japan, he doesn’t speak Japanese, he doesn’t watch Japanese films except for films with Jackie Chan, from Japanese food he loves rolls most of all, he can’t stand rice and, in addition, he’s not a Buddhist or a Shintoist. That is, if I spelled a word incorrectly or misinterpreted some event, this is not out of harm, but because of the short time I got to know the country. If this material is not enough for you, I will gladly share with you links (in English) to bloggers who have visited or lived in Japan. And, of course, there is also the wonderful Vinsky forum, where there are a lot of useful information in Russian.

Visa to Japan

Any travel preparation begins with visa requirements checks. Israelis do not require an entry visa up to 90 days.

In 2017, the conditions for obtaining a visa for Russians were softened. Now you can submit documents to the consulate on your own and get a visa within a week.

However, if you feel sorry for the time, you want to be sure of the result and certainly fulfill your Japanese dream, contact the Visa Application Center.

From this year you don't need an invitation Japanese side and getting a visa is free. List of required documents:

（1）Visa application form 2 copies (printed on two sheets and completed in English on a computer or manually, with pasted photos)

（2）Photos 2 pcs. 4.5 by 4.5 cm colored or black and white without corners on a light background

（3） Passport

（4）Copy of internal passport

（5）Documents confirming the ability to pay for the trip (certificate from the place of work on the amount of salary / certificate from the bank)

（6）Residence program (filled in English)

（7）Ticket Booking Confirmation

（8）Power of Attorney if you are not applying in person

Documents must be submitted personally or with the help of a trusted person.

Flights to Japan

The next item is the search for air tickets. We were looking for tickets five months before departure and the cheapest option from Israel was Aeroflot for $700 (about 10 hours flying from Moscow to Tokyo). They also fly from us via France, Finland and Hong Kong, these flights cost about $1,500 or more.

Tourist season in Japan

Second important point is choice of travel time. There are 2 seasons in Japan that are especially popular with tourists (and locals):

• cherry blossoms in April - May (the so-called "Golden Week" of early May falls there, when the Japanese themselves take days off and also travel around the country)
• October - November with colorful leaves.

We ended up by chance in the "off season", and still all the tourist places were filled. Another detail - it gets dark early in winter (Captain Obviousness, hello), so after five in the evening it will a) be much more difficult to photograph, b) tourist places will be closed.

Choosing a hotel in Japan

I think everyone is looking for hotels according to their preferences, I will tell you about ours. And Tokyo, and Kyoto and other large cities that we visited (Osaka, Hiroshima), it is impossible to embrace, moving only on our own two feet. Therefore, the criteria are as follows:

1. Distance to bus stop (Kyoto) or subway stop (Tokyo). It is quite good if it is the intersection of several metro lines. We were lucky - in Tokyo we were close to a major transport hub: several branches of the city subway, a private line going to the airport, the JR (Japan Railways) intracity line

2. Availability within walking distance or within a few stops of significant attractions for you

3. Price (and what did you think?!)

4. Estimated quality for your money (bathroom and toilet in the room, the presence / absence of breakfast, a kettle, a refrigerator, etc.).
One of the interesting options to experience the culture of Japan can be a night in a hotel made in an authentic Japanese style. Such a hotel is called a ryokan (ryokan). Usually these are rooms decorated with natural materials, with a minimum of furniture and decor. We had a small square room, the whole room was wood paneled, the furniture was a small table and bedside table. Mattresses (tatami) and bedding were laid out at night.

What you need to understand about choosing a hotel in Japan: if we are talking about three stars and below, most often the room is very small. And of course, if you like black tea more than green tea, buy it yourself, the hotel will have either green tea or coffee.

From sanitary and hygiene products, hotels provide: face gel, toothbrush, disposable razor, in large bottles (not disposable) - shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. Even in 3-star hotels they give bathrobes or pajamas. But they don't give soap. And I really counted on him. Don't repeat my mistakes!

Japanese transportation system

This topic deserves a separate post, or even a whole guide. Firstly, transport system(once you understand how it works) is very convenient. Second, it's pretty self-explanatory. I use the word "enough" because it takes some skill and time to adapt. We happened to use an airplane, high-speed train (shinkansen), electric trains, highways, subways and buses inside the city in Japan.

So let's start with the positive:

1. You can plan your trip in advance.

There is a website http://www.hyperdia.com/en/ where you can plan your trip according to your needs, see options and prices. Site in English.

You can get the subway map in the subway itself in front of the turnstiles, it is dubbed in English and Japanese, which will help you a lot if you start asking the Japanese how to get to your destination. If you can't find it, ask the subway employee, the booth is opposite the turnstiles.

You can get the bus map from your hotel. For example, Kyoto is a bus city. Branched network buses and decent distances between attractions contribute to the popularity of buses in front of the subway, which is underdeveloped in Kyoto.

2. You can buy tickets yourself (metro, trains, shinkansen) at the machine.

In the machine, you can switch to English, select the destination and the number of tickets, pay in cash or by card. The main thing is to make sure that this particular machine serves this particular type of transport, otherwise you will not find your stop there. For example, pink-rimmed machines in Tokyo serve the JR intracity line, not the subway.

3. If you do not understand something, you can ask the metro employee or other people.

Metro employees understand and can explain themselves in at least minimal English. This is where the subway map in Japanese comes in handy.

4. There are digital screens in the transport itself.(usually) where you can see which station is now and which are next. The information is duplicated in English.

At worst, if there is no screen, the usual scheme of the metro line is located above the doors. Stations are announced.

5. There are signs at the stops., where you can track when the train, bus, subway train arrives.

6. About the Tokyo subway: each station has a color, letter and number designation, they are indicated on the diagram. It is very useful to download an application for a smartphone, I downloaded the first one by searching for “Tokyo metro” (a blue train from Mapway on a white background).

How to navigate the Tokyo subway: choose the branch by color, go through the turnstile, there are signs by color and the last subway stations (sometimes all the big stations are indicated in this direction, choose the last station in which direction you need to go. Reach the desired corridor\ escalator \ stairs - the entire branch is written on top in the appropriate color from this station to the final one with the names and designations "letter-number". Finding a station is much faster than checking all the long station names. The above becomes very relevant if you enter subway with the intersection of three branches and ten entrances.If you need to get out of such a metro - look for an indication of your street or landmark above one of the exits.

7. And finally, if you are told that some line goes to a certain station, but this is not visible on the metro map, most likely I mean private branch. In its name, the name of the usual city metro line is duplicated and a prefix is ​​added. Tickets must be bought in a separate machine, this subway has a separate entrance.

Here's a great example. We stayed at Shimbashi Station (Pink Asakusa Line). The station worker said that we could use our branch line to get to the airport. But on all metro maps Ending station in the direction of Oshiyage Airport (not the airport). On the airport website, there was no subway train among the options, but the Narita Express was. In the end, I guessed that this was not about the Asakusa branch, but about a private branch called Toei Asakusa (Toei Asakusa), the entrance to which is located ten meters before the entrance to the "regular" Asakusa. That is, this private branch has a separate entrance, a separate machine for buying tickets, more high price tickets, other trains (albeit copying the path to Oshiyage Station).

Not forget! Keep the ticket punched at the entrance until the end of the trip - there are also turnstiles at the end!

Although this is not a topic of transport, but if you are the same "toilet duck" as I am, at many stations near the turnstiles (but from the side of the station itself, and not the street) there is a toilet and a pretty decent one. By decent, I mean you don't want to roll up your pants to your hips before visiting and wash your hands up to your elbows after using the restroom.

Eating in Japan (Forget Philadelphia)

Food is an even bigger topic than transportation. And she deserves a separate post (I solemnly promise). Food in Japan is more than food (like in Israel, but in a different style).

Things to keep in mind: food in Japan is very fresh - sushi, noodles, meats, street food and pastries - everything. The only time we felt sick after eating was a restaurant in the tourist area of ​​Kyoto with a hint of European style. But perhaps it's not the freshness of the food that's to blame, but the fact that it was a combo lunch.

Specific cafes in Tokyo and Kyoto that I can recommend, ask in the comments - according to the tradition introduced on this site, we will send addresses to appear by mail.

The Japanese and what they eat with

Naturally, it is impossible to understand everything about everyone in 2 weeks, so I will tell you about two striking features that I noticed:

1. The Japanese are very friendly people. They are always trying to help you. Even if they do not know the language or go about their business somewhere.

2. The Japanese have rules. There are no deviations from the rules. It is impossible to beg, convince, demand something that goes beyond the rules (regulations, restrictions). Like robots, they will follow instructions. Any deviation from the required behavior causes them to boil, even if it is a tourist who is not familiar with the rules. Therefore, do not try, unless, of course, you are a fan of trolling others.

From the Good to Know series:

• In Japan, people smoke in designated areas.
• Don't eat outside, or at least don't eat on the go
• Do not speak on the phone in public transport
• There are problems with urns on the streets (there are not enough of them)
• Perhaps one of the most important details all sockets are of a different type (American). Buying adapters is not a problem - in any supermarket "7/11", "Family mart", which can be found every hundred meters.
• Also, keep in mind that in Japan prefer cash. Almost everywhere you can only pay in cash.

Japanese vs tourists

The Japanese do not know English from the word "at all", except: people in suits in Tokyo, sellers in major centers, employees of the subway (slightly). Everyone else may not understand such words as: how much, where, how, price, train, bus, hotel (that is, very common words). If you have a map where Japanese words are duplicated, that's a big plus. Or the Internet, then you can use a translator and a map. I highly recommend connect internet, it will solve many problems that we encountered during our trip.

I think this information is enough for the initial acquaintance. But is it enough to make you want to book flights without looking?

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 to this are added the lines of the underground and elevated metro and monorail, which can drive the 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 lots of metro 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" of high-speed trains, the 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 - Peculiar all inclusive 7 or 14 day pass that allows unlimited use of JR lines.

The JR Pass voucher can only be purchased by foreign nationals 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 ones) 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 on the phone to the cashier) and you tickets will be issued free of charge indicating the carriage 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 hotel reception, the kit included an additional charger (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 it and threw it into the first mailbox I 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 interesting places along the way. And all this time you are dragging a suitcase behind you, rushing around the stations with it in search of the right line, looking for a luggage room of the right size so that you can at least see the city normally at intermediate destinations ... Imagine? 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. Can I pay with 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 fell during the period of public holidays, then you will have to wait for the bank to open =)

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 =)

27.06.18 56 894 30

How to organize a trip to Japan

In April 2018, my husband and I went on vacation to Japan.

Marina Safonova

went to Japan

We spent two weeks there, visited Tokyo, Kyoto, the ancient capital of Nara, the mountain resort of Hakone and the ancient Buddhist monastery on Mount Koya-san.

I used to think that organizing a trip to Japan is very difficult: it is not clear how everything works there, where to go, except for Tokyo, how much it costs and how to get a visa. How to get around the country is also unclear: foreign tourists need an international license to drive in Japan. And there is left-hand traffic, serious fines, toll roads and parking lots.

It turned out that Japan is great for independent travel. Everyone speaks English, it's easy to get a visa, the transport works perfectly.

Japanese English is very different from our usual pronunciation. In Japanese, there is no “l” sound, and it is customary to break a pair of consonants with a vowel sound. The word fork is pronounced as "foku", bus - "bass", beer - "biru".

There is an opinion that going to Japan is expensive. Yes, it turns out more expensive than a package tour to the sea. But the most expensive expense is an air ticket: 30-40 thousand rubles in both directions. In second place is travel across the country. Housing in Japan costs about the same as in Europe, and you can safely save on food: everything is tasty and cheap. Tickets to museums and temples are also inexpensive: 200-500 R. Visa for citizens of the Russian Federation is free.

If you decide to go, here's what to do before you go.

Select travel time

I don't recommend going to Japan. May holidays. At the end of April - beginning of May there is "Golden Week" - "golden week", when National holidays go 6 days in a row. At this time, the whole country has a weekend and everyone goes to travel. Train tickets are sold out, housing is becoming more expensive, and there are crowds in temples, parks and museums.

Summer is also not the best time to travel. It rains in Japan in June, and then tropical heat until September. It's good to go in May right after the "golden week": at this time, domestic tourism is reduced, because everyone returns to work. There are fewer tourists, prices are lower everywhere. If I planned the trip again, I would go in mid-May.

If you want to look at cherry blossoms, then plan a trip for the end of March - the beginning of April, but keep in mind that at this time there is also a tourist rush in the country. In Japan, there is a cherry blossom forecast by region, you can see how the cherry blossoms bloomed in 2018, and plan your next trip around the same dates. Momiji is the red maple leaf season in October and early November in Japan. Momiji also has a calendar.

Buy tickets

Airfare is the biggest expense when planning a trip to Japan. Focus on 35-40 thousand rubles for a direct flight Moscow - Tokyo.

Direct flights to Tokyo are available only from Moscow with Aeroflot and Japan Airlines. We flew "Japan Airlines": on this route, the company flies the coolest of the Boeings - the Dreamliner. The plane is huge comfortable chairs, delicious food, electrochromic dimming windows, movies, music and games in the screen built into the seat.

Tickets with transfers can be found for about 3000-5000 R cheaper than direct ones. But it is difficult to fly with a transfer due to long flight and change of time zones, while the difference in price is small.

Book your accommodation

In Tokyo, choose areas near major subway stations. Ginza, Ueno, Tokyo Station, Asakusa, Shinjuku, Shibuya are great - it will be easy to travel around the city from there. In Kyoto, it is ideal to live near the Sanjo subway station.

Apart from conventional hotels, hostels and apartments on Airbnb.com in Japan you can stay in ryokans, love hotels and capsule hotels. I'll tell you about each option.

Ordinary hotels and hostels Japan is the same as the rest of the world. It is convenient for tourists to stay in chain hotels like APA Hotels: there are many of them in all major cities. The room costs 4500-5500 R for two per night. The rooms are small, but they have everything you need. Business hotels are aimed at employees who come on a business trip and do not spend much time in the room. It suits tourists too.

Usually, in all Japanese hotels, check-in is strictly from 15:00. For early check-in you have to pay half the price. Sometimes there are hotels with check-in after 13:00, such as the Shinjuku Prince Hotel in Tokyo. We stayed there on the day of arrival for this reason only: our plane landed at 8 am and we did not want to wait 6 hours at all.

Apartment on Airbnb a lot, but they cost more expensive than hotels, especially if you rent an entire house. If you rent an apartment in an old neighborhood, get ready that the house will also be old: with small rooms and a miniature bathroom.

IN capsule hotel guests live alone in a small capsule room in which you can only sit or lie down. The bathroom and toilet are shared, rooms with capsules are usually divided into male and female. Things can be deposited at the reception. Inside the capsule there is a clock, an alarm clock, a light setting. Some have a TV built into the wall. Upon check-in, a guest set is issued: a Japanese yukata robe, a towel, a disposable toothbrush, toothpaste, a comb.

A night in a capsule hotel costs 1500-2500 R.

A separate type of housing - the so-called love hotels, or "love hotels". Initially, they were intended for dates, but now they are also popular among tourists. Love hotels are usually spacious, with huge beds and unusually designed rooms. The room costs from 6000 R per night, and the more interesting the interior, the higher the price.

There are also traditional Japanese hotels - ryokans. You need to sleep in them on special futon mattresses, which are spread on the floor. From the furniture in the room there are small tables, at which they also sit on the floor. Showers and toilets are usually shared. Ryokans often have an onsen, a hot spring bath.

When you check into the ryokan, you will be asked to take off your shoes and will be given special Japanese slippers that look like flip flops. Even guests are usually dressed in a special home dressing gown - yukata.

Ryokan is the most unusual type of accommodation for tourists in Japan and the most expensive. A night in a simple ryokan costs 8-10 thousand rubles. If you want a ryokan with beautiful view, hot springs and a traditional Japanese dinner, then prices will be higher: 20-30 thousand rubles.

Make a program

I love organizing trips myself. Before my vacation, I studied the section about Japan on the Vinsky Forum and the site japan-guide.com. This is enough to make almost any itinerary in Japan, especially if you are traveling for the first time and want to see the main sights.

The Japan Guide project has excellent routes in all cities: for example, walking routes in Tokyo, in Kyoto, and there is also a whole trip plan "The best of Japan in 14 days."

Everyone who comes to Japan for the first time is usually recommended to go to Kyoto in addition to Tokyo. Compared to Russia, Tokyo is like Moscow, and Kyoto is like St. Petersburg. In the past, Kyoto was the capital of Japan, but now the city is famous for its temples, cultural attractions and geishas. If you're traveling for two weeks, split them roughly equally between Tokyo and Kyoto.

From Tokyo, you can take a day trip to the cities of Nikko, Kamakura, mountain resort Hakone. One day is worth spending entirely in the Disney amusement park, in Tokyo there are two of them: Disneyland and Disney Sea.

From Kyoto, you can take a train to Nara - this is another ancient capital of Japan, now it is known for its park with tame deer. From Kyoto, you can also take a 15-minute train ride to Osaka, the third largest city in the country. Tourist places there is little, but you can see the five-story samurai castle and the Universal amusement park, comparable in scope to Disneyland.

Our experience. For 12 days we traveled along the route Tokyo - Hakone - Kyoto - Nara - a monastery on Mount Koya - Tokyo. All transfers, hotels, train schedules and attractions were entered into a Google spreadsheet. The table changed many times, including during the trip itself. You can download our plan template and plan your trip based on it.

A detailed travel plan will come in handy for the visa. The mandatory set of documents for a Japanese tourist visa includes a program of stay. It must be filled out according to the template: register every day, indicate the contact phone number, address of the place of residence and the program - what you plan to do. We wrote simply Sightseeing everywhere.

Get a visa

Previously, it was difficult for citizens of the Russian Federation to obtain a Japanese visa: a mandatory invitation from a citizen of Japan was required. Invitations were made through agencies, it was expensive.

Now the invitations have been canceled, and the visa has become free. In my experience, getting a Japanese visa requires the usual set of documents:

You do not need to register at the embassy to submit documents. It is enough just to arrive at 9:30 at Grokholsky lane, house 27 with all the documents. There are 10-20 people in the queue, it moves quickly. Embassy staff pick up your documents and tell you right on the spot whether you will be issued a visa or not. Sometimes clarifying questions are asked. We weren't asked anything.

You can apply for a visa by a simple power of attorney written in free form. My friend lives in Nizhny Novgorod. He sent a package of documents for a Japanese visa by mail to his aunt in Podolsk. Aunt came with these documents to the embassy and gave them for processing, showing a power of attorney, and then took the passport with the visa ready.

Make a visa 4 working days. We applied on Monday and collected our passports on Thursday.

It is important to fill out the program of stay in detail and indicate there the contacts of all hotels or apartments on Airbnb. By the time you submit the documents, you should already have reservations for the entire accommodation.

If you make an account statement at Tinkoff Bank, embassy staff may find fault with electronic printing. If possible, ask the bank in advance to prepare an extract with a real seal for you. If you are submitting a certificate of employment, then an extract is not required. We submitted two certificates from work, we were not asked for additional documents.

Buy a JR Pass

The main form of transport in Japan is railways. A Russian driver's license is not valid in Japan, there are few parking lots, many toll roads and left-hand traffic in the country. All tourists travel by train.

There are many different railway companies in the country, the largest is called Japan Railways. Travel is not cheap. A ticket for the Shinkansen high-speed train from Tokyo to Kyoto costs 13,910 ¥ (7800 R) one way:

To save money, you need a JR Pass. It was invented in Japan specifically for foreign tourists. "JR Pass" allows a certain time (usually a week or two) to move unlimitedly on all routes of the "Japan Railways" carrier. This and speed shinkansen trains, and some inter-city express trains, and electric trains to Nikko, Nara, Arashiyama, and other attractions around the main cities.

JR Pass is expensive. We paid 32,940 R for two weekly passes - 16,470 R per person. The travel card paid off for the first three days of the trip. In my experience, JR Pass is definitely worth buying.

You need to buy this pass in advance. In Japan, this is no longer possible. I ordered it on the japan-rail-pass.com website two months before the trip. After payment, you will be sent a voucher, already in Japan, this voucher will need to be "activated" - exchanged for "JR Pass".

"Jar-pass" is a nominal document. Upon activation, your name, surname and passport details will be written on it. In Tokyo, at the Shinjuku station, we went to the Japan Railroad information desk. We were shown the rules for using the pass and clarified several times whether we really want to activate it from today's date. Then they had to fill out a short questionnaire. In exchange for vouchers, we were given beautiful travel cards with our passport details on the back.

When we first went through the control with the JR Pass, they put stamps on the pass. Then we just had to show it to the employee at the station every time we passed through the turnstiles.

Schedule transfers for booking tickets

In Japan, everyone book trains in advance. If you buy a JR Pass and plan to travel around the country, I advise you to pre-select the Shinkansen on the Hyperdia website that fit your schedule. Make a list of when and what time you want to book your seats on the train. Print and take with you.

When you activate JR Pass, ask an employee to reserve tickets for you on this list. This is done in one minute. Then tickets can be changed without any problems.

You can ride without reserved seats. In trains, all cars are divided into reserved (they are more expensive) and ordinary. In ordinary ones, you can sit anywhere if there are empty seats. If you plan to move on weekdays, and not on holidays or weekends, then, of course, you can relax and not book anything. We ended up on six Japanese weekends in a row, so we booked the shinkansen a week in advance. Then they made an exchange once: without problems and without a queue, in 2 minutes.

What you need to know about money

The currency of Japan is the yen. 100 yen = 57 R. It is most convenient to travel with dollars: in cash or on a card. We took with us, made the main dollar account and paid from it. Another part of the money was taken in cash dollars. There are many exchangers in Japan, the rate is acceptable everywhere, there are even automatic exchangers, it is safe to change money.

Japan is a country of cash. Most residents everywhere pay with banknotes and coins. There are hotels that do not accept cards, especially in small towns, but in Tokyo and Kyoto we paid by card almost everywhere without any problems. To buy subway tickets, pay for a bus, buy water from vending machines, you need cash, and most often small coins. After a couple of days, we carried a huge amount of coins with us.

How to pay. In Japan, there is a special ritual of paying for anything. When paying at the checkout, money or a card must be placed in a special tray that stands in front of the seller. But the seller will definitely return the change, check and card to you from hand to hand with words of gratitude and a slight bow.

Probably for the same reason, payment through Apple Pay is not popular in Japan. In two weeks, I have never seen anyone pay by phone, and I myself have not tried it.

Tax free. In Japan, taxi-free for foreigners is conveniently organized. An 8% discount is made right upon purchase if you have your passport with you. Taxi-free is almost everywhere, even in grocery store"Seven-leven". There is no need to stand in any queue at the airport, such as in Italy. Prices in stores are usually indicated without VAT, so at the checkout the total amount may turn out to be 8% more than you planned.

Tips. In Japan, it is not customary to leave a tip - they simply will not be accepted. Some tourist restaurants include service on the bill, but this is rare. It is understood that the service is always of the highest standard and does not require additional payment from the client.

You have to pay in cafes and restaurants at the exit. Ask the waiter to bring the bill, take it and go to the cashier. The box office is usually at the exit.

Order a WiFi router

In Japan, there is public Wi-Fi almost everywhere. In museums and other attractions, it is usually free, and it is safe to use it. If you want to save money, use open networks and skip this step.

If you don’t want to connect to a new Wi-Fi every time, rent a router for the duration of your trip. Wi-Fi will definitely come in handy to build travel routes.

The Google Maps app is great for getting directions around Japan, including the subway in Tokyo, buses in Kyoto, and long-distance transfers

You can rent a router right at the airport: at the exit from Narita Airport there are dozens of information stands of companies that provide Pocket Wi-Fi service.

I ordered a router in advance on the same site japan-rail-pass.com, where I issued the travel pass. 12 days of rent cost 4348 R - this is 362 R per day. An envelope with a router, charger, and return policy was waiting for me at the post office at Narita Airport. The router was already charged. All 12 days we did not even think about where to find Wi-Fi.

To return the router, you need to put it in a mail envelope, seal it and drop it into a red mailbox. We did it on the way back, at the same Narita airport. The mail envelope for the return was originally bundled with the router.

Send luggage within Japan

In Japan, it is customary not to travel with suitcases, but to send them from one hotel to another. For this, there is a convenient delivery service "Kuroneko Ta-ko-bin". All hotels in Japan work with it. If you are planning to move from one city to another, it is convenient to send suitcases by delivery, and not to carry them with you.

If you live in hotels, using Kuroneko is simple: come to the reception with your suitcases and ask to be sent to another hotel. , it will be a little more difficult: the owners of the apartments will not meet or send suitcases, but you can use any Kuroneko delivery point, there are many of them.

Suitcases are usually delivered within a day. If you send your suitcase this morning, you can pick it up the next morning. For two standard suitcases we paid 2500-3000 R.

We have used this service twice. For the first time, we sent suitcases from a hotel in Tokyo to the Kuroneko office in Kyoto, next to the station, and we ourselves went to spend the night with backpacks in the mountain resort of Hakone.

How to get from Narita Airport

From the airport to Tokyo can be reached by train, bus and taxi - like everywhere else.

Flights from Moscow to Tokyo usually arrive at Narita Airport. It is located quite far from the city, in the neighboring Chiba Prefecture. We tried two ways: the Narita Express train and the train "Kisei Skyliner". I'll tell you about them.

Narita Express- N'Ex. Expensive and fast, goes to central station the Tokyo Station subway, passing several other major stations, including Shinjuku. Our first hotel was just on Shinjuku, so we bought tickets at the airport for Narita Express. The train was moving slowly, it turned out that on that particular day there were some interruptions on the line. According to the schedule, we were supposed to get there in an hour, but the train was about an hour and a half: we managed to sleep. Tickets are expensive, we paid 3000 R for two:

It makes sense to take Narita Express tickets if you want to activate your JR Pass on the very first day. This express ticket is also included.

"Kisei Skyliner"- a private company express that we took from Tokyo back to Narita. Departs from Ueno station, goes non-stop, so we got there in half an hour. It costs 2470 yen (1400 R) for one ticket.

The cheapest way to get from Narita Airport is by bus: 1000 yen, 60 minutes on the way - and you are at Tokyo Station. For other ways to get from the airport, I recommend reading the discussion on the Vinsky Forum.

What else you need to know

Traveling in Japan is safe, convenient and fun. There are many tourists, and all navigation is specially made so that everything is clear to everyone. If you get lost, they will definitely tell you where to go and what to do.

It's the same with food: if you don't know what you want to eat, just look at the cafe window. Most establishments put on display the most believable plastic models of their dishes with prices. Many menus have photos, so there are usually no problems with language.

If you know English language at a basic level, you will have access to all navigation on the streets, in transport and in other public places. It is difficult to get lost: there are a huge number of signs everywhere. Sometimes in Tokyo it was even clearer to me where to go than in the transition in Moscow.

Remember

1. Do not fly on the May holidays.
2. Buy tickets well in advance.
3. Visit Tokyo and Kyoto.
4. To save money, stay in chain hotels.
5. Be sure to buy a JR Pass.
6. Take dollars or a dollar card with you.