Preparing for your trip to Japan

Advice and tips for a successful stay in Japan

A trip to Japan cannot be improvised, especially when it is the first one. Visa, budget, travel, accommodation: what are the main elements to take into account when planning your trip to Japan?

1 - Define your desires, the first step in preparing for your trip to Japan

The first phase of preparing for your trip to Japan will be to take stock of your desires. Are you more of a city, mountain or a bit of both? Would you like to discover the most touristic places or get off the beaten track? Do you want to discover the Japanese islands or a particular city? So many questions to ask beforehand, before embarking on any reservation.



In terms of travel mode, several alternatives are available to you:

• Opt for an organized tour during which you can discover or rediscover Japan in the company of a guide specializing in Japanese culture. In this case, you will be able to benefit from a turnkey trip (flight, accommodation, visits planned according to the theme chosen) and travel around Japan in the company of a group of enthusiasts.
• Opt for a tailor-made circuit that will give you total freedom. You can organize it alone or with the help of one of our specialists so that it meets your exact desires and needs.
• Opt for a self-guided tour by choosing one of the packages created by our travel advisors including flight, accommodation and transport. It is the ideal and economical solution for a first trip to Japan or to discover in depth a theme or a region that you like with complete peace of mind!
• Opt for a trip in complete autonomy and create the itinerary of your stay yourself. To meet your desires for discovery, you can then, for example, integrate into your organization one of our private or group activities in different cities of Japan.

For further :

• Our rankings of things to do and see in Japan
• Japan Experience tours in Japan
• How long for a trip to Japan?
• What to visit during a trip to Japan?
• Preparing for your stay in Tokyo

2 - Preparing for trips to Japan

The cost and modes of transport are generally provided for in our tours, but if you are organizing your trip from A to Z and planning to change cities, you will need to plan your trips well.

DISCOVER OUR GUIDE TO TRANSPORTATION IN JAPAN

To take the train and go from city to city, the reference is the JR Pass which allows you to travel unlimited from one end of the country to the other on the JR network (the prices vary daily according to the rate of the yen) .

For public transport such as bus or metro, the Pasmo or Suica prepaid transport cards will also be useful for you to travel with ease. To save time, you can order them online before you leave.

If you prefer to travel by car, you can rent a vehicle in advance. It is a solution to be favored when you want to discover the Japanese countryside and travel at your own pace in complete autonomy.

Good to know: Contrary to popular belief, Japan has a large territory and the cities are quite far from each other, take travel time into account in your program!

For further :

• Take the train in Japan
• Driving in Japan
• Hyperdia, the essential application for traveling to Japan

3 - How to stay in Japan? Finding your ideal housing solution?

Japan offers a wide variety of accommodation, to choose from according to your preferences:

• The houses, perfect for living Japanese style and soaking up the culture. Vivre le Japon offers you the rental of houses (up to 8 people) in the heart of Tokyo, Kyoto, Kanazawa and Takayama. On site, benefit from the support of a Travel Angel, who will answer all your questions about the district, give you good addresses and practical advice.
• Classic, Western-style hotels.
• Ryokan, typical Japanese inns, to be preferred in the countryside or in small towns.
• Youth hostels, to achieve maximum savings.

DISCOVER OUR GUIDE ON ACCOMMODATION SOLUTIONS IN JAPAN

For further :

• Why rent a house in Japan
• Unusual accommodation in Japan
• The share-house, an economical way to find accommodation in Japan
• Ryokan, traditional Japanese inns
• Minshuku, Japanese style bed & breakfast
• Capsule hotels in Japan

Finding accommodation is the most important part of planning a trip to Japan, along with booking tickets and planning the program. Don't wait until the last minute as this destination is becoming more and more popular.

4 - Complete the administrative formalities to travel to Japan

There are very few formalities to carry out when planning your trip to Japan. What are the administrative procedures to do before leaving for Japan?

• Visa

French nationals do not need a visa to travel to Japan as part of a tourist trip. You can stay up to 90 days on Japanese territory without any supporting document other than your passport. All types of passport are accepted, whether biometric or not. They must simply be valid until the date of return to France.

• Health

Healthcare costs in Japan are relatively expensive. It is best to protect yourself by taking out appropriate health insurance before departure. Before any subscription, check all the same if your credit card entitles you to any coverage. This way you could avoid unnecessary costs. Also, don't forget your ongoing treatments. Bring the medications you need (you may indeed have difficulty finding the right references on site) as well as the necessary prescriptions.

• Telephone/Internet

If you want to call your loved ones, remember to take out a suitable offer with your operator. Don't neglect your Internet connection either if you plan to do research on your phone, use it as a GPS or something else. Solutions such as Pocket Wifi or SIM Card DATA , which allow you to benefit from a Wifi connection wherever you go, could also be useful.

• Bank and exchange yen

Remember to raise the withdrawal limit for your credit card before your departure, if it is not sufficient. On site, the majority of transactions are done in cash. We also advise you to buy yen before your departure to arrive in Japan with complete peace of mind! To do this, there are exchange offices and most banks can also sell you yen, the Japanese currency.

• Driving in Japan

If you want to rent a car during your stay in Japan and drive, you will need to have your driver's license translated beforehand. Indeed, international driving licenses are not sufficient in Japan and it will be necessary for many travellers, as is the case of people with a French license, to have their license translated by the JAF, Japan Automobile Federation , in order to be able to take the road in Japan. The translation of the driving license is therefore an essential formality before your departure.

Discover the offer of Japan Experience:

• Driving license translation
• Internet access: Pocket Wifi rental
• Internet access: SIM card DATA

5 - Decide when to travel to Japan

Each season has its pros and cons, it all depends on how you want to experience Japan.

• Spring in very popular because of the cherry blossoms, which offer a breathtaking spectacle, and its many parties and festivals but is also the most expensive period.
• Summer is particularly hot and humid but is also popular for its many cultural events and its special gastronomy.
• Autumn will allow you to discover a Japan with flamboyant and unique colors, but also to enjoy a mild climate. Be careful, however, to choose your dates carefully to avoid the typhoon period.
• Winter will finally be ideal for observing Mount Fuji in its most beautiful light, leaving at a lower cost and enjoying the tourist sites in complete peace of mind.

DISCOVER OUR TRAVEL GUIDE TO JAPAN BY SEASON

For further :

• Cherry blossoms
• Cherry blossoms and other alternatives
• summer in japan
• Kôyô, autumn in red and gold
• Winter, a wonderful forgotten season

6 - What is the budget for a trip to Japan?

The budget is an important component in the preparation of the trip to Japan. At present, it costs around €2,000 per person, including round-trip airfare. This estimate may vary depending on several factors and in particular the period of departure, the duration of the stay, the type of accommodation chosen, the trips or visits planned.

We often hear that Japan is an expensive destination but this is not totally true. As with other trips, it is possible to reduce costs, starting by booking your plane tickets as far in advance as possible (count 6 to 7 months before the scheduled departure date). Some seasons are also less expensive. Another note, the cost of food is very reasonable. By being thrifty, you can eat for 20 to 25 € per day on average.

You can also reduce your costs by remembering to change your money before departure. Plan a relatively large sum because on the spot any withdrawal will cause significant costs which could weigh down the leisure budget fixed for your trip to Japan .

DISCOVER OUR GUIDE ON THE BUDGET OF A TRIP TO JAPAN

For further :

• Cheap travel to Japan, how to reduce your budget?
• Cheap tours in Japan