Sometimes, all you want to do is escape from the hustle of every day life, and experience something new, like a stroll through Kyoto's hidden zen gardens. If you could hop on a flight to Japan whenever you wanted, life would be a lot more relaxing. But for most people, it is almost impossible to take a random trip abroad, let alone in your own country.
That’s where our Japan online tours can help you out. If you were thinking about taking a trip to Japan this year, and suddenly find yourself under these circumstances, or if you’re just so tired and bored with not being able to go anywhere, these online tours can transport you to the sightseeing spots of your choice without you actually leaving your house.
It’s a great way to pass the time and enjoy the sights and culture of a far away country. Below are some reasons why you should try an online tour of Japan.
3 Reasons to Experience an Online Tour of Japan
1. You don’t have to leave your house
After the COVID-19 pandemic, you may still feel cautious about traveling somewhere outside your own country. With virtual tours, you won’t actually be doing any traveling at all, so you can feel safe in your very own house. The tours are held using online communication services like Zoom, Skype, etc. You’ll be able to watch as the guide travels to the sightseeing spots on your behalf and shows you the sights virtually. You can ask them questions or request that they show you something up close or anything that you’d be able to do if you were actually there yourself.
These Zoom or Skype tours are also great for people who have a difficult time traveling, like the elderly or people who have disabilities. Going to a different country is physically taxing on even the healthiest of us. However, being unable to travel doesn’t mean that people don’t want to go somewhere different and experience something unique. So being able to see the sights of a different country virtually is a big plus. It’s almost like a new way to travel.
2. Experience Japan in a Short Amount of Time
If you were actually visiting Japan from your own country, unless you live in Korea or the east coast of China, it’s a long flight. For example, it takes around 7 or 8 hours from Singapore or northern Australia, around 11 hours from California, around 14 hours from New York, around 12 hours from England, etc. And you need to double that time for a round trip. And don’t forget the time it takes to travel around Japan too.
For example, from Tokyo to the popular Kyoto area, it takes about 3 hours. If you think of it that way, you can save a lot of time and money by having the guide take you to the sightseeing spots virtually instead of personally going there. The duration of the online tours of Tokyo or Kyoto are around 1–2 hours each, so you can experience Japan in a very short period of time. Imagine the different types of online tours you’d be able to experience within the amount of time it would take you to fly to and from Japan.
Below are examples of tours.
3. Totally Customizable
What makes visiting Japan online different from just watching a video introducing different sightseeing spots in Japan is the fact that the tour is totally customizable and real time communication with the guide is possible. You can choose the sightseeing spot(s) that you’d like to see, and the guide will actually go there on the day while you watch via your computer, cellphone, or other communication device.
You can ask questions and ask them to show you something up close. A good example would be the little souvenir shops that line the street in front of Sensoji Shrine in Tokyo. A generic video explaining Sensoji temple would probably only hint that these little shops are there, and would probably not step into them or introduce little souvenirs that may be interesting. In a virtual tour, the guide could point out the popular snacks they sell here which many people are eating on the street like fried bean buns, or show you some cute knick-knacks they sell in the stores, or take you down some side street off the main shopping street. The possibilities are endless because what the guide shows you is really up to you.
Other than tours of sightseeing spots like Tokyo or Kyoto, there are also online activities. For example, a virtual “origami” (paper folding) experience or a virtual Japanese tea ceremony experience. The guides or teachers will take you through the process step by step, and you’ll be able to enjoy a conversation with lots of information about cultural aspects only a local would know about. It’s a great way to pass the time at home when you’re unable to go outside, and it could also be a fun and educational opportunity for kids, too. A lot of children have gotten used to online learning during the COVID-19 crisis, so why not adults too? Talking to someone in a far away country can be very fascinating and stimulating, even though it’s not face to face. And there’s a lot of beautiful scenery in Japan that you would definitely enjoy seeing, like Mount Fuji or the shrines and temples, too.
Online tours have great promise if you think about it. In the future, most people may be able to own their own VR (virtual reality) headset, letting them see in 3D. But even in the present, think about the things you’d be able to see, hear, and experience with your own eyes and ears through the screen.
It’s different from just watching a documentary program or hearing about it from someone. It’s interactive, it lets you go places you can’t for physical or economic reasons, and you can do all this in the comfort of your own home. So, be a pioneer and try a virtual tour of Japan! It’s bound to broaden your horizons.
