Japan Travel Guide @

Japan Travel Guide @ TravelNotes.org Car Hire Cruises Flights Hotels Tours Vacations About Travel Notes™ Destinations Budget Travel Feedback Search Travel Forums Travel Writers Africa Asia Caribbean Europe Middle East North America South America Oceania Japan Japan Travel Guide @ TravelNotes.org Bilingual Map of Japan , Brief Guide to Japan , Getting Around Japan , Hiroshima , Japan Accommodation , Japan Tourism , Japan Tours , Kumamoto and Mt. Aso , Living in Japan , Social Rules in Japan , Tokyo , Travel to Japan , What You're Eating in Japan . Round The World Flights - Free TravelNotes e-mail Flag of Japan Japan is not one of the first countries a budget traveller would choose. Local Currency Convert your currency into Japanese Yen. Buy a Map of Japan National Anthem of Japan. Food Travel Fiction Health Kids Bios Humor Mags Software Gifts Tech Business Other Your Ad Here Travel Notes Mailing List News Headlines World News Directory of newspapers and news sources from around the world. Hotel City Search : Travel to Japan Japan is a little off the flight path to Sydney or Melbourne , and somewhat expensive. Reading signs can be a problem, and the culture change might be a shock. Culture Shock! Japan : More than any other country in this series, the guide to Japanese customs and culture can be a real face saver. Brief Guide to Japan Not all Japanese carry cameras at home, but most eat raw fish while sitting on the floor with their legs crossed. It is with more luck than judgement that you steer yourself out of a Tokyo subway station to the exit you require. A name of a hotel -- in a totally alien city, where there are too many roads to signpost, and even the taxi-drivers have to go on a paper chase navigating by known landmarks -- is all you have to go on. If you booked a city hotel at the airport reservations, this could well be you. The first night in your tv and video, towel and toothbrushed, slippers by the bed, hotel room for the typical businessman, is a soothing stay; something of a jet-lag convalescence. The second can also be very nice, but the third seems like a blatant misuse of funds. How can you justify a week's food-bill on eight hours between clean sheets? Japan -- Expensive? Japan doesn't have to be as expensive as you think. Try a temple lodging stay - smart, relaxing Japanese style rooms with 2 delicious meals at reasonable prices. Tabehodai restaurants are great places to eat and drink - all you can eat for about 2000 yen. For travel around the Fuji / Hakone area, make use of the Hakone free pass . And of course, a budget, luxurious and romantic accommodation alternative is a love hotel -- from 5000 yen for the room. Sent in by : Inside Japan Tours . Getting Around Japan The sleek, streamlined, white and blue bullet-train draws up casually, like a waiter in a white tuxedo ready to take an order. The Hikari Super Express -- Shinkansen in Japanese -- is the cream of train travel. On the station platform, neatly marked yellow arrows and numbers indicate where the corresponding carriages stop. Everyone waits in orderly fashion. Even the gaijin (foreigner) can get this one right. Hiroshima No one should visit Japan without taking a moment to quietly contemplate, in Hiroshima. The City of Hiroshima : The city of Hiroshima faces the tranquil Seto Inland Sea that prides itself on its beautiful myriad of islands. The city is rich in nature with its surrounding picturesque mountains that are ever changing with the four seasons and its six rivers that flow through it. Kumamoto and Mt. Aso If you're ever in the area, be sure to visit the Smiling Samurais and the Smouldering Volcano. Tokyo Tokyo, Japan : This is one of the best personal pages that we've come across, and is a highly recommended multimedia tour of the Japanese capital. Great work from Roger and Marilyn and a must see for budding homepage builders. Social Rules in Japan At bath-time in Japan , wash and rinse all the soap off before getting in the bath; so hot that you want to add some cold water to it. Japanese don't wear outside shoes in the house, slippers on tatami mats, or house slippers to the toilet (toilet slippers are for that). And don't forget to change back afterwards! So much of Japanese life is full of rules, ceremony and rituals -- keeping grace and saving face. After a hard day, the Japanese salaryman on the train lets his guard down and starts to unwind. Ties are casually loosened, while the lesser composed hang up their jackets and remove their shoes. Cans of beer are opened and consumed enthusiastically, because the conscience chocolates are already in their coloured wrapping, beside the leather brief-cases, on the racks above their heads. The small Japanese girls, in dark-blue uniforms, find it almost impossible to wheel their vending trolleys through the human mass, yet they struggle on gamely with boxes and plastic bags, smiling and bowing, beautifully masking any signs of stress or strain. Before leaving the carriage, they turn to face the passengers, give a high pitched cry of gratitude, and bow once more. Japan Tourism Japan's Heartland : A wide variety of historical, cultural and natural sites are on offer in the Tokai Region -- or Japan's Heartland. Japan National Tourist Office : The starting point for a trip to Japan. You can choose a region to explore, and there are even tips and hints for budget travellers. Traditional Japan : From the tea ceremony and geishas, to Japanese gardens and the public baths, every thing you need to know to appreciate the culture and customs of the Japanese. What You're Eating in Japan A colourful display of plastic, in a restaurant window, passes for the menu. You can not be sure what you are about to eat, but at least it gives you a rough idea of what to expect. Something like large liquorice allsorts turns out to be rice wrapped in seaweed. Then of course there's the pink sections of raw fish and deep-fried vegetables, all waiting to be tickled by chopsticks. Sushi Worldwide : It would be a good idea to telephone these restaurants first as they might no longer be open. If they are, you can always send your reviews of them into John Maraist using the forms linked to each restaurant listing. Tokyo Food Page : A complete guide to Japanese cuisine and eating in Tokyo, with recipes, articles on Japanese cooking, restaurant listings, culinary travel tips and more. Japan Accommodation Hotels in Japan Living in Japan Jobs in Japan : Japan job listings and free resume posting available. Also includes a personal ads section. Living in Japan : Expatriate, travel, cultural and employment resources for Japan -- from EscapeArtist. Working in Japan : From the hopeless bureaucracy of the Japanese Department of Immigration to the shocking amounts of key money required for an apartment, be prepared to test your patience far beyond its usual boundaries. This article, by Robert Landridge, has all manner of advice to help you on your way. Working Visas : There a number of visas depending on the work you intend to do. Find out which working visa applies to you. Japan Tours Creative Tours : Japan comprises a chain over 1000 fascinating islands. From snow-covered mountains to beautiful sandy beaches and vibrant cities to tranquil fishing villages. Whatever images Japan conjures up in your mind, you won't be disappointed. Elite International : Get a glimpse into the wonders of Japan -- a lovely land of endless mountain chains filled with awe-inspiring temples, shrines, rice paddies, and heavenly hot springs. Custom designed tours available. Inside Japan Tours : From the bright lights of Tokyo, the taste sensations of Osaka and the history of Kyoto, to the barren slopes of Mt. Fuji and the great outdoors of the Japan Alps, Japan has something for everybody. Flexible 8 and 13 night tours and customised packages. Sunrise Tours : Japan package tours include arrival and departure transfer services to/from the airport. Alternatively, you can select the components which best suit your needs and arrange your own tour package. Operated by JTB. Asia Travel Forum : From Afghanistan to Vietnam, Islam to Buddhism, you're sure to find a place for your soul in Asia. Join us in the travel forums if you have a question about Asia or would like to share your experiences about travelling or living in Asia. The Internet TravelNotes.org Japan Travel Guide Flight Tickets : Save money on Round The World flight tickets. Travel News : Get the inside scoop with the latest travel features and tips. Past Articles . Airlines & Airports : This travel article points you to airlines and the three letter airport codes with links to their websites. Cyber Cafes : The Internet Caf Guide. Weather Outlook Car Hire Cruises Flights Hostels Tours Vacations Destinations Budget Travel Feedback Meta-Travel Travel Forums Travel Writers Africa Asia Caribbean Europe Middle East North America South America Oceania Travel Directory : Asia : Japan Travel Guide -- Submit to Travel Notes | Advertise on TravelNotes.org | Favourite Destinations | Magun'sCompass | Travel Articles | Writers | | Airlines | Airports | Car Hire | Cruises | Flights | Hotels | Online Reservations | Vacation Rentals | | Casinos | Olympics | World Cup | General Disclaimer | Meta-Travel | Search Resources | | TravelNotes is a Trademark of TravelNotes.org | Travel Notes Blog | Add URL | Add to Favorites The URL for this page is: http://www.travelnotes.org/Asia/japan.htm

Japan Travel

Japan Vacations & Tourism, Japan Hotels, Japan Attractions - Yahoo! Travel Primary Navigation Overview | Hotels | Things to do | Restaurants | Map | Flights | Cars | Deals | FareChase Japan: Search Travel Travel > Guides > Asia > Japan Email this page Print Japan Vacations, Tourism, Hotels View larger map of Japan Top Cities in Japan Tokyo Osaka Kyoto Nagoya Yokohama Fukuoka Nagasaki Sapporo Hiroshima Okinawa Narita Chiba Kobe Hakone Nara Nikko See all cities in Japan View larger image At Tokyo station, waiting for the bullet train, we watched as everyone bought boxed lunches ( obento in Japanese). So we bought one too. It was inviting: The map on the cover suggested each of the foods inside had been harvested in a different part of Japan -- white radishes from the far west, salmon roe from the far northeast, eel from the south coast. We saw it … Read More Popular Japan Hotels Tokyo The Westin Tokyo ANA Hotel Tokyo Park Hyatt Tokyo Century Hyatt Tokyo Imperial Hotel Osaka Swissotel Nankai, Osaka The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka Hotel New Otani Osaka Miyako Hotel Tennoji Imperial Hotel Osaka Kyoto RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto The Westin Miyako Kyoto International Hotel Kyoto Hotel Granvia Kyoto Hiiragiya Ryokan Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel Nagoya Hilton Nagoya ANA Hotel Grand Court Nagoya Tokyu Inn Nagoya Sakae Nagoya Tokyu Hotel Yokohama Yokohama Royal Park Hotel Rose Hotel Yokohama Sheraton Yokohama Bay Hotel & Towers InterContinental The Grand Yokohama Hotel New Grand Fukuoka Grand Hyatt Fukuoka Nishitetsu Grand Hotel Sea Hawk Hotel & Resort Hyatt Regency Fukuoka ANA Hotel Hakata Nagasaki Best Western Premier Nagasaki Hotel Holiday Inn Nagasaki Hotel JAL City Nagasaki Hotel New Tanda Nagasaki Washington Hotel Sapporo Sapporo Grand Hotel ANA Hotel Sapporo Washington Hotel I Sheraton Sapporo Hotel Phoenician Plaza Hotel Related Information Popular Attractions in Japan Kiyomizudera Ueno Park Tokyo Tower Osaka Aquarium Odori Park Asakusa Shrine Maruyama Zoo National Museum of Modern Art- Crafts Gallery Shinjuku Gyoen Universal Studios Japan Popular Hotels in Japan The Westin Tokyo ANA Hotel Tokyo Park Hyatt Tokyo Century Hyatt Tokyo Imperial Hotel RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto Hotel Keio Plaza Tokyo Swissotel Nankai, Osaka Grand Hyatt Fukuoka Nishitetsu Grand Hotel Popular Cities in Japan Tokyo Osaka Kyoto Nagoya Yokohama Fukuoka Nagasaki Sapporo Hiroshima Okinawa Yahoo! Travel: Your best choice for cheap airline tickets and other great deals! Help get your favorite places listed on Yahoo! Travel: suggest a hotel or suggest an attraction .

Vacation Rentals: Location Search

Vacation Rentals - Vacation Homes, Villas, Condos by Owner Wednesday, December 28, 2005 Search Find Vacation Rentals: Location Search Amenities Search Advanced Search Search by Listing Number Show: Most Popular Rentals Newest Rental Listings Featured Vacation Rentals Property Owners: List Your Vacation Rental Owner Login Vacation Rentals World Wide Find your ideal vacation rental directly through the owner! We offer thousands of vacation homes for rent across the world directly from their owner or agent. VacationSpaces.com advertises accommodations in beach condos, villas, mountain cabins, and cottages to meet your vacation plans. Whether you are looking for a beach condo rental along the beautiful emerald beaches of Panama City Beach, a cabin rental in Gatlinburg, a ski chalet in South Lake Tahoe, or a villa rental near Orlando or Disney, VacationSpaces.com has the vacation home for you! Select a destination below, find the vacation home of your choice, and book it directly through the owner! Luxurious Condo Rental in Lely Resort Saratoga Golfer's Paradise! 2 BR/2 BA Luxury Alabama Idaho Minnesota North Dakota Utah Alaska Illinois Mississippi Ohio Vermont Arizona Indiana Missouri Oklahoma Virginia Arkansas Iowa Montana Oregon Washington California Kansas Nebraska Pennsylvania Washington DC Colorado Kentucky Nevada Puerto Rico West Virginia Connecticut Louisiana New Hampshire Rhode Island Wisconsin Delaware Maine New Jersey South Carolina Wyoming Florida Maryland New Mexico South Dakota Georgia Massachusetts New York Tennessee Hawaii Michigan North Carolina Texas Your listing includes: 3 MONTHS FREE WITH NEW ANNUAL PAID LISTING! * Guaranteed Results! ** Great Price: Starting at $39.95/quarter or $99/year. Toll free support and easy online management! More Photos: Up to 12 photos for a fraction of the cost of some other sites! No hidden fees! Unlimited updates to your listing and photos for no additional cost! List your vacation rental now! More Features... Customer Testimonials... Listing Fees... Frequently Asked Questions... LIST YOUR RENTAL NOW VacationSpaces.com can help you find your vacation rental in the U.S. and across the world. We have vacation homes, condos, villas, cabins, and cottages that are beach front, lake front, ski in/ski out, in your favorite city, and nestled in the mountains. Our vacation rentals are all over the US in locations such as Lake Tahoe and Disney/Orlando , and in countries such as Mexico , Canada , Spain , Costa Rica , and the Bahamas . Find your vacation home now! Kissimmee, Florida Florida Keys, Florida Orlando, Florida Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Walt Disney World Hilton Head Island, South Carolina North Lake Tahoe Panama City Beach, Florida South Lake Tahoe Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Lake Tahoe, California Cancun, Mexico San Diego, California Cozumel, Mexico Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania Barbados Costa Rica Honolulu, Hawaii St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands Miami Beach, Florida Breckenridge, Colorado Destin, Florida Maui, Hawaii Anguilla Grenada St. Barthelemy Antigua Guadeloupe St. Eustatius Aruba Guyana St. Kitts and Nevis Bahamas Haiti St. Lucia Barbados Jamaica St. Maarten Bermuda Martinique St. Vincent/Grenadines Bonaire Montserrat Trinidad & Tobago Cayman Islands Netherlands Antilles Turks & Caicos Curacao Puerto Rico Venezuela Dominica Roatan/Bay Islands Virgin Islands Dominican Republic Saba All Vacation Rentals © 2003 Terms Privacy Web Partners Disclaimer VacationSpaces.com is one of the largest and easiest tools to find vacation lodging on the web.We hope to become the official source for vacation homes, villas, beach condos, and mountain cabins by owner for the independent traveler looking for low cost accommodations anywhere in the world. We'll help you find a vacation rental for your next trip today!

travel insurance plans from

Travel Insurance - Compare Every Major Company - Instant Cover Travel Insurance Made Simple Compare over 100 travel insurance plans from the top providers and buy immediately or use our comprehensive research features. Our technology is tightly integrated with the insurance carriers featured on our site, allowing you to quickly purchase on-line with confidence or to thoroughly investigate every feature of every policy. SQM Rating™ System We use the unique SQM Rating™ System to allow you to easily find the policy that provides the best coverage for your particular requirements. Whether it’s medical, baggage, cancellation etc. we rate every single benefit within every single policy. Zero Complaint Policy We work on your behalf. If any one of our clients has a complaint against an insurance carrier that cannot be resolved to our satisfaction, we will remove the carrier from our site and no longer sell its products. travelers insurance - quotetravelinsurance.com is now powered by squaremouth.com . Click the button to the right to instantly quote and purchase from over 100 travel insurance products. Our unique system is the first and only website to rate every individual element within each policy against it's competitors. We are also the ONLY insurance agent to offer a zero complaint tolerance guarantee with every carrier on our site. Every purchase is in real time , you will immediately receive a policy number and full email confirmation of your purchase. We also send a hard copy by US Mail. © 2000 - 2005 squaremouth.com all rights reserved (2961765) Use this site to compare plans We are recommended by Frommers Budget Travel Magazine. What is Travel Insurance? Travel insurance protects a traveler's vacation cost against cancellation and interruption while also providing medical, lost or damaged property and travel delay coverage. Travelers are reimbursed if they have to cancel or interrupt their travel, they are also covered should the need arise for emergency medical treatment, medical evacuation and a number of other situations. Travel insurance can be broken down into the following major categories: Trip Cancellation – Reimburses travelers unable to take their trip d ue to Illness or death (of the traveler or a family member), weather, airline strikes, terrorism, bankruptcy, becoming unemployed, jury duty or their home being rendered uninhabitable due to fire/flood etc. Trip Interruption – Reimburses travelers if they have to cut short their trip due to Illness or death (of the traveler or a family member), weather, airline strikes, terrorism, bankruptcy, becoming unemployed, jury duty or their home being rendered uninhabitable due to fire/flood etc. Medical/Health – Reimburses medical and emergency dental costs. Almost all travel insurance plans work by reimbursing the traveler after they have paid locally for treatment. Claims are usually paid within 7 to 10 days. Pre-Existing conditions are covered by most policies if the policy is purchased within (at the most) 21 days from the date the traveler made the first trip payment (deposit). Medical Evacuation – Provides emergency transportation to either a local hospital in the event the traveler is unable to get there by themselves or back to a hospital near the travelers home. If family members are covered on the same policy they can return home also. Accidental Death – This coverage is split into 3 parts – Air Flight Accident – Covers death or dismemberment during an air flight only. Usually provides the highest amount of coverage due to a lower risk. Common Carrier – Covers death or dismemberment while traveling on public transport such as, plane, ferry, train, bus or taxi. Accidental Death – Covers death or dismemberment at any time on your trip. Usually provides the lowest amount of coverage due to a higher risk. Travel Delay – Reimburses travelers for hotel, food or clothing expenses in the event of a flight delay. Some plans also cover costs associated with catching up to a cruise should a delay cause the traveler to miss embarkation. Baggage Loss – Reimburses travelers for lost, stolen or damaged personal items. This coverage is usually for the duration of the trip and not confined to baggage damaged or lost by the airline. There are two policy limits, total claim and per item maximum. Some policies also place limits on the type of items that can be claimed for such as jewelry, laptops and sporting goods. Rental Car Damage – Reimburses travelers for damage or loss to a rental vehicle. It is designed to allow the traveler to decline CDW (collision damage waiver) coverage offered by the car rental companies. Liability coverage should still be purchased through the car rental company. Rental Car Damage coverage is also often included with the credit card used to pay for the car rental which is often identical to the coverage provided in the policy. Assistance Services – Provides a 24 hour collect call advice and assistance service to travelers. This service can be used anytime a traveler needs advice. More on this topic insurance_health_articles - contact us - about us - why buy - press_room - health quotes - links - site map - travel insurance news UK travel insurance for UK residents

Mexico Travel

Mexico Travel Information | Lonely Planet Destination Guide worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links : Explore Mexico Mexico A country so lively that even The Day of the Dead is a hoot. At a Glance Fast Facts WORLDGUIDE Introduction Background Info See Image Gallery Events Transport Money General RELATED Thorn Tree Forum Postcards Travel Links More Places Check out our other destinations: Within Mexico Acapulco Cabo San Lucas Cancun Cozumel Mazatlan Mexico City Puerto Vallarta San José del Cabo View Map Click here Feature Attraction Sierra de San Francisco Sierra de San Francisco is the gateway to spectacular pre-Hispanic rock art and as such has been declared a Unesco World Heritage site. At Cueva Pintada, ... more Mexico is a traveller's paradise, crammed with a multitude of opposing identities: desert landscapes, snow-capped volcanoes, ancient ruins, teeming industrialised cities, time-warped colonial towns, glitzy resorts, lonely beaches and a world-beating collection of flora and fauna. This mix of modern and traditional, the clichéd and the surreal, is the key to Mexico's charm, whether your passion is throwing back margaritas, listening to howler monkeys, surfing the Mexican Pipeline, scrambling over Mayan ruins or expanding your Day of the Dead collection of posable skeletons. Hurricane Damage/Crime in Mexico City Mexico's Yucatan peninsular has been hit hard by Hurricane Wilma, causing widespread flooding and property damage. Travellers are advised to check local information services before venturing to the Cancun/Yucatan region as many hotels will remain closed while undergoing repairs. Crime in Mexico continues to plague travellers, particularly in Mexico City. The incidence of violent crime and, more specifically, sexual crimes against women is on the up. Taxi theft, armed theft, pickpocketing, purse snatching, credit-card fraud and ATM robbery are frequently reported. A spate of recent kidnappings have targeted travellers in the Nuevo Laredo region of northern Mexico. When To Go Mexico is enjoyable year-round, but October to May is generally the most pleasant time to visit. The May-September period can be hot and humid, particularly in the south, and inland temperatures can approach freezing during December-February. Facilities are often heavily booked during Semana Santa (the week before Easter) and Christmas/New Year, the peak domestic travel periods. Mexico's climate has something for everyone: it's hot and humid along the coastal plains, and drier and more temperate at higher elevations inland (Guadalajara or Mexico City, for example). Try to avoid Mexico's southern coast between July and September - the resorts are decidedly soggy and jam-packed, as July-August is also the peak holiday months for foreign visitors. Factoid Pyramid Envy While Egypt might be the first place that comes to mind when thinking about pyramids, Mexico is actually home to the world's largest pyramid. The Quetzalcóatl Pyramid at Cholula de Rivadiais measures 3.3 million-cubic meters (4.3 million cubic yards) compared to The Great Pyramid of Giza's 2,600,600 cubic metres (3.4 million cubic yards). SPONSORED LINKS Enquire Travel Services · Flights · Hostels · Hotels · Travel Insurance More Services › Disclaimer: We've tried to make theinformation on this web site as accurate as possible, but it isprovided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injuryor inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information.You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety,customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before youtravel. text & images © lonely planet 2005 about us | privacy | feedback | advertising FAQs worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links