Why Winter Is The Perfect Time To Visit Japan

Above, following a snowstorm in Chiba Prefecture. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the years, I've been in Japan during winter only once. That was in February 2014 and at the same time I was there, the country was hit by two big snowstorms. The first one arrived when I did.

Above, Nakamise Street shops. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

That didn't stop me from enjoying the trip. It made it more interesting, especially when I was stuck aboard a commuter train between Narita Airport and Tokyo for several hours due to snow. 

Above, Kurihama's Godzilla slide with a dusting of snow. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to an article in National Geographic, there are some advantages of traveling to Japan during winter.

They begin with:

There’s no question Japan is one of the most popular destinations on the planet right now and with good reason. From its deeply distinctive culture to great food to fascinating historic sites, it has so much of what travelers love, and that also means it’s often crowded, even overtouristed. This is why I recommend it for a winter trip when many people are seeking sun and sand. Last winter I put together a 12-day getaway for myself and my husband that included Tokyo, Kyoto, and a drive across the region known as the Japanese Alps. It was perfect and gave us a taste of what makes Japan so great without intense crowds or logistical hassles.  

Above, my hotel in Ueno following the second snowstorm. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Hotel Rates Hit September Record

Above, Tsukuba Hotel in the Ueno section of Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Hotel rates in Japan hit a record in September due to the tourism boom.

Rates went up an average 12.6% according to Nikkei Asia. For American travelers, that isn't too bad of an increase considering that the dollar and yen exchange rate is around ¥152 per dollar in Tokyo.

They reported:

TOKYO -- The average hotel rate in Japan increased 12.6% on the year in September to 19,381 yen ($127) per night, led by an influx to tourists from overseas, new data from analytics company STR shows.

Cities popular with foreign travelers, like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, helped drive the average rate up to its highest for September in data going back to 1996.

The number of foreign visitors in Japan was up 31.5% on the year on the first days of the two three-day weekends in September. Still, hotel rates rose less than during longer holidays, having little effect on stays by domestic guests.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Hotels Slash Prices

Above, the Hotel Sunroute Asakusa in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If the coronavirus acts like it's common cold and flu cousins, it may greatly subside by spring (which is only a few weeks away).

Hopefully it will, but in the meantime, hotels in Japan are slashing prices for the busy early-spring travel season as occupancy rates have plunged.

The Nikkei Asian Review reported:

As Japan suffers a coronavirus-induced drop in travel, hotel chains are slashing room rates for about 30% of stays during the normally busy early spring season, a Nikkei analysis of online booking sites shows. 

Prices were down on average about 20% on Monday from those offered on Feb. 26 as shown on the Rakuten Travel and Jalan.net online booking sites for 1,087 of the 3,624 stays covered. 

The average discount was deepest for hotel stays in Fukuoka, which dropped 25%, followed by Kyoto at 24%. Prices for many stays in central Kyoto have more than halved in the last five days. 

In Tokyo, where the average price dropped 22%, stays in the foreign-tourist-heavy area of Ueno-Asakusa showed steep declines.

To read more, go here. 

Tokyo Cheapo: Where To Stay In Tokyo

Above, the Hotel Asia Center of Japan in the Minato Ward of Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When traveling to Tokyo, my preferred place to stay is the Hotel Asia Center of Japan. It is centrally located and within easy walking distance to the Aoyama-itchōme subway station in the Minato Ward. The hotel has nice rooms at reasonable prices and their own restaurant, again, at reasonable prices. The Ginza, Oedo and Hanzomon subway lines can be caught at the Aoyama-itchōme station.

The past few times to Japan found me in other hotels as either the Hotel Asia Center of Japan was undergoing renovation or booked up.

I have stayed in the Ueno area twice and once in Asakusa when this happened.

Many people visiting Tokyo for the first time haven't a clue where to stay and what sections to avoid (especially if they have children with them).

Fortunately, Tokyo Cheapo has an article that will answer any such questions people may have.

They begin with:

Finding the best area to stay during your trip to Tokyo depends on what you want to get out of your stay, how much you have to spend, and the level of convenience you require (or inconvenience you’re willing to put up with). 

A lot of what is referred to as “Tokyo”, is not even technically in Tokyo. For example, both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Narita Airport are located in neighboring Chiba Prefecture. Combined with the surrounding prefectures, the greater Tokyo area holds a staggering 25 million people. Thousands of train stations and numerous railway lines collect this together in a mind boggling transportation network. As a result, different neighborhoods often cater for quite different needs and interests.

To read more, go here.

"How To Catch The Keisei Line From Narita"

Above, the Keisei Line ticket counter below Terminal One at Narita Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Whenever I book a room at my preferred hotel in Tokyo, the Hotel Asia Center of Japan, I generally take the Narita Express to Tokyo Station rom Narita Airport to catch a connecting subway to my hotel. If no rooms are available there (due to different reasons), I have stayed in the Ueno or Asakusa areas of Tokyo. This happened the last two times I visited Japan. If this is the case, I would take the Keisei Line from Narita to Ueno Station and take a quick cab ride to my hotel either in Ueno or Asakusa.

Above, the Keisei Skyliner. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The most memorable ride I had on the Keisei Line was in February 2014 when I was stuck nearly for 24 hours on a Keisei Line train midway between Narita Airport and Tokyo due to an unusually heavy snowstorm that arrived almost at the same time as I did.

Above, the Keisei Line train I was stuck in due to a heavy snowstorm. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo Cheapo has an article on "How To Catch The Keisei Line From Narita".

It starts with:

If you’re going to be taking the Keisei Line from Narita Airport to your accommodation in Tokyo, you might want to give this walk-through a read first. To make your experience as smooth and stress-free as possible, we’ve put together a guide on getting from Point A (the Arrivals hall) to Point B (your destination). Let’s go! 

What a lot of travelers to Tokyo don’t realize is that Narita Airport is actually in Chiba—that’s the next prefecture over. Getting from the airport, which is out in the sticks, to the big city can take a little longer and be a bit more complex than expected. Luckily, both the Keisei Line and Japan Railways run trains throughout the day, including dedicated airport expresses. If you’re happy to pay for speed, Keisei’s fastest option, the Skyliner, can get you to downtown Tokyo in as little as 41 minutes. There are also a number of other ways to get from Narita to Tokyo.

To read the article, go here. 

Tokyo Ryokans

Above, the Hotel Fukudaya, a ryokan I stayed at in 2001. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While strolling around the Redondo Beach Pier in February, I stopped at the Kobe Pearl Co. store. Denise had never bought a pearl oyster before.

During the time were at the store, the Japanese store owner stuck up a conversation.. I told him that we visited Japan in October.

Anyone who visits Japan should at least spend one night in a ryokan (Japanese inn) to get a real Japanese experience. The good thing is, one doesn't have to venture out of Tokyo to do so. I stayed at one in Shibuya during my first trip to Japan in 2001 for the duration of the trip. It was a different, but enjoyable experience for me. Plus, the price was about $50 per night. Since then, I have stayed in ryokans in Sendai and Kumamoto.

An added plus, each ryokan I stayed at had rooms larger than typical Japanese hotels.

Tsunagu Japan has a list of ten ryokans that visitors should consider staying at. Several of them are in the Asakusa-Ueno section of Tokyo.

They begin with:

If you look for traditional Japanese style ryokan in Tokyo, there are not many but some ryokans and alike still remain. Here listed are the accommodations ranging from generously priced ryokan housed in traditional Japanese architecture to a bit pricey but modern facilities with luxury. Why don’t you try one of these for intriguing experience?

To see the ryokans in Tokyo Tsunagu Japan recommends, go here.

Seven-Eleven Develops Fast Duty-Free Checkout System

Above, a Seven-Eleven store in Ueno, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is not surprising when new innovations are introduced in Japan. They also never cease to amaze.

The latest is a new checkout system by Seven-Eleven Japan Company.

According to The Japan Times:

Convenience store operator Seven-Eleven Japan Co. said it has developed a checkout system that can finish duty-free procedures in five minutes, against the 15 the 20 minutes it takes to process such purchases manually. 

The Seven & I Holdings Co. unit plans to introduce the system at 1,000 domestic outlets, mostly in tourist spots, by the end of this month and have 3,000 in operation by the end of next February. 

The system can instantly be changed into a duty-free transaction mode, and all a store clerk has to do is scan the buyer’s passport and follow ordinary checkout procedures. It means foreign visitors will no longer have to fill in forms.

To read more, go here.

Japan's Business Hotel Alternative

Above, the Tsukuba Hotel, a business hotel in the Ueno section of Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those of you who are considering a trip to Japan, but feel you cannot afford to stay at a hotel. Well, Japan has many options on accommodations, including the business hotel

Gaijinpot.com has an article on business hotels that prospective tourists should take a look into.

They begin with:

Visitors to Japan face a myriad of options for temporary accommodations. You could attempt to emulate the experience of Bill Murray in Lost in Translation by staying at the high end Park Hyatt in Shinjuku or splurge on a traditional Japanese ryokan which may cost ¥25,000/person/night (but typically includes two meals), go the budget route of staying at a capsule hotel for only ¥2000/night or even try your luck at one of the ubiquitous “love hotels” (best done with a fellow traveler!). 

While all of these would provide a unique experience and are, therefore, certainly recommended, where should you stay if you plan to visit the country on business and want a reliable, no frills hotel but don’t want to break the bank? The answer is to do what the locals do and book yourself into what’s simply called a “business hotel” to enjoy a terrific value. Business hotels are, by the way, not just for business, although don’t expect a pool!

To read more, go here. 

Tokyo Cheapo: Is Japan Expensive?

Above, the Tsukuba Hotel in the Ueno area of Tokyo last February. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the most talked about topics when it comes to Japan and costs is that "Japan is expensive."

To put that misconception to rest, Tokyo Cheapo has an article discussing this "lie" and they also present people with the facts.

They begin it with:

People say Japan’s expensive, which is crazy. But then people say lots of things—like Japan’s “high-tech” and “polite,” so clearly their minds are all mixed up after their round-the-world tour … like, What country was that? Denmark? Singapore? Switzerland? Wasn’t everybody wearing lederhosen and yodeling? Drinking cocoa with mini marshmallows? Well, all right, maybe it was Japan. Ah, Harajuku, how I love your alpine ways.

Included in the article are common prices in Japan such as hotel rooms, dinners, hot spring spas and other things.

Speaking of hotel rooms, the Tsukuba Hotel (a business hotel) only charges ¥4,400/night for a single room with bath and free Wi-Fi. ¥4,400 converts to $37.02 at today's exchange rate. Expensive?

To read more, go here.

Tokyo Snow A Year Ago

Above, Keisei Line trains stuck in a station in Chiba Prefecture. My train is on the left. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo received its first snowfall last Friday and Saturday. Several news organizations posted photos of the the snow taken at different points in the city.

They all brought back memories of last February 8 when I arrived at Narita International Airport to find myself having a difficult time getting a train out of the airport and when I did, I ended up getting stuck in a train car (at least we were at a station where food and restroom facilities were available) for 16 hours due to the snow.

Above, snow in front of a Tokyo supermarket. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I knew beforehand that Tokyo gets snow on occasion, but the snowfall that week was unusually heavy (there were two big storms and some smaller flurries in-between) and the city didn't seem to know how to cope with it. I was surprised that I didn't see any snowplows out clearing the streets. Could it be that Tokyo doesn't have any?

Above, the Toho Studios Godzilla statue and snow remnants. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At least the snow made the trip a little more interesting (not that it was necessary to do so) and I managed to get some photographs of it.

Above, the second big storm hit Tokyo on February 15. This is a view of it from my hotel window. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the street in front of Tsukuba Hotel in Ueno the morning after the
second big snowstorm of the week to hit Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Jumbo Chef and Kappabashi

Above, the Jumbo Cook sculpture in Kappabashi. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After spending around 16 hours in a Keisei Line train car in Chiba Prefecture and eventually reaching my hotel 22 hours after landing in Narita International Airport due to snow last February, I headed over to Kappabashi (Kitchen Town) to pick up a chef's knife for my roomie Jes.

I got to Kappabashi within fifteen minutes after my taxi picked me up from my hotel in Ueno. Kappabashi is situated between Ueno and Asakusa (it is technically in the Asakusa Ward of Tokyo).

I knew I was at the right place as we passed the giant chef sculpture. According to Time Out Tokyo, the sculpture is known as "Jumbo Cook."

CNN has a July 2011 article on Kappabashi. About the Jumbo Cook, it says:

Take exit number 3 out of Tawaracho Station and walk west along Asakusa Dori for a few minutes, then look up -- you’ll have arrived in Kappabashi when you see the giant chef's head atop a store called Niimi. 

Appropriately dubbed “Jumbo Cook,” the 11-meter-tall, 10-ton sculpture greets visitors to the neighborhood in more than a figurative sense, as the main Kappabashi Dougu shopping street runs north from this landmark.

The article describes different stores in Kappabashi where "local chefs and restaurateurs daily rely on this food-supply wholesale district for their sashimi knives, signboards and everything in between."

Even if one is not a culinary student or a chef, Kappabashi is an interesting place to browse and shop for pretty much everything for the kitchen.

To read more, go here.

U.S. Ranks Low In Quality In Hotel Wi-Fi

Back in 2007 and 2010, I went to Japan with my laptop computer for downloading photographs and for Internet access. Previous to this, I had to use the hotel's computers (some were free to use, while others charged a fee). Unfortunately, they were useless for posting photographs online.

Also, I was at the mercy of the fussy Japanese keyboards. They would work in English, but if I hit a wrong key or something, they would revert to Japanese.

I figured I'd bring my laptop with me so I could get free Internet access through my own machine. But the fly in the ointment was that I had to plug in my laptop to their system and my plug-in cables did not match theirs.

During last year's trip to Japan, I stayed at the Tsukuba Hotel in Ueno who had free Wi-Fi available. Unfortunately, their system wasn't that good as the signal from their routers had a tendency to fade in and out (they were set up in each floor's hallway across from the elevator). Still, it was better than what was available during prior trips.

The Los Angeles Times has an article on worldwide rankings of hotel Wi-Fi systems. Oddly, the U.S. ranks low, and even behind Russia, of all places.

They wrote:

Bad news for hotel guests who love to update their Facebook status, stream YouTube videos and upload Instagram photos: When it comes to quality wireless connections at hotels, the U.S. ranks 40th worldwide, behind South Korea, Poland, Vietnam, Mexico, Russia and India, among many others.

The good news is that the U.S. ranks high in giving out WiFi free of charge. 

The ranking comes from a new study by Hotel WiFi Test, a site that takes WiFi data from travelers to gauge Internet speeds at hotels around the world.

 To read the full article, go here.

February 2014 Tokyo Snowstorms

Above, the morning after the February 14 storm in Ueno. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On February 8, 2014 (almost a year ago), I arrived at Narita International Airport for a business vacation in Japan.

Unknown to me at the time of my arrival, so did one of the biggest snowstorms to hit the Tokyo area in years. Snow is not unusual in Tokyo, but the severity of the two storms (the second one arrived the night of February 14) to hit within the week were unusually strong.

It also snowed lightly between the two storms during the week.

I noticed that several people took videos of the February 8 and 14 snowstorms. I thought I would post some for your enjoyment.

Record 13.4 Million Foreign Tourists Welcomed To Japan In 2014

Above, Jonathan Bellés, Yoshikazu Ishii and Armand at the Tsukuba Hotel in Ueno last February.

A record 13.4 million foreign tourists came to Japan in 2014, which is up about 30% from 2013's record of 10 million foreign visitors. This is according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) estimate as reported in an article by Nikkei Asian Review.

According to the article, foreign visitors spent about 2.03 trillion yen ($17.2 billion) during their Japan visits. This was 40% more in tourist spending from the previous year.

It is remarkable that Japan has seen record numbers of foreign visitors during the past two years. This is especially true after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.

They wrote:

Overseas travelers are increasingly a force to be reckoned with in Japan. 

In 2011, the number of foreign tourists dropped after the devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdowns hit the east coast of Japan that March. The number of visitors started rising again in 2012, and surpassed the threshold of 10 million for the first time in 2013.

Jonathan Bellés of Spain and I were just two of the 13.4 million foreign visitors when we visited Japan last February. So, we did our part in helping Japan hit the record.

Much of the increase was due to the weakening yen and the easing of some visa requirements, particularly for other Asian countries. The weakening yen made goods in Japan comparatively cheaper.

Will Japan top last year's record number of foreign visitors this year?

To read more, go here.

Gaijinpot's "10 Cheap Accommodation Options In Japan"

Above, the Hotel Asia Center of Japan in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When one is planning a vacation in Japan (or anywhere else, for that matter ), one of the things that are looked into are accommodations.

I usually first plan out what places I want to go to and then look into what's available for a place to stay.

As far as Tokyo is concerned, my favorite place is the Hotel Asia Center of Japan. Unfortunately, they were all booked up last year when I went to Japan. So, as a back-up, I stayed at the Tsukuba Hotel in Ueno. I stayed there in 2005.

Above, the Tsukuba Hotel last February. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Gaijinpot.com has a list of 10 cheap accommodation options that may come in handy for those who are planning their vacations.

The article begins with:

Finding a short term place to stay in Japan can be expensive. GaijinPot has a listing of short term apartments but if even these prices are too high for you, I have listed 10 options below for free or very cheap places to stay in Japan.

 To read more, go here.

1,350 Stranded On Hokuriku Line Trains Due To Blackout Caused By Snow

Above, this is what it's like to be stranded for hours in a train car in Japan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

More news stories about commuter trains being stranded for hour due to power blackouts from heavy snow are still coming out of Japan.

The latest is from The Japan Times:

KANAZAWA, ISHIKAWA PREF. – West Japan Railway Co. resumed train service Monday morning along the JR Hokuriku Line in northern Niigata Prefecture, where about 1,350 passengers were stranded by a blackout triggered by heavy snow the day before. 

According to JR West, the power outage occurred at around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, leaving passengers trapped in three limited express trains bound for Kanazawa. The trains were halted near Naoetsu and Echigo-Yuzawa stations in Niigata Prefecture.

As regular readers of this blog know, after arriving in Japan at Narita International Airport last February, I was stuck inside a Keisei Line train in Chiba Prefecture due to unusually heavy snow. It took me 22 hours after landing at the airport to finally reach my hotel in Ueno. Thankfully, a fellow passenger called my hotel to let them know of my situation so that they would hold my room.

We had no power problems as the lights and heaters inside the train cars were working.

After that experience, I can empathize with those passengers in the current news stories.

To read more, go here.

Tokyo Cheapo's Guide To Mobile Wi-Fi

Above, my room at the Niigata Dormy Inn with my laptop on the desk. Alas, I couldn't use the room's
Internet connection as the plugs were incompatible with my laptop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan may be one of the most high-tech countries in the world, but when it comes to having Wi-Fi (free or otherwise), they are a bit behind.

However, they are catching up (even more so now that they've landed the Olympic Games for 2020) with the rest of the world.

During my last trip to Japan, I had no problem concerning Wi-Fi. The hotel I stayed at in Ueno, the Tsukuba Hotel, had free Wi-Fi. At least they made it into the 21st Century. There was also Wi-Fi at Toho Studios that Jonathan Bellés made use of during his interview sessions.

That was not the case in 2010 when I was in Tokyo and Niigata. Both hotels I stayed at had free Internet, but the connecting plugs were not compatible with my laptop computer. I had to resort to using the coin-operated computers at the Tokyo hotel and the Niigata hotel's two free computers in the lobby to get online.

The only places where I was able to use my laptop for the Internet were at Starbucks Coffee or Tully's Coffee in both cities.

Funny thing, in 2007, I was able to get a Wi-Fi connection in Kumamoto at the ryokan I stayed at.

Tokyo Cheapo has posted an article on where to get connected.

They wrote:

Arriving in Tokyo, you may be excited to see all the cool high tech stuff that’s just a part of everyday life here in the eastern capital. But then when you stop in at a café and pull out your phone to update everyone on all the things you’re eating, seeing, and the ways you’re winning at life… there’s no wifi. What the–? Yup, while it’s getting better, Tokyo is still not a very connected city in terms of public wifi. Read on for cheapo tips and tricks on catching a signal while in Tokyo.

 To read more, go here.

Japan’s Three Climates

Above, a snowy street scene in Chiba Prefecture. What climate zone is this? Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ever wondered what the climate is like in Japan? Where are the cooler areas in summer? Where are the warmer areas in winter? What areas get the most precipitation or the least?

Tofugu.com has the answers for you in their new article, : Japan’s Three Climates: A Virtual Journey Through the Wilds of Japan."

In it, they wrote:

After some research, you discovered that Japan can be divided into three broad climatic zones: mild-summer continental (Hokkaido), hot-summer continental (northeast Honshu), and subtropical (central/southern Japan).

By the way, according to one of their maps, Chiba Prefecture is in the subtropical climate zone as is Tokyo.

Above, the Ueno section of Tokyo in February. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

 To read more, go here.

How Fast Is Your Hotel's Wi-Fi?

Above, a room at the Niigata Dormy Inn. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During my February trip to Japan, I stayed at the Tsukuba Hotel in the Ueno section of Tokyo.

The hotel was familiar to me as I stayed there in 2005. My usual accommodations are at the Hotel Asia Center of Japan, but they were all booked up during the time of my trip.

The Tsukuba Hotel does have free Wi-Fi, but it is very slow and signal losses were frequent. That is the subject of an article in Travelpulse.com, "How fast is your hotel's Wi-Fi? Here's how to find out."

The article states:

With free Wi-Fi and high-speed Internet being among the most requested amenities by guests, it’s more important than ever to track hotels’ Wi-Fi service. 

And Hotel WiFi Test, a website that tests and predicts Wi-Fi speed, is holding hotels accountable in that regard. 

Hotel WiFi Test has recently unveiled a Wi-Fi prediction system for properties it hasn’t tested yet. 

The prediction system, which currently assesses Wi-Fi speed for over 108,000 properties worldwide, ensures that Hotel WiFi Test covers more of the globe. By looking at the cities, countries and hotel chains that regularly boast the fastest Wi-Fi speeds, the site can predict what the speed will be at a given property. For example, Hong Kong generally provides faster Wi-Fi service than a destination like Las Vegas, while Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is generally known for having faster Wi-Fi than a lot of other chains.

Having fast and reliable hotel Wi-Fi has become very important to business travelers, who have to remain in contact with clients and the home office. It is also very important to vacation travelers who, for varying reasons, have to remain in contact with family members back home or with friends.

To read the full article, go here.

TokyoCheapo: Cheapest Transport to Get From Narita Airport to Tokyo

Above, the Keisei Skyliner at Narita International Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Getting out of Narita International Airport was quite an adventure for me last February due to the unexpectedly strong snowstorm.

However, under more normal conditions, the Japanese transit system is quite efficient and one has many choices to get into Tokyo from Narita International Airport as well as back to the airport from Tokyo.

TokyoCheapo has an (updated) article on those choices to get to and from Tokyo.

They begin with:

While finding the cheapest transport to get from Narita to Tokyo is a worthy quest in itself, it has become more important because of the arrival of low cost carriers like Jetstar Japan - which use Narita as their base of operations for domestic flights out of Tokyo.  Some of the fares are cheap enough to make tourists coming to Japan consider whether they should get the JR Pass or just book a couple of flights on an LCC. However, since Narita Airport is not right in the middle of Tokyo (like the much more conveniently located Haneda Airport) transport costs to and from Tokyo should be factored into your overall costs.

To read the article, go here.