Sumo in Japan goes back a long way and has strong spiritual links to the nation’s past. While it’s a display of brute strength, it’s also a discipline wrapped up in tradition. We’re taking a look at what sumo is, where you can watch it, and how the rules work. Sumo is one of Japan’s…
Osaka is one of Japan’s most ancient settlements, dating back more than 2,500 years. It is brimming with history and culture to a degree almost unparalleled by the rest of Japan. Strangely, though, the city tends to be forgotten among those traversing the country by rail, with Tokyo and Kyoto taking the lion’s share of…
Japan has a ton to offer every tourist that turns up for a visit, but if you are really looking for the best that Japan has to offer, then you need to head to the Japanese Alps. Taking the Japan Rail with the JR pass will give you something of an experience that you would…
If you think that a trip to Kyoto is just about visiting historical monuments and temples, then think again. While the city has more than its fair share of historical monuments – being the birthplace of ancient Japanese civilisation – it’s also home to a host of modern attractions too. The purpose of this article…
The Rugby World Cup is fast approaching, taking place across September and October in Japan, stretching from Sapporo in Hokkaido through Honshu and down to Kumamoto in Kyushu. We are here with a travel guide on how to follow England to at least 4 of their venues. Group stages England vs Tonga – Sapporo Sunday…
For many holidaymakers around the world, Tokyo offers the ultimate vacation experience. A city that has to be seen to be believed, Tokyo is one of the most exciting capital cities in the world and a great place for adventure-hungry visitors explore. In Tokyo you’ll experience sights, sounds, scents and tastes that are utterly unique….
Japan has no shortage of culinary delights and whether you’re looking for the latest Japanese food trends or some Western comfort meals, there’s something for everyone to fall in love with. However, one of the most difficult things to get accustomed to in Japan is the notoriously difficult breakfast options. While there is a Japanese…
Not sure where to go on your rail trip around Japan? Get your plan started with our customisable route templates. These routes aim to inspire your travel around Japan – you should research your trip thoroughly in addition to using these templates. Some of the routes are quite fast-paced so edit your journey to make…
One of the fantastic things about Japan is just how convenient it is to get around the entire country. Thanks to the Japanese rail infrastructure and their blazing fast bullet trains, getting from one island to another in Japan can be inexpensive, fast and a lovely experience thanks to their luxurious trains that offer every…
Our journey to Nikko meant the first day of using our Japan Rail passes! We headed to Tokyo Station to quickly book a seat reservation then jumped on the JR Tohoku Shinkansen to Utsunomiya Station before transferring to the JR Nikko Line. The whole trip took less than 2 hours and dropped us off at…
Before launching Japan Rail Planner, we (the Japan Rail Planner co-founders) travelled around Japan using the Japan Rail Pass. It was an amazing trip and inspired us to make this website to help others plan their perfect trips to Japan. In this multi-part blog series, we’ll tell you all about our trip. We started in…
The idea of travelling by train in Japan can be slightly daunting, but we assure you that it is very exciting. There are next to no language issues when travelling on the Japan Rail train network with your Japan Rail pass. As Japan welcomes more and more foreign visitors the level of English spoken by…
So, you’ve decided you want to go to Japan on holiday and discover there are are lots of places across the country you want to visit. The Japan Rail Pass is perfect for travelling between Japan’s major cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima but is also ideal for visiting lesser known places like Takayama,…