[Travel Information] Driving in Japan

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Foreign tourists driving in Japan must carry both their original driving licence and an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. This version of the IDP can be obtained in the UK and Hong Kong (application details can be found here). An IDP based on other conventions, including the 1968 Vienna Convention, is not valid, even if it was issued by a signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention. 　 - Toll roads and ETC cards - Blinkers (turn signal) - Traffic lights - Level crossing (railway crossing) - Speed limits - Navigation 　 Just like when searching for accommodation in Japan, the best price comparison can be made on Jalan. (There is also an English version of Jalan, but it’s recommended to use the original Japanese version with a browser translation tool, such as Google Translate, to get the best prices.) 　 ▲ Jalan website (Japanese version with Google Translate), select 'Car rental' 　 ▲ Input pick-up/return dates, locations to search 　 　 Toll roads and ETC cards 　 All rental cars in Japan are equipped with an Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system, but you will need to either provide or rent an ETC card for it to work. Many car-hire companies offer ETC cards, mostly with a charge, but some free of charge, though others may not provide them. Upon renting an ETC card, the staff at the car-hire agency will typically insert it into the reader so it is ready for use. 　 The main benefit of using the ETC system is the ability to pass through toll gates quickly, with lower fees compared to paying cash. However, consider how often you'll use toll roads. For example, in regions like Okinawa (沖縄), where toll roads are rare, renting an ETC card might not be worth it. 　 When driving a vehicle with an ETC card inserted, be sure to use the 'ETC 専用' (ETC only) or 'ETC/一般' (ETC/General) lanes at toll gates. Slow down as you approach the gate, and proceed only when the barrier opens. Non-ETC vehicles can pay by cash or card in the 'ETC/一般' or '一般' (General) lanes. When entering, take a ticket, and when exiting, insert the ticket to pay. 　 ▲ Toll gate (image source: Google Maps) 　 ▲ Sign for ETC only lanes 　 ▲ Sign for General lanes 　 ▲ Sign for dual-use lane (both ETC and non-ETC vehicles can pass through here) 　 　 Blinkers (turn signal) 　 For those accustomed to driving in Hong Kong or the UK, there should be no problem with right-hand drive vehicles in Japan. However, if you are new to driving in Japan, there are a few things to note, particularly regarding blinkers, traffic lights, speed limits, and navigation. 　 In Hong Kong, drivers are typically aware that Japanese cars have blinkers lever on the right side behind the steering wheel, while the wipers are on the left; European cars have the opposite arrangement. UK drivers, however, may find that, regardless of whether the car is Japanese or European, if it's an official import (as opposed to a grey import), the blinkers lever will be on the left. When I first moved to the UK, I frequently turned on the wipers instead of the blinkers. Now that I'm back in Asia, it takes a little time to adjust again. 　 　 Traffic lights 　 In Hong Kong and the UK, vehicles and pedestrian traffic lights are usually not in conflict; when the green light is on, you can generally proceed safely. Japan, however, is different. At many intersections, when the green light is on for vehicles, the green pedestrian signal for same direction is also on! As shown in the image below: 　 (The above image was created by me, please credit the source if reproduced) 　 As shown in the image above, both the vertical vehicle and pedestrian signals are green, while the horizontal signals are all red. Left-turning vehicles must stop at the zebra crossing on the left (where the blue car is) and only continue once pedestrians have crossed. Right-turning vehicles should stop after crossing the first zebra crossing (where the black car is) to give way to oncoming straight-moving vehicles (white car). They must then stop again before reaching the right-hand zebra crossing (where the red car is) and proceed only after pedestrians have crossed. 　 　 Level crossing (railway crossing) 　 A level crossing is a point where a railway intersects with a road, with trains having the right of way. Level crossings are relatively unfamiliar to Hong Kong citizens, as there are no public level crossings in the city. While the UK and Taiwan do have level crossings, they are not as common as in Japan. 　 (The above image was created by me, please credit the source if reproduced) 　 As shown in the image above, when approaching a level crossing, vehicles must stop before entering the track area (where the red car is). Once the vehicle ahead has moved away and there is a gap of at least one car length between it and the track area (as indicated by the back arrow), the driver should check both sides to ensure no trains are approaching before proceeding. Even if there are no other vehicles ahead, it is still essential to stop before the track area and check. Japanese drivers are well accustomed to this procedure, and it is important not to act rashly due to concerns about traffic building up behind you. 　 If the barrier suddenly drops while you are crossing, do not panic. Continue driving forward, as the barrier is designed to avoid breaking and will lift in line with your vehicle's windscreen as you move. After the barrier drops, the train will typically arrive in 15 to 20 seconds. If your vehicle breaks down or stalls on the level crossing, you must immediately exit the vehicle and press the emergency button next to the crossing. Above all, in any emergency situation, it is crucial to remain calm. 　 　 Speed limits 　 While Japanese drivers are generally known for being law-abiding, this does not always hold true on highways. Even if you are driving at the maximum speed limit, other vehicles may overtake you, as speeding is fairly common in Japan. 　 There used to be an urban myth: 'Whether speeding or illegally parked, if you don't speak Japanese and talk to the police officers in English, they'll let you off because they don't want the hassle.' According to a report (written in Chinese only) by hk01, a Hong Kong-based online news portal, a Hong Kong family was recently denied entry into Japan due to speeding. It seems this urban myth has been dispelled, so to avoid any issues with your trips, it's important to comply with local laws. 　 On ordinary roads in Japan, the speed limit is typically 50 km/h unless otherwise posted. In densely populated areas, it may be as low as 30 km/h, with limits usually painted on the ground. On highways, the maximum speed limit is 100 km/h, but this may very depending on road conditions, weather, and other factors. Additionally, highways have a minimum speed limit, usually 50 km/h, which may be lowered in certain situations. 　 ▲ Maximum speed limit sign (speed must not exceed 50 km/h) (image source: Wikipedia) 　 ▲ Minimum speed limit sign (with an underline beneath the number, speed must not be less than 30 km/h) (image source: Wikipedia) 　 　 Navigation 　 All rental cars in Japan are equipped with navigation systems. Based on personal experience, these systems tend to be easier to operate than Google Maps, and they offer more accurate road and regional information. The system language can be set to either Japanese or English. 　 When using the navigation system, how you input your destination is crucial. There are various ways to search for a location, such as by building or landmark name, address, phone number, or Mapcode. Since entering building names or addresses can be challenging for foreign tourists, using the phone number is often the most convenient option. 　 However, there are some drawbacks to using phone numbers. Not all places have a phone number (e.g., parks or remote scenic spots), and some businesses may have listed a head office number rather than the location of the store itself, which can lead to confusion. I've personally ended up at the wrong location due to this issue. 　 After this experience, I now prefer to use Mapcodes for navigation. A Mapcode consists of 6 to 10 digits, followed by an asterisk and two additional digits, pinpointing the exact location. For example, the Mapcode for Sensoji is '770 359*01'. 　 To find the Mapcode for a location, many Japanese people use the Mapion website, which is written in Japanese and requires several steps. Alternatively, I recommend using the Japan Map Code website, which is based on Google Maps and is much easier to use – simply click on the map to display the Mapcode. 　 ▲ The Japan Map Code interface is similar to Google Maps 　 ▲ Similar to Google Maps, just enter the landmark and click on the pin to display the Mapcode

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[旅遊事項] 日本駕駛注意事項

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外國遊客在日本開車必須同時持有原國駕照及「1949 日內瓦公約」版本的國際駕駛許可證，這個版本的國際駕照在英國及香港都能申請到（申請方法看這裡）。台灣簽發的國際駕照並不適用於日本，根據台日兩國駕照互惠政策，台灣遊客可使用駕照日文譯本取代國際駕照，但與國際駕照一樣，不能單獨使用，必須連同台灣駕照一併使用。關於申請台灣駕照日文譯本，請參考台灣政府網站。 　 - 收費道路及 ETC 卡 - 方向燈 - 紅綠燈 - 平交道 - 車速 - 導航 　 與搜尋日本住宿一樣，正一都是在じゃらん（Jalan）進行格價。 　 ▲ 在じゃらん點選「レンタカー」 　 ▲ 輸入取/還車日期及地點，車輛要求等資訊進行搜尋 　 　 收費道路及 ETC 卡 　 日本所有租賃車輛都載有電子道路收費（ETC）讀卡機，但卻需要自備或租借 ETC 卡才能運作。大部分租車公司都會提供 ETC 卡租賃服務，少部分可以免費借用，當然也有部分不提供 ETC 卡租借服務。租借 ETC 卡後，租車公司職員一般都會當面把 ETC 卡插入讀卡機內，並可立即使用。 　 使用 ETC 的優點是可以快捷通過料金所（收費站），路費也較現金支付低。但需要看看自己的行程多不多走收費道路，好像沖縄這些很少機會開收費道路的地方，個人就認為不值得租用 ETC 卡。 　 已插入 ETC 卡的車輛在通過料金所，應選用「ETC 専用」或「ETC/一般」車道，靠近料金所時需減速，待欄柵打開後方可通過。非 ETC 車輛可使用現金或銀行卡支付，選走「ETC/一般」或「一般」車道，進入時取票，離開時插票結算。 　 ▲ 料金所（圖片來源：Google 地圖） 　 ▲ ETC 専用車道標示 　 ▲ 一般（現金或銀行卡）車道標示 　 ▲ 兩用車道標示（ETC 或非 ETC 均可通過） 　 　 方向燈 　 對於已經習慣在香港或英國開車的人來說，在日本自駕便沒有右駕的問題。但對於沒有日本駕駛經驗的朋友來說，依然有些事情需要注意的，好像是方向燈、紅綠燈、平交道及導航。 　 在香港的車友們基本上都知道，日本車的方向燈操控桿在方向盤後右側，雨刷在左側；歐洲車則相反。可是，在英國有開車的朋友應該會注意到，英國不論是日本品牌還是歐洲品牌，只要是代理貨（行貨），方向燈都是在左側。剛到英國生活的時候，正一就常常打燈變了開雨刷。現在回到亞洲開車又需要一點時間去適應。 　 　 紅綠燈 　 香港及英國的紅綠燈，行車與行人信號是不會有衝突，看到綠燈基本上可放心的駛過去。可是日本卻不一樣，為數不少的路口行車信號亮綠燈的同時，兩側並行的行人信號也是亮綠燈的！可以參考下圖： 　 （上圖由正一自己製作，轉載請加記出處） 　 就如上圖的狀況，縱向的行車及行人信號均亮起綠燈，橫向的信號全為紅燈。左轉車輛需在左側斑馬線前停下（藍色車位置），待行人通過完畢後才繼續行駛。右轉車輛在穿過第一道班馬線後（黑色車位置），應停下讓迎面直行車輛（白色車）優先通過，然後到達右側班馬線前再停下（紅色車位置），待行人通過完畢後才可繼續行駛。 　 　 平交道 　 平交道是鐵道與馬路的交匯處，鐵道列車擁有優先路權。平交道對香港人來說是蠻陌生的，因為香港基本上沒有公眾可踏足的平交道。英國、台灣雖然有平交道，可是也不像日本般普遍。 　 （上圖由正一自己製作，轉載請加記出處） 　 參考上圖，穿越平交道時，車輛必須在進入軌道範圍前停下（紅色車位置），待前車駛離並與軌道範圍留有一台車的距離後（黑色箭頭範圍），再查看兩側確保沒有列車靠近才可穿越平交道。即使前方沒有其它車輛，仍需要在軌道範圍前停車查看。日本駕駛者已非常習慣這種通過平交道的方式，不要因擔心影響後方交通而做出魯莽行為。 　 如當駛過平交道時，欄柵突然放下，請不要緊張，繼續向前開行，欄柵有防斷設計，並且在車輛前行時會依著擋風玻璃往上提升。一般在欄柵放下後，一般在 15~20 秒後列車才會來到。如車輛在平交道上故障或意外熄火，必須立即下車，並按下平交道旁的緊急按鈕。最重要的是，遇到任何突發情況，必須保持冷靜。 　 　 車速 　 日本人總給人有種守法的印象，但不適用於高速公路。在高速公路開車時，即使開著最高限速，總有不少其它車輛在身邊飛馳而過，超速好像在日本是蠻常見的。 　 從前有個都市傳說：「不論是超速還是違停，只要聽不懂日文，跟警察說英文，他們就會嫌麻煩而放過你。」根據《香港 01》的報導，去年就有香港家庭曾在日本超速而被拒絕入境。這個都市傳說彷彿「已經失效」，為免影響當次行程，以及往後能不能再到訪日本，作為外國遊客還是要遵守當地法例。 　 日本的一般道路，如沒有特別標示，限速為每小時 50 公里。部分人口稠密地區，有可能會限速 30 公里，一般道路的限速通常會標示於路面地上。高速公路的最高限速為 100 公里，但會根據路況、天氣等因素而下調；同時除最高限速外，高速公路也設有最低限速，通常為 50 公里，同樣也會因應狀況而下調。 　 ▲ 最高限速標示（車速不能高於每小時 50 公里）（圖片來源：維基百科） 　 ▲ 最低限速標示（數字下有一條底線，車速不能少於每小時 30 公里）（圖片來源：維基百科） 　 　 導航 　 日本全部租賃車輛均載有導航系統，依據個人經驗他們的車載導航比起 Google 地圖更加容易操作，路況信息、地區資訊也更加準確。系統語言最基本可選日文或英文，部分更可選擇中文或廣東話。自己曾遇過可以分別選擇顯示語文及導航語言，也就是屏幕顯示日文，語音導航則可選英文，個人認為這種搭配使用上是比較便利。 　 怎樣搜尋目的地對於使用導航系統非常重要，在車載系統輸入目的地有幾種方法，包括搜尋建築物名稱、地址、電話號碼及 Mapcode（マップコード）。由於建築物名稱及地址可能需要輸入日文，因此對外國遊客來說用電話號碼好像是最為方便。 　 可是使用電話號碼搜尋也是有其缺點，某些地方可能沒有電話號碼（例如：公園或郊外景點）；也有部分商店的營業地點與電話登記地點不同，譬如說百貨公司所提供的電話號碼不一定是位於店面，可能是辦公室總部也不一定。正一就曾經遇過因營業地點與電話登記地點不一的狀況而找錯了地點。 　 受過教訓之後，正一更多會使用 Mapcode 來搜尋目的地。Mapcode 是一組 6 至 10 位的數字，加上＊號後 2 位數字就可以精準定位地標。以浅草寺為例，其 Mapcode 就是「770 359*01」。 　 那怎樣可以找到各地點的 Mapcode？大多人都會使用地図マピオン（Mapion），可是 Mapion 需要蠻多步驟才能顯示出 Mapcode。正一推薦大家使用 Japan Map Code，基於 Google 地圖來搜尋，簡單在地圖上一點就可以顯示 Mapcode。 　 ▲ Japan Map Code 的板面與 Google 地圖差不多 　 ▲ 與 Google 地圖一樣輸入地標，點一下圖釘就會顯示其 Mapcode

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[Travel Information] Accomodation booking in Japan

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On October, well-known Hong Kong radio host Sammy Leung went on a sightseeing trip to Japan with his family. They had already made a reservation through an online booking agent, but when they arrived to check in, they were told that all rooms were full. Overbookings with these online agents are nothing new, especially with certain global platforms.

Personally, I rarely use these online agents. They're not particularly cheap, and when problems arise, it's difficult to get in touch with customer service. Even if you manage to reach them, they'll often just scripted responses, running you in circles, usually without offering any quick solutions. That's why I prefer to book directly through the hotel's official website, which I find much more reliable.

Some might think that global online booking agents are highly competitive, offering great price variations. But is the competition really that fierce? The giant of the global booking market are essentially two major groups: Priceline and Expedia. In recent years, Trip.com which has gained popularity in East Asia, is simply a rebranding of China's Ctrip (ctrip.com), which also owns Skyscanner and Qunar (去哪儿网), among others. So, there are really only three major groups. How competitive can that be?

Additionally, frequent browsing online agents website can drive prices up. Have you ever noticed that while browsing for hotels on the same website, for the same hotel and dates, the price changes each times? This happens because the website uses cookies to track your browsing habits and knows which hotels or destinations you're interested in. Prices will increase gradually until one day, they will 'bait' you with a slightly lower price, which may make you to think you've found a great deal and prompt you to click the 'Book' button.

▲ Online booking agents under Priceline and Expedia (Picture source: Discover Your Indonesia)

However, Japan operates a little differently. Some hotels or lodges may still redirect you to a domestic booking agent even when you are making a reservation via their official website. Japan is a country that places a high value on trust, so local booking agents rarely overbook, and the prices are generally stable. Even Japanese people, when travelling domestically, often use local agents to book hotels, and the typical practice is to pay at check-in, which helps avoid refund issues.

The agents I use most often are Jalan (じゃらん), followed by Rakuten Travel (楽天トラベル), JTB and Ikyu (一休). My preference for browsing Jalan is purely a matter of habit, and it allows me to concentrate my membership points. If the hotel I'm interested in is fully booked on Jalan, I'll still check the other 3 websites one by one. Besides the fact that they don't overbook or just pay on arrive, these local agents have another major advantage: they don't adjust prices based on browsing history. So, whatever price is set at that moment, that's the price you pay.

Although some hotel websites and the aforementioned Japanese booking agents offer English-language pages, I still recommend using the Japanese version. Many times, the prices and offers in Japanese are more favourable. Nowadays, PC and mobile browsers come with built-in Google Translate, so even if you don't know Japanese language, it's still not too difficult.

▲ The app layout of Jalan

Now, with all that said, my point is to encourage everyone to be a smart consumer and not be misled.

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[旅遊事項] 訂購日本住宿

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就在今年十月左右，香港的著名電台主持人森美與家人到日本觀光，原已透過仲介訂房網站約好了住宿，可是現場 check-in 時卻被告知所有房間已滿，險些要睡街上。仲介網站超賣客房其實已不是新鮮事，尤其是某些國際品牌網站。

正一個人真的很少會光僱這些仲介網站，它們真的沒有很便宜，而且出了問題很難找到客務人員，即使找到了，也只會按照他們的「SOP」給你繞圈圈、耍官腔，基本上不能短時間給你解決方案。因此正一大多直接在飯店官網上訂房，這絕對可靠多了。

有部分朋友會認為，國際仲介訂房網站競爭大，有很大的格價空間。可是競爭真的有很大嗎？！國際仲介品牌，整體上只有兩大集團，分別是 Priceline 及 Expedia；近年在東亞地區冒起的 Trip.com，其實也只是中國攜程網（ctrip.com）的一個新品牌而已，旗下網站還有 Skyscanner、去哪兒網等。頂多就是三大集團，可以有多大競爭？

另外，頻繁瀏覽仲介網站也會把價格越抬越高。不知大家有沒有試過，跟旅伴邊打電話，邊上網搜尋飯店，然後看著同一個網站，同一家飯店，同一段日子，但顯示的價格卻不相同？這是因為網站會利用 cookie 記下瀏覽習慣，知道你對哪個地方或哪家飯店感興趣，顯示價格就會一次比一次高，直到有一天，便會下魚餌，把價格稍為降一點點，可能就會有人如獲至寶的按下「訂購」。

▲ Priceline 及 Expedia 掌控的訂房網站（圖片來源：Discover Your Indonesia）

但是日本的運作卻有些不一樣，部分飯店或旅館，即使在官網上預約，最後還是有可能把你連結到日本國內的仲介網站。日本是個重誠信的國家，本地仲介基本上不會超賣，價格也很穩定，就算日本人自己進行國內旅遊時，也大多使用當地仲介來訂房的，而且一般是使用 check-in 櫃枱到付方式結帳，沒有退費的麻煩。

正一用得比較多的是じゃらん（Jalan），其次是楽天、JTB及一休。優先瀏灠 Jalan 純粹是個人習慣，也可以集中會員積分。如果看中的飯店 Jalan 沒房，正一還是會逐一瀏灠另外 3 個網站。除了不會超賣、check-in 到付外，這幾個當地仲介還有個很重要的優點，就是不會透過瀏灠紀綠是調動價格。那段時候該賣多少，就賣多少。

雖然部分飯店官網及上述日本仲介可能會提供英文，甚至中文版網頁，可是正一依然建議大家使用日文版。因為大部分最優惠的價格，只會在日文版出現。其實現在不少電腦或手機瀏覽器已內置了 Google 翻譯，就算不會日文，也不會太困難。

▲ Jalan 的 app 頁面

好了，說了這麼多，正一也只想大家做一個精明的消費者，不要被煙幕一時蒙蔽了。

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