
Shared Arrival Transfer in Tokyo Narita International Airport to Hotel
Viator
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Bright neon lights entice you at each and every turn, temples and shrines appear in the most unassuming spaces and kimono-clad geishas walk casually alongside Harajuku girls, genderless kei boys and business suits in the streets. This is Japan.
Venture away from the cities and you’ll be graced with the country’s natural beauty: there are mountains destined to be climbed during summer and skied during winter, cherry blossoms bathe nearby waterways in glorious colour, forests of bamboo kiss the skies and natural hot springs steam invitingly.
Fascinated? You should be. Read on to see how to do and see Japan without regrets.
If you're looking for a direct flight from Australia to Japan, consider searching for flights into Tokyo, Osaka or Sapporo. It's important to note that availability will depend on where in Australia you're flying from.
Japan is truly timeless, a place where ancient traditions are fused with modern life. Making sure you know exactly how to get around the major cities, as well as the less populated areas of Japan, will mean you have an easy and fun experience.
Most of Japan's larger cities are serviced by subways or trams, buses and taxis, and many locals rely entirely on public transport. In Japan's most populated areas, including Tokyo, Yokohama and Osaka, most tourist attractions are in walking distance to many hotels and other attractions.
To get between cities, your best options are to fly or take a train.
Flying is ideal for faster commutes as well as to get between islands while the train is ideal for travelling between major cities on the same island, for example between Tokyo and Osaka.
IC cards are prepaid travel cards with chips that work on subways, trams and buses in the Tokyo, Kansai, Sapporo, Niigata, Nagoya, Okayama, Hiroshima and Fukuoka metro areas. Each region has its own card, but they can be used interchangeably in any region where IC cards are used; however, they cannot be used for intercity travel.
Useful train maps for helping you navigate your way around Japan include the Tokyo metro map, and Tokyo JR rail map.
You can find more extensive maps, including those in Osaka and Kyoto on the JR Pass website.
Japan's high speed bullet trains, also known as Shinkansen trains, offer visitors an experience like no other with speeds reaching up to 320 km/hr.
The main Shinkansen lines with bullet trains include Tokaido, Sanyo, Tohoku, Joetsu, Nagano and Kyushu.
The minimum age for driving in Japan is 18 years, and you will need a Japanese driver's license or an International Driving Permit in order to rent and drive a car.
Japan's leading car rental companies are Toyota Rent a Car, Nippon Rent-A-Car, Orix Rent-A-Car, Times Car RENTAL and Ekiren. Hertz and Europcar are also available in Japan.
Compare car hire companies and find competitive prices with our car hire search
Taxi: Transit stations and hotels have taxi stands where you are expected to queue. In the absence of a stand, you can hail a cab from the street. Otherwise, you can pre-order a taxi to pick you up.
Uber: The ride-sharing service Uber is available throughout Tokyo and can be used to get to and from the airport
If arriving from abroad, you'll most likely be arriving in Tokyo, Osaka or Sapporo. If you're hoping to avoid crowded public transport, consider pre-booking an airport transfer for a smooth arrival.
Whether you're looking for adventure, cultural enlightenment or the chance to create your own extraordinary memories, there's no denying that Japan has many enticing qualities.
Compared with the average Aussie price of a mid-range three-course meal for two Japan is considerably cheaper. In Australia we'd usually pay about $80 for a three-course meal for two people, whereas in Japan, you'd be looking at something like $46.39 for the equivalent.
Draught beer is cheaper too, as it would cost around $7 in Australia, whereas prices in Japan are closer to $4.64 (averaged out).
Generally, public transportation services are substantially cheaper than back home. But, taxis are almost doubled in price compared to what we're used to.
Japan is considered to be one of the world's safest nations, however, there are a number of important things to keep in mind:
Read more in our guide about safety in Japan for tourists
On average, the cherry blossoms open anywhere between the end of March and the beginning of May. The dates differ depending on the geographical location of each city. Generally, if the climate is milder, the blossoms will open earlier. You can find detailed info on the average blooming dates in each of the locations here.
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Don’t stress over which hotel to book in Japan because we’ve got our top picks for you right here.
A guide to some of the best and most popular ski resorts in Japan as well as when peak ski season is in Japan and where to stay to hit the slopes.