One of the reasons to visit Japan is to tour some of their unique temples and shrines scattered across the country. You may have heard of a few such as Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine made famous by the movie, "Memoirs of a Geisha". Kyoto, Nara, and other old cities of Japan are well known destinations for visiting some of the most amazing temples and shrines. A way to commemorate your trip to such places is by purchasing a goshuinchou. How to Acquire a Goshuinchou A goshuinchou is a hardcover notebook that folds out with pages for collecting temple and shrine stamps. They can be purchased from many temples and shrines between ¥1000 and ¥2000 ($10 to $20) depending on design and ornateness of the book. Many places sell standard style notebooks along with special ones unique to the temple or shrine. Some places offer accessories for the notebooks such as a pouch available at Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto, Japan. Collecting Temple and Shrine Stamps Once you acquire a goshuinchou book, you can collect stamps from most of the temples and shrines that allow visitors. For around ¥300 to ¥500 ($3 to $5), a calligrapher will write the stamp in your book. Stamps represent the place's name, date of visit, and a prayer. They can be quite distinct from one place to another. It is very interesting to watch someone create the stamp. You may have to wait or retrieve your book at the end of a tour if the place is busy. Other times, places will give you a stamp sheet to include in your goshuinchou instead of actually writing in it. A Keepsake to Remember The best part about having a goshuinchou is to have a keepsake and memory of your travels across Japan to some of the most amazing sites. It is also a great talking piece to show guests and family when sharing stories of your trip. In addition, you can bring it back for future trips and collect stamps at other temples and shrines. Nanzen-ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan One of the most beautiful times to travel around Japan is during the spring cherry blossom season. In Japan, cherry blossom trees are called Sakura. The short-lived blossoming season typically falls between the end of March thru April. If you are heading to northern Japan, you may see blossoms during late April and into May. Some of the best sightseeing locations become quite crowded with people wanting to see a magnificent view. When Exactly Do the Trees Bloom? The trees can bloom any time over a span of a few weeks. The weather of each region in Japan will dictate whether the trees bloom earlier, later, or at an expected time. The blossoms are only visible for about a week. The blooming peaks at different times across the country. There are some great resources online that can help track and predict the best time to see cherry blossoms. Japan Guide has a table with average dates by city and will maintain a forecast leading up to and thru the season. When Should I Go to See Cherry Blossoms? While you can see trees blooming all across Japan, one of the most popular (and expensive) places is Kyoto. Room rates in Kyoto greatly increase around the cherry blossom season. There is definitely something magical about seeing the blossoms around temples, parks, and scenic backdrops. Without spending a ton of money on lodging, Tokyo offers great opportunities as well. Shinjuku Gyoen and Ueno Park are spectacular places to see the blossoms. Sumida Park along the Sumida River is another good option. How can I Guarantee that I Will See the Cherry Blossoms When Visiting Japan? There is not way to guarantee when the trees will bloom. The average dates table is a good place to start. Another tip is to try and plan your stay over a two week period around the beginning of April. Visiting different cities across Japan during that time frame will help increase the likelihood of seeing trees in bloom. Other Tips If you are planning to visit Kyoto during cherry blossom season, book early. Room rates are extremely expensive and fill fast in the more popular parts of town. In addition, book restaurant reservations early as the city is very crowded with tourists. Rain will cause blossoms to fall off trees faster and decrease the days of full bloom. Bring an umbrella (or purchase one) to not miss opportunities on seeing cherry blossoms. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in Tokyo
Planning a trip to Japan can be quite daunting. A well planned trip can allow more time for sightseeing and less time thinking how to go from point A to point B. There are a few options you have for your next visit depending on time, money, and interests. Group Tours: One way to see Japan is with a group of people interested in some of the same things as you. There are a number of companies that plan themed or regularly scheduled trips. Do your homework to understand what is part of a package and what you must cover additionally. Some of the benefits to a group tour include sharing room costs, minimal planning, making new friends, and an experience that interests you. A few minuses are less free time, minimal flexibility, and missing sights not on the tour. One example of a themed tour is the baseball tours led by JapanBall. Travel Agents: Another approach to traveling aboard is the use of a travel agent. They can plan a trip for you including hotel stays, sightseeing tours, transportation, flights, and more. Some agents require a nominal fee up front along with information on what places and activities interest you. The costs can get quite high depending on what they book. Expect three or four star hotels, guided tours (personal or group), logistics planning, and a detailed itinerary. Japan is not a cheap country to visit, so be prepared. Agents are perfect for people who want a customized experience, but do not have time to plan out their own adventure. Plan Your Own Adventure:
The most time consuming, yet rewarding option is planning your own trip. There are plenty of resources between the Internet and travel books to help plan the trip of your dreams. The minus for planning a is the amount of time it may take to research locations, logistics, lodging, and creating an itinerary. The benefits are enormous due to minimal time constraints, flexibility in the schedule, controlling costs, choosing where to stay, and creating a personal experience. Make sure you spend time learning about Japanese customs, transportation systems, and what operating hours and days places are open to explore. Japan is a difficult country to navigate and communicate. These phone apps will help you find the places you want to visit, get on the correct rail line, and speak with local citizens. 1. Google Translate A must-have app for any traveler. The text to text from English to Japanese works extremely well when asking questions to employees at hotels, restaurants, shops, and activities. Just have them read the translated text and they will understand what you are asking. You can tilt the phone sideways to show the text in a larger font. Google Translate allowed me to book a karaoke room, buy the correct sized pearl necklace, and find a shop selling kimonos. The photo to text translation is also decent as long as you line up the words correctly. Stay away from the voice to text as it has a hard time recording and translating. I have tried English to Japanese and vice versa using the voice to text with minimal success. 2. Google Maps Another must-have app for any traveler, Google Maps is essential in moving from one place to another. It works just as well abroad as it does around your city or neighborhood. I found it helpful for mapping out subway rides, finding bus stations, and locating any business. There are a few caveats to keep in mind. It does not work as well if you are in an underground subway tunnel or walkway. Also, some businesses are only in Japanese text in google maps and cannot be found by typing in their English text equivalent. However, this is still the best mapping tool available. 3. Viber This communication app works great as a way to stay in touch with family, make local calls, and contact other travel companions. It works off of your WiFi/Cell Data, so you avoid roaming charges. One nice feature in the app is to create a group of your family and friends back home. You can send updates and pictures without worrying about time zones. 4. Hyperdia A great app that will make traveling by Shinkansen or rail line much easier. This app allows you to select station names and to map out train schedules and stops. You can also select the Japan Rail Pass option to only show trains that are included with it. The app has a 30 day trial, but it seems to still work after the expiration. This app is a companion for the website www.hyperdia.com/en. *All app badges pictured are trademarked by their respective companies.*
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