Here are links to many sources of Information on Japan.
You can follow these for years! Click on
the high-light text to go to site off this server. There is a short description of each link after the highlighted text.
ANA Airlines "visit Japan fares! Cheap one-way ticket source for foreign people traveling inside Japan. These coupons must be purchased, like a rail-pass,
from outside Japan and activated once you are here. Very cool!
Japan Rail Pass! Needs no explaination. Site to learn all there is to know about Japan Rail Systems.
China Airlines. Getiing you to Japan and more importantly, to Fukuoka Japan cheaply!
Japan Youth Hostels. Not to be confused with hostile youths.
Ryokan Association. Here is general information about what they are and where you find them.
These are links to place Japan
Bike and hikes uses on a regular basis. Nogami Honkan Ryokan in Beppu. Reasonable priced and close to Beppu train station. Staff speaks English. Love those guys.
Green Hotel in Fukuoka. If you need to overnight there, it is a business hotel close to the Hakkata station, a 15 minute shuttle-ride from the
international airport terminal.
Yamaga Green tourism page. In Japanese, it's a list of farm-stays. From the pictures, you will get an idea what's going on here.
Yokosu Hotel in Beppu. Another cheap one, but not as close to the station. Still, it has online services and a $10 taxi ride will get you there
from the train or the ferry terminal.
Hang-glider Associations info page. Don't ask me why but these guys have a great page, full of tips, weather, travel and just anything you can think of.
Maybe it's because they have a unique perspective on Japan?
Japan Etiquette. My competetor at Walk Japan compiled this
rules of the road guide, and who to do it better than the British? They
may be rude but they are rude with perfect etiquette! Japanese value etiquette highly. Hence, the price of these
tours. But an excellent and informative page, all the same. If you book with them, don't tell them I sent you! They think
they are the only one's in Japan. :-> Hi, Paul!
Japan tourist association. Some good stuff here, too. Aimed at flagg-waving bus tour type tourists, but still valuable links.
Satoh's gallery. We stay here. We want to live here.
Maetake in Ishigaki Island, Okinawa. For those who consider beaches an important food-group, here is one of Japan's best secret escapes.
Important notes on Japan.
Credit cards. Somewhat useless in japan. Big cities use them more
than small towns, but rarely are they accepted for food and small purchases at supermarkets. Half the hotels accept them.
None of th4e banks relish you putting plastic accross their desks and the hissing of "wind-suck-age" is audible
at all but the biggest banks. Japn loves the
Debit card. Very handy indeed! Back them with the dowery
of your daughter and you may draw Japanese cash at any Post Office in the land! Big fat "yes!" to the debit card.
Don't foget your PIN Either way you will sometimes need
Japanese and English language. You
will find many people speak few English words, but they use those English words endlessly. If your Japanese is somewhat less
than fluent, fear not! Use it. If you find that you really need to communicate,
WRITE IT DOWN! I stress that because
English is a languge all Japanese study in the written form. Make your letters clear in neat large-case letters and most people
will have an "Ah-Haa!" moment. Example, don't tell the taxi where to go; write it down and he will probably
take you there directly. Many Japanese signs are in English. Unfortunately that are not many
Street signs.
Japan has not discovered the value of the street sign, nor the logic of having them in timely places. It seems the signs are
tourists at best, but that does not imped the
Safety. Japan is safe. Safe for kids. Safe for adults.
Even the bad section of town is safe. But be careful crossing the streets. Because they
Drive on the Left. Besides
the absurd cost of car rentals and gas, they all drive the wrong side of the road! How Colonial.
From the
airport to town.
The town of Beppu is not close to the Oita Airport, and the city of Oita is even further away.
There is a regular bus service between Beppu and the airport, and if you arrive at Oita International you will find easy transport
from directly in front to Beppu's main train station. There are also cute girls in charming hats that will direct you
in English to the bus stop. Bus cost about $20. Or you could take a taxi for $80.
From the Fukuoka International airport
there is a non-stop hiway-bus to Beppu, cost is $30 and it takes about 1-1/2 hours. It also departs from directly in front
of the terminal on an hourly basis.
Japanese trains. Oh my god! If only the rest of the world
had this. Sorry, you arrived one second late; it's gone! It arrived one second off-time? Driver, you must ritualisticaly
dis-embowl yourself immidiately!
Japanese service. It is the envy of the world. At least, in the parts
of the world that still know what service is. That leaves out most of the Western world.
Tipping. Don't
do it. Unless your guide is foreign, and he really earned it!
Toilets. Don't do it. Expect something
foreign.
Taxis. Don't do it. Ok, ok. You can do it.
