Japan is making waves as a top destination for both business and leisure travellers and rightly so – I was lucky enough to visit Kyoto, Tokyo and Osaka, all amazingly vibrant cities which offer everything the adventurous traveller could want.
I must admit to a little trepidation, especially regarding language and cultural differences, so I invested time before travelling to learn around 100 words to help ease my way around one of the largest Metro systems in the world with nearly 300 stations and over 300 miles of track, and was also able to order food and drink in restaurants (thank you Duolingo!). Respecting the local culture is also key to a successful trip – understanding the etiquette of using chopsticks for instance is a little more complicated than you might think.
There is a common misconception that Japan is an expensive destination but this is not the case. Quality restaurants are often cheaper than many European cities, transport is cheaper than the UK, and a three hour state of the art bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka is around £70 – travelling at over 300 kilometres an hour. There are exceptionally good value hotels across Japan offering rooms at between £30 – £60 per night, even in city centre locations – Toyoko Inn for instance has over 300 hotels across Japan. The rooms are small, but always of good quality. One point to remember is that hotel beds tend to be hard compared to European or US standards.
At the other end of the scale, one of the best hotels I have ever stayed in is the Osaka Station Hotel – wonderfully situated 30 floors above the bustling madness of Osaka’s main station. This oasis of calm is, for me, the definition of luxury.
One of the best memories I have of Japan, along with temples, Mt Fuji, and wonderfully friendly people, is The Konbini. The ubiquitous convenience stores which are everywhere: 7–Eleven, Family Mart, Lawson. These 24/7 hubs offer surprisingly high-quality, diverse food (onigiri, bento, fried chicken), drinks, snacks, grocery essentials, as well as key services like bill payments, ATMs, and package pickup, making them vital cultural and daily life fixtures in Japan, far exceeding typical Western convenience stores.
With streamlined visa processes and expanding international flight connections, Japan is seamlessly blending productivity and pleasure, making it an essential stop on any global travel itinerary. Whether sealing business deals or exploring cultural treasures, Japan delivers a journey unlike any other.
If you would like to discuss travel to Japan please do not hesitate to contact Paul at: paul@uniglobecarter.co.uk