Having traveled extensively in the United States and Europe, the boys and were excited to visit Japan. A lifelong dream, it turned out to be everything I had hoped for and more! We all agreed it was the best family vacation we’d ever been on and the trip of a lifetime!
I won’t pretend the idea of traveling to a place where we wouldn’t be able to understand the language or even recognize the letters wasn’t a bit nerve-wracking, but this would be a completely new experience! A true adventure! We knew everything might seem and feel different, but that was part of the excitement. In many ways it was what made this trip so magical!
Unlike many western countries you won’t find that a lot of people speak English. In fact just the opposite, however we didn’t find this to be a problem and with the exception of one funny incident in a restaurant where we paid way too much we got along just fine! We learned to say a few basic words before we left and did our best to use them whenever we could!
Table of Contents
When To Go
After 15 years of talking about going to Japan we wanted to make sure we got it right! We had 10 days to explore and decided on two cities, Tokyo and Kyoto. We determined the best time of year to visit would be spring, so we could see the cherry trees in bloom.
Yoyogi Park Tokyo Shibuya
If we ever get a chance to go back I’d love to see the autumn leaves which are also known to be breathtaking! Tokyo has well over 50 major neighborhoods and they’re all special, so we split our Tokyo time between two neighborhoods Shinjuku and Ginza with an additional 3 nights in Kyoto. If you’re planning to go during cherry blossom season I highly suggest booking everything as early as possible and for the best choice of hotels I recommend booking at least 6 months in advance!
Getting Around
Planes/Trains
We flew into Narita Airport which is, depending on the mode of transportation you choose, 60 – 90 minutes from Tokyo. After researching trains, buses and taxis we found taking the train to be the best and most convenient option for us. We took the JR Narita Express which is covered by the Japan Rail Pass. The taxi was by far the most expensive option as you’ll have traffic to contend with on your way into the city.
Do keep in mind that the lines to get through customs upon arrival can be quite long. Three hours after we landed we finally made it to our hotel.
If you’re planning to visit more than one city on your trip I strongly recommend you consider the Japan Rail Pass. The JR Pass must be purchased prior to arriving in the country as they are only available to non-residents of Japan visiting for tourism. The most economical way to get from city to city they can also be used in city on certain train lines and for transport from the airport and back. They are offered in 7, 14 and 21 day options.
Purchasing the JR Pass is easy. We purchased ours through a local travel agency who specializes in Asian travel. It can take a few weeks, so contact them as soon as you’ve decided on your travel dates.
When you arrive at the airport take your JR Pass vouchers to the JR Pass Office where they will be exchanged for the actual passes. The people were incredibly helpful, friendly and much to our relief they spoke english. We were able to get all the information we needed to catch the JR Express into the city as well as information about taking the bullet train (Shinkansen) to Kyoto.
Depending on what cities you’re planning to visit you might want to look into reserved seats on the Shinkansen as well as information about the different stations. Keep in mind that the trains always leave on time. Plan on being on the platform a few minutes prior to whatever time you are expecting the train to arrive or you will miss it.
What would have been an 8 hour drive to Kyoto was only a 2 hour 20 minute bullet train ride. If you’re hungry there are light refreshments on the trains, though at first, due to the language barrier, we were a little shy about ordering from the refreshment cart. Eventually hunger and curiosity got the better of us and we were able to point at what we wanted, which worked out fine.
Taxis
We trained back and forth to the airport and to Kyoto, but found we didn’t use them much within the actual cities. We chose to take taxis from place to place. This isn’t the most economical way to travel, but it’s very convenient and a great way to see a lot of the city.
Hailing and using taxis in Japan is quite different from any other city I’ve been to. While hailing the cab is the same, there are some other major differences. For example, you don’t actually open the taxi door by yourself. It’s opened and closed remotely by the driver. It took us quite a while to get used to this, and it’s considered poor manners to open and close the door yourself unless you exit or enter the vehicle from the right side.
Gardens of Ginkaku-ji Temple of the Silver Pavilion Kyoto
If you don’t speak Japanese it’s perfectly acceptable to give them your destination address on a piece of paper or alternatively we showed them where we wanted to go on the map. Tipping is not common in Japan and in most situations it can be considered offensive. However, if you decide to tip the driver it’s appropriate to round up when paying the fare.
Green means stop and red means go! Yep, a red symbol lets you know the cab is available and a green one lets you know it’s occupied.
Helpful Words
Japanese is an incredibly complex language, but we did learn a few words, and really enjoyed trying to speak to people as much as we could. Our attempts, though somewhat botched, were really appreciated. It’s always nice to be able to say hello and thank you and excuse me was extremely helpful in many situations!
Arigato = thank you
Arigatougozaimasu = Formal Thank You
Sumimasen = Excuse Me
Ohayougozaimasu = Good Morning
Konnichiwa = Good Afternoon
Sayonara = Goodbye
Other posts about Japan
Japan! Kawaii Means Cute & Other Japanese Cultural Phenomena!
Japan! Tokyo… No Wasabi Kudasai!
Japan! Experiencing Hanami!
Japan! Tokyo… A City of Many Contrasts
Japan! Three days in Kyoto!
Sunset from the 43rd Floor Park Hyatt Shinjuku Tokyo
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segmation
Love your blog and style! Thanks for making us feel like we need to travel with you! http://www.segmation.com/blog
dearmummyblog
Japan is a lifelong dream for us too and when I grow up I’d love to visit, especially when the cherry blossom is in full flow! Beautiful x #FarawayFlies x
Hilary
Yes! I highly recommend Cherry Blossom season!
California Globetrotter
Would love to visit Japan! I was born in Okinawa and haven’t been back since I was about 3! And if we go, I’d like to spend a good amount of time there! You’ve added some great tips, especially about the rail pass! #FarawayFiles
Hilary
Okinawa is on my list too! The Rail Pass was a huge money saver!
Neha
I’d love to visit Japan during spring, I’m fascinated by all the beautiful pictures of cherry blossoms that I’ve seen. Your boys look like they had a fun trip 🙂 #FarawayFiles
Hilary
It was the most magical trip we’ve ever taken, and we’ve been on a few. 😘
MummyTravels
This is so useful- I visited Japan with my husband about 10 years ago and it was the most amazing trip. I really want to go back with my daughter, although we had to postpone the plan for this year. Next would be amazing though and this is a great refresher of things to remember #farawayfiles
Clare Thomson
It’s great to have such useful tips on exploring a country that’s so very different from the UK. I do agree that it’s the differences that can make a place seem even more magical but, like you say, if you do a reasonable amount of preparation beforehand, you can tackle anything! We’d love to see Japan at cherry blossom time too. Thanks for sharing on #FarawayFiles
Cathy S.
Great advice on visiting Japan for the first time. I have been so fortunate to have visited Japan many times to see my mom’s family. It was fun to read about your experience there.
Hilary
We LOVE Japan! Oven written a number of posts about our experience, but words can never convey how magical the trip was! 😊
Angie
I was so interested to read this. Japan is getting ever close to the top of our travel wish list. You mentioned needing to book hotels up to 6 months in advance if going in blossom season. I wonder did everywhere feel especially busy or crowded when you were there?
Hilary
There are a lot of people in Tokyo, but we never felt squished or harried. The people are so considerate and friendly it really wasn’t an issue. However we did avoid the subway at rush hour! 😘
Angie
Forgot to include #FarawayFiles!
Janis
We’re hoping to visit Japan in the next few years, so thanks for the useful tips. I worked for a Japanese bank for 24 years and in all that time I never managed to get a trip out there, however, I’ve been given a long list of places to visit.
I still can’t make my mind up whether to go in the spring or autumn, but the cherry blossom does look incredible. #farawayfiles
Hilary
Honestly, I don’t think you can go wrong when planning a trip to Japan there is something amazing to see no matter the season! I hope you make it there it’s magical!
oregongirlaroundtheworld
Japan is high on our family wish list as well! Great tips, saving for later! Thanks for sharing with #FarawayFiles
Rhonda Albom
Your trip to Japan sounds like a lot of fun. Timing it to see the cherry blossoms is a good idea. Those bullet trains look very streamlined.
Hilary
Such a beautiful place in the Spring!!
Cultural Wednesday
Japan is high on our list, might have to wait until the teens have finished school if we are to manage a Spring visit.