Obama Japan Travel Guide

Obama, Japan

Travel Instructions

By Jacob Haut

facts/

Table of Contents

History of Japan

• The first European travelers landed in Japan in 1543, when their ship drifted onto the southern tip.

• Emperor Jimmu was the first emperor of Japan in 660 BC. Since then, there has been 126 different emperors.

• Japan is home to 6,852 islands. These islands were original part of Asia but were split of due to tectonic activity 15 million years ago.

Photo Credit: https://travel.gaijinpot.com/tokyo-imperial-palace/

History of Japan Continued

• On April 1,1889, the town of Obama was created, but on March 30th, 1951, the city of Obama was raised to city status.

• Japan’s entire life span has been based on different periods, for example the Edo period and the Meiji period. In total, there have been 17 different periods in Japan’s history.

• From 1467-1603 Japan had experienced a long period of instability and civil war due to this, there were as many as 5000 castles built with many still standing to this day.

Photo Credit: https://travel.gaijinpot.com/eihei-ji-temple/

Politics of Japan

• Japan is a constitutional monarchy, with a parliamentary system of government.

• Japan is divided into 9 regions, which are then split into 47 smaller prefectures.

• Japan has a civil law system.

Photo Credit: https://www.kinashi-san.com/post/history-of-the-japanese-flag

Traveling to Obama

• Drive to DTW in Detroit. Economy round trip tickets to Japan are $3300 Via. Delta Airlines

• The flight to Tokyo Haneda is 15 hours and 30 minutes. After arriving at Tokyo Haneda, you will then get on a 50-minute flight to Osaka Itami.

• After arriving in Osaka, you will then take a train to Obama, the cost of the train is $35, and it is a 3 hour and 28-minute ride.

Photo Credit: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/11/07/reference/operation-tomodachi-hiroshima-visit-exitingobama-viewed-favorably-japan/

Lodging

• While staying at a hotel in Obama maybe expensive there are several air bnb’s where you could split the cost with others to make it a cheaper.

• The cost of hotels can range from $100 to $350 a night!

• For air bnb’s the cost for a 5bedroom hostel cost $296, and when you split the cost, it averages out to about $59.

Photo Credit: https://www.japan.travel/experiences-in-japan/en/139/

• In Obama, Japan the Summers are very hot and humid while during the winter it is moderately cold.

Climate

• Temperatures can sometimes reach 35C or 89.6F, while in the winter the average temperature is 2.2C or 36F

• This means that temperatures in Obama are very similar to temperatures we see in Michigan.

Photo Credit: https://www.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/cpd/longfcst/en/tourist.html#:~:text=Eastern%20Japan%20has%20hot %20and,have%20a%20subtropical%20oceanic%20climate.

Food

• In Japan, noodles are an essential part of their cuisine’s. Noodles can be eaten cold or hot depending on the season.

• Rice is also a huge part of Japanese cuisine; rice is used in anything ranging from sushi to kayo ( a type of porridge).

• Since Japan is an island it’s not surprising that seafood is a massive part of their diet, the average Japanese person consumes 51.8 pounds of seafood every year! So, expect to be eating a lot of seafood.

Photo Credit: https://savorjapan.com/contents/discover-oishii-japan/15-ultimate-ramen-spots-in-japan/

What to Bring

• You will need a passport to enter Japan…

• Clothes depending on what season you plan to go to Japan.

• An international sim card for Wi-Fi while traveling Japan.

• Japan uses different outlets for electricity so a power bank or an electrical adapter would be useful.

• Footwear is important since a lot of shrines and temples are in the mountains or on trails so hiking boots would be a smart thing to bring.

• When arriving in Japan a rail pass would be a smart idea since most of Japan is connected by train so day trips to different cities if possible.

Photo Credit: https://blog.japanwondertravel.com/coolest-train-stations-in-japan-26185

What Not to Bring

• Firearms and or knifes/blades.

• Items made from endangered animals (wallets, purses, and computer bags).

• Fake/ knock off designer bags and or clothing (Includes shoes).

• Fresh vegetables or fruits.

• Pets of any kind.

Photo Credit: https://aveclumiere.com/?news=air%20jordan%20knockoffs_MTRfNl85MTMwOTkzXzcy

• Obama in Fukui Prefecture is a hub of traditional Japanese culture. You will find over 130 temples.

• Obamanishigumi Traditional Preservation District is a great place to see Classic Japanese architectures.

• The Wakasa Chopstick Museum is exactly what it sounds like. It’s home to the world's largest chopsticks!

• Wakasa Obama fish center is a great place to fish! Also is a great place to eat since it is also a fish market.

• Obamas Location allow you to travel to several other places Via train such as Kyoto and Osaka

Activities

Photo Credit: https://enjoy.pref.fukui.lg.jp/en/spot/spot-49/

Culture

• In Japanese culture, it is very important to bow before speaking as it is a sign of respect.

• There are multiple religions that coexist in a Japan. There are even instances where people are born Shinto, get married Christian, and die Buddhist.

• When eating rice, do not stick your chopstick straight up as it reminds the Japanese of funerals.

Photo Credit: https://travel.gaijinpot.com/japan-sightseeing-essentials/top-10-cultural-experiences-japan/

Health and Vaccines

• You are recommended to have these vaccinations: COVID-19,Heapatitis A and B, Japanese Encephalitis( not needed if traveling to Hokkaido, and Rabies.

• Other than some areas in Europe Japan is Recognized as one of the safest places to travel to. Crime rates are low, including petty crime, and violent crime is rare .

• In Japan they provide free health care to not only Japanese residents but also foreigners.

Photo Credit: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/30/us/california-vaccine-mandatehealth-care.html

Native Religions

Shintoism- 70.5%

Buddhism- 67.2%

Christianity- 1.5%

Other 5.9%

The total exceeds 100 percent because many people both practice Shintoism and Buddhism

Photo Credit: https://blog.japanwondertravel.com/the-best-buddhist-temples-in-japan-21538

• Japanese- 100%

• Although Japanese is the exclusive spoken language in Japan, there is actually 3 different written languages in Japan.

• The three written languages are: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji

Native Language

Photo Credit: https://www.vecteezy.com/vector-art/171673-japanese-kanji-words-with-translation

Fun Facts

• In Japanese culture it is polite to remove your shoes before entering the living space.

• When eating in Japan slurping your noodles is not considered rude. It is encouraged because it shows you enjoy the food.

• In Japan vending machines are very popular, so popular in fact that there is one vending machine to every 24 people!

• Japan is home to the worlds oldest company, Kongo Gumi, a company know for constructing shrines and temples was established in the year 578.

Photo Credit: https://www.busytourist.com/things-to-do-in-tokyo-japan/

FAQ

• Is there a U.S. Embassy in Japan?

Yes, there is an Embassy, and you can go there for reasons such as getting a new passport and or if you are assaulted or injured in that country.

• Do you need a work visa?

No, work visas are only required for people who plan to stay in Japan for longer than 90 days

• Are credit cards widely accepted in Japan?

Although most stores and restaurants accept credit cards you should keep in mind that Japan is still very much a Cash culture, you may find that smaller shops or restaurant in remote areas won't accept credit cards.

• What is the exchange rate for USD to YEN?

The exchange rate for USD to YEN is approximately 1 USD = 134.88 YEN

REFERENCES

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Japan's Parliament and other political institutions: Think tank: European parliament. Think Tank | European Parliament. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2020)651951

Libguides: Japanese Law Research Guide: Legal System & Statistics. Legal System & Statistics - Japanese Law Research Guide - LibGuides at University of California, Hastings College of the Law. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://libguides.uchastings.edu/japan-law/legal-system-stats#:~:text=The%20modern%20Japanese%20legal%20system,part%20of%20the%20Meiji%20Restoration.

Expedia travel: Vacation Homes, hotels, car rentals, Flights & More. Expedia.com. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://www.expedia.com/

Ltd, R. P. (n.d.). Rome2rio. Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Osaka/Obama#r/Train

Obama vacation rentals & Homes - Fukui, Japan. Airbnb. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://www.airbnb.com/obama-japan/stays?

c=.pi0.pk16535840632_137215740631&sem_automaid=true&gclid=Cj0KCQiArsefBhCbARIsAP98hXTf1tidX6_Fj5hxHYCnX53DbjITdfqYpd9b2wzKtF5BtA0c54dmGGQaAhyBEALw_wcB

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sid=boBEOjxhaQ#overview

Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/japan/#people-and-society https://www.busuu.com/en/japanese/alphabet#:~:text=The%20Japanese%20alphabet%20is%20really,called%20hiragana%2C%20katakana%20and%20kanji.

Osaka Japanese Bistro. (2017, December 19). Japanese food: What do Japanese eat at home?: Osaka Las Vegas. Osaka Japanese Bistro. Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://lasvegas-sushi.com/japanese-food-what-peopleeat-in-japan/

Japan rail pass price - tickets and discounts. Japan Rail Pass - JRailPass.com. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://www.jrailpass.com/prices

The 15 best things to do in Obama - 2023 (with photos). Tripadvisor. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g1021154-Activities-Obama_Fukui_Prefecture_Hokuriku_Chubu.html

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