Silk art, bonsai and Sony – all common items found in most American households; all from Japan. Look around and you’re bound to find more of today’s must-haves around the house, in the yard, in the car or at the office. Japan is known for many things, most of all its innovative technology and futuristic ideas. But before sushi was a staple in American diets and animes were part of every teenager’s computer games, Japan fought its way into the history books determined to be an independent country.
If you’re expecting to see geishas and rickshaws as soon as you get off your flight to Japan, think again. It’s more likely your flight to Japan lands you in the middle of modern culture and technology at its best. Look carefully -- you're catching a glimpse of the future featuring everything from new pop music to new technology. If authentic history is what you booked cheap flights to Japan for, don’t despair. There are plenty of temples, shrines, and museums to explore filled with Japan’s history and culture. Go shopping at the Kyoto Handicraft Center and take a tour of Ryoanji Temple, which houses one of the most famous Zen gardens. Head to Gion and watch the famous geishas stroll by before taking part in a tradition tea ceremony. Take a trip to Hiroshima and visit the Peace Memorial Park, the memorial area that pays tribute to the day in 1945 when Hiroshima became the first city shattered by an atomic bomb.
Whatever the reason for your flight to Japan, there is something for everyone. Japan’s cars, computers and electronics production make it one of the most innovative countries in the world. The bonsai, geisha and western art make Japan one of the most cultural countries in the world. Either way, you’re bound to find harmony in this peaceful nation.
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Japan’s four main islands are at about the same latitudes as Boston and Atlanta. Northern Japan has four distinct seasons and southern Japan is subtropical—Okinawa’s average year-round temperature is 70F.March and April are the plum and cherry blossom seasons. The rainy season runs from about mid-June to mid-July. After a rainfall it’s hot and humid, with the exceptions of Hokkaido and the mountains. The end of August through September is typhoon season, although Japan generally gets only thunderstorms. Winter lasts from December to March; most of Japan sees snow, and mountain skiing is excellent.Japan experiences frequent earthquakes and has many volcanoes.
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Peak Season:
The peak seasons are when the Japanese are on holiday: New Year’s, December 27 to January 4; Golden Week, April 29 to May 5; and the Obon Festival in mid-August. These are the best times to book flights to Japan and visit major cities as the locals have left on holiday.
Other peak seasons are school vacation, which is usually mid-July through August, national holidays, and festivals.
Off Season:
Spring and fall are great times to visit. In spring the plum and cherry blossoms are in bloom and they alone are worth the flight to Japan. Fall boasts a foliage display. Book Japan flights and accommodations ahead if you’ll be visiting during a festival.
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Japan has the world’s most efficient train service—from the Shinkansen or Bullet Train to steam locomotives—and rail passes are available.
Japan’s length makes flying worth considering; with domestic airlines offering low and discounted Japan flights, the difference between train and plane fares is negligible.
There’s a comprehensive network of long-distance buses. The cities also have bus lines, but unless you speak Japanese, they’re not as useful. Ferries are a great way to island hop and cruise, and can be a real bargain.
Subways and local trains are available in larger cities and are the best means of transport around the cities. Taxis are pretty much everywhere, but are pricey. Have the address written in Japanese as few drivers speak English.
The following chart gives approximate journey times from Tokyo (in hours and minutes) to other major cities and towns in Japan.
| Air | Road | Rail |
|---|
| Nagoya | - | 4.00 | 2.00 |
|---|
| Nagasaki | 1.40 | 18.00 | 9.00 |
|---|
| Osaka | 1.00 | 6.00 | 3.15 |
|---|
| Sapporo | 1.25 | - | 14.00 |
|---|
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- Tokyo appears gaudy, noisy, and crowded, but look again: peaceful side streets, temples, shrines, bonsai trees, and somewhere a festival. The museums are world class as is the food, even the noodle shacks. It’s a shopper’s paradise offering designer fashions, souvenirs, crafts, high-tech, and antiques. At night, visit trendy clubs, Kabuki theater, sumo wrestling, and performing arts. You cannot be bored in Tokyo.
- A testimony to the celebration of life, Hiroshima is a modern city laced with rivers and tree-lined boulevards. Dedicated to art, streets are lined with statues, stone lanterns, memorials, and sculptures. Visitors come mostly to see Peace Memorial Park and museum. Next on the list are the Hiroshima Museum of Art, Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum, and Shukkeien Garden.
- The prefecture of Okinawa has a unique history. As the kingdom of Ryukyu, Okinawa wasn’t integrated into Japan until 1879, and during World War II was the only site of ground battle in Japan. Okinawa reflects the Ryukyu language, arts, and music, and tropical plants bloom year-round. With its beaches, colorful fishes, and coral reefs, Okinawa’s most popular attraction is diving.
- Completely rebuilt after the war, Nagoya is a modern but laid-back city. Little recognized for its attractions, there’s plenty to see: the display rooms of the famous Noritake chinaware company, the Tokugawa Art Museum’s collection from a family that once ruled Japan, the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, the open-air architectural museum, and cormorant fishing in summer.
- Hip, trendy Osaka is an international and progressive business center. Like Tokyo, Osaka is the place to shop for the latest techno gadgets and toys. Osaka has cultivated excellent performance arts, major museums, and lowlife comedy. The city is also known for its friendly people, food, aquarium, castle, Bunraku puppet theater, oldest state temple in Japan, and Universal Studios.
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All travelers must hold further destination or return tickets, and all documents required for their next destination, as well as sufficient funds to cover intended period of stay.
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United States citizens require a valid passport to enter Japan. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days.
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