The TravelClassroom

“Visit Japan Web” (abbreviated as VJW) is an electronic system for arrival declaration and customs declaration launched by the Japanese government in 2022. Before arriving in Japan, travelers can use this system in advance to fill out and submit arrival and customs declarations for themselves and their accompanying family members, generating a Japan Arrival QR Code. This eliminates the need to spend time filling out forms upon arrival. Additionally, it can serve as proof of tax exemption when shopping in Japan, replacing the need to present a passport.   This article is a Visit Japan Web guide, providing detailed and

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Currently, there are 12 prefectures or cities in Japan that impose an accommodation tax (known as “shukuhakuzei” in Japanese) on hotel and inn guests, including popular tourist destinations like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, and Kanazawa. Additionally, around 30 other regions are considering introducing this tax, such as Hokkaido, Kawaguchiko, and Kumamoto. Among these, Tokyo was the first to implement the accommodation tax, starting as early as October 2002, while Osaka and Kyoto followed on January 1, 2017 and October 1, 2018, respectively. Fukuoka began levying the tax on April 1, 2020. This article focuses on the Osaka accommodation tax,

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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 (known in Japanese as 大阪・光の饗宴) is a major winter tourism event held annually in Osaka since 2013. The festival transforms the city into a dazzling display of light installations, attracting more visitors to Osaka during winter. To celebrate the “2025 Osaka World Expo,” this year’s “Osaka Light Festival 2025” will start earlier on April 9, 2025 and run until December 31, 2025, lasting for 267 days.   Osaka Light Festival 2025   The “Osaka Light Festival” typically takes place from November to December, lasting about two months. However, to coincide with the “2025 Osaka World Expo” (scheduled

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