TravelMoxie JAPAN

Japan Fast Facts

Whatever your impression of Japan prior to visiting prepare to leave with a completely new perspective. Japan is a country of many layers, to say the least. It’s full of perplexities and seems a complete anomaly in today’s modern world.

You’ll be amazed at the cleanliness of the cities and even more surprised to find that it’s nearly impossible to find a public trash can on the street. And you’ll never stay thirsty for long due to vast number of vending machines lining every street, ally, subway station, and dock. In fact it’s estimated that Japan has one vending machine for every 26 people in the country.

While its one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world it seems at times like you’re in a time warp. The Japanese people have held on to many of their past traditions while adapting to the changing times. A store clerk bowing 100 times as you’re leaving a shop might not quite happen, but 50 is a real possibility.

When To Go

Summer (June to August) is rainy season and beleive me it rains! Bring your umbrella and plan to use it. Don't worry if you forget it though, with convenient stores on nearly every corner selling them for just a few bucks you always have the option out of the rain. When its not raining in the Summer its HOT and very humid. Spring (March to May) is cherry blossom season and one of the most popular times to visit. Consequently its also the busiest time of the year for tourists. Autumn (September to November) is quite, colorfull, and beautiful. To avoid crowds Autumn is the time to go. Winter (December to February) Very beautiful, with great snow to the North in Hokkaido. It does get cold, but not to bad. Jackets are recommended.

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Though English is focused on heavily in schools it is not spoken fluently almost anywhere in Japan. That said, there are many Japanese phrase books that will serve you quite well in getting around day to day. One of the great aspects of Japanese is that you don't have to know how to form a complete sentence, much less conjugate one to speak to someone. A simple word such as “this” or “where” while pointing to something is often enough to get you what you need. However, reading it is a different story and there are many places outside of Tokyo where you wont see signs in English. This presents the biggest problem when it comes to public transportation.