May 20, 2012

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Camping in Japan

March 29, 2012 By Alexander H

Accommodation in Japan’s big cities is notoriously expensive, and so the idea of going camping while in Japan is very appealing for cost reasons, as well as for the ability to experience the great outdoors in such a beautiful country.

Camping is a popular pastime for many Japanese people and there are over 3000 campsites dotted throughout the country. They are called camp-jo in Japanese and if you are permitted to park your car next to your tent, these sites are called auto camp-jo.

As a rule, the camp-jo fees are reasonable. They vary from site to site, but the average is around 5,000 yen per night. Some have more facilities than others – with children’s play areas, tennis courts as well as the usual shower and sanitation blocks. Some camp-jo are conveniently situated next door to onsen – hot springs – so don’t forget you swimming kit.

Although there are many campsites in Japan, they are difficult to locate sometimes. So make sure you have the campsite phone number and your satellite navigation system in the car with you. If you don’t have a car, it can be a bit harder to access some of the campsites, although some are near bus routes or you could always hitchhike.

If your trip is in the months of July and August, or over a weekend, you should book ahead to ensure you get a space to camp. You also need to find out the check-in and check-out times – which vary from one site to another.

Free camping is not allowed in Japan, although it is tolerated as long as you move on early in the morning and clean up properly when you leave.

What to take

It depends where you are travelling from on how many camping accessories you can take with you. However, if you don’t have equipment with you, bear in mind that many camp-jo have tents and other camping equipment for hire, so you don’t have to buy your own gear. It’s probably worth taking your own sleeping bag though.

Filed Under: Japan Tagged With: , ,

Japanese Beauty Therapy

February 21, 2012 By Alexander H

Japan is a wonderful place to visit, with exciting experiences, interesting culture and fascinating history awaiting you on every corner. Whether you are going to Japan for business or leisure, for a luxury trip or a back to basics backpacking trip, there is so much to do and see that you will never find yourself bored.

When visiting Japan, you might like to indulge in a spot of beauty therapy, and there are certainly plenty of places to visit and enjoy some pampering. A lot of the traditional Japanese beauty treatments are inspired by the geishas, and can be a whole world away from your usual routine of facial scrubs and Oil of Olay!

One particular Japanese beauty therapy that has now become popular in the UK is of course the fish pedicure treatment, which involves dipping your toes into water filled with doctor fish that will nibble away your hard skin and leave your feet feeling wonderfully soft and smooth.

Another, more extreme, Japanese beauty treatment is the re-sculpting body massage that claims to shift your bones into a smaller size. Bear in mind that this isn’t the most relaxing of massages and the claims may not be valid, but it should leave your muscles and body feeling revitalised at least!

Also ever- popular in this country are hair, eyelash and fingernail extension which generally cost a fair amount but which definitely have the wow factor if you’re after that glam, evening look.

And of course, the Japanese generally help maintain their healthy and vibrant look by sticking to a healthy and low fat diet, with foods such as sushi and miso soup readily available and very low in calories and fat. Treat yourself to some traditional Japanese beauty therapy and food when you visit and you’re sure to come back looking a million Yen!

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Walking in Japan

January 23, 2012 By Alexander H

When they think of Japan, most people don’t immediately think of walking, hiking, mountaineering and climbing – which is rather ironic as Japan is surely on of the world’s best destinations to purse all these sports.

From alpine hikes to some of the world’s most dramatic volcanic scenery, Japan already does have something to suit everyone’s tastes. There is also a surprising amount of gentler countryside for people in search of more genteel walking than scaling the famous Mount Fuji, for example.

For many people a walking holiday to the country is best spent visiting the many well-known shrines and temples in the country. There are many guides and guided holidays available around the web and in publications for anyone visiting Japan. But careful planning is essential. Remember, Japan is a country very roughly the same size as the UK, but with roughly twice the number of people.

Also, Japanese culture is truly unique – so it’s easy to cause offence without meaning to.

Remember as well that the climate can be quite extreme. Walking and hiking in Japan in winter can see some of the world’s most beautiful and dramatic landscapes, but it can also be very cold.

Warm clothing, base layers, thermal jackets and thermal gloves are essential items in the coldest months – and depending on where and how, exactly, you plan to walk or hike – you will probably at the very least need step-in crampons.

But it’s definitely worth the effort if you have a genuine interest in Japan and Japanese culture. A walking holiday off the beaten track is probably the closest taste anyone can get these days of the flavour of the ancient Japan. And that’s disappearing fast in terms of culture if not environment.

By going on foot, you get to truly see Japan at street-level, and to experience the country’s cultural heritage and the traditional hospitality of the Japanese people.

While you’re here, try and find the time for a traditional Ryokan (a Japanese inn similar to a bed-and-breakfast), have a long soak in a hot spring, and enjoy the legendary cuisine.

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Japanese beauty tips

January 23, 2012 By Alexander H

Japanese women are known all over the world for their flawless complexions, and in recent years, women in Europe and America have been tapping into Japanese beauty secrets.

It’s probably unlikely that you’ll find many women in Japan putting on Olay onto their faces or using Pantene to wash their hair. For hundreds of years, many Japanese ladies used to make their own skincare products using natural ingredients from the kitchen. Secret recipes were passed from mother to daughter. Now, entrepreneurs have tapped into the idea of these ancient beauty rituals to sell Japanese beauty products commercially and internationally online.

Some of the treatments based on natural remedies are a bit challenging to think about putting on your hair and face, though.  Would you really relish the prospect of rubbing Nightingale Droppings facial cream onto your cheeks? Other equally unappealing product names include the Bull Semen hair treatment and Goldfish pedicure.

Other product ingredients include Wakame seaweed – which contains an anti-ageing ingredient, Fucoidan. A popular Japanese cleanser has always been rice bran – otherwise known as Nuka. One of the best compliments to pay to a Japanese woman is to call her a Nuka Bijin – which translates as ‘rice bran beauty’.

It maybe isn’t surprising that such knowledge about how to take care of skin and hair comes from the country of Japan. Beauty traditions and treatments have a long heritage – with history books tracing spa culture and mineral hot springs back to 737AD.

Japanese women also are far better at protecting their skin from damage by the sun’s harmful rays – they can often be seen holding a parasol on bright sunny days, while European and American women still think a healthy glow from the sun will enhance their looks. It may make you feel good in the short term, but remember, any damage from the sun will age your skin permanently.

Filed Under: Japan, Japanese Culture Tagged With: , , , ,

Walking Japan’s Temple route

December 9, 2011 By Alexander H

The 88 Temple Pilgrimage is Japan’s most famous pilgrimage route, a 1,200 kilometre route around the island of Shikoku.

The best seasons to try and tackle the route are probably spring and autumn; June marks Japan’s rainy season in Japan, whilst the later summer is too hot and humid.

September is usually clement – but there is the ever present possibility of a typhoon.

Winter, can be a magical time to walk the route, but of course, it’s extremely cold. So whilst this season has its own majesty, you’re definitely going to need the right gear; ice grips for shoes are a basic requirement whilst a good pair of solid snow boots is also a good idea.

The best thing about winter is the relative quietness and the fact that the inns en-route are rarely full; though do check beforehand as some may be closed in the winter months.

It has to be said that most modern day “pilgrims” tackle the route in nothing more physically demanding than a tour bus. If you walk the whole way, it will take around six weeks to complete. But you should be able to mix and match the two if you aren’t up to a full-blown long march!

All along the route, the walking pilgrims, called ‘o-henro-san’, can be seen in the temples and roadsides of Shikoku dressed in white jackets decorated with the characters Dōgyō Ninin,  meaning “two traveling together” — the other traveller being the spirit of Kobo Daishi.

If you’re ambitious enough to tackle the route ion foot – be prepared in all ways, not just equipment, whatever time of year you choose. A good level of fitness for walking many miles each day is absolutely essential. The continual ups and downs of the hills of Shikoku can really take their toll whatever the weather – so make sure you’re up to it before you get there.

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Japan’s hiking trails

November 25, 2011 By Alexander H

Travelling in Japan, you will see a huge array of fascinating sights in the major cities. But if you can, spare some time to do one of the many hiking trails in Japan.

One of the most popular hiking choices for foreign visitors to Japan is to follow the traditional pilgrimage routes or one of the old imperial roads.  The hike on Shikoku takes two months and travellers pass 88 temples between Kyoto and Tokoyo.  If you’re considering doing this hike, tour operators will provide transportation of your luggage and hotel bookings along the way.

There are also less well-known Nature Trails, which are really popular with the Japanese people, but which tourists have often not even heard of.  There are nine of these trails, which cover a combined length of 26,000 km.

The Nature Trails were established in the 1970s, a Japanese government programme to provide places for people to exercise and be in natural, but safe surroundings. Today, the trails are maintained by the prefectures and most walkers pick out the sections they want to hike in day-trip size chunks of around 15km.  The trails are easily accessible by public transport.  The 26,000 km is not one continuous trail, but some people do complete the whole distance.  Those who do, and can show sufficient proof, are rewarded with a medal from the prefecture.

It’s a perfect way to explore all the different regions of Japan.

As with any hiking, though, you need to be prepared, especially if you are setting out during the winter months.  Make sure you have plenty of water and food with you, and inform someone which section of the trail you are doing and how long you anticipate it taking you.

For clothing, wear layers – with a base layer of thermals for warmth, a middle layer for insulation and a waterproof shell layer in case the weather turns against you.  Don’t forget to wear thermal socks and gloves, as well as a hat to protect your extremities.

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Explore Japan by foot

September 20, 2011 By Alexander H

If you’re heading on a holiday to Japan, one of the best ways to get around in the country, exploring all the regions and areas, is by foot.

Some locations around the country are obviously not only going to be accessible by foot, but you should be able to walk around or go on a trek once you get there.

Walking around Japan can be one of the best and most rewarding ways to experience more about the life and culture of residents there. You’ll be able to get a unique insight into Japanese society if you take a trip around the back roads of some of the cities, exploring hidden areas which are off the beaten track.

If you’re heading to the country in the east Asian monsoon season, it makes sense to be armed with mens waterproof jackets to keep you dry along the way. There’s nothing worse than getting soaked through when you’re walking around a place where air-conditioned buildings are the norm, so it’s advisable to carry waterproof jackets with you if you’re expecting rain.

One of the most popular and well-known walks in Japan takes in the Nakasendo Way. You’ll probably need to be a fairly capable walker to do this and you should be able to cope with some short, steep climbs along the route, which usually starts out in Kyoto and heads to Tokyo. It goes along one of the oldest roads in Japan, which passes through the mountains, providing some great views en route.

Those of you who feel fairly confident about trekking should try the Kunisaki Trek. You’ll need to be reasonably fit, as there are a few steep climbs along the way, as well as a bit of rock scrambling thrown in. If you do the walk, you’ll be following in the footsteps of many monks before you, heading along amazing forests to the edge of high, towering cliffs.

Wherever you choose to go, you need to have some suitable clothing to hand – it’s best to be prepared for whatever the weather can throw at you to have the most fun.

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