100 things to know before you travel in Japan

There are many beaches in Japan, especially in the south. Okinawa and surrounding islands will be the best places to enjoy a beach. The beaches near a big city tend to be very crowded and the water is not very clean.

Beef Bowl is one of the popular Japanese foods and it's very simple, Beef and Rice! There are very soft, small chunks of beef on rice and the price is very reasonable, starting around 280yen. Yoshinoya (http://www.yoshinoya-dc.com/en/index.html) and Matsuya (http://www.matsuyafoods.co.jp/english/index.html) are two major Gyudon restaurant chains. They have three sizes of Gyudon: Futsuu (Normal), Oomori (Large), and Tokumori (X-Large). Oomori has more rice and Tokumori has more rice and beef. Tokumori is still less than 500yen. Also, you will be amazed how fast they serve it. It won't take longer than 1 minute... usually about 30 seconds! These may be the world's-fastest restaurants!

The Bento-Box that you may have in your mind is totally different from what Bento means in Japanese. Bento means a boxed meal that you take to school, work, or on travel. You can buy Bentos at most of the convenience stores in Japan or at stores in train stations. Some people cook their Bento at home and take it with them.

There are hotels which are of lower grade than the classic great hotels but of higher grade than motels, designed for business people to stay at. They're called Business Hotels and they are highly recommended for travellers because the price is reasonable, the room is clean and western in style, and they are usually conveniently located near a train station. Depending on the hotel, a room can be quite small with little or no room for lounging around but it will have a bathroom with a large bath tub for soaking (the Japanese love soaking in baths), shower, and toilet (usually an electric style). There will also be a television, desk, bed and high-speed internet connectivity (usually included)...which is all you really need to live with. Usually there is a small restaurant on the first floor, and some Business Hotels come with a free breakfast, but if not...the convenient location near a train station means there are dozens of nearby places where you can dine or buy a take-out meal. Some have coin-laundry machines, but not all. There will also be vending machines.

Japanese cafe-coffee is excellent! But it is also a little pricey, and not refillable. Also, you may be disappointed that a 250 yen coffee is only about the size of a tea cup. MacDonald's coffee is the same as in North America (good quality and refillable). Starbucks is also the same (maybe a little more expensive than in North America). In some cafe's, a take-out cup will not be filled...giving the impression that they are not giving you what you paid for, but this is not the case...it's just the style of serving in Japan. MacDonald's and Starbucks servings will be as you are accustomed to in North America.