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Before you leave for Japan, it's always best to know what is needed and what is the cheapest way to get around.  After all, no one likes to spend more money than the have to!

Visas:  Visas are given to US and Canadians automatically if you're holding a these two countries passports.  Others has to get the visas from the Japanese Embassies.  You can also get a temporary visa if your passing through.  A temporary visa only last for about 3 days.  This is a different type of visa from a ordinary visa.  The ordinary visa last up to 90 days, the one mentioned above is for passing through only.  Also, if you're planning to stay over 90 days, you must go to the embassy to apply for a different type of visa and get vaccines.

How to get there?
If you're going to Japan, the airplane would stop at either Narita, Nagoya, or Kansai International Airports.  Right now, the cheapest fare is from Japan Airline:

U.S.A. Origin
For Travel Commencing January 11 - March 31, 1999
Offer ends in mid-January
 
FROM
TO
MON-THU
FRI-SUN
Los Angeles, 
San Francisco		 Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya
$748
$798
Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, New York Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya
$848
$898
 
Atlanta will not have JAL services anymore after January 15, 1999
JAL services at Dallas will start after January, 1999
Contact Japan Airlines at 1-800-525-3663
 
 
 
 
 

How to travel domestically???
Because the buses are confusing and usually crowded, its best to purchase a rail pass for trains/subways, this will be useful traveling between cities:
7 days
37, 800yen/$278
14 days
61,200yen/$450
Also, to be eligible to purchase a JAPAN RAIL PASS(JR),  you must meet the following conditions:
      You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing, under the entry status of "temporary visitor".  "Temporary visitor" entry status, according to Japanese Immigration Law, allows a stay in Japan of 15 days or 90 days for "sight-seeing, etc."
    If you apply for a "stay for sight-seeing" when you enter Japan, entry personnel will stamp your passport as "temporary visitor. "Only persons who have a passport bearing this stamp can use a JR PASS. This pass is green.  For local transportation in cities, you may consider purchasing prepaid cards (e.g. JR orange card) or day passes.
 

Ticket prices???
Most of the temples in Japan cost around 300-200 yen to get in.

Anything else I should know???

There's an airport tax in Japan.  It's to be paid before you depart- 2,040yen or $15, there is also a domestic charge:  .  PS-No, U.S. doesn't have this.

Also, leave 4 hours before your flight, traffic could hold you up.  It's better to be there early than late!  Besides, they have great duty free shops!
 
 

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