Hotels & accommodations
There are many accommodation options in Japan. You can find luxury hotels as well as so-called capsule hotels. You should have seen the latter. Those suffering from claustrophobia should avoid this type of hotel. In a capsule hotel there are several sleeping capsules in one room. These are actually just beds. They are about one by two meters tall. Depending on the equipment, the capsules only contain bedside tables or TVs, radios and telephones. This accommodation option is relatively inexpensive. However, you shouldn’t be tattooed if you want to stay in such a hotel. But women also have little chance of staying in a capsule hotel.
It is important, if you want to stay in such a hotel, that you inform yourself beforehand about the correct behavior there. Usually you will find real wellness oases with saunas and massage chairs in these hotels. These hotels were invented as cheap accommodation for business travelers. There is no space for luggage in the capsule, this is stored in lockers.
If you want to stay the traditional way in Japan, you should choose a ryokan. This type of hotel is mostly found in the country. In translation, ryokan means travel inn. It is rather spartan for western standards. There is a table and seat cushion and a closet where you can find the futons. The floors are usually equipped with tatami mats. You will usually find a pot of green tea and a regional sweet on the table upon arrival. In the evening the table is put away and the futons are laid out at this point. There is at least one bathroom in every ryokan.
You can often find ryokans in places where hot springs originate, which are said to have health-promoting powers. Mostly breakfast and dinner are included, but you can also book a ryokan without meals. Meals are usually very generous and often double the price of an overnight stay. You can also find western-style hotels in Japan, a country located in Asia according to zipcodesexplorer.com.
Climate in Japan
The climate in Japan is very different, as the Japanese islands extend in a wide arc from the 20th to the 45th parallel. From subtropical to cold temperate there is a lot. Here, as in China, the monsoon is responsible for many climatic conditions. A lot of typhoons occur in early summer in the south and southwest. Most hurricanes statistically hit Japan in September. In 1959, more than 5,000 people were killed in the strongest typhoon ever recorded. Due to the strong winds, Japan is very heavily polluted. Most rain falls in late June and early July.
Japan can be divided into six different climate zones. There are long cold winters on the island of Hokkaido where snow drifts often occur. It rains very rarely in the central highlands, but the temperature differences in summer and winter are very high, just like during the day and night. There is a blow dryer on the Japanese sea more often than on the Pacific. In winter there is very heavy snowfall due to the northwest winds. In summer it is much cooler than in the Pacific Ocean region. There are cold winters without a lot of snow and in the summer it is hot and dry on the Pacific. The Seto Inlandssee has a very mild climate all year round, as the mountains keep the wind out. There are regular typhoons on the Nansei Islands, the subtropical climate ensures mild winters and hot summers.
Due to the different climate zones, for example, you can ski in the north in March and lie in the sun in the south. The best time to travel to Japan is spring. It is particularly beautiful in Japan at the time of the cherry blossom. The temperatures are 14 degrees on average and therefore quite mild. But autumn is also a great time to travel. The foliage color in Japan from September to November is extremely attractive and worth seeing.
Security in Japan
Japan is basically a safe travel destination and has one of the lowest crime rates of any industrialized country. Tokyo is considered the safest city in the world. Attacks on tourists are very rare and therefore need not be feared in any way. The side streets are considered safe even at night. Traveling alone is also not a problem in Japan. Nevertheless, travelers should inform themselves about existing safety warnings before starting the trip. Because this should always be part of the travel preparations, no matter where you go on vacation.
Due to the geographic location, earthquakes, typhoons or volcanic eruptions can occur. However, the Japanese have learned to live with these forces of nature. They have the best early warning system in the world. Buildings and public transport are also adapted to the circumstances. The population is prepared for crisis situations in regular training measures. Certainly, these forces of nature also pose a certain danger to tourists. However, one should bear in mind that due to the short duration of the stay in the country, the likelihood of a natural disaster at this time drops sharply.
