Actual Travel to Japan from the United States (Guidelines)

Virtual Field Trip Home | Mount Fuji Geology | Hakone Geology  | Teacher's Guide

Before your trip

Plan the time of year to go to Mt. Fuji.  Generally in the winter months visibility of the summit is best.  However, the roads to the half-way point (5^th station) are often closed.  Travel in April will allow you to see the famous cherry blossoms, but travel in May will allow you to see the gorgeous Azaleas.  Travel in July and August will allow you to climb Mt. Fuji, but this website is not geared for this option.

Acquire a United States Passport. 

Purchase a Japan Rail Pass for the time appropriate for your visit.  For the purpose of this trip, the minimal 7-day pass will suffice.  The prices are listed in Yen, so check the current exchange rate prior to purchase.  (A general estimate is roughly 100 Yen:1 US Dollar)

Make a reservation for a Tour of the Mt. Fuji and Hakone area.  As you will soon learn travel in Japan is easy, but finding out interesting tidbits of information is best accomplished on a tour.  Several tour companies provide tours of this area, but Japan Gray Line has a fair price.  Their guides are knowledgable, approachable, and they speak very good English.  They also insure that at the end of the tour, that you are headed in the correct direction for your next destination.  I do not recommend the optioanal lunch, however.  It is an additional 30 Yen, and it is an attempt at western cuisine.  I believe that you would fare better ordering on your own in the noodle shop downstairs.  You also may return by Shinkansen at no additional cost (recommended) since you should have a Japan Rail Pass.

At the departing airport you may convert your currency to Yen, and this may be best since you will be in a very foreign environment once in Japan.

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Arrival in Japan

You will likely be very tired from your trip, so take your time looking for what you need.  If you cannot find what you seek, airport personnel, and any other Japanese person will assist you.  The people in Japan are polite and very kind.  Politely ask if they speak English (most people in densely populated areas and often travelled areas speak some English).  Try to use some greetings such as “Ohio gozaimas” (good morning), “konnichiwa” (good afternoon) or “konbanwa” (good evening) as well as "sumimasen" (excuse me).    Always thank them with “Domo arigato gozaimas”.

Upon arrival in Japan at any airport, pick-up any checked luggage and proceed to Japan’s Immigration.  You must have your passport ready as well as the importation form received on the airplane completed for yourself and a separate one for any dependants travelling with you.

After this, if you have not converted your US dollars, proceed to the currency exchange window to get Yen.  The window will be in the general locale of the international arrival area. 

Next, you must arrange transportation.  Get to the Japan Rail Office to exchange your Rail Pass Voucher for the actual pass.  The logo for the Japan Rail is a green JR , and the all of the offices will have green backgrounds on the logo.  They are often referred to as “green windows”.