Book cheap flights to Japan

Japan has four distinctive seasons, each bringing a beauty of their own. Whereas summer (June to August) can get a bit humid and overcrowded, it is the season of spring (March to May) that is most wonderful to experience in this Asian country. Japan is famous for its cherry blossoms which start to bloom in the second week of March. In Tokyo, it tends to rain quite a bit during the months of from June to October. Don’t let the rain deter you from the city’s wonderful attractions though and just make sure to pack in an umbrella. For a great winter experience, try some skiing or other snow sports on the snow-capped mountains of Myoko, Furano and Niseko.

South Africans who wish to visit Japan will need a visa to do so. To complete your application, you will have to fill in an application form, have a valid passport with at least 6 months validity of it from your date of entry into the country, two passport photographs and the following: bank statements, proof of accommodation, a letter on invitation (if applicable), an itinerary for your time in the country and various other documents. The application process takes between two to five days and you will have to submit all documents in person.

For more information, please contact the Embassy of Japan:

Cape Town: 12 Hertzog Blvd, Cape Town, 8000, Tel: 021 425 1695

Johannesburg: 40 Frans Oerder St, Groenkloof, Pretoria, 0027, Tel: 012 452 1500

Japan is a very safe country to visit, and in 2014 was voted the safest in the world. Solo travellers have very little to worry about and can rest easy, without the hassle of looking out for petty thieves and having to hide your belongings hidden.

As with all places though, it is always wise to be aware of your surroundings and not to put yourself in dangerous situations. Avoid places that make you feel uncomfortable and don’t trust everybody that you meet. Also, when partying, don’t drink so much that you’ve no idea how to get back to your accommodation, unless you have many sober people with your party.

One thing to mention is that foreigners tend to stick out, with physical appearances, and this can sometimes draw wanted, and also, unwanted attention at times. This is especially true in the smaller cities such as Kamakura, Matsumoto and Izu.

There are no vaccines required to enter Japan, but it is always a good idea to visit your doctor and get a routine check-up ahead of any international trips. Some travellers may consider getting the following vaccines: hepatitis A and B, rabies and Japanese Encephalitis (if you’re planning on staying for longer than one month, and visiting the rural villages.)

Japan offers one of the most diverse accommodation landscapes in the world, spanning ultra-modern luxury hotels and international chains to experiences found nowhere else on earth. Ryokans — traditional Japanese inns featuring tatami-mat rooms, futon bedding, shoji screens, and communal or private onsen (hot spring baths) — are a highlight of any visit, typically including kaiseki dinner and breakfast in the rate. Capsule hotels, pioneered in Osaka in 1978, offer compact sleeping pods ideal for solo travellers seeking a uniquely Japanese budget stay. Minshuku (family-run Japanese-style guesthouses), machiya (restored wooden townhouses), and temple lodgings known as shukubo round out a selection of accommodation types unavailable almost anywhere else in the world.

For Western-style stays, major international chains including Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG operate across Japan’s main cities, alongside highly regarded Japanese business hotel chains such as APA Hotel, Dormy Inn, Toyoko Inn, and Super Hotel — all offering clean, compact rooms at competitive rates. Luxury travellers are well served by properties from Aman, Ritz-Carlton, and Four Seasons, as well as Japan’s own premium brand Hoshino Resorts.

In Tokyo, the most popular bases for visitors are Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, and the Tokyo Station/Marunouchi area — the latter placing you directly on the Shinkansen network for onward travel to Kyoto and Osaka. In Kyoto, the Shimogyo district near Kyoto Station provides the most convenient transport links, while the historic Gion neighbourhood is ideal for those seeking a more traditional atmosphere. In Osaka, the lively Dotonbori and Namba districts are the most sought-after addresses for food, nightlife, and sightseeing.

Book well in advance — particularly for cherry blossom season (late March to mid-April) and autumn foliage season (mid-October to late November), when accommodation in Tokyo and Kyoto can sell out months ahead and prices surge significantly. Golden Week (late April to early May) and Obon (mid-August) are Japan’s busiest domestic travel periods and should be planned for equally carefully.

Whether you’re looking for a luxury Tokyo skyscraper hotel, a riverside ryokan in the Japanese Alps, a design capsule hotel, or a budget-friendly business hotel, you can find and book a huge variety of accommodation across Japan at Travelstart Accommodation.

Japan has an exceptional public transport network — the famous Shinkansen bullet train system connects major cities quickly and comfortably, making it the preferred way to travel between Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and other urban centres. However, a rental car becomes invaluable for exploring rural Japan: the countryside of Hokkaido, the mountain towns of Takayama and Kanazawa, the Noto Peninsula, the Ise-Shima coast, and the islands of Okinawa are all far more rewarding — and in many cases only accessible — by car. You can compare and book rental cars across Japan with Travelstart Car Hire.

Japan drives on the left-hand side of the road in right-hand drive vehicles. To rent and drive a car in Japan, foreign visitors must carry a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) — issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention — along with their home country driving licence. The IDP must be obtained in your home country before travelling, as it cannot be acquired in Japan. Visitors from Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Monaco, Slovenia, and Taiwan require an official Japanese translation of their licence instead of an IDP. The minimum driving age in Japan is 18.

Japan’s leading car rental companies are Toyota Rent a Car (the largest, with over 1,200 locations nationwide), Nippon Rent-A-Car, Nissan Rent-A-Car, ORIX Rent-A-Car, and Times Car Rental, all of which operate at major airports and Shinkansen stations and offer English-language booking systems. International brands including Avis, Hertz, Budget, and Europcar also have a presence in Japan, though they typically partner with local operators. Most rental cars include GPS navigation, and an ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) card can be rented alongside the vehicle to pay highway tolls seamlessly. Note that driving is generally not recommended within central Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka, where traffic is heavy, parking is scarce and expensive, and public transport is far more efficient.