Japan is the place where the sun sleeps

It is believed that a trip to Japan is a pleasure that only very wealthy tourists can afford. To some extent, this is true, because Japan is a country with a high standard of living, which means that traveling around it is not a cheap pleasure. However, those who do not have a few thousand dollars in their bank account, but really want to visit the "country of cherry blossoms", do not despair - today tour operators offer many tours in Japan - for every taste and purse.

 

 

One of the best options will be a group tour to Japan – this is an excellent option for those who want to visit the country in the so-called “high season” (in spring, when sakura blooms and in autumn, when the famous Japanese maples have bright red leaves) for relatively little money.

 

At the same time, the program of such a group tour can also be chosen for every taste: from the classic version with excursions to the most popular sights of Japan to exotic programs during cherry blossoms or famous Japanese festivals (Segatsu - New Year's Meeting, Hina Matsuri - Puppet Festival, Higan - Festival of Modern Japanese Culture and Anime and many others). Group tours in Japan are also suitable for those visiting this country for the first time.

 

For tourists who visit Japan not for the first time and have a good command of English, individual tours without excursions are suitable. Such programs give greater freedom of movement and the opportunity for travelers to independently plan their pastime. An individual tour of Japan is planned specifically for each tourist, taking into account his wishes and interests: you can choose the hotel in which you will stay and book an individual program of excursions, or completely refuse them. In this case, the cost of such a tour will not be much more expensive than a group.

 

 

For tourists with children there is a large selection of exciting travel. In addition to visiting traditional Japanese attractions, the program of such tours includes visits to the most unusual and popular places for children who will not leave indifferent and adults: the famous aquarium and amusement park Universl Studio Japan in Osaka, Japanese Disneyland in Tokyo, the oldest Japanese zoo Ueno, snow-white beaches of the islands of Okinawa and Kyushu and others.

 

It is worth noting that to travel with children in Japan, no special planning is required – in the country of the rising sun, services for childcare can be found almost anywhere.

 

If you have already decided on the choice of tour, then it is time to choose a hotel for accommodation. In Japan, a great variety of hotels – from traditional to super-luxury, from very tiny and simple to huge and futuristic. In order not to make a mistake in this variety with the choice, when booking a hotel in Japan you need to take into account several factors.

 

 

First, hotels in Japan are divided into two types: conventional modern hotels and the so-called "reokans" - traditional Japanese hotels. Conventional hotels in Japan are no different from similar ones around the world, but the "ryokans" follow traditions - you will be laid to sleep on reed tatami right on the floor, dinner from traditional Japanese dishes will be brought to the room, and the toilet will most likely be shared on the entire floor. Therefore, you should choose a ryokan only for one night - to feel exotic and feel like a real Japanese. For a longer stay, look for a regular hotel.

 

Secondly, you need to remember that in Japan there is no star system of hotels, so when booking rooms, you should focus on reviews. The country is represented by most of the world hotel brands: Marriot, Hilton, Hayatt, there are also chains of Japanese hotels: Tobu, Nikko, Keio, etc.

 

Thirdly, when choosing a hotel, you need to take into account its location relative to the city center and the proximity of public transport, so that you do not have to spend a lot of time on the road to popular attractions.

 

And most importantly, the mentality of the Japanese is very different from ours, so there may be certain rules in a particular hotel that are not familiar to the ordinary traveler. Therefore, it is worth carefully studying the recommendations and reviews of real tourists before booking a room in any hotel.

 

Japan is one of the few countries where attractions are found at almost every step. This is not surprising, because here jealously guarded traditions coexist with the latest achievements of science and technology. The list of attractions of Japan is truly huge - there is something to see both a sophisticated traveler and a novice tourist. The state is divided into several tourist areas, each of which hides a truly enchanting treasure. Usually a trip to Japan tourists start from the capital.

 

Business cards of Tokyo - the ancient Emperor's Palace, the famous Japanese Kabuki-za Theater, Disneyland, Tokyo Tower with an observation deck, the Ghibli Anime Studio Museum, Ueno Park and many others.

 

Kyoto is the ancient capital of Japan, there are a huge number of ancient temples and churches, ancient parks and imperial palaces. This is a great place to get acquainted with the history and culture of Japan. Osaka is another popular tourist area in Japan. The Japanese themselves call Osaka "Japanese Italy" - for cheerfulness and openness in communication of natives of this city. There are entertainment centers, ancient temples and castles.

 

 

Another attraction of Japan is the small town of Nikko, where the Toshogu temple complex and a large national park with unique landscapes and landscapes are located. It is impossible not to mention the main natural shrine of Japan – Mount Fuji. Hundreds of tourists visit the summit every year. In addition, Fuji is considered a sacred place for Buddhists and Shintoists. The area around Fuji is surrounded by Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, which has been preserved in its original form since ancient times.

 

 

In addition to numerous temples, gardens, national parks and museums in Japan, there are also undeservedly neglected interesting places – Japanese beaches that can compete in the world. The most popular are the beaches of the Okinawa archipelago – they are even compared to the shores of Hawaii. Often, the coastal strip is preserved in its original form – luxurious white sand, mangrove jungles and marine animals – this is what you can see on the beaches of Okinawa. From entertainment, tourists are offered underwater diving with equipment, surfing, snorkelling, communicating with giant sea turtles and much more.

 

You can visit the beaches of Japan all year round, but the peak season falls on July and August - these are the most expensive months, the rest of the time the prices for rest here are much lower.

 

Japan is a mysterious and unique country, and only at first glance it seems distant and difficult to understand. But it is safe to say that everyone who visits it will find something special for themselves and will definitely want to return to this magical place where the sun sleeps.

 

Text by Ksenia Samorokova

Photo: tabitabi, putidorogi-nn, tourjapan, visitjapan, Turizm

 

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