Travel To Japan: Which Travel Insurance Should I Get?

Cherry blossoms in Japan typically bloom from late March to early April. The exact timing varies by region, with southern areas like Kyoto and Hiroshima blooming earlier, while northern regions like Hokkaido bloom later. So plan your arrival and departure dates accordingly to avoid missing the cherry blossoms!

Unwind at some of the top onsens in Japan including Hakone's Hakone Yumoto, Beppu's Beppu Onsen, Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma, and Noboribetsu Onsen in Hokkaido. These onsens offer a wide range of therapeutic hot waters accompanied with authentic traditional Japanese hospitality.

Kyoto's Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) with its stunning gold leaf exterior, Nara's Todai-ji housing a colossal Buddha statue, and Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Shrine which is renowned for its thousands of red torii gates are among the must-visit spiritual landmarks.

The weather in spring and summer are usually great for picnics in parks like Ueno Park in Tokyo and Maruyama Park in Kyoto which offer picturesque views of cherry blossoms during their peak season, For serene lakeside picnics, visit Lake Kawaguchi near Mount Fuji or the tranquil Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa.

Each prefecture has its own culinary specialties, for instance, Tokyo is known for its fresh sushi and sashimi from the Tsukiji Fish Market, Hokkaido is famous for its savoury ramen with rich miso-based broth, Hiroshima and Osaka are okonomiyaki havens, while Kyoto is the heartland of kaiseki, just to name a few. There’s so much to tickle your tastebuds, just go on a culinary adventure or ask the locals for recommendations.

Check out the famous Mt. Fuji, Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Taisha which boasts a scenic trail through thousands of torii gates, the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage and the Japan Alps which features more challenging routes.

Some popular choices of ryokan include Hoshinoya Kyoto that features a riverside retreat in Kyoto, Gora Kadan (Hakone) which is a more luxurious onsen ryokan with stunning views, and Nishimuraya Honkan (Kinosaki Onsen) that is a classic ryokan in a charming hot spring town.

The Japan Rail Pass is ideal, granting unlimited access to JR trains, including the famous Shinkansen (bullet trains). Scenic routes which the Hokkaido Shinkansen and Sagano Scenic Railway cover offer breathtaking views of the countryside.

From beginner-friendly gentle inclines and wide spaces, to steeper gradients and moguls, Japan offers many skiing spots such as Hokkaido, including Niseko and Furano, which are renowned for abundant powder snow and international appeal. Nagano, the host of the 1998 Winter Olympics, has diverse terrain and easy accessibility from Tokyo, and features Japan's largest ski area with varied slopes and good facilities.

Cultural performances such as tea ceremonies (chanoyu) to experience traditional hospitality, Noh or Kabuki theatre performances for classical Japanese drama, sumo wrestling matches, and festivals like Gion Matsuri in Kyoto or Awa Odori in Tokushima are great ways to be engaged in Japanese culture.

Some domestic flights like those via Japan Airlines’ Japan Explorer Pass could save you more time and even money than travelling by train or bus. However, it is only so for some routes. If you’re considering booking flights for Tokyo to Nagoya, Nagoya to Osaka, and Osaka to Fukuoka, you may most likely get stuck in the middle leg of the journey. The better flight deals are often for the first and last leg of the journey as very few flights which are cost-effective and time-saving were available for the rest of the journey.

Depending on your budget and transport preferences, taking a bus around Japan instead of the rail can be pretty satisfying at times. Although bus rides tend to take longer, they cost less and provide more scenic views than other modes of transport.

For viewing of sakura blossoms, do your research based on the exact city or prefecture you’re going to as the blossom timing varies. For Tokyo’s sakura blossoms, visit during the end of March to the start of April. Many Singaporeans also love travelling to Japan in autumn and winter as the weather is cooling and great for sightseeing.

HyperDia and Japan Travel by NAVITIME apps are very useful for helping to plan your travels. Aside from Google Maps, Maps.me is another great alternative to have in Japan as it allows you to download area maps that you can access without Wi-Fi or data.

From Japan’s famous Nara park, to public onsens, and shrines and temples like the colourful Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, all these attractions are great to visit when you go to Japan. What’s more, they’re mostly free entry, as all you have to do is to pay for the transport there, whether you’re going by car, train or bus. Read more about these attractions here.

Instead of just chips, chocolate bars and other quick snacks, Japanese vending machines will surprise you with delectable bites and even substantial meals with caviar, fresh sashimi, and wagyu steak. The immense variety of food will surely fill you up with pleasure, without you having to spend a bomb on expensive meals in restaurants all the time.

Let’s say you and/or your travel companions decide to take the road less travelled and go to places which are much more elevated and less touristy. Doing a road trip around Japan can be really interesting. However, you’ve got to remember to get an International Driving Permit (IDP). As it is illegal to drive without an original IDP, car rental companies won’t rent cars to foreigners who are unable to produce an IDP. If you are going to a rural part of Japan and will be renting a car, make sure that your travel insurance provides rental car excess cover.

The nation-wide full train pass for Japan Rail (JR) is definitely costlier than the regional ones. If you’re covering 2 or more regions but not the whole of Japan, then regional JR Passes e.g. JR Hokkaido Pass, JR Kansai Pass and JR Kyushu Pass, will be more wallet-friendly options that will help you cover your routes in a pretty similar way.