What is a Ryokan? Ryokans are the best way to experience Japanese culture and enjoy the true comforts of Japanese hospitality and service.
Hot springs have a very long history in Japan, and they are an intimate part of Japanese culture. There are over 3,000 "onsen" ,or hot springs, in Japan. Many can be found at the ryokans available on Japanese Guest Houses.
Buddhist Temple (shukubo) Overnight in Koyasan Staying at a Shukubo (Buddhist Temple) in Koyasan is a unique experience. D. Paget tells us more about his Buddhist Temple overnight in Koyasan below. Shuffling in our stocking feet at 6:30 a.m. along the dark wooden corridor of the temple from our room, we headed to the prayer hall. The other overnight guests, a Japanese group, we're doing the sa
A Night on Koyasan (Mt Koya) I have visited Koyasan (Mount Koya) in the past but this was my first time to stay at one of Mt Koya's temples. A large group of us arrived early in the morning at Namba Nankai train station in Osaka and picked up our Mount Koya "free service" pass which would allow us to get a special price on return train fare, free bus fare, and discounted entrance tickets to so
Hot Spring Experience, the Japanese Onsen. By: Andrew Daniel, Ontario, Canada I went to Takaragawa Onsen in Gunma Prefecture, near the Gunma-Niigata Prefecture border. It is one of the most famous outdoor hot springs in Japan, and you can sometimes see it on the cover of Japanese hot spring magazines. It is a mixed (men and women) outdoor hot spring. After you pay a few hundred yen admission
Climbing Mt. Fuji Planning the Climb I was in Japan serving out my military contract and came across an opportunity to climb Mt Fuji. My friends and I debated for a while only because of the cost of the trip. We had to take a bus from Yamaguchi Prefecture (southern portion of mainland Japan) all the way to Mt. Fuji. From there, we would take another bus into Tokyo for two nights in the city and
Your Stay and Ryokan Etiquette Most Important Points Check No Later Than 17:00 (5:00pm) Pay in Yen (cash only) No Last Minute Meal Changes No specific "Non-smoking" rooms Check-in Time Check-in time is usually from 15:00 (3:00pm) to 18:00. If you are having dinner please make sure to check in before 17:30 (5:30 pm). If you check-in after this time there is a very good chance that the
Special Meal Requirements Most Important Points Tell Us As Soon As Possible of Your Meal Requirements Not All Meal Requirements Can Be Accommodated Be Specific About What You Cannot Eat Meals requests, and views on food, are not expressed in the same way all over the world. To help travelers with special dietary needs communicate their requests to their host ryokans, the following defi
Transportation Traveling from one destination to another can take a number of hours even on the Shinkansen Bullet Train. Please make sure your travel times are reasonable and not overly complicated. Airport For airport information at some of the main airports in Japan, go to Narita International Airport near Tokyo, Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Kansai International Airport near Osa
Money, Currency & ATMs in Japan Most Important Points Japan is a Cash Society Tell Your Bank and Credit Card Companies You are Going to Japan Post Office ATM’s Work Well and have English menus Accessing Money in Japan Japan is a cash society, and while some large department stores, restaurants, and hotels in large urban areas accept credit cards to be used, most expenses must be
Renting a Pocket WIFI while in Japan Most tourists want to call home at least one time while they are traveling in Japan but this is not always easy or cheap. Below are 5 options but we recommend renting a pocket WIFI hot spot as having access to the internet while sightseeing will make things easier for you. Most Important Points Put Your Phone on Airplane Mode Connect to only to WIFI D
Greetings in Japanese Learning a few greeting words can make your trip to Japan a whole new experience. Most Important Points Japanese Will Open Up If You Say These Three Words! “Arigatou” means “Thank You” – Use this a lot “Sumimasen” means “Excuse Me” “Konnichiwa” means “Hello” In contrast to the simple handshake employed in most Western countries, Japanese
