Sakura tours to Japan. Tour to Japan for sakura with relaxation at a thermal resort. Tour of Tokyo
Tokyo - Kamakura - Hakone
March 29 – April 4 (departure March 28)
The price is indicated for 1 person (in a double room with one bed) for a group of 6 people.
Supplement for accommodation in a single room with one bed - 150 USD.Supplement for accommodation in a double room with two beds - 90 USD
Included in the price
- visa application
- transfers to and from the airport
- comfortable hotel downtown
- night at the hot springs
- 4 excursions* with guide
- 6 breakfasts, 1 dinner
- entrance fees to temples
- rented transport** (except excursion on the 4th day)
Attention:
* the order of excursions can be changed
** for a group of less than 6 people, excursions will be organized by public transport
Paid separately
- medical
- personal expenses
Flights
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Day 2: Sakura viewing in Tokyo
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Useful information All materials Hide materials
April 6, 2016, 10:20 Inshotei: A Place to Try Spring Snacks While Admiring the Sakura
Pink fog envelops cities and villages as cherry fever begins in Japan. Resistance is useless: you need to enjoy these delicate petals. When else to do this, if not during a lunch break or during a delicious dinner? Here are a few places where you can enjoy not only hanami, but also delicious spring snacks.
It looks like a diner, perhaps spoiling the overall appearance of the park, but it looks exactly the same as it did many centuries ago. True, the cafe was renovated less than ten years ago, and today it serves sukiyaki (beef with vegetables) and classic Kaiseki cuisine.
During cherry blossom season, Inshotei also serves seasonal dishes in special tiered bento boxes.
The most delicious dinner is served in Hasidaya. A big plus is its location. Opens from the second floor window beautiful view to the cherry blossoms.
The restaurant's cuisine is replete with chicken dishes, teppanyaki, yakitori and tebasaki wings. Interestingly, when it gets cold outside, they offer hot nabe in pots.
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Once you arrive in the Kichijoji area, you can head to Kin no Sara, a place that boasts an ideal location right at the entrance to Inokashira Park. From the magnificent open-air terrace, a magnificent panorama appears. Here you can taste delicious dishes of inventive modern Japanese cuisine.
The cherry blossoms in Tokyo were in full bloom on Thursday. The Japan Meteorological Agency said warm weather meant it happened three days earlier than usual this year. True, the 2015 record has not been broken. According to the agency, about 80% of the buds on cherry blossoms are of the Somei-Yos variety.The flowers in the Yakusuni Temple have already blossomed. On Thursday, pink blooms also blanketed the cities of Fukui, Gifu and Nagoya in central Japan, Wakayama and Tottori in the west, and Saga in southwestern Japan.
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In all cities, Japanese cherry trees bloomed ahead of schedule this year. In Tokyo, a temperature of +20.2°C was recorded (which corresponds to the long-term average values at the end of April), and in Gifu and Wakayama the thermometer showed even higher - 22°C of heat - the temperature usual for May in this region.
Based on materials from online publications.
25 March 2016, 17:47 Tokyo hotels turn pink for cherry blossoms
Sakura trees are beginning to bloom all over Japan. On these same days, preparations are underway for hanami, the traditional Japanese custom of admiring spring flowers. The custom originated in the Heian period (794-1185). Even though the word hanami means “admiring flowers”, in fact it means contemplating cherry blossom petals. It is a period of relaxation and fun for families and friends under the canopy of the enchanting cherry blossoms.
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| Restaurant Steak House Katsura |
In addition to gardens and observation decks, from which you can admire the indescribable beauty of cherry blossom landscapes, in Japan you can also find other excellent places where many people rejoice at the arrival of spring. Many establishments organize a range of events. For example, restaurants offer their visitors to enjoy the unusual taste of seasonal dishes.
For most Japanese restaurant chefs, spring is a period that inspires them and fills them with creative energy. Mountain vegetables and sea bass are especially popular. A unique menu featuring these ingredients is available at this time of year.
The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo and the nearby Grand Prince Hotel Shin-Takanawa, both near Shinagawa Station, for example, host an annual festival. It starts on March 19 and ends on April 10. The Japanese garden located on the territory of the hotels becomes open to visitors. Everyone can enjoy the beauty of more than 230 flowering trees of 19 types of sakura, which bloom until the end of April.
At the restaurant hotel The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo has a special balcony. Here you can not only taste charcoal-grilled fish, but also admire the symbol of Japan. At the same time, guests feel very comfortable thanks to the heated floor. The total cost of the menu is 35 thousand yen. Dishes include lobster, grilled Kobe beef, shrimp and crab. But in the hotel restaurant Ristorante Caffe Ciliegio you can admire the sakura through the huge panoramic windows. This establishment offers guests an Italian menu for a total of 7 thousand yen.
The Tokyo Marriott Hotel is located in Gothenyama, a neighborhood of Tokyo famous for its cherry orchards. He kicked off the spring with a "Spring Delight" promotion held at the hotel restaurant and bar. There is a special themed menu dedicated to sakura available. The event will continue until April 15. Recently, the open-air sakura terrace “Sakura Terrace Box” has also become available to visitors. Here the menu is presented in themed lunch boxes wrapped in special furoshiki fabric. The obento includes 16 small dishes: from appetizers to desserts, incl. soup. The total price of the menu is 3,900 yen. You can order this lunch box from noon to 4 p.m. The restaurant also offers “Sakura Afternoon Tea”: amazing buns containing mashed sakura fruits. The tea set costs 3,600 yen per person. You can enjoy your meal from 13:00 to 16:30.
The gardens of Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo are another establishment that does not ignore the cherry blossom season. In its garden, located in Mejiro, guests can enjoy 120 cherry blossom trees in bloom, as well as a variety of spring dishes on the menu of the hotel's restaurant. This can be done until April 10.
Japanese restaurant Miyuki offers spring menu "Hamanu Gozen", costing 5,500 yen and "Kaiseki", costing 16,500 yen. But the Italian restaurant Il Teatro can delight visitors with pasta with veal fillet and truffles costing 5,500 yen and 16,500 yen, respectively. Themed dishes are also available on the Hotel Chinzanso buffet menu. The cost for an adult is 4,200 yen, and for students and schoolchildren - 2,600 yen.
Based on materials from online publications.
Soon Japan will turn into a continuous garden. Hanami, the season of admiring cherry blossoms, will be the occasion for folk festivities and a series of national festivals. Picnics in the lap of nature under pink inflorescences covering the trees with a magical cloud is an ancient Japanese tradition.
What to drink and what to eat are determined by customs. Along with the classic sweet, sakura mochi, and other themed snacks for the spring season, the Japanese are happy to add a touch of modernity and extravagant piquancy to the time-honored custom. The present century also makes its own adjustments. Large corporations have discovered a fantastic marketing ploy. Food products that are familiar to everyone, but with the symbolism of sakura - doing business on the blossoming of the symbol of Japan is now a fashionable trend.
Global holdings have released a line of popular products “adjusted for the wind.” High period tourist season, which is built on the two-week cherry blossom season, ensures good sales and a prosperous financial future for the project. As a result, as in parks throughout Japan, everything from beer to coffee, from chocolate to chips is blooming on supermarket shelves in a riot of pink hues, and even McDonald’s has succumbed to the onslaught of hanami-mania. TOP 10 amazing and unusual products that you want to try just for the packaging design alone, in our rating.
- 2 . Now that you're the proud owner of a cherry blossom mug, why not fill it with sakura cola from Kimura? Real sakura leaf extract gives this fizzy drink a true spring taste. Interestingly, these are not the brand’s first “alchemical” experiments. Previously, they had already invented soda with curry, tomato and wasabi flavors. Customers were not only alive, but also satisfied with the new product. So, definitely, the company knows what it is doing.
- 4 . If the wonder drinks sake or chu-hi are too strong for your sophisticated taste, then the sakura motifs in Sanktgalle beer are just what you need. Moreover, the manufacturer, when inventing this drink, probably drew inspiration from the original gastronomic traditions of Japan. Sakura mochi is a spring treat made from rice cake and beans wrapped in sakura leaves. It is noteworthy that this type of beer is brewed in a brewery founded in Kanagawa Prefecture. Here they are very careful not only in the production process, but also in the raw materials supplied. For the production of beer, exclusively cherries from Takato (Nagano Prefecture) are used. The interesting taste of sakura mochi, together with the low hop content, makes Sanktgalle beer a light and refined drink like spring.
- 6 . It is known that Nestle has already “tested” bars with pumpkin and, of course, cherry flavors on Japanese customers. But this year, the company decided to go further with its bold ideas. Kit Kats with pistachio and raspberry flavors began to come in a spring-themed box. The owners of the company claim: this is the perfect taste of “hanami pleasure”.
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| Lindt |
- 7 . The Lindt company presented a win-win option to customers. Sakura macarons are an apotheosis for those who are beside themselves with sakura sweets. The treats are filled with cherry ganache puree. The taste of real hanami is available from April 12 in the Lindt Chocolate cafe chain. For those for whom this is not enough, they can get culinary ecstasy by tasting an ice-cold smoothie made from cherry juice and white chocolate, decorated with white chocolate chips and a design of cherry syrup.
- 9 . What would we do without Red Bull? The consortium could hardly stay away from the sakura trend. Rest assured, this pink energy drink is designed to keep you awake (whether you like it or not) until the early hours of all hanami parties.
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| Baskin Robbins |
- 10 . After a 24-year lull, the company strives to literally “explode” the taste buds of sweet tooths. The brand managed to create something... Salted ice cream with sakura flavor. Sounds weird? Take another look at the previous 9 points - are you still surprised by anything? Real sakura leaves and sea salt, combined with the sweet, creamy taste of ice cream - it clearly took a quarter of a century to come up with this. You can try this delicacy until the end of May.
Sipping a pink Red Bull, eating a sakura burger with cherry butter or macaron, you will undoubtedly remember this spring in Japan for a long time. In addition, manufacturers have provided for the delicate side of life. Toilet paper with a cherry blossom print is probably designed to make your trip to the bathroom as unforgettable as the height of all cherry blossom parties combined. Eat, pray, love... sakura - not a bad motto for a hanami, right?
Based on materials from online publications.
March 19, 2016, 10:10 The Cherry Blossom Front begins its journey through the archipelago, heading towards northern Japan
Sakura began to bloom in Japan on Saturday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Trees of the Somei-Yoshino variety are always the first to bloom; they can already be observed in different regions countries. Sakura blossomed four days earlier than usual on Saturday in Fukuoka. Seven days early in Nagoya. The agency explains this by unusually warm weather conditions. The height of flowering is expected from March 26 to 29.
« I feel the breath of spring“,” said Yasutaka Nanri from the city of Fukushima, who was just passing by a flowering tree. " I can't wait for the trees to bloom all over Japan and the cherry blossom viewing festival to begin.».
The Japan Meteorological Agency is responsible for monitoring the cherry blossom front across the country. The agency issues relevant reports and forecasts throughout the season, informing how the bloom is gradually moving from the south to the north of Japan. Not only Japanese hanami lovers are interested in the accurate forecasts of the meteorological agency, but also tourists who come from all over the world to celebrate the cherry blossoms.
The Japan Weather Association is urging people planning to attend Hanami to organize their trip earlier than usual this year. Cherry blossoms will be in full bloom as early as late March and into the first week of April in the western Kanto region.
Based on materials from online publications.
The transition from winter to summer is just beginning, and that means it's time for the magic - flowering season. As winter loosens its grip, delicate petals begin to push their way out of the buds on the fancy branches. In February it is plum, and at the end of March it is sakura. This is the earliest sign that, soon, warmth will gradually envelop the entire Japanese archipelago. This process, like its surreal, rose-colored results, portends something incredibly good for the Japanese, albeit difficult to describe. Even strict civil servants become kinder when the cherry blossoms bloom.
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| Sakura blooms in Tokyo at the end of March |
The weather still echoes the chill of winter, but the hearts and minds of the Japanese population have already begun to thaw. I can only describe it as " spring break souls." While the word "hanami" simply means "watching flowers" in Japanese, the spring festival of joy symbolizes everyone's favorite time of year: spring. So, get your raincoat and picnic utensils ready, and we'll choose a location that best suits your family's preferences. Below are a few places in Tokyo that should be on your spring walking map.
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Yoyogi Park. This is one of my favorite places for hanami. Although, this place may not be the best for children. Sure, there are beautiful trees and a unique holiday atmosphere, but you'll also find broken bottles, aggressive crows, and hordes of drunken local college students. However, despite all this, there is something about this park - perhaps it is the energy of the local nature that makes you come back here every season. People here really do whatever they want: they hold costume parties, banquets and sing karaoke. Everyone around is friendly and welcoming to children. But, being drunk, they may not notice that they are lighting a cigarette a few inches from your baby’s face, so you should be careful. Best place for family vacation located in the center of the park - right behind the fountains. There are not many flowering trees here, but there is a lot of space where children can frolic and run around without fear of bumping into other strolling passers-by.
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Arisugawa Park. Located a few minutes from Hiroo Station. There are not many sakura trees in this park, but there are a lot of picturesque places. Near the library there is good platform for babies. The National Azabu supermarket is right across the road - everything you could need for a picnic can be bought there. Since Arisugawa Park is hilly, it will be fun for older children to play hide and seek. There are many stone steps in the area. Those walking with strollers can use the sidewalk that runs along the entire perimeter of the park.
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| Ueno Park |
Ueno Park. This is the 800-pound “gorilla” that holds the lead among all Tokyo Hanami parks. But all I can advise is to stay away from this place. I've been there with my kids a few times over the last decade and I've always wanted to leave immediately. If there are child-friendly areas in the park, I would like to know them. But all I saw were dozens of hopelessly drunk bodies lying right under the flowering trees. Those with claustrophobia, beware.
Aoyama Cemetery. Here you'll find some of the most vibrant and photogenic spots of the season, but be warned - this is a cemetery, so respect and etiquette must be observed. It's a beautiful place to take babies, but it's not a place where children should play. The best option- walk.
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| Nakameguro River |
Nakameguro River. The landscape here is especially magical after sunset. This is an ideal place for a walk, although not in the afternoon. Flowering trees grow mainly on the main highway, where children have little room to maneuver. But all the coastal restaurants and kiosks are along the sidewalk, and this perfect place for walks, snacks and admiring the trees. Especially after dusk, because the cherry blossoms are illuminated with artificial illumination.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Park. My main choice for families during the hanami season (and not only) - Shinjuku Gyoen. The garden is rich in beautiful trees and picturesque places to relax. The welfare and cleanliness of the park is well maintained: there is no pigeon droppings or broken glass. Lawns are neatly mowed and not trampled. If it's cold outside, you can take a tour of the newly renovated greenhouse to warm up. By all accounts, Shinjuku Gyoen wins. In particular, it is worth considering the fact that the hanami season here lasts even longer, because “yaesakura” grow here, which usually bloom for about two weeks after other varieties of cherries have already fallen off. There are, however, a few caveats: the park closes at 4 p.m., and drinking alcohol on site is prohibited. Bags are often checked at the gate, although I have witnessed guards turn a blind eye to a bottle of wine or sake.
Based on materials from online publications.
10 March 2016, 13:43 One of the main characters at the cherry blossom festival will be a Norwegian woman
A 27-year-old Norwegian woman has become the first Western woman to be chosen to play the lead role at the Tsubame Cherry Blossom Festival in Niigata Prefecture. During the festival, all participants dress in costumes of courtesans from the Edo period (1603-1868).
Annette Hansen, who now lives in Tokyo, was chosen by festival organizers to play one of three oirans, or courtesans, who will parade through the city's streets on April 17. For the first time in the festival's 74 years of existence, a non-Japanese woman has been chosen to play this key role, officials from the Tsubame City Tourism Board announced.
Hansen, who came to Japan in 2010, is the booking manager. hotel rooms one large company. According to official statements from local officials, the Norwegian was chosen based on a rigorous selection process consisting of two rounds.
« It is a great honor for me to be chosen to play the role of Oiran. This festival is associated with primordially Japanese traditions, because during it a special role is given to national clothing and the symbol of Japan - sakura" said Annette Hansen.
In addition to the Norwegian, two more Japanese women will take part in the festival. All three will be dressed as courtesans. The festival will also feature around 70 participants as servants. After the official part, an extensive photo session with the participants is expected.
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The main heroines of the holiday will be wearing sandals with a 15-centimeter platform. They will have to demonstrate unique style walking oiran, which they used to entertain guests in the distant times of the Edo era.
It is worth noting that when making the final decision regarding the main heroines of the holiday, among other things, their physical fitness was taken into account. The fact is that the total weight of the girl’s outfits is about 30 kilograms.
Annette Hansen also said that she was very worried, because at previous festivals there were unpleasant embarrassments when girls chosen for the role of courtesans could not complete their participation in the festival due to unbearable two-hour physical activity. In addition to the outfit, the girls will also wear a special wig from the Edo period, which was customary to wear in that era.
Based on materials from online publications.
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| Pepsi with sakura flavor will appear on the market for the first time |
Japanese beverage maker Suntory has announced its first-ever release of sparkling water with the unique flavors of Sakura and Pepsi, the first batch of which should be released this spring.
When it comes to soft drinks in Japan, local consumers are spoiled for choice with a wide range of options, from winter white Pepsi to Halloween-themed Ghost Pepsi. The Japanese national manufacturer of Pepsi, Suntory, has many original products, for example, a drink with a combined lemon and mint flavor, or even a salted watermelon flavor, but sakura-flavored Pepsi has never been released.
Something slightly similar was produced by other manufacturers, for example, cola-flavored strawberry milk, which appeared in the spring of 2014 during the cherry blossom season.
Back in the middle of winter, bottles of Asahi beer began to take on spring motifs associated with the upcoming cherry blossoms. The Japanese brewery recently released a new line of beer called Asahi Super Dry. The alcoholic drink will go on sale this spring. It will be available for purchase for a limited period: only in the spring.
The beer itself, as a drink, will not change at all - it will still be the same Asahi Super Dry beer. Only the design of its packaging will change. The bottle will be decorated in the bright pink color of sakura during their most active flowering period. Such a bottle, without a doubt, will be an excellent decoration for the holiday of contemplating Japanese cherries.
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For the second year in a row, Asahi is welcoming spring with its special line of drinks. Last year, spring beer was joyfully received by the Japanese, especially by the fair half. Consumers bought about 620 thousand bottles of alcoholic beverages, which was twice the expected results. This year it is planned to release several times more seasonal products.
The beer line will be represented by bottles with a capacity of 633 and 500 milliliters and cans with a capacity of 135, 250, 350 and 500 milliliters, as well as a special two-liter aluminum mini-keg.
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Regardless of the volume, all containers have a bright and festive design. It is worth noting that Asahi Super Dry beer has already gone on sale in cans of 350 and 500 milliliters, the rest of the products will become available and go on sale starting March 8. Note that beer in cans of 633 and 500 milliliters was almost completely sold out on February 2, and should go on sale again on March 29.
The spring beer line Asahi Super Dry will be on sale until the end of April. Therefore, if you are going to Japan during this period, do not miss this great opportunity to purchase an exclusive offer from the Asahi brewery.
« If only we could fall like cherry blossoms in spring—so pure and radiant!»
Second World War transformed the color of sakura. The twenty-two-year-old kamikaze pilot who composed this haiku before dying in action in February 1945 had no idea how soon Hiroshima and Nagasaki would give a new "bloom" to the familiar cherry blossom - a blossom transformed into the human ideal of beauty attainable thanks to a beautiful death. You need to be it to enjoy it to the fullest, and become a part of it, just as the suicide bombers became.
« Dear Parents", wrote another, " please congratulate me. I was given a great opportunity to die. This is my last day. The fate of our Motherland now depends on the decisive naval battle in the south, where I will fall like a flower from a shining cherry blossom».
The cherry blossom has long symbolized extinction, beauty, the beauty of extinction, and the ideal warrior of Japan. He always glorified self-sacrifice. That is why, at the threshold of the 20th century, it was the cherry blossom that united the concept that men who die for their sacred Motherland actually became cherry blossoms, because they acquire an unearthly, superior beauty, “so pure and radiant!” they become.
Other countries also raised warriors and patriots, imbued with a vision of individual life as trivial compared to service to the Motherland. But none of them were endowed with such eerie, terrible beauty as the cherry blossom.
A more practical example of how another culture deals with the same topic is a short excerpt from a letter that a young French revolutionary fighter wrote to his father in 1792. " Our freedom can only be guaranteed if there is a mattress made from corpses on the bed.... I agree to become one of them" (Quoted by historian Simon Scham in Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution). The Japanese would rightfully admire his fortitude, but it is a pity that he was not a poet.
It was, in the words of Ivan Morris, " one of the strangest and sharpest weapons in the history of war" - "a one-way glider that comes close to the target even at high altitude, and then dives sharply down at great speed, so as to detonate the warhead on an enemy ship... the craft of suicide itself could disable the ships of the enemy navy, which were now (1944-1945) besieging the islands of slow-breathing Japan. In addition, the use of such weapons would demoralize foreigners who were not psychologically prepared for such methods of war.”
This weapon was named oka, in honor of the additional reading Cherry Blossom. The Americans gave it another name - Tank Bomb or in other words “idiot bomb”.
About 5 thousand Japanese troops “fell like a cherry blossom.” The damage they were able to inflict on US and allied ships was minor. However, as intended, it had a very strong psychological impact, but the result was unexpected. Hoping to demoralize the enemy, the Japanese did not even think that the Americans had decided to use extraordinary methods to fight such an extraordinary country. And these turned out to be bombs dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945.
On August 16, Japan surrendered. On the same day, Vice Admiral Takijiro Onishi, who initiated the Oka terrorist attack, committed ritual hara-kiri right at his own residence in Tokyo. He was also a poet. " Today in a flower, tomorrow in the scattered wind. “This is our flourishing life.” Can we really think that its scent lasts forever?»
Based on materials from online publications.
The celebration of the Chinese New Year is still in full swing, but it is already known that a record number of people came to Japan to celebrate this holiday foreign tourists. After this event, the country's hotels and restaurants will have only a month to prepare for the next huge wave of tourists who will arrive in March and April to welcome spring and see the cherry blossoms.
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Predicting the exact start date of hanami has always been considered a matter of primary importance for the Japanese tourism industry. The popularity of the country is growing rapidly, everything more tourists from different countries want to visit the island state.
According to Japanese experts, this year sakura will first bloom in the southwestern part - the cities of Fukuoka and Kumamoto. This will happen around March 25th. Behind them, on March 26, sakura will bloom in Tokyo and Nagoya. The ancient capital of Kyoto will see cherry blossoms bloom on March 29, while residents and tourists northern city Sapporo on the island of Hokkaido will be able to enjoy cherry blossoms only from May 2. As a rule, it takes about a week for a flower to fully bloom.
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The forecast is based on ongoing temperature studies taking into account data from the last few months. Typically low temperatures in late fall and early winter and high temperatures in early spring lead to early flowering. As for 2016, this year the timing corresponds to the annual average.
China's airlines intend to take measures to fully ensure the possibility of increased passenger air transportation in March and April. It was during this period that there was a rapid increase in the number Chinese tourists, coming to Japan.
According to the staff of the Tokyo representative office of China Southern Airlines, they have taken measures to increase the number of places for transporting tourists during the cherry blossom period. In March - April 2015, 3 million 200 thousand tourists visited Japan. Among them, about 800 thousand are guests from China.
The Japan Meteorological Center will update its cherry blossom forecast every day starting February 24. If we talk about last year, the forecast for the beginning of cherry blossoms was with an error of three days.
Based on materials from online publications.
May 5, 2015, 11:57 Sakura, planted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, bloomed in Moscow
The cherry tree that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe planted in Moscow two years ago has blossomed. As a sign of hope for the development of friendly relations between Japan and Russia, Abe, while on an official visit in April 2013, planted a tree in the Japanese garden managed by the Russian Academy of Sciences. The sapling was taken from a cherry tree planted in the garden in 1986 by his late father, former Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe, who promoted Japan's relations with the former Soviet Union.
These days you can walk around Tokyo on your own, without haste, or take additional excursions for a fee according to your taste: museums, shopping, restaurants, pedestrian streets - we will tell you what you might like!
Shibuya Crossing, the fashionable shopping district and shops of Ginza, and maybe the skyscraper district of Shinjuku: both in the evening and during the day, this area will give you a good idea of the real life of Tokyo residents in all its colors: from the dating houses and bars in the Kabukicho district to the bars, designed for three visitors and luxury department stores. In the Harajuku quarter, you will be repeatedly surprised by the creativity and courage of young boys and girls from Japan.
You can take a full-day excursion to Kamakura and Yokohama, to the samurai city of Nikko and ride pirate ship overlooking Fuji. Go for a full day to the Hakone resort with hot springs and views of Mount Fuji.
For nature lovers: numerous parks in Tokyo with cherry blossoms. For gastronomy lovers - a gastronomic walk from different regions.
In the evening, you can look into Memory Lane or one of the izakayas - a kind of tavern that serves alcoholic drinks combined with delicious snacks at an affordable price. Izakayas are popular not only among the Japanese themselves, but also among tourists.
Group tour to Japan. March. Sakura!
March 22-28, 2020 (7 days / 6 nights)
Tokyo - Nara - Kyoto - Kanazawa - Tokyo
Pink "snowfall"
When billions of petals fall from the cherry trees, it may seem as if the ground is covered in pink snow. Suddenly the petals break away from the branches and fly in a graceful dance to the ground. A strong gust of wind picks up the “snow flakes”, carrying them everywhere. The Japanese call this phenomenon sakura fubuki, or pink "snowfall". The ground is covered with a delicate pink carpet. Fallen sakura petals - a spectacle of rare beauty - give peace and tranquility.
"Hanami", admiring cherry blossoms, is the most beloved tradition of the Japanese. But, despite the fact that “hanami” literally translates as “flower admiring”, it is no less strongly associated with a good snack and drink on a picnic with family or friends under flowering trees.
Now in Japan there are more than 300 types of sakura, although no more than 10 types are natural. Sakura flowers were also a favorite subject of many famous artists. They appear in countless paintings, poems, and later photographs and films, not to mention the fact that sakura is the most popular design on women's kimonos.
But not only the Japanese appreciate the beauty of cherry blossoms. Anyone who visits Japan at this time will be delighted to see flowering trees fluttering in the wind (hanafubuki), as well as cherry blossoms in the light of the moon or paper lanterns (yozakura). This impression will remain in memory for many years.
21 March. Moscow - Tokyo.
Flight from Moscow to Tokyo regular flight Aeroflot or JAL airlines.
March 22. Tokyo.
Arrival at Narita airport.
Meeting with a Russian-speaking guide.
Transfer to Tokyo.
14:00 Arrival in Tokyo.
Dinner.
18:00 Arrival at the hotel, accommodation.
March 23. Tokyo.
Breakfast at the hotel.
9:00 Tour of Tokyo.
Shinjuku skyscraper district, "memory lane" by Omoide Yokocho.
Meiji Jingu Shrine.
Harajuku Youth District.
Asakusa district, Sensoji temple, Nakamise souvenir street.
Akihabara Electronics District.
Fashionable area Ginza is the “showcase of the city.”
Imperial Palace Square.
During the excursion there is lunch.
18:00 Return to the hotel.
March 24. Nara.
Breakfast at the hotel.
8:00 Check out from the hotel.
8:30 Transfer to Kyoto by Shinkansen high-speed train.
11:00 Arrival in Kyoto.
Transfer to Nara.
12:30 Tour of Nara.
Todaiji Temple with Big Buddha statue.
Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
Tame deer park.
During the excursion there is lunch.
17:00 Transfer to Kyoto.
18:30 Arrival at the hotel, accommodation.
Hotel: “HOTEL INTERGATE KYOTO SHIJO SHINMACHI”, 4*.
March 25. Kyoto.
Breakfast at the hotel.
9:00 Check out from the hotel.
Tour of Kyoto.
Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion).
Ryoanji Temple with rock garden.
Temple of "pure water" Kiyomizudera.
Sanjusangendo Temple of a Thousand Buddhas.
During the excursion there is lunch.
17:10 Transfer to Kanazawa by fast train.
19:15 Arrival in Kanazawa.
Transfer to the hotel.
20:00 Arrival at the hotel, accommodation.
Hotel: “KANAZAWA TOKYU HOTEL”, 4*.
26 March. Kanazawa.
Breakfast at the hotel.
9:00 Check out from the hotel.
Excursion around Kanazawa.
Japanese garden Kenroku-en.
Kanazawa Castle.
District of ancient samurai houses.
Medieval tea street of Higashi-tea.
Lunch during the excursion.
16:00 Transfer to Tokyo by Shinkansen high-speed train.
18:30 Arrival in Tokyo.
Arrival at the hotel, accommodation.
Hotel: “MOXY TOKYO KINSHICHO”, 3* or “COURTYARD TOKYO STATION”, 4+*.
March 27. Tokyo.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free day. Additional tours will be offered for those interested.
March 28. Tokyo - Moscow.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Meeting with a Russian-speaking guide in the hotel lobby.
Check out from the hotel.
Transfer to Narita airport.
Departure to Moscow on a regular flight of Aeroflot or JAL.
Cost of the program per 1 person in a group
Payment in rubles at the company exchange rate at the time of payment.
The price in parentheses is calculated at the Central Bank rate + 2% as of March 5, 2020.
Included in cost:
- hotel accommodation;
- excursions with a Russian-speaking guide;
- entrance tickets according to the program;
- meals: breakfasts in hotels and lunches during excursions;
- transport services according to the program, train tickets for high speed trains Shinkansen;
- visa application.
Additional charges:
- air flight Moscow-Tokyo-Moscow;
- medical insurance.
Tour program
Departure day: Departure to Tokyo
Night flight from Moscow to Tokyo.
Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo, hotel accommodation
Arrival at Narita airport. Meeting with a Russian-speaking guide, group transfer to Tokyo (travel time approximately 1.5 hours).
Optional (for an additional fee) - night admiration of the sakura garden with illumination.
Day 2: Tour of Tokyo
Tour of Tokyo. Lunch is included in the program.
First of all, you will go to the Meiji Jingu Shinto shrine, dedicated to Emperor Mutsuhito (Meiji), and admire the sakura in the park at the temple.
The further excursion will be devoted to getting to know the most popular areas of the city. You'll visit the modernist Shinjuku district and the fashionable Harajuku district. WITH man-made island Odaiba, where the picturesque Rainbow Bridge leads, offers an amazing panorama of all of Tokyo.
You'll visit the Legends of Edo Hot Springs complex, where you'll stroll through the recreated streets of medieval Tokyo, soak in open-air hot spring baths, and sample traditional Japanese cuisine. Then you will enjoy a colorful performance by geishas.
Optional (for an additional fee) - dinner cruise on Tokyo Bay on a comfortable ship Simphony (19.00-21.30).
* IMPORTANT! People with tattoos are strictly prohibited from visiting hot springs.
Day 3: Continuation of the tour of Tokyo
Tour of Tokyo. The program includes lunch at a Japanese restaurant during the excursion (buffet). Enjoying rare varieties of Japanese tea (sakura, pumpkin tea, chestnut tea, oolong tea, matcha tea, ginger tea, rice tea, herbal teas) is included in the program.
The central Tokyo district of Ginza is called the front window of Tokyo; here you can feel the atmosphere of one of the main shopping centers peace. The symbol of Ginza is the Wako department store building, built in 1894, with a turret with a clock that chimes the time every hour. Central building national theater Kabuki, which pleases the eye with the perfectly regular lines of the Japanese architectural style.
Square Imperial Palace, where more than 2,000 Japanese matsu pines grow, considered a symbol of longevity in Japan. The arched stone Double Nijubashi Bridge, which led to the inner chambers of the imperial palace. Ieyasu, the first of the Tokugawa shoguns, began building his castle here in 1590. During the Edo period, his descendants turned the castle into the largest in the world. The Emperor and his family live in the western part of the Imperial Palace grounds, which were rebuilt after World War II. The public is allowed here twice a year: on the Emperor's birthday and on New Year's Day.
A walk through the Eastern Garden of the Imperial Palace, which is a striking example of palace garden art of the national style.
Admiring sakura in the famous parks of Tokyo. This spring ritual, obligatory for all Japanese, is called “hanami” - admiring flowers.
Hamarikyu Samurai Park, where modern Tokyo architecture and traditional landscape design are intricately intertwined. This was originally the hunting ground of the Tokugawa shogun, and in memory of these times, the park now hosts hunting demonstrations and exhibitions of hawks and falcons. The park later became a vacation spot for the Imperial Family, and in 1945 it was donated to the Government of Japan. The park has since been declared a Cultural Property of Japan. A special place in the park is occupied by the black pine "kuromatsu", planted back in 1709. This is the largest pine tree in Tokyo.
Ueno Park is considered by many best place for cherry blossom viewing in Tokyo. In 1873, Emperor Meiji ordered the creation of a city park on a vast area on a hill, following a European model. Trees and bushes brought from all over the country were planted along the three main alleys, which turned Ueno into a kind of botanical garden. Especially a lot of different varieties of sakura were planted. And since then, every spring Ueno has become a place of pilgrimage for tens of thousands of residents and guests of the capital who want to admire the blooming Japanese cherry trees.
The historical quarter of Asakusa, rich in souvenir pavilions, retains the aroma of pre-war Tokyo. The Buddhist temple of Senso-ji, which was given land by the great shogun, the founder of the Japanese capital, Tokugawa Ieyasu. In the main hall of the temple there is an original image of the Goddess of Mercy - Kannon. A treasure trove of national crafts is the Nakamise-dori shopping street, which is now also famous for its huge selection of souvenirs. A bell that struck time during the Edo era.
If desired (additional charge, pre-order) - in the evening you can visit the national geisha and samurai show with dinner. Group transfer to the show, back to the hotel - on your own.
Day 4: Excursion to Mount Fuji
Excursion to the sacred Mount Fuji. Lunch with local Japanese cuisine during the excursion - all dishes are prepared on the clear waters of the spring, which the area at the foot of Fuji is famous for.
Ascent by bus to the 5th station of the sacred volcano Fuji (approximately 40 minutes, the ascent is made under favorable weather and road conditions). From this station, located at an altitude of 2305 m, in the summer they hike to the Fuji Peak, which soars at an altitude of 3776 m above sea level. In 2013, the Fuji volcano, which the Japanese have called the border between earth and sky since ancient times, received a new birth - it was listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage.
There is a winding road leading to the 5th station. Mountain road Subaru Line is 30 km long, from which travelers observe an exotic landscape: frozen streams and lava lakes, gravel placers and black blocks of basalt.
From the bus window we will observe the mysterious Forest of Ghosts. Among its twisted tree trunks, in the swirling gray fog, in the dead silence, the souls of those who took their own lives on Fuji are said to be hidden. The famous novel "Black Sea of Trees" by Matsumoto Seichio takes place in this forest of Aoki-ga-Hara. The Forest of Ghosts is considered one of the most scary places on Earth, and amateurs strive to get here thrills from all over the world.
In case of unfavorable weather or road conditions, we will visit the Fuji Museum instead of the 5th station.
An ensemble of ancient and samurai houses "minka" at the foot of Fuji, where you can get acquainted with the life of the inhabitants of medieval Japan. Here you can find samurai armor and swords, silk cocoons, tatami rice mats, various handicrafts and even antique children's toys, some of which closely resemble Russian nesting dolls. Here you can taste ancient cuisine and take souvenir photos in exotic surroundings. 18 houses with rice straw roofs represent a fantastic landscape of ancient Japan with Fuji in the background. Dressed in a samurai outfit or a woman's kimono, we will become an organic part of this landscape and be captured in memory in such an exclusively exotic form. (Changing into national costumes is carried out several times during the day, additional payment on the spot).
Visit to the winery, free wine tasting.
Day 5: Free day in Tokyo
Free day.
For those who wish, additional group excursions(advance booking required) prepayment):
- Amusement park Hakkeijima and Yokohama with RG by train and taxi with entrance tickets(no lunch).
10.00-18.00
An impressive aquarium with numerous inhabitants of the ocean depths, a vibrant show with sea animals, a museum of Japanese ramen noodles with tasting, Chinatown, Observation deck skyscraper Landmark Tower with a high-speed elevator listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
- Excursion to Nikko - a place that, as its name says, exudes sunshine.
We will cross the red Shinkyo Bridge, on which only envoys of the shogun could previously walk, see the Hall of the Three Buddhas of the Rinno-ji Temple and the bronze pillar of the world, in which 1,000 Buddhist sutras are walled up. Planted in the 17th century, the alley of cryptomerias leads to the granite Torii gate at the entrance to temple complex Toshogu. Here is the first earthquake-resistant building in Japan, built in the 17th century, and the Sacred Stable with the world-famous bas-relief of three wise monkeys, whose poses say: “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” We will also visit the amazing Temple of the Singing Dragon Honjido. 200 stone steps will lead us to the bronze Hodo Pagoda, under the arches of which lie the ashes of the great shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Day 6: Excursion to the cities of Kamakura and Yokohama
Check out from the hotel.
You will travel to ancient Kamakura and modern Yokohama. Lunch is included in the program.
Kamakura - the ancient capital of Japan and a resort town on the coast Pacific Ocean. You will certainly see the bronze statue of Amida Buddha, created in the mid-13th century and 13.5 meters high.
In Kamakura you can also visit the Shinto samurai temple Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, dedicated to the deity of warriors, walk along the bridge eternal life, thrown over a pond with lotuses. You will truly enjoy walking along the wide road leading from the sea to the temple, along which there is an alley of sakura trees on both sides.
After visiting ancient capital Japan with its preserved originality, you will travel to modern Yokohama, where you will get acquainted with the beauty of Japanese nature in the Sankei-en garden, which was created in 1906 by the wealthy silk merchant Sankei Hara. The garden is a monument of Japanese culture. In this landscape park, on a huge area of 180,000 square meters, in addition to delightful plants, there are 16 architectural structures, which were brought from different parts of Japan. These are, in particular, a three-story pagoda built in the 16th century, brought from Kyoto, the Rinsyunkaku Villa, built in 1649, and the Chosyukaku tea house. A typical medieval peasant house transported from Gifu Prefecture introduces you to the life of ordinary people. Everyone can take part in a traditional Japanese tea party.
Independent transfer to the hotel in Narita by shuttle bus Narita Limousine Bus (included in the program), check-in, rest.
Tours to Japan are quite expensive, especially compared to other countries. But Japan is such a mysterious, diverse and unusual country that many tourists practically don’t care about the prices of tours. But it still provides for relatively inexpensive option travel to Japan - last minute tours.
The price of such tours is significantly lower than the standard one, and you can save on your trip. Intertour company offers the best price options for tours around Japan. These are exciting tours with excursions to Tokyo, visits to the ancient cities of Kyoto, Kamakura, Nara, walks through national parks and reserves, and climbing the sacred Mount Fuji.
Summer in Japan is humid and hot, with the rainy season lasting from June to mid-July. But in summer you can plan a tour to the island of Hokkaido, which is bypassed by rain. The most favorable time of year to tour Japan is spring and autumn.
By booking a last-minute tour in the spring, you will be able to admire the cherry blossoms, and in the fall - the purple leaves of Japanese maples. Even in winter, Japan experiences dry weather without severe frosts, only on ski resorts Hokkaido temperatures drop below zero and snow falls. Whenever you decide to go on a tour to Japan, you can be sure that a lot of bright and unforgettable impressions await you!
This country is developing and changing very rapidly. The Japanese are changing. And the most decisive changes are not external, but internal. The main features of the Japanese character - accuracy, modesty, patience - seem to be gradually disappearing. They say that the consequences of this are now difficult to predict.
You can be convinced of this only by going there, thanks to cheap trips to Japan. In fact, you will not be bothered by the question of how much a trip to Japan costs, because it is so beautiful there that the price will not bother you, and the walks will be exciting and interesting. The Japanese - this is noticeable almost from the first acquaintance with them - are not religious for the most part.
They are happy to get married in christian church(it doesn’t matter which one - Catholic or Orthodox, as long as it is beautiful). Although on New Year visiting their Shinto shrine to buy an amulet. Buddhist monks perform the funeral service for the departed inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun.
Throughout Japan's history, there have been no religious wars or religious intolerance. Even the persecution of Christianity at the beginning of the 17th century had a purely political overtones, since the Jesuit fathers were quite rightly here as agents of the Western colonial powers approaching the Far East.
The Japanese have always truly fervently believed in earthly, but no less essential values - thrift, accuracy, modesty, the ability to endure, remain silent and believe in the future, respect parents, superiors and others, strictly fulfill their duties in small and large things.
If you are told to stand at an intersection when the light is red, you must stand. If the instructions say to tighten the nut five and a half turns, they will do it that way and not otherwise. If you study the Japanese more closely, you can find out how talented they are. After all, they were the first to invent such a system for constructing buildings, with the expectation of maintaining coolness in the summer and protecting buildings from earthquakes.
A transport They work like a well-oiled machine - always comfortable and safe. To learn even more about culture and life local residents, don’t hesitate to fly there, especially since now tours to Japan from tour operators offer last-minute trips to Japan and inexpensive tours to Japan. Every tenth Japanese lives in the capital of the Land of the Rising Sun, Tokyo.
- So, people taking a tour Japan - Bali and a tour Korea - Japan, and not only, can easily find here their compatriots for whom a trip to Japan, its cost, does not interest them, since in the past they found it here home for themselves and remained in this country forever.
- The image of Tokyo embodies the most characteristic features of the portrait of this country. When we talk about the national identity of the Japanese, we do not always realize that many features of their life and behavior are generated by overcrowding. It is precisely this that makes people live with their elbows tucked, as it were, which is the essence of Japanese ethics. More than 120 million people live in an area slightly larger than Finland—just a little less than in Russia.
- In addition, most of Japan is occupied by mountains. The face of the Japanese capital is not the streets or buildings. These are people. The city simply amazes with its gigantic accumulation of them. The soul of Tokyo is the element of the crowd, embodied in the endless flows of people and traffic and in the equally chaotic clusters of houses. But all this is instantly forgotten when springtime and cherry blossoms begin. There are no places in Tokyo that would personify the Japanese capital, like the Kremlin - Moscow, and Big Ben - London.
- Even the geographical center of Tokyo - the Imperial Palace - does not dominate the city and is perceived from the outside as a park surrounded by a moat. By the way, Tokyo was originally called Edo and acquired its current name only a little over 130 years ago. In 1868, Emperor Meiji removed the shoguns, the military leaders who traditionally ruled the country, from power and moved here from the ancient capital, Kyoto.
- Memorial Complex Meiji with its park and the largest Shinton temple in the capital is definitely worth a visit, as is Asakusa, where the most interesting Buddhist temple, around which there is a fair that has long been beloved by the townspeople.
It is better to visit it in the spring, because at this time the world-famous Japanese cherry blossoms. When the cherry blossoms begin, tours to Japan invite travelers on excursions, and the beginning of summer will delight you with huge rice fields, but it can also be disappointing with rainy weather, accompanied by typhoons that come from the Pacific Ocean. Since summer is beach season, then the residents of this country devote themselves to relaxing on the shores of the island of Okinawa.
Take this opportunity and a trip to Japan, the price of which will not bother you much, will be yours. You can come here at any time of the year; it is beautiful here in winter, spring or summer, and autumn, when the red maple leaves fall. And in winter many tourists are attracted ski tours to Japan and snow festival, which is held annually in Sapporo.
well and New Year's tours to Japan will decorate your arrival and make your stay in the country festive. Another notable place is the Nihonbashi Bridge, from which the ancient Tokaido highway once began. Traveling along it to Kyoto - on horseback or on a palanquin - used to take almost a month. Nowadays you can get here by express train in just two hours.
Opened in 1882, Ueno Zoological Gardens is Japan's oldest zoo. Here, on an area of 14 hectares, animals from all over the world live in comfortable conditions, as close as possible to their real habitat. Over its long history, Ueno Zoo has become home to more than three thousand animals of 400 species. In addition to the opportunity to spend time outdoors and interact with animals, park guests are offered a variety of educational and entertainment programs.
Tokyo is not rich architectural ensembles. However, this does not mean that there is no beautiful places. It is pleasant to take a walk near the Imperial Palace, which is adjacent to the palace center of the city of Marunouchi and Hibiya Park. It is also interesting to wander among the skyscrapers of Shinjuku, where the old entertainment district is still enriched with high-rise buildings. It is worth remembering that traffic here is on the left, public transport convenient and comfortable. For people who are used to saving on travel, a bus is suitable, since Japanese taxis are considered very expensive.
But since you are planning to take a tour to Japan, you should know that before departure you need to register tourist visa, which allows you to stay in this country for no more than 15 days. A prerequisite is to book a hotel room for the entire period.
And tourist packages to Japan will help you save money and enjoy your stay in this country. There are also combined tours to Japan and simply trips to Japan offered by travel agencies that will help you navigate visas and passport control.
They will advise you on the transportation of animals, as well as your luggage, and of course they will inform you about how much a trip to Japan costs. In addition to its chaos, Tokyo has been and remains a mysterious labyrinth not only for visitors, but also for local residents. There are practically no addresses in our understanding here. For example, the name Ginza is more of a spatial concept than a street. This is, firstly. And secondly, the numbering of houses is carried out not along the streets, but along the perimeter of the neighborhoods in the order in which they were built.
Therefore, before you go to visit some Japanese, it would be nice to have a schematic plan of how to get to him. Japan is a delightful country that amazes with its ancient history and traditions. Your stay here will be unforgettable and educational.
About Japan
Location: total length well developed coastline Japan exceeds 30 thousand km. Almost 80% of the country’s territory is occupied by low mountains and plateaus, and only 10% is meridionally extended high-mountain ridges, separated by narrow tectonic basins.
Highest mountain range located in the central part of the island of Honshu. Here is the highest peak in Japan - Mount Fuji (3776 m). Last eruption Fuji volcano occurred in 1707. Then thrown out of the crater volcanic ash fell asleep located at a distance of 100 km in Tokyo.
The plains, occupying no more than 10% of the total area of the country, are very densely populated and almost entirely occupied by arable land. The most important industrial regions of Japan are concentrated on the plains.
Population: Modern Japanese are an exceptionally hardworking and disciplined people. In a society dominated by people aged 20 to 34, women outnumber men (103:100). Along with the Japanese, who make up 99% of the population, the country is home to small communities of Koreans, Chinese and Americans.
Most densely populated South part Honshu, as well as the north of the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku, where the population density reaches 1000 people/sq. km (with an average density in the country of 335 people/sq. km). The least populated islands are Hokkaido, northern Honshu and southern Kyushu. The majority of Japan's population is concentrated in cities. Territory: 377,800 sq. km
Climate: The northern regions of Japan lie at approximately 45C. w. (latitude of Crimea and Venice). In Europe at this latitude, summers are very hot and winters are mild. A different matter is the northeastern coast of Hokkaido, where under the influence of the cold Oyashio Current (the Kuril Current washing Hokkaido and the northeastern shores of Honshu), the sea becomes covered with ice in winter.
In the southwest and west, the shores of the Japanese islands are washed by the warm Kuroshio Current, thanks to which numerous coral reefs have grown around the Ryukyu Islands. Due to their considerable length from north to south, the Japanese islands are located in three climatic zones: warm temperate in the north, subtropical in the center and tropical in the far south. Superimposed on the latitudinal zone is a humid monsoon climate, which covers all the islands of the archipelago with its influence.
All of Japan, with the exception of Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands, experiences a distinct pattern of four seasons. January temperatures vary from -6 -10C in Hokkaido and -4 - 0C in the northern and central parts of Honshu to +64C in Kyushu and 14 - 18C on the Ryukyu Islands located far to the south.
In the summer months, when a warm and humid monsoon blows from the southeast, temperature differences in different regions are less pronounced: from +28C in the south to 18-20C in the north. As you rise into the mountains, the temperature, regardless of the time of year, drops by an average of 0.6 C every 100 m. The climate of Japan is generally humid. Average annual precipitation increases from north to south, ranging from 800-1500 mm in Hokkaido and Honshu to 2000-3000 mm in the Ryukyu Archipelago.
The summer monsoon blowing from the ocean brings heavy rain in the east and south of the country, while the winter monsoon, coming from the depths of Asia, covers the entire north-west with snow.
Capital: Tokyo.
Religion: Shintoism, Buddhism, new religions (a mixture of Shintoism, Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Confucianism), Christianity
Language: Japanese
Currency: yen, it is best to exchange large amounts at the airport of arrival, since in hotels they exchange no more than 300 USD per person per day, and in banks the exchange procedure is complicated by bureaucratic formalities.
You can pay with common credit cards, but you must remember that some restaurants do not accept credit cards. The best rate is at the airport and hotels; it is most profitable to exchange USD. It is impossible to change rubles.
Time: in summer the difference with Moscow is 5 hours, and in winter 6.
Transport: The main modes of transport in the country are railways and sea vessels. Ultra-modern high-speed trains are divided into trains long distance and local lines, which are divided into simple express trains, limited express trains (“semi-express trains”) and ordinary trains running with all stops.
All trains are equipped with soft seats, vending machines with coffee and soft drinks, they also must have a toilet, a landline telephone and a display in Japanese and English.
To move around railways A convenient Japan Rail Pass (valid only for visitors with a tourist visa and purchased in advance), which allows unlimited travel on Japan Railways trains, buses and ferries, as well as on some private trains for a certain period of time (one, two or three weeks). The ticket is personal, transferring it to another person is prohibited; during checks you must present your passport along with the ticket.
Intra-city railway lines are highlighted in color. The fare for them is 120-300 JPY, tickets are purchased from special machines at stations (long queues for them are not uncommon) and handed over at the exit of the train at the destination station. When switching from a branch of one company to a branch of another, a new ticket is purchased.
You can also pay extra for the ticket at the destination station. Japan also has an excellent bus system. Most of them operate from 7:00 to 21:00, some buses serving remote areas operate from 5:30 to 23:00. At each stop, its name, route and its number are indicated (most often - only in Japanese).
Payment is made upon boarding the bus. In the city, a trip costs about 200 JPY, outside the city - depending on the distance. There is a one-day pass that costs about JPY 1,200 (JPY 600 for children under 12 years old), which in some cases is also valid for metro travel.
The shops: Department stores are open every day from 10:00 to 21:00 or 22:00. Private shops, as well as hotel shops, operate according to their own schedule. There is a network of small stores that operate around the clock, but offer a limited range of goods, which, however, includes everything you need.
The most expensive stores located in the Shinjuku quarter, on Aoyama-Dori Street, Tokyo's Champs-Elysees. Young people prefer to dress in the Shibuya area; there are many inexpensive, super fashionable stores. Department stores in Japan are called “depato” (from the English department store) - they are truly huge here, much larger than the Parisian Gallerie Lafayette and Printemps. The most important Japanese department stores - Mitsukoshi, Matsuzakaya, Matsuya, Isetan, Keio and some others are located in the Ginza and Shinjuku areas.
Electricity: The mains voltage is 100 V, and the frequency (Hz) varies. To operate from a local network, each electrical appliance must have a function for automatically changing the voltage of 100/220 V. If it does not exist, no adapter will help.
Customs: There are no restrictions on the import of foreign currency. You can import into Japan without declaration 500 g of tobacco, 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars, three containers of wine and vodka products (each no more than 760 ml), two ounces (56 ml) of perfume, gifts and souvenirs with a total value of no more than 200,000 JPY.
When importing animals or plants, you must go to the quarantine counter. The import of firearms, pornography, drugs is prohibited (for drugs you face deportation and a lifelong ban on entry into the country), as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. There are restrictions on the import of furs, medications (especially those containing 1-deoxyephedrine) and cosmetics.
Visa: required for visa following documents: international passport, valid for 6 months from the end of the tour and with at least two blank pages, two photos, two completed forms, a certificate from the place of work indicating the position of the tourist, a certificate from travel company that the tour was purchased specifically from this company (provided by the tour operator), the tourist’s power of attorney for the delivery and receipt of documents by employees of the travel company.
If a child under 18 years of age is traveling on a trip without one of the parents, it is necessary to provide a notarized permission-power of attorney from the second parent for this trip and a copy of this parent’s domestic or foreign passport to verify the signatures in the passport and on the power of attorney. Visa processing time is from 10 to 14 days, cost: from 100 USD.
Kitchen: In Japanese cuisine, fresh and completely raw products are widely used, and it is based on rice, fish and seaweed.
Most popular dishes:“sushi” (or “sushi”) - more than 200 types of rice balls with various fillings, “sashimi” - slices of raw fish served with soy sauce and green horseradish “wasabi”, as well as “sukiyari” - fried beef, vegetables and bean curd.
In Japan, you can try “marble meat” - the meat of a bull that is raised like sumista, fed with beer and massaged, and also taste the famous heated vodka “sake”.
Some restaurants do not have menus English language, but in this case it usually contains photographs of dishes.
Hotels: Just as a theater for a spectator begins with a coat rack, so a country for a tourist begins with the hotel where he stays. He will make his first impressions from here. How you were greeted, how you were accommodated - the level of service determines the level of hospitality for us and will certainly play a role in creating the image of the country. There is a set of international laws that determine the category of a hotel, its “star rating”.
In Japan, there is no such classification as in Europe or America - from one to five stars. There is a different gradation: there are standard hotels - the most inexpensive ones, hotels in the national style - ryokans, business hotels, superior and deluxe hotels. All hotels are completely different, each has its own characteristics, its own personality. But it unites everything without exception Japanese hotels perfect cleanliness, complete absence of even a hint of any disorder, as well as attention and respect for the guest.
Beaches: Since Japan is surrounded by ocean, there are many beaches there.
Most are open from July to August, although the opening period varies depending on location. Wakayama is white sand beach, located at the hot springs. You can get there in 5 minutes by taxi or 15 minutes by bus from the railway station, as well as 15 minutes from the airport, which operates from May to August. Okinawa Beach is located on west coast emerald green ocean.
The best months to visit will be April – October.
Tips: It is strictly not customary to tip in Japan: 10-20% for service is already included in the bill. A Western visitor had better save his generosity for other countries and be sure to wait until the last yen for his change if he doesn't want a taxi driver or waiter chasing him down the street with a few bills in his hand.
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