WHAT TO DO & SEE
Contrary to the fact that Japan
is one of the leading countries to produce high-tech products, Japan is also rich in history. It is interesting to know that Japan has
never been occupied by any foreigners in the past, so it has been able to retain its original culture. If you are interested in history,
you should visit Kyoto and Nara - both cities were capital cities of Japan hundreds of years ago. There are many shrines and temples in
both cities.
Kinkaku-ji Temple (a.k.a. Golden Pavilion),
Kiyomizu-dera temple and
Todai-ji temple
(Great Buddha)
to name a few.
Kamakura was also a capital city of Japan hundreds of years ago. You can visit these historic cities on your own or join organized tours with an English-speaking tour guide.
Sumo is the
national sport of Japan. There are 6 Grand Sumo Tournaments throughout
the year in various cities. If you are lucky enough, you can catch the
action. Baseball is also a very popular sport in Japan. There are two leagues in
Japan's
professional baseball; central and pacific. At the end of the regular season, the champion from each league will flight for
the Japan championship. Japan now exports a lot of talented baseball players to the United States. As a result, there are more than a
dozen Japanese baseball players in the Major League Baseball (MLB) these days. If you are adventurous enough, you can climb up
Mt. Fuji,
Japan's the tallest mountain, in July/August.
Kabuki is a traditional Japanese form of theater with its origins in the Edo period. You can watch a Kabuki performance in
Tokyo. If you like to watch baseball or soccer, Japan has professional teams.
You
probably know Toyota, Honda, Sony already. Why don't you visit them!
Well, It is not that easy, but you can certainly visit their showrooms.
As a matter of fact, Sony recently opened an "Opus" communication zone
(open 11am-7pm, subject to change) where you can experience their next
generation projector with a sound system on March 7, 2007. This new
product exceeds current full high-definition resolution (1,920 x 1,080
vs. Sony's 4,096 x 2,160). It is located on the 8th floor of their Ginza
showroom in the Sony Building. They receive more than 5.6 million
visitors a year. There are hundreds of museums throughout Japan. Particularly, there are many large
museums in downtown Tokyo.

For a short period of time in late March/early April, you will see famous cherry blossom throughout Japan. It always starts from the south, travelling up north ending in Hokkaido. April is one of the best times to visit Japan. October/November is another good time in terms of temperature.
WHAT TO EAT & OTHERS
You probably know or even tried some Japanese cuisine before. Sushi, sashimi, ramen, tempura to name a few. Many restaurants
in Japan have displays of some or all dishes they offer. These displays are plastic food replicas. There are some amazing models
which look good enough to eat, and give you a great idea of what to order. Some restaurants also publish a price in front of each
food display.
We highly recommend that you try ramen (noodle in soup). Almost every region offers a different kind of ramen with their local delicacy. Japanese love ramen very much! There is even a ramen museum in Yokohama (2nd largest city, near Tokyo).
There are a few major
department stores in Japan. Those department stores are usually located at or close to train stations
with underground passage. We highly recommend that you visit their basement floor(s) where hundreds of food retailers are
located. Busy working mothers will go home with a brief stop there. Once you visit there, you will know why!
You can always buy souvenirs at all tourist spots throughout in Japan. If you do not have time for souvenirs, you can always pick some up at airport shops.
Canadians do not require a visa to visit Japan for a maximum stay of up to 90 days. Please contact the Embassy of Japan or the nearest consulate office in Canada if you require any information about a visa.
Need Cash? There will be a lot of ATM machines throughout Japan. But one ATM that would work for international travelers is at
POST Office. They even have automated instruction in English! Find this sign in the town you are visiting! You can use your card
and get cash with ease!
► Yes Tokyo (Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau)
http://www.tcvb.or.jp/en/index_en.htm
► Tokyo Useful Information/Shopping
http://www.tcvb.or.jp/en/guide/04shoping.html
► Kyoto City Tourism & Culture Information System
http://kaiwai.city.kyoto.jp/raku/modules/english/index.php
► Nara City Tourism Section
http://narashikanko.jp/english/e_hp.html
► Yokohama Visitors & Convention Bureau
http://www.welcome.city.yokohama.jp/eng/tourism/walking/1200.html
► Osaka Visitor's Guide
http://www.tourism.city.osaka.jp/en
![]() |
We all know that medical expenses can be very expensive, and Japan is not an exemption. RBC Insurance offers a variety of insurance products. The most popular insurance is deluxe package. This insurance consists of trip cancellation, unlimited medical, baggage and flight accident. |
![]() |
This is a unique online booking engine, which is developed by Kintetsu International. You can book your hotel accommodations throughout Japan online. Click HERE or on the logo to launch a booking engine. |
![]() |
Japan National Tourist Organization is your travel partner. This Japanese tourist office can provide you not only with general information, but also with maps, detailed tourist information, etc. Best of all, it's free. Visit them online, call them at (416) 366-7140 or send them an e-mail. |
![]() |
Yokoso means "welcome". Japan welcomes you with an open heart! |



