By train is by far the most convenient way to get around Japan. With bullet-trains servicing the major corridors and linking up with other express and local trains, it’s quite easy to travel from one end of the country to the other. Pick up some timetables from any major station. Reading the shinkansen schedule is actually quite straighforward, it is logically arranged into the various names for the shinkansen that service that route.

Look at Tokyo today and you will see what the Tokyo- jin (meaning Tokyo people in japanese) have that we don’t have in our cities- bustling streets with thousands of people waiting to cross the roads, giantic television screens on the sides of buildings, high school students roaming the streets of shibuya after school and fashion statements made everywhere you go! It never cease to amaze travellers in Tokyo at the amount of things all happening all the same time, and most are often left dazzled by everything they see.

So, what can you do in Tokyo when you are there? (provided you are not “paralysed”, dazed and standing in the middle of the street).

What can you do there: Many things..

But before you have fun getting lost in a foreign land without no knowledge, how about learning how the train works for a start? That’s a good start, if you are intending to use public transport, and you can probably pick up the rest from there.

Some quick points..

1) Trains are called JR (Japan Rail) and there are many trains stations all over japan. The whole system of train routes and stops is a massive spider web and it takes some understanding of the sytem to get from point A to point B in Tokyo.

2) To get to most tourist spots in Tokyo, you only need to know about Yamanote train travel. Learn to get on to Yamanote train travel from your local train station and the rest is easy.

3) If you are going to travel intensively by train, it’s advisable to get a unlimited JR train ticket from major state train stations like Tokyo and Osaka train stations- costs savings overall.

Things to do:

Using JR trains, you can just about get to anywhere you want in Japan. There’s also a shinkansen (bullet-train) to get from state to state but it’s rather expensive for a ride. Places like Ueno, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Akihabara, Ikebukuro, Ginza and Harajyuku are places you should look out for as they are the main tourists spots with heaps of Japanese culture and attractions.

Ueno (pronounced as “ooo-a-no”) - famous park and zoo

Shibuya- hotspot for young people, high school kids and accessories

Shinjuku- business center but lots of shopping and interesting things about

Akihabara- computer, electronics and gadgets town

Ikebukuro- accessories, trendy clothes and more shopping

Harajuku- fashion, large variety of shops and roppon-ni (bars)

Ginza- trendy and expensive shopping area

There are so many things and places that you see in Tokyo; entertainment, traditional, cultural, food, shopping and tourist spots, and I will only spoil the fun of adventure to tell you about everything in Japan or Tokyo like guide books do.
You easily find help and tourist information along your way, if you get lost in the bubbly Tokyo. Now that you know how to get around Tokyo using trains, why not take up the challenge and explore Tokyo on your own?

Author: Adrian Curtin works full-time as a webmaster at http://www.travelwalk.net Travel recommendations, travel forums and resources. His interests lie predominantly in travel and creating his travel stories in his laptop while travelling.

Tokyo just might be the largest city in the world, comprised of 23 individual wards, all with their own unique characteristics. Foreigners are easily intimidated by the sheer expanse of Japan’s capital city and its 17 million inhabitants (5 million are commuters); however, due to this volume alone Tokyo has developed an unmatched public transportation system and an intricate network of visitor friendly information resources. The best way to travel Tokyo’s frantic bustle is to allow the subway to lead the way. A loose itinerary will draw you into true Japanese life through unexpected encounters and more intimate experiences.

Tokyo: A Consumer Capital

It may be ironic that one of the most expensive cities in the world also has one of the most rampant and flamboyant consumer cultures. Tourist attractions in Tokyo consist of many gargantuan shopping complexes in addition to the cultural favorites. The Ginza shopping district reigns supreme for ostentatious spending habits, with thousands of mega-stores, boutiques and an excessive array of non-functional novelty stores for the easily amused within us all. For a dose of New York in Tokyo, visit Shibuya, which is rife with higher-end shops, shrines, King-Kong-sized plasma TV screens and the busiest pedestrian street crossing in the world.

A Culture of Retrospect and Reflection

There is a tendency to become inundated and desensitized by the neon lights that line the city streets like masts in Japan’s ocean of technology. While these electric temples serve to extol a hyper-modern age, Tokyo also possesses some of the most idyllic and serene shrines and pagodas in the country. Meiji-jingu is the most impressive of Tokyo’s Shinto shrines, built with Japanese cypress and copper plates for the roof. Even though the shrine was destroyed during World War II, the reconstruction has not lost any of the grandeur. Just north of the city, Bonsai Park treats visitors to the zen-like art of cultivating these meticulously placed miniature trees and experiencing the calming of the mind. An essential experience for anyone traveling to Tokyo is the view of Mount Fuji in the early hours of dawn. This is possible from within the city, atop one of the massive skyscrapers such as the Government Building in Shinjuku. Directly in the center of Tokyo, the Imperial Palace (Kokyo) is an inner-city sanctuary that is home to the Imperial Family. The public can visit the surrounding East Gardens and walk along the double bridge over the tranquil moats of the palace grounds, but the palace buildings and inner courtyard are closed to visitors.

Travel to Tokyo with a willingness to get lost among the hustle and perhaps find yourself again in the silence of a shrine. The expansive city and system of subways make it nearly impossible to make a wrong turn.

by Frank Johnson

For travelers of Japan who intend to cover any distance, trains are the best way to get around. And nothing is quicker than the famous Bullet Train. If tickets are purchased per journey instead, these Shinkansen trips can cost almost the same as the equivalent airfare - but the range of destinations is not limited to cities that only have airports. Shinkansen simply means ‘New Trunk Line’ in English, however it’s more commonly referred to as the Bullet Train.

The other convenience factor of the Japanese bullet train is probably not immediately apparent. For example, imagine catching a plane. You’d need to get yourself right out of town to the airport, check in early, go through the screening and boarding procedures and then do it all again at the other end! It could add many hours to a journey that may only entail 1 or 2 hours flying time. With the Shinkansen bullet trains, assuming you have an un-reserved seat, all you need to do is turn up at the station, wait about 15-20 mins for the next train and jump aboard.

The Shinkansen schedule is very regular and but I recommend picking up a Shinkansen timetable as the services do stop overnight. That way you won’t get caught out. Stash your luggage out of the way and relax! There are even food & beverage carts that are wheeled through the train just like in the air! You can purchase snacks, hot meals and even alcohol, and the seats have fold down tray tables too! When you arrive at your destination simply grab your bags and alight. Most Shinkansen bullet trains run from stations fairly central in the cities so are easy to get to.

You will find that your Japanese trip is much more pleasurable by train, and you can take in the sights too, albeit at pretty high speed. If you plan on traveling by train a lot in Japan, a Japan Rail Pass is definitely recommended and allows you unlimited travel on JR (Japan Rail) trains for 7, 14 or 21 days depending on the pass purchased. But be carefuly, since many other train companies other than Japan Rail and the Japan Rail Pass is not valid for all train services. You will find the JR Pass saves you an absolute bundle especially since you can have unlimited Shinkansen bullet train travel using it.

The Japan Rail Pass lets you use all Shinkansen services apart from the Nozomi class, which are the current fastest bullet trains. Since usually the Nozomi shinkansen will be a full express service to the destination, you are probably going to want to take the other Shinkansen service anyway to get off along the way for your sightseeing in Japan. A trip on the bullet train is a must-do for the total Japan experience!

You might think that booking a hotel in Japan is a daunting task. The ideal place to start your hotel search would be the Internet. You could directly visit the websites of hotels located in Japan and make your reservations. Most of the sites offer an option to surf in English. Sites like the www.JapaneseHotelDirectory.com enlist information on different types of hotels and accommodations.

The Japanese hotel association website also offers information on accommodations. Staying in a western-style hotel in Japan is equivalent to the experience in the US. The staffs at the hotel speak English and provide excellent customer service. The western-style hotel options in Japan include deluxe, business or capsule.

Foreign visitors are better accommodated in deluxe hotels in terms of language and food. Of course, you will not miss the Japanese influence because you will find Japanese restaurants in these hotels too. Business hotels offer reasonable prices. While the rooms are smaller than in a regular hotel and have an attached bathroom they are preferred mostly by traveling businessmen. These hotels do not have a restaurant or any other services, aside from vending machines. Visitors can expect convenience as these business hotels usually are located close to local train stations.

Capsule hotels are representative of the premium on space in Japan. These hotels offer a bed in a small capsule with a television and a shared bathroom. Located near railway stations the checkout is usually around 9 a.m. the next morning. Washing facilities are located within the hotel and some hotels even have luxury bathrooms and massage parlors.

Apart from the regular hotels, visitors to Japan can also look forward to accommodations like the Ryokan, Minshuku and Pension. Ryokan is essentially a traveler’s inn. Visitors who stay in a Ryokan experience traditional Japan as most of the rooms are in Japanese Style and you sleep on a futon on the tatami mat floor. While the rates are the same as a business hotel in the cities, Ryokan’s in resort areas are reasonably priced apart from giving you a unique Japanese experience.

Minshuku referred to as people’s accommodation are somewhat similar to the Ryokan but are generally family-run businesses. They are cheaper than the Ryokan’s. From the outside many look like a large house and sometimes you get to eat with the family. The downside is that English is not spoken and many of the houses appear old and run-down.

Pensions are the westernized version of the Ryokan and Minshuku. They are located in the resort areas and offer the same services albeit with a European flavor. Rates are generally per person and that includes Western or French style dinner and breakfast.

There are a few travel tips you need to know before you travel to Japan.

* Eating is Japan is quite a challenge especially if you do not know where to look for the right food. For instance, Tokyo itself has more than 60,000 restaurants. So the key is to eat just like the Japanese - look for local restaurants on the streets instead of high-rise hotels. You will usually find the best deals and the easiest way to choose your food will be to point to it on the display window (usually menus are in Japanese).

* Visit the Japanese National Tourist Organization website for a wealth of information on travel and hotels.

* Carry an easy to read conversion dictionary from your native language or English to Japanese.

* The Japanese generally have a quiet and peaceful culture. They are very particular about etiquette. So it’s very important to know their table manners, socially acceptable forms of greetings, tipping policies, hygiene, etc.

About the author:
Henry Huxton is site moderator of JapaneseHotelDirectory.com