The TravelClassroom

The Kyushu Expressway Pass (KEP) is a highway pass introduced by the Kyushu branch of West Nippon Expressway Company Limited (NEXCO West Japan). Following the Hokkaido Expressway Pass (HEP) by NEXCO East Japan and the Central Nippon Expressway Pass (CEP) by NEXCO Central Japan, KEP is the third highway pass launched by Japan’s expressway companies. Foreign visitors renting a car in Kyushu can purchase KEP at designated rental car branches, allowing unlimited use of Kyushu’s expressways at a fixed, discounted rate.   In essence, KEP shares the same features, purchase conditions, and usage rules as other expressway passes offered by

“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

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

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

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.