Getting around Japan: Travel tips to know before you go
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Canadians are currently enjoying a very favourable exchange rate with the Japanese yen. Travellers of all stripes, from budget to bougie, are taking advantage of this boost in purchasing power to put Japan on their immediate travel radar.
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Travel initiatives, packages and promotions make experiencing Japan more accessible than ever. Riding Japan's world-famous Shinkansen is a bucket list experience in its own right. Yet it is also the key to going beyond the well-travelled areas of Japan and discovering the wonders of more distant prefectures.
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Canadians are enjoying more airlift into Japan than ever before with direct flights on five carriers departing from four Canadian cities. In addition to grabbing the best deals during airline seat sales, you can also save on airfare domestically with low-cost carriers and special discounts like ANA's Discover Japan Fare and JAL's Japan Explorer Pass.
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Train travel in Japan is the most beautiful, immersive and convenient way to see the country and there are many scenic railway journeys which are just as impressive as the destination. The options are endless: city subways, local trains, express trains and high-speed bullet trains criss-cross the country, making rail travel both highly convenient and highly confusing. JNTO's complete guide explains exactly how to navigate train and bus lines and provides all the information you need to make day trips and regional visits easy.
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For years, the Japan Rail Pass has been the best-known way for overseas travellers to save on train travel. Covering all Japan Railway (JR) lines across the country, the pass is available in 7-, 14-, or 21-day lengths and can be used on all but the top two speeds of Shinkansen bullet trains.
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Beyond the all-encompassing countrywide pass, there are a plethora of different railway companies operating in different regions, each with their own discount offerings. Those who prefer a slower, more in-depth look at an area may want to consider the more localized regional passes and city subway passes.
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