What To Learn Before Traveling To Japan

Above, boarding a Yamanote Line train in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who are contemplating a vacation trip to Japan, you won't find a more friendlier place to visit.

However, there are some "unspoken" rules visitors to be aware of so that the trip goes smoothly. 

Travel Daily News posted an article on some of those "unspoken" rules. 

They begin it with:

If you want to travel to a destination that excellently mixes traditional culture and modern living, Japan would be a great idea. You’ll find cities and neighborhoods retaining rich old cultures dating back to ancient times. At the same time, you’ll find the tallest buildings and state-of-the-art technologies. 

If you’re considering exploring nature, Japan won’t fall short of it as well. It has a fair share of the world's most beautiful sceneries and natural landscapes, from beaches to mountains. However, before booking your accommodations and flights, it’s vital to learn some unspoken rules and must-dos before traveling to Japan. Here are some of them.  

To read more, go here. 

5 of the Best Things To Do In Japan

Above, inside a ryokan in Atami, Japan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Many travel-oriented websites have their recommendations on what to see and do in Japan.

Well, here's another. It is from Travel Daily News. They have a list of five of the best things to do in Japan.

They begin with:

Japan is a wonderful country filled with lots of cultural experiences – but if you’ve never been before, you might be overwhelmed trying to work out what you should do and see. Thankfully we’ve narrowed down some of the most unique, memorable experiences that travellers should try if they visit Japan. 

Here are five of the best things you can do in Japan.

To see what they are, go here. 

How Much Does It Cost To Rent A RV?

Above, a RV rental dealer in Van Nuys, California. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Some people may be considering buying a RV, but don't know what kind they may want. Considering the huge investment RVs cost, it may be wiser to try out a rental RV first.

But how much does a rental RV cost?

Fortunately, Travel Daily News has all of the answers in an article they posted.

They start with:

Organizing a trip across the country can be stressful, but the end result is well worth the effort. An RV road trip can be a way to see the world and spend time with loved ones.  

However, setting up a road trip though takes a lot of planning and research. First of all, the RV itself is a major investment. It is essential to select one that fits your needs and stays within your road trip budget. 

So, how much does it cost to rent an RV? Know that there are always affordable options for you to take the road trip of your dreams.  

Here are some expert tips on how to select the perfect RV for your cross-country adventure. Be sure to keep these in mind when shopping around. Rather than be taken advantage of by unfair prices, be your own expert on RV rentals with this easy guide. 

Weigh the pros and cons of an older RV

If you are setting out to buy a top of the line RV, thinking that new means better, think again. There are plenty of older models that may not have new flashy features but can get you where you’re going conveniently and comfortably. These older RVs can save you hundreds of dollars in rental fees. Compare prices for new and old vehicles at  https://www.stayontrails.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-rent-an-rv . 

When opting for an older RV, the only downside is that there could be more wear and tear to the vehicle. This is why it is important to check all of the important parts on these models to ensure that they are up to your standards. While longer trips may mean you want a trustier newer model, an older RV could be just what you need for short trips.

To read more, go here. 

JAL Introduces Japanese Sightseeing Videos On International Flights

Above, Hozomon Gate at Senso-ji. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To date, I have never flown to Japan with Japan Airlines (JAL), nor do I own any JAL stock.

But, those reading this may want to consider flying with JAL as they have Japanese sightseeing videos as part of their in-flight entertainment service on international flights.

According to TravelDailyNews International:

As one initiative in JAL New Japan Project1, Japan Airlines (JAL) has been introducing Japanese sightseeing videos in the in-flight entertainment on select international flights since April 2016. These sightseeing videos (in English subtitles or voice) were developed by local governments for providing overseas customers with the related travel information across Japan. 

As the fourth installment, the videos about Tokushima Prefecture which has concluded the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement with JAL, Shimane Prefecture which has organized a DMO (Destination Management / Marketing Organization) and been trying to increase the number of visitors from overseas, and Kushiro City, a Model Case2 in an attempt to attract more foreign tourists. 

JAL will be continuing to introduce beautiful scenery and history of various places to overseas customers through its in-flight entertainment service.

To read more, go here.

International Travel: To Tip Or Not To Tip

Above, a Tokyo taxi. No tip is expected or required. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Every country has their own customs concerning business transactions. That extends right down to whether or not to tip a cab driver, waiter (or waitress), barmaid or anyone else.

In many countries, gratuities are added into the price of a meal. Some have even outlawed tipping.

TravelDailyNews has an article on the subject of international tipping.

They begin with:

Tipping while travelling can be confusing, differs by country and doesn’t always depend on service quality. Wego, the leading travel search site in the Asia Pacific and Middle East, revealed where and when you should tip while on the road.

In Japan, there is no tipping.

“Knowing which countries where you should leave a tip is just as important as knowing which countries not to,” said Joachim Holte, Chief Marketing Officer for Wego. 

“In Argentina for example, tipping is actually illegal, however, waiters often expect to be tipped by foreigners so if you were to tip, discretion is advised. In the US, low wage earners in the service industry are reliant on tipping to balance out their income, yet in Romania, tips are often declined and in Japan, tipping is considered offensive.” 

The article has a nice graphic from Wego. You may want to right-click it and save it for future reference.

In case you're in Japan and forget what the tipping customs there are, The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan covers tipping on page 9.

To read the article, go here.

ArrivalGuides and Knowledge Travel Partners Partner Up

Above, a view of Tokyo from Mori Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan is serious about rolling out the welcome mat to visitors in the build-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and providing information on destinations in Japan.

Travel Daily News reported:

In the build up for the summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2020 the Japanese National Tourist Board is investing large funds to promote Japan for foreign tourism. The city tourist bureaus (DMOs) in Japan have traditionally struggled in this area. ArrivalGuides has signed a partnership agreement with Knowledge Travel Partners, Japan’s first foreign tourism consultants, to attract more Japanese DMOs to join the ArrivalGuides network and make information about their destination available for the over 50 million travelers who actively use the ArrivalGuides destination content through the 260 travel partners in the ArrivalGuides network.

To read more, go here. 

YCVB Releases Video of Yokohama As Convention City

Above, the Yokohama InterContinental The Grand Hotel and Cosmo World. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Yokohama Convention and Visitors Bureau has released a new video promoting the city as a desirable venue for conventions, conferences and meetings.

According to Travel Daily News Asia-Pacific:

YOKOHAMA - Yokohama was where Japan opened its port for the first time following the national isolation policy under the Tokugawa Shogun era. The city therefore has a history of serving as the door for foreign cultures and products to enter Japan and spread throughout the country. "Japan's First Port of Call" is a slogan created in 2013 to show Japan and the rest of the world that Yokohama has continued to lead Japan's technologies and businesses from when the port opened 155 years ago to the present and that it is a city with an open disposition as well as flexibility.

The video includes scenes from past conferences held in Yokohama and interviews with participants to express thoroughly the attractiveness of the city and its achievements in hosting large-scale conferences. It introduces not only the state-of-the-art technologies and traditional cultures of Yokohama but also the modern atmosphere of jazz music and cocktails, which are said to have been introduced to Japan via Yokohama.

I have to admit that Yokohama would be a nice place to attend a convention in. I was last in Yokohama in 2005 and skirted near it on the way to Yokosuka during my most recent trip to Japan.

To read the full article and see the video, go here.

Japan Tourism Boosted By Weaker Yen

Above, a Nakamise Street gift store in Asakusa.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The weaker Japanese yen is creating a boost to foreign tourism to the country.

Travel Daily News reports:

TOKYO - Japan expects to hit a new tourism record in 2013. These are some good news for Japan tourism industry which was until now still suffering from the aftermath of the 2011-earthquake which provoked a giant tsunami and the terrible Fukushima nuclear accident. The major factor to Japan’s sudden return is the weakening yen, following the election of Shinzo Abe as Japan’s new Prime Minister. Mr Abe never made a mystery of letting the Yen sliding to boost the economy. 

Japan’s currency has so far depreciated by almost 20% versus the US dollar since mid-November, when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe began a campaign to talk down the value of the exchange rate. It has so far been the biggest drop in the yen value since 1992. The exchange rate to the dollar is now likely to reach the 100 yen mark, a number not seen since 2009. Analysts expect the yen to depreciate by another 10% to reach 110 Yen for one dollar by 2014.

The time is right for American tourists to seriously consider a vacation trip to Japan.  The cost of a trip is now more affordable.  Japanese goods are also more affordable as the U.S. dollar has regained more purchasing power.

 To read more, go here.

Travel Daily News: Japan Arrivals Up 40%

Above, the Shin-Saikai Bridge in Kyushu near Sasebo City.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Travel Daily News is reporting that Japan's tourism industry is "on the mend."

They posted:

Japan’s inbound and outbound travel is clearly on the mend, with arrivals to the country up by 40% in the first five months of 2012.

To read the full article, go here.

Japan's Tourism Continues To Recover

Above, Tokyo Tower.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

An encouraging report on the recovery of Japan's tourism industry has been posted by TravelDailyNews.asia.

They report:

TOKYO- With Japan’s experiencing a devastating earthquake, tsunami and a nuke catastrophe last year, it was no surprise that tourism collapsed in 2011. Released figures provided by the Ministry of Justice and the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) show a decline of 28% last year with total international arrivals to the country back to 6.22 million compared to over eight million in 2010.

Meanwhile, recovery is in full swing. According to estimated figures from the JNTO, markets are bouncing back.

To read the full article, go here.

Latest Press Release Done

Above, the Fukuoka Yahoo Dome featured in "Gamera: Guardian of the Universe." Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My latest press release on Japan travel has just been completed and is now undergoing review by the press release service. It should be sent out in about a day or so. When it is, I'll post it here as well.

The topic is "Japan Travel Safe For Japanese Science-Fiction Fans." This is in relation to Pacific Asia Travel Association's (PATA) recent declaration that Japan is safe to visit. (See this post from Travel Daily News.)

Essentially, since the vast majority of locations and landmarks used in Japanese science-fiction and fantasy movies are far away from the quake zone, it is safe for fans to visit Japan to see them.