Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
56
Children 6 to 11 years old are generally
charged half-price for everything from
temple admission to train tickets, while
children 5 and under are often admitted
free. Tourist spots in Japan almost always
have a table or counter with a stamp and
inkpad so that visitors can commemorate
their trip; you might wish to give your
children a small notebook so that they can
collect imprints of every attraction they
visit.
If your child under 6 sleeps in the same
bed with you, you generally won't have to
pay for him or her in most
ryokan
(a Japa-
nese-style inn), and some hotels don't
charge extra for children. However, it's
always advisable to ask in advance.
As for dining, most family-style restau-
rants, especially those in department
stores, offer a special children's meal that
often includes a small toy or souvenir. For
those real emergencies, Western fast-food
places, such as McDonald's and KFC, are
everywhere in Tokyo.
To locate those accommodations, res-
taurants, and attractions that are particu-
larly kid-friendly, refer to the “Kids” icon
throughout this guide. For lists of kid-
friendly hotels and restaurants, see p. 96
and 141, respectively. “Especially for
Kids,” on p. 199, describes attractions and
activities geared toward children.
SENIOR TRAVEL
A few museums in Tokyo offer
free admis-
sion
to seniors over 65 or 70 (be sure to
have your passport handy), including the
Tokyo National Museum;
others in
Tokyo and elsewhere may offer discounts.
However, discounts may not be posted, so
be sure to ask. In addition, visitors to
Japan should be aware that there are many
stairs to navigate in metropolitan areas,
particularly in subway and train stations
and on pedestrian overpasses. Remember
that it is very hot and humid in summer.
STUDENT TRAVEL
Students sometimes receive discounts at
museums, though occasionally discounts
are available only to students enrolled in
Japanese schools. Furthermore, discounted
prices are often not displayed in English.
Your best bet is to bring along an
Interna-
tional Student Identity Card
(ISIC)
with
your university student ID and show them
both at museum ticket windows. For
information on the card and where and
how to obtain one, check the website
www.isic.org.
3
8
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
Tokyo may be crowded and land may be
scarce, but it's certainly clean and cared
for. Littering is rare in Japan, and Japanese
are taught practically at birth about sepa-
rating trash for recycling. You can do your
part by depositing all your trash—newspa-
pers, plastic water bottles, cans—into the
appropriate recycle bins found in parks,
subway stations, and other public places.
Other actions you can take include
refusing extra packaging at department
stores (which may otherwise wrap your
purchase and then place it in a shopping
bag), carrying your own chopsticks (in
cheap restaurants they are likely to be dis-
posable), reusing your towels and sheets in
hotels, and opting for public transporta-
tion over taxis.
Luckily for a megalopolis this size, pub-
lic transportation is efficient and most
people I know in Tokyo don't own a car.
Japan is no newcomer to the idea of
