WHEN I was younger, I compiled a list of “must visit” countries that I wanted to accomplish by the time I was 30. Japan was on this list. And I thought it would remain untouched on my list. Thankfully, a trip to Japan was in the cards as I was able to visit this beautiful country last year. As soon as I found out that I was going to the Land of the Rising Sun, I quickly researched the place and tried to find out as much information as I can about this country.

Preparing for the Trip

One can never be too prepared for a trip a traveler makes. I do believe a traveler has to pull out all stops because it’s hard to be caught off-guard at a foreign and unfamiliar country.

Before going to Japan, decide the time and season that will be best for you. The spring is nice and cool and if you’re very, very lucky, you’ll get to witness the cherry springs blossom. The summer season is good because all the sights are open. The autumn season is good because you’ll get to witness the falling of the leaves. The winter season is cold and there are lots of events that can only be witnessed during this season.

I went to Japan during their summer season and it had its up and downs. In the summer season, because of the good weather and the fact that it’s summer, everything is open. All sights and attractions are open. The weather was conducive for walking around since chances of rain were slim to none.

However, the summer season can become too hot. When we went there, it was the hottest time of the year. It became a challenge traveling and walking around the city because the heat was draining our energy. And because it was the summer season, there were a lot of people traveling in the city, too, which added to the difficulty in going around.

So, before you go, decide the best time for you to go there. And when you do decide, look up the places you’ll want to visit and the events you’ll want to check out while there. Make an Internet search or use Discovery Travel and Lonely Planet guidebooks, which I found to be very useful.

Be sure to look up websites with lots of information about Japanese customs and practices. Japanese people are very polite but that doesn’t mean that they will not notice one’s rudeness or ignorance and disregard of their customs. For example, the Japanese rarely shake hands, they slightly bow or nod to each other. If you are going up or down an escalator, stay on the right side if you’re taking it slow. People in a hurry stay on the left side so better not get in the way.

And most importantly, remember, not a lot of Japanese speak English. Most of them understand the language but that does not mean that they can speak the English language. So it is crucial that the Japanese traveler must learn the Japanese language before flying there or, at the very least, bring a Japanese phrasebook. An English-Japanese electronic dictionary is also very handy as it is more complete than a phrasebook.

Be sure to bring good walking shoes for walking around the city because you’ll be doing a lot of that. Bring appropriate clothes for the season you’ll be going there because you need to be comfortable. Be sure to bring sun block if you’re going there during the summer season. The sun and the heat can be very unforgiving.

Arriving in Japan

It is best to book a hotel before going to Japan for the convenience. But it is not impossible to look for one once you’re there. However, it would be best if you already have several options for accommodations while you are in Japan. Airport to city transfer is not a problem. Even if you did not pre-arrange it, it is still easy to book from the airports or train station. If you are coming from the airport, it would be best to use the shuttle bus or what they call airport limousine because it is cheaper, at around 1800 to 2000 yen (around US$16 to US$18). Airports are located about 45 minutes to one hour outside the central district of the city. That’s why buses, which can accommodate more people, are best for these times. If you take a taxi from the airport to your hotel in the city, it may cost you about 17000 to 20000 yen (about US$150 to US$180). That’s 10 times the price of an airport limousine! I suggest taking the taxi only when there are no other options left.

You may also take the train from the airport to the nearest train stop to your hotel. This one will probably cost anywhere from 240 yen to 1000 yen (about US$2 to US$8), depending on the distance of your hotel from the airport. It’s definitely the cheapest option but be prepared to carry your luggage everywhere. If you’re carrying a heavy bag or two, I suggest taking the airport limousine. It will be hard to keep up with the locals riding the trains, especially if you’re carrying a heavy bag.

When you arrive at your hotel, be sure to ask the front desk for a map of the hotel’s surrounding area, the city rail map and, if you don’t have it yet, a map of the city, if they have it. Be sure to ask them where the nearest subway/train stop is as it the subway/train will be very helpful for you when going around the city. The great thing about Japan is that even if you stay in one city in one state, it’s still very easy to go to other cities within that state or even other states because of the trains.

While in Kansai, we stayed in Osaka and traveled from there to the other cities, like Kyoto, Kobe and Nara through train. The train is still the fastest and cheapest way to travel around Japan. And the good thing about the train is that most of the time, the train stops are defined by the must-see sights in the city. It then becomes easier to walk around and discover the city.

While in Japan, be sure to visit the tourist information centers. These centers are usually located at the central train stations or just outside these train stops. They usually have English speaking guides there who can assist you and even English guides who will walk with you around the city. But don’t expect to find a tour guide at a whim as they are only volunteers and they are only available if their schedule permits it. These are usually students who want to practice their English.

These centers have city maps that you can use going around the city. The guides are very helpful and, especially if you ask, they will tell you the best places to go in their respective cities. I especially like the tourist center Kyoto. They have illustrated maps where the different temples and other sights in the city are indicated and they have also listed the train stops and bus numbers for easy reference.

Do not worry about not being able to visit all the must-visit places in Japan. It will be impossible to do that on your first visit unless you are there for a year and money is not a problem. Before you set out for your trip or even for the day, be sure to map out the places you want to be able to visit on that particular day. As much as possible, try to determine beforehand if the places you are going to have admission prices, what the operating hours are, how far one place on your list is to the next one on your list, etc. This helps a lot. It keeps you organized and does not waste any of your time.

For example, when I was in Osaka, this is how our itinerary went. We had breakfast at 8:00 a.m. so we could leave before 9:00 a.m. for the Osaka Castle. After the Osaka Castle, we traveled by train to have lunch at our next destination, the Tenjinbashi Shopping Street, the longest street of shops in Osaka. After lunch, we browsed through some of the shops here and left in time for viewing at the Umeda Sky Building, which opens at 3:00 p.m. Afterwards, we headed off to Amerika-mura to have afternoon coffee and snacks. We headed off to Den Den Town to walk off the food and check out electronics and camera accessories and equipment in the numerous electronic shops there. After ogling at the numerous electronics and cameras paraded in Den Den Town, we headed back to the hotel to rest before we head out for dinner.

When you’re in a different place, and you want to explore your surroundings, you cannot afford to waste a minute of your time. If you want to visit museums and galleries, highlight the ones you want to visit and plot them on your itinerary. If you want to shop, research the best shopping places and bargain centers where you’re going to and arrange your schedule according to that. Even if you just want to relax, research on the ways you can do this without wasting any minute of your time.

But, like I said earlier, do not fret if you are not able to go to all the places that you want to visit. It will be impossible to do that, even if you are the most organized person in the world. Just think of it this way. That’s just another reason for you to go back.