{"id":16200,"date":"2024-10-21T15:53:38","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T14:53:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thelearningadventure.com\/blog\/japan\/my-learning-adventure-visiting-fukushima-copy\/"},"modified":"2025-05-02T15:50:33","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T14:50:33","slug":"planning-a-school-trip-to-japan-faqs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/the-learning-adventure.10web.cloud\/en-us\/blog\/japan\/planning-a-school-trip-to-japan-faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"Planning a School Trip to Japan? Your Questions Answered"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If <\/span>you\u2019re<\/span> looking at planning your first school trip to Japan, you might have some questions. Here at The Learning Adventure, <\/span>we\u2019re<\/span> keen to make sure that your educational tour planning runs as smoothly as possible, so that <\/span>you can focus on getting your students excited for their trip to Japan. <\/span>We\u2019ve<\/span> collected some key FAQs<\/span> below \u2013 and our team of Educational Tour Specialists are always on hand to answer the rest.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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<\/span>When is the best time to travel to Japan? <\/span><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Though Japan is renowned for the spring and autumn seasons, there are benefits to travelling to Japan all year round. Spring (March-May) brings with it the iconic sakura season<\/a>, where the cherry blossom trees up and down the country burst into vibrant shades of pink \u2013 but it also brings with it some of the busiest times of the year to travel throughout the country. While you\u2019ll get those iconic sights, you can also expect transport to be busier, hotels to be more heavily booked up \u2013 with an accompanying price tag.\u00a0 The same is true of autumn (September-November), where the pinks are swapped for reds and golds as the foliage changes color<\/a>. However, on the positive side, spring and autumn bring more temperate, drier weather, that makes exploring during the day much more comfortable. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot to be said for visiting Japan during the summer and winter months too. Japan\u2019s a <\/a><\/span>fantastic location for a ski trip, so a visit during December or January brings incredible white slopes \u2013 and if you visit at the right time, a chance to sample Japan\u2019s unique take on Christmas celebrations, as well as the plethora of festivals celebrating the ice and snow. If you\u2019re willing to wrap up warm, winter in Japan is a wonderful chance to see a different side to this fascinating country, with plenty of sunny days and blue skies along the way.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you visit Japan during the summer, you can take the chance to explore the coastlines during the hot weather. While June and early July will be rainier, late July and August is hot and humid \u2013 but all the key sites will be a lot quieter, meaning you\u2019ll get to experience them at their best. When you plan a school trip to Japan, it\u2019s best to weigh up considerations like these alongside price point and tour expectations so that you can get the most out of your trip.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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<\/span>Do I need a visa to travel to Japan? <\/span><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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We always recommend checking your individual requirements through your local Japanese embassy. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Japan, there are <\/span>71 countries that are visa-exempt<\/span><\/a>, meaning that visitors on tourism business can explore Japan without needing to apply for a visa. While for people like US & UK travellers this means a visa-free stay of up to 90 days, this period will differ between nationalities \u2013 for visitors from the UAE, for example, visa exemption is capped at 30 days.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some countries will require a visa in order for their passport holders to travel to Japan \u2013 so always be sure to check your requirements with your embassy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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<\/span>Will we need to carry cash in Japan? <\/span><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Yes! While usage of cashless or contactless payment is growing across Japan, especially in the larger cities, cash is still very much a necessity in more rural areas, in smaller stores across cities, and at places like shrines. We\u2019d therefore always recommend taking a stipend of sorts so that you\u2019re well-covered in places that are cash-only during your trip. There are plenty of ATMs throughout Japan, but be sure to check that your specific card is covered by that machine when you use it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Japan also has a very useful smart (IC) cards available \u2013 Suica and PASMO. While these are primarily for use on trains, buses and monorails throughout the country, they are also accepted at vending machines, convenience stores and large chain establishments, making them a very handy card indeed. You can also load both onto Apple Pay and Google Wallet for ease of use.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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<\/span>How can I deal with the language barrier in Japan? <\/span><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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When you visit Japan, you\u2019ll find that larger cities like Tokyo cater to English-speakers well. Signage at airports, train stations, and on the streets will often be displayed in English as well \u2013 and crucially, instruction and warning signs will also be communicated in English too.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While not every single person you meet in Tokyo will necessarily be able to speak English, you\u2019ll find that there will be someone nearby who will \u2013 and your Adventure Leader will be able to translate during your trip to take care of any organizational arrangements. However, we are strong advocates for always doing your best to learn small parts of the language, wherever you travel \u2013 learning key phrases for politeness will go a long way!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s some key words that you should know for travelling in Japan:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n