Hokkaido, Okinawa and

everything in between -

Exploring Japan

Getting the most of domestic travel during your time on JET

Omiyage (souvenirs) Everywhere in Japan and usually showcase a

local delicacy, culture, site or mascot.

Which one did you get?

Hiroshima

Ise - Mie

Tokushima -

Shikoku

Ise – Mie

(contains

shrimp)

Hiroshima

Ishikawa

Toyama

About Me David Gear

4th year Kure JET

Travelled to 45/47 prefectures

(yet to go to Gunma and

Saitama)

Travel is life!!

• Japan is very convenient – Everything is close

- Travel can be cheap

- Many airports and stations

• JET is a huge travel opportunity.

• ~20 paid holidays a year.

JET Programme and Travel

• There are many long weekends.

• Extra long national holiday periods (Golden week – 29 April and

3-5 May, Silver week – Around Autumn Equinox).

• Most companies give about 5 days off over New Year.

• Make early reservations for national holiday periods.

If travelling during school time ALWAYS ask your Contracting Organisation! They often won’t ask for details.

Make sure someone knows where you are in case of emergency.

Holidays

Train Shinkansen

Travels like lightning, empties your wallet…

Universal Studios Express Pass deal for ¥29,300

or less.

Hiroshima to Kyoto ¥23,300 (railway museum and aquarium entry included)

Cheap deals including the green car to Osaka

Slowest shinkansen “kodama” to Kyushu (¥5900) and Osaka (¥6,800)

Train

Local Trains • Check your destination for local rail passes.

• JR sites will provide details.

• Hiroshima City Casual Kippu for cheap return trips to Hiroshima

• JR Shikoku Free Ticket – 3 day ticket for trains in Shikoku can be used at any

time in the year

• Birthday Ticket – Same as Free Ticket used in the month of your birthday for a

cheaper price

• Some more via this link

Seishun 18 Kippu (Youthful 18 Ticket)

• Can ride local trains as much as you

want over a 5 day set period.

• ¥11,850.

• Can entitle you to discounts on JR Hotels. • http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/seishun18.html

Season Release Use

Spring Feb 20 – Mar 31 Mar 1 – Apr 10

Summer Jul 1 – Aug 31 July 20 – Sep 10

Winter Dec 1 – Dec 31 Dec 10 – Jan 10

• Some railway companies have information about delays and stoppages in English.

• Natural disasters can happen at anytime.

• Be particularly careful of heavy rain and snow events.

• Substitute transport usually organised for long delays.

JR West JR Kyushu (Japanese)

JR Shikoku (Japanese) JR Central

JR East JR Hokkaido (Japanese)

Track Conditions

Plane – Hiroshima Airport • Located between Higashi-Hiroshima and Mihara.

• Buses from Hiroshima, Miyoshi, Kure, Shiraichi, Takehara, Mihara, Onomichi, Fukuyama and

the Takasaka Bus Terminal.

• 45 mins from Hiroshima, 65 mins from Fukuyama.

• Masahiro parking about 10 mins from the airport. Free shuttle bus to terminal.

• Tokyo (Haneda, Narita), Sapporo, Sendai and Okinawa.

Main Parking Masahiro Parking

<30 mins Free

<2 hrs ¥100 per 30 mins

2-5 hrs ¥150 per 30 mins

1 day ¥800 ¥500

≥3 days ¥700 per day

10 days – 1 month ¥5000

• Cheapest flight to Narita is as low as ¥5,960

with Spring Japan if booked a couple of

months in advance. One morning and one

evening flight.

• www.hij.airport.jp/english/

Okayama

• Buses from Okayama (30min, ¥760) and Kurashiki (35mins, ¥1,130) Stations.

• Local roads to the airport.

• Connects to Tokyo, Okinawa and Sapporo.

Matsuyama

• Across the water from Hiroshima (about 1 ½-2 ½ hours) or driving across the Shimanami

Kaido from Onomichi.

• Buses connect from the ferry terminal, Matsuyama Station (JR and City) and Dogo

Onsen.

• Connects to Tokyo (Narita, Haneda), Okinawa, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Osaka (Kansai,

Itami), Nagoya (Chubu).

Plane – Nearby Airports

• Fukuoka – In northern Kyushu, easy access, many flights and low cost carriers.

• Osaka – Kansai – The main international airport, but a hub for low cost

carriers, about an hour from downtown.

• Osaka – Itami – Osaka’s main domestic airport and close to downtown, a

huge range of flights that can connect you to almost anywhere in Japan.

• Narita – A major international airport, but caters for domestic flights,

especially low cost carriers.

• Haneda – Japan’s busiest domestic airport, connections across the country.

• Hokkaido – Shin-Chitose – The hub for Hokkaido and northern Japan, 40-

60mins from Sapporo.

Plane – Large Airports

Bus • The cheapest way to travel.

• Major companies are JR Bus and Willer Express.

• Overnight buses go to Tokyo and Osaka (from ¥4050) cheaply and will

cover a night of accommodation.

• Not the most luxurious travel, but quite spacious.

• Day buses connect to more local areas such as Shimane, Yamaguchi,

Okayama, Shikoku, but even as far as Kyoto.

Ferry • Range in size from small channel crossings to inter-prefectural ships.

• Cheap, but can take a while.

• The cheapest way to Hokkaido (from ¥9,570).

• Show passport for Hiroshima/Kure - Matsuyama ferry for nearly half price

discount.

• Most ferry tickets can be bought at the port on the day of travel.

Cars • Having your own car means you can freely

travel almost anywhere.

• More convenient than trains and buses.

• Can be done cheaply.

• Expressways run the length of the country so you

can be in Osaka in a few hours, however tolls

can be high (about ¥8000 to Kyoto)

• Travel in groups for affordability.

• Offices at every airport and medium-

large station, use online booking system.

• Have experience with Toyota Rent-a-

Car, Times and OTS in Okinawa.

• Book a class of vehicle.

• Prices range from <¥5000 – ¥20000

depending on car type.

• Recommended for Okinawa.

• Some companies offer ETC card rental

which can make expressway travel

cheaper and easier.

Car Rental

Hiking • Watchout for bears, wild boars, bees and mamushi (pit

vipers).

• This site has information and GPS routes across the country,

tracks range in difficulty

• Onsens (spas) sometimes located near major hiking tracks.

Accomodation – On a Budget • Hostels – Often located in tourist centres and cities, rare in small

towns. Expect to pay ¥2-4000.

• Manga Cafes (Manga Kissa) – Charge by time spent. Expect to sit

in a small cubicle with a computer. May charge extra for use of

shower facilities and bedding, if available.

• Airbnb – People renting part or all of their house. Cheap rooms

may be available (from ~ ¥2000, but upmarket holiday homes also

on offer for a luxury getaway).

• Tatami Timeshare – A Hokkaido AJET initiative. JETs signup and can stay in other JETs houses for free.

https://ajet.net/community/tatami-timeshare/

• JET Couchsurfing Network – A closed Facebook group for JETs only.

Similar to Tatami Timeshare, but with less background checking.

NOT AIRPORTS!!

Accomodation – Mid-range • Business hotels – Often near stations and major road

interchanges. Prices usually from ¥5000-10000. Usually quite

comfortable. Often part of large chains (Toyoko Inn, APA,

Comfort Inn, Route Inn).

• Love hotels – Prices extremely variable (¥2000-20000+) and

charged for how many hours you are there. Very private, food

and other requests usually by machine or phone to order food.

May not allow same sex couples.

• Karaoke rooms – You can stay in karaoke rooms, but will pay by

the hour. Rates will vary depending on if it is peak time or not.

• Capsule Hotel – A small cubicle in a bank of capsules, often with a small TV and shared bathroom. Can be cheap, be

careful of expensive ones. Usually gender separated and may

only have male option.

Accomodation – Japanese style • Minsyuku – Usually a local person or family letting you into

their house. Not necessarily with high interaction with the

owner and usually in a traditional building. Suitable for

long or short stays. Can be very cheap.

• Ryokan – Otherwise known as a Japanese Inn. Great for groups, sometimes as many as 10 people can be

accommodated. There is a public spa (onsen) for guests

and some upmarket ones have private onsens in the

room. Meals are usually optional.

• Shukubo – Staying at a temple. Lodgings designed for

pilgrims located across the country. Not a hotel, so you

may have to provide own toiletries. Follow the rules of the

temple including early morning prayer and rituals, copying sutras and meditation. Expect to have a curfew

in place. Meals are vegetarian.

Always Bring • Plastic bags

• An easy to carry bag

• Money (ATMs close on weekends and nights) (credit card not always

accepted)

• Umbrella

• Residence card

• Health care card

Optional

Temple Stamp book – Goshuincho

A special stamp book available at major temples and Tokyu

Hands.

Costs around ¥1500, special editions available for a higher price.

A temples’ unique stamping and calligraphy will be entered.

Each entry costs ¥300.

Omiyage – Bring a little bit of Hiroshima with you.

Passport - ID that can’t be denied and can occasionally get you

special deals unique to foreign people.

Volunteering

After disasters

• May not accept non-Japanese speaking people.

• Accommodation and access may be difficult.

• Bring plenty of food and water.

Volunteering Moriumius

• Spend a week working with kids in tsunami-hit Tohoku.

• In a very small renovated school.

• Gives kids an experience of nature and food production.

• Learn about the tsunami first hand.

• Contact Stuart Parsons or I for more information.

Souvenirs (Omiyage) • A very kind gesture for your schools.

• Don’t feel pressured to buy every time, maybe only for significant trips.

• Keep your travels on the downlow so people don’t expect anything.

• Maybe only buy for one school at a time.

• Personal omiyage.

• Consider bringing omiyage with you from your place of departure.

• If someone does something kind for you, they will appreciate it (see over).

Talk to the locals! • Whether on transport, at a restaurant or bar, talk, talk,

talk!

• Practice your Japanese.

• Other travellers may offer to show you around their town when you visit or let you join them where they go.

• It’s what JET is about!!

Question time! If you have any further

questions, feel free to

send me an email:

davidcgear@gmail.com