Travel Tips – Journey To The East

Best places to see cherry blossom in Japan

Yuki Takano — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 23:24:44 +0000

This blog post will discuss when, and in particular where to see cherry blossoms in Japan.

When is the best time to see cherry blossom in Japan?

This is the sixty four million dollar question. As we discussed in our last blog, it is generally from late March to April depending on locations in Japan. However, timing is slightly different from year to year due to climate and weather. It is hard to predict far in advance, and the best way to see the blooms is to spread your chances and include many cherry blossom spots in the hope that you will see different stages of cherry blossoms and hit the peak at some time during your stay.

So, we still recommend you travel from late March to April if you are travelling in Honshu, the main island of Japan (or into May if you are travelling to Hokkaido. See below), but include a few different microclimate spots such as lower and higher altitudes, coastal towns and in the mountains to maximize your viewing.

Our top 3 picks for the best place to see cherry blossom in Japan

I travel all over Japan every year, and my favourite places to see the delicate pink flowers tend to be in the countryside rather than cities. Cherry blossoms at iconic sights in Tokyo and Kyoto are beautiful, but I recommend you consider including some of the less-known viewing spots in rural Japan in your trip. In the countryside, less crowds means you can leisurely enjoy strolling, or perhaps have a picnic under the trees. You can also immerse yourself in the regional cultures and traditions more easily.

Hokuriku (the Sea of Japan side of Honshu)

The Hokuriku region includes Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa and Fukui prefectures. Apart from Ishikawa prefecture, the other areas are much less known by international tourists, yet, they are very accessible (connected by shinkansen). Hokuriku region is rich in culture such as regional food and crafts, naturally spectacular, and most importantly has many gorgeous cherry blossom viewing spots including castle grounds, Japanese gardens and along river banks. This year in 2024, I was very lucky to see possibly the best cherry blossom displays I have ever seen, it was on our Cherry Blossom Tour of Sea of Japan Coast with our guests.

Kyushu

Kyushu is the southernmost island among the four main islands of Japan. It is known for its temperate climate and laidback lifestyle. Kyushu has a great combination of features of Japan that travellers to the country look for. Vibrant city and nightlife of Fukuoka, best known pottery towns and rural landscapes in Saga, samurai history and mighty Mt Aso in Kumamoto to name a few. Kyushu is slightly warmer than Honshu, and you can catch cherry blossoms early in the season. We run the Food and Cherry Blossom Tour of Kyushu Japan focusing on Japanese food cultures and production as well as cherry blossoms.

Tohoku (Northern Honshu)

We have run the Cherry Blossom Tour of Northern Japan for many years and this has been very popular with our guests. Some cherry blossom sites such as Hirosaki Castle and Kakunodate are getting famous, but still not too overly crowded. Travellers can enjoy staying in a small local hotel or ryokan, enjoy authentic rural experiences and the warm hospitality of local people. You can see cherry blossoms in Tohoku much later in the season into late April.

You still have lots of time to plan your trip to Japan for the 2025 cherry blossom season. Book your Cherry Blossom Tour today.

Written by Yuki Takano

Director of Journey to the East Pty Ltd

Yuki founded Journey to the East, a tour operator specializing in tours to Japan with her husband Col in 2013. Yuki travels to Japan regularly for her research, and creates unique tours for the guests.

Top 5 unusual things you can find in Japan

journeytotheeast — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 06:43:51 +0000

Japan has a very unique culture, and there are lots of things you would find only in Japan. If you have been to Japan what did you find the most surprising? Here are our picks of Top 5 Unusual Things You Find in Japan.

1. Vending machines that serve you HOT drinks and foods

Japan is famous for its number and variety of vending machines. In addition, Japan has the highest density of vending machines worldwide. According to the Japan Vending Machine Manufactures Association, there is approximately 1 vending machine per every 23 people.

The most common vending machines you will find everywhere in Japan are for drinks. Although much fewer in number than those of selling drinks, there are some vending machines which sell ice cream, bread, snacks, books, magazines, T-shirts, even cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.

Japan’s vending machines usually have COLD (blue) and HOT (red) drink sections. So you can have not only a bottle of cold drink, but also a can/bottle/cup of warm coffee, tea or soup. The hot drink section of the machines become popular during the cold season, and you can find even more varieties of them.

Hot foods such as hotdog, hamburger, hot chips, karaage, takoyaki, yakisoba can also be purchased straight from the machine. They are cooked inside the machine in just less than 2 minutes and ready to eat!

2. Japan’s High-tech Toilet

You will be incredibly surprised how many functions Japan’s toilets have!

Toilet seat automatically opens as you walk in and lock the door. The seat is heated, so you don’t feel cold when you sit down on a cold day. They even play music or make sounds to disguise your doing the “business”, and flush automatically when you finish and stand up.

Nowadays, it is harder to find traditional toilet or “plain toilet” at people’s homes and in public spaces, especially in Tokyo and other big cities. Public toilets can be found quite easily at train stations, parks and department stores, and they are exceptionally clean and free of charge.

You might also find interesting that Japan’s home toilet usually has a hand wash basin over the toilet water tank. You wash your hands in clean water before the water goes into the tank and next used to flush the toilet. How clever and environmentally conscious is that?

Modern high tech toilet with electronic bidet in Japan. Industry leaders recently agreed on signage standards for Japanese toilet bowls.

Japanese Home Toilet

3. Umbrellas lockers and dryers

Have you ever seen lockers for an umbrella? Department stores, office buildings, theme parks or attractions often have them in Japan. Japan has lots of rainy days, not just during the rainy season around June. So, an umbrella is a common item that people carry. (By the way, Japanese weather forecasts are pretty accurate, so it is safe to take an umbrella only on the days that rain is forecast.) In addition, a lot of Japanese people use a sun umbrella called “Higasa” to avoid sunlight on a fine day as well. The lockers make your life easier, keeping your umbrella safe while you are shopping or attending to your business.

The image on the right is an umbrella dryer. It has special fabric which absorbs water and drys an umbrella. Plastic covers were commonly used for wet umbrellas, however nowadays they are being replaced for environmental reasons.

4. Nomunication culture

When you are out at night in Japan, you might see lots of business people in their suit at Izakaya pubs till late night. Wonder why?

A Japanese modified word, “Nomunication” is made up of a Japanese word “nomu” (means drinking) combined with an English word, “communication”.

Japanese business people (especially older men) love going for drinks at Izakaya pub with their co-workers after work. It was believed that socialising with co-workers or business partners over drinks achieved a closer relationship, understanding each other better and thus successful business. Therefore, they often go out for dinner or drinks with their co-workers, bosses or clients after their working hours.

5. Queueing

Queueing is a big part of Japanese culture, especially in big cities. In Japan, everyone follows many unspoken rules in their daily life which maintain the peaceful harmony among people. Queueing is one of them. You will often see long lines of many people at train station especially during the peak hour. Once the train arrives at the station, they even move perfectly in a line and make some room for people who are getting off the train. .

You will see the queues on streets, too. Japanese people queues for popular items that were introduced on TV programs or magazines. You will probably see a long line of people in front of popular restaurant, bakery, cake shops and so on. A long queue in front of the shop make us very curious. Some people actually get into the line without knowing what they are waiting for because they think there is something special.

Jokingly, some say, if you sand still on the streets in Japan, soon you will have a queue behind you.

These are just examples, but there are a lot more unusual or unique things you would find only in Japan. Would you like to share what your thing is unique or unusual in Japan? We would love to hear from you, and share on our future blog.

On our Blog page, you will find more articles about Japanese culture, Japanese cooking recipes and useful travel tips. Please check them out!

Unique accommodation in Japan

journeytotheeast — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 06:32:56 +0000

There is a wide range of accommodation types available in Japan. You will find thousands of options for a western style hotel throughout the country. However hotels are not the only places you can spend a night in Japan.

The accommodation choices also include Japanese style inns (Ryokan), guest houses (Minshuku) and temple lodging (Shukubo), all of which offer you more localised and unique experiences. Your experience will be quite different depending on how you want to spend a day or night in the particular area.

On our Small Group Tours and Private Tours, we try to give you variety in your experience by mixing different types of accommodation. Whether you are travelling solo, as a couple, or as a family, why not consider these alternative options for unique accommodation in Japan?

Ryokan

The first type of accommodation unique to Japan is the ryokan. Ryokan is a Japanese style inn. More than just a place to sleep, a ryokan offers an opportunity to experience the Japanese traditional lifestyle and hospitality. For many Japanese, a ryokan is a destination in itself.

When you enter the ryokan premises, your experience starts as you take your shoes off and change to a pair of provided slippers. A ryokan is often run by a family, and its size ranges from a few rooms to hundreds of rooms in a large building. Apart from the guest rooms, a ryokan usually includes facilities such as a dining area, public bathhouses for men and women and a guest lounge beside the reception area. When you first arrive at a ryokan, you are asked to sit in the lounge and given some refreshments such as green tea or cold drink in summer. Then the staff at the ryokan will explain the facilities and meals while you are having the refreshment.

Room in Ryokan

A typical guest room at ryokan has a tatami floor where you need to take your slippers off and enter the room barefoot. In the room, you will find a large low table in the middle and zabuton cushions (square flat cushions to sit on) around a low table. There is a TV set, tea set, mini fridge and often chairs and small table near the window. In a Japanese style room, you will not find a bed when you first enter. Commonly, your futon (mattress and blanket) will be laid ready for you, in your tatami room, while you are out for dinner. Some ryokans offer a western style bed in a Japanese style room.

Amenities provided in your room at ryokan are similar to typical Japanese hotels, such as bath towels, toothbrush, comb and shaver. However, instead of pyjamas, a yukata (cotton kimono robe pictured above) and an obi (sash belt) will be provided. You can walk around premises wearing the yukata, to the dinner and the bathhouse. It is also common to see that people walking around in yukata in a onsen town.

Food in a Ryokan

At a ryokan, you will enjoy the gorgeous kaiseki cuisine for dinner. It is a traditional Japanese style course meal comprised of many small dishes often cooked with fresh local produce. For some the kaiseki dinner is a highlight and a reason for selecting a particular ryokan as it can feature local specialities such as a brand wagyu beef or prized seafood.

The following day, you will have a Japanese style breakfast which is once again made up of a variety of small dishes. Usually, it includes a bowl of rice, miso soup, some pickles, an egg dish and some grilled fish.

Onsen (hot spring)

Ryokans are usually located in an onsen (hot spring) town. Large public onsen baths at ryokan are usually built with nice view or gardens. Some ryokans have rooms with a private onsen bath. A rotenburo is an outdoor bath where you can soak in onsen with a great view of nature. Soaking in the mineral water is very nourishing and relaxing. The colour, texture and mineral composition of hot spring water is different depending on the location. Minerals in hot spring water have many health benefits easing many conditions such as skin problems, body aches and pains and more.

Onsen is definitely one of the most popular leisures for Japanese. This is another, if not “the” highlight of ryokan stay for many. The bath is generally available until late night and open from the early morning. Many Japanese guests take a bath more than once during their stay, for example, the first time after their arrival, then before dinner, after dinner and early morning before breakfast. You can enjoy and relax in the bath at your ryokan as much as you want during your stay. It is good to take an onsen bath after you wake up in the morning too, especially in a rotenburo where you can soak in warm hot spring water and feel fresh air and morning sunshine along with the view.

A ryokan, for Japanese people, is not seen simply as accommodation but rather a place to stay away from busy daily life, relax and spend a quality time. It is a special treat for oneself for hard work, or for someone like your parents to show your appreciation. Why not spend a day or two and relax at ryokan during your trip in Japan?

Shukubo

Another type of accommodation unique to Japan is a shukubo. Shukubo literally means “sleeping with monks”. Many Buddhist temples in Japan offer visitors a chance to stay overnight and experience the daily life of the temple. A shukubo room is normally very basic.

Originally, back in the past, shukubo was a facility to accommodate monks or people who were visiting a temple from far away. Today it has become one of the popular accommodation options among Japanese people and foreign tourists too.

One of the highlights of staying at a temple is the shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian meals). Shojin ryori was developed around the Buddhist moral precepts that prohibit taking the lives of other creatures. You will be surprised by how tasty shojin ryori is.

Temples usually invite their guests to participate in morning prayers which typically start early morning. Some temples also offer other activities such as zazen meditation.

Shukubo are usually located around the area famous for pilgrimages such as Koyasan in Wakayama prefecture and Dewa Sanzan in Yamagata prefecture. One of our small group tours, Walking Tour of Northern Japan includes a stay at a Shukubo, so guests can experience this unique form of accommodation.

Minshuku

Minshuku is Japanese style Bed & Breakfast or guest house. Another of the unique style accommodation Japan offers, where you can have a good opportunity to meet local people and experience the traditional Japanese lifestyle. Minshuku are typically family operated and located in smaller country towns and villages. Normally, Minshuku have less than a handful of rooms. In such remote places, you will often find it hard to locate western style hotels as well as shops or restaurants in vicinity.

You will have a private room, a Japanese-style tatami floor room with futon bedding to sleep on. Bathroom and toilet facilities are usually shared with other guests. Scrumptious homemade local dinner and breakfast are served by the host.

Recommended location

Our Autumn Tour of Japan’s Wild West, Walking Tour of Nagano and Japan Alps, and Walking Tour of Nakasendo and Takayama all include minshuku stays in Shirakawa-go, Gokayama or Nakasendo.

Shirakawa-go and Gokayama are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and famous for their traditional farmhouses called “gassho-zukuri”. They have very heavy snow during winter in this area. So, gassho-zukuri have steeply-pitched thatched roofs, which are designed to cope with heavy snow. The steepness of the design of the roof helps the snow to slide off these farmhouses easily. The name gassho-zukuri means “hands pressed together in prayer”.

People in these villages still live in these traditional style houses, many of which also function as Minshuku. An overnight stay at one of these farmhouses is highly recommended experience, as it is a great way to see a very traditional Japanese family home and immerse deep into Japanese culture.

Capsule hotel

One of Japan’s inventions, the world’s first capsule hotel opened in 1979 in Osaka. This unique type of accommodation consist of rows and rows of compact, self-contained “capsules”. A bed-sized cell gives guests a private place to sleep or rest. There are also lockers to store your bag or suitcase and communal facilities such as toilets and showers.

Capsule hotels were traditionally geared more for “salarymen” (office workers) and young people to spend an affordable night if they missed the last train home. However, these days they have become one of the tourist attractions in themselves. They could be the lowest budget option for some people, or once in a lifetime experience for others.

Is “spending a night in capsule hotel” on your to-do lists in Japan? You can easily find them around major train stations and airports. It might be also good idea to stay for few hours and freshen before your flight back home, as the room space is very limited and hard to get a good rest.

Japanese flowers other than cherry blossoms

journeytotheeast — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 05:34:35 +0000

Cherry blossoms would be the biggest attraction during spring in Japan for many people. However, Japan has many more spectacular flower scenes that can be enjoyed in addition to cherry blossoms.

Here are some other Japanese flowers you should not miss if you are in Japan outside the cherry blossom season!

Hydrangea (Ajisai)

Hydrangeas (Ajisai) are representative flowers for Japan’s rainy season (usually from mid-June to early July) like cherry blossoms for spring. They usually bloom starting from the end of May through July. You can easily find hydrangeas everywhere, all over Japan. on the streets and in parks. Also, many houses in Japan have hydrangeas in their gardens. They are in many different colours such as vivid pink, light pink, purple, blue, and white. One of the interesting facts about these beautiful flowers is that those colours are depending on the pH level of the soil they are planted in.

Recommend spots for Hydrangeas:

Hakone – You can take a “Hydrangea Train” and enjoy the view of beautiful hydrangeas.
Kamakura – There are more than 2500 bunches of hydrangeas at Hasedera Temple.
Koyasan – You can also view lots of hydrangeas at world heritage Mount Koya from the late June to July.

Wisteria (Fuji)

Wisteria (Fuji) in Japan can be seen in full bloom around mid-April to mid-May, just after the cherry blossom season.

One of the best places to view wisteria is the Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi prefecture. Ashikaga Flower Park was listed in Top10 worlds’ dream destinations in 2014. There are more than 350 wisteria trees at the park, and flowers begin to bloom in order of colours, pink, purple, white, then yellow. They are also lit up during night time which creates the most magical atmosphere.

The other recommended place to see wisteria is Kawachi Wisteria Garden in Kitakyushu city, Fukuoka prefecture. The best time to visit is late April to mid-May. There is a110 metre and an 80-metre tunnel of beautiful wisteria you can walk through. This could be one of the most memorable moments during your Japan trip!

Iris (Shobu)

Japanese irises (Shobu) are also a symbol of Japan’s rainy season and can be seen until the beginning of summer. They love a moist environment and grow well around ponds or lakes.

You can enjoy masses of the Japanese iris at famous Japanese gardens such as Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa, and Korakuken Garden in Okayama. June would be the best season to visit as Japanese irises are fully bloomed then.

The old castle town of Tsuwano in Shimane prefecture is referred as little Kyoto of San’in region. There, as you make your way up the stone path, you will see the beautiful combination of Japanese irises blooming and Koi carps swimming in water along the side of the streets.

In addition to our wide ranges of Cherry Blossom Tours of Japan, we offer Garden and Art Tours of Japan. Our Garden and Art tours have departures in May to early June – an ideal times of year to visit Japan. The weather is typically warm and sunny, and the gardens are at their best. Please check them out!

And, our custom Private Tours are ideal for families and groups who would like to have their trip tailor-made. If you would like to discuss your holiday options, please feel free to contact us!

How to enjoy Japanese baths (onsen)

journeytotheeast — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 05:20:04 +0000

Japanese unique bath (onsen) culture

It is known that Japan has a rather unique bath (onsen) culture. In this blog, we talk about;

How did the Japanese bath culture start?
Why bathing is so popular in Japan?
Different types of baths in Japan, and
How to enjoy Japanese bath

Europeans had a form of public bath-based culture on the thermae of the Roman Empire. However today a shower is more common as a daily personal hygiene practice in many western countries.

For Japanese, nothing is better than soaking in a hot tub at the end of each day. We will give you some background into this daily ritual, and you can participate in the culture next time when you are in Japan!

How did the Japanese bath culture start?

History of Japanese bathing culture

In Japanese history, the bathing culture came from China with Buddhism in the 6th century. In Buddhism it was believed that taking a bath was good for health, and removing impurities was an important task for religious services.

There were baths in temples, and they were made available to ordinary people in the community. Because of this religious background, the bathing culture took root in Japan. Bathing originally took the form of a sauna, later developing into public baths that appeared in the Edo era. After the world war II, an influx of western cultures together with an advancement in building technology brought a concept of a household bathroom inside Japanese houses and apartments. Today, most homes have their own bathroom and bath.

Why bathing is so popular in Japan?

There are some theories why Japanese people like bathing so much. For one, Japan’s water is soft (as opposed to hard water found in most areas of Europe) and it is gentle on our skin and hair.

Another reason is climate. Japan’s summer is hot and humid, and houses are built with good ventilation. So these same houses are cold in winter. The Japanese winter is cold and dry, so soaking in hot water is a good way to warm up inside and keeping skin moist on the outside. Taking a bath and warming the body is believed to have many health benefits such as improving circulation and metabolism, alleviating fatigue, and easing body stiffness. Relaxing and refreshing in bath is also good for releasing stress.

An environment to support the Japanese bathing

Above all, the main difference between Japan an other countries when it comes to bathing is the availability of abundant thermal mineral groundwater. Japan is a country well known for its volcanic activity. Volcanoes sometimes cause natural disasters, but they bring the blessings of nature, such as pure water, beautiful landscapes and hot springs. There are many places that gush hot spring water all over Japan.

-The number of hot spring towns and villages is about about 3,000!

-The total number of spring water sources is about 28,000

-The amount of water discharge is about 2,528,971 l/minute *Total of artesian and pumped out artificially

*Reference: Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan HP

Different types of bath in Japan

Onsen

The water used in an onsen is natural geothermal spring water containing minerals. Most of the onsen facilities are public, however, there are some private houses that are connected to onsen water. Onsen baths are usually found in onsen towns or villages at a ryokan (Japanese style inn) where they are available for their guests to use. Also there are many public bath available to day-trippers. Onsen baths can be either indoor or outdoor, often they take advantage of views outside.

I feel

Sento is a type of Japanese communal bathhouse where customers pay to use them. Before a private bath at home become the norm, everybody went to their local sento for a bath, and the sento was very much a part of the community. These day, people go to a sento when their home bath is unavailable, or when they feel like having a bath with large space or use other facilities such as a sauna.

Unlike at an onsen, sento water is heated tap water and does not contain natural minerals. A sento often has more than one large bath tub with different temperature water, or with different features, most sento have indoor bath onl.

Super Sento

A super sento is like a theme park (of baths). In addition to large bath tubs found in sento, a super sento has saunas, jacuzzi baths, cold water baths, outdoor baths, bath with waterfalls, bath with TVs, and so on. Restaurants and massage clinics are often annexed to super sentos. At most super sentos, the water is heated tap water, however, some of them obtain spring water from an external source. People often use a super sento as a leisure facility and spend hours there to bath, eat, relax and socialise.

Private bath at home

Typical Japanese houses have one bathroom, and most of them are for 1 person. In Japanese houses, the toilet facility are located separately from the bathroom.

Structure of Japanese Baths

The basic format of all Japanese baths – whether it is onsen, sento, super sento, or private bathroom at home – is similar except for the size of the room. They consist of the following three areas.

Dressing room
The area for undressing and dressing. It is usually equipped with a basin (or more than one basin in a public bath). At onsens and sentos, a lot of skin and hair care products and hair dryers are provided.
Washing area
Japanese people wash their body and hair outside the bathtub, before going into the bathtub.
Bathtub
Baths are for soaking in the bathwater. Japanese bathtubs are usually deeper than those seen in the west. You must not use any soap or shampoo inside the bath. Bath salt is okay at home. The bathwater is kept clean, and generally the same water is used by the whole family (hence the pre bath wash area).

How to enjoy Japanese onsen or bath

To enjoy the Onsen (and avoid any personal discomfort about knowing what to do), just follow the Japanese onsen culture by using the following simple traditions.

Basic rules of Japanese bathing

You enter the bath naked. You do not wear swimsuit or other clothing. *At some facilities, like leisure facilities and mixed bathing, you can wear a robe
Wash your body before entering a bath.
Do not dip your towels in a bathtub.
Do not wash your body in a bathtub
Tie your hair back if you have long hair, or you can wrap a towel around your head.
Wipe your body lightly with towels in the bathroom wet area before you return to dressing room (dry area).

How to use Japanese public bath
(Dressing room)

Undress and put your belongings in an available basket or locker. *Some places don’t have lockable lockers, so don’t bring valuables to the baths.
Cover your body with a small towel provided and enter into the wet area.

Wet areas (washing area & bathtubs)

Rinse your body using the shower or tap water and bucket provided before going into the bathtub. It is called “Kakeyu”.
Immerse yourself in the bathtub and warm up.
Come out of the bathtub, take a position in a washing area with shower and stool. Wash your body. You can use the soap and shampoo provided at the bath house, or bring your own.
>Rinse off all the soap with shower.
Soak in the bathtub again.
Wipe excess water off your body before you return to the dressing room (where your towel will be.

After bathing

After dressing, Japanese often drink a bottle of milk. Sento and onsen facilities often sell bottles of milk (or other drinks), and it is all part of ritual for Japanese!

So when you are in Japan next time, you will be the expert!

For the ABCs for the Safe and Secure use of onsen please download the Government of Japan, Ministry of the Environment pamphlet here

All of the Journey to the East Small Group Tours include at least one onsen experience during the tour. We can also tailor-make your private tour with or without the public bath experience. Have a look at the samples of private tours with our Private Tour Model Itineraries

Top 5 important etiquettes in Japan

journeytotheeast — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 05:09:41 +0000

You are wondering what the important etiquettes in Japan are. Here are the top 5 etiquettes we chose which help you enjoy your Japan trip more!

1. Take your shoes off indoors

A lot of rules regarding indoor manners in Japan are related to footwear. A clear line is traditionally drawn between inside and outside, and outdoor shoes and indoor slippers are handled accordingly. These rules not only apply to most Japanese homes, but also to many traditional ryokan, some restaurants and the indoor sections of many temples, castles and other historic buildings. Your shoes should be left on the shelves at the entrance or take them with you in a plastic bag provided at some temples.

For footwear purposes, the border between inside and outside is not the door itself, but the entrance area called “genkan“. The genkan is typically divided into a lower area, where people take off and put on their shoes, and an elevated area that is usually covered by a different type of flooring and marks the beginning of the indoor living space. Don’t step onto the elevated area with your outdoor shoes. Likewise, when removing your shoes, avoid stepping onto the genkan’s lower area in your socks (without your shoes). Under your shoes, it is polite to wear socks or stockings instead of bare feet. It is a good idea to bring a clean pair of socks for indoor purposes in your bag if you are bare feet. Socks should be clean and free of holes! Lastly, it is considered good manners to turn your shoes to point towards the door after removing them.

2. No talking on mobile phones on public transport

Talking loudly on public transport is considered bad manners and ranks highly amongst Japanese as one of the most annoying behaviors. When on public transport, avoid talking on the phone. Only on long-distance trains talking on the phone is acceptable but only if you move to the decks between carriages. When on public transport, set your phone and all other electronic devices to silent mode as well as lower the volume of your headphones.

3. Chopstick manners

Chopsticks (hashi) are used to eat most kinds of traditional Japanese dishes with some exceptions. Some of the most important rules to remember when dining with chopsticks are:

Hold your chopsticks towards their end, not in the middle or the front third.
When you are not using your chopsticks, or have finished eating, lay them down in front of you with the tips pointing to your left.
Do not stick chopsticks into your food, especially not into rice. This is only done at funerals with rice that is put onto the altar.
Do not pass food directly from your set of chopsticks to another’s.
Do not spear food with your chopsticks.
Do not point with your chopsticks.
Do not wave your chopsticks around in the air or play with them.
Do not drag or push plates or bowls around with your chopsticks.
To separate a piece of food in two, exert controlled pressure on the chopsticks while moving them apart from each other in order to tear the food. This takes some practice. With larger pieces of food, such as tempura, it is also acceptable to pick up the entire piece with your chopsticks and take a bite.

Knives and forks are used for Western food only. Spoons, however, may be used with certain Japanese dishes such as donburi or Japanese style curry rice. A Chinese style ceramic spoon is sometimes used to eat soups.

4. Carrying your garbage when there are no bins

Visitors to Japan will quickly notice that the number of public garbage bins in Japan is very limited, and people are often asked to bring their rubbish home for disposal. Places where public garbage bins can be found include some train stations and convenience stores, while many vending machines have an attached container for PET bottles and cans. You are expected to carry your rubbish with you until you return to your hotel room or home.

5. Queue etiquette

Queueing is a big part of Japanese culture. If you are trying to get into a restaurant, waiting to pay at a register, waiting for your turn in a public toilet, or waiting for a train, bus or taxi, please make sure you check where the back of the queue is and line up accordingly. Cutting into a line is a breach of manners in Japanese culture and is likely to prompt a disgruntled response.

Like in most countries, manners in Japan provide an interesting insight into what its society values – harmony, consideration and cleanliness. As you travel in Japan observing and practicing these manners, we hope you sense an appreciation for these things.

Journey to the East offers a range of most exciting Small Group Tours of Japan and Private Tour Model Itineraries. Please check them out!

Valentine’s Day in Japan

journeytotheeast — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 05:01:39 +0000

What is Valentine’s Day in Japan like?

Is Valentine’s Day celebrated in Japan? Valentine’s Day occurs every February 14th around the world and generally people exchange candy, flowers and gifts between loved ones and special friends. Indeed, when the tradition started men gave gifts to ladies they secretly admired.

The mysterious far eastern country, Japan, has a Valentine’s culture of its own. Many local supermarkets, department stores, and patisseries are full of chocolate products every year from late January to February 14th. The Valentines advertisements and gift wrapping are decorated in red and pink ♡ shapes. Valentine’s Day in Japan has a unique tradition; it is the day when women give chocolates to men to “confess their love.”

Types of Valentine’s Day gifts in Japan

Until a few years ago, Valentine’s Day in Japan was the day when women confessed their love to men, however, the event has changed with time. Of course, some people still make a “confession of love”, but Valentine’s Day in Japan is becoming an opportunity to express various forms of “affection” with a gift of chocolates. Here are some examples.

Honmei-choco: a chocolate gift of true love

The traditional way of thinking in Japan. A woman gives chocolates to a man she loves and confesses her love to him. Some present handmade chocolates, others buy expensive ones, but all are true gifts from the heart. For a single person it is a confession of love, for those already in a relationship, it is considered the proof of ongoing love.

Giri-choco：a chocolate gift of courtesy

First appeared around the 1980s. Japanese women prepared chocolates for men, such as friends, bosses, colleagues at work, customers to whom they wanted to show their appreciation or friendship. Giri-choco has no romantic implications. It is intended to convey gratitude and deepen communication, and many are purchased at a reasonable price.

Tomo-choco：a chocolate gift for friend

This is a friendship gift. Women and especially teenage girls give chocolates to each other as proof of their friendship. They enjoy this opportunity to choose chocolates that match their girlfriend’s tastes, such as sweets and cute things, and to create the opportunity to comment on each other’s gifts.

Fami-choco：a chocolate gift for family

Chocolate that is lovingly given from female family members to male family members (husband, son, father, etc.). Women enjoy cooking chocolate-based confectionery with their children to share with their family. The whole family enjoys the time together at home on February 14th.

Gohobi-choco：a chocolate gift to reward oneself

Women buy chocolates for themselves. As a reward to themselves for working hard at work or in their daily lives, women give themselves the treat of chocolates.

White Day：a return gift for women from men

Another unique Japanese custom. On March 14th, one month after Valentine’s Day, men will offer a return gift of cookies, marshmallows, candies etc. to women. A man who was given a Honmei-choco (true love gift) but does not want to reciprocate the affection, will not offer a return gift.

The history of Valentine’s Day in Japan

Valentine’s Day concept is believed to have been brought to Japan for commercial purposes by the retail and confectionery industry in the 1950s after World War Ⅱ.

The question is, why did Valentine’s Day become a day that women choose to confess their love to men?

In Japan, ‘Yamato Nadeshiko’ which means a traditional Japanese woman who is modest, walks three steps behind her man making him look good, was regarded as how a woman should be. Therefore, it was difficult for women to be forward with their feelings. However, around the 1950’s Japanese women started to gain more control as major consumers, and they were further influenced by the Women’s Liberation movement in the United States. For these reasons, it is believed that this unique Valentine’s Day culture in Japan became a big hit and spread all over Japan.

Conclusion

Although Valentine’s Day does not have any historical or spiritual connection with Japanese people, they embraced the spirit of Valentine’s Day and developed it in their unique way. Japanese generally are flexible in accepting other cultures and events.

Whether there is a religious or traditional connection or not, Japanese love festivals. Around Valentine’s Day streets and shops are decorated beautifully just like they are during Christmas time. Pretty red and pink love heart decorations encourage shy Japanese people to open up with their love.

Why not visit Japan in February and enjoy Valentine’s Day in Japan? You will be surrounded by the feeling of love and delicious chocolates that are beautifully displayed.

Journey to the East has two tours running across Valentine’s Day including the very special and popular Snow Spectacular Tour of Japan

Luggage transfer service in Japan

journeytotheeast — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 04:01:06 +0000

Q: How does luggage transfer service work?

A: We use a wonderful luggage transfer service offered by a Japanese courier company where we can send large suitcases to our next destination so that we do not have to carry them with us during train travel. With this service the luggage will arrive our destination on the following day (transported by road). For example, if you leave your luggage with the hotel concierge in the morning, it travels overnight and arrives at our next destination on the following day. So, you need to keep personal items that you require for the evening and the next day in a separate overnight bag to travel with you. This great service means you can travel comfortably on the likes of the bullet train without having to man-handle luggage up and down station stairs. Please also note that there is no space for large luggage in most Japanese trains.

Some guests prefer to travel with a cabin sized carry-on roller bag rather than a suitcase and do not wish to utilise the luggage transfer service. However, whatever bag you choose, you should feel comfortable carrying it yourself when travelling by train.

Q: What kind of bag is best for an overnight bag?

A backpack (medium size with light & strong material) is recommended as an overnight bag. Some guests prefer a cabin sized carry-on roller bag as an overnight bag. This is fine, however, again you should feel comfortable carrying it yourself when travelling by train.

Illustration of luggage transfer service

(3 nights in Tokyo, 1 night in Hakone, 3 nights in Kyoto)

Image: sourced from global-yamato.com

1. Pack overnight bag and main luggage separately the night before check-out

The night before you check out the Tokyo hotel, pack an overnight bag with things you need for the next two days, and pack the rest in your suitcase.

2. Leave main luggage to be sent to Kyoto
Check out the hotel in the morning and leave your main luggage to be sent to the Kyoto hotel at the reception desk of the Tokyo hotel.

3. Travel to Hakone by train without heavy luggage
Transfer to Hakone by train with your small overnight bag. As you do not have to carry heavy luggage with you, you can enjoy your train travel more comfortably.

4. Enjoy sightseeing
Leave your overnight bag in a private minivan and enjoy the sights in Hakone.

5. Check into hotel in Hakone
After sightseeing, check into the hotel in Hakone and stay overnight with the small overnight bag.

6. Travel to Kyoto by train and see the sights
Check out the Hakone hotel and transfer to Kyoto by train with the overnight bag. Upon arriving in Kyoto, go to the hotel to drop off the overnight bag before your guided tour.

7. Main luggage arrives at hotel in Kyoto
Your main luggage will be waiting for you at your hotel in Kyoto after a day of sightseeing (by the hotel check-in time, around 3pm).

Q: What should I pack in my overnight bag?

A: You should pack any valuable items, medication, rain gear, as well as a change of clothes to cover the day you send your luggage plus the following day. This includes extra clothes (warm jacket, hat etc) and shoes depending on the next destination’s weather/itinerary. Keep in mind hotels will have basic amenities such as towels, toiletries and hair dryer, etc.

Q: Do I have to carry around my overnight bag during sightseeing or day activities?

A: No, you don’t need to carry around your overnight bag while sightseeing. We go to the hotel to drop off the overnight bags before the guided tour, or otherwise leave them in a private vehicle (if used in the itinerary), or use coin lockers at the train station (at guests’ expense, costs depending on size: 300-700 yen). Please be assured that our guides will always assist you with this.

Photo: sourced from jrailpass.com

Q: What time does my luggage arrive at the next hotel?

A: Your luggage always arrives before hotel check-in time (2 or 3 pm).

Q: Do I have to pay for the luggage transfer service? If so, how much does it cost?

A1: Small group tours: One suitcase per person/transfer is included in the tour price. We ask you to pay the fee directly at the sending hotel reception if you have any additional pieces.

A2: Private tours: The luggage transfer is optional. Therefore, the cost is not included in the tour price. Payment is to be made at the sending hotel in cash (around 2,000 yen per suitcase). We prepare pre-addressed label for your luggage and make arrangements with the hotels (and track your luggage) should you decide to use the service (this needs to be agreed before the final itinerary).

Responses to frequently asked questions, containing useful information, can also be found in FAQ.

Journey to the East offers a range of most exciting Small Group Tours of Japan. Please check them out!

Must-try top 5 street food in Japan

journeytotheeast — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 03:24:55 +0000

On this blog, I will introduce you to must-try Top 5 Street Food dishes in Japan that can be found all year-round.

There is a wide range of choices in the Japanese food scene from yatai* and izakaya style local pubs to Michelin starred restaurants. You will also be amazed by varieties of packed obento boxes, sandwiches and sweets at convenience stores in Japan. If food is one of the top reasons you visit Japan you do not want to miss experiencing street food during your stay. Therefore, I am focusing on top street food in Japan today.

*Yatai is a small, mobile food stall that can be found on the streets and at festivals. As yatai food is cheap and fast but very tasty, you can enjoy many kinds of street foods such as kakigo-ri (shaved ice dessert), ikayaki (grilled squid), karaage (deep fried chicken), yakisoba (noodles) and grilled corn on the go. You will usually see a lot more varieties of speciality yatai during the festival seasons.

Street Food Top 1: Takoyaki

Takoyaki (octopus balls) is known as a soul food for people in Osaka. It is so popular and would be on anybody’s top 5 street food list! Takoyaki is a round, made from batter with a piece of octopus in it and fried. Must-try food when you are in Osaka. But, be careful not to burn your mouth!

You can watch how they are made at any yatai and you will be surprised how fast those experts can make lots of balls of takoyaki. There is also a DIY takoyaki restaurant where you can try your own creation at your table. You will have so much fun making them!

Street Food Top 2: Yakitori

Yakitori is a grilled chicken on skewers with variety of vegetables and chicken parts such as chicken thigh, wings, skin, and meatballs.

“Yaki” means grilled and “Tori” actually means chicken, however you might also find choices of beef and pork.

They are usually cooked over charcoal grill and freshly made with your choice of shio (salt) or tare (special sauce). Yakitori is the best match with a glass of cold beer!

Street Food Top 3: Taiyaki

Taiyaki is a fish shaped sweet cake filled with red beans. You will also find other flavours such as custard cream, chocolate or matcha cream fillings at some shops. Taiyaki is a traditional street snack, crispy outside, and warm and soft inside.
You find them pretty much anywhere in Japan, but my recommendation is a shop in an old shopping street where local people go. Why not have a short break with taiyaki and a cup of green tea while sightseeing or shopping in Japan?

Street Food Top 4: Ramen

Ramen is one of the most popular Japanese foods in the world today. If you have not tried Hakata Ramen yet, I highly recommend you go to Hakata in Fukuoka prefecture.\.

Hakata is also famous for their yatai food culture and as well as ramen you will also find lots of nice food stalls there. The open-air food stalls “yatai” are set up on the street from early evening till after mid night. Ramen is a popular dish at a yatai around midnight. Why? It is a kind of Japanese culture that people eat ramen after drinking alcohol before going home.

As a yatai is small, usually less than 10 people can be seated at one time, it is a great opportunity to have a chat with friendly local people and enjoy drinking together!

Our Food & Cherry Blossom Tour of Kyushu and Food Tour of Kyushu in Autumn includes Yatai experience in Hakata.

Street Food Top 5: Crepes

Crepes are obviously not Japanese food but worth trying while you are in Japan!

They first appeared in Tokyo in the late 1970s and become one of the popular street foods that spread throughout the country today. There are so many flavours to choose from but probably the sweet crepe filled with whipped cream and lots of fruits or chocolate banana is the more popular one. You will also find savoury crepes filled with ham, bacon, cheese, egg, lettuce and so on. Interesting example of Japanised French food!

Have you tried some or all of the memorable street foods in Japan?? They are all perfect sweet or savoury snacks to eat on the go! Our local guides know their town inside out, and will show you the best street food in town and tell you their secrets.

If your reason to visit Japan is food, Journey to the East offers a number of Food Tours exploring whole range from excellent street food, modern fusion food and right through to gourmet dining at Michelin-starred restaurants.

Each of our Japan Food Tour itineraries is regionally specific, allowing you to appreciate the depth of the local food culture. The food trips also focus on seasonal variety. Through our expert knowledge and special connections, you will visit a selection of producers and interact with locals. All of these tours are carefully balanced for you to discover the Japanese culture, history, spectacular scenery and unexpected special encounters in Japan.