Mon's Voyage

1. Japan at a glance
2. Where to go
3. The Japanese bucket list
4. Tips to travel Japan
   1. Pre trip planning
   2. Money & costs
   3. Transportation
   4. Safety
   5. What to eat and drink in Japan

Japan at a glance

Japan is situated to the East of China and Korea and has islands spanning all the way to Taiwan. It is a country with 4 distinct seasons, of which some places can get to -30 degrees Celsius, so choose wisely which season you’re travelling in. Japan has a complicated history and past, of which I’m not going to go into here, but you can read about it on the net. It is a massive country with a population of over 125 million people, with some of the most dense cities in the world. The national language is of course Japanese, with its capital being Tokyo.

Where to go

Central Japan

1. Tokyo
2. Kyoto
3. Osaka
4. Hiroshima
5. Nagano
6. Hakuba
7. Kanazawa
8. Kamikochi

Southern Japan

1. Fukuoka
2. Nagasaki

Northern Japan

1. Saporro
2. Niseko

The Japanese bucket list

This list below is just a small snippet of all of the wonderful things you can do in Japan, but I’ve picked out some of my faves.

Cross the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world, Shinjuku

So overwhelming, and insanely packed, but a must! You can also get an amazing free view of it from the Starbucks right at the crossing

Go vintage shopping in Harajuku

Japan is one of the best cities I’ve been to in the world for vintage shopping. There is a mix of American style vintage, luxurious goods, beautiful handmade pottery and just weird and quirky goods. Cat Street in Harajuku is one of my faves

Try some weird and wonderful food in the local markets

Ah the food!! The fresh sashimi, the beautifully crafted bowls of ramen to the delicate desserts. Food markets can be found everywhere, and honestly I’ve never had any bad experiences with food or a bad meal in Japan

Hike the mystical mountains in Kamikochi

Even though I love the hustle and bustle of the cities, I really loved hiking here and spending time in the mountains. The huge mountainous valleys left me in awe matched with the crystal blue waters and tranquil hikers. Beware of the bears, as there tend to roam around this area…

Stare at Mount Fuji

There are so many places to view Mount Fuji, and yes, I’m still sad I haven’t hiked up it, but it is so mystical. You can stay at one of the 5 lakes around the mountain and ride your bike around to get beautiful views of this truly magical volcano

Stay in a traditional ryokan

We stayed at a ryokan with a private onsen for less than $50 USD a night when we were caught in rain with road closures to our next destination in Kamikochi. These have such a homely vibe where you can wear traditional clothing, eat while cross-legged on the ground and share stories with other travellers or locals staying.

Eat at a convenience store

7-Eleven, Family Mart, Lawsons – they’re all incredible! They have an amazing selection of full meals (including fresh sushi), delicious and weird snacks and my favourite…the sweets! I could literally spend hours looking through the products and trying them all

Catch a bullet train…anywhere

I got a JR pass the second time I went to Japan because my partner and I wanted to see as much as we possibly could. This was a great option because it ended up being a lot cheaper and it was convenient not having to buy tickets. The train network in Japan is extensive and is much better than flying. These trains are truly an engineering marvel and such a lovely experience to gaze out the window while eating my Japanese snacks from Lawson…hehe

Tips to travel Japan

Pre trip planning

Learn some basic Japanese phases

Japan is a VERY polite country, so salutations and thanks are very important. Learn a couple, arigato!

Download Google Translate

Most restaurants have giant fake replicas of dishes to help you out, but some of the local, low key ones do not and are not in English. Google Translate allows you to take photos of menus are translates in real time, which is a huge help

Consider getting a JR pass

If you’re just doing 2 or 3 cities, this may not be worth it, but if you’re doing multiple then the pass usually ends up being cheaper. Don’t forget to go to a train station and get it up and running at a ticket office before hopping on a train

Get a local sim or e-sim

To be able to communicate or navigate, this is essential!

Tag on Google the places you want to visit

Understand the distances can be HUGE! Particularly while in Tokyo which is a mega city, some places may be an hour apart…

Money & costs

Currency: Japanese Yen (JPY)

Card vs. cash? Cash is surprisingly used a lot in Japan, particularly when buying metro tickets etc. A lot of restaurants, hotels, markets take card but having some yen on you is critical

Visa fees? Nil for visa on arrival

Accommodation costs: $20-$50 USD for a dorm per night or $50-$100 USD for an Airbnb per night or $100+ USD for hotels (some can be very pricy in Tokyo in particular)

Food costs: $5-$30 USD per meal, but this can range and really go up as Japan has some beautifully cheap food to very bougie restaurants

Transport costs: $2 USD for the metro, $50-$150 USD for medium to long distance high-speed trains

Transportation

Within cities

Public transport: PT is amazing everywhere, and very reliable (they even apologise if the trains are just 1 minute late). The metro system can get very overwhelming, crowded and some metro stations have over 30 exits, so pick wisely…

Between cities

Trains: as I’ve mentioned, the high-speed rail network is incredible, but can be expensive. Get a JR pass and experience the true beauty of train travel in this amazing country

Renting a car: Most of Japan you won’t need this option, however if you’re travelling remote and rural areas then renting a car be a good option. We rented a car while travelling through Kamikochi & Hakuba to see more of the amazing landscapes and hikes that can’t be reached by train

Walking: Japan is huge but walking around exploring the neighbourhoods is one of my favourite things to do in Japan. There are also cute shibas everywhere and people with some very interesting outfits for some good dog and people watching

Safety

Japan is one of the safest countries in the world and honestly the thing to look out for is its natural disasters. Being located on a tectonic plate, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis are not uncommon. Always follow the local news and your country’s travel advice.

Safety

What to eat and drink in Japan

Omg… okay, where do I even start?! I could literally write a whole blog on food itself in Japan. Japan is definitely in the top 3 best food cities in the world, with food ranging from cheap street eats to immaculate Michelin star restaurants. Below I’ll list out my absolute must try foods, but please go beyond this list and explore the wonderful culinary landscape of Japan

Japanese snacks at Family Mart, 7-Eleven, Lawson! OK, I know I’ve mentioned it above, but let’s be real here. The convenience stores are a hard number one on my Japan list and no one will change my opinion of that. From egg sandos, fresh sushi, delicious Japanese pastries to cheap sake, these places slap. Super cheap, basically on every corner and a wide range of snacks that will keep you coming back!

Ramen! A complex broth, chewy noodles, a perfectly cooked onsen egg and some charred meat? What’s not to love. There are many types of ramen but if you’re anti halal, then you can’t go wrong with the classic Tonkatsu. I kid you not, I had ramen every second day in Japan and have no regrets. If you’re halal friendly, I highly recommend the lemon truffle chicken ramen from Gina Hichago, it was definitely one of the best I’ve ever had

Udon, ramen’s less popular sibling. Man, udon vs. ramen, a tough one! The key differences are there are usually thicker noodles, a sweeter broth and less toppings. This is a lighter alternative to ramen and goes down so well. You can also get them with curry if you’re feeling funky

Sashimi. Ok, wow. The fish quality to price ratio is on point in Japan. Make the most of that beautiful, fresh fish (you can also get your fish charred on nigiri if you’re not a fan of raw fish) and of course check out the Japanese fish markets in Tokyo if you can handle the smell

Yakitori. Crispy, charred meat cooked on hot coals? Sounds like an Aussie bbq? WRONG. Enter a yakitori den and be transformed into a smoke box (literally you can usually smoke cigarettes in these places) and try the deliciously spiced and perfectly cooked yakitori skewers. Always order more than you think you need

Okonomiyaki! If you happen to be in Osaka, there is a food hall dedicated to these beautiful inventions. Crispy pancakes mixed with cabbage, meat, eggs and other vegetables, these are delish and honestly sometimes it can be hard to find meals with vegetables in Japan so keep your digestive system working by eating these…

Matcha. Matcha lattes, ice cream, crepes, everything! The Kyoto area has some of the best ceremonial grade matcha in the country and it is absolutely worth a visit to try this green gem

Taiyaki. Hot pastry with custard or red bean filling disguised as a fish. Yes! Find these at most street food stalls

Mochi. Sticky rice cakes which can be eaten sweet or savoury but my preference is definitely sweet, covered in roasted soybean powder and black honey

Others… fluffy pancakes, cheesecake, strawberry sando, dango, melon pan, and much more!!