Tips for Traveling Outside of Japan

by Christopher Garbrecht, (2 September, 2004) in lifestyle > travel

(Note: these are merely my opinions and suggestions. I purposely left out food and people as highlights, but definitely try the local food and meet some local people. I guarantee it’ll make your trip more interesting. Another note: one person’s dream vacation is another’s nightmare and vice versa, so take care when listening to other people’s opinions of places to go — including my own. Do your own research, relax when you get there and have fun. Bon voyage!)

Thinking of travelling outside of Japan this year? The best advice is to plan ahead, especially for those peak holiday travel times (Christmas, Golden Week and summer vacation). Generally speaking, it is best to check prices and book a flight about three to four months in advance. In most cases, booking well in advance still only guarantees you a spot on a waiting list. What’s going on, you ask? My guess is your friendly travel agent is putting you (tormented soul with money in hand) on the waiting list so that they can wait and see if a big tour bus full of package tourists will be taking the same flight and hence spending a lot more money on their flight, hotels and car rental. Pure economics my friend. It seems to be common practice here. But not to worry, if you start early, you’ll more than likely be going on your trip. The point is book early and you’ll be the first in line on the waiting list; book at the last minute and you’ll be at the end of the queue. Simple as that.

The most common travel agencies are JTB and H.I.S. Feel free to pop in, grab a calendar and start finding cheap quotes. Another option is to e-mail Ogizuka-san (ogizuka@willtour.com) at WillTour in Fukuoka (she speaks English and is very quick getting back to your requests).

Tips

1. Feel free to book a few flights to a few different destinations. You can always cancel the ones you don’t want later.
2. Always check about visas ahead of time. Most travel agents will let you know and many can do the paperwork for you (at a price). Cambodia, China, Laos and Vietnam all definitely require visas. China and Vietnam will cost you at least 10,000 yen to do in Japan. Cambodia and Laos are much cheaper to have done in Bangkok.
3. For some destinations (e.g. Okinawa and Bali) you might want to ask about a package trip. The flight with hotel and car rental just might be cheaper than a flight alone.
4. March and the beginning of April is when many ALTs find they have little or no work. It’s a great time to get away and take advantage of some cheaper fares.

Destinations

Don’t know where to go? Here’s a quick list of popular spots for holiday-bound JETs.

Australia

• highlights: scuba diving, beaches, nature, everyone speaks English like Paul Hogan
• best time to go: winter here in Japan, summer there

Cambodia

• highlights: Angkor Wat, the killing fields
• definitely the poorest country in S.E. Asia
• need a visa
• best time to go: winter (dry season) / summer (rainy season, but the jungle is lush around Angkor)

China

• highlights: Great Wall, Forbidden City, terracotta warriors, hill tribes, natural beauty
• keep in mind that it’s a big country and Tibet is easier to reach from Nepal
• need a visa
• best time to go: spring or fall

Fiji

• highlights: scuba diving, surfing, great beaches
• a more expensive destination than southeast. Asia, but for many, when are you going to visit South Pacific islands again?
• direct from Seoul
• best time to go: summer

Indonesia

• highlights: Bali, Lombok, temples, culture, Kodomo dragons, scuba diving, surfing
• best time to go: summer

Laos

• highlights: Van Vieng, Luang Prabang, incredible scenery, hill tribes, the Mekong River, plain of jars
• need a visa
• best time to go: winter

Malaysia

• highlights: Sabah, Sarawak, scuba diving, nature, wildlife
• best time to go: spring

New Caledonia

• highlights: French colony, scuba diving, tribes, reggae music
• one of the most expensive South Pacific islands
• a great bike trip destination
• direct from Osaka
• best time to go: summer

New Zealand

• highlights: spectacular nature, hiking, camping, skiing, snowboarding
• best time to go: if you like snow head in the summer; if not, winter

Philippines

• highlights: lots of little islands, scuba diving, wonder of the world rice terraces
• best time to go: winter or spring

South Korea

• highlights: shopping in Seoul, nature, DMZ
• from Saga it’s easy to do as a long weekend either flying to Seoul or taking the Beetle (hydrofoil) to Pusan
• best time to go: autumn or spring

Thailand

• highlights: temples, hill tribes, elephants, beaches, scuba diving
• considered by many to be the easiest place to start travelling in southeast Asia (i.e. lots of JETs)
• best time to go: winter

Vietnam

• highlights: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An (hand tailored goods), Mekong Delta, Vietcong tunnels, hill tribes
• need a visa
• best time to go: winter