Archive for the ‘Travel in Japan’ Category
Yokohama is one of the most visited cities in Japan by both locals and foreigners alike, and why not with its great tourist spots and exciting entertainment scene. Accommodation is also fairly convenient in the city; Yokohama guesthouses are available for renting and are great options for those that are on a tight budget. A Yokohama guesthouse also provides comfort and privacy that hotels can’t give so you can fully enjoy your stay in the beautiful city.
Yokohama is a city that has been devastated by several wars, but even so, its beauty still holds strong until today. Yokohama port was the first Japanese port that was opened to foreign trade after Japan isolated itself from the world. The port was a great part of Japan’s economy throughout history, and Yokohama remains to be a maritime city up to this day.
In only half an hour, you can escape the busy streets of Tokyo and relax in this city by the bay. With fresher air and more spacious streets and parks, Yokohama proves to be a great diversion from Japan’s fast-paced lifestyle.
Among the attractions in Yokohama, the most interesting are found mostly in the Minato Mirai 21 area. The name “Minato Mirai” literally means “Harbor Future” and was selected from a public competition. The whole area used to be part of the bay until it was reclaimed and transformed into the majesty that it is today. Some of the most popular tourist attractions in the area are the Cosmo Clock 21 ferris wheel, Landmark Tower (Japan’s tallest skyscraper), Yokohama museum of art and Queen’s Square shopping mall. The area is also a popular subject of photographers especially during nighttime. Another popular tourist attraction is the Nippon Maru, which sits still in the waters of Yokohama in the Minato Mirai 21 area. The sailing ship was dubbed “Swan on the Pacific Ocean” and served as a training ship for the cadets of the Japanese merchant marine.
An interesting fact about Yokohama is that its population is a mixture of several nationalities, including Chinese and Germans. In fact, Yokohama houses Japan’s largest Chinatown, which is famous for their delicious delicacies. Yamate and Motomachi areas were once the residential areas of foreign merchants living in Yokohama, and even though it the areas were affected by the Great Kanto Earthquake, some of the historic sites survived and has become popular tourist attractions with time.
With all these attractions and rich history, Yokohama is truly a sight to see. So what are you waiting for? Reserve a Yokohama guesthouse today and enjoy the wonders of this city in comfort.
The Japan Rail Pass is an absolute must for visitors to Japan who are planning to travel around the country a lot during their visit. It is not so useful if you simply planning on staying in Tokyo for a few weeks. But if you are waiting to venture all over Japan then you would be well advised to get one.
To be eligible to buy a JR Pass you need to be a foreign tourist coming to Japan for sight seeing, which means arriving on a “temporary visitor” visa. This visa can last from 15 to 90 days depending on your home countries visitor agreements with Japan. The must be careful that the visa you will be arriving in Japan with is in fact a ““temporary visitor” visa, because any other visa is not valid and you will have wasted money purchasing the JR Pass.
The JR Pass must be bought outside of Japan from an authorized agent, you can ask the travel agent you purchased your plane tickets from and they should be able to help you.
Will will not actually receive your JR Pass at this point, you will be given an exchange order that you must hand in at a Japan Rail travel centre to receive your pass. You must hand in your exchange order within 3 months of it being issued to you. At the time you receive your pass, you will need to state from what date you wish it to be active. This can be any time within a month from the date you collect the pass. Passes are valid for either 7, 14 or 21 consecutive days depending on with pass you buy.
When using the JR Pass on the Shinkansen (bullet train) be careful not to travel on “NOZOMI” trains as the pass is not valid on these and you will need to pay.
You can use the JR Pass to get a reserved seat on Shinkansen, some limited express and express trains. To do so you need to go to the travel centre at a JR Station and show them you Japan Rail Pass and ask for a reserved seat. If you don’t get a reserved seat you can simply get on the train, but at peak train times you may need to stand for the duration of your journey.
Picture Sources: Bristosavage http://www.japantravellight.com/images/jr-pass.jpg
When focusing on a specific client base for travel, it is vitally important to really know the market you are aiming at. I believe the company I am writing to you about fall into the category of .getting it right.Magnet Tours is one of the first tour operators in Japan to focus specifically on Gay travelers. Seeking to fill a void in the market for expert advice and planning for gay and lesbian travel to Japan. Magnet Tours opened its doors in 2009 and established a U.S. office in 2010”.
They offer attractive packages that I would say are aimed at first time travelers to Japan. They plan things out in such a way that you will spend a vast amount of your time occupied with fun activities. There are opportunities for you to spend time wandering on your own, however if you a happy being guided through your stay, that option is available.
Lets take a look at their Kyoto package which is the longest currently available. It also allows you to spend time in both Kyoto and Tokyo, which is a great combo for a first visit to Japan.
Your adventure in Japan begins as most international trips do. You arrive in Narita International airport, which in my opinion is one of the easiest airports to navigate, despite its size. Your options for getting into Tokyo are basically the train or a bus. The train is cheaper, but the bus I find to be more convenient, especially if you have bags. Of course you could get a helicopter to take you into the city if you are feeling extravagant.
Once you arrive at your hotel of choice you will be given “Tokyo+Kyoto Package Kit”, which includes:
Tokyo hotel voucher
Kyoto hotel voucher
Tokyo Gay Bar Hop Tour voucher
Japanese Pop Culture Tour Akihabara voucher
Kyoto 1 day Rental bicycle voucher
MK Shuttle taxi from hotel in Kyoto to airport in Osaka
Kyoto Afternoon Tour voucher
Luggage transfer voucher
A 3,000-yen Starbucks gift card (approximately US$36) for breakfasts/cafes during your stay
A map of Tokyo & Kyoto
I won’t run you through the rest of the trip here, you can see it for yourself on the webite: Gay travel Japan.