Page 44 - Explore Magazine Summer 2018

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JAPAN EASE

On a recent family journey to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima, Mary Buckley of helloworld Milford and
helloworld Browns Bay, discovered how easy – and fast – it is to travel around Japan by rail.

One of the fun parts of travelling is experiencing the uniqueness I travelled to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima recently on a
that each destination has to offer and Japan certainly has its share. family holiday and can highly recommend that you visit Japan when
The heritage and culture are fascinating, the local food is delicious the opportunity allows. We travelled around the country by rail,
and the people are friendly. Japanese cities are also very clean: which was easy. We purchased a Japan Rail Pass voucher before we
there are fines for littering or smoking outside of designated areas travelled to Japan which gives you unlimited travel on Japan Rail
and you will see locals gathering in fenced-off areas or in dedicated lines and selected buses and ferries. Your journeys must be booked
glass smoking boxes. with a travel agent before you depart your home country and when
Speaking of boxes and compartments, there are vending machines you arrive in Japan you exchange your Rail Pass voucher for the
everywhere stocked with a variety of interesting drinks (including actual tickets. We purchased a seven-day Rail Pass but you can
beer), food and often toys. And then of course there is the toilet also purchase 14- or 21-day Rail Passes. You can also book seats as
experience: all Japanese toilets are fitted with a control panel that you go or travel in non-reserved-seat carriages. There are Japan
operates bidet, seat warming and deodorisation functions. There Rail offices in all major train stations and the staff we encountered
are even sound effects to drown out any toilet noises. spoke good English.

HELLOWORLD : EXPLORE : SUMMER EDITION