Happy Holidays from the Japlanning Team!
by Sam David Marley-Jarett
Happy Holidays from the Japlanning team! Are you also spending your Christmas and New Year break in Japan?
Read MoreYomiuriland - Jewellumination 2016 - Tokyo
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The Japlanning Guide to Sakura Season 2016
by Bryce Marley-Jarrett
It’s coming up to the most beautiful time of the year in Japan; Sakura season! This is Japan’s busiest season for both domestic and international tourists. Everyone flocks to see the stunning blooms on the Sakura trees all over Japan while enjoying time with friends and family under the blossoms. From late March through to early May the trees bloom from Southern Japan to the most North-most tip. Without further ado here is the ultimate guide to Sakura Season in Japan for 2016.
Sakura season is a magical time in Japan, from the first bloom till the last petal falls, the country is blanketed in a palette of pink and white hues, showing the world that spring has most definitely sprung. Throughout this time, Japanese people come together with friends and family to enjoy the natural beauty and flock to parks, and river banks filled with sakura trees, and relax under the trees with picnics and drinks and embrace the beauty.
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Photo credit - kuboki
Japlanning Tips - To Rail Pass Or Not To Rail Pass
by Bryce Marley-Jarrett
One of the first things after booking a trip to Japan that you need to consider is whether a ‘Japan Rail Pass’ is necessary for your trip. Many travel agencies and websites will tell you to buy one without really saying if you will get your money’s worth. Today’s Japlanning Tips guide is all about the amazing Japan Rail Pass, and we’ll show what you need to travel at a minimum to get your money's worth out of each rail pass.
The Japan Rail pass, which is also known as the JR Pass, is a fantastic offer from the Japan Railways Group for International visitors to Japan. Before we get to the nitty gritty on what you need to travel to actually find a rail pass worthwhile lets take a brief look at the details.
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Photo credit - emrank
Japlanning 101 - I forgot to pack...
by Bryce Marley-Jarrett
When packing for an overseas vacation, most people will always forget something! The biggest issue is finding a replacement for the forgotten items in your destination. In Japan, this can seem quite daunting with a foreign language barrier. Don’t stress about leaving something behind before heading to Japan, Japlanning has your back! Today we have a great guide to the most commonly forgotten items, and how you can replace them while traveling in Japan.
We have all been there, the last minute packing, and no matter how many lists we have for what to pack, we get on the plane, or get into our hotel rooms and realise we forgot; our toiletries, the camera, batteries, painkillers and more. Never fear, most things are replaceable, won’t take long to organise, and will not derail your trip! Today we're going through some of the most common items people forget, and how you can replace them while in Japan.
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Photo Credit - Jark
Let's get it Onsen
Today we have a guest post from one of our intrepid team here at Japlanning, our American rep, Devon. Devon is here to give you the low down on how to go to a traditional Japanese Onsen: what to expect, and the right steps to follow so you can enjoy this ancient Japanese tradition on your next trip to Japan.
Take it from here Devon!
There is hardly anything more traditionally Japanese than the onsen! Onsens are technically the Japanese word for a hot spring, but can also be used to describe bath houses as well. They can either be indoor or outdoor and are often located at hotels or ryokans where you are able to spend the night. Due to Japan’s geothermal nature, onsens can be found all over the country. They have a high mineral content so are believed by many to have healing properties.
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Photo Credit - Arutemu
Japlanning 101 - Entering Japan
Okay, so before you get to experience all that Japan has to offer, you first need to make sure you can go to Japan. Luckily, Japlanning have done the work to help you figure out the easiest way for you to gain entry into Japan.
So you want to go to Japan? Of course you do! It’s an amazing country like nowhere else on earth. However, you can’t just jump on a plane and hop off in Japan and be on your merry way. No, like all countries in the world, there are requirements, which change depending on your country of origin.