Planning a Trip to Japan

As with planning a trip anywhere you need ample time to prepare. So when it comes to planning a trip to Japan you will want to give yourself at least six months advance planning time. You need to decide where you want to go, and what you want to see on your trip to Japan. Most people will go through a travel agent but you want to make sure you have some type of itinerary in mind before you even visit the travel agent.

The first thing you need to do when planning your trip is familiarize yourself with Japanese customs. You can find out about all of their customs by doing an online search. Or if you prefer there are several books and movies that can inform you of all the traditions and customs. For example, you need to know how to ride a train, since this is one of the most popular forms of transportation in Japan. In some of the larger train stations they do have signs in English, but not all of the smaller ones do. Also if you do not speak the language you may want to invest some money in lessons prior to your trip, or hire a translator to travel with you. Also their baths are a little different than those in the United States. It may help to do some research prior to your trip.

Another thing that you should know is that many Japanese stores do not accept credit cards or travelers checks. This is especially true if you are going to some of the smaller cities. You may want to bring travelers checks and exchange them at one of the local banks. This way you will have money, or yen as it is known in Japan, as you travel around. When contemplating where to go in Japan, you may want to make Hokkaido your first destination.

This is where many tourists go to see the hot springs. If you are more of a city person than you will want to visit Tokyo, which is a city in Japan. In Tokyo there are plenty of things to do and lots of places to eat. The most popular attraction here however, is Tokyo Disneyland. I believe this is the only amusement park in the area. Another very popular destination is Nagoya Castle. You will love the scenery at this location. If you make sure to gather all of your information prior to meeting with your travel agent then things will definitely be a lot easier, for you and the agent. I would also recommend that you give yourself plenty of time in Japan to see everything.

This article only highlighted a few of the very popular sites, there really are so many more. I am sure there are some that your travel agent will be able to recommend for you. For this type of vacation you will definitely need at least two weeks to truly enjoy yourself. Planning a trip to Japan is a lot more complicated than planning a trip to Disney World in Florida. So make sure that you take your time, and make all of the necessary arrangements well in advance. You do not want any problems when you get there.