Footsteps - Jotaro's Travels: Travel Tips - Japan:Tokyo, Kamakura & Hakone

Friday, November 29, 2013

Travel Tips - Japan:Tokyo, Kamakura & Hakone

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JOTARO'S TRAVEL TIPS
JAPAN 2013 : TOKYO, KAMAKURA & HAKONE

Entrance to Engakuji Temple from Kita Kamakura Station.

These are tips we picked up during the course of preparation for our biking trip in Japan & while we there in these three cities (... see Cycling Japan 2013 blog). This page provides : useful net sites, hand-phone apps, maps and a simple discourse on the Japanese people.

Hope this will be helpful.

Useful Net Sites:

For Travel Spots

- Japan Guide : Tokyo
- Japan Guide : Kamakura
- Japan Guide : Hakone
- eBook : Lonely Planet Japan 12th edition
- Tripadvisor

For Transportation & Hotels

- Hyperdia (Rail Transportation)

- Tokyo Sightseeing Bus Tour
- K's House Tokyo Backpackers' Hostel (for cheap lodging in Tokyo)
- Fujimien Ryokan in Hakone (highly recommended)
- Hakone Free Pass (a pass that covers travel from Shinjuku Station to Hakone, free cruises, cable car rides, entry into selected sites - 5000Y for 2-day pass; 5500Y for 3-day pass).
- Air Asia (for Air Travel)
- Booking.com (Hotel bookings - this site is good as no deposits required, pay at counter)
- Agoda.com (Hotel bookings)
- Tripadvisor (Hotel users' reviews)

Useful Apps For Hand-phones:

- Travelling In Japan (a host of apps for travelling in Japan)
- Japan Trains (for Android)
- City Maps 2Go (offline maps for iPhone, $2.99)
- City Maps 2Go (offline maps for Android, free)
- Learn Japanese Phrase Book (Basic Japanese - resides in memory, no internet required)

- Easy Taxi (Booking taxies for Android, free)

- Aldiko eBook Reader
- Sony Reader (eBook reader for PCs, Tablets & Handphones)

SHOPPING TIPS
- Uniqlo thermal wear items are much cheaper in Japan, there's an outlet at Ameyoko, Tokyo.
- A lot of choices of Kit Kat available at Ameyoko Market Street. Wasabi Kit Kat available only at certain seasons, but is available at Haneda Airport shops anytime.
- At Haneda airport, shop at the upper floors. There are better deals there.
- Souvenir shopping at Hakone-yumoto and Kamakura is cheaper.
- A wide range of electronic goods at the Akibahara district.

Japanese People:

Generally, Japanese are disciplined, honest, courteous, helpful, clean, etc.
Disciplined - you won't see queue jumping, no bumping into people, etc.
Honest - No worries about leaving things behind and getting them stolen. No snatch-thieves.
Courteous - They greet people with warm smiles. In shops they will thank you profuesly, whether you make a purchase or not. "Arigato, Arigato! Unlike some other countries, where one will face sultry looks and rude remarks if one does not purchase or ask to many questions.
Helpful - They will go out of their way to help lost tourist (like us) in their limited English.

Clean - Most streets & alleys are clean, hardly any rubbish around. No lazy throwing of rubbish anywhere, even if public bins are scarce (many were removed after the subway poison attack). We noticed that in fast food outlets, they will clean up after finishing - even to the extent of wiping the tables, so do follow likewise.
Neat - Products are nicely packed and arranged even in the wet markets. A lot of effort and detail made to ensure packaging is neat and beautiful.

Workers sifting out fallen leaves.

Meticulous - Japanese are meticulous in maintaining their image. At Sogenchi Gardens, workers could be seen sifting the ground to remove fallen leaves.

No Smoking!

Smoking Zones - Many areas are designated non-smoking zones. Smoke only where there is a public ash-tray stand.

Urinals for elderly and the blind

Handicapped Friendly - Special embossed floor tiles are there to help the blind. Raised line for normal walking and raised studs for junction points, top of stairs - and even for urinal standing positions. Railings for elderly - even for urinals.

Useful Maps (Airport & Train Stations)

(click on map for enlarged view)