Index

Author: Edutraveller
Date written: 04/19/2003 04:07:31 PM
Last edited: 2003/05/25 16:53:21
Keywords: Travelling in Japan, Japan travel information, Japan information, Accommodation in Japan, Transportation in japan

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Travel

What does the traveller to Japan really need to know? What should you bring? Where should you go? There are plenty of websites out there that will recommend that you don't drink the water, never venture out after dark, and so on. These are generic websites written for all parts of the world. Rather than making the same recommendations for Brazil, Japan and Afghanistan, Edutraveller Japan is a focused on Japan, provides accurate information about the current state of Japan and about studying and travelling in the country.

One thing that is true when travelling anywhere is that you should leave behind your preconceptions and prejudices - and enjoy the difference.

Safety and the law

The truth is, Japan is a very safe country, and you can relax while you are here. There is no reason to worry excessively about theft, violence or other crimes. That being said, it is always necessary to be careful when travelling abroad, and Japan is no exception - you can easily cause yourself problems or find trouble in Japan as you can anywhere. Japan is a society in the process of profound and far-reaching changes, and while this means that it is a very interesting time to spend in the country, it also means that in recent years the former perception of Japan as a completely safe society has been dented.

As in any developed country, you should take the usual precautions when you do not know the area. Women out alone after dark should take care or use a train, bus or taxi if possible. There are plenty of police boxes (koban) around major cities in case you do experience trouble, and the police are almost exclusively friendly and helpful when you're on the right side of the law. Don't expect too much English or other languages to be spoken, however!

Do take care, however - avoid any contact with drugs, and try to avoid getting into trouble with the police in Japan as laws are quite strict: you can be detained for up to 23 days without charge, which could make a mess of any holiday. Laws regarding drugs are harsh, so do not get involved in any way whatsoever.

Health

The water in taps virtually anywhere is safe to drink, although it generally has more in common with a swimming pool than a mountain spring. Some rural areas may not have purified water, but in these cases it will usually be marked "ido mizu" (well-water) or someone will point this out to you. You can safely drink the water in all cities and towns, and there is generally no need to worry about food either - although there are always exceptions. If a restaurant looks like somewhere you wouldn't want to eat, don't.

Make sure that you get travel insurance before you come to Japan. Hospital treatment is expensive, so if you are coming even for a short stay, you should take out a good policy before leaving. For longer stays with a student visa, you can apply for national health insurance (kokumin houken) through your school or university.

The guide

Check through this section for generally anything that is useful for the traveller. Keep up to date with new events and news by checking the top page of the site or subscribe to the newsletter. Details of getting around Japan are in the Transport section, and a brief guide to the vagaries of Japanese Accommodation and Food & Drink can be fairly helpful for the uninitiated.

A guide to the Art & Culture of Japan is intended as a brief explanation of some of the things to look out for, not an in-depth analysis; similarly the History aims to give you a general overview so that you have a rough idea what sort of country you're heading into. finally, a simple explanation of the Language might help you learn a little about what Japanese is, even if you decide not to do anything else about it. See the Regional Guide for some of the more interesting things that you should see (new articles added constantly). Feel free to contribute any suggestions you have of worthwhile places to visit.

What to bring

What you bring to Japan will depend on what you want to do and how long you will stay. There is no need to bring large supplies of soap and toilet paper, razors and such like - these are of course all available in Japan. What you will need to consider:

• A Japanese phrasebook/dictionary: if you can, bring a small Japanese phrasebook and Japanese-English-Japanese dictionary. Electronic dictionaries are excellent and lightweight.
• Shoes: if you take over about 27cm shoes, you may have little choice in Japan. Although not as bad as it used to be, it is still difficult to find larger sizes outside of the major cities. Bring spares if planning a long-term stay.
• Clothing is less of a problem, but if you take extremely large clothing, again you may have a limited choice in Japan.
• Try to find out about your accommodation if you are staying long term - accommodation can be cramped, particularly if you are staying in a large city, so you might want to bring less with you.

Japan can be a little expensive if you are coming short term, but if you stay longer and work, salaries are generally high and you can easily buy most of your requirements in the country. If you are coming short term, you should consider bringing more with you if on a limited budget.

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