The Land of the Rising Sun is a mix of modern and traditional design. Nestled between buildings are Shinto shrines in which the locals frequent for a quick prayer.

The main religions in Japan are Shinto and Buddhist. The Japanese people hold their traditions and culture close.

It’s an easily accessible country. The train system is one of the best in the world making it easy to travel to different cities and parts of the country.

Rich in history and shrouded in WWII tragedy, Hiroshima is a quick day trip from Osaka. There you can find the memorial peace museum where visitors can learn about the events that lead up to August 6th, 1945 when the bomb ‘Little Boy’ was dropped.

Japan has proven to be an incredibly resilient nation and is considered one of the safest countries to visit.

Language: Japanese. Most locals in major cities will speak English.

Currency: Japanese Yen.

Best time to Visit: Spring (March to May) and Fall (September to November). Japan has incredibly hot and humid summers as all the concrete buildings trap the heat. The winters are cold and dry. Japan does snow and does offer skiing in the winter months.

Adapter Required: No – Japan uses plug type A & B which are common in North America.

Voltage: 100V – North America operates on 120V so no converter required

Car Rental Recommended: No

Things to Know: If traveling around Japan, a JR Rail Pass is recommended. The Shinkansen’s (bullet trains) are very expensive without it.

Things to Do:

Mt. Fuji
Drive Go Karts through Tokyo (and dress us as Mario Kart characters)
Shibuya crossing (the famous scramble crossing)
Kyoto Gardens
Osaka Castle
Soak in an Onsen

Things to Know:

Fun Facts About Jaoan

The trains are the most punctual in the world with an average delay of 18 seconds
The main religions are Shinto and Buddhism
You can bath in a traditional Japanese hot spring bath called an Onsen