Are You A Smoker?

Japan was once a very smoking friendly country. In recent years, due to public health campaigns, the number of smokers in Japan has declined sharply. This has made smoking more difficult for those who wish to light up in public places. However, compared to many western countries, Japan is still much more relaxed about their smoking rules.

Restaurants: Most restaurants have a smoking section, although smaller mom-and-pop shops will usually allow you to smoke anywhere. Often, you'll have to ask for an ashtray (haizara), so it might not be completely obviously if you're in a restaurant that allows smoking. If in doubt, just ask "tabacco OK?" and you'll get your answer without any confusion.

Bars: Smoke as much as you'd like!

Outdoors: Very few places prohibit smoking outside, although, in the city you'll sometimes see no smoking signs posted outside of buildings. Despite these warnings, outdoor signs are rarely obeyed.

Train Stations: Smoking in a train station is always prohibited, although you'll occasional see older men who just don't care or just can't wait to light one up! However, at the end of each train platform (at the very end), there's often a smoking zone and cigarette receptacles.

Trains: Smoking on a train is allowed in special train cars that are specially designated for smokers. You won't find these train cars on regular short distance train routes, though.

Other places: Modern buildings rarely allow smoking outside of special smoking rooms (shopping malls often have these). Older establishments, however, often allow smoking, or at least won't discourage someone from lighting up.

Buying Smokes

To operate a cigarette vending machine you'll need a special ID card that you obviously won't have if you're a short-term visitor to the country. Instead, you can buy smokes at a tabaco shop (there's several around Hotel Kinki) or from some convenient stores.

You may be surprised to learn, but many corner stores don't carry tabaco products. If they do, you'll see them behind the counter.

Smoking Etiquette

Always try to fit an ashtray or receptacle for your butts -- they're often outside of businesses. The Japanese rarely just flick their butts on the street. If they choose to litter, they'll do so in a careful manner, often ashing out before placing their butt in a gutter, railing or someplace out seemingly of the way.

And my final advice -- try to quit!

Mount Koya in Wakayama

Wakayama prefecture lies south of Osaka, and is perhaps most famous for having Koya-san, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Settled some 1200 years ago, Mt. Koya was founded as a home for a Buddhist sect and is now occupied by a great number of temples and other points of interest.

The sacred area on top of Mt. Koya is known as Danjo Garan. Here, you’ll find many of Mt. Koya’s historic buildings, gates and statues.

But don’t just stop there, surrounding this area is Okuno-in, Japan’s largest cemetery!

Some of Japan’s most famous historical figures are buried in Okuno-in. The entire area has a deeply spiritual and peaceful ambience, and is surrounded by a thick forest of towering cedars.

You can visit Mount Koya by riding the Nankai railway from Namba Station, Osaka, to Gokurakubashi, near the base of the mountain. Once arrived, you’ll need to board the cable car to get up the mountainside, unless you opt for the ancient footpath. (Good luck with that!)

Sorakuen Garden in Kobe

Sorakuen is a famous Japanese garden situated right in the middle of Kobe. If you’re around Motomachi Station, walk directly north until you hit this spacious century-old park.

What is now known as Sorakuen Garden, was once the private residence of Taijiro Kenkichi, whose son was the mayor of Kobe. As you can imagine, they were a rich and powerful family!

Although the garden, along with its original buildings, were destroyed in WWII, it has since been restored and is now open to the public for viewing.

Sorakuen Garden is a popular destination for tourists visiting Kobe. Admission to the garden is 300 yen, and the gates are closed at 4:30pm. (The garden is shut at 5pm.)

You can visit the garden’s website and see if your visit will coincide with any of their numerous scheduled events.

Kibitsu Temple in Okayama

Visit Okayama, just west of Kobe, to experience the picturesque beauty of Japan’s vast countryside. Yes, not all of Japan is door-to-door concrete, train tracks and double-decker highways!

One of Japan’s most beautiful shrines is located in Kibitsu, Okayama Prefecture. Simply called, Kibitsu-Jinja (jinja means shrine), its main buildings are lined up with the sun’s movement during the summer solstice -- hey, that’s coming up in a few weeks!

The main shrine has just had its roof fully renovated; it took 4 years to complete, but this 600 year-old National Treasure is certainly worthy of it!

Leading up to the shrine is a 400-meter long corridor, which links the big shrine to a smaller one. As you can imagine, it makes for a memorable walk, as well as an excellent opportunity to take some photos.

There’s also a giant 11-meter stone lantern (toro) to check out, as well as many other points of interest. Budget a good couple of hours to see everything by foot, without being rushed.

You can get to Okayama by train, or hop on a bus in Kobe for a pleasant 2.5hr ride.