Location

Japan is located in East Asia.🗾 It's an island nation, made up of four main islands: Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku. Also, it is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. 🌊

Japan Region and Prefectures

Region	Prefectures
Hokkaido	Hokkaido
Tohoku	Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Yamagata, Miyagi, Fukushima
Kanto	Tokyo, Gunma, Tochigi, Saitama, Ibaraki, Chiba, Kanagawa
Chubu	Toyama, Niigata, Ishikawa, Fukui, Gifu, Nagano, Aichi, Yamanashi, Shizuoka
Kansai	Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hyogo, Shiga, Mie, Wakayama
Chugoku	Tottori, Okayama, Shimane, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi
Shikoku	Kagawa, Tokushima, Ehime, Kochi
Kyushu	Fukuoka, Saga, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Oita, Miyazaki, Kagoshima
Okinawa	Okinawa

🗻 Hokkaido

Hokkaido is Japan's northernmost island.

Attraction: Shiretoko National Park, Blue Pond in Biei, Sapporo Snow Festival, hot springs in Noboribetsu and more.

🌸 Tohoku

Tohoku is in the northeast of Honshu.

Attraction: Matsushima Bay, Hirosaki Castle, Aomori Nebuta Festival, Zao Fox Village and more.

🏯 Kanto

Kanto is located on the main island of Honshu.

Attraction: Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea, Tokyo Skytree, Nikko, Mount Fuji and more.

🍁 Chubu

Chubu is located right in the center of Honshu.

Attraction: Matsumoto Castle, Takayama Old Town, Nagoya Castle, Shirakawa-go village and more.

⛩️ Kansai

Kansai is a region located on the main island of Japan, Honshu.

Attraction: Osaka Castle, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Universal Studios Japan, Nara Park and more.

🏞️ Chugoku

Chugoku is a region located on the western part of Honshu.

Attraction: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Miyajima Island, Okayama Korakuen Garden, Matsue Castle and more.

🎎Shikoku

Shikoku is an island and the smallest of Japan's four main islands.

Attraction: Mount Ishizuchi, Ritsurin Garden, Naruto Whirlpools, Kochi Castle and more.

🌴 Kyushu

Kyushu is located at the southwest end of Japan's main islands.

Attraction: Mount Aso, Yufuin Valley, Takachiho Gorge, Fukuoka and more.

🌺Okinawa

Okinawa is a group of islands located at the southernmost tip of Japan.

Attraction: Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Shuri Castle, Kokusai Street, Cape Manzamo and more.

Passport and Visa

👉🏼 For Malaysian citizens, make sure your passport is valid for at least six months from the date of departure and your passport must have at least 2 blank pages.
👉🏼 Effective July 1, 2013, Malaysian citizens holding a biometric passport compliant with ICAO regulations (no visa required) can enter Japan if the purpose of your trip to Japan is tourism, transit, business meetings, visiting relatives and friends, the period of stay shall not exceed 90 days.

If you do not have a biometric passport or are traveling for more than 90 days, obtain a visa in advance to avoid being denied entry to Japan.

Currency

👉🏼Japan's monetary unit is the yen (JPY). Exchange rate: 100 yen = RM 3.26 (Exchange rates are based on January 08, 2024, please check the latest exchange rates closer to your travel date.)
👉🏼International credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Diner's card, and American Express can be used in major cities. Please also prepare cash as it is more welcome when shopping in smaller cities.
👉🏼For cash withdrawal, Japan Post Bank (JP Bank) ATMs can be found at post offices, train stations and supermarkets. You can also withdraw cash at 7-Eleven ATMs.
Notes: Contact your bank before travelling as many banks will block cards used suddenly overseas due to suspicion of fraud. Also, don’t forget to check with your bank about the fees and daily or monthly limits associated with international withdrawals from ATMS.
👉🏼Touch 'n Go (TnG) eWallet offers cross-border payments in one million participating merchant Japan. Click here to see how to make payments using TnG eWallet overseas.

Network

👉🏼It is recommended to purchase a SIM Card or rent a WIFI device first so that you can connect to the Internet anytime and anywhere during travel.

Voltage & sockets

👉🏼The voltage in Japan is 100 volts, and the electrical sockets in Japan are double flat-pin sockets. It is recommended that you purchase a Japan or Universal travel adapter in advance.

Accommodation

👉🏼Japan's popular destinations are Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Nagoya and Sapporo. Accommodation options in Japan are very diverse, ranging from hostels and budget capsule hotels to four- and five-star hot spring resort hotels.

Japan Outfits Guide

Men🎩 : Pair a lightweight jacket or cardigan and a cool graphic T-shirt with comfortable jeans or chinos and stylish sneakers.

Women👒 : A flowing floral dress, a cute denim jacket and sandals as well as a straw hat and sunglasses!

Men🎩 : Lightweight cotton shirt or linen T-shirt. Pair a loose button-down shirt with casual shorts and comfy sneakers.

Women👒 : Wear breathable clothing. Try kimono (yukata) with bold patterns and bright colors. Add colorful fan and traditional geta (wooden scandal)

Men🎩 : A light sweater or flannel shirt, dark jeans or pants, a stylish blazer or jacket, and a traditional Japanese haori jacket.

Women👒 : Wear a chic knitted sweater with a trendy midi skirt and ankle boots and a scarf

Men🎩 : Pair a wool or down jacket with winter accessories like scarves and gloves. And durable snow boots.

Women👒 : Chic coat, cozy turtleneck, high waisted jeans and winter boots. Add a knit hat, comfy gloves, and a cute beanie!

Transportation to Japan

Malaysia had direct flights to Japan. Narita International Airport is the largest international airport in Japan, and Kansai International Airport is the gateway to Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and other cities. Check out the flight ticket price now.

👉🏼Direct non-stop flight Kuala Lumpur to Japan:✈️
Tokyo: Malaysia Airlines, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, AirAsia X, Batik Air Malaysia
Osaka: Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia X
Sapporo: AirAsia X

👉🏼Transit flight Kuala Lumpur to Japan (1stop):✈️
Fukuoka: Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Korean Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Eva Air
Nagoya: Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Korean Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Thai Airways, Batik Air Malaysia
Okinawa: Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Korean Airlines, China Airlines, Eva Air, Batik Air Malaysia

Transportation in Japan

👉🏼Japan's train system is divided into JR National Railways and various private railways. JR has the highest network coverage.
👉🏼If you are traveling to multiple cities, it is recommended to purchase a JR Pass in advance.
👉🏼If you are traveling within a city, the subway is the best choice, as it is relatively convenient and affordable.
👉🏼Public transportation in Japan is relatively expensive. If you have enough time, you can consider taking the night long-distance bus instead of the long-distance intercity Shinkansen.
👉🏼Taking a taxi in Japan is quite expensive and is not recommended unless there is an emergency.

Events and Festivals

January

New Year's. It's a time when families come together, visit temples, and feast on traditional dishes like mochi.

February

Setsubun Festival, which is all about driving away evil spirits and bringing good luck.

March

Cherry Blossom Festival, also known as Hanami.

April

Takayama Festival. It's a traditional event featuring large floats, music, and incredible craftsmanship.

May

Golden Week. It's a combination of several national holidays for people to travel and enjoy various festivities.

June

Tanabata Festival. Originating from a Japanese folklore tale, it’s all about writing wishes on small papers and hanging them on bamboo trees.

July

Gion Matsuri. This grand festival takes over the streets of Kyoto. You'll witness massive floats, traditional performances, and parades.

August

Obon Festival. It's a time when spirits of ancestors are said to visit Earth. People light lanterns, participate in traditional dances called Bon Odori, and reflect on their heritage.

September

Awa Odori Festival. It's a lively dance festival where thousands of performers take to the streets, showing off their skills and inviting everyone to join in.

October

Jidai Matsuri, a historical parade showcasing Japan's rich history. From samurais to emperors, witness a vivid representation of different eras.

November

Shichi-Go-San Festival. Families celebrate the growth and well-being of their children who turn three, five, or seven years old.

December

illumination displays across the country. Prepare to be mesmerised by Tokyo Midtown and the Osaka Hikari-Renaissance, where magical light shows await.

Must try food

Hokkaido

miso ramen🍜

Aomori

Apple or pie 🍎

Tokyo

sushi🍣

Okinawa

Goya Champuru (Okinawan bitter melon stir fry). 🍲

Fukuoka

Hakata ramen🍜

Kyoto

matcha ice cream or matcha cake.🍦

Shimane

Kaisendon Seafood Bowl🐟

Hiroshima

Okonomiyaki🥞

Nagano

Oyaki🥟

Osaka

Takoyaki🐙

Japan Packages

👉🏼 Golden Route
👉🏼 Osaka
👉🏼 Tokyo
👉🏼 Kyushu
Check out the Japan Package now.

Japan Private Guide

👉🏼Check out the benefits of Private Guided trip.

Japan Tours & Activities

👉🏼Check out the top activities in Japan you can’t miss.

Essential APPs

👉🏼Check out Japan top 10 mobile applications that can help you travel around Japan with ease.

Shopping

👉🏼Japanese skin care products are generally milder and more suitable for Asian skin.
👉🏼Japanese fashion clothes and outfits are very popular in the country. Explore some independent design shops in Japan, and you will often find unexpected surprises.
👉🏼Various animation peripherals and figures, and small digital appliances are also the favourites of many people.
👉🏼When purchasing electrical appliances, cosmetics, luxury goods, etc. in Japan, you can apply for a tax refund if you spend 5,000 yen or more in a single store, because the Japanese government levies a consumption tax of 8%.