This is Why a Trip to Japan Should Be on Your Travel List

They don’t call Japan the Land of the Rising Sun for nothing.

When you look at travel bogs and writers, they all have their favorites. Singapore, Thailand, Mauritius feature on the top of most of the travel bucket lists. You know what? So does Japan. If you think that Japan isn’t really a holiday destination, you would be wrong in your assumptions.

Japanese culture is termed as one of the finest in the world, and the Japanese people are known to be one of the politest humans on earth. And once you land here, you will fall in love with the country and its traditions.

Travelling to Japan can, however, be an expensive affair. A two-way travel from India to the country’s capital Tokyo will set you back by at least Rs 50,000 in Japan’s national carrier Japan Airlines. A typically one-star hotel will possibly cost you about Rs 2000 plus taxes per night but the better ones with four or five stars, where you’d ideally like to be put up, will cost you anywhere between Rs 9000 to 12,000 per night. While breakfast is included in almost all of the high-end hotels a meal for two at any of the good restaurants will cost you about Rs 1500-2000.

Remember, all this is in rupees. You need to carry adequate Japanese currency Yen when you travel to this country unless you want to swipe your credit card at high-interest rates at the drop of a hat.

From train stations to 24×7 Daiso shops and even big restaurants accept cash. One Japanese Yen is equal to Rs 0.65. So when calculating your possible expenses, do the math accordingly.

To properly tour this archipelago, you will at least need 10 to 15 days. Feel it’s going to cost you a bomb and you haven’t really saved up enough to afford this? Well, of course, good things in life come at a cost, but you must never lose a once in a lifetime opportunity for the lack of funds.

 You can always opt for a Personal Loan to sponsor your trip to Japan. Financial institutions such as Tata Capital give such Travel Loans on easy repayment tenures and EMI facility with minimal documentation. Once you avail this kind of a holiday loan, you wouldn’t have to worry about expenses. Wondering if you will be able to repay the personal loan on time? Why not, when you can choose from flexible repayment schedules in institutions such as Tata Capital?

 If that still doesn’t convince you, just calculate the amount you think you will need by adding up the airfare, accommodation, meals etc. and use a personal loan EMI calculator to find out what will be your approximate EMI. While we do understand that the loan amount might seem huge and intimidating, we bet the monthly EMI figure will definitely give you some sort of a respite.

Next, choose your pit stops in Japan wisely. You could start your journey from Tokyo to the Honshu Island and then fly down to the other islands. Let’s take a quick look at what all you can do when in Japan: 

Stop by Asakusa temple:

 When in Tokyo, you cannot be missing out on Asakusa, famous for the seventh century Senso-Ji, a Buddhist temple dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon. Adjacent to the temple is a five-story pagoda or the Shinto shrine, and lining the streets outside the temple are hundreds of shops selling traditional goods. From pretty jewellery to traditional Japanese umbrella, you will get it all here. Asakusa is well connected by the metro, and you can move around exploring the district in hand-pulled rickshaws.  

Hog on Sushi: 

What butter chicken is to India, Sushi is to Japan. There are hundreds of restaurants in Tokyo serving absolutely lip-smacking Sushi rolls, right from Maki, Temaki, Uramaki to Sashimi and Nigiri. Considering you already have a holiday loan to fall back on, do not be miserly. Splurge on good restaurants serving Sushi and all the other Japanese delicacies, right from Soba noodles to Ramen and the eclectic range of Japanese desserts. Tokyo houses some of the best restaurants on earth, some at as high as the 75th floor. It’s an all-together different charm to see the islands and the sea below from such a great height. You don’t want to miss this opportunity, we bet.  

Good old Japan:

 If you want to see Japan in all its traditional glory, then you must visit Kyoto. Kyoto was once the capital of Japan. It is a very old city situated on the island of Honshu, and famous for its classical Buddhist temples, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses with bamboo mats and sliding doors. On the roads, you might spot a geisha, female entertainers, and people donning the traditional kimono. You’ll be given chopsticks to eat, and futon mattress to sleep on. We can guarantee that this will be one of the best experiences of your life.  

Onsen delight: 

A visit to Japan is incomplete without taking a bath in an Onsen or natural hot springs in the Sapporo district of Japan. A day-trip of sightseeing and bathing is the typical holiday style of Hokkaido locals. The Japanese do not believe in rushed baths, instead, they like to relax and soak in warm water, and that’s possibly where the custom of Onsen came from. In Sapporo, you will be spoilt for a choice when it comes to Onsens.

Apart from roadside hot springs, there are complete Onsen villages, resorts and hotels with in-house Onsen facilities. Of course, these places come at a cost and might cause a dent in your pocket. Research well, book in advance and remember to include the cost of an Onsen resort when you calculate the tentative amount of travel loan or a personal loan that you are eying at so that once you get the loan, it covers your Onsen experience, too. You just cannot afford to leave this country without taking a dip in one of their hot pools.

For the uninitiated, Onsens have some rules, too, and it will do you good if you read up about them before arriving at one. In simple words, you cannot carry a speck of clothing on you, once inside a hot spring. The idea is to let go of all inhibitions, and set yourself free.

These are just a few things about Japan. There is so much more to the place that has to be explored and experienced. It may sound like an expensive trip right now; a travel loan is there to take care of that. Next time you are planning a trip instead of asking, Why Japan, ask why not Japan!