It is often said that "a trip to India will change your outlook on life." Is this true?
India has a very different culture and society from Japan. If you travel with Japanese customs and stereotypes, you will only accumulate stress and end up not enjoying your trip.
Whether or not your outlook on life will change depends on your own feelings. If you keep a flexible mindset and spend your time not only experiencing new things, but also looking at troubles with an interesting mindset, your outlook on life may change. I hope you will enjoy the diversity of India.
Indian Climate
Best season: November-February in northern India. Temperatures are about the same as in autumn and winter in Japan.
The lowest temperature in northern India around January is below 10 degrees Celsius. It is warm outside during the daytime, but it is cold inside because Indian buildings are not insulated and have no heating facilities. You will need to take good thermal protection.
It suddenly gets hot from late March.
Hot season: April-September. Sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses are essential.
South India is hot all year round, but November-February is the best season with mild heat.
Japan Weather Association Weather in India
Convenience! Check out the weather app installed! You can see more detailed area.
Passport and tourist visa
passport
The unused visa space in the passport must be at least two pages.
Passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
A passport is required for train and domestic flight reservations. You can apply online.
If you do not have a valid passport, please obtain one as soon as possible.
For applications submitted after March 24, 2025, it will take two weeks from application to issuance.
tourist visa
Please refer to the following link for visa application instructions.
How to obtain e-viza
A visa is required even for tourist purposes. You can apply for a visa from 30 days to 4 days prior to the date of travel.
We are unable to assist you with VISA application operations or system errors. Please contact the Visa Help Desk.
No accommodation information is required when applying for a visa. You may enter the country as long as your accommodation information is included in your entry documents.
There is also an Arrival Visa that can be applied for after arrival at Delhi airport, but it takes time to process the application at the airport, and checked baggage is left unattended for a long time.
Also, it is wise not to use this service except in an emergency, as visas are not guaranteed.
(Reference) Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
There are companies that can apply for visas on your behalf. However, the number of items required for the application is not reduced, so the process is almost the same as applying for a visa on your own. TabiZuki India has no affiliation with these companies and is not responsible for any problems related to the application process.
Travel Itinerary
Travel itineraries are not overly packed.
Many people are already exhausted by the time they arrive in India after preparing for the trip and doing their work and household chores ahead of time.
Sleeping on the plane does not mean that you have physically slept.
Physical condition is easily affected by time differences and environmental changes.
It is important to get a good night's sleep in Japan and keep the immune system in good condition.
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Points for Prevention of Infectious Diseases Overseas
International Reservations
Recommend direct flights from Haneda to Delhi (JAL/ANA): Easiest way to get there in the shortest time. Fewer delays, room temperature and food tailored to Japanese people, ability to ask Japanese people around you if you have any problems on board or at Delhi airport, manners such as using the restroom suit Japanese sensibilities, orderly boarding and deplaning.
Please plan your trip with the assumption that flights via will be delayed.
| Direct flights to Delhi | JAL, ANA, Air India from Haneda |
|---|---|
| To Mumbai, the second largest city | ANA direct flight from Narita |
| To Bangalore (BLR), a world-class IT development city | JAL Direct Flight |
Reservations are recommended on each airline's website: you can select your seat at the time of reservation, you get solid mileage, and you have priority for free upgrades to business class when the seats are full.
prices (in general)
India's remarkable economic development and the extremely weak yen have made it less expensive than before the corona.
The sense is that Indian goods and services are about half the price of those in Tokyo.
But considering the service and quality, it may be difficult for Japanese to feel that they are getting a good value for their money.
Starbucks and other global companies are more expensive than in Japan. A short Americano costs about 500 yen. Uniqlo is 50% more expensive.
Credit cards, currency exchange, tips
Strict regulations are in place to prevent money laundering (credit cards issued in Japan may not be accepted, Indian rupees are prohibited from being taken out of the country, etc.).
Since the rupee is prohibited to be taken out of India, it cannot be exchanged into rupees in Japan. After arriving in India, you can exchange rupees at the airport or at your hotel. You can also use your credit card to withdraw money from ATMs.
Excess rupees are exchanged into Japanese yen before departure from India.
| Indian Rupee (INR) 1 Rupee | Approx. 1.8 yen (January 2025) |
|---|
Note that ATMs, especially on weekends, may not have cash in them or Japanese cards may not be able to withdraw money.
You should not expect to withdraw money at ATMs and should bring some Japanese yen.
We provide currency exchange service for our homestay guests on their first day in Delhi.
- Currency exchange is not available outside of Delhi.
- Rates are determined based on the rate of the day. The rate is better than at airports and hotels. Please let us know in advance the amount of money (in Japanese yen) you would like to exchange and prepare cash so that there will be no change. The type of money cannot be specified.
- Approximate exchange rate: 4,000 yen to 5,000 yen per person per day
- The exchange rate is worse than in Delhi because of the lower demand for Japanese yen at local exchange offices.
Therefore, it is safer to exchange a little more money in Delhi.
If you have any left over, you can exchange it back into Japanese yen at the airport in India.
Private stores often accept only credit cards issued in India and do not accept international cards.
You should bring at least two cards, just in case.
JCB cards areUseless.Think of it as.
If a user is suspected of fraudulent activity compared to the user's behavior patterns, a security lock may be applied. If a person who does not normally travel abroad uses a credit card at a destination, there is a high risk that the card will be suspected of fraudulent use and that the card payment will not be made.
If you are unable to pay by credit card, please ask your credit card company to unlock the card. There is a phone number on the card for inquiries.
Contacting the credit card company does not necessarily mean that the lock will be turned off, but contacting the company in advance of your overseas trip will make it easier for you to use the card overseas.
In India, digital money is more widespread than credit cards (Japanese digital money is not accepted).
Tip.
Tipping is customary. Due to rising prices, the following is the market rate as of 2025.
Hotel: Porter Rs50 (Rs100 for 5-star hotels), Bed making Rs50 (Rs100 for 5-star hotels)
Prepaid cab: not required
Toilet: Rs20
Private car driver and guide: Rs500 per passenger
public order
As you can understand when you come to India (it is difficult to understand when you are in Japan), guided tours are incomparably safer and more secure than unguided tours. There is no need to be afraid.
Please be careful if you are traveling without a guide.
(Must read) Notes from the Embassy of Japan in India (↓click on the picture)
The following is an excerpt from the Embassy of Japan in India. For more information, please see the link above.
To avoid being involved in a case
There are many unexpected dangers when traveling in India. When traveling in India, please be aware of the following
Avoid late night arrival flights to India if possible.
Avoid traveling alone as much as possible, and travel with two or more people, or join a reliable tour. Especially women should avoid traveling alone and going out at night as much as possible.
Make hotel reservations as far in advance as possible and avoid extremely inexpensive hotels.
Never accept an invitation or offer to drive you to the home of a person who approaches you in a friendly manner. There have been many cases of theater-style scams and threats. In addition, do not eat or drink anything even if you are offered something to eat or drink, as you may be subjected to a sleeping pill robbery. If you are unlucky enough to become a victim of such a scam, promptly report the damage to the nearest police station.
Cabs are taken by Uber, prepaid cabs, or other cabs with a designated license plate number.
Beware of malicious guides.
In Agra, where the Taj Mahal and other monuments are located, there is no end to reports of damage caused by malicious Indians claiming to be "Japanese-language tour guides.
The customer is not allowed to enter the store.
The guide fee is not included in the original guide fee, and the customer is required to pay a hefty tip.
The entrance fee for tourist attractions is deceiving.
The "Japanese-speaking guide" is just a name, and at tourist spots, the important explanations are given in English.
He persistently invites women to dinner, etc., even while he is guiding them.
He is relentless in asking for personal belongings.
Meals and preferences
A good Indian meal at a popular diner with low hygienic risks starts at 300 rupees per meal (about 580 yen). The average Indian eats three meals of spicy Indian food.
For them, Indian food is the safest choice because there are some religious foods they cannot eat.
Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that there is only Indian food in the city.
Some diners can request a less spicy preparation.
Indian spices, garlic and mustard oil are hard on the Japanese stomach. Travel fatigue also weakens the stomach.
Do not overconfidently trust your stomach, as even those who are good at spicy food will have stomach upsets.
If you want to eat Western or other non-Indian food, the restaurants in the five-star hotels are recommended.
The cheapest places are sometimes ”just Western food (spicy)”, and a meal at a five-star hotel starts at around 3,000 rupees (about 5,800 yen).
Hygiene-wise, 5-star hotels are very safe. Do not eat raw vegetables as they can easily upset your stomach.
If it is heated, it is fine. Tap water is not drinkable. Drinks should be served without ice.
To our customers: Western and fine dining restaurants are more expensive, and the number of restaurants that can accommodate them is limited. They are not included in the trip cost and are charged separately. Please pay directly to the restaurant.
Alcohol & Tobacco
In India, drinking alcohol is considered undesirable (especially for women).
While you can drink in upscale restaurants and in your own room at the hotel, no alcoholic beverages are sold in typical restaurants.
Some states, such as Gujarat and Bihar, prohibit alcohol by law.
Similarly, most Indians do not smoke cigarettes.
shopping
There are no supermarkets or convenience stores outside of major cities, none in the Japanese sense. A supermarket that is easy to stop by while sightseeing is at the Ambience Mall, a huge shopping mall near Delhi Airport. Sweets, mineral water, and daily necessities are bought at private stores.
what to bring
The first step to a comfortable trip is to bring what you use in Japan as much as possible.
Do not consider local procurement, as it is difficult to procure the same quality in India.
- Toilet paper: The hotel's was loosely rolled, about 1 cm thick, and was intended for one large roll. And it is hard. You can ask the staff for it, but it is a hassle to ask for it one at a time, so bringing your own is recommended.
- Menstrual products: environmental changes and stress disrupt the cycle.
- Mask (especially necessary for people with rhinitis due to dustiness)
- Slippers to wear in hotels
- Sunscreen, mosquito and insect repellent (there are many kinds of insects), anti-itch
- Hats, stoles, sunglasses, parasols
- Earplugs (less than 3-star hotels may suffer from outside noise at night)
- Pajamas, toothbrush, hairbrush, shampoo/soap (the hotel has soap that doesn't lather and shampoo that makes your hair squeaky clean), razor, body sheet (to wipe yourself before boarding sleeper trains or return flights)
- Laundromats do not exist in India (the idea is that people do not want to use washing machines used by others). If you want to do laundry, wash by hand in the bathroom. There is no place to dry clothes, so it is better to bring hangers.
- Bath towels and face towels are available at the hotel.
- Socks: If you wear sandals, your feet will get very dirty if you don't wear socks.
- Hair dryer compatible with 200V: Bring your own if you are staying in a 3-star hotel or lower (the hotel/homestay we use will lend you one)
- 200V, B, BF, and B3 type outlets are available. Appliances can be used if they are 200V compatible; appliances that are only 100V compatible require a transformer. Hotels in India have few electrical outlets, and even if there are multiple outlets, they may be broken; we recommend that you bring a power strip so that you can effectively use one outlet.
- Overseas SIM: SIMs can be purchased at airtel near exit 4 of the airport, cheap (1.5G per day, 500 Rupees for 30 days validity (as of November 2024). The staff will even activate it on the spot.
Controlling communications in any country is an important matter of defense. Foreign visitors without an Indian phone number or Indian number card cannot buy a SIM in town.
Travelers who need a SIM should purchase one at the Delhi airport. Local airports do not carry them.
Price.com International eSIM Comparison
- Travel insurance: Always purchase travel insurance before traveling abroad. Credit card insurance policies are revised from time to time. Please check the contents and consider purchasing separate insurance.
Overseas Insurance Comparison Site
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare: Things to keep in mind while traveling abroad
Clothing and baggage
North India November -February Temperatures are about the same as Japan's autumn and winter.
The lowest temperature in northern India around January is below 10 degrees Celsius. It is warm outside during the daytime, but it is cold inside because Indian buildings are not insulated and have no heating facilities. You will need to take good thermal protection.
It suddenly gets hot from late March.
Hot season: April-September. Sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses are essential.
South India is hot all year round, but November-February is the best season with mild heat.
Clothing should cover some skin, even in hot weather. Coordinate clothing so that it is easy to adjust the temperature.
Reason 1: It burns your skin to the point that you think it will burn. Burning skin causes inflammation in the body, which drains your strength. Mosquito bites become more likely.
Reason 2: You cannot enter the temple, which is a sanctuary, in shorts or sleeveless clothing. If you wear a skirt, please wear leggings underneath. Indians wear formal clothes to visit temples (especially strict in South India).
You will enter the temples barefoot, so it is assumed that your feet will get dirty. Do not wear expensive shoes (Indians wear flip-flops).
In a society where one's appearance affects the way one is treated by others, many people dress neatly when they go out. For example, even young Indian men pulling vegetable carts often have neatly coiffed hair and wear long sleeves and long pants with collars. They do not show much skin.
Carry-on luggage is OK; no need for a backpack for train travel.However, there are steps in the road and some areas are dirty. Some stations do not have elevators, so it is better to carry as much weight as you can lift. For domestic flights, free checked baggage may not exceed 15 kg.
traffic
You might think that since Delhi has both Uber cabs and metros, you can sightsee without a guide, but in reality it is difficult.
Because of India's high rate of traffic accidents, we recommend that you travel with a government-approved driver.
Reason 1: Uber cabs are of poor quality drivers and cars (not sure if they have been inspected, smelly, cars are wrecked, loud music, driving while talking on the phone with family members is normal, English is not spoken).
Reason 2: Foreigners are often not given rides and credit card payment is often refused (the driver cancels the reservation after the reservation is made).
Reason 3: When using the Metro, it takes an hour to go a distance that would take 15 minutes by car. The streets do not have sidewalks and are not designed for walking, so you cannot walk to your destination from the nearest station.
lodging
We recommend hotels in the South Delhi area, which is safe and convenient and where many middle class and upper class people live!
The old city (Old Delhi), including the area in front of the New Delhi Railway Station and Paharganj, a cheap lodging area, is not safe and local Indians do not come close to it. Old Delhi has the oldest infrastructure in Delhi. Therefore, the sanitary condition of water and sewage is the worst in this area.
Excerpts from the Embassy of Japan in India
In front of New Delhi Railway Station, Paharganj area, Connaught Place, and other places where travelers gather, there are many cases of people being taken by malicious travel agents who approach them claiming to be from the India Tourism Board. Never be approached by an Indian government official.
The cost of hotels is getting more expensive every year!
For Japanese people, we recommend 3-star or higher hotels.Our standard hotel is 2-3 stars.
2-3 stars areNot up to the level of a standard Japanese hotel.But for those who want to keep costs down, 2-3 star hotels, whether 2 or 3, are actually almost the same in terms of facilities and cost of lodging.
For example: hot water but no shower in some rooms, poor plumbing (not up to Japanese standards), noisy cars in many rooms due to lack of soundproofing, mosquitoes and insects in some rooms, no windows in some rooms, hair dryer not provided in the room (rent one at the front desk), Wi-Fi not working in the room, etc. (Wi-Fi is not available in hotels where our tours take place). (Wi-Fi is available in the hotels of our tours).
At 4 stars and above, the level is clearly higher than 3 stars and closer to global standards.
The water facilities are better in a Japanese business hotel, even if it is a 4-star hotel.
We recommend a 4-star or higher hotel, especially if you are a germophobe.
In a 5-star hotel, luggage is x-rayed and body searches are conducted at every entry and exit, making it even more secure. Sensibly, a 3-star "APA Hotel" in Japan is equivalent to a 5-star hotel in India. But a 5-star hotel in India is several times more expensive than an APA hotel (Japan is the cosmopolitan country).
Why do we recommend a 4-star or higher hotel?
The quality of the clientele and staff will obviously be better (Westerners are staying here), there is always a window in the room, the windows and walls are soundproof (important because the noise in India is horrendous), there is a hair dryer in the room, the Wi-Fi speed is not stressed, and there is more likely to be female staff.
Extremely inexpensive hotels are a high security and sanitation risk,Lodging of foreigners is prohibited by law.The company has been
Therefore, even if you get a reservation, you will be refused accommodation when you present your passport at check-in (but the hotels that refuse are in a sense decent hotels).
India is a male-dominated and class-driven society. Women are not allowed to stay alone in cheap hotels.
Furthermore, Western tourists are by nature very risk-conscious and avoid cheap accommodations.
Please also check the following article regarding hotels.
souvenir
Souvenirs appreciated by Japanese people
Tea, spices, sweets, block print accessories, KAMA rose water, khadi products, shawls, incense, India-only Starbucks mugs
Souvenirs appreciated by Indians
Almond chocolate, Choco Pie, Pocky, Takenokonosato, marble chocolate, Jagarico salad flavor, caramel corn, all raisins, Genji Pie, Happy Turn, Kabuki fries, salad crackers (chocolate is valuable in India. Avoid anything with meat-derived ingredients)
Other Basic Information on India
| time difference | 3 hours 30 minutes behind Japan |
|---|---|
| population | More than 10 times that of Japan |
| average age | 25 years old (45 years old in Japan) The only men who are out and about are between the ages of 15 and 30. It is the men's job to go grocery shopping. We hardly see women walking alone. |
| life expectancy | 68.6 years old (84.2 years old in Japan) |
| land area (of a country, continent, etc.) | 328,7263 square kilometers (about 9 times the size of Japan) The proportion of flat land is larger than in Japan, and the infrastructure is not well developed, so the distance sensation is more than 10 times greater than in Japan. |
| Language | Hindi, English, official languages of each state (there are at least 20) |
| religion | Hindu 81%, Muslim 13%, Christian 2%, Sikh 2%, Jain 0.4%, other 0.71 TP3T |
| Number of Japanese Residents | 8,000 people. Compared to the 80,000 Japanese living in Thailand, 100,000 in China, and 400,000 in the U.S., the number of Japanese is very small. The number of Japanese tourists to India is too small to have statistics. That is why a trip to India is a valuable and precious experience. |
