Japan is worth a visit. Always? Not always. But at special times and with special goals. And whoever has ever travelled in Japan will rave about it for the rest of his life.
Where are we going today? Travel options and some destinations
Travelling in Japan is by train or plane. Motorways are expensive and there is left-hand traffic. The Shinkansen, the Japanese ICE, is recommended for long distances. There are different routes for flights to Japan, and flights to Tokyo arrive either in Haneda or Narita. Tokyo itself has an excellent public transport network. In and around Tokyo alone there are many destinations worth a trip. For an exclusive Tokyo trip we recommend the company "HATO-BASU", which offers various round trips within Tokyo. The rule here is: Whoever has the choice is in agony. As it gets dark in Japan early in the morning, it is worth visiting the Mori Tower in Roppongi (Hibiya station) or other tall buildings in the evening hours. The view over Tokyo at night is breathtaking. From Tokyo you can quickly reach several other destinations such as Kamakura or Yokohama (travel time about 1 hour) or Hakone with its volcanoes (approx. 3 hours), to name just a few.
What should you watch out for?
Japan is a safe country to visit. Crime is extremely low. There's hardly ever any begging on the street. It is important to comply with the existing smoking bans. If you get caught, it costs 2,000 yen. There is left-hand traffic in Japan. Instructions of uniformed persons must be strictly followed. If you master some Japanese phrases like "arigatou gosaimas" (thank you very much) or "sumimasen" (sorry), this shows courtesy and is very welcome in Japan. Before going on holiday in Japan, you should also take a look at the customs and habits of Japan in order to make sure you don't get bruised. In Japan, for example, there are no greeting hands, you bow politely. However, you should plan a holiday in Japan well. The costs in Japan are significantly higher than in Germany, for example. Roundtrips in Japan are recommendable, because you can visit so many different places and collect impressions of different kinds. The best time to travel is from April to June or from September to November. In summer it is hot and humid in Japan, temperatures around 38 degrees Celsius at over 80% humidity are normal. The winter in the Tokyo area and further south is quite mild with 2 to 5 degrees Celsius, on Hokkaido the mercury sometimes stands out at -20 degrees. Special inoculations are not necessary. It is important to note that no foodstuffs made from milk, poultry and meat may be brought into Japan. Fruit and vegetables are also taboo in luggage. Money can be exchanged in any bank branch, there are also exchange offices, e. g. at Tokyo Station.