Getting the most of domestic travel during your time on JET

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Alberta Higgins
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1 Hokkaido, Okinawa and everything in between - Exploring Japan Getting the most of domestic travel during your time on JET

2 Omiyage (souvenirs) Hiroshima Everywhere in Japan and usually showcase a local delicacy, culture, site or mascot. Which one did you get? Hiroshima Tokushima - Shikoku Ishikawa Ise - Mie Ise Mie (contains shrimp) Toyama

3 About Me David Gear 4 th year Kure JET Travelled to 45/47 prefectures (yet to go to Gunma and Saitama) Travel is life!!

4 JET Programme and Travel Japan is very convenient Everything is close - Travel can be cheap - Many airports and stations JET is a huge travel opportunity. ~20 paid holidays a year.

5 Holidays There are many long weekends. Extra long national holiday periods (Golden week 29 April and 3-5 May, Silver week Around Autumn Equinox). Most companies give about 5 days off over New Year. Make early reservations for national holiday periods. If travelling during school time ALWAYS ask your Contracting Organisation! They often won t ask for details. Make sure someone knows where you are in case of emergency.

6 Train Shinkansen Travels like lightning, empties your wallet Universal Studios Express Pass deal for 29,300 or less. Hiroshima to Kyoto 23,300 (railway museum and aquarium entry included) Cheap deals including the green car to Osaka Slowest shinkansen kodama to Kyushu ( 5900) and Osaka ( 6,800)

7 Train Local Trains Check your destination for local rail passes. JR sites will provide details. Hiroshima City Casual Kippu for cheap return trips to Hiroshima JR Shikoku Free Ticket 3 day ticket for trains in Shikoku can be used at any time in the year Birthday Ticket Same as Free Ticket used in the month of your birthday for a cheaper price Some more via this link

Seishun 18 Kippu (Youthful 18 Ticket) Can ride local trains as much as you want over a 5 day set period. 11,850. Can entitle you to discounts on JR Hotels.

8 Seishun 18 Kippu (Youthful 18 Ticket) Can ride local trains as much as you want over a 5 day set period. 11,850. Can entitle you to discounts on JR Hotels. Season Release Use Spring Feb 20 Mar 31 Mar 1 Apr 10 Summer Jul 1 Aug 31 July 20 Sep 10 Winter Dec 1 Dec 31 Dec 10 Jan 10

9 Track Conditions Some railway companies have information about delays and stoppages in English. Natural disasters can happen at anytime. Be particularly careful of heavy rain and snow events. Substitute transport usually organised for long delays. JR West JR Shikoku (Japanese) JR East JR Kyushu (Japanese) JR Central JR Hokkaido (Japanese)

10 Plane Hiroshima Airport Located between Higashi-Hiroshima and Mihara. Buses from Hiroshima, Miyoshi, Kure, Shiraichi, Takehara, Mihara, Onomichi, Fukuyama and the Takasaka Bus Terminal. 45 mins from Hiroshima, 65 mins from Fukuyama. Masahiro parking about 10 mins from the airport. Free shuttle bus to terminal. Tokyo (Haneda, Narita), Sapporo, Sendai and Okinawa. Cheapest flight to Narita is as low as 5,960 with Spring Japan if booked a couple of months in advance. One morning and one evening flight. Main Parking Masahiro Parking <30 mins Free <2 hrs 100 per 30 mins 2-5 hrs 150 per 30 mins 1 day days 700 per day 10 days 1 month 5000

11 Plane Nearby Airports Okayama Buses from Okayama (30min, 760) and Kurashiki (35mins, 1,130) Stations. Local roads to the airport. Connects to Tokyo, Okinawa and Sapporo. Matsuyama Across the water from Hiroshima (about 1 ½-2 ½ hours) or driving across the Shimanami Kaido from Onomichi. Buses connect from the ferry terminal, Matsuyama Station (JR and City) and Dogo Onsen. Connects to Tokyo (Narita, Haneda), Okinawa, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Osaka (Kansai, Itami), Nagoya (Chubu).

12 Plane Large Airports Fukuoka In northern Kyushu, easy access, many flights and low cost carriers. Osaka Kansai The main international airport, but a hub for low cost carriers, about an hour from downtown. Osaka Itami Osaka s main domestic airport and close to downtown, a huge range of flights that can connect you to almost anywhere in Japan. Narita A major international airport, but caters for domestic flights, especially low cost carriers. Haneda Japan s busiest domestic airport, connections across the country. Hokkaido Shin-Chitose The hub for Hokkaido and northern Japan, 40-60mins from Sapporo.

accommodation. Not the most luxurious travel, but quite spacious.

13 Bus The cheapest way to travel. Major companies are JR Bus and Willer Express. Overnight buses go to Tokyo and Osaka (from 4050) cheaply and will cover a night of accommodation. Not the most luxurious travel, but quite spacious. Day buses connect to more local areas such as Shimane, Yamaguchi, Okayama, Shikoku, but even as far as Kyoto.

Ferry Range in size from small channel crossings

Show passport for Hiroshima/Kure - Matsuyama

14 Ferry Range in size from small channel crossings to inter-prefectural ships. Cheap, but can take a while. The cheapest way to Hokkaido (from 9,570). Show passport for Hiroshima/Kure - Matsuyama ferry for nearly half price discount. Most ferry tickets can be bought at the port on the day of travel.

Expressways run the length of the country so you can be in Osaka in a few

15 Cars Having your own car means you can freely travel almost anywhere. More convenient than trains and buses. Can be done cheaply. Expressways run the length of the country so you can be in Osaka in a few hours, however tolls can be high (about 8000 to Kyoto) Travel in groups for affordability.

Book a class of vehicle. Prices range from < 5000 20000 depending on car type.

16 Car Rental Offices at every airport and mediumlarge station, use online booking system. Have experience with Toyota Rent-a- Car, Times and OTS in Okinawa. Book a class of vehicle. Prices range from < depending on car type. Recommended for Okinawa. Some companies offer ETC card rental which can make expressway travel cheaper and easier.

17 Hiking Watchout for bears, wild boars, bees and mamushi (pit vipers). This site has information and GPS routes across the country, tracks range in difficulty Onsens (spas) sometimes located near major hiking tracks.

Accomodation On a Budget Hostels Often located in tourist centres and cities, rare in small towns. Expect to pay 2-4000. Manga Cafes (Manga Kissa) Charge by time spent.

Cheap rooms may be available (from ~ 2000, but upmarket holiday homes also on offer for a luxury getaway). Tatami Timeshare A Hokkaido AJET initiative.

18 Accomodation On a Budget Hostels Often located in tourist centres and cities, rare in small towns. Expect to pay Manga Cafes (Manga Kissa) Charge by time spent. Expect to sit in a small cubicle with a computer. May charge extra for use of shower facilities and bedding, if available. Airbnb People renting part or all of their house. Cheap rooms may be available (from ~ 2000, but upmarket holiday homes also on offer for a luxury getaway). Tatami Timeshare A Hokkaido AJET initiative. JETs signup and can stay in other JETs houses for free. JET Couchsurfing Network A closed Facebook group for JETs only. Similar to Tatami Timeshare, but with less background checking. NOT AIRPORTS!!

Accomodation Mid-range Business hotels Often near stations and major road interchanges. Prices usually from 5000-10000.

Love hotels Prices extremely variable ( 2000-20000+) and charged for how many hours you are there.

Karaoke rooms You can stay in karaoke rooms, but will pay by the hour. Rates will vary depending on if it is peak time or not.

19 Accomodation Mid-range Business hotels Often near stations and major road interchanges. Prices usually from Usually quite comfortable. Often part of large chains (Toyoko Inn, APA, Comfort Inn, Route Inn). Love hotels Prices extremely variable ( ) and charged for how many hours you are there. Very private, food and other requests usually by machine or phone to order food. May not allow same sex couples. Karaoke rooms You can stay in karaoke rooms, but will pay by the hour. Rates will vary depending on if it is peak time or not. Capsule Hotel A small cubicle in a bank of capsules, often with a small TV and shared bathroom. Can be cheap, be careful of expensive ones. Usually gender separated and may only have male option.

Accomodation Japanese style Minsyuku Usually a local person or family letting you into their house.

Can be very cheap. Ryokan Otherwise known as a Japanese Inn. Great for groups, sometimes as many as 10 people can be accommodated.

Shukubo Staying at a temple. Lodgings designed for pilgrims located across the country.

20 Accomodation Japanese style Minsyuku Usually a local person or family letting you into their house. Not necessarily with high interaction with the owner and usually in a traditional building. Suitable for long or short stays. Can be very cheap. Ryokan Otherwise known as a Japanese Inn. Great for groups, sometimes as many as 10 people can be accommodated. There is a public spa (onsen) for guests and some upmarket ones have private onsens in the room. Meals are usually optional. Shukubo Staying at a temple. Lodgings designed for pilgrims located across the country. Not a hotel, so you may have to provide own toiletries. Follow the rules of the temple including early morning prayer and rituals, copying sutras and meditation. Expect to have a curfew in place. Meals are vegetarian.

21 Always Bring Plastic bags An easy to carry bag Money (ATMs close on weekends and nights) (credit card not always accepted) Umbrella Residence card Health care card

22 Optional Temple Stamp book Goshuincho A special stamp book available at major temples and Tokyu Hands. Costs around 1500, special editions available for a higher price. A temples unique stamping and calligraphy will be entered. Each entry costs 300. Omiyage Bring a little bit of Hiroshima with you. Passport - ID that can t be denied and can occasionally get you special deals unique to foreign people.

23 Volunteering After disasters May not accept non-japanese speaking people. Accommodation and access may be difficult. Bring plenty of food and water.

24 Volunteering Moriumius Spend a week working with kids in tsunami-hit Tohoku. In a very small renovated school. Gives kids an experience of nature and food production. Learn about the tsunami first hand. Contact Stuart Parsons or I for more information.

Souvenirs (Omiyage) A very kind gesture for your schools.

Maybe only buy for one school at a time. Personal omiyage.

25 Souvenirs (Omiyage) A very kind gesture for your schools. Don t feel pressured to buy every time, maybe only for significant trips. Keep your travels on the downlow so people don t expect anything. Maybe only buy for one school at a time. Personal omiyage. Consider bringing omiyage with you from your place of departure. If someone does something kind for you, they will appreciate it (see over).

26 Talk to the locals! Whether on transport, at a restaurant or bar, talk, talk, talk! Practice your Japanese. Other travellers may offer to show you around their town when you visit or let you join them where they go. It s what JET is about!!

27 Question time! If you have any further questions, feel free to send me an

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