What's "Hot" In Japan For 2017

Above, Osaka's Dotonbori food district. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

2017 is the "Year of the Rooster" and Inside Japan Tours has their prediction on what will be the hottest places to visit this year.

They start with:

After 17 years in the Japan travel business, you might have thought we'd seen everything there is to see. And it's true – we have explored every inch of Japan, toured every prefecture, eaten in thousands of restaurants and slept at countless hotels. Yet in a country as fast-paced as Japan, there's always something new and exciting happening to make us see our favourite destinations in a different light. So in 2017, where will we be heading? 

To read more, go here. 

Inside Japan Tours' 8 Spoilers For First-Time Visitors

Above, the Tokyo Skytree is used to illustrate spoiler #2,
 but it is not what you'd expect. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Many who have planned to travel for the first time to Japan will get all kinds of tips from different sources. They're all pretty much the same.

But, Inside Japan Tours has 8 "spoilers" that will take first-time visitors by surprise.

They begin with:

If you are off on your first adventure to Japan you may have spent some time planning your trip with Inside Japan Tours, drooling over Instagram photos and even reading some very helpful guides. However after a while, all the guides and top tips articles start to look the same. Don’t tip. Do bow. Don’t put your chopsticks in rice… 

This is great advice, but what about the small stuff you notice when you get there? With the UK and Japan nearly 6,000 miles apart, there are some small differences that you might not expect. 

Knowing about these things in advance won’t ruin your trip, but it might spoil the surprise!

To see what the "spoilers" are, go here.

Yokohama In Tokyo's Shadow

Above, the Yokohama waterfront. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Visitors to Japan are missing out a lot if they bypass a visit to Yokohama. 

For monster fans, Yokohama was used as a battlefield in two Godzilla movies over the past two decades.

First, it was featured in Godzilla vs. Mothra (1991) during a battle between the Big G, Mothra and Battra.

Second, it was used in Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001).

The port area of Yokohama is still easily recognizable to monster fans.

According to Inside Japan Tours:

The bustling city of Yokohama, the second-largest in Japan, is quite often overlooked in favor of its big brother, Tokyo. Given that one pretty much runs into the other, this isn’t too surprising. What is surprising, though, is how many visitors end up giving Yokohama a complete miss. Such a shame, as it has history and attractions to spare and is a great alternative to a day in Tokyo! Let’s shed some light on Yokohama, the city in Tokyo’s shadow. 

As one of the three ports opened to foreigners after Japan’s centuries of isolation, Yokohama has an interesting and unique relationship with the West. Opened in 1859, Yokohama quickly transformed from a sleepy fishing village into an international base of foreign trade. Indeed, Japan was quick to reap the benefits of Western technology, with Yokohama being the first place in the country to have a daily newspaper, gas powered streetlamps, and a railway line. 

Even today, Yokohama enjoys the reputation of being one of Japan’s most international and cutting-edge cities. That doesn’t mean, however, that it hasn’t preserved its rich history. Let’s take a look at a few spots around the city to truly make your visit a memorable one.

To read more, go here. 

Definitive Guide To Japan's Theme Parks

Above, a show at Tokyo DisneySea. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Generally, whenever I've visited Japan, including a visit to an amusement park had not even registered on my radar.

Last year, since I brought [Censored] and her son [Censored] with me to Japan, I included a day at Tokyo DisneySea on the itinerary. [Censored] is a big fan of amusement parks (particularly Disney parks) and wanted to see it.

We went to Tokyo DisneySea on a Saturday and had no luck in being able to get on any rides as it seemed that half the population of Tokyo was there. But, we had fun anyway when we wandered around and saw some shows. It would be much better to go during a workday.

Inside Japan Tours has an article on the best theme parks in Japan that you may want to consider if visiting one is one of your priorities.

They begin with:

Theme parks aren’t everybody’s cup of tea, but there’s no denying that they’re a hit with the kids – and Japan has an excellent haul of weird and wonderful ones. Though many of Japan’s theme parks closed down after the country’s economic bubble burst, the biggest and best weathered the recession to remain in operation today.

You might not want to plan a whole trip around theme parks (like we’ve done here) but including one or two amusement parks in your itinerary is a sure-fire way to delight your kids and an excellent tactic for breaking up the sightseeing. Below is our whistle-stop (and certainly far from exhaustive!) tour of our favourite theme and amusement parks in Japan, so you can decide which is best-suited to your family.

To read more, go here.

Traveling To Japan With A Toddler

Above, Aiden and Denise at Nana-Iro Studio in Asakusa. 

Last October, I invited my girlfriend Denise and her then-nearly-two-year-old son Aiden to go with me to Japan.

Besides being the first time going to Japan with companions (I have gone there solo previously), it was also my first experience in international travel with a toddler.

During the trip, Aiden was generally well-behaved with only a few lapses. Quite often, he provided some "comic relief" for us. But he seemed to enjoy the trip and, even now, talks about it. His vocabulary skills have grown considerably within the past few months. Years from now, if he doesn't remember going to Japan, we have plenty of photographs to show him.

Inside Japan has posted an article on one couple's experience in traveling to Japan with their toddler, age 3 along with some places to visit with a toddler.

It begins with:

Michelle and her husband Oliver had visited Japan with Inside Japan Tours twice before – but this time they decided to head out there with three-and-a-half-year-old Xander in tow. Here, Michelle shares some of their favourite experiences for toddlers in Japan… 

In a nutshell, if you are thinking on visiting Japan, don't let having a toddler dissuade you from going. According to the article, the author feels that having a toddler along only enriched the experience. I have to agree.

To read the article, go here.

5 Places To Visit In Kamakura

Above, the Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2004, the first G-TOUR visited Kamakura and the group visited the Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine and the Great Buddha.

Inside Japan Tours Blog has posted tips on five places to visit in Kamakura.

They begin with:

Inside Japan tour leader Brian is based in Tokyo, but finds time as often as possible to visit one of his favourite places in Japan – the coastal town of Kamakura. Kamakura is an easy day trip from Tokyo and offers a winning combination of historical sites, pretty hiking trails and a very pleasant beach – which is why it’s often included in our best-selling itineraries! Here, Brian gives his top five tips on what to do in the city. 

To see the top five places in Kamakura, go here.

Japan Named No. 2 In Lonely Planet's Best of Travel 2016 List

Above, the Asahi Beer Hall. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We're only two days away from November (can it be?) and already travel companies are turning their attention to the 2016 travel season.

One such travel company is the publisher of Lonely Planet travel guides. They have selected Japan as their number two destination choice in their Best of Travel 2016 list.

According to Inside Japan Tours:

Trusted travel source Lonely Planet has released its Best in Travel 2016 list and put Japan in the number two spot of countries to visit next year.  

In its synopsis of the nation, the travel guide publisher said: “Even if you’ve never been to Japan, you probably already know that it ranks number one in the world for that quintessential not-in-Kansas-anymore travel experience.”  

The first element of Japan to be brought into focus in placing it so high up the list are its cities, which feature futuristic high-speed trains and buildings constructed from glass and metal that are highlighted with neon lights. 

To read more, go here.

10 Reasons To Visit Tohoku

Above, Matsushima Bay and the Godaido Temple. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2006, I visited Sendai and Matsushima in Tohoku to see where my dad was briefly stationed before being shipped over to Korea during the Korean War.

I especially enjoyed Matsushima Bay with its views of islets that are sprinkled throughout the bay.

There are other reasons to visit Tohoku and Inside Japan Tours has listed ten of them, one of which is Matsushima.

They begin their article with:

Tohoku, the northernmost region of Japan’s main island, encompasses six prefectures and countless fascinating destinations. It is a region of wild countryside, rustic hot spring towns and deep winters spent under a thick blanket of snow, brightened by some of the country’s most impressive festivals. To the Japanese it the home of culture and legend, and it famously inspired the poet Matsuo Basho to produce his magnum opus, The Narrow Road to the Deep North, as he made his epic journey northwards in the 17th century. 

Despite its manifold charms, Tohoku remains one of the least-visited of Japan’s eight regions, and is thus one of the best places in the country to venture off the beaten track. Foreign visitors to the region are scarce, so you will be received with more than the usual hospitality and interest – quite a novelty in a world where tourists are often tolerated rather than welcomed. 

Tohoku has so many areas of interest that it was incredibly hard to choose just ten. The following represent a handful of our favourites – you’ll have to head out there yourself to find your own!

- See more at: https://www.insidejapantours.com/blog/2015/10/13/10-reasons-to-visit-tohoku/#sthash.CgNvIHVH.dpuf

Dark Tourism, A New Japan Travel Magazine

Above, the Hario Towers, which transmitted the coded message to the
Japanese fleet to launch the Pearl Harbor attack. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A new magazine has been introduced in Japan called Dark Tourism, which focuses on less conventional sites for visitors to Japan.

According to Inside Japan Tours:

For many people planning a holiday to Japan, sacred shrines, geisha tea rooms and sushi restaurants are high on their list of travel priorities, but another side to tourism in the country is emerging.  

Dark tourism refers to visitors who would prefer to see go and see less conventional sites and therefore gain a different insight into Japan's history.  

These may include nuclear reactors, leprosy islands and landmarks relating to conflicts such as the second world war.  

A new magazine entitled Dark Tourism has been published in Japan to shed light on such places and highlight the value of visiting them.

To read more, go here. 

Japan For Cheapskates: Eat On The Cheap

Above, an Asakusa sushi restaurant. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you are in Japan and don't want (or can't) to spend a lot of money on food, Inside Japan Tours has an article on where tourists can go to "eat cheap".

They begin with:

Just like anywhere else in the world, you can spend an awful lot on food in Japan if you want to. But if you’re travelling on limited means, it’s actually very easy to eat on the cheap. Unlike most other countries, the Japanese hold their eating establishments to very high standards – so whether you’re paying top dollar for a Michelin-starred meal or a couple of quid for a bowl of ramen, you can expect it to be delicious. 

To read more, go here. 

Coping With Japan's Summer Heat & Humidity

Above, Shinjuku in the distance from Tokyo Tower during the summer of 2004. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Summer is a month away from ending, but this blog post should be useful to you if you're planning to visit Japan during an upcoming summer season.

First off, I have been in Japan once during summer (that was with the first G-TOUR in 2004) and the temperatures were hot and humid. Thankfully, most of us knew ahead of time about Japan's hot summers and packed accordingly (except for one pair of slacks, I packed nothing but cargo shorts). I don't think I've ever drank so much water in my life.

The most recent G-TOUR ended about a couple of weeks ago and those who went said Japan was very hot. A major heat wave hit Japan during the time of the tour. The weather reports from Japan confirmed that it was one of the hottest summers in recent memory.

Japan's hot & humid summers are one of the reasons I prefer to visit Japan in the autumn or spring. Dry heat I can take, humid heat is brutal. I am heading to Japan this coming October.

But, if you are only able to visit Japan during summer, InsideJapan Tours has some tips on keeping cool.

They begin with:

Japan isn’t traditionally thought of as a “hot” country, but let me tell you – Japanese summers are flipping roasting. Unbelievably warm, in fact – and with an atmosphere so humid that you can almost swim in it. 

Now don’t get me wrong – summer is a great time to visit Japan. Not only are there fewer crowds, but it has a whole plethora of its own unique attractions – from delicious summer foods and crazy ice cream flavours to beautiful beaches, fantastic scuba diving, amazing hiking opportunities, and some really awesome summer festivals. (If you need any more convincing, you can read our 10 reasons to visit Japan in the summer here.) 

But there’s no getting away from the fact that it’s bloody boiling – and this can take some visitors by surprise, even if they have had a peep at the weather forecast before they travel. Sunburn isn’t the only danger – heatstroke is a real issue for those who fail to prepare adequately for the weather, and every year Japan sees a number of heat-related deaths and hospitalisations. 

If you prepare correctly, however, there’s absolutely no reason why summer in Japan can’t be a thoroughly enjoyable time of year to travel. To help you beat the heat, we’ve whipped round a few of our Japan-based colleagues for their top tips on staying cool!

To see what they recommend to keep cool, go here.

Inside Japan Tours: Top Eight Things To Do In Hiroshima

Above, the torii gate at Miyajima Island's Itsukushima Shrine is near Hiroshima. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Thousands of people are flocking to Hiroshima to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city in August 1945 this week. Besides the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum, there are other things to see and do.

Inside Japan Tours has posted an article on the "Top Eight Things To Do In Hiroshima."

They begin it with:

Well-known throughout Japan as being home to some of the country’s warmest – and most passionate – people, Hiroshima gets kind of a bum rap in the outside world. Of course, being the first city in the history of mankind to be destroyed by an atomic bomb is quite a grim legacy. But Hiroshima is so much more than that and is well worth a visit on any trip to Japan. Quietly and consistently voted as one of the most livable cities in the country, Hiroshima is still an under-appreciated destination spot on a first-timer’s Japan bucket list. With the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing coming up this week, visiting any one of these top eight attractions will hopefully change anyone’s outlook on this gem of a city!

To read more, go here. 

Number of Japanese Stores Offering Tax-Free Products Has Risen 60%

Above, a duty-free shop at Narita International Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It appears that Japan's efforts to increase foreign tourism into the country with such enticements as the expansion of duty-free items has paid off.

According to Inside Japan:

It has emerged that the number of Japanese stores offering tax-free products to tourists has risen by 60 per cent over the last months, according to Nikkei Asian Review.  

Since October 1st, duty-free products sold to travellers have expanded from the previous limitation of clothing and electronics to food and cosmetics, meaning that the government has its target of 10,000 tax-free shops by 2020 five years early. While cosmetic sales have seen a major boost in recent months, most of the stores are also concentrated in Tokyo and Osaka. 

To read more, go here.

Japan Government Aims To Offer Free Wi-Fi To Foreign Tourists

Above, if Japan's government plans work out, foreign tourists won't have to rely just
on coffee shops and other businesses for free Wi-Fi services. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Little by little, the Japanese government is preparing the country to be more inviting to foreign tourists in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) reported:

The government has unveiled an action plan to provide foreign visitors with high-level wireless communications services as the country prepares for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

The plan includes promotion of free Wi-Fi services, the use of Japanese SIM cards in foreign smartphones and a reduction in international roaming services fees, Yoko Kamikawa, state secretary for communications, said at a press conference.

While Japan is generally known for technological innovations, they lag behind other countries in providing free Wi-Fi services.

Up to now, the only places offering free Wi-Fi in Japan are at some train stations, restaurants, hotels, coffee shops and other businesses.

To read more, go here.

UPDATE (6/17/14):

Inside Japan Tours has details on the government's free tourist Wi-Fi plan. Go here.

Hiroshima A Top Tourist Destination

Above, the Atomic Bomb Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The city of Hiroshima, and the Peace Memorial Park and Museum in particular, are big draws for foreign tourists.

The Peace Memorial Park and Museum hit a record high in foreign visitors in 2013.

According to Inside Japan Tours:

The Japanese city of Hiroshima may have been devastated by the atomic bomb almost 70 years ago, but today, this site of the destruction is one of the top tourist destinations in the entire country.

Statistics released by the nation's tourist agency revealed that around 363,000 visitors went to the metropolis during 2012, with US citizens making up the vast majority of that figure, followed by Australians and the Chinese.

And the number appears to be climbing, according to the Japan Times. Local officials confirm that the memorial site is attracting more tourists keen to explore the burnt wreckage, which is all that remains of the city's buildings at Ground Zero.

They are also fascinated by the painful witness testimonies and human shadows left permanently visible upon the walls of the constructs where people were instantly obliterated by the blast.

Officials claim promotion activities from the local authorities and tourism attractions have helped to inspire a greater number of foreign tourists to come to the site.

Visitor figures to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum by foreign tourists hit a record high of 200,086 in 2013, with foreign tourists describing the site as a gripping, educational and emotional example of "dark tourism," "grief tourism" or "battlefield tourism". 

I visited Hiroshima in 2004 and I would recommend a visit to anyone who studies World War II history. Nearby, visitors can take a ferry to Miyajima to see the famous "floating" torii gate and the  Itsukushima Shrine.

Along with the a-bombing of Nagasaki and the Lucky Dragon No. 5 incident, Hiroshima was also an inspiration for the Godzilla character. So it is a place where kaiju fans will want to visit.

To read more, go here.

The Shinkansen Turns 50 In 2014

Above, a Joetsu shinkansen (connecting Tokyo and Niigata) at Tokyo Station.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan's shinkansens, or "bullet trains", will be turning 50 in 2014. Japan is gearing up to celebrate fifty years of high-speed trains.

Inside Japan posted an "Ultimate Guide To Japanese Bullet Trains" along with a couple of videos of different bullet trains.

They start it with:

They’ve been clocked at up to 200 miles per hour, their tracks cover about 1,500 miles of the country and they safely and reliably transport hundreds of millions of passengers each year around Japan. The Shinkansen is better known simply as the “bullet train,” (a nickname it gets from its bullet-shape nose and fast speeds) was launched for the Tokyo Olympics way back in October 1964. In 2014, the Shinkansen will be 50!

Above, a "300 series" bullet train in 2001. This series was decommissioned in 2012.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.

Kyushu Leads Japan's Tourism Growth

Above, view of offshore islands from Fukuoka Tower.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tourism in Japan has been improving.  An article from Inside Japan Tours says that Kyushu is leading the growth.

They state:

Tourism numbers are starting to rebound in Japan with Kyushu showing particularly prominent growth.

A record number of foreign visitors arrived between March and July this year with Kyushu proving to be particularly popular with the tourists. According to the Japan Times one of the main factors driving tourists into the country is the cruise industry, which is becoming a popular means of travel among well-to-do Chinese. 

To read the full article, go here.