If you’re looking at planning your first school trip to Japan, you might have some questions. Here at The Learning Adventure, we’re keen to make sure that your educational tour planning runs as smoothly as possible, so that you can focus on getting your students excited for their trip to Japan. We’ve collected some key FAQs below – and our team of Educational Tour Specialists are always on hand to answer the rest.
When is the best time to travel to Japan?
Though Japan is renowned for the spring and autumn seasons, there are benefits to travelling to Japan all year round. Spring (March-May) brings with it the iconic sakura season, where the cherry blossom trees up and down the country burst into vibrant shades of pink – but it also brings with it some of the busiest times of the year to travel throughout the country. While you’ll get those iconic sights, you can also expect transport to be busier, hotels to be more heavily booked up – with an accompanying price tag. The same is true of autumn (September-November), where the pinks are swapped for reds and golds as the foliage changes color. However, on the positive side, spring and autumn bring more temperate, drier weather, that makes exploring during the day much more comfortable.
There’s a lot to be said for visiting Japan during the summer and winter months too. Japan’s a fantastic location for a ski trip, so a visit during December or January brings incredible white slopes – and if you visit at the right time, a chance to sample Japan’s unique take on Christmas celebrations, as well as the plethora of festivals celebrating the ice and snow. If you’re willing to wrap up warm, winter in Japan is a wonderful chance to see a different side to this fascinating country, with plenty of sunny days and blue skies along the way.
If you visit Japan during the summer, you can take the chance to explore the coastlines during the hot weather. While June and early July will be rainier, late July and August is hot and humid – but all the key sites will be a lot quieter, meaning you’ll get to experience them at their best. When you plan a school trip to Japan, it’s best to weigh up considerations like these alongside price point and tour expectations so that you can get the most out of your trip.
Do I need a visa to travel to Japan?
We always recommend checking your individual requirements through your local Japanese embassy. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Japan, there are 71 countries that are visa-exempt, meaning that visitors on tourism business can explore Japan without needing to apply for a visa. While for people like US & UK travellers this means a visa-free stay of up to 90 days, this period will differ between nationalities – for visitors from the UAE, for example, visa exemption is capped at 30 days.
Some countries will require a visa in order for their passport holders to travel to Japan – so always be sure to check your requirements with your embassy.
Will we need to carry cash in Japan?
Yes! While usage of cashless or contactless payment is growing across Japan, especially in the larger cities, cash is still very much a necessity in more rural areas, in smaller stores across cities, and at places like shrines. We’d therefore always recommend taking a stipend of sorts so that you’re well-covered in places that are cash-only during your trip. There are plenty of ATMs throughout Japan, but be sure to check that your specific card is covered by that machine when you use it.
Japan also has a very useful smart (IC) cards available – Suica and PASMO. While these are primarily for use on trains, buses and monorails throughout the country, they are also accepted at vending machines, convenience stores and large chain establishments, making them a very handy card indeed. You can also load both onto Apple Pay and Google Wallet for ease of use.
How can I deal with the language barrier in Japan?
When you visit Japan, you’ll find that larger cities like Tokyo cater to English-speakers well. Signage at airports, train stations, and on the streets will often be displayed in English as well – and crucially, instruction and warning signs will also be communicated in English too.
While not every single person you meet in Tokyo will necessarily be able to speak English, you’ll find that there will be someone nearby who will – and your Adventure Leader will be able to translate during your trip to take care of any organizational arrangements. However, we are strong advocates for always doing your best to learn small parts of the language, wherever you travel – learning key phrases for politeness will go a long way!
Here’s some key words that you should know for travelling in Japan:
- Hello – Konnichiwa
- Please – Onegaishimasu is a more formal way of saying please, often used for strangers. For situations like ordering food in a restaurant, for example, you might want to use the slightly less formal – but still polite – ‘kudasai’.
- Thank you – Arigato
- Excuse me/Sorry – Sumimasen (use this for when you’re in crowds, or attracting a waiter’s attention, for example.)
- Yes/No – Hai/Iie
How do I handle dietary restrictions in Japan?
While Japanese food may have a reputation for being meat or seafood dominant, the reality is that dietary restrictions are becoming more and more catered to across the country’s key cities. In Tokyo, for example, there’s a growing number of vegan restaurants with amazing food – a couple of years ago, the now-renowned Saido was voted the best vegan restaurant in the world! Websites like HappyCow are great resources for finding great veggie and vegan spots across the city.
If you’re gluten-free, you’ll need to be wary of key things like noodles, soy sauce, and cakes, which can be key parts of Japanese cuisine. This means that staple dishes like ramen, pancakes and tempura aren’t suitable for those with celiac or gluten-free needs. Making sure that you can find specialty restaurants will ensure that you can feel secure in your food choices, but your Adventure Leader will also be able to help mitigate any dietary issues.
If you’re travelling to Japan with halal requirements, the JNTO website provides some great information on how to navigate Japanese travel with these needs. There are also fantastic websites like HalalJapan, but it’s worth noting that there is currently no centralized accreditation organization for halal food in Japan. When looking at meals that you might ordinarily assume to be halal, be sure to double check – some dishes will include ingredients like mirin, a sweetened rice wine, or other ingredients that may not be halal.
If you’d like to learn more about our Learning Adventures to Japan, you can view a selection of our standard itineraries here. Alternatively, you can reach out to our team by form, phone, or email.
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