How to Plan a Holiday in Japan to Ensure Peace of Mind

If you need to take prescription drugs, the ones below will need to be considered carefully.

Hallucinogenic, narcotic, or psychotropic drugs are not allowed in Japan unless there are very special circumstances. In this case, approval is needed from the Japanese Government (the directors of the Regional Bureaus of Health and Welfare). You’ll need to apply for a Yunyu Kakunin-sho (an import certificate) and have it to hand before leaving home.

For all other prescribed medication (excluding injections), you can take up to one month’s supply to Japan and don’t have to apply for a Yunyu Kakunin-sho. All you need is written confirmation from your GP, to state why you’re being prescribed this medication. Plus, the prescription and any documents that state that the medication is for your personal use.

Above all, double-check with your GP before leaving home.

Currently, the exchange rate between the British Pound (GBP) and the Japanese Yen (JPY) is good. At the time of writing, 1 British Pound buys you 179 Japanese Yen. Each yen is then divided into 100 Sen.

To ensure you get the best exchange rate when planning a holiday in Japan you could consider ordering a Japanese travel debit Card. This is a debit card that will stop you from paying hidden exchange fees in the exchange rate. It can be used to pay for items or when withdrawing money from ATMs in Japan.

Withdrawing cash from ATMs is still common in Japan because its cash-based society is part of its culture (7-Bank and 7-Eleven ATMs are free). However, there are still many places that only accept cash, such as shrines and rural shops. So you may want to take some. In city centres, more cards should be accepted as well as other cashless payment options.

A holiday in Japan allows you to stay in Western or Japanese-style accommodation. However, If you’re looking for an authentic experience in Japan you can stay in a Ryokan. In general, Ryokans are designed with simplistic beauty in mind, often featuring tatami mats, shoji screens, paper lanterns and other traditional elements. Many also feature onsen hot springs or natural baths nearby for guests to enjoy. Some may even serve kaiseki ryori meals, which are high-quality dishes prepared using seasonal ingredients. Upon arriving at a Ryokan, visitors will normally be greeted by the staff wearing kimonos who will help them check in.

As mentioned, ryokans can be found in hot spring resorts. Here, you can relax your body in an onsen (Japanese, natural hot spring) post-flight. Bear in mind that some onsen will not accept customers with tattoos. We’ll cover tattoos in some more detail below.

In contrast, capsule hotels (or pod hotels as they are known in the UK) are a unique, inexpensive option. Made up of tiny rooms, they’re a simple solution if you need to source accommodation quickly to rest. The popularity of capsule hotels can be attributed to their affordability and relative comfort compared to more traditional forms of lodging. Plus, they are often conveniently located near popular tourist destinations such as shopping districts, train stations and airports – making them an ideal option for travellers on a budget who need a place to stay without compromising on location.

Whether you’re travelling solo or not when navigating to a capsule hotel via Japan’s railway network a JR Pass is recommended. It allows fairly comprehensive train travel all over Japan – including the world-famous bullet trains! So with that freedom to explore, there are some customs that it pays to be aware of.

Japan is an archipelago made up of 14,125 small and large islands. The second largest island is called Hokkaido. Hokkaido is Japan’s most northern and unspoilt island. It’s full of beautiful parks, lakes and a magical mountain range called the Hidaka Mountains in the southeast. This is where you’ll find a small ski resort perfect for intermediate skiers and snowboarders.

If winter sports are not for you but you still want to celebrate the season stay in the island’s capital Sapporo.  Here, snow depths can reach as much as five metres. A great environment for building ice and snow sculptures. In February attend the Sapporo Snow Festival (Yuki Matsuri) to see some amazing snow sculptures.

Since 1950 this winter festival has grown from a school that decided to build six statues (in Odori Park) to an event covering three venues across Sapporo. Today, the snow and ice sculptures are made by a special unit of the Japan Self-Defence Forces. Plus, experienced local volunteer groups. Also, at the event you can enjoy live music and tuck into Sapporo’s selection of seafood from food trucks.

Begin your day by walking through the Odori Site (in Odori Park). Here you’ll find the tallest snow sculptures (reaching 15 metres high and 25 metres wide). Then at night, a projection mapping show will display them in all their glory.  To find the ice sculptures, Susukino has them on display for the annual Ice Sculpture Contest. For more fun for the young (and young at heart), head to the Tsudome Site. Here, you can whizz down giant slides, go snow tubing, play in the snow and more. The Tsudome Site is a hall located 15 minutes outside the city centre. Use the shuttle bus to reach it. To reach Sapporo fly from Tokyo.

Tokyo may have plenty of Metropolitan landmarks and sights to see, such as one of the world’s tallest towers – the Tokyo sky tree. Yet its many gardens and green spaces are great to relax in too. To learn about Tokyo’s past, the district of Asakusa is the area to head to.

When visiting Asakusa, visitors will find an array of ancient structures intermixed with modern buildings that give it an old-meets-new vibe. Here you can wander through narrow streets lined with traditional stores and eateries such as the Kaminarimon Gate, Asakusa Jinja Shrine, Nakamise shopping street, Hanayashiki amusement park and so much more.

The biggest attraction here is undoubtedly Senso-ji Temple – known as Tokyo’s oldest temple – built to celebrate the goddess of mercy. Since 645 AD its been sat at the entrance of Asakusa. This Buddhist temple complex has been a spiritual centre for centuries.

To capture more temples on camera, turn west to visit Kyoto.

Kyoto was Japan’s original capital until 1868, with a rich history spanning over 1200 years. Many of the shrines, temples and other historical treasures remain for visitors to explore, making it arguably one of the world’s most fascinating cities. Some examples include Kiyomizudera Temple, known for its impressive wooden stage that stretches out over a valley; Fushimi Inari Shrine with its iconic orange torii gates; and Sanju-san-gen-do Temple which features breathtaking views of Kyoto from the top of its three-storey pagoda.

Kyoto is a beautiful place to visit in autumn from mid-September to early December. It’s a good time for reflection and ‘maple leaf hunting’. This is a traditional Japanese tradition and autumn festival called Momijigari.