With the Christmas holiday season coming to a close, we are approaching the close of the year and the celebration that entails. Where as Christmas in Japan is more of an excuse for couples to have another date, New Years (know in Japan as shougatsu or 正月) is more important. What does New Years look like in Japan? Read on to find out more!
We are an independent travel company offering the very best in travel planning for people and businesses going to Japan. Our services range from Self-Guided & Tailor-Made Japan Tours to a more hassle free and fully led Small Group Japan Tour. Most of our Japan itineraries include the Japan Rail Pass as well as a combination of traditional ryokans and stylish affordable accommodation options.
Wednesday 31 December 2014
Friday 19 December 2014
Japan Discovered: The Ultimate Introduction to Japan
Tuesday 16 December 2014
Reasons to Honeymoon in Japan
We've talked a lot recently about honeymoons in Japan. We told our story of how we helped a friend, Mary, organise her dream honeymoon to Japan. We've highlighted romantic activities in Tokyo. We've talked about the tropical Amami Oshima, an underrated paradise. We also talked about the illuminations that dominate Japan in winter, illuminations that can be incredibly romantic to visit with your significant other. But we haven't answered the most important question; why honeymoon in Japan? Today, we'll answer this question!
Friday 12 December 2014
Romantic Japan: Winter Illuminations
What if you’re in Japan, and want to get out and about at this time of year? You’re on your honeymoon in Japan, and looking for something romantic to do? Is there any kind of special, romantic event you can go to? Something unique, and beautiful to capture your imagination and create enduring memories? We know there is!
Tuesday 9 December 2014
Tropical Japan: Amami Islands
We mentioned in our honeymoon story that our friend, Mary, wanted a beach holiday as part of her honeymoon. For many people, thinking of tropical islands and beach holidays is not something that associates with Japan. But nothing could be further from the truth. Today, we’re going to introduce one of the tropical islands that we frequently include on honeymoon tours: Amami Island.
To get to Amami, most people would go from Tokyo by plane, though you can also fly there from Osaka, Kagoshima, or Naha in Okinawa. For those of you with better sea legs, you can also get a ferry from Kagoshima or Naha.
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| View from a hotel on Amami Oshima. |
Where are the Amami Islands?
The Amami Islands are a chain of islands located south of Japan, but north of Okinawa. Officially, they are administered by Kagoshima, the prefecture on the southern tip of Kyushu. When we talk about and organise trips and tours to Amami, we usually mean Amami Oshima, the largest island within the chain.To get to Amami, most people would go from Tokyo by plane, though you can also fly there from Osaka, Kagoshima, or Naha in Okinawa. For those of you with better sea legs, you can also get a ferry from Kagoshima or Naha.
Wednesday 3 December 2014
Honeymoons in Japan: Romantic Tokyo
As we mentioned in our blog post on Monday, we think that Japan is a great place to go for a honeymoon, and no trip to Japan is complete without spending sometime in Tokyo. Big, brash Tokyo isn’t exactly the first place that pops into your mind when you think romance, so here are some of our picks for romantic things to do in Tokyo!
Ship around!
There are many different sailing tours of Tokyo bay, but we feel the most romantic of these is dinner on a Yakatabune boat. Yakatabune boats are traditional Japanese boats with a unique upward facing bow called a “miyoshi”. These boats were particularly popular in the 17th to 18th century Edo period with high-ranking samurai and wealthy merchants.
Picture it, you’re sitting at your table, your beloved sitting across from you. The motion of the boat is soothing as it makes its way across the bay. The staff are dressed in traditional Japanese craftsman uniforms, serving traditional Japanese food. It’s night, the sky is dark, but the skyline is alive with metropolitan illumination. You clink your sake cups, a toast to your new marriage, and a smile inevitably crosses both of your faces as you share this unique, romantic moment in time.
Walk around!
Despite being a huge, bustling metropolis, home to 13,000,000 people, there are a large number of parks and quiet places you can visit to escape the city. The Imperial Palace East Garden is a great location; wide, spacious and centrally located within a short walking distance of both Tokyo station, Ginza and Akihabara. This often overlooked park is a great location for a picnic, with your bento box, a hot or cold drink, and pocky chocolate sticks! If you are lucky to be in Japan at the end of March/early April, be warned, sakura (cherry blossom) viewing will draw in lots of crowds, so secure your spot early!
Fly around!
OK, we’re being a bit cheeky here, it’s not really flying. But there are plenty of ways to get a birds eye view of Tokyo. In my experience, there’s nothing quite like standing in Tokyo Tower, hand in hand with your loved one, as you take in the cityscape of Tokyo and soak it all in. The views are majestic. If you manage to visit on an incredibly clear day, you might even catch a glimpse of the iconic Mount Fuji in the distance.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be a night time activity either, with the views of the city equally stunning any time of day. The three main spots we would recommend will come as no surprise; Tokyo Tower, Roppongi Hills Sky Deck, and the Tokyo Sky Tree.
Kid around!
Before you get too caught up in the adultness of being married, why not spend a part of your honeymoon getting caught up in a bit of childlike fun.
There are two Disney theme parks in Tokyo (technically Chiba, but let’s not get bogged down in specifics). Tokyo DisneySea is a bit more adult, with faster and scarier rides, causing many romantic cuddles of fright and shock. All the other Disney staples are present, amazing light shows, parades and that little bit of Disney magic that seems to make everything extra amazing. Don’t forget to get your picture taken with Mickey and Minnie!
If Disney is not your thing, then we recommend the Trick Art Museum in Odaiba (). A great way to spend an afternoon while in Tokyo. There is lots to see and do in Odaiba, including Mega Web, Joypolis or Segaland, for all things otaku! Travel across the Rainbow Bridge on the Tokyo Monorail - night time is a great chance to see the bridge lit up in spectacular fashion!
Sing aloud!
This might seem a controversial choice, but karaoke can be incredibly romantic. Don’t worry, you won’t be standing in front of a large room singing karaoke (unless you want to), but rather getting a private booth for just the two of you. Any of the numerous Tokyo karaoke shops will do, and once you’re there, why not serenade your partner with any of the large number of romantic songs in the database. Even if romantic songs aren’t your thing, there will be something there for you to stretch your vocal cords with!
So there you have it, romantic Tokyo! Have you partaken in any of the activities we talked about? Or do you think we missed out on anything? Let us know in the comments below.
For a complete Honeymoon Holiday to Japan, check out our new Traditional & Tropical Japan Honeymoon.
Ship around!
There are many different sailing tours of Tokyo bay, but we feel the most romantic of these is dinner on a Yakatabune boat. Yakatabune boats are traditional Japanese boats with a unique upward facing bow called a “miyoshi”. These boats were particularly popular in the 17th to 18th century Edo period with high-ranking samurai and wealthy merchants.
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| Yakatabune boats sailing near Rainbow Bridge. |
Despite being a huge, bustling metropolis, home to 13,000,000 people, there are a large number of parks and quiet places you can visit to escape the city. The Imperial Palace East Garden is a great location; wide, spacious and centrally located within a short walking distance of both Tokyo station, Ginza and Akihabara. This often overlooked park is a great location for a picnic, with your bento box, a hot or cold drink, and pocky chocolate sticks! If you are lucky to be in Japan at the end of March/early April, be warned, sakura (cherry blossom) viewing will draw in lots of crowds, so secure your spot early!
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| Pocky, a necessary part of any Japanese picnic! Source: http://hope.ly/1FMY3sX |
OK, we’re being a bit cheeky here, it’s not really flying. But there are plenty of ways to get a birds eye view of Tokyo. In my experience, there’s nothing quite like standing in Tokyo Tower, hand in hand with your loved one, as you take in the cityscape of Tokyo and soak it all in. The views are majestic. If you manage to visit on an incredibly clear day, you might even catch a glimpse of the iconic Mount Fuji in the distance.
 |
| Mount Fuji visible from Tokyo. |
Kid around!
Before you get too caught up in the adultness of being married, why not spend a part of your honeymoon getting caught up in a bit of childlike fun.
There are two Disney theme parks in Tokyo (technically Chiba, but let’s not get bogged down in specifics). Tokyo DisneySea is a bit more adult, with faster and scarier rides, causing many romantic cuddles of fright and shock. All the other Disney staples are present, amazing light shows, parades and that little bit of Disney magic that seems to make everything extra amazing. Don’t forget to get your picture taken with Mickey and Minnie!
 |
| At the entrance to Tokyo DisneySea. Source: http://hope.ly/1yPh5OP |
Sing aloud!
This might seem a controversial choice, but karaoke can be incredibly romantic. Don’t worry, you won’t be standing in front of a large room singing karaoke (unless you want to), but rather getting a private booth for just the two of you. Any of the numerous Tokyo karaoke shops will do, and once you’re there, why not serenade your partner with any of the large number of romantic songs in the database. Even if romantic songs aren’t your thing, there will be something there for you to stretch your vocal cords with!
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| Karaoke shop in Akihabara, Tokyo. Source: http://bit.ly/1Ag9EPL |
For a complete Honeymoon Holiday to Japan, check out our new Traditional & Tropical Japan Honeymoon.
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Follow @toursofjapan |
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Monday 1 December 2014
Japan: Honeymoon Destination
If I asked you to think about Japan, what would pop into your mind? Ninja. Bright neon lights. Sushi. Crazy TV shows. Pokemon. Power Rangers. I bet there’s one thing about Japan you don’t think of, that doesn't even enter your mind: Japan as a honeymoon destination. That is a big mistake.
Let me tell you about a friend. Let’s call her Mary. Late last year she was getting married to her boyfriend of eight years, John. They’d met in university in Dublin and finally John popped the question. One night over dinner, the subject quickly turned to the honeymoon. It didn’t take long to discover it was a contentious issue.
Mary wanted relaxation, time on the beach, sun, sand, swimming and everything that entails. John on the other hand, he didn't. He wanted to spend his honeymoon soaking in culture, big cities and history. But they couldn’t agree on where to go! Some destinations gave Mary everything she wanted, but left John feeling cold about the whole thing. Other destinations excited John, but left Mary wondering where the sand and surf would fit in.
I sympathised. Their honeymoon is the most important trip of their life. It should be big, bold, unique, unforgettable!!
Having lived, worked and gotten married in Japan, I knew what the country could offer, I knew it could be everything they wanted, everything they both dreamed of. So I did what any friend would do in this kind of situation; I helped. I organised, rang and booked. Japan was right for John and Mary.
First, they flew into Tokyo and spent three days there. On the second day we organised a private guide to show them some of the sights: Asakusa Kannon Temple, Meiji Jingu shrine, Shinjuku and their first authentic ramen lunch at a shop they’d seen on an Anthony Bourdain show. Tokyo is an amazing city, one that can’t be defined, can’t be described in a few words, sentences or paragraphs, it can only be experienced. Mary and John, they EXPERIENCED it.
After three days of full-on modern Japan, our intrepid honeymooners hopped on a bus and headed to Matsumoto, located high in the Japanese Alps. This is a completely different scene. An old city, with one of the few remaining authentic Japanese castles, they spent a few hours there before heading off to a nearby onsen town. Onsen are the incredible natural hot springs of Japan, and these hot springs are particularly special. The local monkey population love to come down and bathe in warm, natural spring waters at that time of year. But enough monkey business, on with the trip!
Next up was Takayama is a 16th century city nestled in the Hida Mountains famous for it’s outstandingly preserved Edo period architecture. These are the kinds of streets that samurai and geisha would have walked, soaking in the local beauty. Takayama is the perfect place to get a feeling for a way of life that has all but disappeared from modern Japan. Of course John loved the history, but Mary loved it too! She got so caught up in the romanticism of samurai and geisha, of medieval Japan she was reluctant to leave Takayama!
But leave there did and from there, our honeymooning couple moved onto Kyoto, the place John was most excited about. Kyoto has 17 World Heritage sites, 1,600 Buddhist temples and about 400 Shinto shrines. History and culture doesn’t get much richer than this!! Here, John and Mary also experienced a traditional tea ceremony, served by a Maiko (a Geisha in training). There is nothing like this in the west, and even in Japan you need to know the right people to experience this. John, becoming enamoured with Japanese culture, had a million and one questions, which the Maiko was only happy to answer.
Then the trip took a more somber turn. Hiroshima. The city that needs no introduction; one of two atomic bombs dropped on Japan at the end of the Second World War was dropped on Hiroshima. In spite of this tragic past, Hiroshima has risen like a phoenix, and is a modern city, full of energy and life. John and Mary spend some time in the Peace Park and Museum, a poignant reminder of the tragedy that befell Hiroshima. John confided in me after that the experience made him realise how special Mary was, and how lucky he was to have her. Though not a typical honeymoon location, I think this experience has brought them closer together (is that even possible after marriage?).
At this point, I know what you’re thinking. Sure, yeah, John has had plenty of historical sightseeing, but what about Mary? She hasn’t had her sun and sand yet! Well, that came next. The couple set off for the Amami Islands, a string of 8 subtropical islands south of the mainland of Japan. Amami is blessed with transparent waters, bright coloured coral reefs and tropical fish. Very far removed from the bright lights and bustle of Tokyo, as well as the history and culture of Kyoto! The lucky couple partook in a range of activities here; diving, canoeing around mangrove lakes and a romantic lunch picnic on a secluded beach they had all to themselves. This wrapped up the trip and they headed back to Tokyo after an incredible 17 days of traditional and tropical Japan!
Mary and John were incredibly happy. They hadn’t considered Japan as a honeymoon destination, but they couldn’t imagine going anywhere else. Mary was surprised by the depth of Japanese culture and how much she enjoyed it, and John, well John was happy he got his way! I sincerely think this trip was the perfect start to their marriage. It worked for John and Mary, why not you? We've used John and Mary's honeymoon as a template and created new Traditional & Tropical Japan Honeymoon. If you're interested, why not check it out?
Would you consider Japan as a honeymoon destination? Did you visit Japan on your homeymoon? How about the destinations we mentioned, have you been there? If you are interested in any of our trips, feel free to comment below, or contact us for a free consultation.
Let me tell you about a friend. Let’s call her Mary. Late last year she was getting married to her boyfriend of eight years, John. They’d met in university in Dublin and finally John popped the question. One night over dinner, the subject quickly turned to the honeymoon. It didn’t take long to discover it was a contentious issue.
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| The truth comes out over dinner! Source: https://flic.kr/p/32rnhz |
I sympathised. Their honeymoon is the most important trip of their life. It should be big, bold, unique, unforgettable!!
Having lived, worked and gotten married in Japan, I knew what the country could offer, I knew it could be everything they wanted, everything they both dreamed of. So I did what any friend would do in this kind of situation; I helped. I organised, rang and booked. Japan was right for John and Mary.
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| Tokyo, first stop on the honeymoon! |
After three days of full-on modern Japan, our intrepid honeymooners hopped on a bus and headed to Matsumoto, located high in the Japanese Alps. This is a completely different scene. An old city, with one of the few remaining authentic Japanese castles, they spent a few hours there before heading off to a nearby onsen town. Onsen are the incredible natural hot springs of Japan, and these hot springs are particularly special. The local monkey population love to come down and bathe in warm, natural spring waters at that time of year. But enough monkey business, on with the trip!
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| Monkeys, chilling in the hot springs. |
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| Edo period architecture in Takayama. |
But leave there did and from there, our honeymooning couple moved onto Kyoto, the place John was most excited about. Kyoto has 17 World Heritage sites, 1,600 Buddhist temples and about 400 Shinto shrines. History and culture doesn’t get much richer than this!! Here, John and Mary also experienced a traditional tea ceremony, served by a Maiko (a Geisha in training). There is nothing like this in the west, and even in Japan you need to know the right people to experience this. John, becoming enamoured with Japanese culture, had a million and one questions, which the Maiko was only happy to answer.
Then the trip took a more somber turn. Hiroshima. The city that needs no introduction; one of two atomic bombs dropped on Japan at the end of the Second World War was dropped on Hiroshima. In spite of this tragic past, Hiroshima has risen like a phoenix, and is a modern city, full of energy and life. John and Mary spend some time in the Peace Park and Museum, a poignant reminder of the tragedy that befell Hiroshima. John confided in me after that the experience made him realise how special Mary was, and how lucky he was to have her. Though not a typical honeymoon location, I think this experience has brought them closer together (is that even possible after marriage?).
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| The A-Bomb Dome in Hiroshima. |
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| View from the hotel, Amami Island. |
Would you consider Japan as a honeymoon destination? Did you visit Japan on your homeymoon? How about the destinations we mentioned, have you been there? If you are interested in any of our trips, feel free to comment below, or contact us for a free consultation.
| Follow @toursofjapan |
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