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Information on accommodation in Tokyo area for beginners

Hi!, I’m MOTOHICO.

This time, I will provide information on accommodation (hotel) in the Tokyo area for foreign visitors to Japan.

If you have already been to Japan many times, you may be aware of the various features, but we will provide information for beginners.

You can access downtown Tokyo from Narita Airport or Haneda Airport.

It takes about 1 hour by train from Narita Airport to the city center and about 30 minutes by Keikyu Line or monorail from Haneda Airport.





As you already know, the Olympics and Paralympics will take place in the summer of 2020. Therefore, famous hotels in central Tokyo are expected to be flooded with reservations.
So, we will introduce areas where travel time to the city center is short, but reservations are relatively easy and prices are low.

The first is Kawasaki City. This city is placed at south side from center of Tokyo. It takes about 15 minutes by train to the center of Tokyo.

The second is Ichikawa and Funabashi. It is located on the east side of the city center. All are 15 minutes by train.

The third is Komae, Chofu, Mitaka, Musashino city. These are located on the west side of the city center. It takes about 30 minutes by train.

These areas are relatively cheaper than Tokyo’s 23 wards.
However, it is advisable to make an early reservation for the Olympics and Paralympics, as the time is approaching.
Thank you.

Information on accommodation in Himeji area for beginners

Hi!, I’m MOTOHICO.

This time, I will provide information on accommodation in the Himeji area for foreign visitors to Japan.

If you have already been to Japan many times, you may be aware of the various features, but we will provide information for beginners.

Himeji is visited by many foreigners for sightseeing. Because Himeji Castle is very famous.
Then, at Himeji Station, the Shinkansen passes 300km/h and is famous as the fastest station on the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen in Japan.

Himeji is not a big city, but besides Himeji Castle, you can feel the Japanese culture because there are Shoshazan Engyoji (Buddhist temples).

Shoshazan-Engyoji is well known place as the filmed in the movie Last Samurai in the past.
Tom Cruise was main cast at Last Samurai.

OK, Let me introduce you to the hotels in the Himeji area.

The closest hotel to the station is Nikko Himeji, less than a minute walk south of Himeji Station.

Other new hotels include the Himeji castle grandvio hotel and the Hotel Monterey Himeji.



Other low-cost hotels include Wing International Hotel and Livemax.
Compared to Osaka, it is generally cheaper, so it is better to stay in Himeji when traveling in Osaka or the Kansai area.





Information on accommodation in Osaka area for beginners

Hi!, I’m MOTOHICO.

This time, I will provide information on accommodation in the Osaka area for foreign visitors to Japan.

If you have already been to Japan many times, you may be aware of the various features, but we will provide information for beginners.

This time it is information on Osaka area, but next time we are thinking about Tokyo area.

First, Osaka is roughly divided into two areas. One is on the north side (called Kita) and the other is on the south side (called Minami).

You can move Kita and Minami on the subway Midosuji Line. About 15 minutes.

As a general impression, Kita has many luxury hotels and Minami has many reasonable hotels.



Kita area

Kita has Osaka Station and Shin-Osaka Station on the Shinkansen, which is a convenient area for traveling to Tokyo, Nagoya and Hakata by Shinkansen. You can move to Kyoto by local train (Special Rapid or Rapid service).

Namba Station and Tennoji Station are placed in Minami, and access from Kansai International Airport is very convenient by Nankai Electric Railway (Express “Rapit”) and JR Express (Haruka).

Luxury hotels in the Kita area include Ritz-Carlton, Rihga Royal, Intercontinental, Imperial Hotel, Conrad, New Otani, Hotel Hankyu International, Westin, and ANA Crown Plaza and Marriott.

In Japan, a reasonable hotel is called a business hotel, but there are cases where the room is smaller and the breakfast is not included.
For example, there are APA Hotel, Toyoko Inn, and Livemax. It is a popular hotel for visitors to Japan who want to stay at the hotel and want to reduce the cost of accommodation. There are these hotels in the Kita area, and you can also make a reservation.



Minami area

Minami has many tourist spots for visitors to Japan. For example, Tsutenkaku and Doutonbori. If you want to stay close to a sightseeing spot, we recommend that you book a hotel in the Minami area.

There are Marriott Miyako, Hotel Nikko Osaka and Sheraton Miyako Hotel in Minami, but there are few luxury hotels compared to Kita.

There are many business hotels.Recently, FP HOTELS is famous for foreigners in Minami. There are several places in Minami.

Minami has an area where many visitors are staying. It’s called the Nishinari district.

The Nishinari area can be reached on foot from “Dobutsuen-mae” on the subway Midosuji Line, “Tengajaya” on the Subway Sakaisuji Line or Nankai Electric Railway, “Shin-Imamiya” or “Tennoji” on the JR Line.

In recent years, Nishinari has been developed as an inbound district, and many foreigners are staying there. You can interact with people from various countries during your stay. This area is recommended for long-term stays. Because the accommodation fee is very cheap.
If you are not particular about the facilities, there are hotels that cost around 1000 yen per night.

Thank you.





Introduction of Japanese culture (about garbage and restroom during travel)

Hi! I’m MOTOHICO.

In this article, we will introduce to foreigners who have traveled to Japan how to dispose of garbage and how to use the restroom.

I’m living in Japan but I have traveled foreign country frequently. For example, USA, UK, Germany, Poland, Italy, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, China, Korea, etc.

In Japan, the method of waste disposal and the use of restrooms is slightly different from foreign countries.

First of all, I will introduce garbage disposal.
While traveling in Japan, we sometimes want to dispose of trash such as drink bottles and food containers.

In Japan, we usually put garbage in the trash box.
Never throw it away on the roadside.
Trash boxes are often installed at stations, convenience stores and department stores.

We have to separate garbage that can be burned (paper such as tissue, wrapping paper for confectionery, etc.), cans and glass bottles, and plastic bottles.

It is easy to understand because the illustration is drawn like a photograph in the trash box.

However, in a big event, the trash box at the railway station may be removed. It may have been removed during the 2020 Olympics.

Throw away any garbage generated during your stay in the hotel’s trash can.

Recently, it has become a problem for overseas travelers to throw away their suitcases at hotels and airports.

When you purchase a new suitcase in Japan, ask the store where you purchased it for disposal.



 

Next, we will introduce the use of the restroom.

In your country, public toilets are often not free, but in Japan they are almost free.

There are restrooms at stations, department stores, restaurants and convenience stores.
In most cases, you can’t go to the restroom without entering the ticket gate at the station.

In the restroom, you can find information in multiple languages.

In nature parks such as Mt. Fuji, there are many charges.

If you are with a small child, don’t worry. This is because there are chairs as shown in the photo. You can keep a child at the chair.

Thank you.



Introduction of how to use local train in Japan (for beginers)

Hello!!, I’m MOTOHICO.

 

The Rugby World Cup 2019 is now being held in Japan.

Japan is very exciting now.

As you know, the Tokyo Olympics will be held next year.

I want foreign tourists who can come to Japan to enjoy Japan.

Since tourists often travel by train in Japan, we will introduce how to ride a local train.

Of course it is explained in the guidebook.

If you travel between large cities (eg. Tokyo and Osaka, Tokyo and Hakata), use the Shinkansen.

If you want to move faster, you can use an airplane, but full service companies (ANA, JAL) are more expensive than the Shinkansen.

Recently, LCCs ( Peach, Air Asia Japan, Jetstar Japan ) and independent airlines ( Skymark, Starflyer, Solaseedair ) have also been enriched, so there is a way to use them.

In the case of LCCs, there is a high possibility of moving cheaper than the Shinkansen.

 

When traveling in a city, use local lines or the subway lines.

There are two types of railway companies in Japan. In other words, the old national railway (JR Hokkaido, JR East, JR Central, JR West, JR Shikoku, JR Kyushu) and private railway (Keikyu, Tobu, Seibu, Hankyu, Hanshin, etc.).

When you get to the station, you need to buy a ticket. There is a price list on the ticket machine, so check the fare to the target station.
(US $ 1 is approximately 100 yen.)

After confirming the fare, purchase a ticket at the ticket machine. Ticket machines can display in English, Korean and Chinese.

 

 

 

Local ticket vending machines can only accept cash, and credit cards are often not accepted.

After purchasing a ticket, go to the platform through the ticket gate. Tickets will be collected at the ticket gate at the disembarking station, so do not lose them until then. If lost, you will have to pay a penalty.

Wait for the train when you get to the platform.

On the platform, there are LED monitor information on the destination and departure time.

Depending on the type of train (stops at each station, rapid service, etc.) depending on the railway company, the stand-by position of the platform changes. The information is also displayed on the LED monitor (in the case of a photograph, it means to wait in circles 1 to 6).

The train stops at a fixed position and the door comes to the standby position.

In Japan, you have to wait in line with the waiting position. This is manners. Never overtake the previous person and get on the train.
The person who gets off when the door opens is a priority. After this , you can take the train.

 

On the train, seats are given priority to seniors, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.

Every vehicle has a priority seat. Usually at the end of the vehicle.

Seats with this sticker are used especially by the people mentioned above.

 

By the way, buying a ticket every time you get on the train is cumbersome and time consuming.

An IC card can also be used as a ticketless method.

You can get IC cards in stations, IC cards have various names. For example, Suica, ICOCA, TOICA, PASMO, PiTaPa, etc.
You can purchase an IC card at the ticket machine at the station.

A deposit of 500 yen is required at the time of card purchase, but it will be returned when the card is returned. It can be returned at the ticket machine.

It is very convenient to charge the necessary amount with a ticket machine. This is because it is possible to pay fares for most restaurants, convenience stores and buses with this IC card.

When using the train, it is OK if you touch the IC card at both the boarding gate and the exit gate. Many Japanese are touching, so you can imitate.

If you want to obtain an IC card before entering Japan, contact me and send it by air mail in advance. You can move around Japan with your IC card as soon as you arrive. This will save your time.
We will charge the required amount in advance upon your request.

We can charge the necessary amount of money.

Payment must be made with PayPal.

Thank you.