Hokkaido is located on similar latitudes to major American and European cities in spite of being at the northern tip of Japan (139°20’–148°53’ E. Long. 41°21’–45°33’ N. Lat.). It covers 83,456 square km (32,222.542 square miles). Hokkaido is the largest prefecture and is equivalent to the size of Austria or twice that of the Netherlands or Switzerland.
Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
http://www.mlit.go.jp/hkb/en/geography.html
The annual mean temperature in Hokkaido is around 10°C (50° Fahrenheit), which is similar to that of Chicago or Boston in North America.
Hokkaido enjoys four distinct seasons with no rainy season and a cool, refreshing summer with low humidity. In winter, there is considerable snowfall on the Sea of Japan side and there are many days with freezing temperatures even in the daytime.
Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
http://www.mlit.go.jp/hkb/en/geography.html
Japan has distinctive change of seasons and the seasonal changes add more beauty to Hokkaido. In spring, all the flowers start to grow and the hibernating animals wake up and get ready to be active again. In summer, Hokkaido is rather dry with low humidity, and the weather is usually very pleasant. In fall, while many delicious seasonal foods become available, the breathtaking fall colored mountains are seen. In winter, white snow covers the ground as far as the eye can see.
Source: Hokkaido Tourism Organization
http://en.visit-hokkaido.jp/abouthokkaido/basicinformation/
Hokkaido is on Japan Standard Time (JST), one of the well-known names of UTC+9 time zone which is 9 hour ahead of UTC (Coordinated Universal Time).
Source: 24TimeZones.com.
https://24timezones.com/time-zone/jst
In Japan, the following items cost approximately (Suppose $1=110 yen):
The Japanese currency is the yen. Bills come in 1,000 yen, 2,000 yen (very rare), 5,000 yen and 10,000 yen denominations. Coins come in 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen and 500 yen denominations.
Japan has a reputation of being a cash-based society, but trends have gradually been changing, and there has been a significant increase in the acceptance of other payment methods. Below are the modes of payment that you might use when visiting Japan: Cash, Credit/Debit Cards, and IC Cards.
There are many ways to get your yen such as currency exchange, ATM withdrawal, and traveler’s check.
Source: japan-guide.com
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2196.html
The right kind of protection and common sense can make your trip worry-free. When entering the jungle or forests, wear lightweight cotton, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants. Cover all exposed skin surfaces with insect repellent.
Source: “Adventure Week Panama” at the Adventure Travel Trade Association
https://www.adventuretravel.biz/events/adventureweek/panama-2018/what-to-expect/
Japan has been adding a new departure tax of 1,000 yen (~10USD) as of January 7, 2019.
This fee will apply to both Japanese and foreigners, and will be payable for departures by air and sea. This will be collected as part of the ticket cost, so you won’t have to queue to pay this, but rather you’ll likely just see the cost of tickets increased.
Source: One Mile at a Time
https://onemileatatime.com/japan-adding-new-departure-tax/
Hokkaido has excellent medical facilities, the larger towns have regional hospitals, and rural areas have clinics. Most medicines are widely available in Hokkaido. Most medicines are sold by almost the same trademark names used in the U.S. For emergencies, there are many good private clinics and hospitals throughout the country.
We suggest you carry an international insurance.
Japan is generally viewed as a medically-safe location for tourists with high-quality medical care. If you’re visiting Japan for a holiday or short-term visit, you aren’t required to get vaccinations, no matter where you’re from. However, you should still take care to be prepared for a new environment and exposure to new foods and bacteria that could disrupt your system. Here are some recommendations to follow before you travel.
Shots, vaccinations, and immunizations are all different, but are part of the process of making your body more resistant to unfamiliar germs and infectious diseases. The process of immunization entails exposing yourself to a very small dose of a certain disease. You get a shot of the vaccination in your arm, leg or other substantial part of your body. This process will protect you against the disease as your body develops the antibodies to cope with the exposure at a manageable level. Sometimes, immunization requires a round of shots over a certain time frame, other times it’s administered all at once.
It’s important to be up-to-date on your vaccines when you travel, because you’ll encounter unfamiliar germs and diseases. When you spend time in a new climate, you’re not used to the temperatures, the food, the ecosystems, or the wildlife. All of those factors can have an effect on how vulnerable you are to disease. Vaccinations can help steel your body against some of these germs in a more controlled way that ultimately protects you.
Some countries require vaccinations because they know that their environments have a high risk of foreigners contracting certain diseases. Other countries just recommend them but don’t require them, and Japan is one of those.
In general, vaccinations help to control the spread of disease. They ensure that you don’t carry a disease back home with you after contracting it when you visit a new place. You protect yourself, but equally as important, you protect those in your home environment with weaker immune systems, like babies and the elderly
Within the past few years, measles outbreaks have been an ongoing problem in Japan. The high season for measles outbreaks tends to be spring and summer. Although the number of cases is on the decline, you could still be susceptible if you aren’t vaccinated.
Another ongoing issue in Japan is the norovirus, which recently hit a peak number of cases since 2006. The virus can cause infectious gastroenteritis which has side effects of stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhea. You can mitigate the risk by practicing proper hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting potentially contaminated surfaces, and washing laundry frequently and thoroughly.
Japan also had an outbreak of Dengue Fever in 2014, with 162 cases reported nationwide. It’s not likely that you’ll be exposed to this disease, but to avoid it entirely will be difficult, as it is spread through mosquitoes, which are very common during Japan’s hot and muggy summers.
Before visiting Japan, you should check in with your doctor about four to six weeks prior to your trip. Make sure you’re all caught up on your routine vaccinations. Most vaccinations are given within a four-week window of your departure.
You’re not obligated to get any shots to enter Japan for the holidays or short-term travel. However, your home country probably requires you to be vaccinated against the following:
So as long as you’ve had those vaccines done, you can rest assured that you’ve taken the necessary precautions before your trip.
Sources: “Adventure Week Panama” at the Adventure Travel Trade Association
https://www.adventuretravel.biz/events/adventureweek/panama-2018/what-to-expect/
TransferWise
https://transferwise.com/gb/blog/vaccinations-for-japan
With an extreme low crime rate, Japan is one of the safest countries in the world. Pickpockets or mugger are a rare thing and other trouble one might encounter abroad is seldom happening. However: there are dangers you might need to be prepared for, things you would not have thought of and some are just advice for the average traveler to Japan.
May it be an earthquake, a Tsunami warning, a landslide or a volcanic eruption, natural catastrophes are unpredictable and it is important to be aware of the potential of those to happen.
Source: Japan Info, Inc.
Japan’s tap water is very drinkable. The national water infrastructure is reliable and purification facilities are well-maintained, so the tap water is of good quality and easy on the stomach.
If you’re feeling parched, a glass of tap water can solve your problem for the moment.
Along with places such as Finland and Germany, Japan is one of only fifteen or so countries in the world with clean water.
Sources: MATCHA, Inc.
Hokkaido, the stunning northern island and largest prefecture of Japan, offers plenty of adventures for travelers. From breathtaking hiking trails and ski resorts to fantastic seafood, vivid fruit farms and hot spring hotels.
It’s always great to have something to remind you of your travels, especially when they’re as diverse as the experiences awaiting you in Hokkaido. Or, of course, simply bring home a local snack for your friends and family. The island provides many famous souvenirs and gifts
Ainu Craft Souvenirs
The Ainu people are the indigenous inhabitants of northern Japan and parts of Russia. The Museum of Northern Peoples is located in Abashiri, a city on the northeastern coast of Hokkaido, and offers a great introduction to the culture of the Ainu people. At the museum shop, you’ll find handmade souvenirs that were created in cooperation with the local people.
Wood Products
Hokkaido is famous for its wood products, in part due to the Ainu culture. Wooden cups, plates and other table wear make for wonderful natural gifts or souvenirs. Another popular item is a carved wooden bear, a symbol of Hokkaido, sometimes holding a fish in its claws.
Lavender Products
Hokkaido is known for its scenic lavender fields which you can visit in summer. The scented flower is said to soothe the mind, whether it be in the form of oils, soaps or sachets. And all of these doubtlessly make great gifts.
Nikka Whisky
A bit more than an hour west of Sapporo, there’s a historic whiskey distillery in Yoichi that was established in 1934, following a Scottish model. The high-quality whiskeys are some of the best in Japan; one of its 20-year-old single malts has won the World Whiskies Award in 2008.
There are various price levels, some are also sold at regular supermarkets throughout Japan.
Sapporo Classic Beer
This version of the popular Sapporo beer is only available in Hokkaido, where it’s brewed. Try to taste the difference with a can at any supermarket or as a draft pint at many bars and restaurants.
Moreover, there are a lot of sweets such as a butter sandwich and white chocolate cookies. You can find them out at the Airports in Hokkaido such as Sapporo New Chitose Airport.
Source: “Compathy Magazine,” Wanderlust Inc.
https://en.compathy.net/magazine/2017/05/25/hokkaido-souvenirs/
The food of Hokkaido is one of the northern island’s biggest attractions, especially the high quality seafood caught in its cold waters and the agricultural products grown on its wide farmlands.
Seafood
Hokkaido is renowned for the high quality and freshness of its seafood, as the cold waters surrounding Japan’s northernmost prefecture are ideal for fish and sea vegetation.
A popular way to sample the prefecture’s famous seafood is visiting a fish market and having a donburi (rice bowl) breakfast. Typical toppings are fresh uni (sea urchin), ikura (salmon roe), ika (squid) or a combination thereof. Popular markets include Sapporo’s Nijo Market, Hakodate’s Morning Market and Kushiro’s Washo Market.
Dairy Products
Thanks to its expansive countryside, Hokkaido is able to support a massive dairy industry. The prefecture produces about half of the country’s milk, of which about 60% is used for drinking while the rest is processed into other dairy products like butter, cheese, yoghurt and ice cream.
Dairy products from Hokkaido enjoys a very strong brand value across Japan, and many butter and milk packages prominently advertise their ties to the northern prefecture.
Inside Hokkaido, travelers may notice that dairy products are used in dishes more often than elsewhere in the country. For instance, ramen is frequently served with a slice of butter on top. And one of the most popular local souvenirs are butter cookie sandwiches, which consist of two cookies with butter and raisins in the middle.
Produce
As with dairy products, Hokkaido is able to support extensive farming thanks to its large size, relatively small population and favorable soil and climate.
For example, it produces almost ten times as much wheat as any other prefecture. Among other farm products readily associated with Hokkaido are potatoes, corn, onions and melons.
Ramen
Ramen is a noodle soup dish. It is popular throughout the country, but is also well known as a specialty of Hokkaido.
The soup base, noodles and toppings used for ramen vary across Japan, and even within Hokkaido there are variations between the regions. While Sapporo is known for its miso based broths, salt based broths are more common in Hakodate and soya sauce based ones in Asahikawa.
Like in the rest of the country, ramen shops are among the most numerous types of restaurants, found across cities and along major roads. Tourists can find an entire collection of ramen shops in the Ramen Village in Asahikawa or the Ramen Republic and Ramen Yokocho in Sapporo.
Genghis Khan (Jingisukan)
Named after the man who founded the Mongol Empire in the early 13th century, Genghis Khan is a dish consisting of meat (usually mutton) and vegetables cooked on a dome shaped metal grill in the middle of the table. The meat is usually dipped in a shoyu based sauce and eaten right off the grill.
Genghis Khan can be enjoyed at specialized restaurants across Hokkaido. One of the best places to enjoy it is the atmospheric beer hall at the Sapporo Beer Museum.
Beer
Beer has become the most popular alcoholic beverage in Japan since it was introduced from Germany in the beginning of the Meiji Period (1868-1912). Sapporo Beer, one of the first and most popular beer brands in Japan, was founded in Hokkaido and dates back to the opening of Japan’s first brewery in 1876.
Travelers can learn about the history of beer in Hokkaido at the Sapporo Beer Museum, and enjoy a beer tasting afterwards. Beer tastings can also be enjoyed at a small tasting bar at the Sapporo Factory shopping center.
Source: japan-guide.com
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5312.html
Tipping tour guides in Japan can go either way. Many guides are accustomed to receiving tips because tourists that are visiting from areas such as America are so used to tipping. It isn’t mandatory, or even considered rude, not to leave a tip for your tour guide, but if you feel obligated a few dollars is perfectly acceptable.
Source: Swain Destinations
https://www.swaindestinations.com/blog/tipping-etiquette-when-traveling-in-japan/
Depending who you ask and what part of Japan you are staying in, tipping may or may not be an acceptable practice.
Many Japanese believe that good service should be the standard and therefore, tipping is not necessary. However, some staff that work for Japanese tourist companies are accustomed to receiving tips and may be grateful to receive a small gratuity.
If you ever do decide to tip in Japan, do not give cash directly from your pocket or purse. Always place the money in an envelope before you hand it over. The following are some “tips” for tipping in Japan.
Restaurants
If you live in the States, you probably cannot imagine going out to eat and not leaving a tip. Well, in Japan, tipping is a custom many are not in favor of, and if you attempt to leave a tip, it may well be refused.
The general consensus in Japan is: you’re paying for good service, so why should you pay extra? A good rule of thumb in Japan is not to tip in a restaurant, no matter how odd it may seem to you. Just be polite and thank your waiter or waitress for their service.
Taxi Drivers
Public transportation in Japan is excellent, but sometimes a taxi ride is necessary. In America, tipping one’s taxi driver is considered a standard practice. In Japan, it is not. Do not tip your driver, and if you’re unsure where you’re going or don’t speak Japanese, simply point to your destination on a map and politely thank your driver upon exiting.
Hotels & Spas
Hotel staff in Japan do not expect a tip, especially in high-end Ryokans (traditional Japanese Inns). If you should decide to leave a tip, it may, or may not, be refused. Do not be offended if it is rejected. If you are leaving a tip, place the money in an envelope and leave it behind in your room. Do not give the tip to any one in-person as that is considered rude.
When in a spa or at the hotel spa, do not leave a tip. Just be respectful and grateful for the masseuse’s service and that should be plenty. Remember to incline your head when greeting the masseuse, take off your shoes and always be polite.
Overall, tipping in Japan is not customary. Respect and politeness is expected at all times, and if your tip is refused, do not to be offended. If you insist on leaving a tip in your hotel and are unsure what the appropriate method is, check with your concierge or hotel receptionist.
Source: Swain Destinations
https://www.swaindestinations.com/blog/tipping-etiquette-when-traveling-in-japan/