FAQ– Questions fréquentes –

The Pocket Wifi will have already been shipped to your first hotel. If the front desk staff does not automatically give it to you, please do not hesitate to ask. The package has been sent to your name.

If you need to change your Japan Rail Pass by yourself, you can do it at the Japan Rail offices located in Narita, Haneda and Osaka airports. Most of the major train stations in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto also have offices where you can exchange your vouchers. You can change your voucher before the start date of the pass. It will not be possible to change passes at small JR stations or in some cities. Please check the location of the exchange office: https://japanrailpass.net/en/exchange.html

Your greeter or cab driver will be waiting for you as you leave the drop-off area, after you have collected your luggage and cleared customs. They will be waiting for you with a sign bearing the name of your group.

Yes, currency exchange offices are located right outside the drop-off area. ATMs are also available in the airport if you prefer to withdraw money.

A normal meal (lunch or dinner) in a normal restaurant might cost around 1500 JPY/person. Specialty restaurants such as ramen will cost less, on average around 1000 JPY/person. Higher end restaurants will of course be more expensive but you will rarely have the opportunity to pay more than 3000 JPY/person.

Japanese people have dinner on average between 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm, many restaurants often finish their services around 8:30 pm and close around 9:00 pm. The izakaya type restaurants, where people come to drink, stay open later and depending on the area of Tokyo you will find restaurants still open after 9:00 pm, but for more prudence be careful not to exceed this time.

Restaurants in Japan are divided according to specialties, a restaurant will only do ramen, sushi, meat dishes, western or Japanese cuisine etc. So you have to think about what kind of speciality you want to try from the beginning. Most restaurants are small, sometimes about 10-15 seats or located in the basement but they will always be safe. Japan is a country known for its strict hygiene rules and food risks are low.

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We advise you to contact the reception of your hotel for advice and restaurant reservations. You can also use the following reservation platform: https://omakase.in/en

Many restaurants now have menus in English, but you will also find many restaurants with samples, plastic models of the dishes, that will allow you to simply designate your choice. In restaurants without translated menus, photos can help. Some chain and ramen restaurants allow you to order directly from a kiosk where you pay and receive a ticket to give to a waitress. These kiosks have either photos or explanations in English.

Tipping is not required in Japan.

From April 1, 2021, it has become mandatory to display the price including consumption tax of products.
Example: display the price including consumption tax for in-store (10%) and take-out (8%) products.
A 1000 yen meal = 1100 yen (in-store) / 1080 yen (take-out)

An IC (Inter Commuter) card is a magnetic card that allows you to pay for public transport journeys without contact. There are several types of IC cards, but the SUICA, PASMO, ICOCA or TOICA cards are valid on local trains, buses, subways and cabs throughout the country. These cards can also be used to make payments in stores and vending machines.

The IC card is a small, rigid magnetic card. When you go to the ticket office, simply swipe the card over a blue-lit cell and swipe it again when you leave to charge your fare. If the card gets blocked for any reason, go directly to the nearest station employee who will quickly unblock it for you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BflYpHs2t0A&feature=youtu.be

There are charging stations in all stations in Japan, these stations can be put in English. Enter the card into the slot provided and then touch the screen to choose the amount you want to load. The machine will take your tickets but not the payment cards. You will be able to load between 1000 JPY and 10 000 JPY in one time.

Tokyo has many subway lines of different companies, but they are all indicated by a color and a letter, each station has a different number. All indications in the stations, lines and even inside the trains are translated and announcements are made in Japanese and English. A map will help you to find the changes to make on your way. Tokyo subway map https://www.tokyometro.jp/station/pdf/202006/202006_number_en.pdf

The Japan Rail Pass can be used only on JR lines. In Tokyo, this mainly concerns the Yamanote circular line (the main line of the city) and the JR Chuô and JR Sobu lines. The JR Pass is not valid on Tokyo Metro lines and other private lines.

Unfortunately, there are no JR lines in Kyoto where you can use the pass. However, you can use it to go out of the city to Osaka, Nara and other nearby places.

The Japan Raill Pass will be mainly useful on the JR Loop line in Osaka and on trips to Kansai airport. It is not usable on the Osaka subway.

Japanese stations are usually equipped with ramps and elevators. You will always find staff present to attend to the needs of customers. If you need assistance to get around, please contact them directly. If necessary, they will accompany you to the train / subway to arrange access, use the elevators and notify the station of arrival to be ready to welcome you.

Yes, you will need to contact us (or your travel agent) to notify us of the change in schedule at least 48 hours before the appointment. We do not guarantee that we will be able to change the schedule within this time frame.

Cab stands are available at the entrance to most train stations and near the entrances to major tourist sites. Many drivers do not speak English, but it will suffice to clearly announce your destination or show an address in Japanese. Cab fares are calculated according to the distance travelled and not the time taken to get there, no tip will be asked. Payment is by cash or in some cases by IC card. Please be aware that the doors of the cars will open and close automatically.

Normal trains always have unnumbered seats available, but express trains will require you to purchase a reserved seat. Shinkansen trains have free cars with unreserved seats and cars with reserved seats, do not confuse them, the distinction is specified at the entrance of the car. The Japan Rail Pass only gives free access to non-reserved seats, if you want to reserve a seat you will have to buy it separately with a precise schedule at the JR ticket office.

Each traveler is responsible for his or her own luggage. There are luggage racks above the seats, but they will not accommodate large luggage. It is generally advisable to keep your luggage with you in your seat, as the seat spacing is designed for this. If you wish to leave your large luggage in the spaces provided at the entrance of the car, you will have to pay a fee of 1000 JPY/luggage payable at the ticket office before departure or to the ticket inspector at the time of departure. For more details: https://www.jrailpass.com/fr/faq/bagages-shinkansen

Yes, you will have to go to the sales office at the station before your departure time. A free change is allowed but if the route is different you will have to pay the difference (or be refunded if the difference is in your favor). Changes can be made up to the last few minutes before departure according to the office hours (8:00-20:00).

Tickets cannot be changed after departure and will be considered lost. If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you can take all the available schedules freely.

The Japan Rail Pass cannot be used on trains/subways/buses that are not part of the Japan Rail company. They do not give access to the carriages with reserved seats nor to the first classes. Finally, some shinkansen are not included in the Japan Rail Pass, mainly NOZOMI and MIZUHO shinkansen. You will be asked to pay the value of a ticket in these last two cases.

Children under 6 years of age can travel with their parents without paying. The only exception is for cars with reserved seats, if the child occupies a seat, the occupied seat must be paid for. Children up to 11 years of age are charged at about 50% of the adult fare. Most Shinkansen trains have retractable changing tables in the toilets. Strollers will be considered as bulky luggage and must be kept folded.

The traditional Japanese baths are communal baths divided between the shower and the bath itself. When you enter the common room, you will have locked lockers to store your belongings, mirrors with equipment such as hair dryers, disposable toothbrushes, disposable combs and various lotions. You will first have to go to the shower area to wash your body and hair thoroughly before you can enter the bath. The bath is a place of relaxation, a clean place that must remain calm and pleasant for all. It is forbidden to run or swim in the bath (which is too shallow anyway) and you will be asked to remain calm. The temperature of the bath is usually over 40°, so please be careful not to get sick, go out to cool down or take a shower before getting back into the bath, this is what the Japanese do. After getting out of the bath, make sure you rehydrate well.

In the vast majority of cases, tattoos, even small ones, are not allowed in the communal baths and you will be asked not to enter them. In some cases, private baths are available as an alternative. Some ryokan now accept foreigners with tattoos in the baths but the number is still small, so please ask beforehand to avoid embarrassment later. If you have the opportunity, please hide your tattoo with the towel or with bandages. People with piercings or other body adornments may also be prevented from using the baths.

No, bathing suits are not allowed, nudity is the rule. However, you can use your towel to protect yourself from stares, but the Japanese do not look at other people in the baths. However, the towel should not enter the bath itself for hygiene reasons.

It is not recommended to bring young children into the Japanese baths because of the heat of the baths. Children over 3 years old can follow their parents but should behave like adults.

The yukata is a garment designed to make your stay pleasant, you can put it on as soon as you arrive and walk around the ryôkan with it, go to the baths, go to dinner and even go for a walk in the surroundings wearing it. It also serves as a pajama.

A Japanese room, washitsu, is a room with a tatami mat floor and futon bedding on the floor. The futons will be taken out by the ryokan staff only during or after your dinner. Generally the Japanese room does not include a private bathroom or private toilet.

Yes, the ryôkan will do its best to adapt the dinner menu to your needs, for that you will have to let us know before your departure if such precautions must be taken.

No, everyone can stay in a Buddhist temple and no religious activities are imposed except for the vegetarian meal.

Depending on the establishment, there are mixed floors, but in the majority of cases the male and female floors are separate.

Each capsule has a locker or storage space for everyone’s belongings. However, it is advisable to keep your precious belongings with you.

No, for security reasons, but you will be able to isolate yourself with a rigid curtain to block the view from inside the capsule.

The guide will be waiting for you at the reception of your hotel at 9:00 am on the scheduled day. The accompanied day lasts 8 hours. The guide will leave you at 5pm at your hotel or at any other place of your choice if you do not want to go back to your hotel right away.

The guide will pay for his transportation but his lunch and the entrance fees to the sites for him and you will be at your expense. In case of overtime, the guide will be entitled to claim an extra 3000 JPY for each additional half hour.

Yes, Shinto shrines and parks are generally free. Visiting Buddhist temples as well as museums and other historical monuments are not free.

No, the dress code is free, although we do not recommend that you come in a bathing suit. You are not required to perform any religious rituals or gestures, but you will be asked not to be noisy or conspicuous. You will be asked not to sit on the steps and not to take pictures of the interior of the buildings (unless otherwise noted).

Not unless you have made a written request to the site you are visiting prior to the scheduled day. You will be fined for unauthorized overflight.

Most places that welcome visitors for activities accept a 15 minute delay, but please avoid these delays as much as possible as it will reduce the duration of your activity and your experience. If you do not show up at the meeting place, the activity will be considered cancelled and non-refundable.

Attending a tea ceremony takes about 50 minutes to 1 hour during which a tea master will demonstrate his art by explaining the different elements and the meaning of the gestures performed. You will be invited to try it yourself afterwards. The consumption of the green tea of the ceremony is accompanied by a traditional Japanese sweet (wagashi) served to compensate the bitterness of the tea.

The flower arranging lesson lasts one and a half hours. During the first half hour your instructor will give you all the explanations and history of ikebana before demonstrating a flower arrangement. Then you will be invited to make a similar arrangement according to the same principles. The lesson takes place in a Japanese room on tatami.

We offer this possibility for a minimum of two people, in Kanazawa or Kyoto depending on the schedule. Remember that a geisha comes to liven up an evening by her dances but also by coming to talk to you, you will be able to meet them mainly during events organized in group, more rarely in small group and for higher prices. Count at least between 20,000 and 30,000 JPY/person for group events.

Yes, kimono rental places are not rare and are often used by visiting Japanese. The rental of a kimono includes the kimono but the hair arrangement and more depending on the options. You will then be free to go sightseeing in your kimono before coming back to the store in the late afternoon.

In the morning you can say ohayo gozaimasu and then for the rest of the day konnichiwa. In the evening you can say konbawa which will correspond to a good evening.

You can thank by saying aligatô gozaimasu. To apologize you can say gomen nasai or sumimasen.

There are not really any forbidden gestures in Japan, but we advise you not to take pictures of adults or children without having been polite enough to ask first. The Japanese will politely correct you if necessary, but be respectful.

There are almost no garbage cans in the streets in Japan. If you find yourself with garbage (cups, cans, tissues etc.) you should plan to dispose of it at the place where you bought it (vending machine, store) or take it back to your hotel room at night. Do not throw garbage on the street.

It is strictly forbidden to smoke on the public road, for smokers reserved open or closed areas are set up at regular intervals, please go there even to vapourize. Restaurants may allow smoking but not everywhere, please ask beforehand or just watch what others are doing. You may be tempted to smoke in a discreet place but you will be fined.