Let's be honest. Japan can be a tough place to find your way around. First of all the address system is completely different from most other countries. Then there is the huge network of trains to navigate. Plus unless you understand Japanese, the amount of English spoken is not right up there with other popular destinations. Add the fact that free wifi is hard to come by or needs pre-registering, and the difficulty can be even more compounded. 

Luckily with a smartphone or tablet we have a tool to help us out on our travels. I would like to introduce you to the must have apps, including offline apps, for a smooth trip in Japan. Feel free to introduce more suggestions in the comments below.

1. Travel Japan by Navitime
This is a great app for finding your way around. My favourite feature is the neighbourhood guide to find an ATM or convenience store. One of the best options for sure is the OFFLINE search for free wifi spots. 

2. Trains.jp
This iOS offline app is the best for finding your way around town without a wifi signal. Doesn't show train times though so be careful when it is close to last train. 

3. Hyperdia
The best website for train travel planning now has an app too! One of the best features for those using a JR pass is you can filter results to include JR trains only. All the info you need to get around Japan by train.

4. Gurunavi 
This site and app is famous amongst Japanese and they now have a great English version too. Find restaurants by type, price or even by GPS search. They even offer a restaurant reservation service hotline.

5. Japanese dictionaries
There are many to choose from but for me the best ones are useable offline too. That's why I like "imiwa" for iOS or JED for Android

6. Triposo
This is an app and website which has many mini guides to tourist attractions not only in Japan but around the world. 

Got another great app you suggest for travel in Japan? Share in the comments below and happy travels in Japan!

Hashima Island nicknamed "Gunkanjima", meaning battleship island, is a very unique place just off the coast of Nagasaki Port. The island was bought by Mitsubishi in 1890 to operate a recently opened undersea coal mine. Workers were brought in from all over Japan as well as war time forced labourers from Korea and China. The population peaked at over 5200 people in 1959 making it one of the most densely populated place in recent history. 

The mining operation was finally closed down in the 1970s and all that remains now are the crumbling buildings and spooky tales of the hardship people endured there. There are still those with fond memories of the place though, including the stories brought to life by Doutoku Sakamoto, the man fighting to recognise the island as a world heritage site. Special thanks to Totoro Times for the great articles and photos from their exploration of the island.

The island reopened in 2009 to allow tourists to visit the island, but restricted to a small walkway for safety reasons. Several tour companies offer a boat ride to the island from Nagasaki Port when the weather if safe enough to venture out there. 

A google maps employee was given a chance to navigate the island and the images collected were used in the creation of this great (and super eerie) website. 

I can't wait to have the chance to visit. If you have been there or plan to go, please write a comment below.

Narita is way out there! It generally takes around 90 mins to get to the city centre. Here are the options

Friendly Airport Limousine Bus 2000-3000yen (Depending on distance)
(ask for a free 1-day subway pass when purchasing)
Pros: comfortable, no transfers, door to door to many hotels throughout the city, free wifi on the bus, luggage stored by the driver, easy to sleep through the trip, hotels can arrange a taxi for onward travel, the no-hassle solution
Cons: less to see along the way, a bit slower than the train, no drink services or toilets

Keisei Skyliner Express Train 2400 yen (to UENO)
Pros: quick at getting you into the East side of the city (Ueno), cheap, comfortable.
Cons: if staying on the West side of the city (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ebisu etc.) requires a change of trains and about a 30 min ride on busy commuter trains

JR Narita Express 1500-3000 yen (includes transfer to any JR station in Tokyo Area)
Pros: Fastest way to the West side of the city, drinks and snacks sold onboard. Return tickets with Suica card are a good deal. If activating a JR pass the best bet.
Cons: if not staying at a main station you will have to get on a crowded commuter train with your luggage to get to your destination

Keisei Bus 900 yen
Pros: the cheapest
Cons: Not very good website, bus stop is a bit difficult to find, have to go to Tokyo station in order to catch the bus

Frustrated with dragging you luggage around Japan? No need to do so, as there is a special luggage delivery service called Takyubin

One of the most convenient services in Japan, the takyubin service is available country-wide. You can have your luggage sent anywhere in Japan for about 2000-3000 yen per bag. You can even select the date and time that you wish to receive it. There are several companies offering similar services but I generally go with Yamato (Black Cat) 

There are offices are at the arrivals area of all the major airports. On your way to the next destination or back to the airport? Your hotel concierge can help send your bags ahead of time or you can visit most convenience stores and they will allow you to drop your bags off there. Just look for the black cat logo. 

Living in Kyoto, I often fly through Narita for international travel and stay a few days in Tokyo on the way in and out. This service is great for packing a small day bag for the city and sending my big luggage to meet me the day I get back to Kyoto. 

All you need is an address (including postal code) in Japan and to fill in the delivery slip. Makes it easier to squeeze in that last (or first) day of sightseeing. Can't wait to get to Disneyland? Go straight from the airport! 

Living in Kyoto City we are spoiled with many things to do. In fact there seems to be a festival every other week. We sometimes forget to explore the rest of Kyoto prefecture. That's why I always recommend my friends to take a trip North to the Tango peninsula especially to see the famous view of Amanohashidate which is sometimes called the "sky bridge to heaven" for it's famous pine covered strip of land cutting through the sea.

The reason it has this famous name is that when viewed by looking at it upside down and between one's legs it appears to be floating in the sky. After a cable car or sky chair ride to the top you can see the picturesque scene above as well as enjoy the scenes of people trying to view the land bridge by bending over and looking through their legs.

This area is know for it's peaceful atmosphere and quaint charm. After checking out this amazing view we jumped in the car and drove to a fishing village called "Funaya" which was unlike anything I have ever seen before in Japan or abroad. Over two hundred house boats lining the coast of a sheltered bay in an area known as Ine. This is a local tourist attraction but quite off the beaten path.

Although we drove there is also an option of taking a boat cruise from Miyazu (the main town of the area) letting you enjoy the beautiful views along the way. There is also a smaller boat in town which takes you around the harbour for 1 hr roundtrips and it's just 700 yen. You can always wander through the town on foot too, but as all the houses face to the water, and the majority are accessed only by sea, it is really worth it to go out by boat.

After the boathouse town we headed to see the famous terraced rice fields. The roads are quite windy but some of the most breathtaking views can be seen along the way. To me it was reminiscent of the famous Hana Highway in Maui. Once we arrived at the rice fields the colours of the bright green harvest with the bright blue sea and sky in the background were incredible. It made me want to come back in the spring to see the rice paddies all filled with water like in the pic above.

After the full day of fun it was time to hit the beach. Without any real idea of where to go we just kept driving till we found what looked like a campground and day use beach facility. It was 1000 yen for parking and access to the shower facilities etc. We grabbed the cooler from the car and set out for a picnic. The beach was amazing! And not at all crowded by Japanese standards.

All in all this was an amazing day trip to make from Kyoto city. So if you have a chance to do it, please do.