Accommodation in Japan

Japan offers a wide range of accommodation from the budget to the high-end luxury. You can find accommodation in either Japanese style or Western style. In Japan there is a person rate per room, which means if you are sharing a room with another person the rate will double.

In most hotels and all ryokan (Japanese style inns) you will be provided with a yukata robe, toothbrush, razor, show cap and basic toiletries.

The main types of accommodation in Japan include:

Western Style Hotels
Western style hotels can be found all over Japan and include both international and Japanese hotel chains. They usually have English speaking staff with rates vary from 8,000 yen to 30,000 yen.

Budget Style Business Hotels
A great compromise and very economical with prices around 7,400 yen for a single and 9,000 yen for a double. The rooms are clean, simple, western style and usually include free breakfast, TV, and internet connection in your room. The hotels are usually located close to train stations making them very convenient for travel. Popular chains include Toyoko Inn and APA Hotel.

Capsule Hotels
A cheap alternative to regular hotels and very common in the major cities. The rooms usually measure two metres by one metre by one metre, and contain a bed, a TV, reading light, radio and alarm clock. You can keep your personal belongings stored safely in a locker room. A lot of capsule hotels also offer access to sauna and communal baths. The average price is usually around 3,800 yen per night.

Minshuku (Japanese Guest Houses)
These are usually small, family run bed and breakfast lodgings without the frills such as yukata gowns and toiletries. A stay at a minshuku will give you a more intimate experience of Japanese home life. Rates are usually from 5,000 yen and up and they can be found all over Japan.

Ryokan (Japanese Style Inns)
A rewarding experience for a taste of traditional Japan. They charge on average a rate of around 9,000 yen per person, but can rapidly rise for the more elegant ryokan. Guests sleep in tatami (straw mat) rooms on futon and the morning and evening meals are served in the guest’s room. The baths are sometimes communal.

For more information on different types of accommodation in Japan and places to visit, pick up a copy of Lonely Planet Japan

Mt Mitake

Image by Philip Belfer

Mt Mitake also called Mitake-san (御岳山) is a great day trip from Tokyo that you will not find in most travel guides. It’s the prefect escape from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and a place to appreciate some beautiful nature and views. At this time of the year it is spectacular with the beautiful coloured leaves of autumn in Japan.

Mt Mitake is located in Chichibu Tama National Park, which is in the western most part of Tokyo prefecture. The National Park covers some 1250 square kilometres of forested mountains. The trip to Mt Mitake is around an hour and a half by local train from downtown Tokyo. Buses run from Mitake Station to the Mt Mitake cable car terminus which is a 10 minute journey and costs 270 yen.

There are several ways to climb the mountain. If you have time on your hands then you can attempt to hike to the top. Alternatively, if time is a premium then you can take the cable car from the foot of the mountain, which is a 15 minute journey, and takes you close to the summit of Mt Mitake. The cable car is 570 yen one way and 1090 yen return. From the upper station, it’s about a 20-30 minute walk to the summit which is at 929m. It is a pleasant walk with stunning mountain forests and foliage. You will also pass by a small village with traditional Japanese style inns and souvenir shops.

The summit contains the beautiful Mitake Jinja Shrine, which is said to date back some 1200 years. The area around the shrine offers great views of the surrounding mountains and the Kanto plain. On a clear day from the summit you can see the skyscrapers of Shinjuku in downtown Tokyo.

Looking for a place to see the beautiful autumn leaves? Check out Mt Mitake near Tokyo

Mitake Jinja Shrine

Visit Japan Travel Advice for more information and details about the travel destinations in Japan

Shichi-Go-San

November 15th is Shichi-Go-San (Seven-Five-Three) in Japan. It is a ceremony for 5 year old boys and 3 and 7 year old girls to celebrate their growth. It is a day of prayer for the healthy growth of young children and to pray for their future. Why the ages Seven-Five-Three? These ages are odd numbers and are considered lucky in East Asian numerology. Shichi-Go-San is not a national holiday and is usually celebrated on the nearest weekend to the actual date.

It is tradition on Shichi-Go-San for children to dress up in traditional Japanese clothing such as a kimino and hakama and visit a shrine to celebrate and be blessed. It is usually the first time for many to wear such traditional clothing and is a popular time for formal pictures to be taken at a professional photo studio. In more recent times, many children are increasingly wearing Western style clothing such as dresses and suits. 

The celebration is said to have started during the Heian period (794-1185) when nobles celebrated the growth of their children. The practice became popular among commoners during the Edo period (1603-1868) and evolved to what it is today during the Meiji era (1868-1912).

After the visit to the shrine, parents usually buy special candy for the children called chitose-ame (longevity candy). The character for chitose-ame is 千歳飴 and it literally means thousand year candy. Not that it is a thousand years old, but it symbolizes healthy growth and longevity. The candy is shaped like a stick and comes in a bag decorated with cranes and turtles, which both symbolize long life.

Chitose-ame

Some other popular Japanese festivals include:

• Hina Matsuri (雛祭) Girls Day
• Kodomo no hi - Children's Day

Japanese Zori and Geta

Zori and Geta are a form of traditional Japanese footwear that remains popular and widely worn in Japan today. They are simply constructed with a base to support the foot and a strap for the toes to grip.

Zori (草履) which are flat Japanese sandals have a long history in Japan, but little has changed over the years in terms of design and construction. The only difference from now and the past is the material that is used in modern construction. Today many different materials such as leather, plastic, cloth and rubber are used as opposed to just rice straw and lacquered wood of the past.

There are many different kinds and styles of zori from formal zori, which are traditionally worn with a kimono, to casual ones that you can where anytime, and are a common sight during the summer in Japan. 

Here is a picture of my zori from Japan

Japanese Zori

Geta (下駄) consist of a flat piece of wood with two ribs underneath known as teeth (歯) to raise the wearer off the ground. Japanese started wearing geta as footwear in the 5th century. At first they were only worn on special occasions like festivals, but by the 17th century they had become everyday footwear.

Like zori, there are many different styles and shapes of geta. They are traditionally worn with Japanese clothes such as kimono or yukata.

They are also very useful in Japan as they can be easily slipped on and off, which is important in a culture, where shoes must be removed before entering a house. 

Did you know that zori and geta are good for you?

Zori and geta exercise the muscles of your feet and promote good posture. They also allow for free circulation of air around the feet. Good for your feet and foot health.

Japanese Geta