Getting there

There are no direct flights to Japan from Ireland. British Airways and JAL (Japan Airlines) fly direct to Tokyo

There are no direct flights to Japan from Ireland. British Airways and JAL (Japan Airlines) fly direct to Tokyo. JAL is Japan's flagship carrier, offering more international flights to Japan than any other carrier. It is noted for its inflight service, which is excellent and never flags throughout the lengthy (approximately 11-hour) flight.

Don't Miss: There is almost too much to mention: walking the Imperial Moat, a three-mile walk around the Imperial Palace, especially beautiful in summer; browsing the electronic shops of Electric Town (Akihabara), and scraping elbows with the locals in a Yakitori-ya (a drinking man's pub to you).

Don't Forget: You should carry your passport with you at all times. It's unlikely the police will stop you, but if they do and you haven't got your passport with you, you'll be taken to the nearest police station to explain in detail why you forgot it - which is more time-consuming than anything else. If you're in Japan on business, it's essential to carry with you a good supply of business cards. Everyone else has them, from plumbers to corporate executives.