Click HERE for 36 of Japan's Most Stunning Places

Near Nagano   

Matsumoto Castle near Nagano

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

In the beginning: Jotaro and Taka Kobayakawa  Nov. 17, 2015

Tip 1 Minimizing Jet Lag April 16, 2018

Tip 2 Japan Rail Pass (perfect for travel beyond Tokyo)

Tip 2 b Shinjuku Station, busiest in the world. 3.5 million passengers each day.

Tip 3 Hitching Rides with Buddha: a great first book to read about Japan.

Tip 4 Pocket WiFi across Japan: access to Google Translate and Maps, texting, email, etc.

Tip 5 Portable charger for you phone and Pocket Wifi

Tip 6 Hotel APA Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower (we regularly use the Tower as our base of operations).

Tip 7 Introduction to Ryokans: Japan’s historical, traditional accommodation.

Tip 8A Miyabidado Takemine Ryokan in Tokyo for our wedding night.

Tip 8B Copious ideas to build your own Japan Itinerary including World Heritage sites.

Tip 9 Tokyo Subway: A wayfinding introduction.

Tip 10 Ghibli Museum: Home of Japan’s greatest director/animator.

Tip 11 Conversion of $ to Yen

Tip 12 Travel Light: Using Roll Aboards and Gadget Bags

Tip 13 Pasmo card for easier Subway use

Tip 14 Japan Rail Pass

Tip 15A Home Stays: the best way to learn about Japan

15B My Friend Yuji Documentary

Tip 16 Kanji: Japanese Writing

Tip 17 Google Maps: A great way to navigate Japan

Tip 18 “Do not hesitate to ask when you need help.

Tip 19 Way Finding in Japan and Restaurant Culture

Tip 20 Temples, Shinto Shrines and Japanese Culture

Tip 21 Using Google Translate to help translate to and from Japanese

Tip 22 Hiroshima:  Peace Park and ringing the Peace Bell

Tip 23A No need for Electrical adaptors for your devices and drinking tap water is very safe in Japan

Tip 24 Akiko and her new Tour Company (highly recommended)

Tip 25 Folding steel for Samurai Swords and bringing home a fine folded steel kitchen knife from Nara

Tip 26 The Great Buddha of Todai-ji 

Tip 27 Miwa Mountain of 1,000 Shrines

Tip 28 The Cherry Blossom Report: Tracking the Sakura Zensen

A few first day phrases.
                             
                             Phonetic pronunciation
Good morning          Ohiogozaimas
Good afternoon        Kon'nichiwa
Good evening           Konbanwa
Excuse me.               Shide shimas   or   Sumimasen
Thank you.                Arigatogozaimas
Where is the toilet?  Toire wa doko deska?

Which way to taxis? Taksi wa dochira no michi deska?