Planning a First Trip to Japan? Here?s What You Need to Know

Vacations are the best time to plan a fantastic trip to unknown places. During your visit, you are most likely to explore the destination as much as possible while leaving all of your worries behind. The destination must delight you and isolate you from your work at the same time. Thus, if you are looking for a perfect trip, you can consider Japan as it is among such destinations that have a plethora of things and activities to offer to its travellers. However, to enhance your vacation trip, you can learn a few things and understand what to prepare for your first trip to Japan, which can be acknowledged through the provided article.   

Planning a First Trip to Japan? Here’s What You Need to Know

Best time to travel to Japan

Japan is a destination that can be explored throughout the entire year, making it suitable to visit at any time of year. However, the best time to visit can be personal and based on one's expectations. You can learn about the  different seasons of Japan and its features through the provided section, and can know which time is suitable for you:

• Spring (March to May)

  • Cherry blossom time. 
  • The weather is pleasant, and the environment offers stunning vistas. 
  • It is the high season for tourism in Japan, and the destination receives a large number of visitors, raising the cost of your trip. 
  • This is a most comfortable time and also a less rainy period, making it ample time for you to explore the destination to the fullest. 
  • May is the time when the rainy season in Japan starts. 

• Summer  (June to August)

  • There is a high risk of rain and high wind threats, making this a low season for international tourism in Japan.
  • Due to the small number of visitors, you are most likely to pay for your accommodations and other expenses out of your pocket. 
  • Several festivals, such as the Kyoto matsuri and the Obon Festival, take place in July and August.
  • Due to the rain, the plants and trees are in their fullest form, creating stunning scenery. 
  • However, it is one of the best times to climb Mount Fuji. 

• Autumn (September to November)

  • As autumn arrives, Japan's landscape changes into vivid hues of red and gold, giving the scenery an enchanting color palette of red and gold. 
  • It is the time when the destination's weather starts to cool down from the heat of summer. 
  • It is the peak time to visit Japan if you want to see the colourful leaves and experience the pleasant weather. 

• Winter (December to February)

  • With the start of winter, Japan remains particularly cool and typically dry for the whole time. 
  • One unique experience in Japan in December is to take a natural hot spring bath surrounded by snow.
  • The destination experiences heavy snowfall in January and February, which makes Japan's conditions good for skiing. 

Prepare all the necessary documents

While visiting Japan from an international destination, you should keep various things in mind, including the proper alignment of documents. If you forget even a single document that is needed, you might not be able to travel to your intended location. Thus, while making a trip to Japan, you must ensure to carry the following necessary documents with you to make your trip smoother:

• Travel tickets are one of the most crucial things that you have to carry with you. 
• You must carry a passport, whose validity should remain throughout your stay in Japan.
• Your passport should have at least one empty page available for an entry stamp during your trip to Japan.
• You must consider a visa based on the number of days you are staying, the purpose of your visit, and your country of origin, as per the rules of visa requirements in Japan. 
• If you are required to have a visa, you must obtain it beforehand, and there is no provision for an on-arrival visa at the Japanese airport. 
• If you are staying for 90 days or less and your purpose of travel is tourism or business, you must also carry your ticket at the time of your entry. 
• While entering Japan, you must show the immigration officer proof of how you are going to support your stay. And if you are unable to provide such proof, your entry can be denied by them. 
• Provided that you have a certain kind of visa while entering Japan, you are required to re-enter Japan again if you are planning to switch your initial visa to any other, including a study, spouse, or work visa.
• You are not able to enter the country with 1,000,000 yuan (around USD 6,450) or more, without any declaration.

Essential items to pack for your first trip to Japan trip

While travelling for the first time to Japan, there are a few things that you must consider and carry with you so that your travel experience can go smoothly and be enjoyable. Some of the essential things can be seen as follows: 

• Clothes based on weather- Take your clothes according to the month you are visiting. For example, if you are visiting in the summer season, you can bring light cotton clothes with you, whereas for the winter season, you must bring a sweater, gloves, and a scarf to keep you warm.
• Shoes based on comfort- Bring comfortable shoes in which you can travel and walk around the destination. Avoid wearing stylish shoes that make you uncomfortable throughout your Japan journey. 
• Small tote bag—You can also bring a tote bag, which will be very helpful for carrying small items while travelling throughout the day without your luggage. 
• Umbrella or rain jacket—If you visit Japan during the rainy season, you must bring an umbrella or rain jacket with you so that rain won't ruin your travel plans. 
• Lock—To ensure the security of your luggage and backpacks, keep them locked in a crowded place. 
• Portable chargers—Phones and cameras are the perfect ways to capture your loving moments anywhere in the world. Thus, while travelling, you must be prepared for all so that your plan won't be ruined. Thus, you can keep a portable charger with you, so that no loving moment can be missed.
• First-aid kit and medications—You are required to bring a first-aid kit and any specific prescribed medications. In addition, you can carry some essential and common medicines, including cold, fever, and cough, for any sudden changes in your body due to changes in the environment.

Learn about the language barrier in Japan

While visiting Japan, you must understand the language spoken there, so that you won't have any difficulty while staying or visiting any place in the destination. Some of the important aspects for you to know about the language composition in Japan can be seen as follows:

• If you are not aware of Japanese and only understand English, then you are likely to find English speakers at your lodging house and restaurants.
• However, locals are not likely to be well aware of English. So, you might not be able to interact with them too much.
• Moreover, if you want to buy any local food or items, you are likely to face difficulty because of a language barrier.
• Thus, you can learn about some of the basic Japanese words through a podcast or an online translation app. This will help you make your travel smooth with some Japanese words and some broken English words.

Significant places to visit in Japan for the first-time traveller

Japan is a beautiful and vast country, which may even confuse people regarding which destinations to roam around and which not, especially for a first timer. Thus, if you are also planning to go to Japan for the first time and want to explore the most iconic and beautiful locations there, based on your stay routine and location of stay, you can consider the following destinations to visit:

• Tokyo
  • Tokyo Tower
  • Tokyo Skytree
  • Senso-ji Temple
  • Harajuku
  • Shinjuku
  • Mori Art Museum
  • National Museum of Nature and Science
• Kyoto
  • Kinkaku-ji temple
  • Kiyomizudera temple
  • Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
  • Nishiki market
  • Kyoto's kitchen
• Osaka
  • Universal studios
  • Minami
  • Osaka Aquarium
  • Tenjin Matsuri
  • Osaka Castle
  • Sumiyoshi Taisha
  • Museum of History
  • Minoo Park
  • Kuromon Market
• Other off-beat places in Japan
  • Aso
  • Kurokawa
  • Yakushima
  • Kambayashi
  • Shirakawa-go
  • Kamikachi
  • Lake Shikaribetsu
  • Yaeyama Islands

Find your best accommodation options in Japan

The best accommodation for you to stay in Japan is based on your preferences and the kind of experience you want to have there. Some of the accommodation types in Japan can be seen as follows:

Japanese Style Accommodations

• Ryokan- The rooms of Ryokan are built in traditional Japanese-style inns, along with Japanese-style rooms. You can experience a traditional life in Japan here. While staying in a Ryokan, your dinner and breakfast are included in your accommodation cost.
• Minshuku—At Minshuku, you will be provided with Japanese-style bed and breakfast lodging. Your meal for one or two is also included in the cost of your accommodation.

Western Style Accommodations

• Western-style hotels—Various chains of international and Japanese hotels can be found all across Japan, providing a Western-style stay. The cost of accommodation in these hotels is comparatively higher than that of Japanese-style stays.
• Pensions- Pensions in Japan are generally found in the countryside and mountainous resorts. The provision of a stay in Pensionsa is more likely to be similar to a stay in Minshuku, except that the style of the infrastructure of the room and environment is more of a Western style instead of a Japanese one.
• Hotels and dormitories—If you desire to stay in Western-style accommodation at a minimal cost, you can consider staying at hotels and dormitories. Here, you would be provided with lodging and meal options within your affordable and budgeted range. 

Blend of Japanese and Western Style Accommodation

• Vacation rentals—There are various famous vacation rental services in Japan. These services offer visitors a room or an apartment with a blend of traditional and modern interiors, along with restored historic houses, which make you feel both Japanese and Western influences. 

Unique Lodging Options

• Capsule hotels- To accommodate their small guest, mainly targeting males, who don't require much in their room, accept a bed. However, some of the basic amenities are provided, such as a shared restroom, a television, and coin lockers. 
• Temple lodgings—You can spend the night at some Buddhist temple lodgings in Japan. During your stay, you will be provided with two vegetarian meals and the opportunity to join the morning prayers. 
• Manga cafes—Manga cafes offer patrons seats and booths where they can read manga and browse the internet. Some of these manga cafes are open 24 hours, thus allowing individuals to make their overnight stay according to their budget.
• Overnight buses—Along with the option of cheap transportation, overnight buses also enable you to make your overnight stay budget-friendly. The service is more economical along the popular routes, including Tokyo to Kyoto or Tokyo to Osaka. 

Accommodation options in Japan for a longer stay

• Apartments—If you are planning to stay in Japan for a month or more, you can consider renting an apartment. You can rent an apartment in Japan every month, which is the best way to stay in Japan economically for a long stay. 

Ways to make your first trip to Japan budget-friendly

• Book your flight and accommodation early, at least 3 to 4 weeks ahead, to choose from a diverse range of options and pick one based on your budget.
• Choose a budgeted accommodation option, such as an overnight bus, capsule hotels, or hotels in western-style lodging. 
• You can use regional trains or local buses to lower your travel expenses. 
• You can try to stay in a single place during your visit and explore the nearby destinations, which will help you save on travelling expenses and may get you a discount to remain in one location for an extended period of time from your lodging executives. 

Conclusion

If you have completely and deliberately read the article provided above, you will not face any difficulties if you visit Japan for the first time. Just apply the basic principles as provided above, and your journey to your desired destination can become smooth and astonishing. Moreover, to make your first journey to Japan more memorable, you can buy a souvenir for you and your loved ones, and click innumerable pics to capture every moment of your trip.