Japan Guide - Japan guides and Japanese Traditions

If you’re planning to visit Japan you just can’t miss the Central Honshu zone where the most important cities are: Tokyo, Kyoto, Takayama, Yokohama, Narita, Nagoya and many others, not to mention the wonderful Mount Fuji (or Fujiyama) that will be the subject of this Touring guide to Japan, and infos about the most beautiful itineraries, cheap and luxurious hotels, restaurants, transports and typical food will also be given.

Here all the details

The central Honshu is the central part of Japan, of course, as you can see from the map here below, and going there in April or so would be the best, since winters are very cold and summers are sultry.

It is a very wide area, full of interesting places to be visited. Here’s the Kanto region (where the wonderful and mysterious manga called Death Note takes place, just to let you know!), so you absolutely have to visit both Tokyo and Kyoto!

The first one for its futuristic technlogies, the second one for its traditions and natural landscapes! You may also visit Nagoya, a small town with a castle built in 1610-1612, unfourtunately destroyed because of the war in 1945 but later rebuilt.

The castle is available to be visited, and its interiors offer an observatory and an exhibit concerning its story. To travel around the city, it’s better to use a rent car or bus lines. If you like archeological stuff, just can’t miss the Tokugawa Fine Arts museum, where illustrations, finds and treasures of the Edo age are displayed!

Image credit: ferrimarco.blogspot.com

I will never have enough time to list them all down, but among all of the itineraries of Japan you should absolutely take the mount Fuji (or Fujiyama) one, with its five lakes and breathtaking landscapes.

Panoramic vieto the mount Fuji

Image credit: fotoseimagens.etc.br

The Mount Fuji, as you know, is a still active volcano, but we consider it like an estinguished one since its last eruption happened in 1708, it’s about 3776m high, and that’s why it can be seen from almost whole Japan.

The best period to visit this place is summer without any doubt, about in July/August, since these are the only available months to explore the huge volcano: the paths become very dangerous during the rest of the year, so they’re forbidden to the public.

The zone is easily reachable by the Tokaido Shinkansen train, to one of these stations: kawaguchi-ko, Gotenba, Fuji-Yoshida or Mishima.(if you’ve planned a more than two weeks long journey, I suggest to buy the season ticket for the Shinkansen, this way you’ll spend less for sure! I’ll explain it better at the end of the guide).

The road to the volcano is still far from here, but you can easily take one of the many bus lines that will drive you just next to the mount. Guests usually like to start their way from Gotenba, to enjoy the nice view – especially at the sunset – and the chill air of this place.

Gotenba station (Image credit: panoramio.com)

If you want to see a preview of the mount Fuji I’ve found this Live Camera thanks to which you can see the volcano.

Pricelist for the bus tickets and travel timing starting from the stations of Tokyo, Kansai, Shinjuku and Nagoya to Mount Fuji:

- From the bus station in Tokyo: The five lakes area is easily reachable from Tokyo to any direction and the travel takes 2 hours. (the bus lines are the easiest and cheapest way to get to the kawaguchi-ko or Gotenba stations, in fact if you’d take two trains and a bus, the cost would be about 6000¥ (about 59$) and the travel takes 6 hours!)

- From Kansai to Kawaguchi-ko: this way takes many train exchanges before getting to Mishima and you’ll spend about ¥6000 for 3 hours and a half travelling.

- From Shinjuku to Kawaguchi-ko: 2 hours and a half travelling, spending 2600¥ (about 25$) for one ticket

- From Nagoya to Gotenba: you could take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Numazu, then get off and take the bus line to Gotenba (5 hours travelling and about 5,500¥ (about 54$) spent).

Click on the picture for larger size

If you’re planning to climb the mount, my only suggestion is to be ready to endure a hard, difficult, long and tiring way up! While getting to the top of the volcano temperatures will fall, so you’ll need warm clothes, sun protection, a stick to climb and a hat. When on top you may also walk the whole crater (it takes about one hour), so be ready and store some water since the one sold there costs about 500¥ (about 5$) for half a litre!

On the way to the mount you’ll also find some sanctuaries to visit, like the Sengen ones, a snack-bar open 24/24 hours, a mail office and a weather station.

Sengen Sanctuary in Nishinomiya Honden (Image credit: flickr.com)

Sengen Jinja sanctuary in Fujiyoshida (image credit: flickr.com)

If you like having fun and relaxina more, you may visit the many theme parks placed in the five lakes zone (also known Fuji-go-ko) at the feet of the Fujiyama. This place is very appreciated by Japanese people from Tokyo, because of its sport campings!

The five lakes – as a previously said – are:

The Motosu lake: it’s the less crowded lake since is the most isolated, so it’s an excellent choice if you want to stay in touch with nature in total tranquillity, moreover, it never freezes!

Image credit: flickr.com

The Shojin lake is the smallest of the five lakes and the most abounding in fish. It’s surrounded by the Aokigahara – Jukai also called “sea of trees”, a wonderful wood.

Image credit: flickr.com

Detail of Aokigahara – Jukai (the sea of trees) – Image credit: flickr.com

The Yamanaka lake is where you can water-ski! This lake is not very peculiar, unless you take the huge swan-shaped hydrofoil, by which you can visit the whole lake in about 35 minutes, spending 900¥ (about 9$).

(Does this lake remind you of something? Yeah, it’s Ino Yamanaka’s first name in the manga Naruto! It literarly means “through the mountains”)

(Image credit: flickr.com)

The swan-shaped hydrofoil (Image credit: flickr.com)

The Kawaguchi Lake: is the most easily reachable of the lakes and that’s why it’s also the most poular among tourists. In the middle of it there’s a small island with a little sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Unoshima and her beauty. In spring this lake offers a wonderful landscape known as “Sakasa Fuji”, i.e. the mirrored image of the cherry trees in bloom over the lake, from the north side of it.

Image credit: flickr.com

The Sai lake (or Ashinoko): it’s the most untouched of the lakes, from where you can see the whole Fujiyama in all its majesty. Close to the lake there are two prehistoric caves formed during one of the eruptions: the Narusawa Ice Cave and the Fugaku Wind Cave. Here’s a small village too, in the place where before 2006 there were many old buildings ruined by an hurricane. Entrance is not free, adults pay about 200¥ (2 $), children 100¥, open from 9am to 5pm. In these buildings you can find many handmade items in silk and paper.

Image credit: flickr.com

Detail of the Narusawa Ice Cave (Image credit: flickr.com)

Point of curiosity: in teory the lakes surrounding mount Fuji should be seven, the missing two are the Tanuki and the Glory one, dedicated to the princess Glory. This one is hidden in the volcano.

If your travel comprehends 26th and 27th of August, you shouldn’t miss the Yoshida no Hi Matsuri (feast of fire), at the feet of the volcano. It’s a Japanese tradition to have this feast in the city of Fuji-Yoshida, to celebrate the end of summer and propitiate the safety of the climbers.

(Image credit: flickr.com)

Where may I have a meal in this place?

If you want to have a break close to the mount Fujiyama, you’ve plenty of choices to taste typical food. On the Sai-ko for example you may try the Soba and the Konyakku (Marana starch, kind of flour made out of tropical tubers and roots).

At Fuji-Yoshida, next to the Kawaguchi-ko lake, you can eat the Teuchi Udon, kind of homemade wheat noodles, that taste nice with Tempura and Niku (beef meat). Here’s a list of some restaurants you can find in the zone of Fuji-Yoshida:

- Sakigake: open only at evening from Tuesday to Sunday. It costs about 600-800¥ (about 7-8$). You may taste Tofu salad, Sashimi, Yakitori and drink Shochu (it is a typical Japanese liquor, similar to the sake, but it has about 25% alcool and is a distilled of rice, barley and sweet potatoes).

- M2: everyday open restaurant from 11am to 10pm. Both Western and Japanese menu are available. It costs about 700-1300¥ (from 8 to 13 $). The specialties offered by this restaurant are curry rice, hamburgers and pork sautè.

- Michael’s American Pub: Restaurant open from Wednesday to Friday from 8pm to 2am (from Friday to Sunday it’s open at lunch too). This club is perfect for people who don’t want to renounce to western food, since haburgers and pizza are served too.

- Fujiyama Beer Brewery: this is a beer club where lunch and dinner are also served. It offers western menu too, including sausages, pizza, salads, cheeses and beer. It costs about 714-1300¥ (8-13 $).

- Cafè Matsuya: if you need a coffee or tea break, this is the right place for you! Open from Tuesday to Thursday 9am-7pm, on Friday 9am-10pm and on Saturday and Sunday 11am-10pm. Here you may also buy homemade souvenirs!

Closer to the Kawaguchi-ko lake, other restaurants can be found:

- Hotō Fudō: Open only at lunch time, it costs about 1050¥ (about 10$). The specialty here is the stew.

- Sanrokuen: restaurant open from Friday to Wednesday 11am-8pm, spending about 2100-4200¥ (21-42 $). This restaurant is peculiar because you’re allowed to cook your own dishes if you want, thanks to large embers on the floor next to the tables! Fish, chicken, tofu, steaks and vegetables will still be served. The restaurant is easily recognizable tank to its straw roof! (official site: sanrokuen.com)

Where could I lodge?

If you want to lodge next to the mountain paths, personally I don’t suggest so since you’ll only find expensive common places where to sleep for just a few hours in a sleeping bag (about 5000¥ / 50 $ for one night). Moreover, if you don’t buy anything, one single hour in these place will cost 500¥ (about 5 $).

The Fuji-Yoshida and Kawaguchi-ko are nice places were to lodge instead, where you can find cheap/average guest-houses, hotels and hostels.

Let’s see in detail hotels and hostels in Fuji-Yoshida: (all prices must be considered for one person and for one night)

- Fuji-Yoshida Youth Hostel: a small hostel offering both western and eastern styled rooms, only shared with other people. Excellent view on the Fujiyama. Very cheap. It costs about 2835¥ (28 $). It’s about 600m far from the Shimo-Yoshida station, so it’s easily reachable by feet too.

- Tabijiya: double and single rooms in western style. The prices are really cheap considering the place and it’s the perfect choice for resting after a long day walking around the mount. Prices may differ depending on the room, but still you’ll spend from 5750¥ to 11.600¥ (about 57-115 $). Moreover, it’s only 10 minutes far from the center of Fuji-Yoshida. (breakfast is not included, but with only 750¥ (7 $) you’ll have plenty of food!)

- Daikokuya: this is another hotel with average prizes, spending 6600¥ per person (60 $) you’ll sleep in a double traditional room, with tatami and private garden. The Doikokuya is only 10 minutes far from the Fuji-Yoshida station.

Here’s a list of the hotels in Kawaguchi-ko (from the same station to the chosen hotel, all transports are free).

- Kawaguchi-ko Youth Hostel: this hostel is open from the second half of March to the first days of November. Cheap prices, 3360¥ per person (about 33 $) but it only offers beds in common rooms. Also traditional rooms with castle beds are offered. It’s next to the Kawaguchi station, about 500m in south direction. This hostel also offers bicycles for 800¥ (about 8 $) per day and curfew is set at 9pm.

- Hotel Sunnide Village: Hotel with nice rooms and private bathroom, great view on the town and mount Fuji. Average prices. There are “Backpacker” discounts for the ones who arrive without booking (if rooms are available, of course). It costs about 6300¥ (51€), with discount 4200¥ (42 $). There’s a restaurant where you can have a breakfast (1050¥ / 10 $) and dinner (2100¥, 21 $). The dinner also is subject to the backpacker discount, so you’ll pay 1575¥ (about 15 $).

- Ashiwada Hotel: big single and double rooms available, in both japanese and western style, with private bathroom. There are also public toilets and thermal baths in open air (also known as Rotemburo). Average-high prices. A single room costs 6000¥, a double one is 12.000¥ (119 $). This hotel is placed in a residential district on the west lakeside of Kawaguchi-ko.

- Fuji Lake Hotel: seven floors hotel made in 1635, close to the center of Kawaguchi, it offers both single and double rooms with bathroom (private or public, or with external thermal bath) and meal reservation. Very expensive. You’ll pay about 8000¥ (79 $, meal not included), with lunch+dinner reservationcon you’ll spend 12.000¥ instead (about 119 $). Panoramic view of the lake and the Fujiyama.

One more place you shouldn’t miss close to the mount Fuji and the lakes is Hakone. It’s an ancient thermal village build on a extinct volcano, thanks to which many hot springs and Geysers can be found today.

This city is easily reachable by public transports. There’s a direct bus line from Shinjuku (the two hour long travel costs 1950¥, about 19 $). There are about 20 travels per day. Hakone can also be reached by train, from many stations.

Well, as I already said before, now I’ll list a few suggestions that can be useful when travelling around Japan by public transports. If you’re planning to travel a lot, you should buy a Japan Rail Pass.

What is a JR pass?

The Japan Rail Pass is a weekly, twice weekly or monthly ticket that allows you to travel by any train or bus (except the Shinkansen Nozomi and some other trains, but don’t worry: if you take one of this buses by mistake, you won’t be fined, you’ll just have to pay for the line you’re using). There are both first and second class tickets.

However, you cannot buy this pass in Japan, but only in the proper travel agencies.

You can ask for a pass in these agencies, and if you decide to buy it you’ll get all the documents you need to obtain an “actual” JR pass in Japan (it’s available in Narita and Kansai station, and in all the major stations in whole country). Just look for one of these offices with your vocheur and passport, and you’ll get your JRP, that will be active after its first use!

Be careful, only tourists (for a maximum of 90 days) can use a JRP, while it’s forbidden for Japanese citizens and people who went to Japan for job purposes.

Here’s a pricelist for the JRP in whole Japan and Kansai only, depending on duration and class. (more available passes are the JR East Rail Pass, JR West Rail Pass, JR Central Pass, JR Kyushu Pass, JR Hokkaido Pass e JR Shikoku Pass)

or

* Children fare: 6 to 11 (included) years old. For children from 0 to 5 years old, the ticket is free.

It is convenient to buy a pass only if you planned to travel by train everyday or you take long journeys. So think of it very carefully. You should also get a timetable to know time and durations. If you can’t speak Japanese will be difficult to ask for help about transports, since the majority of people can’t speak English.

One more benefit you’ll obtain thanks to this pass: the possibility do lodge in conventioned hotels belonging to the JR Hotel Group and pay less. Usually these hotels are close to the airports.

Warning! If you want to delete your reservation for the JRP before coming to Japan, you’ll have to pay a fine amount of 10% from the total, plus 46 $.

For more information about the JRP, visit the official site which is very detailed www.japanrailpass.net

Some more advices you should take: remember to bring a medical kit with you in case you get hurt, since it may be difficult for strangers to receive first aid sometimes; it’s also useful to buy an adapter for the taps, since it’s very difficult to find hotels offering European taps, and make yourself sure that your sets support 110 volts at least (in case, buy a transformer or your taps may crash).

Said all of this, what else I have to say? Have fun in Japan and enjoy your trip!

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