Japan Travel

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Send it to a friend! Newsletters Subscribe now to receive FREE news on Japan. Enter your email below. Powered by Yahoo! WE DO NOT SPAM. Contact 3yen Questions? Comments? Suggestions?... Contact us here 3Yen original T-shirts & goodies Join us Passionate about a Japanese topic? Write a column here. Contribute to 3Yen Thanks Domain Names Web Hosting Wordpress Links News on Japan Japan Blog Links Make your blog Link to us Legal Disclaimer Privacy policy -- As seen on: Answers.com Blue's News BNET Boing Boing CNET News.com digg Engadget Fark Fazed Gizmodo Iconfactory iPod Lounge Joystiq KFC Cinema Kotaku Near Near Future Popgadget Russell Beattie Notebook Slashdot Smart Mobs Textually.org Ubergizmo Waxy Wikipedia 8/22/2005 Aichi Expo 2005 review Posted by Yves Yuki went to Aichi Expo 2005 so you don’t have to. Well, I wish I was going, but since it appears I’m not going to, you might as well go read about it one the blog of someone who did. Read her Aichi Expo review at kissui.net . If you found some other good reviews, please let everyone enjoy them and share the links in the comments below. Via Gen Kanai Related entries: General | Comments (0) | Link me! -- 6/24/2005 Visit Japan from above with Google Maps Posted by Yves You live in Japan and you want to show your neighborhood to your family back home? Or you have never been in Japan before and you wish you could get a glimpse? Now you can. Google Maps have finally gone international! The image and the link above are the famous Shibuya crossing, with the world’s busiest Starbucks. If you find some good location or cool pictures, please post the URL in the comments so everyone can enjoy it. (To make the address shorter, you can use doiop ) Related entries: General Tokyo | Comments (3) | Link me! -- 1/1/2005 Travel Japan - Visit Tokyo Posted by Yves Tokyo (??) is the capital of Japan. At over 12 million people, Tokyo is one of the biggest cities in the world. It is also huge and varied in its geography, with over 2,000 square kilometers to explore. Tokyo brings the most modern wonders of technology, commerce and architecture side by side with the old, and has something for everyone. The Tokyo Metropolitan District (??? Tokyo-to) includes 23 central wards (? ku) near the bay and several outlying cities and towns (? shi) to the west. There are even a couple of Pacific islands that are officially part of Tokyo. You will find the biggest crowded high-rise districts, but also shambling old wooden low-rise neighborhoods, and even mountainous parks. The geography of Tokyo is defined by the JR Yamanote Line (see Get around). The center of Tokyo — the former area reserved for the Shogun and his samurai — lies within the loop, while the Edo-era downtown (?? shitamachi) is to the north and east. Sprawling around in all directions and blending seamlessly into Yokohama, Kawasaki and Chiba are Tokyo’s suburbs. Central Tokyo Chiyoda, the seat of Japanese power that includes the Imperial Palace, the electronics mecca of Akihabara and the business center of Akasaka Chuo, including the famed department stores of the Ginza and the fish markets of Tsukiji Minato, the port district (at least in name) which includes the artificial island of Odaiba and the fleshpots of Roppongi Shibuya, the fashionable shopping district which also encompasses the teenybopper haven of Harajuku (also home to the Meiji Shrine) and the nightlife of Ebisu Shinjuku, home to luxury hotels, giant camera stores and Tokyo’s wildest red-light district Downtown Sumida by the river of the same name, including Ryogoku, home of the Edo-Tokyo Museum and Tokyo’s sumo arena Taito and Bunkyo, the heart of downtown Tokyo featuring the temples of Asakusa and the many museums of Ueno Toshima including Ikebukuro, another giant train hub Koto, between the two rivers Sumida and Arakawa, located on just the south of Sumida. It is famous for the former woodland in Kiba, and Kameido Tenjin the shrine worshipping Michizane Sugawara known as a father of study in Kameido. Suburban wards Meguro, a residential area with a few nice parks and museums Nakano Setagaya, an upscale residential area that houses the student drinking spot of Shimokitazawa Shinagawa, a major train hub Suginami Western cities Outside the 23 wards, some cities of (relatively minor) interest include Chofu Fuchu Hachioji Koganei Machida Musashino including Kichijoji Tama Generalities History Over 400 years old, the city of Tokyo grew from the modest fishing village of Edo (??). The former seat of the Tokugawa Shogunate, the Imperial family moved to the city after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. The metropolitan center of the country, Tokyo is the modern destination for business, education, culture, and government. (That’s not to say that rivals such as Osaka won’t dispute those claims.) Language It’s easier than ever for English speakers to navigate their way around Tokyo without speaking any Japanese. Signs at subway and train stations include the station names in romaji (Romanized characters). There are also many districts of Tokyo (such as Roppongi) with establishments that cater specifically to gaijin (foreigners). Once you’ve decided to venture beyond the gaijin scene, however, the language barrier is more likely to become a problem, so it can be helpful to know some tips for ordering in restaurants, shopping in stores, and asking for directions. Cost of Life The cost of living in Tokyo is not as astronomical as it once was. Deflation and market pressures have helped to make costs in Tokyo comparable to most other large cities. Visitors from San Francisco, New York or London will not be at all surprised. Travelers should budget a similar amount of money for their stay in Tokyo as they would for any other great city in Europe or North America. Locals will know the bargains, but experienced cheapskates from anywhere in the world can get by with a little ingenuity. Getting there Send your bags into town before you arrive - Tokyo is crowded. Lugging even a moderately sized suitcase through the subways and up and down stairs can be a nightmare. So, what can you do? Use the ubiquitous delivery services (takkyuubin) which give cheap, dependable, fast service to anywhere. How does it work? At any airport or major station, look for a sign that says “Baggage Delivery” or something similar. The most common company is called Kuroneko. Their black-on-yellow logo of a mother cat carrying a baby cat is easy to spot anywhere. Write your hotel address, pay a small fee based on size and distance, and simply collect your bag the next day at your hotel. This works the same way on departure. Most hotels and even many convenience stores will take care of this for you. The service is extremely dependable. You can send almost any shape or size of bags (even a bicycle) to the airport ahead of time. They are never late and always in good condition. Just pick up your stuff in the airport lobby. It sure makes getting to the airport a breeze. It even makes intercity travel easy if you have a lot of stuff. By plane Narita Airport Tokyo’s main international gateway is Narita Airport (???? NRT), located in the town of Narita nearly 70 kilometers northeast of Tokyo and covered in a separate article. Haneda Airport Most domestic services, as well as the shuttle service to Seoul, fly into Haneda Airport (???? HND). The easiest way from Haneda to the city is the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho, from where you can connect to almost anywhere in Tokyo on the JR Yamanote line. The other, slightly cheaper alternative is the private Keikyu (??) line to Shinagawa and Yokohama. On December 1st 2004, ANA and Air Do moved to the new Terminal 2, while JAL, Skymark and Skynet will stay in Terminal 1. The Keikyu station is between the two, while the monorail has now has separate stops at both terminals. Services to Seoul use the small separate International Terminal, which is connected to the main domestic terminals by a free shuttle bus that runs every 5 minutes. By train There is a frequent intercity Shinkansen service to and from Tokyo Station (??? Tokyo-eki) in Chiyoda, from where you can easily connect pretty much anywhere in the city on the JR Yamanote or Metro Marunouchi lines. For all northbound trains, you can also hop on at Ueno, while most (but not all) westbound trains stop at Shinagawa. For non-Shinkansen services, Shibuya and Shinjuku stations offer local connections to the west. Ueno and Ikebukuro stations connect you to the northern suburbs and neighboring prefectures. By car While you can drive into the city, it’s really not recommended as the city can be congested, signs may be confusing and parking fees are astronomical. Hitchhiking into Tokyo is pretty easy, but hitchhiking out is considerably more difficult. It’s definitely possible for determined cheapskates though, see Hitchhiking in Japan for a detailed list of tested escape routes from the city. By bus Highway bus services link Tokyo to other cities, resort areas and the surrounding prefectures. There are JR and private bus companies. Bus service may be cheaper, but the train is probably more convenient. If you have a JR pass, then stick with the trains. By boat One of the great ports of the world, Tokyo also has domestic ferry services to other points in Japan. Get around By train and subway Railway service within Tokyo is provided by JR, the two subway networks, and various private lines. If you are planning to do any train travel in Tokyo, the first thing you should do is familiarize yourself with the JR Yamanote Line (???). The Yamanote is a commuter line that runs in a loop around central Tokyo, and effectively defines the geography of the city. Almost all inter-regional JR lines and private lines start at a station on the Yamanote. All of JR’s commuter lines are color-coded, and the Yamanote is green. The JR Chuo (???, orange) and Sobu (???, yellow) lines run side-by-side, bisecting the Yamanote loop from Shinjuku on the west to Tokyo on the east. As they are mainly designed to carry commuters from the suburbs into and across town, they are not very useful for travelers. JR’s other commuter lines, the Saikyo and Keihin-Tohoku, run off the rim of the Yamanote loop to the north and south. Tokyo has an extensive subway network. It is inexpensive (¥160-¥300), frequent, and sometimes practically the only choice for a place like Roppongi (far from nearby JR station). Two companies operate a subway service - the Tokyo Metro, which has a larger network, and Toei, which runs primarily commuter lines. Unfortunately a change of lines between Metro and Toei will require a special transfer ticket (or a fare card). A number of private commuter lines radiate from the Yamanote loop far out into the outlying wards and suburbs, and almost all connect through to subway lines within the loop. The private lines are useful for day trips outside the city, and are slightly cheaper than the JR. Fares and hours All train stations are equipped with automated vending machines. Fares are based on distance, and the minimum fare (1-3 stations) ranges from ¥110-¥170 depending on the line. If you can’t figure out how much it is to the destination, you can buy the cheapest ticket and pay the difference at the end. Most vending machines will let you buy a single ticket that covers a transfer between JR, subway and private lines, all the way to your destination. Prepaid fare cards are extremely convenient, allowing you to slip in and slip out without having to know how much the fare is. Passnet cards can be used on all the subways and private lines in Tokyo. JR has its own fare card system, called IO-Card. Both are sold in denominations of ¥1,000, ¥3,000, and ¥5,000. JR also has a rechargeable contact-less smart card called Suica. As it requires a ¥500 deposit and is designed to be combined with a commuter pass, it is not especially advantageous for travelers. Many of the private lines interoperate with the subways, which can occasionally make a single ride seem unreasonably expensive as you are in essence transferring to another line and fare system, even though you’re still on the same train. It pays to check your route beforehand. All train lines in Tokyo run from around 05:00 to 01:00. During peak hours they run about once every three minutes; even during off-peak hours it’s less than ten minutes between trains. By taxi Taxis are pricey, but may be a value for groups of three compared to the subway. Fares generally start at about ¥600 and can mount rapidly. Do not count on your taxi driver knowing more than the best-known locations. If possible, get a business card, or print out the address in Japanese of any specific places you wish to go. By bus The few areas within Tokyo that aren’t easily accessible by train are served by various bus companies. Buses have a fixed fare regardless of distance (typically ¥200), and fares are not transferrable. Compared to the trains, the buses run much less frequently, carry fewer passengers, and are much slower. This makes them amenable to the elderly residents of Tokyo, but rather inconvenient for travelers, who will also have to deal with complicated routes and lack of information in English. See Tokyo has a vast array of sights, but the first items on the agenda of most visitors are the temples of Asakusa, the gardens of the Imperial Palace (in Chiyoda) and the Meiji Shrine (in Harajuku). If you’re looking for a viewing platform, the Tokyo Tower is the best known choice. It costs money to go up, however. A much better choice - while not quite as high - is the Tokyo City Hall in Shinjuku. Its twin towers have viewing platforms that are absolutely free, and still offer a great view over Tokyo. A recent addition to the viewing platforms around Tokyo is Tokyo City View in Roppongi Hills, Roppongi. The city is dotted with museums, large and small, which center on every possible interest from pens to antique clocks to traditional and modern arts. At ¥500 to ¥1,000 or more, entrance fees can add up quickly. Many of the largest museums are clustered around Ueno. Do Take a boat ride on the Sumida River. Enjoy a soak in a local “sento” or public bath. Go to an amusement park such as Tokyo Disneyland or the more Japanese Sanrio Puroland (in Tama), home to more Hello Kittys than you can imagine. Learn The curious can study traditional culture such as tea ceremony, calligraphy, or martial arts such as Karate, Judo, Aikido and Kendo. There are also many language schools to help you work on your Japanese. Several universities in Tokyo cater to international students at the undergraduate or graduate level. Work Teaching English (or to a lesser extent, other foreign languages) is perhaps the easiest way to work in Japan. Tokyo also offers more work options than other areas: everything from restaurant work to IT. Work permits can be hard to come by and will take time. Consult your local Japanese consulate/embassy as far in advance as possible. Buy If it is for sale anywhere in the world, you can probably also buy it in Tokyo - at a price. Items to look for include electronics, funky fashions, antique furniture and kimono, and specialty items like Hello Kitty goods, anime and comics, and their associated paraphernalia. Cameras and electronics Ever since Sony and Nikon became synonymous with high-tech quality, Tokyo has been a favored place for buying electronics and cameras. Though the lines have blurred since the PC revolution, each has its own territory and stores: Akihabara has the electronics stores and Shinjuku has the camera stores, and both now sell mostly computers. There are branches in other major areas, but each side stays out of the other’s traditional territory and products. The discount chains have better prices than small local retailers, but prices basically don’t vary from one to the other. So if you know what you want, don’t waste your time comparison shopping. Selection can vary, though, and one brand might be cheaper than a similar item at a different store. Bargaining for major items is expected, but the salespeople probably have prepared scripts for a week’s worth of “this is normally as low as we can go, but hey, just for you…” Street fashion Shibuya and neighboring Harajuku are the best-known shopping areas for funky, youthful clothes and accessories. Note that, almost without exception, clothes are sized for the petite Japanese frame. Eat Tokyo has more restaurants than you can possibly imagine. Menus are often posted outside, so you can check the prices. Some shops have the famous plastic food in their front windows. Don’t hesitate to drag the waiting staff out to the front to point at what you want. Lunch is generally a great deal. If you want to try some fancy food, or you hear of a really top notch restaurant, try lunchtime. This is one of the best ways to try the same dishes without emptying your wallet. The food is still good, there is plenty of it, but it is cheaper than dinner. Usually lunch sets are 1,000 to 1,500 Yen, even in excellent restaurants. Always carry cash. Many restaurants will not accept plastic. In a city with literally tens of thousands of restaurants representing more or less every cuisine in the world, there aren’t all that many uniquely Tokyo specialities, but the nigirizushi (fish pressed onto rice) known the world around simply as “sushi” in fact originates from Tokyo. Tokyo’s best sushi can be found in Tsukiji, fresh from the famous fish market. Cheap Go to the convenience store. Really, the options may surprise you. Also, look for bento shops. These sell take-out lunch boxes. They range in quality and cost, but most offer good, basic food at a reasonable price. This is what students and office workers often eat. Noodle shops and curry shops are often the best option for people eating on the cheap. They are everywhere. Mid-range Good options for better food that won’t break the bank include okonomiyaki, tempura, and chain “family restaurants” such as Royal Host or Gusto. There are also a myriad of cheap Italian places such as the “To The Herbs” chain. Also, the basement of almost any department store will have a huge array of small shops selling all kinds of prepared take-out food. Go to Mitsukoshi, Matsuzakaya, or Isetan for a delicious picnic that may fall a bit on the pricy side. On the other hand, we’re talking sushi, not ham sandwiches. Drink Hit Roppongi for establishments which specialize in serving foreigners. Visit Shibuya for cool nightclubs, dancing, and live music. Shimokitawaza is full of good bars and restaurants and is popular with students and 20/30-somethings. The Kabukicho red light district in Shinjuku is worth a visit and has some good music in “live houses". You will find good little bars and restaurants everywhere. You will also find that you are never far from a beer vending machine in Tokyo. Most drinking is done in restaurants. Cheaper bar and grill type places are called izakaya (???). You can get all kinds of food and drink. The cheaper chain izakaya usually have picture menus, so ordering is simple. Some popular izakaya chains include Tsubohachi and Shirakiya. If you want a Western-style bar that serves drinks but is not a restaurant, try any of the higher end hotels. This will cost you, though, and you may want to dress up a bit. Sleep There are thousands of hotels in the Tokyo area, ranging from cheap to very expensive. They are distributed throughout the city, with some of the high end and the low end almost everywhere. Cheap Capsule hotels are generally the cheapest option. They may reluctant to play host to foreigners as there are quite a few rules of behavior which may be difficult to explain. 24-hour comic book library/internet cafes have become common around Tokyo. This is one of the cheapest ways to crash if you miss your last train and need to wait for the early morning transit service to get started. No bed, but you have a comfy chair and a PC and/or DVDs if you can’t sleep. Mid-range Keep an eye out for what is called a business hotel. Staff may speak minimal English, but it’s not too hard to figure out. The Tokyu Stay chain is one of the best values for money. Rooms start at around 80USD per night. Internet access and breakfast are included at no additional fee. All have a washer/dryer in the room. Kitchenettes are also available. Another option is staying at a ryokan (Japanese inn), which are inexpensive and give you a taste of Japanese culture. The Japanese-style rooms are typically covered by tatami mats with futons to sleep on and a Japanese low table, and the owners can be very friendly. If you are traveling solo, you are out of luck, but Japan’s infamous love hotels can be a reasonable (and interesting) option for couples in Tokyo. Shibuya’s “Love Hotel Hill” offers the widest selection in the city. If you’re really going to spend the night, be sure to check in for a “stay” rather than a “rest". Top End You can spend a fortune on accommodation in Tokyo. Most of the high-end international chains are well represented. Particular concentrations of luxury hotels can be found in western Shinjuku (including the Park Hyatt Tokyo, star of Lost in Translation) and in Akasaka. Internet Good connections are available at Internet cafes everywhere. Expect to pay ¥400-¥500 per hour. “Gera Gera” is a popular chain. Paid WiFi service is also taking off in Tokyo with reasonable coverage - at a price. WiFi services are probably not convenient for those just visiting. Stay safe Tokyo is probably one of the safest cities you will ever visit. Violent crime is rare - even late at night. The police really are a resource you can turn to for help. You will rarely find yourself far from a a local police substation (koban). These are typically staffed by one or two police officers. Don’t hesitate to go to the koban if you are lost, they have great local maps (in Japanese). Some police officers will also speak basic English. Give them a try. Also, if you carry travel insurance, report any thefts or lost items at the koban. They may have forms in English as well as Japanese. Still in a jam? Call Tokyo English Life Line. tel. 03-5774-0992, daily 09:00 - 23:00. Dial 110 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance service. Get out From Tokyo, the entire surrounding Kanto region is your oyster. Particularly popular destinations nearby include: Hakone — for hot springs and views of Mount Fuji Kamakura — home to dozens of small temples and one Big Buddha Nikko — grandiose shrine and burial site of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokyo Disneyland — just like the ones everywhere else Yokohama — Japan’s second-largest city Related entries: Kanto Tokyo | Comments (1) | Link me! -- 12/30/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Osaka Posted by Yves If Tokyo is Japan’s capital, Osaka (??) might be called its anti-capital. Osaka is the main metropolis of the Kansai region, and its inhabitants exhibit a strong rivalry towards the Kanto region, from baseball, food, popular culture, even to which side they ride escalators (on the left in Tokyo, but on the right in Osaka). Districts Like Tokyo, Osaka is best thought of as a group of cities that have grown together. History Back in the days of the Tokugawa shogunate, Edo (now Tokyo) was the austere seat of military power and Kyoto was the home to the Imperial court and its effete courties, but Osaka was where the merchants made and lost their fortunes. To this day, while unappealing and gruff on the surface, Osaka remains Japan’s best place to eat, drink and party, and Osakans still greet each other with mokarimakka?, “are you making money?". Getting there By plane The main international gateway to Osaka is Kansai International Airport, covered in a separate article. Domestic flights, however, mostly arrive at Osaka’s northern Itami Airport (ITM), connected to the city by the Osaka Monorail. By train Shinkansen trains arrive at Shin-Osaka station to the north of the city center. Connect to the center with the Midosuji subway line. Local trains from Kobe, Kyoto and Nara arrive mostly at the Umeda and Namba stations. By bus Overnight highway buses from Tokyo and other areas can get you to Osaka for significantly less than a Shinkansen ticket. Get around The convenient Kansai Thru Card can be used on just about anything that moves in Osaka (as well as the rest of the Kansai region), with the notable exception of JR trains. By subway Osaka has Japan’s second-most extensive subway network after Tokyo, which makes the underground the natural way to get around. The Midosuji Line is Osaka’s main artery, linking up the massive train stations and shopping complexes of Shin-Osaka, Umeda, Shinsaibashi, Namba and Tennoji. By train True to its name, the JR Osaka Loop Line (??? Kanjo-sen) runs in a loop around Osaka. It’s not quite as convenient or heavily-used as Tokyo’s Yamanote line though. See Osaka Castle is Osaka’s best known sight, although it’s a concrete reconstruction that pales in comparison with, say, Himeji. Still, it’s pretty enough from the outside, especially in the cherry blossom season when Osakans flock to the castle park to picnic and make merry. Open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily, adult admission ¥600. The park can be accessed on a number of lines, but the castle is closest to Osaka-jo Koen station on the JR Osaka Loop Line. Eat In a nation of obsessive gourmands Osaka is known as an excellent place to eat, exemplified by the Osakan maxim kuidaore, “eat until you burst". The best place for this is Dotonbori (???), a street that contains nearly nothing but one restaurant after another. Some of the more famous establishments here include: Kuidaore (????), featuring a mechanical clown beating a drum, is one of the contenders for the title of the largest restaurant in the world. Each floor specializes in a type of food. Affordable, but more fun in a group. Kani Doraku (????), easily identifiable by the giant mechanical crab waving its pincers about, specializes in crab. Good but moderately expensive. Sleep The cheapest option is capsule hotels, found near the major train stations . Capsule Inn Osaka. 9-5 Doyamamachi, Kita-ku (in the Higashi-Hankyu shopping arcade off Namba station). Tel. 06-6314-2100, Fax 06-6314-1281. Japan’s first capsule hotel (opened 1977) is still open for business, happy to accommodate foreigners with some semblance of a clue and a steal at ¥1600 for a night. Typical Japanese business hotels are step up from a capsule and can be found everywhere. Examples include: Hotel Nankai Namba , 17-11 Namba-naka 1-chome, Naniwa-ku (Exit 5 from the Midosuji subway line, walk south, and turn right at the McDonald’s), TEL 06-6649-1521 ( namba@hotel-nankai.co.jp , FAX 06-6632-5061). This is a clean and well-run hotel convenient to transport: 20 minutes from Shin-Osaka, good access to Nara on the Kintetsu Line. Rooms have LAN access at no additional cost- some rooms with WiFi, so ask when making a reservation or checking in. 8,400 JPY-18,375 JPY (single-triple). Stay safe The base for Japan’s yakuza gangsters, Osaka has a dangerous reputation (by Japanese standards), but is still remarkably safe for a city of its size. Unless you’re dealing drugs you’re unlikely to get involved with the local mafia, but some districts, particularly Shinsekai, may be a little dodgy at night. Get out The temples and lush greenery of Mount Koya, 90 minutes away by train, are an entirely different world and the perfect getaway when all the concrete starts to get to you. (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Kansai Osaka | Comments (0) | Link me! -- 12/28/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Chubu Posted by Yves Chubu (??) is the central region of Japan’s Honshu island. The region is often further divided into three more areas, namely Tokai (??) for the southern Pacific coast, Koshin’etsu (???) for the northern Sea of Japan coast and Hokuriku (??) for the rest. Prefectures Tokai Aichi — mostly urban sprawl around Nagoya Gifu — home to the northern Japan Alps and many hot springs Shizuoka Koshin’etsu Nagano Niigata Yamanashi Hokuriku Fukui Ishikawa Toyama Cities Hida-Takayama — attractively preserved town and a good starting point for trips to the Japan Alps Nagano — Japan’s winter sports capital Nagoya — Chubu’s largest city by far Niigata — Major port city on the northern coast Toyama Other destinations Gero Onsen — one of Japan’s Three Famous Hot Springs Japan Alps — the largest and tallest mountain chain in Japan Mount Fuji — the iconic Japanese mountain Oku-Hida Onsen Villages — 5 remote hamlets full of stunning scenery and some of Japan’s best hot springs Sado Island — place of exile home to gold mines and the yearly Earth Celebration Sekigahara — the site of the famous battle that ushered in the Tokugawa Shogunate Generalities Chubu means “middle region", accurately reflecting its position straddling the two Japanese poles of Kansai and Kanto. Often ignored by tourists, with de facto capital Nagoya being a byword for boredom, Chubu’s best attractions are in the mountains, particularly the (only slightly hyperbolic) Japan Alps. Talk There are many people who speak in dialect in this area. In Shirone in Niigata prefecture, people speak in a dialect. For example, they use the word “Ra, Ri, Ru, Re and Ro ” at the ending. So they speak like this, “~raro!". Getting there By plane Nagoya’s airport is one of the largest in Japan, with many domestic and international connections. By train The Tokaido Shinkansen bisects Chubu, connecting to Tokyo in the east and Osaka and Kyoto in the west. See In the Oku-Hida region around Takayama, check out the traditional gassho-zukuri houses, with a roof shaped like hands in prayer to protect against snow from accumulating. There are many famous temples in Nagano, notably Zenkoji, considered an official national treasure. In Nagoya, there is Nagoya castle, although it’s just a modern concrete reconstruction. Mount Fuji’s view is great. Do Winter sports. The Koshin’etsu district is also known as Snow Country (?? Yukiguni), since it receives some of the heaviest snowfall in the world. This makes Chubu Japan’s undisputed winter sports capital with attractions like Nagano, site of the 1998 Winter Olympics. Hiking. The Japan Alps have some great hiking. Mount Fuji in Shizuoka is a symbol of Japan and a popular tourist attraction, both for viewing and climbing. Eat Chubu’s regions all have their local specialities. Some include: Hotaru ika (lit. “firefly squid") in Toyama Tempura shrimp in Nagoya Drink Chubu is sake country and Niigata, renowned for its koshihikari rice, produces some of the best in the country including famous labels like Kubota (???), Koshinokanbai (????) and Hakkaisan (???). Shizuoka is famous for green tea and Aichi specializes in, oddly enough, oranges. (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Chubu | Comments (0) | Link me! -- 12/26/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Tohoku Posted by Yves Tohoku (??, literally “East-North") is the northeastern region of Japan’s Honshu island. Generalities Traditionally a poor rural backwater with a harsh climate, today’s Tohoku offers the traveller some of the best scenery in Japan. In winter, the Snow Country (Yukiguni) of the western Japan Sea coast racks up some of the highest snowfall figures in the world, which also means great skiing and lots of hot springs to warm up in. Prefectures and Regions Akita Aomori Fukushima Iwate Miyagi Yamagata Cities Aomori Hiraizumi — historical site with several large temples Hirosaki — the cultural capital of the North Morioka Sendai — capital of Miyagi and the largest city in Tohoku. It enjoys the epithet Mori no Miyako, “The Forest City", due to its dense tree lined thoroughfares and forested public areas. Yamagata Other destinations Dewa Sanzan — three mountains holy to the ascetic cult of Shugendo Lake Towada Kinkazan — small island with a shrine and hiking trails Matsushima — one of Japan’s Three Great Views Mount Bandai Naruko — famous for its hot springs Oirase River Valley Shimokita Peninsula — featuring the scenic Yagen Valley as well as Mount Osore, the mythical entrance to Hell Talk Information in English tends to sparse in rural Tohoku, since foreign travellers are few in these parts; the positive side to this is that people will go out of their way to help you. The rural Tohoku accent, known as zuzu-ben for its characteristic feature of turning all “s” sounds into “z", can be difficult to comprehend at times even if you do understand Japanese. Younger people are, however, universally versed in school-standard hyojungo. Getting there By plane There are no major airports in Tohoku and most travellers arrive via Tokyo. Sendai and Akita airports do field some international flights, mostly to China and Korea. By train The Tohoku Shinkansen connects Tokyo to Mito, Sendai, Morioka and Hachinohe, with spur lines to Akita and Yamagata. It will take 2 hours from Tokyo to Sendai. The line remains under construction and is inching towards Aomori, from where it will eventually tunnel under the sea to Hokkaido. By ferry Ferry services connect ports in northern Tohoku to Hokkaido. Get around Tohoku is large and mountainous and getting around in the boondocks can be time-consuming. By train Rural train services in Tohoku, known as donko, are slow and infrequent — it’s not unusual to have waits of 2 or even 4 hours between trains. The scenery along the twisty mountain routes can be stunning though. See & Do Most visitors come to Tohoku for hiking, history and hot springs, not necessarily in that order. Highlights include the temples of Hiraizumi, the holy mountains of Dewa Sanzan and the secluded hot springs of the Shimokita Peninsula. Eat & Drink Tohoku has not made very many contributions to the Japanese culinary scene, although (as always in Japan) even the smallest hamlet will boast something it claims to be famous for. But in mountain regions you will certainly have a chance to sample sansai-ryori, prepared from herbs and plants harvested from the forests and hillsides. Unlike the shochu-swilling south, Tohoku is sake country and manufactures some fine rice wines. (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Tohoku | Comments (0) | Link me! -- 12/24/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Kyoto Posted by Yves Nestled among mountains in Western Honshu, Kyoto (??) has a reputation worldwide as Japan’s most beautiful city, boasting more World Heritage Sites per square inch than any other city. However, visitors will be surprised how much work they will have to do to see its beautiful side. Most visitors’ first impressions will be of the urban sprawl of central Kyoto, around the ultra-modern glass-and-steel train station. Nonetheless, the persistent tourist will soon discover Kyoto’s hidden beauty in the temples and parks which ring the city center, and find that the city has even more than meets the eye. Generalities Kyoto was the capital of Japan and the residence of the Emperor from 794 until the Meiji Restoration of 1868, when the capital was moved to Tokyo. During its millennium at the center of Japanese power, culture, tradition, and religion, it accumulated an unparalleled collection of palaces, temples and shrines, built for emperors, shoguns, geishas and monks. Almost alone among Japanese cities, Kyoto escaped the Allied bombings of World War II, although it could be argued that the concrete redevelopment that turned 95% of Kyoto into an ordinary Japanese city did just as thorough a job. Getting there By plane Kyoto does not have its own airport. The nearest international gateway is Kansai International Airport, 73 minutes away by the fastest train. Most domestic flights land at Osaka’s Itami Airport, one hour away by bus. By train Most visitors arrive at JR Kyoto station by Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo, 2 hours and 14 minutes away. For connections to nearby cities, you can also take the private Hankyu or Keihan lines to Osaka, or the Kintetsu line to Nara. By bus The cheapest way of traveling from Tokyo or other distant points to Kyoto is by night bus, which terminate at Kyoto station. Get around The sheer size of the city of Kyoto, and the distribution of tourist attractions around the periphery of the city, make the city’s public transport system invaluable. The Kansai Thru Pass (Surutto Kansai) stored-value card can be used on all means of transportation in Kyoto (and the rest of the Kansai region), with the notable exception of JR trains. You can purchase the cards in denominations starting at ¥1000 at any train or subway station. By train The Keihan train line can be useful for traveling in eastern Kyoto, while the two Keifuku tram lines are an attractive way of traveling in the northwest. By subway Kyoto’s subway network has two subway lines, the north-south Karasuma Line and the west-east Tozai Line. Both are useful for travel in the city center but not really suitable for temple-hopping. By bus The bus network is the only practical way of reaching many attractions. City buses have a fixed fare of ¥220. See Kyoto offers an incredible number of attractions for tourists, and visitors will probably need to plan an itinerary in advance in order to visit as many as possible. North-western Kyoto Visiting the vast temple complexes of north-western Kyoto can take the better part of a day. A suggested itinerary is to take the subway (Karasuma line) to Kitaoji station, and walk west along Kitaoji-dori. Daitokuji, Kinkakuji, Ryoanji and Ninnaji Temples are all on Kitaoji-dori, and about 15-30 minutes’ walk apart. En route, you will see the giant “dai” (?) symbol burned on the hill overlooking the city. Hirano Shrine is a short walk south along Nishioji-dori from Kinkakuji. If you still have time left at the end of the day, take the pleasant electric railway (Keifuku Kitano line) from Omuro to Katabiranotsuji, then take the JR Sagano line from nearby Uzumasa station back to central Kyoto. Daitokuji Temple is a small and understated temple complex, boasting several small, secluded subtemples. Daitokuji is the quietest of the temples in north-western Kyoto, and if you visit it at the start of the day, you could virtually have it to yourself. Eight of the twenty-four subtemples open to the public (most days 9am-5pm), and each charges an admission fee (around ¥400). The highlight of the subtemples is Daisen-in, located on the northern side of the temple complex, which has a beautiful Zen garden without the crowds of Ryoanji Temple. Koto-in is particularly noted for its maple trees, which are beautiful in autumn. Nearest bus stop: Daitokuji-mae. Kinkakuji Temple (the Golden Pavilion ) is the most popular tourist attraction in Kyoto, and the crowds that constantly surround it reflect this. The pavilion was originally built as a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in the late 12th century, and converted into a temple by his son. However, the pavilion was burnt down in 1950, by a young monk who had become obsessed with it. The pavilion was rebuilt in the Fifties to look even more tacky than before - extending the gold leaf covering it to the lower floor. Visitors follow a path through the moss garden surrounding the pavilion, before emerging into a square crowded with gift shops. Open daily 9am-5pm, admission ¥400. Nearest bus stop: Kinkakuji-michi. Hirano Shrine is a small shrine, which goes into overdrive during the cherry blossom viewing season, setting up amusement and food stalls. A small park of cherry trees next to the shrine is hung with lanterns and drawings by local schoolchildren. Sufficiently far off the tourist trail to be worth a look. Admission is free. Nearest bus stop: Waratenjin-mae. Ryoanji Temple is notable for its large Zen garden, which is considered to be one of the most notable examples of the “dry-landscape” style. The raked gravel is permanently surrounded by vast numbers of tourists contemplating their existence. The rest of the grounds are worth a look too - particularly the large pond. Open daily 8am-5pm (Mar-Nov), 8.30am-4.30pm (Dec-Feb). Admission ¥500. Nearest bus stop: Ryoanji-mae. Ninnaji Temple is another large temple complex which is often overlooked by tourists. Admission to the grounds is free, allowing visitors to view the 17th century five-storey pagoda, and the plantation of dwarf cherry trees (which are always the last to bloom in Kyoto, in early-mid April). However, visitors shouldn’t miss the temple itself, which demands an admission fee of ¥500, and features some beautifully painted screen walls, and a beautiful walled garden. In the hills behind the temple, there is a delightful miniature version of the renowned 88-temple walk in Shikoku, which takes an hour or two (rather than a month or two). This can provide a delightful end to a day of looking at tourist attractions. Open daily 9am-4.30pm. Nearest bus stop: Omuro Ninnaji. Western Kyoto The Arashiyama area to the west of the city is dismissed in most Western guidebooks in a brief paragraph suggesting “other attractions". However, the area is rightfully very popular with Japanese tourists, and is well worth a visit. To get here, take the JR Sagano line from Kyoto station to Saga Arashiyama. The walk through a forest of bamboo to Nonomiya Shrine and Okochi Sanso (a traditional house, previously occupied by a Japanese silent screen legend), is a real highlight of a visit to Kyoto. No admission fee for the shrine, ¥1000 for Okochi Sanso (price includes a cup of matcha (traditional Japanese tea, in the tea garden). Feeding the macaque monkeys atop the mountain in Iwatayama Monkey Park, to the south of the river, is worth the entrance fee (and the demanding climb!). ¥500 admission fee to enter the park. Just outside Saga Arashiyama station is the 19th Century Hall - a museum covering the unlikely combination of steam locomotives and pianos. Probably best to look at it from the outside, and listen to the amusing tinny music it blasts out. Central Kyoto Nijo Castle is certainly one of the highlights of Kyoto. The series of ornately-decorated reception rooms within the Ninomaru complex is particularly impressive, and known for its “nightingale floors” - wooden flooring which makes bird-like squeaking sounds when stepped on. From the donjon of the inner castle, you can get good views over the castle layout, and the rest of the city. Open daily, 8.45am-5pm, with last admission at 4pm. Admission ¥600. Nearest bus stop: Nijojo-mae. Nearest subway station: Nijojo-mae. The Imperial Park is a large, peaceful area in the centre of Kyoto, centred around the Imperial Palace. The Palace itself is only open to visitors on pre-booked guided tours - English tours take place at 10am and 2pm Monday-Friday, and bookings must be made at the Imperial Household Agency, located to the west of the palace complex. The park is home to 50,000 trees, including cherry, plum and peach tree orchards. The Museum of Kyoto is particularly worthwhile if you have a burning interest in ancient pottery, otherwise not really worth a visit. Open daily 10am-8.30pm. Admission ¥500. Located on Takakura-dori. Nearest bus stop: Shijo Karasuma. Nearest subway station: Karasuma Oike. Nishi Honganji Temple Toji Temple , an oasis of calm near central Kyoto, its pagoda is the tallest wooden structure in Japan. Kyoto Tower Pontocho Alley Eastern Kyoto Some of the most picturesque parts of Kyoto, and the older areas of the city, are located in the eastern region of the city, across the Kamo River. Visiting the main tourist attractions of eastern Kyoto will fill a full day - a suggested itinerary is to work north from Kiyomizu Temple to Ginkakuji Temple, passing through Gion, and visiting Yasaka Shrine and Nanzenji Temple before following the Philosopher’s Walk to Ginkakuji. Kiyomizu Temple . This temple complex, built overlooking the city is a deservedly popular attraction in the city, approached by either of two tourist-filled souvenir-shop-lined streets, Kiyomizu-zaka or Chawan-zaka. Admission ¥300. Open daily, 6am-6pm. Nearest bus stop: Kiyomizu-michi or Gojo-zaka. Highlights of the temple complex include; The main hall ’s wooden veranda, supported by hundreds of pillars and offering incredible views over the city, Jishu-jinja , the love-themed shrine selling countless charms to help you snag the one you love, and featuring two “love stones” positioned around 18m apart which the lovelorn must walk between with eyes closed to confirm their loved one’s affection, and Otowa-no-taki the temple’s waterfall, which gives it its name (Kiyomizu literally means ‘pure water’). Visitors stand beneath the waterfall, and collect water to drink by holding out little tin cups. Gion district . The flagstone-paved streets and traditional buildings of the Gion district, located to the north-west of Kiyomizu Temple, are where you’re most likely to see geisha in Kyoto, scurrying between buildings. The area just to the north of Shijo-dori, to the west of Yasaka Shrine, is particularly photogenic - particularly around Shinbashi-dori and Hanami-koji. Sannen-zaka ("three-year-slope") and Ninen-zaka ("two-year-slope"), two stepped streets leading off from Kiyomizu-zaka, are also very picturesque - but watch your step, slipping over on these streets brings three or two years’ bad luck respectively. At the northern end of Ninen-zaka is Ryozen Kannon, a memorial to the unknown Japanese soldiers who died in World War II, with a 24-meter-tall statue of Kannon. Admission is ¥200, including a lit incense stick to place in front of the shrine. Yasaka Shrine at the eastern end of Shijo-dori, at the edge of Gion, is the shrine responsible for Kyoto’s main festival - the Gion Matsuri, which takes place in July. The shrine is small, in comparison with many in Kyoto, but it boasts an impressive display of lanterns. Admission is free. Nearest bus stop: Gion. Maruyama Park is the main center for cherry blossom viewing in Kyoto, and can get extremely crowded at that time of year. The park’s star attraction is a weeping cherry tree (shidarezakura). Main entrance to the park is through Yasaka Shrine. Admission is free. Nanzenji Temple , with its distinctive two-storey entrance gate (sanmon) and aqueduct, is another popular temple in Kyoto, but its larger size means that it doesn’t seem as crowded as many of the others. Nearest bus stop: Nanzenji, Eikando-michi. Nearest subway station: Keage. Open daily, 8.30am-5pm. Walking around the temple complex and along the aqueduct is free, but there are three regions of Nanzenji that you can pay to enter; Sanmon - the two-storey main gate to Nanzenji Temple charges ¥500 for admission, and offers pleasant views over the surrounding area of the city. Nanzen-in Zen Temple - a small, but relaxing temple and moss garden behind the aqueduct, dating back to the 13th century, charges ¥300 for admission, and is probably only worth it if you have a particular interest in Zen buddhism. Hojo - the abbot’s quarters, is a more interesting building, with a small raked gravel garden and some impressive paintings on the sliding doors of the buildings. Admission is ¥500. The Philosopher’s Walk is the name given to a 2km-long path through north-eastern Kyoto, along which a philosophy professor, Kitaro Nishida, used to frequently walk. It is a surprisingly pleasant and relaxing walk even today, though you will undoubtedly share it with more tourists than Kitaro did. The walk runs south from Ginkakuji Temple beside a river to Nyakuoji Shrine, many guidebooks suggest that the walk continues further south from there to Nanzenji Temple, but this southerly section of the walk is less insistently signposted. The route passes several temples en route, notably Honen-in, a beautiful secluded temple with a thatched gate. Ginkakuji Temple (the Silver Pavilion ), at the northern end of the Philosopher’s Walk, is approached along a street lined with shops selling tacky souvenirs. Much like its golden counterpart, the Silver Pavilion is often choked with tourists, shuffling past a scrupulously-maintained dry landscape Zen garden and the surrounding moss garden, before viewing the Pavilion across a pond. Be sure not to miss the display of Very Important Mosses! Admission ¥500. Nearest bus stop: Ginkakuji-michi. Southern Kyoto About twenty-minutes to the south of Kyoto is Fushimi Inari Shrine, another of Kyoto’s often-overlooked jewels. Dedicated to the fox spirit, Inari, this Shinto temple has miles of red torii (gates) stretching up onto the hill behind it. A visitor could easily spend several hours walking up the hillside, taking in the beautiful views of the city of Kyoto and walking through the thousands of gates. Admission is free. Be warned, the shrine is located close to Fushimi Inari and Inari stations, but is nowhere near Fushimi station! The easiest way to get here is to take the JR Nara line from Kyoto station to Inari station, which exits immediately opposite the entrance to the shrine. Buy Currently, Kyoto is enjoying even more popularity than usual with Japanese tourists due to the success of Japanese TV broadcaster NHK’s series ‘Shinsengumi!’ (???!), a historic drama following a group of samurai who kept peace in the city in the 1860s. Consequently, among the most popular souvenirs from the city at the moment are the distinctive blue and white happi (shirts) worn by this group. There is a nice selection of reassuringly non-tacky traditional souvenir shops around Arashiyama station in Western Kyoto, selling fans and traditional sweets. More tacky stores can be found in Gion and the approach to Kiyomizu Temple, selling keyrings, cuddly toys, and garish ornaments. Other traditional souvenirs from Kyoto include parasols and carved wooden dolls. A more unconventional but colorful (and relatively cheap) souvenir are the wooden votive tablets produced by temples, which bear an image relevant to the temple on the reverse. Visitors to the temples write their prayers on the tablets, and hang them up within the temple. Manga and anime enthusiasts should visit Teramachi Street, a covered shopping street off the main Shijo-dori, which boasts a large manga store on two floors, as well as a two-storey branch of Gamers (a chain of anime stores), and a small two-storey anime and collectables store. Eat Pontocho (???) is a narrow lane running from Shijo-dori to Sanjo-dori, one block west of the Kamo River. One of Kyoto’s most traditional nightlife districts, the restaurants here run the gamut for super-exclusive geisha houses to common yakitori bars. Many have pleasant open-air riverside terraces. Rule of thumb is, any establishment with a menu and prices outside is OK, but others are best skipped. Sleep Kyoto has a wide range of accommodation, much of it geared towards foreign visitors. Ryokan Hiraiwa (????). Tel. 075-351-6748. A self-proclaimed ryokan (really a minshuku) catering almost entirely to the foreign market, in an old Japanese house plastered with English signs, warnings and tips. All rooms Japanese style. But it’s cheap (¥4200 for a single, ¥8400 for a double, breakfast not included) and reasonably friendly. Slightly inconveniently located halfway between the station and the center of town (it’s bit of a hike to either), take bus #17 or #205* from Kyoto Station pier A2 to Kawaramachi-Shomen (the third stop). Get out Mount Hiei - an ancient hilltop temple complex that traditionally guarded (and occasionally raided) Kyoto. Nara - less than an hour’s journey by train on the JR Nara line from Kyoto station, this former capital has several temples and tame deer. Osaka - about half an hour by Shinkansen west of Kyoto, this bustling city offers more retail opportunities and a central castle. Himeji - about an hour by Shinkansen west of Kyoto, Himeji boasts a spectacular traditional castle. (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Kansai Kyoto | Comments (1) | Link me! -- 12/22/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Okinawa Posted by Yves Okinawa (??) is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. It is itself an island chain consisting of 41 inhabited islands and 16 uninhabited islands. Okinawa is the only sub-tropical climate in Japan and as such is a major tourist destination for the Japanese, but not many foreign visitors make it to these shores. Quick Facts Prefectural Capital: Naha City Government: constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government Currency: yen (JPY) Area: 2,267.48 sq km Population: 1,355,216 ( Aug. 2004 est. - from Okinawa Prefecture website ) Language: Japanese Religion: observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%) Islands From the northern end of the chain near Kyushu to the southern end near Taiwan, Okinawa’s major islands are: Okinawa Island (Okinawa Honto) — the largest island, featuring administrative capital Naha Kume Kerama Miyako Yaeyama Islands Ishigaki — hub of the remote Yaeyama Islands Iriomote — jungles and the mysterious Iriomote wild cat Yonaguni — the westernmost point of Japan Generalities Once the independent Ryukyu Kingdom, the islands were annexed by Japan during the Meiji Restoration in the late 1800s and savaged during fierce fighting during World War II. They remained under U.S. occupation until 1972. With their own language and customs, Okinawans still regard themselves as different from the mainland Japanese. In recent years Okinawan culture has become quite popular throughout Japan thanks to popular musicians and local foods. Okinawan folk music is quite distinctive, and the twangy sound of the sanshin and pentatonic melodies are instantly recognizable. Talk The local language Ryukyuan is a relative of Japanese, but it is not used much these days. All Okinawans speak Japanese, and not a few understand English as well, particularly on the main island which has several large (and controversial) US military bases. Getting there By air Most visitors arrive in Naha, the capital of Okinawa and the only airport that receives international flights. Domestic flights do connect major Japanese cities to practically all Okinawan islands, but prices can be steep and using an airpass may allow considerable savings. By ship There are weekly ferries to Tokyo and some other Japanese cities. One weekly ferry links Kaohsiung and Keelung to Miyako and Ishigaki (16-19 hours), but note that the exact route changes weekly. Get around Ferry and air connections links the islands together, but many of them are simply so small in population that scheduled services may be infrequent and prices high. If traveling by boat in late summer, note that the area around Okinawa is known as Typhoon Alley for a reason. See Most people comes to Okinawa for the sun and beaches. Even in midwinter, when mainland Japan teeters around the freezing point, temperatures rarely dip below 20°C in Okinawa. Do Scuba diving and other watersports are very popular in Okinawa. Eat Okinawan cuisine bears notable Taiwanese influences. Notable ingredients include a heavy reliance on pork (including Spam, courtesy of the US Army!) and some vegetables rarely seen on the Japanese mainland, including bitter gourd (goya). Some dishes worth trying: Goya champuru is a dish made from goya mixed with meat and tofu, served with rice. Rafti is a side dish consisting of very fatty cubes of stewed pork. Taco rice is a hybrid originating from the American presence in Okinawa – spiced Mexican-style taco meat with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, but instead of being in a tortillas, it’s on rice. Drink The local brew of choice is awamori, a notoriously strong rice liquor that can contain up to 60% alcohol. Okinawa’s beer label Orion is a safer alternative (at least in small quantities). (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Okinawa | Comments (0) | Link me! -- 12/20/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Shikoku Posted by Yves Shikoku (??) is an oft-forgotten island in Japan. The smallest of Japan’s Big 4, it lies to the south of Honshu. The island remains a rural backwater with few must-see attractions, but particularly the mountainous inner regions offer some good hiking and a glimpse of the elusive Real Japan. Regions Shikoku literally means “four lands", and it indeed consists of four prefectures, conveniently arranged around the compass points. Each prefecture also has an old provincial name, still often found in place names and listed in parenthesis below. Ehime (Iyo) — to the west Kagawa (Sanuki) — to the north Kochi (Tosa) — to the south, home of the actress, Ryoko Hirosue, known abroad for her turn alongside Jean Reno in the 2001 movie Wasabi. Tokushima (Awa) — to the east Cities Takamatsu — the largest city in Shikoku Matsuyama — better known for neighboring Dogo Onsen Tokushima — home of the Awa Odori festival in August Uwajima — (barely) on the tourist map due to an interesting fertility shrine and wrestling bulls Other destinations Cape Ashizuri — a scenic cape at the southernmost point of Shikoku Dogo Onsen — Japan’s oldest hot spring Iya Valley — a remote but beautiful mountain valley Kotohira — the site of the Kompira-san shrine Mount Ishizuchi — the tallest peak in Shikoku Generalities Shikoku is a primarily agricultural island, renowned for its citrus fruits. Talk Shikoku is far enough off the beaten track that some Japanese ability, while not absolutely necessary, will come in handy. Some of Shikoku’s dialects, notably Tosa-ben spoken in Kochi, are famously incomprehensible to outsiders. Getting there By plane Prefectural capitals Takamatsu, Matsuyama, Kochi and Tokushima all have small regional airports. Takamatsu fields a few flights a week to Seoul, but for any other international destinations, you will have to connect via Tokyo or Kansai. By train Shikoku is not connected to the Shinkansen network, but there are frequent connections from Okayama on Honshu to Takamatsu and from there on throughout the island. By bus If coming from Kansai or eastern parts of Japan, buses through Awaji Island are the fastest way of getting to Shikoku. Get around By train The JR train network connects the larger towns together fairly well, but regular trains are slow and expresses are expensive. The main lines are: JR Yosan Line (???) on the west coast, from Okayama to Takamatsu and Uwajima via Matsuyama JR Dosan Line (???) across the center of the island, from Okayama and Takamatsu to Kubokawa via the Oboke gorge (near Iya Valley) and Kochi JR Kotoku Line (???) on the east coast, from Takamatsu to Tokushima There are some other minor lines with infrequent trains. Some parts of the JR network, notably the southern segment from Kubokawa to Sukumo, have been split off to the private Tosa Kuroshio Railway company. By bus Buses fill in the gaps in the train network and are the only means of transport in areas like Cape Ashizuri and the Iya Valley. Schedules are sparse and prices are high. On foot Serious pilgrims may choose to complete the 88 Temple Circuit (see Do) on foot. Do Shikoku is known for the 88 Temple Pilgrimage (??????? hachijuhakkasho-meguri), a circuit around the entire island through 88 temples and across 1,647 kilometers, plus an optional 20 “unnumbered” (?? bangai) temples. All the temples are said to have been founded by monk and scholar Kukai (??), better known by his posthumous title Kobo Daishi (????), who among his many achievements is said to have created the kana syllabary, brought the tantric teachings of Esoteric Buddhism from China, developed it into the uniquely Japanese Shingon sect and founded Shingon’s headquarters on Mount Koya near Osaka. While most modern-day pilgrims (an estimated 100,000 yearly) travel by bus, a minority still set out the old-fashioned way on foot, a journey which takes about 60 days to complete. Pilgrims, known as o-henro-san (?????) in Japanese, can be spotted in the temples and roadsides of Shikoku clad in a white jacket emblazoned with the characters Dogyo Ninin (????), meaning “two traveling together” — the other being the spirit of Kobo Daishi. Most (but not all) temples offer basic but affordable lodging for pilgrims. It is traditional to prepare by visiting Mount Koya, but the route itself starts at Ryozenji, near Tokushima, and you also have to return here in order to complete your pilgrimage. (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Shikoku | Comments (0) | Link me! -- 12/18/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Chugoku Posted by Yves Chugoku (??) is the westernmost part of the main Japanese island Honshu. Cities Hiroshima — site of the infamous nuclear bomb attack Okayama — featuring one of Japan’s Top 3 Parks and a brooding black castle Onomichi — hillside town with pleasant paths connecting dozens of small temples Other Destinations Bizen — home to Japan’s oldest and most respected style of pottery Miyajima — one of the most beautiful islands in all Japan Getting there By plane Hiroshima has a fairly large airport, with domestic and some international connections. By train The San’yo Shinkansen line links Hiroshima, Okayama and other major towns to Kyushu in the southwest and Kansai (Osaka) to the east. (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Chugoku | Comments (0) | Link me! -- 12/16/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Kyushu Posted by Yves Kyushu (??) is the southernmost of the 4 main islands of Japan. The climate is slightly warmer and more tropical than Honshu, and the southern and eastern coasts are regularly battered by typhoons each year. The terrain is generally mountainous with very fertile valleys much like the rest of Japan, except for the wide plain area at the top of the island - the location of the largest city area of Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Regions There are 7 prefectures on Kyushu, plus nearby Okinawa: Fukuoka – Home of Fukuoka city, the “Capital” of Kyushu Saga – Small and rustic, famous for pottery and pre-historic village ruins Nagasaki – Hilly city with more than it’s fair share of history - major “foreigners port” during the closed-Japan period, and victim of the 2nd US atomic weapon attack during World War II Oita – Rural area well known for abundant onsen hot springs especially Beppu Kumamoto – Center of the isle of Kyushu, location of the Aso caldera, largest in the world, and the beautiful Amakusa chain of islands Miyazaki – The surfers’ destination of Japan - big beaches, big waves Kagoshima – Dominated by the Sakurajima volcano, hot enough to grow sugarcane, get buried on hot-sands beaches, two famous islands of Yakushima and Tanegashima Okinawa – corals and fish! about 1 hour flight from main land Kyushu. Once an independent Kingdom leading the South-Asian sea-trade. Once governed by US. the island has a mixed culture between the West, Japan and Okinawa. Very different from the rest of the country. One of the most popular destinations for summer vacation in Japan. (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Kyushu | Comments (0) | Link me! -- 12/14/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Kansai Posted by Yves Kansai (??) is the western region of the main Japanese island of Honshu, second only to Tokyo’s Kanto in population. The area is also known as Kinki (??), literally “near the capital” (referring to former capital Kyoto). Generalities Differences between Kansai and Kanto (the eastern region dominated by Tokyo) are slight but numerous. Kansai people speak a distinctive dialect of Japanese, use less dark soy in their cooking, ride on the other side of escalators and are renowned for humor and their love of food. Prefectures Hyogo — the largest prefecture in Kansai, stretching from coast to coast and covering Kobe and Himeji Kyoto — synonymous with the city Mie — eastern prefecture with one leg in Chubu, best known for the Ise shrine Nara — Japan’s oldest capital Nara and its surroundings Osaka — synonymous with the city Wakayama — mountainous terrain and the southern coast Shiga — rural backwater dominated by Lake Biwa Cities Himeji — small town famed for its beautiful castle Kobe — maritime city known for its beef Kyoto — Japan’s ancient capital, with temples and geisha Nara — Kyoto without the modern urban sprawl Osaka — ugly but famed for its food Islands Awaji Island — the gateway to Shikoku Other attractions Hikone — castle and garden town off the beaten track Horyuji — temple complex housing some of the oldest wooden buildings in the world Ise — home to the eponymous Ise Shrine, the holiest in all Japan Lake Biwa — placid marshy lake nice for a quick getaway Mount Hiei — headquarters of Tendai and protector of Kyoto Mount Koya — mountaintop headquarters of the Buddhist Shingon sect Talk The Kansai dialect (??? Kansai-ben) is Japan’s largest and liveliest dialect group after Kanto’s standard Japanese. There are many subdialects, ranging from the effete Kyo-kotoba (???) of Kyoto’s courtiers to the gruff but imaginative gangster slang of Osaka, much favored by Japanese comedians. Some notable features include the negative ending -hen instead of the normal -nai and the use of akan instead of dame for “No way!". That said, most Kansaites are perfectly conversant in standard Japanese, so knowledge of the local dialect is by no means necessary — but even a few words will be appreciated. Getting there By plane International flights to the Kansai region land at Kansai International Airport. The primary domestic airport is Osaka’s Itami Airport, although a new airport will be opening in Kobe in 2005. By train The Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train) line from Tokyo serves Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. The San’yo Shinkansen connects to Okayama, Hiroshima and Hakata. Get around Most of Kansai’s regional transportation companies have tied up to offer the Kansai Thru Pass (http://www.surutto.com/conts/ticket/3dayeng/index.html) (?????? Surutto Kansai), which can be used on pretty much any train, subway, monorail, cable car or bus in the region, except JR trains. The Nankai trains from Kansai Airport are also included, and you can buy your card or pass at the airport’s train station. * Normal Kansai Thru cards are single-use stored-value cards available in denominations ranging from 1000 to 5000 yen. Slide them in the ticket gate when entering and leaving, and the fare will be deducted automatically. * 2-day and 3-day passes are also available for ¥3800 and ¥5000 respectively. In addition to free transport, these offer a series of discounts to temples, museums and other attractions in the region, but figuring that an hour on a train would normally cost you ¥1000, you’ll have to travel quite a lot to make these pay off. Eat Kansai cooking is subtly different from the Kanto style, although the average short-term visitor is unlikely to spot many differences. Perhaps the most visible difference is a tendency to use light-colored soy instead of dark, especially in soups, and to prefer thick wheat udon noodles over the buckwheat soba favored in Tokyo. Some classic Kansai dishes include sobameshi (???), a concoction of fried rice and noodles mixed together, and okonomiyaki (?????), variously described as Japanese pizza or pancakes (although Hiroshima also makes a strong claim for this). Drink Kansai is sake country, with Nada (in Kobe) and Fushimi (in Kyoto) alone accounting for 45% of the country’s production. Kobe in particular is a good place to tour sake breweries, many of which are open to visitors. (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Kansai | Comments (0) | Link me! -- 12/12/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Kanto Posted by Yves The Kanto (??) region of Japan, on the eastern side of the main island Honshu, is a broad plain dominated by and nearly synonymous with the megalopolis of Tokyo and its suburbs. Generalities In feudal times, Kanto was the home of the Tokugawa shogunate and Edo (modern Tokyo) the military seat of power, while the western region of Kansai represented commerce (Osaka) and culture (Kyoto). But the pendulum shifted decisively in Tokyo’s favor after the 1869 Meiji Restoration when the Emperor moved to Tokyo, and today Kanto sets the pace that the rest of Japan tries to follow. Prefectures Chiba — suburban sprawl to the east and the site of Narita of airport fame Gunma — mountains and hot springs to the north of Tokyo Ibaraki — coastal prefecture containing the hometown of natto, Mito Kanagawa — suburban sprawl to the south containing Yokohama, Japan’s second largest city, and Kawasaki Saitama — suburban sprawl to the north containing very little Tochigi — popular escape known for historical site Nikko and many hot springs Tokyo — the largest city in the world Yamanashi — at the foothills of Mount Fuji Cities Chiba — another Tokyo offshoot to the east Kawasaki — suburb sandwiched between Tokyo and Yokohama Tokyo — capital of Japan, largest city in the world Yokohama — officially Japan’s 2nd largest city, in practice a giant Tokyo suburb National parks Chichibu-Tama National Park — mountain hiking within easy striking distance of Tokyo Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park — for hot springs and views of Fuji Other attractions Atami — coastal hot spring resort a short Shinkansen hop from Tokyo Enoshima — Japan’s surfing paradise in style and attitude (a shame there isn’t much in the way of waves) Kamakura — temple town within easy striking distance of Tokyo Kinugawa — former hot spring boomtown fallen on hard times Mount Fuji — although it’s in neighboring Chubu, the tallest mountain in Japan is accessible from Tokyo Nikko — the grandiose mausoleum of the Tokugawa shoguns Get in Most visitors arrive in the Kanto region via Tokyo, and most of those arrive via Narita Airport, Japan’s main international gateway. Talk The Kanto dialect is the base of the standard Japanese taught in schools and spoken on TV. Eat Compared with their western cousins in Kansai, the people of Kanto prefer dark soy to light soy, thin buckwheat soba noodles to fat wheat udon and think that the odoriferous fermented bean product natto is actually edible. (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Kanto | Comments (0) | Link me! -- 12/11/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Hokkaido Posted by Yves Hokkaido (???) is the northernmost of Japan’s four main islands. Generalities Home to Japan’s aboriginal Ainu race, Hokkaido continues to represent the untamed wilderness with many great national parks. For many visitors the scenery resembles northern Europe, with rice paddies and concrete warrens replaced by rolling fields and faux-German cottages. Regions Alone among the main Japanese islands Hokkaido is not divided into multiple prefectures. Instead, there are four circuits, imaginatively named as follows: Central Circuit, with capital Sapporo and much of the mountainous interior Eastern Circuit, the largest and remotest part of the island Northern Circuit, covering the northern peninsula Southern Circuit, centered on Hakodate Note that the Central Circuit is also sometimes referred to as the “western part” (?? seibu) of Hokkaido. Cities Abashiri, northern fishing port home to Japan’s most infamous prison Asahikawa, the coldest city in Japan (literally) Hakodate, historical city and the capital of the short-lived Ezo Republic Otaru, Hokkaido’s largest port Sapporo, the capital and by far the largest city in Hokkaido Other destinations Niseko, trendy ski destination Noboribetsu, Hokkaido’s largest hot spring resort National Parks Akan National Park, known for its mysterious lakes Onuma Quasi-National Park, peaceful lake in southern Hokkaido Shiretoko National Park, where bears roam in the wilderness and bathe in hot waterfalls Daisetsuzan National Park, the Holy Grail of extreme hikers Kushiro Marshlands National Park Shikotsu-Toya National Park, two beautiful caldera lakes with rumbling volcanoes and mossy canyons Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park, covering the small islands off the northern tip Getting there By plane Hokkaido’s sole international gateway of significance is Sapporo’s Chitose Airport. The route to Tokyo is, in terms of capacity and planes flown daily, the busiest in the world. By train Hokkaido is linked to the Shinkansen high speed network, and night sleeper trains from Tokyo are also a popular option. By ferry Ferries from Hakodate link to northern ports in Tohoku, including the Shimokita Peninsula. Get around Hokkaido is vast in size, so allow plenty of time to get around and don’t try to do too much if your time is limited. Many Japanese maps (including the generally excellent Japan Road Atlas) show Hokkaido with a larger scale than the rest of the country, which may make distances appear deceptively small. The train network is (by Japanese standards) limited. Access to many of the more interesting sites will require either relying on infrequent and expensive buses, renting your own car, or trying your luck and hitchhiking. See & Do For most visitors Hokkaido’s many national parks are number one on the agenda, offering near-unlimited hiking opportunities. Eat Much of Hokkaido’s population lives by the sea, and consequently seafood figures heavily in Hokkaido fare. Check out the hairy crabs (?? kegani) and sushi. More unexpectedly, Hokkaido produces most of Japan’s dairy products and particularly in the east you will run into many, umm, creative uses for them. Ever had cream cheese in your curry or butter in your noodle soup? In Hokkaido, you will. Drink Hokkaido is home to some of Japan’s finest sakes, the most famous of the bunch being Asahikawa’s Otokoyama (??). Beer is also big in Hokkaido, the most famous brand being Sapporo Beer (naturally from Sapporo), but the many microbrews found in nearly every town are also worth sampling. Sleep Hokkaido is one of Japan’s best places for camping, but beware of the nighttime chill — even in the summer months you’ll need a good sleeping bag. Many of Hokkaido’s cheaper accommodations slap on an extra fee for winter heating (???? toki danbo), as Japanese houses even here in the north are notoriously poorly insulated and chew up vast quantities of fuel when the temperatures fall. This shouldn’t be more than ¥500 or so. (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Hokkaido | Comments (0) | Link me! -- Advertisement Rare things from Japan domain names SPONSOR US 3Yen is always FREE, but your donations help us keep it growing. Thanks! YOUR BLOG Start you blog in 2 min. No HTML. And it's FREE! Support 3Yen Free Calls Worldwide Shopping Japanese Gadgets Japanese Electronics Books on Japan Learn Japanese Japanese Movies Video Games Japanese Food Japanese Kitchenware Japanese Watches Japanese Audio-Video KILL BILL 1 & 2 Japanese Limited Edition

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Fly-Rights - A Consumer Guide to Air Travel Fly-Rights A Consumer Guide to Air Travel CONTENTS Air Fares Reservations and Tickets Delayed and Canceled Flights Overbooking Baggage Smoking Passengers with Disabilities Frequent-Flyer Programs Contract Terms Travel Scams To Your Health Airline Safety Complaining Other Sources of Information NOTICE We make every effort to keep Fly-Rights up to date, but airlines frequently change the way they do business. So by the time you read this a few procedures we explain may be different. Tenth Revised Edition, September 1994 INTRODUCTION The elimination of government economic regulation of the airlines has resulted in lower fares and a wide variety of price/service options. In this new commercial environment, consumers have had to take a more active role in choosing their air service by learning to ask a number of questions. Am I more concerned with price or scheduling? Am I willing to fly at an odd hour if it means saving $25? Will the airline penalize me for changing my reservation? What will the airline do for me if it cancels my flight? This booklet is designed to explain your rights and responsibilities as an air traveler. We hope it helps you become a resourceful consumer. AIR FARES Because of the emphasis on price competition, consumers may choose from a wide variety of air fares. Some airlines are trying a "back to basics" approach-offering flights at bargain basement prices with few extras. For fare information, you can contact a travel agent, another ticket outlet or an airline serving the places you want to visit. Ask them to tell you the names of all airlines flying there. A travel agent can find virtually all airlines' fares in his or her computer. Or, if you prefer you can call each airline to ask about the fares they charge, particularly any special promotional fares they may be offering at the time. You can also pay attention to newspaper and radio ads, where airlines advertise many of the discount plans that apply to your city. Finally, be alert to new companies serving the market. They may offer lower fares or different services than older established airlines. Here are some tips to help you decide among air fares: Be flexible in your travel plans in order to get the lowest fare. The best deals may be limited to travel on certain days of the week or particular hours of the day. After you get a fare quote, ask the reservations agent if you could save even more by leaving a day earlier or later, or by taking a different flight on the same day. Plan as far ahead as you can. Some airlines set aside only a few seats on each flight at the lower rates. The real bargains often sell out very quickly. On the other hand, air carriers sometimes make more discount seats available later. If you had decided against a trip because the discount fare you wanted was not available on the desired date, try again, especially just before the advance-purchase deadline. Some airlines may have discounts that others don't offer. In a large metropolitan area, the fare could depend on which airport you use. Also, a connection (change of planes) or a one-stop flight is sometimes cheaper than a nonstop. Does the air fare include types of service that airlines have traditionally provided, such as meals or free baggage handling? If you have a connection involving two airlines, will your bags be transferred? Can you get advance seat assignments? If you are stranded, will the ticket be good on another carrier at no extra charge? Will the first airline pay for meals or hotel rooms during the wait? Many discount fares are non-refundable; if you buy one of these fares and later cancel your trip, you will not get your money back. Some fares also have a penalty for changing flights or dates even if you don't want a refund. You may also have to pay any difference in air fares if your fare is not available on the new flight. Some airlines will not increase the fare after the ticket is issued and paid for. (Simply holding a reservation without a ticket does not guarantee the fare.) Other airlines may reserve the right to collect more money from you if the fare that you had purchased goes up before departure time. Find out from the airline before you buy your ticket what its policy is on assessing fare increases after the ticket is purchased. After you buy your ticket, call the airline or travel agent once or twice before departure to check the fare. Fares change all the time, and if that same fare goes down before you fly, some airlines will refund the difference. But you have to ask. Differences in air fares can be substantial. Careful comparison shopping among airlines does take time, but it can lead to real savings. RESERVATIONS AND TICKETS Once you decide when and where you want to go, and which airline you want to use, getting reservations and tickets is a fairly simple process. You can make all of your arrangements by telephone, at the airline's ticket office, or through a travel agent or other ticket outlet. There are a few potential pitfalls, however, and these pointers should help you avoid them. If your travel plans fall into a busy period, call for reservations early. Flights for holidays may sell out weeks-sometimes months-ahead of time. Don't buy a standby fare or an 'open return' ticket if you need to fly during a high-demand period, especially the end of August. You could be stranded for a week or more before a seat becomes available. Ask the reservations agent to give you the on-time performance code for any flights that you are considering. This is a one-digit code in the reservations computer that shows how often that flight arrived on time (within 15 minutes) during the most recent reported month. For example, an "8" means that flight arrived within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival time between 80% and 89.9% of the time. If you are deciding between two flights with similar schedules and fares, you may want to choose the one with the better on-time record. (Only the largest U.S. airlines are required to maintain these codes.) When you make a reservation, be sure the agent records the information accurately. Before you hang up or leave the ticket office, review all of the essential information with the agent-the spelling of your name, the flight numbers and travel dates, and the cities you are traveling between. If there is more than one airport at either city, be sure you check which one you'll be using. It's also important to give the airline your home and work telephone numbers so they can let you know if there is any change in their schedule. Your ticket will show the flight number, departure time, date, and status of your reservation for each flight of your itinerary. The "status" box is important. "OK" means you're confirmed. Anything else means that the reservation is not yet certain (e.g., waitlisted). A "direct" (or "through") flight can have one or more stops. Sometimes flights with only one flight number can even involve a change of planes. Ask about your exact routing. If you are flying to a small city and your flight number has four digits, you may be booked on a commuter airline that has an agreement with the major carrier in whose name the flight is held out. If you are unsure, ask the reservations agent about the airline and the aircraft type; these flights are identified in the computer. When a reservations agent asks you to buy your tickets by a specific time or date, this is a deadline. And if you don't make the deadline, the airline may cancel your reservations without telling you. Try to have your tickets in hand before you go to the airport. This speeds your check-in and helps you avoid some of the tension you might otherwise feel if you had to wait in a slow-moving ticketing line and worry about missing your flight. If your reservations are booked far enough ahead of time, the airline may offer to mail your tickets to you. However, if you don't receive the tickets and the airline's records show that they mailed them, you may have to go through cumbersome lost-ticket procedures (see the end of this chapter). It is safer to check the telephone directory for a conveniently located travel agency or airline ticket office and buy your tickets there. As soon as you receive your ticket check to make sure all the information on it is correct, especially the airports (if any of the cities have more than one) and the flight dates. Have any necessary corrections made immediately. Bring a photo I.D. when you fly, and have your airline ticket issued using your name as it appears on that I.D. Many airlines are requesting such identification at check-in in order to reduce the re- selling of discount tickets. (Airlines don't permit tickets to be sold or given to other persons.) On international flights, make sure your name is the same on your ticket and your passport. If your name has recently changed and the name on your ticket and your I.D. are different, bring documentation of the change (e.g., a marriage certificate or court order). It's a good idea to reconfirm your reservations before you start your trip; flight schedules sometimes change. On international trips, most airlines require that you reconfirm your onward or return reservations at least 72 hours before each flight. If you don't, your reservations may be canceled. Check your ticket as you board each flight to ensure that only the correct coupon has been removed by the airline agent. Paying for and refunding airline tickets If you plan to pay in person and with your own bank check, take at least two forms of identification with you like a driver's license, major credit card, or employee I.D. card. Particularly when you purchase tickets far from your home town, airlines, travel agencies and other ticket outlets will want to confirm your identity. If you paid for your ticket with cash and you have a refundable fare, you can often get an immediate refund from the issuing airline or travel agency. If you paid by personal check, the refund will generally have to be mailed to you. NOTE: In some cases tickets purchased overseas in foreign currency can only be refunded in that same currency and country, due to foreign government monetary restrictions. Keep this in mind if you are considering buying a ticket in a foreign country. When you pay by credit card, your charge account is billed-whether you use your tickets or not. You won't receive credit unless the original unused tickets are returned to the airline. You usually can't get a cash refund for a credit card purchase. If you buy your tickets with a credit card and then change your flights, the ticket agent may want to credit the amount of the old tickets and issue another set with a second charge to your account. You may want to insist that the value of your old tickets be applied to the new ones, with the difference in price charged or credited to your account. While this creates a little extra work for the airlines, it prevents double-billing to your charge account. Payment by credit card provides certain protections under federal credit laws. When a refund is due, the airline must forward a credit to your card company within seven business days after receiving a complete refund application. If you paid by credit card for a refundable fare and you have trouble getting a refund that you are due, report this in writing to your credit card company. If you write to them within 60 days from the time that they mailed your first monthly statement showing the charge for the airline ticket, the card company should credit your account even if the airline doesn't. This procedure is particularly useful if your airline ceases operations before your flight. Lost tickets Airline tickets are similar to negotiable documents. Because of this, refunds can be difficult to obtain if tickets are lost or stolen. Many passengers believe that air tickets can be replaced as easily as travelers checks just because the reservation is in the computer, but that is not the case. Your ticket number may be shown on your credit card receipt or travel agency itinerary. If it is not, jot down the number on a sheet of paper and carry it separately from your ticket. Bring it with you on your trip. If the ticket does go astray, the airline can process your refund application more quickly, and perhaps issue an on-the-spot replacement ticket, if you can give them this number. You should report a lost ticket immediately to the airline that is shown as the issuing carrier at the top of the ticket. You may be required to repurchase a ticket in order to continue your trip. If you no longer meet all of the restrictions on your discount fare (e.g., seven-day advance purchase) the new ticket may cost more than the old one did. In that event, however, it is generally the higher fare that is eventually refunded, as long as you don't change any of the cities, flights or dates on your trip. Once the airline establishes that you actually bought the ticket, they will begin processing your refund application. There is often a waiting period of two to six months. If anyone uses or cashes in your ticket while the refund is pending, the airline may refuse to give you your money back. Finally, there is a handling charge that the airline may deduct from the refund. All in all, getting a refund or replacement for a lost ticket is a lot of trouble, and there's no guarantee you'll receive either one. So the best advice is-don't lose the ticket in the first place. DELAYED AND CANCELED FLIGHTS Airlines don't guarantee their schedules, and you should realize this when planning your trip. There are many things that can-and often do-make it impossible for flights to arrive on time. Some of these problems, like bad weather, air traffic delays, and mechanical repairs, are hard to predict and beyond the airlines' control. If your flight is delayed, try to find out how late it will be. But keep in mind that it is sometimes difficult for airlines to estimate the total duration of a delay during its early stages. In so- called "creeping delays," developments occur which were not anticipated when the carrier made its initial estimate of the length of the delay. Weather that had been forecast to improve can instead deteriorate, or a mechanical problem can turn out to be more complex than initially determined. If the problem is with local weather or air traffic control, all flights will probably be late and there's not much you or the airline can do to speed up your departure. If there's a mechanical problem with the plane for your particular flight or if the crew is delayed on an incoming flight, you might be better off trying to arrange another flight, as long as you don't have to pay a cancellation penalty or higher fare for changing your reservations. (It is sometimes easier to make such arrangements from a pay phone than at a ticket counter.) If you find a flight on another airline, ask the first airline to endorse your ticket to the new carrier; this could save you a fare increase. Remember, however, that there is no rule requiring them to do this. If your flight is canceled, most airlines will rebook you on the first flight of theirs to your destination on which space is available, at no additional charge. If this involves a significant delay find out if another carrier has space, and ask the first airline to endorse your ticket. Finding extra seats may be difficult, however, especially over holidays and other peak travel times. Each airline has its own policies about what it will do for delayed passengers waiting at the airport; there are no federal requirements. If you are delayed, ask the airline staff if they will pay for meals or a phone call. Some airlines, often those charging very low fares, do not provide any amenities to stranded passengers. Others may not offer amenities if the delay is caused by bad weather or something else beyond the airline's control. Contrary to popular belief, airlines are not required to compensate passengers whose flights are delayed or canceled. As discussed in the chapter on overbooking, compensation is required by law only when you are "bumped" from a flight that is oversold. Airlines almost always refuse to pay passengers for financial losses resulting from a delayed flight. If the purpose of your trip is to close a potentially lucrative business deal, to give a speech or lecture, to attend a family function, or to be present at any time-sensitive event, you might want to allow a little extra leeway and take an earlier flight. In other words, airline delays and cancellations aren't unusual, and defensive counter- planning is a good idea when time is your most important consideration. When booking your flight remember that a departure early in the day is less likely to be delayed than a later flight, due to "ripple" effects throughout the day. Also, if an early flight does get delayed or canceled, you have more rerouting options. If you book the last flight of the day and it is canceled, you could get stuck overnight. You may select a connection (change of planes) over a nonstop or direct flight because of the convenient departure time or lower fare. However, a change of planes always involves the possibility of a misconnection. If you have a choice of connections and the fares and service are equivalent, choose the one with the least-congested connecting airport, so it will be easier to get to your second flight. You may wish to take into consideration the potential for adverse weather if you have a choice of connecting cities. When making your reservation for a connection, always check the amount of time between flights. Ask yourself what will happen if the first flight is delayed; if you don't like the answer, pick another flight or ask the agent to "construct" a connection that allows more time. OVERBOOKING Overbooking is not illegal, and most airlines overbook their scheduled flights to a certain extent in order to compensate for "no-shows." Passengers are sometimes left behind or "bumped" as a result. When an oversale occurs, the Department of Transportation (DOT) requires airlines to ask people who aren't in a hurry to give up their seats voluntarily, in exchange for compensation. Those passengers bumped against their will are, with a few exceptions, entitled to compensation. Voluntary bumping Almost any group of airline passengers includes some people with urgent travel needs and others who may be more concerned about the cost of their tickets than about getting to their destination on time. Our rules require airlines to seek out people who are willing to give up their seats for some compensation before bumping anyone in- voluntarily. Here's how this works. At the check-in or boarding area, airline employees will look for volunteers when it appears that the flight has been oversold. If you're not in a rush to arrive at your next destination, you can give your reservation back to the airline in exchange for compensation and a later flight. But before you do this, you may want to get answers to these important questions: When is the next flight on which the airline can confirm your seat? The alternate flight may be just as acceptable to you. On the other hand, if they offer to put you on standby on another flight that's full, you could be stranded. Will the airline provide other amenities such as free meals, a hotel room, phone calls, or ground transportation? If not, you might have to spend the money they offer you on food or lodging while you wait for the next flight. DOT has not said how much the airline has to give volunteers. This means carriers may negotiate with their passengers for a mutually acceptable amount of money-or maybe a free trip or other benefits. Airlines give employees guidelines for bargaining with passengers, and they may select those volunteers willing to sell back their reservations for the lowest price. If the airline offers you a free ticket, ask about restrictions. How long is the ticket good for? Is it "blacked out" during holiday periods when you might want to use it? Can it be used for international flights? Most importantly, can you make a reservation, and if so, how far before departure are you permitted to make it? Involuntary bumping DOT requires each airline to give all passengers who are bumped involuntarily a written statement describing their rights and explaining how the carrier decides who gets on an oversold flight and who doesn't. Those travelers who don't get to fly are frequently entitled to an on-the-spot payment of denied boarding compensation. The amount depends on the price of their ticket and the length of the delay: If you are bumped involuntarily and the airline arranges substitute transportation that is scheduled to get you to your final destination (including later connections) within one hour of your original scheduled arrival time, there is no compensation. If the airline arranges substitute transportation that is scheduled to arrive at your destination between one and two hours after your original arrival time (between one and four hours on international flights), the airline must pay you an amount equal to your one-way fare to your final destination, with a $200 maximum. If the substitute transportation is scheduled to get you to your destination more than two hours later (four hours internationally), or if the airline does not make any substitute travel arrangements for you, the compensation doubles (200% of your fare, $400 maximum). You always get to keep your original ticket and use it on another flight. If you choose to make your own arrangements, you can request an "involuntary refund" for the ticket for the flight you were bumped from. The denied boarding compensation is essentially a payment for your inconvenience. Like all rules, however, there are a few conditions and exceptions: To be eligible for compensation, you must have a confirmed reservation. An "OK" in the Status box of your ticket qualifies you in this regard even if the airline can't find your reservation in the computer, as long as you didn't cancel your reservation or miss a reconfirmation deadline. You must meet the airline's deadline for buying your ticket. Discount tickets must usually be purchased within a certain number of days after the reservation was made. Other tickets normally have to be picked up no later than 30 minutes before the flight. In addition to the ticketing deadline, each airline has a check-in deadline, which is the amount of time before scheduled departure that you must present yourself to the airline at the airport. For domestic flights most carriers have a deadline of 10 minutes before scheduled departure, but some can be an hour or longer. (Many airlines require passengers with advance seat assignments to check in 30 minutes before scheduled departure, even if they already have advance boarding passes. If you miss this deadline you may lose the specific seats you were promised, although not the reservation itself.) Check-in deadlines on international flights can be as much as three hours before scheduled departure time, due partially to security procedures. Some airlines may simply require you to be at the ticket/baggage counter by this time; most, however, require that you get all the way to the boarding area. If you miss the ticketing or check-in deadline, you may have lost your reservation and your right to compensation if the flight is oversold. As noted above, no compensation is due if the airline arranges substitute transportation which is scheduled to arrive at your destination within one hour of your originally scheduled arrival time. If the airline must substitute a smaller plane for the one it originally planned to use, the carrier isn't required to pay people who are bumped as a result. The rules do not apply to charter flights, or to scheduled flights operated with planes that hold 60 or fewer passengers. They don't apply to international flights inbound to the United States, although some airlines on these routes may follow them voluntarily. Also, if you are flying between two foreign cities-from Paris to Rome, for example-these rules will not apply. The European Community has a rule on bumpings that occur in an EC country; ask the airline for details, or contact DOT. The most effective way to reduce the risk of being bumped is to get to the airport early. On oversold flights the last passengers to check in are usually the first to be bumped, even if they have met the check-in deadline. Allow extra time; assume that the airport access road is backed up, the parking lot is full, and there is a long line at the check-in counter. However, if you arrive so early that your airline has another flight to your destination leaving before the one that you are booked on, either switch to the earlier flight or don't check your bag until after the first flight leaves. If you check your bag right away, it might get put on the earlier flight and remain unattended at your destination airport for hours. Airlines may offer free transportation on future flights in place of a check for denied boarding compensation. However, if you are bumped involuntarily you have the right to insist on a check if that is your preference. Once you cash the check (or accept the free flight), you will probably lose the right to demand more money from the airline later on. However, if being bumped costs you more money than the airline will pay you at the airport, you can try to negotiate a higher settlement with their complaint department. If this doesn't work, you usually have 30 days from the date on the check to decide if you want to accept the amount of the check. You are always free to decline the check and take the airline to court to try to obtain more compensation. The government's denied boarding regulation spells out the airlines' minimum obligation to people they bump involuntarily. Finally, don't be a "no-show." If you are holding confirmed reservations you don't plan to use, notify the airline. If you don't, they will cancel all onward or return reservations on your trip. BAGGAGE Between the time you check your luggage in and the time you claim it at your destination, it may have passed through a maze of conveyor belts and baggage carts; once airborne, baggage may tumble around the cargo compartment if the plane hits rough air. In all fairness to the airlines, however, relatively few bags are damaged or lost. With some common-sense packing and other precautions, your bags will probably be among the ones that arrive safely. Packing You can pack to avoid problems. Some items should never be put into a bag you plan to check into the cargo compartment: Small valuables: cash, credit cards, jewelry, cameras. Critical items: medicine, keys, passport, tour vouchers, business papers. Irreplaceable items: manuscript, heirlooms. Fragile items: eyeglasses, glass containers, liquids. Things like this should be carried on your person or packed in a carry-on bag that will fit under the seat. Remember, the only way to be sure your valuables are not damaged or lost is to keep them with you. Even if your bag is not lost, it could be delayed for a day or two. Don't put perishables in a checked bag; they may spoil if it is delayed. It is wise to put items that you will need during the first 24 hours in a carry-on bag (e.g. toiletries, a change of underwear). Check with the airline for its limits on the size, weight, or number of carry-on pieces. (There is no single federal standard.) If you are using more than one airline, check on all of them. Inquire about your flight; different airplanes can have different limits. Don't assume that the flight will have unlimited closet space for carry-on garment bags; some may have to be checked. If you plan to go shopping at your destination and bring your purchases aboard as carry-on, keep the limits in mind. If you check these purchases, however, carry the receipts separately; they may be necessary for a claim if the merchandise is lost or damaged. Don't put anything into a carry-on bag that could be considered a weapon (e.g. scissors, pen knife). Checked baggage is also subject to limits. On most domestic and international flights, it's two checked bags (three if you don't have any carry-on luggage). There can be an extra charge if you bring more, or if you exceed the airline's limits on the size of the bags. On some flights between two foreign cities, your allowance may be based on the weight of the bags rather than the number of pieces. The same two bags that cost you nothing to check when you started your trip could result in expensive excess-baggage charges under a weight system. Ask the airlines about the limit for every segment of your international trip before you leave home, especially if you have a stopover of a day or two or if you are changing carriers. The bags you check should be labeled- inside and out-with your name, address and phone number. Add the name and address of a person to contact at your destination if it's practical to do so. Almost all of the bags that are misplaced by airlines do turn up sooner or later. With proper labeling, the bag and its owner can usually be reunited within a few hours. Don't overpack a bag. This puts pressure on the latches, making it easier for them to pop open. Also, lock your bags. The locks aren't very effective against pilferage, but they help to keep the latches from springing. If you plan to check any electrical equipment, glassware, small appliances, pottery, typewriters, musical instruments or other fragile items, they should be packed in a container specifically designed to survive rough handling* preferably a factory-sealed carton or a padded hard- shell carrying case. Check-in Don't check in at the last minute. Even if you make the flight, your bag may not. If you miss the airline's check-in deadline, the carrier might not assume liability for your bag if it is delayed or lost. If you have a choice, select flights that minimize the potential for baggage disruption. The likelihood of a bag going astray increases from #1 to #4 below (i.e., #1 is safest): 1) nonstop flight 2) direct or 'through' flight (one or more stops, but no change of aircraft) 3) online connection (change of aircraft but not airlines) 4) interline connection (change of aircraft and airlines) When you check in, remove straps and hooks from garment bags that you are sending as checked baggage. These can get caught in baggage processing machinery, causing damage to the bag. The airline will put baggage destination tags on your luggage and give you the stubs to use as claim checks. Make sure you get a stub for every bag. Don't throw them away until after you get your bags back and you check the contents. Not only will you need them if a claim is necessary, but you may need to show them to security upon leaving the baggage-claim area. Each tag has a three-letter code and flight number that show the baggage sorters on which plane and to which airport your luggage is supposed to go. Double-check the tag before your bags go down the conveyor belt. (The airline will be glad to tell you the code for your destination when you make reservations or buy your tickets.) Your bags may only be checked to one of your intermediate stops rather than your destination city if you must clear Customs short of your final destination, or if you are taking a connection involving two airlines that don't have an interline agreement. Be sure all of the tags from previous trips are removed from your bag, since they may confuse busy baggage handlers. Claiming your bags Many bags look alike. After you pull what you think is your bag off the carousel, check the name tag or the bag tag number. If your bag arrives open, unlocked or visibly damaged, check right away to see if any of the contents are missing or damaged. Report any problems to the airline before leaving the airport; insist on filling out a form. Open your suitcase immediately when you get to where you are staying. Any damage to the contents or any pilferage should be immediately reported to the airline by telephone. Make a note of the date and time of the call, and the name and telephone number of the person you spoke with. Follow up immediately with a certified letter to the airline. Damage If your suitcase arrives smashed or torn, the airline will usually pay for repairs. If it can't be fixed, they will negotiate a settlement to pay you its depreciated value. The same holds true for belongings packed inside. Airlines may decline to pay for damage caused by the fragile nature of the broken item or inadequate packing, rather than the airline's rough handling. Carriers may also refuse to give you money for your damaged items inside the bag when there's no evidence of external damage to the suitcase. But airlines generally don't disclaim liability for fragile merchandise packed in its original factory sealed carton, a cardboard mailing tube, or other container designed for shipping and packed with protective padding material. When you check in, airline personnel should let you know if they think your suitcase or package may not survive the trip intact. Before accepting a questionable item, they will ask you to sign a statement in which you agree to check it at your own risk. But even if you do sign this form, the airline might be liable for damage if it is caused by its own negligence shown by external injury to the suitcase or package. Delayed bags If you and your suitcase don't connect at your destination, don't panic. The airlines have very sophisticated systems that track down about 98% of the bags they misplace and return them to their owners within hours. In many cases they will absorb reasonable expenses you incur while they look for your missing belongings. You and the airline may have different ideas of what's reasonable, however, and the amount they will pay is subject to negotiation. If your bags don't come off the conveyor belt, report this to the airline before you leave the airport. Insist that they fill out a form and give you a copy, even if they say the bag will be in on the next flight. If the form doesn't contain the name of the person who filled it out, ask for it. Get an appropriate phone number for following up (not the Reservations number). Don't assume that the airline will deliver the bag without charge when it is found; ask them about this. Most carriers set guidelines for their airport employees that allow them to disburse some money at the airport for emergency purchases. The amount depends on whether or not you're away from home and how long it takes to track down your bags and return them to you. If the airline does not provide you a cash advance, it may still reimburse you later for the purchase of necessities. Discuss with the carrier the types of articles that would be reimbursable, and keep all receipts. If the airline misplaces sporting equipment, it will sometimes pay for the rental of replacements. For replacement clothing or other articles, the carrier might offer to absorb only a portion of the purchase cost, on the basis that you will be able to use the new items in the future. (The airline may agree to a higher reimbursement if you turn the articles over to them.) When you've checked in fresh foods or any other perishable goods and they are ruined because their delivery is delayed, the airline won't reimburse you. Carriers may be liable if they lose or damage perishable items, but they won't accept responsibility for spoilage caused by a delay in delivery. Airlines are liable for provable consequential damages up to the amount of their liability limit (see below) in connection with the delay. If you can't resolve the claim with the airline's airport staff, keep a record of the names of the employees with whom you dealt, and hold on to all travel documents and receipts for any money you spent in connection with the mishandling. (It's okay to surrender your baggage claim tags to the airline when you fill out a form at the airport, as long as you get a copy of the form and it notes that you gave up the tags.) Call or write the airline's consumer office when you get home. Lost luggage Once your bag is declared officially lost, you will have to submit a claim. This usually means you have to fill out a second, more detailed form. Check on this; failure to complete the second form when required could delay your claim. Missing the deadline for filing it could invalidate your claim altogether. The airline will usually refer your claim form to a central office, and the negotiations between you and the airline will begin. If your flight was a connection involving two carriers, the final carrier is normally the one responsible for processing your claim even if it appears that the first airline lost the bag. Airlines don't automatically pay the full amount of every claim they receive. First, they will use the information on your form to estimate the value of your lost belongings. Like insurance companies, airlines consider the depreciated value of your possessions, not their original price or the replacement costs. If you're tempted to exaggerate your claim, don't. Airlines may completely deny claims they feel are inflated or fraudulent. They often ask for sales receipts and other documentation to back up claims, especially if a large amount of money is involved. If you don't keep extensive records, you can expect to dicker with the airline over the value of your goods. Generally, it takes an airline anywhere from six weeks to three months to pay you for your lost luggage. When they tender a settlement, they may offer you the option of free tickets on future flights in a higher amount than the cash payment. Ask about all restrictions on these tickets, such as "blackout" periods and how far before departure you are permitted to make a reservation. Limits on liability If your bags are delayed, lost or damaged on a domestic trip, the airline can invoke a ceiling of $1250 per passenger on the amount of money they'll pay you. When your luggage and its contents are worth more than that, you may want to purchase "excess valuation," if available, from the airline as you check in. This is not insurance, but it will increase the carrier's potential liability. The airline may refuse to sell excess valuation on some items that are especially valuable or breakable, such as antiques, musical instruments, jewelry, manuscripts, negotiable securities and cash. On international trips, the liability limit is set by a treaty called the Warsaw Convention. Unless you buy excess valuation, the liability limit is $9.07 per pound ($20 per kilo). In order to limit its liability to this amount, the airline must use one of the following procedures: The carrier weighs your bags at check-in and records this weight on your ticket. The airline's maximum liability to you is that weight multiplied by $9.07 (or by $20, if the weight was recorded in kilos). Instead of weighing your luggage, the carrier assumes that each of your bags weighs the maximum that it agrees to accept as checked baggage, usually 70 pounds (32 kilos). This yields a liability limit of about $640 per bag. This international limit also applies to domestic segments of an international journey. This is the case even if the domestic and international flights are on separate tickets and you claim and re-check your bag between the two flights. Keep in mind that the liability limits are maximums. If the depreciated value of your property is worth less than the liability limit, this lower amount is what you will be offered. If the airline's settlement doesn't fully reimburse your loss, check your homeowner's or renter's insurance; it sometimes covers losses away from the residence. Some credit card companies and travel agencies offer optional or even automatic supplemental baggage coverage. Hazardous Items Except for toiletries and medicines totaling no more than 75 ounces, it is illegal and extremely dangerous to carry on board or check in your luggage any of the following hazardous materials: Aerosols: Polishes, waxes, degreasers, cleaners, etc. Corrosives: Acids, cleaners, wet cell batteries, etc. Flammables: Paints, thinners, lighter fluid, liquid reservoir lighters, cleaners, adhesives, camp stoves or portable gas equipment with fuel, etc. Explosives: Fireworks, flares, signal devices, loaded firearms, gunpowder, etc. (Small arms ammunition for personal use may be transported in checked luggage if it is securely packed in material designed for that purpose. These may not be placed in carry-on baggage.) Radioactives: Betascopes, radiopharmaceuticals, uninstalled pacemakers, etc. Compressed gases: Tear gas or protective- type sprays, oxygen cylinders, divers' tanks (unless they're empty), etc. Infectious substances Poisonous materials: Rat poison, etc. Matches (both 'strike anywhere' matches and safety or 'book' matches) may only be carried on your person. If you must travel with any of these materials, check with the airline's air freight department to see if special arrangements can be made. A violation of the hazardous materials restrictions can result in a civil penalty of up to $25,000 for each violation or a criminal penalty of up to $500,000 and/or up to 5 years in jail. SMOKING Under U.S. government rules, smoking is prohibited on all domestic scheduled-service flights except for flights over six hours to or from Alaska or Hawaii. This ban applies to domestic segments of international flights, on both U.S. and foreign airlines (e.g., the Chicago / New York leg of a flight that operates Chicago/ New York / London). The ban does not apply to nonstop international flights, even during the time that they are in U.S. airspace (e.g., a Chicago / London flight). The prohibition applies in the passenger cabin and lavatories, but not in the cockpit. Smoking is also banned on other scheduled-service flights by U.S. airlines that are operated with planes seating fewer than 30 passengers (e.g., certain "commuter" flights to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean). Cigar and pipe smoking is banned on all U.S.-carrier flights (scheduled and charter, domestic and international). The following rules apply to U.S. airlines on flights where smoking is not banned (e.g. international flights, domestic charter flights). These regulations do not apply to foreign airlines; however, most of them provide non-smoking sections (although they may not guarantee seating there or expand the section). The airline must provide a seat in a non-smoking section to every passenger who asks for one, as long as the passenger complies with the carrier's seat assignment deadline and procedures. (Standby passengers do not have this right.) If necessary, the airline must expand the non- smoking section to accommodate the passengers described above. The airline does not have to provide a non-smoking seat of the passenger's choice. It doesn't have to seat you with your traveling companion, and you don't have the right to specify a window or aisle non-smoking seat. Also, the airline is not required by this rule to provide advance seat assignments before the flight date in the non-smoking section, as long as they get you into the non-smoking section on the day of your flight. The flight crew must act to keep passengers from smoking in the non-smoking sections. However, smoke that drifts from the smoking section into the non-smoking section does not constitute a violation. No smoking is allowed while an aircraft is on the ground or when the ventilation system is not fully functioning. Carriers are not required to have a smoking section. An airline is free to ban smoking on a particular flight, or on all of its flights. None of the regulations described in this chapter apply to charter flights performed with small aircraft by on-demand air taxi operators. PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES Over 40 million Americans have disabilities. The Air Carrier Access Act and the DOT rule that implements it set out procedures designed to ensure that these individuals have the same opportunity as anyone else to enjoy a pleasant flight. Here are some of the major provisions of the rule. A person may not be refused transportation on the basis of disability or be required to have an attendant or produce a medical certificate, except in certain limited circumstances specified in the rule. Airlines must provide enplaning, deplaning and connecting assistance, including both personnel and equipment. (Some small commuter aircraft may not be accessible to passengers with severe mobility impairments. When making plans to fly to small cities, such passengers should check on the aircraft type and its accessibility.) Airport terminals and airline reservations centers must have TDD telephone devices for persons with hearing or speech impairments. Passengers with vision or hearing impairments must have timely access to the same information given to other passengers at the airport or on the plane concerning gate assignments, delayed flights, safety, etc. New widebody aircraft must have a wheelchair- accessible lavatory and an on-board wheelchair. Airlines must put an on-board wheelchair on most other flights upon a passenger's request (48 hours notice required). Air carriers must accept wheelchairs as checked baggage, and cannot require passengers to sign liability waivers for them (except for pre-existing damage). Most new airplanes must have movable armrests on half the aisle seats, and on-board stowage for one folding passenger wheelchair. Carriers must allow service animals to accompany passengers in the cabin, as long as they don't block the aisle or other emergency evacuation route. FAA safety rules establish standards for passengers allowed to sit in emergency exit rows; such persons must be able to perform certain evacuation-related functions. FAA rules also prohibit passengers from bringing their own oxygen. Most airlines will provide aircraft-approved oxygen for a fee, but aren't required to. Airlines may not charge for services that are required by this rule. Airlines must make available a specially-trained Complaints Resolution Official if a dispute arises. There must be a copy of the DOT rule at every airport. It's wise to call the airline again before your trip to reconfirm any assistance that you have requested. For additional details, see "Other Sources of Information" at the end of this pamphlet for information on ordering the booklet New Horizons for the Air Traveler with a Disability. FREQUENT-FLYER PROGRAMS Virtually all major U.S. airlines have a frequent-flyer plan, and many foreign carriers are starting them. These programs allow you to earn free trips, upgrades (e.g., from Coach to First Class) or other awards based on how often you fly on that airline. In some programs you can earn credit by using specified hotels, rental car companies, credit cards, etc. It doesn't cost anything to join a program, and you can enroll in the programs of any number of different airlines. However, it may not be to your advantage to "put all your eggs in one basket" with one plan by accumulating a high mileage balance only to find out later that another carrier's program suits your needs better. Here are some things to look at when selecting a frequent-flyer program. Does the airline fly where you're likely to want to go? Are there tie-ins with other carriers, especially those with international routes? Is some of the airline's service provided by commuter-carrier "partners"? In both cases, can you earn credits and use awards on those other airlines? How many miles (or trips) are required for particular awards? Is there a minimum award per flight (e.g., you are only flying 200 miles but the airline always awards at least 500)? Is there a deadline for using accumulated miles? Carefully examine the number and length of any "blackout periods" during which awards cannot be used. On some carriers, the Thanksgiving blackout may last a week. If you are planning a big trip and are thinking about joining that airline's frequent-flyer program, enroll before you travel. Airlines usually won't credit mileage that was flown before you became a member. After you join a program, there are other things that you should know: Airlines reserve the right to make changes to their programs, sometimes on short notice. The number of miles required for particular awards might be raised, requiring you to use your old mileage (i.e., your current balance) under the more restrictive new rules. The airline may cease service on a route that you were particularly interested in-or it may drop the city you live in! The carrier may eliminate attractive frequent-flyer tie-ins with particular airlines or hotel chains. Cashing in your mileage frequently will limit your losses in case the carrier changes the rules, merges, or goes out of business. (Some private companies sell insurance covering some of these eventualities.) Accumulating a larger mileage balance will entitle you to bigger awards, however. Carriers often limit the number of seats on each flight for which frequent-flyer awards can be used. You may not be able to get reservations on your first- or second-choice dates or flights. Awards can often be issued in the name of immediate family members. However, if you sell or give an award to someone not named on the award or the travel document and the airline finds out, the recipient could have his or her ticket confiscated, and the carrier may penalize the program member's account balance. Ask the airline how mileage is registered; you will probably have to identify yourself as a program member when you book your flight or when you check in. Keep your boarding passes and the passenger coupon of your ticket until you receive a statement from the frequent-flyer program reflecting the correct mileage earnings for that trip. If a problem arises, get the names of the people you speak with and keep notes of your conversations. CONTRACT TERMS Throughout this booklet, we have tried to provide you general information about airline travel. It is important to realize, however, that each airline has specific rules that make up your contract of carriage. These rules may differ among carriers. They include provisions such as check-in deadlines, refund procedures, responsibility for delayed flights, and many other things. Domestic Travel For domestic travel, an airline may provide all of its contract terms on or with your ticket at the time you buy it. Many small "commuter" carriers use this system. Other airlines may elect to "incorporate terms by reference." This means that you are not given all the airline's rules with your ticket-most of them are contained in a separate document which you can inspect on request. If an airline elects to "incorporate by reference" it must provide conspicuous written notice with each ticket that: 1) it incorporates terms by reference, and 2) these terms may include liability limitations, claim-filing deadlines, check-in deadlines, and certain other key terms. The airline must also: Ensure that passengers can receive an explanation of key terms identified on the ticket from any location where the carrier's tickets are sold, including travel agencies; Make available for inspection the full text of its contract of carriage at each of its own airport and city ticket offices; Mail a free copy of the full text of its contract of carriage upon request. There are additional notice requirements for contract terms that affect your air fare. Airlines must provide a conspicuous written notice on or with the ticket concerning any "incorporated" contract terms that: Restrict refunds; Impose monetary penalties; or Permit the airline to raise the price after you've bought the ticket. If an airline incorporates contract terms by reference and fails to provide the required notice about a particular rule, the passenger will not be