I have planned no less than three or four trips to Japan. Counting the total number of business trips, I have been to Japan nine times. I hope my personal experience can be helpful.

Japan is a country worth traveling to, and it is also one of the few countries that Chinese people can have the opportunity to thoroughly explore. If you go there for the first time, you should generally be prepared as follows.

Background:

First of all, there are three big issues that cannot be avoided:

Visa: Traveling to Japan is currently mainly a group tour. If the policy of the place of residence is If it is allowed, you can also apply for independent travel by yourself. This is the first question to consider. Specifically, whether you can apply for independent travel can be roughly understood by going to the official website of the Exit-Entry Administration or a website such as Ctrip that handles independent travel visas. .

This is the current situation of the country, and there is nothing you or I can do about it.

Time: This is the second biggest issue to confirm.

Japan has four distinct seasons, and things to see are different throughout the year. In the spring, go to Shikoku to enjoy the cherry blossoms, in the summer to go to Okinawa to enjoy the sea, in the autumn to Kinki to enjoy the maples, and in the winter to see the snow in Sanin. Check roughly when you want to go , time is the most important thing, this will help to arrange the route, and you may also be able to catch up with local festivals.

Generally, it takes about a week for two people to go there for the first time, and it takes about a week to bring them back. No one is tired, and the time for various passes is also just right, and some attractions can be reserved for later visits.

Highlights: This is the third thing to determine. Whether you want to see natural scenery, urban life, historical monuments, or explore mysteries, you have to find your own preferences, and then decide the route based on time.

It is recommended that if you go there for the first time, if you are used to living in mountain villages, you might as well visit a big city. If you have been in the city for a long time, it is better to visit famous mountains and ancient temples.

The overall characteristics of Japan are small, exquisite, and independent. Maybe 20 minutes ago, you were in a big city, and 20 minutes after taking a train, you were in the mountains. It just changes like this.

Practical operation:

After thinking about the above three major issues, you can enter the actual operation.

Be sure to put pen to paper when planning, thinking alone is not enough.

If you are traveling in a group, you can ignore the following. If you are traveling independently, please read it carefully.

I will use the classification of food, clothing, housing and transportation, but it is just the other way around. It is best to open a map of Japan and look at it:

OK: The most important thing about independent travel is this. , not an exaggeration at all.

The first thing is to determine the tour route. Generally, it is recommended to go to Honshu Island or Okinawa for the first time.

Okinawa is relatively simple, with a sea and sky theme, Japanese and American culture, and is easier to plan.

For Honshu Island, you usually choose one of three options: Tokyo alone, Keihan-Kyoto (Osaka-Kyoto), and Tosaka Link (a line from Tokyo to Osaka). Introductions to these routes and attractions can be found on general travel websites. Yes, no spoilers.

These places are suitable for spring and autumn.

There are many flights from China to and from Osaka and Tokyo. To Kyoto, you can also enter and exit Osaka, Kansai International Airport, and if you take the East-Sakam connection, you can enter and exit from east to south or from east to south. That is to say, connecting flights are generally available on China Eastern Airlines, Air China, China Southern and even Spring Airlines (specified separately). If you have enough budget, JAL and ANA recommend one, as the services are completely different.

It should be noted that Tokyo has two major airports, Haneda and Narita. Haneda is close to the city but has few flights to and from China. It takes approximately two hours from Narita to Tokyo, and from Chunqiu to Tokyo, it takes a flight to Ibaraki, which is further away. The airport is not recommended unless the budget is extremely limited. The air ticket, the ticket from Ibaraki to Tokyo and the time are enough to buy a flight to Narita.

So first determine the largest budget for air tickets. In the off-season, the minimum cost for a round trip from Shanghai to Tokyo or Osaka is about 3,000. In the peak season, it is hard to say, with more than 6,000.

Domestic transportation in Japan is generally carried out by trains (including Shinkansen (high-speed rail), incoming lines (intercity railways), private railways and some urban railways, called trams in Japan), subways (subway) , buses, ferries, taxis and of course planes.

In addition to ferries, the economical options are also listed in the same order. Trams are the most economical way, and taxis will make you cry.

If you are just traveling in one city, there is generally no need for the Shinkansen. However, cities such as Tokyo and Osaka also have a mix of trams and subways, so be sure to take advantage of them.

It is important to mention Japan’s various passes here: for intercity movement, the Japan Rail Pass is the first to be recommended. It is issued by JR, Japan’s largest railway company, and covers the whole country. There are many different types ranging from scope to region, you can choose according to your own travel scope.

At the same time, the pass also covers the cost of JR subway and some buses and even ferries in big cities. There is a lot of relevant information. I personally use the "Japan Window" website, so I will not promote it if it is suspected of advertising. .

In addition, various city subways, subways, and even private railways have various one-day coupons, two-day coupons, and weekend green special coupons for sale, which are much more economical than ordinary tickets. Travelers can pay attention to their choices. .

Let me say a few more words. First, train and station staff in Japan are very polite. If you don’t know where to go or how to buy a ticket, go to them and they will be very enthusiastic to help you.

But the English is not very good. Tokyo and Osaka are better, and there are even Chinese signs. It takes some effort in a small place, but they can’t stand down if they don’t solve it for you. Take some time. That’s it, it would be better to bring a phrasebook or a mobile travel app with simple translations.

Second, taxi prices are acceptable within the starting fee range. Their design is to allow everyone to take a taxi to the nearest tram stop, so you can take advantage of it.

Those who drive are usually grandpas, so please write the name of the place you want to go in a larger size, they are presbyopic...

Accommodation: Most hotels in Japan can accommodate foreign guests (please do not go to love hotels), but passport copies and check-in are required.

Chinese guests can book hotels through Ctrip, booking, hotels and other websites, most of which support UnionPay credit card payment or guarantee, or international cards such as VISA.

If there is no problem with the language and there are no high requirements for accommodation, you can consider a business hotel such as Toyoko Inn, which is more economical.

However, please note that all guest rooms in Japan should estimate the accommodation area as half or even one-third of that in China, which is extremely small.

Japanese people generally stay in two single rooms when traveling together. In the so-called double room, please be prepared to sleep together.

There are very few hotels with twin rooms, so you need to search for them and the prices are generally higher.

There are Japanese-style hotels in Kyoto and other places, and you can also choose hot spring hotels in hot spring resorts, but they are generally more expensive.

Generally speaking, you can find a good hotel for about 10,000 yen per night.

Food: Japan is a paradise for foodies.

Chinese people should be relatively accustomed to Japanese food. If you have been there, you know that the so-called Japanese food in China is just the tip of the iceberg, and there are all kinds of food available in various places.

Sushi, sashimi, curry rice, donburi, ramen, udon, soba, oden, sukiyaki, okonomiyaki, fried rice....

Choose slowly by yourself.

Personally, I suggest you try instant cup noodles, fried noodles and rice balls from small supermarkets if you have the opportunity. It will change your impression of the same domestic products.

You can buy all kinds of snacks on your own, and some of them can be taken back home as gifts.

Generally speaking, a budget of 3,000 yen per person per day is good. It is best to arrange a big meal to keep as a souvenir. Wagyu beef will not let you down.

Clothing: Dress according to the season and wear suitable shoes for walking.

In Japan, you basically walk a lot. If you measure your steps, you can easily complete your days in China.

Because Japanese people are also used to walking, taxis cannot be hired at will, and trams and subway stations have a relatively wide coverage, so you have to get used to walking to scenic spots and then back to the tram station.

The good thing is that the indoor temperature in Japan is very well controlled. Generally, a shirt or sportswear is enough no matter what season it is. Pay attention to the outdoors. Winter is cold and rainy, and summer has a temperature of 38 degrees.

One pair of shoes is usually enough and they will never get dirty.

Generally, no matter how we dress up, people can tell that you are Chinese, so just wear your own clothes, and then go shopping at Uniqlo to refresh your three views of domestic Uniqlo.

Advice:

1. Be punctual.

Japanese trains are very punctual. Please find the train timetable. There are many online.

Therefore, the concept of punctuality is very important to the Japanese. Attractions say that they open and close at this time.

Find out online.

2. Plan.

There was a lot to do and I was very tired from walking, so I planned to go out again.

I will try to post my previous plans for reference.

3. Quiet.

The Japanese are most afraid of Chinese tourists making a lot of noise. Once, the two of us were shopping in Akihabara, and a Japanese shop assistant came over to say hello. A Chinese tour group will be coming soon, so please be patient. Things... embarrassing.

Two people will have a lot of fun quietly admiring and playing.

4. Civilization.

When crossing the road and looking at the traffic lights, when standing in the elevator, pay attention to leaving a walking side, and maintain environmental sanitation and take away garbage with you.

As long as you are willing, you can spend a few days in Japan.

Generally, you don’t have to worry about losing things. You can just go back and find them, either at the same place or in the lost and found.

5. Be happy.

Japan is very close, so it is easy to come back, and there will definitely be places you can’t see in one visit.

Wherever you go, you can just follow whatever you see. Stay away from politics and avoid disturbing relations between the two countries. Most people in both countries are simple and honest, so don’t use colored glasses.

There is nothing else, I will add more as I think of it.