TRAVEL TIPS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

WHAT WE’LL TALK ABOUT TODAY

1) Awesome places off the typical tourist trail

2) Seasonal travel

3) Matsuri

4) Experiences

5) Close overseas destinations

6) Traveling efficiently and cheaply

7) Other tips and tricks

AWESOME RECOMMENDATIONS!

Share somewhere that you highly recommend people visit that they might not know about

Keep it within 2 minutes

From: Nicharawee Sawetchaikul on Pinterest

KUMANO KODŌ TRAIL

KŌYASAN

NAOSHIMA, TESHIMA, AND INUJIMA

From: benesse-artsite.jp

From: benesse-artsite.jp

YAKUSHIMA

SEASONAL TRAVEL

Japan has 4 seasons!

(But they are actually really good at making certain

places absolutely spectacular for a few weeks a year)

From: goodfon.com

WINTER

Frozen waterfalls Hirayu, Hida Kiso, Nagano

Illuminations Nabana no Sato Kobe Luminarie Castle illuminations Nagoya station and Sakae

Christmas markets Sapporo snow festival

Scuba with hammerhead

sharks in Okinawa

SPRING – SAKURA

Chubu: Kakamigahara The sakura tunnel near Seki Ride bikes on an abandoned railway in Hida Takayama matsuri Kenrokuen, Kanazawa Matsumoto castle Yamazaki River, Nagoya

Kansai

So many places in Kyoto! Mt. Yoshino, Nara Himeji castle

Tokyo/Fuji

Classic view from Chureito Pagoda Shinjuku Gyoen and Ueno Park

From: en.japantravel.com

From: jpninfo.com

SPRING – OTHER FLOWERS AND SIGHTS

In Chubu:

Wisteria in Hashima

Toyama tulip festival

Ono rose festival

Hydrangea festival in Seki city (June 2-3)

Tateyama Alpine Route snow wall (Apr-June)

From: japan-guide.com

SPRING – OTHER FLOWERS AND SIGHTS

Kyushu:

Kawachi Fuji Gardens for the best wisteria tunnel! (early May in GW)

Huis Ten Bosch tulip festival (Mar-Apr)

From: japanbook,net

SPRING – OTHER FLOWERS AND SIGHTS

Tokyo/Fuji

Shibazakura (mid Apr–early May)

Ashikaga Flower Park wisteria tunnels (Apr–May)

Hitachi Seaside Park for the blue nemophila (late Apr–mid May)

From: japanican.com From: japan-guide.com

SUMMER

Festivals (more on these next)

Fireworks

Hike Mt. Fuji

Hokkaido

Lavender fields at Farm Tomita, Furano

Colourful rows of flowers at Shikisai no Oka, Biei

Hokuryu sunflower park

Sapporo beer festival

Okinawa

Go cool down by relaxing on a beach

From: miyajima.or.jp

From: japanican.com

AUTUMN

Chubu region:

Kamikochi National Park, Nagano/Hida

Tateyama Alpine Route, Toyama/Nagano

Oyada temple, Mino

Ginkgo tree avenue, Kakamigahara

Ena Valley

Toki park illuminations

Korankei, Aichi

Obara sakura AND momiji, Aichi

Red carpet of leaves at Keisokuji, Shiga

AUTUMN

Kyoto (early Nov)

Eikandōji

Tōfukuji

Nara

Hitachi Seaside Park

(early–mid Oct)

From: en.hitachihaikin.jp

From: japan-guide.com

THE MOST FAMOUS MATSURI

Gion Matsuri Awa Ōdōri Kanda Matsuri

Kyoto Tokushima Tokyo

17-24th July 12-15th Aug Mid May

From: dannychoo.com

FESTIVALS - “TOHOKU ROKU” (6 MATSURI, 6 PREFECTURES, 6 DAYS)

Nebuta matsuri Kantō matsuri Tanabata

Aomori, Aug 2-7th Akita, Aug 3-6th Sendai, Aug 7-8th

Waraji matsuri – Fukushima Sansa ōdōri – Morioka Hanagasa – Yamagata First weekend of Aug Aug 1-4th Aug 5-7th

THE MOST FAMOUS MATSURI CONT...

Yuki matsuri Kishiwada Danjiri Hōnen matsuri

Sapporo Osaka Komaki, Aichi

early Feb mid Sept March 15

From: japan-magazine.jnto.go.jp From: komaki-kasugaiphotoclub

GIFU FESTIVALS

Takayama matsuri Mino matsuri Sekigahara matsuri (14–15 Apr) (2nd weekend of Apr) (mid Oct)

Many others:

Nobunaga and Dosan matsuri (Gifu), Ogaki matsuri, Doburoku matsuri (Shirakawa-go), Fox matsuri (Hida-Furukawa), Furukawa matsuri, Tejikara fire matsuri (Gifu), Gero onsen matsuri, Gujō ōdōri.

From: japan-experience.com From: tadaimajp.com

EXPERIENCES

Take part in a matsuri

Cooking classes

Make food samples in Gujō

Make wagashi in Kyoto

Cultural classes

Tea ceremony, calligraphy, kendō, etc. (visit your school’s clubs!)

Miyako ōdōri – the only time you can see maiko performing! (Apr 1–24)

From: miyako-odori.jp

EXPERIENCES

Sports Sumo

Baseball or soccer games

Kendō demonstrations

Museums Yayoi Kusama’s Tokyo exhibition

Kanazawa’s 21st Century Museum

Naoshima art islands

Music festivals Fuji Rock Festival

Ultra Japan

Summer Sonic

From: theloophk.com

CLOSE OVERSEAS

TRIPS

From: bangkok.com

South Korea

TRAVELING EFFICIENTLY

When to use nenkyuu

Bus, train, or fly?

Pros Cons

Bus

- Cheap - Convenient for those in Takayama - Overnight buses save accommodation

- Take a long time - Not many routes - Have to book in advance

Train

- Local options are cheap - Go regularly - Convenient for those in the south - No need to book in advance

- The shinkansen is expensive - Probably won’t get a seat

Aeroplane - Fast - Can be cheaper than the shinkansen

- Expensive - Have to book in advance

From Nagoya From Takayama

Tokyo

- Bus (~¥5000, 6 hrs) - Shinkansen (¥11,290, 1.5 hrs) - Kodama (¥8300, 3 hrs)

- Bus (¥6690/5.5 hrs) - Shinkansen (¥14,000, 4hrs) - Kodama (¥11,000, 6 hrs)

Kansai

- Gifu local trains (¥2500, 2.5 hr) - Shinkansen (¥6760, 1 hr) - Kodama (¥4300, 1.5hrs)

- Bus (¥4500/4-5hrs) - Local trains (¥5000, 5hrs) - Shinkansen (¥9500, 3.5hrs)

Nagoya airport

- Train from Gifu (¥1700, 1hr) Nagoya (¥1230, 30min) - Drive from Gifu (~¥4000, 1.5hr)

- Bus/train (¥3700/3.5hrs) - Drive (~¥7500, 3hrs)

COMPARING MODES OF TRANSPORT

WILLER BUS PASS

Unlimited bus travel passes

Choose any 3 or 5 dates within a 2 month period to travel around Japan

3 days = ¥12,500 / 5 days = ¥15,000

Book routes online in English

Pay for it in cash at a konbini

http://willerexpress.com/st/3/en/pc/buspass/

An example day using the pass:

AM: Nagoya/Kanazawa to Tokyo

PM: Tokyo to Aomori

Normally ¥14,000, but only ¥12,500 plus you still have 2 more days of travel left!

SEISHUN 18 KIPPU / 青春１８きっぷ

A JR train pass which allows 5 days of unlimited travel around the country on all local and rapid JR trains for only ¥11850!

It can be bought at most JR stations across Japan.

It is only sold and available for use during the 3 school holiday periods throughout the year: Spring vacation: Mar 1 – Apr 10 Summer vacation: July 20 – Sept 10 Winter vacation: Dec 10 – Jan 10

You can even share it between friends travelling together 5 people using 1 day each

2 people using 2 days each

PLATT KODAMA / ぷらっとこだま

Book tickets in advance for the slower Kodama shinkansen and save a few thousand yen on your trips.

Book your ticket more than 1 day in advance Online or over the phone in Japanese

Or at the Tokai Tour Centre in JR Nagoya station

Choose your departure time (every half hour)

Get a free drink voucher!

http://www.jrtours.co.jp/kodama/en/

Shin-Osaka/Kyoto Tokyo

From Nagoya

¥4300 (save ¥2460)

¥8300 (save ¥2990)

TRAVELING EFFICIENTLY

Travel during the night https://www.sleepinginairports.net/

Sleep in manga cafes or fit the back of your car out with a futon and blankets!

Work out if driving or public transport is cheapest

http://dc.c-nexco.co.jp/dc/DriveCompass.html

Take advantage of the special ticket options

After your contract ends and visa changes (worker to tourist visa) you can get a JR pass!

HOT TIPS

GO Gifu Facebook page and blog Facebook JETsetters Use social media to find unknown places

Follow local Japanese Instagram accounts Trawl through Pinterest and Instagram

Book accommodation early online

and cancel it for free if need be

Let this quiz work out what interests you and where you haven’t been yet to help plan your next trip! https://www.jnto.org.au/travelguru/#quiz__signup

THANK YOU FOR TAKING PART!