Heading to Japan?

a collection of quick tips and tricks

a good time to go

Cherry blossom season is nearly at hand.

Right now, the plum trees are blooming, and after the cherry blossoms fade, the peach trees will bloom, too.

Spring is one of the best times of the year to visit Japan. Temperatures and humidity levels are moderate. And there’s something magical to see a mountainside sparkling with blooming trees, even in the rain.

There have been changes for travelers to Japan since the last time I reported on them. The most painful of those changes are the price increases for rail passes. Even when there’s a great exchange rate, it’s harder to justify a rail pass purchase now.