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Showing posts with label Japan Travel Tips. Show all posts

Thursday, September 3, 2026

Japan Travel Tip: Why You Should Try a Kei-Car Like the Suzuki Spacia

Japanese Kei-Car We Rented in Japan

As I mentioned in earlier entries, my husband and I visited Japan this March. Whenever we return to our hometown Fukuoka, we usually rent a car since, unlike a big city like Tokyo, public transportation is limited and driving is more convenient. In the past we chose compact cars, but this time we rented a kei-car for the first time.

A kei-car (軽自動車) is a category of ultra‑compact vehicle in Japan, defined by strict limits on engine size, dimensions, and power output to qualify for lower taxes and insurance. By regulation, a kei-car must be no longer than 3.4 meters, 1.48 meters wide, and 2.0 meters tall, with an engine of 660cc or less. These rules keep the cars compact for Japan’s narrow streets, yet clever design makes them economical, easy to park, and surprisingly spacious inside — practical for everyday use.

Did you know that kei-cars are gaining popularity abroad, especially kei-trucks? In the U.S., new imports aren’t road‑legal, but older models can be brought in under the 25‑year import rule. Many owners use them on private property — farms, ranches, or large grounds — where their compact size and efficiency make them handy utility vehicles. That’s why renting a kei-car in Japan is special — it’s something you can’t easily experience in the U.S.

And speaking of common questions, some people outside Japan wonder whether kei-cars are safe on highways — but they absolutely are. In Japan, they can cruise at around 100 km/h (about 62 mph) just like any regular car.

Suzuki Spacia

I rented a Suzuki Spacia, and despite its compact exterior, the interior felt impressively spacious thanks to clever design. Its tall, boxy shape, large windows, and thin pillars reduce blind spots, while the wide windshield and generous side glass make the cabin bright, open, and safe — so it feels much bigger inside than its size suggests.

Experiencing a kei-car in Japan is more than just driving — it’s a rare chance to enjoy clever design, spacious comfort, and cultural authenticity that you simply can’t find on U.S. roads.

My husband and I drove to Costco in Japan, and I’ll share that experience next time.

These are my entires you might like.

Daihatsu Move Canbus - Adorable Japanese Kei Car

The Interesting Functions of the Recent Japanese Cars

These are my entries related to Fukuoka.

Top 3 Seafood Restaurants to Visit Around Hakata

Hakata’s Udon Gems: Two Must-Try Udon Restaurants in Hakata, Fukuoka

A Tempura Lover’s Guide to Hakata: Two Must-Try Restaurants in Fukuoka, Japan

Best Breakfasts in Hakata: 3 Must-Try Restaurants

5 Best Delicious Souvenirs from Fukuoka

These are my entries you might like.

♥Hotel Room Tour and Review - Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan

♥5 Best Delicious Souvenirs from Fukuoka

♥My Shopping List for Japanese Beauty Products - What I Want to Get in Japan

♥How to Purchase Japanese Affordable Eyeglasses at Zoff

♥Driving A Rental Car in Japan, 6 Things You Should Know Before Driving in Japan

♥6 Facts about Kokyo Gaien Jogging Course

♥How to Purchase Japanese Affordable Eyeglasses at JINS

♥6 Japanese Products Loved by Foreign Tourists in Japan

♥Top 3 Japanese Powder Sunscreens

♥3 Best Japanese Sunscreen Products to Try This Summer

♥3 Best Japanese Eye Creams Won Beauty Award This Year

♥3 Best Facial Sheet Masks Loved in Japan This Year

♥7 Most Popular Japanese Facial Cleansing Wipes for Removing Makeup

♥7 Best Japanese Beauty Products Hall of Fame

♥Top 5 Life-Changing Japanese Beauty Products

♥Top 5 Most Popular Japanese Charcoal Soap

♥5 Best Japanese Facial Lotion (Toner), Kesyou-sui

♥The Most Popular Facial Sheet Masks in Japan

♥4 Reasons Why I Love Kose Softymo Cleansing Oil

♥10 Best Japanese Beauty Products on Amazon Japan, You Can Also Purchase Them at Drugstores in Japan

     My entries related to Best Japanese Beauty Products can be seen here.

     My entries related to Japan can be seen here.

     My entries related to beauty can be seen here.

   My entries related to Japan Haul can be seen here.

     You can find my beauty entries by categories from here.

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Travel Tips for an Unforgettable Yakushima Island Experience

Yakushima Island, with its enchanting forests, stunning landscapes, and unique wildlife, offers a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience. However, to make the most of your trip, it's essential to be well-prepared. Drawing from personal insights, here are some practical travel tips to help you navigate and fully enjoy your journey to this magical island.

1. Carry Cash

Many establishments on Yakushima Island, including small shops and restaurants, only accept cash. Make sure to bring enough yen with you, as ATMs may not always be easily accessible, especially in remote areas.

2. Opt for a Compact Rental Car

If you plan to explore the island by car, consider renting a compact vehicle. Some roads, like the scenic but narrow Seibu Rindo, can be challenging to navigate with larger vehicles. A smaller car will make your drive smoother and more enjoyable.

3. Bring Disposable Camping Toilets for Hiking

When hiking on Yakushima’s trails, such as the Jomon Sugi route, you’ll find designated toilet tents but not traditional restroom facilities. Carrying disposable camping toilets is a thoughtful way to ensure convenience while respecting the environment.

I purchased these at Daiso before traveling to Yakushima Island.

4. Be Ready for Rain

Yakushima Island is famous for its near-daily rainfall, so being prepared is key. If you’re planning to hike, bring a high-quality rain jacket to stay dry. Ziplock bags can also come in handy for keeping your belongings, such as phones and maps, protected from the rain.

I purchased this waterproof cover for backpack at Daiso outside of Yakushima Island.

I purchased umbrella, ziplock bags and backpack covers before traveling to Yakushima Island, and I rented rain jacket and pants at a local rental store in Anbo.

5. Use Gear Rental Shops

To reduce the bulk of your luggage, consider renting hiking gear locally. Rental shops on Yakushima offer everything from rain gear to backpacks, helping you travel light while ensuring you have the equipment you need.

You can rental hiking shoes, rain wears, backpack, backpack cover, rain hat, trekking poles, gaiters, flash light, camping mat, sleeping bag and tent at Rental Yamashita.

We rented rain jackets and pants because it's cheaper than buying high quality ones.

6. Build Up Your Physical Fitness

If you plan to tackle Yakushima’s longer hiking trails, like those leading to the ancient Jomon Sugi tree, be prepared for physically demanding adventures. Start improving your cardio and stamina months before your trip to make the hikes more manageable and enjoyable.

7. Be Aware of Risks

While Yakushima’s natural beauty is mesmerizing, hiking can come with risks such as getting lost or falling on rugged trails. Familiarize yourself with the route, carry a map, and consider hiking with a guide or group for safety.

8. Respect the Wildlife

Yakushima is home to fascinating wildlife, including monkeys and deer. However, feeding wild animals is illegal, and you should maintain a distance of at least 10 meters to ensure both your safety and theirs.

Yakushika (ヤクシカ)

Yakushimazaru (ヤクシマザル)

9. Prepare for a Language Barrier

Although Yakushima attracts many international travelers, fluent English-speaking staff can be rare. Having internet access for translating Japanese to English can be incredibly helpful for navigating conversations, reading signs, and asking for assistance.

I used airalo for internet data during Japan travel. It's eSIM and very affordable. I purchased 2G data for $6.50! Here is my referral link.

With these tips in mind, your adventure to Yakushima Island will be safer, smoother, and all the more unforgettable. Embrace the island’s natural wonders and cultural charm while staying prepared for its unique challenges. Happy traveling!

These are my entries related to Yakushima Island.

Embarking on Our Yakushima Adventure: The Journey Begins

Tirol Room Tour: Our Cozy Stay on Yakushima Island

Journey Through the Jomon-Sugi Cedar Trail: A Hike to Remember

Hiking into the Heart of Princess Mononoke: Exploring Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine

Best Restaurant to Enjoy Seafoods on Yakushima Island: Kamogawa

Driving the Entire Coastline of Yakushima Island: 13 Must-Visit Stops

Exploring the Magic of Yakusugi Land: A Perfect Last Day in Yakushima

5 Memorable Souvenirs from Yakushima Island

These are my entries you might like.

♥Hotel Room Tour and Review - Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan

♥5 Best Delicious Souvenirs from Fukuoka

♥My Shopping List for Japanese Beauty Products - What I Want to Get in Japan

Thursday, June 1, 2023

Stand Gen Chan, Japanese Fish Bar - What I Ate in Ikebukuro, Tokyo

Stand Gen Chan, Japanese Fish Bar

As I mentioned in my previous entries, my husband and I visited Tokyo last year, and we stayed at Sunshine City Prince Hotel in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, for two nights. The hotel was pretty close to the hospital we would go to for complete medical checkup, which is called ningen doc (人間ドック) in Japanese.

　On the day we arrived in Tokyo, we decided to go to a restaurant near by the hotel for dinner. We finally decided this restaurant, Stand Gen Chan (スタンド源ちゃん), Japanese Fish Bar, located in Sunshine Alpa Mall. It took us five minutes or so to get there from the hotel by walk.

Stand Gen Chan (スタンド源ちゃん), Japanese Fish Bar

Stand Gen Chan (スタンド源ちゃん), Japanese Fish Bar

Stand Gen Chan (スタンド源ちゃん), Japanese Fish Bar

B1F Sunshine Alpa

3-1-1 Higashi Ikebukuro

Toyoshima-ku, Tokyo

Stand Gen Chan (スタンド源ちゃん) is a Japanese teishoku (定食) and izakaya (居酒屋) restaurant.

This is teishoku menu. Teishoku (定食) means combo style meal such as main dish, rice and soup.

Teishoku Menu of Stand Gen Chan (スタンド源ちゃん), Japanese Fish Bar

As we have been living in the U.S. for many years, we always think that Japanese foods especially fresh raw fish is very expensive in the U.S. When we visit Japan, we are often surprised at how affordable Japanese foods are!

Bowl Menu of Stand Gen Chan (スタンド源ちゃん), Japanese Fish Bar

This is izakaya menu, which means small Japanese dishes you would like to enjoy with alcohol drinks.

Izakaya Menu of Stand Gen Chan (スタンド源ちゃん), Japanese Fish Bar

We were going to have medical checkup next morning, so we were thinking about having lighter and healthier meals, but after looking at the menu, we decided to have teishoku, combo meals. 😅

Sutamina Yaki Sashimi Teishoku (スタミナ焼きと刺身定食)

My husband ordered Sutamina Yaki Sashimi Teishoku (スタミナ焼きと刺身定食), combination meal of stir-fried pork with ginger and garlic, fresh sashimi, miso soup, white rice and Japanese pickles. This was only 1,188 yen, which is equivalent to $8.42.

Honjitu No Yakizakana Sashimi Teishoku (本日の焼魚と刺身定食)

I ordered Honjitu No Yakizakana Sashimi Teishoku (本日の焼魚と刺身定食), which is combo meal of today's grilled fish, fresh sashimi, miso soup, white rice and Japanese pickles. When I ordered it, I was told that today's grilled fish would be nishin (ニシン), herring. When I received it, I was surprised at how big the grilled fish was. The fish was bigger than the plate. This combo meal was also 1,188 yen, which is equivalent to $8.42.

The meals we had at Stand Gen Chan were affordable and pretty good. Sashimi was very thin, but we were able to enjoy five kinds of fresh sashimi.

Next time, I will also write about another restaurant we went to in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.

These are also my entries you might like.

♥Hotel Room Tour and Review - Sunshine City Prince Hotel - Ikebukuro, Tokyo

♥My Shopping List for Japanese Beauty Products - What I Want to Get in Japan

♥How to Purchase Japanese Affordable Eyeglasses at Zoff

♥Driving A Rental Car in Japan, 6 Things You Should Know Before Driving in Japan

♥6 Facts about Kokyo Gaien Jogging Course

♥How to Purchase Japanese Affordable Eyeglasses at JINS

♥6 Japanese Products Loved by Foreign Tourists in Japan

♥Top 3 Japanese Powder Sunscreens

♥3 Best Japanese Sunscreen Products to Try This Summer

♥3 Best Japanese Eye Creams Won Beauty Award This Year

♥3 Best Facial Sheet Masks Loved in Japan This Year

♥7 Most Popular Japanese Facial Cleansing Wipes for Removing Makeup

♥7 Best Japanese Beauty Products Hall of Fame

♥Top 5 Life-Changing Japanese Beauty Products

♥Top 5 Most Popular Japanese Charcoal Soap

♥5 Best Japanese Facial Lotion (Toner), Kesyou-sui

♥The Most Popular Facial Sheet Masks in Japan

♥4 Reasons Why I Love Kose Softymo Cleansing Oil

♥10 Best Japanese Beauty Products on Amazon Japan, You Can Also Purchase Them at Drugstores in Japan

     My entries related to Best Japanese Beauty Products can be seen here.

   My entries related to Japan can be seen here.

     My entries related to beauty can be seen here.

   My entries related to Japan Haul can be seen here.

     You can find my beauty entries by categories from here.

Thursday, January 26, 2023

How to Purchase Japanese Affordable Eyeglasses at Zoff

Zoff

As I mentioned in my previous entry, Must Go to Place in Japan - Affordable Eyeglass Stores, JINS and Zoff, if you wear eyeglasses and are planing on going to Japan, you should go to eyeglass stores in Japan. It's because many stores sell very affordable stylish eyeglasses in Japan. Unlike the U.S., buying eyeglasses doesn't need prescriptions in Japan, so you don't need to see an ophthalmologist nor an optometrist to make new eyeglasses there. If you want to try affordable ones, I recommend you to check JINS and Zoff, which have so many branches in Japan.

About five years ago, he purchased two pairs of eyeglasses at JINS. You can check out my previous entry, How to Purchase Japanese Affordable Eyeglasses at JINS. This time, we decided to go to Zoff to purchase his new eyeglasses because one of Zoff branches is located in Alpa, the shopping mall connected to the hotel we stayed, so it was very convenient location for us. Zoff has 237 branches in Japan. In Tokyo, there are 58 Zoff branches, so if you are in Tokyo, it's pretty easy to find Zoff.

Zoff

Zoff (Ikebukuro Sunshine City Alpa)

2nd Floor at Alpa shopping mall

3-1-1 Higashi Ikebukuro

Toyoshima-ku Tokyo, Japan

How to Purchase Eyeglasses at Zoff

Zoff

1. Choose your favorite eyeglass frame.

There are many eyeglasses you can choose from. The prices of most eyeglasses are 5,500 yen, 8,800 yen, 11,100 yen, and 13,300 yen.

Zoff

2. Take the frame to the register.

A staff asks you about the lenses. There is no charge for regular lenses and blue cut lenses. If you want special lenses such as lenses with UV protection, there is an additional charge.

Zoff

3. Take an eye exam in order to make the accurate lenses.

They don't charge eye exam fee.

Zoff

When we were at Zoff, an Asian foreign customer was taking eye exam. One of Japanese staffs was trying to speak English for the foreign customer. If you only speak English, I think that they will be able to help you at some branches.

4. Make a payment.

・ You can pay with cash or credit cards at Zoff.

・They offer Tax Free Service (10% off) for tourists. You need to show your passport with a valid entry stamp at the store where you want to apply for a tax refund.

When my husband purchased eyeglasses at Zoff, they were offering a trade-in promotion, which was that when you dropped off your old eyeglasses at Zoff, you got a 550 yen discount for your new eyeglass purchase. He was able to purchase two pairs of eyeglasses for 9,500 yen (5,500 yen + 5,500 yen - 550 yen trade-in discount - 950 yen tax free discount), which was equivalent to $67.38.

5. Wait until your eyeglasses are ready.

It usually takes for 30 minutes. If there is no stock in the store, you need to wait for several days.

The staff told him that his new eyeglasses would be ready in 30 minutes. Meanwhile, we enjoyed shopping and having lunch at Alpa shopping mall.

6. Pick up your eyeglasses.

The staff will adjust your eyeglass arms for you. You can receive your new eyeglasses, an eyeglass case and a lens cleaning cloth.

When we arrived at Zoff for pickup, he dropped off his old eyeglasses he was wearing because he got a trade-in discount. The staff adjusted his new eyeglass arms. There were some eyeglass cases he could choose from. He ended up choosing these black eyeglass cases.

Zoff Eyeglass Cases

He also received these Zoff lens cleaning clothes.

Zoff Eyeglass Cases

His New Eyeglasses

These pairs of eyeglasses look pretty alike but are slightly different.

His New Eyeglasses

He is really satisfied with his purchase. 😊 I know that eyeglasses are very affordable in Japan, but we were really surprised that his new two pairs of eyeglasses were $67.38! (One pair of eyeglasses only cost $33.69!) When we were in Japan, Japanese yen price was pretty low (1 USD was 141 yen at that time.), so everything we saw in Japan looked an incredible bargain to us.

These are entries related to Japanese affordable eyeglasses.

■Must Go to Place in Japan - Affordable Eyeglass Stores, JINS and Zoff

■How to Purchase Japanese Affordable Eyeglasses at JINS

These are also my entries you might like.

♥My Shopping List for Japanese Beauty Products - What I Want to Get in Japan

Friday, December 20, 2019

Using A Smartphone While Driving Is Illegal in Japan

In my previous entry, I wrote about how hard it is to get a Japanese driver's license. In Japan, getting a driver's license costs a lot of money. It usually costs around 200,000 yen, which is equivalent to about $2,000, and you need to go to a driving school, take so many classes and must pass some examinations. I also wrote The Reason Why Driving in Japan Is Not Easy and 6 Things You Should Know Before Driving in Japan.

6 Things You Should Know Before Driving in Japan
1. Japan uses kilometers. (Japan does not use miles.)

2. You must drive on the left side of the road in Japan.

3. Japanese cars have the driver's seat and steering wheel on their right side.

4. You and all passengers must wear a seat belt.

5. Drinking and driving is illegal. (A drunk driver must pay a fine up to 1,000,000 yen, which is equivalent to about $10,000, or serve up to 5 year of in jail. Passengers must pay a fine up to 500,000 yen or serve up to 3 year of in jail.)

6. Highway is not free. It costs a lot to drive on. (That's why the highway is clean and well maintained in Japan.)

Using A Smartphone While Driving Is Illegal in Japan.

The Picture Is from the Official Site of the Public Relations Office of the Government of Japan

Using a smartphone while driving is illegal in Japan. On December 1, Japan tightened regulations on smartphone, mobile phone, and GPS use while driving.

・Do not use a smartphone or mobile phone while driving.
・Do not talk on the phone (smartphone/mobile phone) while driving.
・Do not text while driving.
・Do not watch a smartphone/mobile phone carefully while driving.
・Do not watch a GPS carefully while driving.

You should never touch your phone nor GPS while driving. I believe that you may use a GPS, but do not watch it for 2 seconds or more while driving.

■ If you use or watch your smartphone, you must pay a fine of up to 100,000 yen (about $1,000) or serve up to 6 months of in jail.
　 Large Vehicle : A Fine of 25,000 yen
　Ordinary-Sized Vehicle: A Fine of 18,000 yen

■ If you used or watched your smartphone and caused an accident, you will get your driver's license suspended. In addition, you must pay a fine of up to 300,000 yen (about $3,000) or serve up to 1 year of in jail.

If you want to use your smartphone, you should find a parking space. If you park your car and turn off the engine, you can use your smartphone in your car.

If you understand Japanese, you can watch this Japanese news below. According to FNN news, it's illegal to watch a GPS for 2 seconds or more while driving, but it's not illegal to use a phone at red light.