Japlanning 101 - Climbing Mt Fuji

July 13, 2013

It’s one of the most recognisable mountains in the world, and has some of the most spectacular views anywhere in Japan, Mt. Fuji is a climbers dream, and the thing most people don’t realise is that most people can make the climb. Today, Japlanning is letting you know when you can climb, and the best routes and options to complete the life-changing experience that is, climbing Mt. Fuji.

Fuji-san sits at 3776 metres tall with it’s almost symmetric look, it’s the most volcano-looking volcano in the world, because of this, it has become one of the most influential mountains in the world to artists and has been painted and drawn for centuries. Located just over one hundred kilometres from Tokyo, on clear days it’s visible from the city.

Where to Stay - Tokyo

July 10, 2013

Japlanning is starting a new series today giving you the information you need to plan the best areas to stay when travelling across Japan. We are starting with the most visited area in Japan and biggest city in the world, Tokyo.

A lot of the team at Japlanning have had different experiences when organising holidays in Japan, the information out there isn’t that vast, and a lot of it is unreliable and outdated, which had led to booking accommodation in some interesting areas across the county in our very early visits. So we have put together this guide to give anyone looking to travel to Japan the information needed to find the best areas in cities and towns to book a place to stay based on their interests.

Photo Credit - L'Ubuesque Boîte à Savon — Photo Credit - L'Ubuesque Boîte à Savon

Hotel Review - Shinjuku Washington Hotel

July 7, 2013

Today at Japlanning we have our first hotel review for you. We stayed recently at the Shinjuku Washington Hotel, right off the centre of Shinjuku. Read on for the low down on this moderate three star hotel.

The Shinjuku Washington Hotel is located on the south side of Shinjuku Station, just beyond the electronics district, and bordering the business district. It’s location is outside the bustling shopping and attraction centre on the other side of Shinjuku Station, however the short walk to the station makes the hotel a great option for accommodation, offering a quieter environment, yet still not being completely removed from all the action. A great feature of this hotel is the connection to the underground walkway that goes directly to Shinjuku Station, meaning any weather access to the busiest station is only a few hundred meters walk away!

Day Trips - Nara

June 30, 2013

We've talked a lot about the big cities that most visit: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. These are hubs you usually spend a few days in, so now it's time to reveal some great day trips from these cities that escape the big city vibe and give you amazing experiences not too far away! Today we are starting with a small city that's a great day trip from Kyoto and Osaka - Nara.

Nara is located about an hour by train from Kyoto and Osaka. Nara is the capital of the Nara prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. Nara was Japan's first permanent capital, established in 710AD. It was the capital of Japan through to 784AD, when it was moved to Nagaoka due to the growing political aspirations of the buddhist monasteries, which had became a threat to the government. Because of it's vast political history, the city is filled with historical landmarks and temples, many of which are some of Japan's oldest and largest.

Japlanning 101 - Ramen

June 27, 2013

You may have had ramen from a Japanese restaurant in your home town, but you haven't had ramen until you try one in Japan. This dish is extremely popular, and has such a rich history, that you can find two museums dedicated it.

Ramen is a Japanese noodle dish that was originally introduced to Japan from China. Ramen is hugely popular in Japan, that it's a challenge to go through any major train station and not find a little ramen shop where you order via vending machine! It's a quick and easy meal that will rarely cost you more than a few hundred yen. All cities in Japan are littered with little ramen shops which are largely recognisable with having a large red lantern with ramen written in Japanese.

Flight Review - Cathay Pacific

June 21, 2013

Today we are launching the first of our travel reviews to help you pick the best flights, hotels and tourist attractions for your next Japan vacation. We start with Cathay Pacific Economy Class.

Today we are flying with Cathay Pacific from Melbourne Australia, via Hong Kong.