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Japan Transportation – The Needed Basics

November 21, 2014

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Japan Transportation – The Needed Basics for Tourists

Exploring any country requires a travel guide, either in the form of a book, a person, or a blog to point out the places that are a must-see. And when traveling here, Japan transportation are the best ways for getting around the cities and country.

Another requirement is of a basic understanding of the language that the locals speak, so you can at least order food without stumbling and ending up with something completely un-edible.
But I admit, it sure is fun trying!

One more essential requisite for travelling to and exploring a country, especially one as diverse as Japan, is having knowledge of the available transport options at your destination.

Without this knowledge, you will be lost the minute you step off the plane.

If you are lucky enough to have a private car coming to pick you up from the airport, kudos, but if not, then you have come to the right place where I will guide you through the many Japan transportation options that are available to a tourist in Japan.

Japan Transportation – An Extensive System Mapping Throughout The Country

Japan is well-known and famous for its highly extensive options of transport, that are found everywhere in the country – even the small cities. Other than the vast and efficient train systems that run in the country, there are also various other transportation options which are just as attractive choices as the bullet train if you are a tourist.

Within metropolitan areas and between large cities, the public transportation system of the country is efficient and organized. The local population favors the system not only for the convenience it offers but also because of the qualities that are characteristic of the nation i.e. its punctuality and the awesome service.

Japan Transportation – Traveling by Train

The four major islands of Japan are connected by a vast and reliable network of trains. For visitors, nothing is more convenient than travelling around Japan by train. Following are the types of trains you should know about before embarking on the journey.

Local Train: stops at every station.
Rapid Train: skips some stations.
Express Train: stops at even fewer stations. Japan Railways charge a separate fee, in addition.
Limited Express Train: stops at major stations. The fee is between 500 and 4000 yen, in addition the base fare.
Super Express Train: is only operated by Japan Railways, and runs on separate tracks. The fee is between 800 to 8000 yen, in addition to the base fare.

Japan Transportation – By Boat

The nation is connected with ferry services scattered throughout the island. There are two benefits of using ferries for transport:

1) You can easily get from one place to another

2) You can discover new places

The schedule of this service varies in the price of the ticket – from travelling and arriving between adjacent islands in two hours, to making 1½ day trip for the same route.

Most ferries carry cars, bikes, and motorcycles too.

Japan Transportation – By Bus

In almost every Japanese city there is bus service; however, it is usually not a good option for foreign travelers. However, in many of the tourist towns, buses especially for tourists often run from the main railway station. Cities such as Tokyo and Kyoto even run tours in English, for its foreign visitors.

Travelling in Japan is not so difficult once you understand all the various options at your disposal. Travel safe!

My absolute favorite method of Japan transportation travel is by train.

It is very easy once you get the system down (be sure to check out my article on riding the bullet train in Japan). In major cities, the subway lines are owned and operated by multiple companies making switching difficult as each company only produces a map for their lines!

This means walking up to 4 maps possibly and writing down which stations to change on.

But, it’s part of the excitement and the adventure! Bus’s are great, too, but it is best to do your homework before you go. There isn’t much English posted around so best to try planning your route before hand. When I went skiing in Nagano several years ago, I had to take 2 trains and 2 bus’s. But a little planing beforehand, everything was super fun!

Enjoy!

Sake Guide – The Staple Drink of Japan

November 6, 2014

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Sake Guide – The Staple Drink of Japan

A trip to Japan is incomplete without having Sake, the drink most commonly consumed in the country. Similarly, my trip to the country included pit-stops at the local sake breweries and experiencing the grand Sake Festival, which is one reason alone to visit the country every year!

Actually, the first time I had the opportunity was take a sip of this sweet yet strong drink was back in 2005. I was in Tokyo for a quick trip, two days. After a group of meetings I was invited out for some lunch, which turned out to be an incredible sushi lunch! But, what is common with the meals is sake. My host asked me do I like my sake hot or cold? I didn’t know what the difference was then and I asked for hot.

The sake came to the table in a small yet well crafted bottle and two small round cups. The waitress poured each of us and we drank.

Wow! First, the sake WAS hot! But the sensation was the liquid rank down my throat was exciting. So to help you out and help to not be the fool that I was then I put together this article.

Sake Guide: What is Sake?

Many English-speaking countries mistake Sake for wine, in due fact, Sake can’t be wine because this alcoholic beverage is not made from grapes, but from steamed-cooked rice. It is an easy mistake to make, as many brands of sake possess a fruity flavor. And that was the first thing I asked when I met my host, if we could have some wine! The look he gave me well… lets ay it wasn’t all too pleasing….

The brewing process of sake is very much like beer where the sugar that is needed to produce ethanol must be first extracted from starch that is present in the rice.

To achieve that process, a special mould called koji is added to the cooked rice. The starch that is present in the cooked rice turns into sugars, which in turn becomes alcohol with the addition of yeast into this mixture. This is the fermentation process, and it will be another month or two when the sake can be distributed for consumption.

Sake Guide: Age-old cultural ties attached

The process of brewing sake is a lengthy one, followed and perfected by generations of Japanese who deemed the brewing of this drink as a form of art and their cultural heritage.

If you wish to have an experience of a lifetime, your ultimate travel destination should be Higashi-Hiroshima city. The city is famous for housing one of the three greatest sake brewing districts in Japan.

The chilly month of October is the best time to visit this city, because it is when the Sake Festival is held around the area of the Saijo Station that accommodates many of the oldest and well-established breweries in the city.

Sake Guide: The Sake Festival

I was fortunate enough to have been part of the festivities that occur every year, to greet the arrival of the new season’s batch of sake.

Along with a group of fellow sake enthusiasts, I took the Nozomi Shinkansen from Tokyo, and arrived at Hiroshima City in a grand total of 2 hours, and a couple of minutes. The train flew like the wind!

The only draw-back was that we had to pay the full fare, because the Nozomi Shinkansen doesn’t come under Japan Railways jurisdiction (Big topic of discussions, there are multiple train companies in Japan, each with there own lines and maps!). We also had to change trains, at Shin- Osaka.

All in all, the bullet train experience wasn’t all that bad.

We took the bus from the station and reached easily enough to our destination. One good thing about travel in Japan is the facilities offered to foreigners in terms of travel, and ways to reach places by themselves. You’ll find this in only the big cities though.

Sake Guide: Tasting and sampling

Like us, the whole neighborhood around Saijo station was filled with people that had come from all over Japan, and other parts of the world to sample fine Hiroshima sake.

The venue was be-decked with vibrant colors and food-stalls where visitors milled about some of the finest of that year’s batch of sake.

We ended the night some hours later, at a quiet sake restaurant away from the festivities that were still in full swing, and said kempai (which means cheers in Japanese) to our last drinking round of the day.

After this awesome experience, I can hardly go to a Japanese restaurant without ordering a small bottle of wine. After trying various kinds of hot and cold (there are many costs factors, too, but unlike wines you can get an excellent bottle of Sake for a couple of dollars) I decided I preferred hot!

And if you’re looking to learn a little bit about it, as I did after my trip to Japan, I’d definitely check out this book and help become a sake expert too!

Which do you prefer?

Enjoy!

Japanese Business Etiquette – The Essentials

October 28, 2014

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Japanese Business Etiquette – The Essentials

Demonstrating a little understanding of Japanese culture in a business meeting implies that you have a genuine interest in doing business with them. That’s the best way to create a lasting impression on your business associates.

Good manners, politeness, and sensitivity are the pillars of Japanese business etiquettes as they are in other parts of the world. The difference here is that Japanese business etiquettes are quite formal. However, the Japanese are usually forgiving to outsiders and tend to ignore minor transgressions if you show an effort to understanding their customs.

Japanese Business Etiquette – Meetings

Japanese businessmen like a conservative demeanor. Showing modesty builds trust and image and leads to a higher level of respect from a Japanese host.

When going for a meeting with a Japanese counterpart, you should call your client 1-2 hours prior to the meeting to confirm that you are coming. If you think you may be late, call at least an hour in advance to ask your client to reschedule the meeting. It is always advisable to arrive approximately 10 minutes early for a meeting.

Upon meeting, your Japanese counterpart may offer a handshake. However, bowing may show respect to their culture making a more favorable impression on your business associate.

When the time comes to sit, wait till your Japanese host guides you where to sit as there is a custom regarding seating positions around the table.

Moreover, taking a lot of notes is considered a sign of interest. It is good to take notes of everything at meetings to keep yourself involved in the discussion and look interested.

Business Cards

The exchange of business cards during a meeting is essential business protocol in Japan. The Japanese call business cards “meishi” and foreigners are expected to bring their dual-side printed bilingual business cards essentially.

The Japanese place great emphasis on business cards. They see your business card as a reflection of your image and your intent of carrying out business with them so it is the best way to create a strong impression on your Japanese counterpart.

When your Japanese counterpart presents the card, receive it with both hands and give a quick bow. Read the card and place it carefully on the table until the meeting is over. When the meeting comes to an end, place the card in the folder or card case.

Things to Avoid in Japanese Business Meetings

Keep your hands out of your pockets when talking to someone.
Do not deface or damage the business card that has been presented to you. Also, avoid putting them in your pocket.
If your Japanese associate or client invites you for lunch or dinner, accept it wholeheartedly.
The numbers 4 and 9 are considered unlucky in Japanese culture. Avoid giving gifts in set of four or nine.
Do not write in red ink.
Avoid raising your voice or using excessive hand gestures in business meetings.

The Japanese may not seem welcoming initially. But, once you develop strong relationship with them, your interactions may get less formal and friendlier with them. Learning Japanese business etiquettes and there culture was of great interest of mine, both when I was young and later when I had to travel to Japan for business. This book helped me solve much of that curiosity.

Learning about the long history and culture of the society helps to build your reputation in your Japanese counterparts’ eyes.