Category: Japan Travel

Japan Accommodation Tax: Which Cities Levy It? Who Needs to Pay? How to Pay?

Currently, 12 prefectures, cities, towns, or villages in Japan levy a lodging tax (known in Japanese as “宿泊税“) on hotel and inn guests. These include popular tourist destinations such as Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, and Kanazawa. Additionally, 23 other regions have received approval to start collecting a hotel accommodation tax from the second half of 2025 or 2026 onwards, including popular tourist spots like Hokkaido, Okinawa, Takayama, and Gero. Beyond these, more and more local governments are beginning to study the introduction of a lodging tax, and it is believed that this tax will become a common levy across

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Kaiten-Sushi Nemuro Hanamaru: Locations, Crowds, Reservations and Queue-Skipping Tips for Tokyo and Sapporo Branches

NEMURO HANAMARU conveyor belt sushi from Nemuro, Hokkaido is one of Japan’s most popular budget-friendly sushi chains among tourists. Having tried it twice before in Sapporo, I was impressed by the freshness of their seafood, especially the shellfish. Outside Hokkaido, “Nemuro Hanamaru” only has branches in Tokyo, including one at Ginza Tokyu Plaza. During my recent Tokyo trip while staying in Ginza, I decided to visit the Ginza branch for dinner. Here’s a comprehensive guide to Nemuro Hanamaru conveyor belt sushi locations in Tokyo and Sapporo, along with tips for reservations and saving time in queues.   Most branches of “Nemuro

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Osaka Light Festival 2025: Event Details, Schedule, Venues and Transportation

Osaka Hikari no Kyoen (Japanese: 大阪・光の饗宴, also known as the Osaka Lights Festival) is a major winter tourism event held annually in Osaka City, Japan, since 2013. The event transforms Osaka into a beautiful city of light and shadow through large-scale illuminations, aiming to attract more tourists during the winter season. This year’s “Osaka Hikari no Kyoen 2025” will be held from November 3, 2025 to January 31, 2026, lasting for 90 days.   Note: In preparation for the “Expo 2025 Osaka“, some illuminations for the 2025 “Osaka Hikari no Kyoen” have already started early, from April 9, 2025.  

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Japan Toyota Rent a Car Guide: Official Website Rental Process and Discounts!

Toyota Rent a Car(トヨタレンタカー) is Japan’s largest car rental company, specializing in renting Toyota brand vehicles. Due to the preference for Toyota vehicles, many tourists who go on self-driving tours in Japan prefer to rent from Toyota Rent a Car, and its official website often offers discounts, with members receiving up to 30% off.   Toyota Rent a Car not only has a Japanese website but also offers versions in English, Chinese, Korean, and Thai. You can rent cars on both the Japanese and foreign language versions of the website.   The biggest advantage of renting a car on the

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Japan Kyushu Kawachi Fujien: 2025 Wisteria Blooming Season, How to Purchase Tickets, and Transportation Guide

Wisteria is another flower that blooms in spring in Japan, apart from cherry blossoms, and it attracts many people to visit Japan specifically to see it. There are many places in Japan where wisteria is grown, and besides Hokkaido, Tohoku, and Okinawa, wisteria gardens can be found all over the country. Among the most well-known are the Kawachi Fujien in Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyushu, and the Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi Prefecture, Kanto.   In the past, when people talked about famous wisteria spots in Japan, most would think of Ashikaga Flower Park. However, since CNN selected Kawachi Fujien as the top

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2025 Osaka Mint Bureau Sakura Avenue Reservation Guide

The Sakura Avenue at the Osaka Mint Bureau is one of the most popular cherry blossom viewing spots in Osaka. However, due to its narrow space and its status as a government facility, advance reservations are required to enter. It is the only cherry blossom viewing spot in Japan that requires reservations.   Osaka Mint Bureau Sakura Avenue 2025: Opening Dates, Reservation Times, Reservation Methods, Visiting Routes, and Precautions   The Sakura Avenue at the Osaka Mint Bureau is open for only 7 days during the cherry blossom season each year and operates on a completely reservation-based system. Anyone can

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Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Tourist Pass: Purchase, Exchange, Usage, and Riding Guide

The “Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Tourist Pass” is a JR Pass jointly issued by JR Central and JR West. This pass allows unlimited rides on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route and its eight types of transportation, as well as unlimited rides on JR trains between Nagoya and Toyama, and Nagoya and Shinano-Omachi.   If you are starting your journey from Nagoya to explore Tateyama Kurobe and are not driving, then the “Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Tourist Pass” is a must-buy train pass. If your itinerary includes stops in Takayama, Matsumoto, and Gero Onsen, using this JR Tateyama Kurobe Pass will be even more cost-effective.

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Japan Universal Studios Tickets, Fast Pass, VIP Tour: Official Website Purchase Guide

This article will provide a detailed introduction and summary of information regarding Japan Universal Studios tickets, Universal Studios Express Pass, and Universal Studios VIP tours. It will also explain the detailed process of purchasing Universal Studios Japan tickets, Universal Studios Fast Pass, and VIP tours through the official Universal Studios website.   Japan Universal Studios Osaka is a must-visit tourist hotspot when traveling to Osaka. Located in the Osaka Bay Area, Japan Universal Studios is only 10 kilometers from the city center and can be reached directly by JR train, making it very convenient. The main attractions of Osaka Universal

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Tateyama Kurobe Travel Guide: One-Day Itinerary and Recommended Routes (JR and Self-Driving)

In the previous two articles, we introduced the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, including transportation, boarding methods, station facilities, main attractions, and visiting times, as well as how to purchase the Tateyama Kurobe Ticket and JR Pass. This article will cover the Tateyama Kurobe Travel Guide to recommend some routes for exploring the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route based on different itineraries, including the time required for each route, as well as self-driving and JR Pass travel arrangements. In addition to the itinerary in Tateyama Kurobe, we will also include plans for visiting other attractions in the Chubu and Hokuriku regions.  

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Tateyama Kurobe Snow Otani: 2025 Opening Hours, Snow Wall Height, and Travel Guide

Tateyama Kurobe Snow Otani is the most important attraction of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. Many people visit Tateyama Kurobe just to see the snow wall. The Snow Wall is located at Murodo, the highest point of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. It is formed by the snow cleared from the mountain roads after winter, creating towering snow walls on both sides of the road.   Note: The Toyama Prefecture Road Public Corporation website has a page explaining how the snow wall is formed. Feel free to check it out if you’re interested.   Table of Contents I. Tateyama Kurobe Snow

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