Here are some sites, a map and tables which may be useful for you while you are staying in Japan. Since Wi-Fi, internet connection and cell phone services are not always available in Japan unless you have a contract with a Japanese company or you rent Japanese devices, I recommend that you make a hard copy of the map and tables below and carry them during your stay.
About Cherry blossom season new!
A map of Cherry blossom forecast
Japanese weather-forecasts include "Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) Blooming Forecast", and I gathered the recent data of the dates when the flowers tend to start blooming in each area below although it is just a reference material.
Japanese islands extend vertically and cherry blossoms start to bloom from the south to the north gradually (it takes time and people can even travel with it).
☆How can the weather-forecasters forecast the date of Sakura blooming?
☆Are you ready? Cherry blossom(Sakura) season is coming soon!
How Can The Weather-forecasters Forecast The Date Of Sakura Blooming?
About transportation system
Train map & schedules in Tokyo area
As you may have heard, Tokyo is a packed big city, so train transportation is usually the fastest means to move around. Unfortunately, there are too many train lines and subways which means that it's very tough to figure out which route is the most efficient way even for people living in Tokyo. Therefore, those who live or work in Tokyo use "Train Route Finder" sites like the one below. This kind of site can show you the fastest, the cheapest, or the easiest train route immediately.
Jorudan Co., Ltd. Train Route Finder
In addition, this is a Train Network Map in Tokyo area and it can be useful for you to grab the rough location/direction of each line when you go out.
Also If you are interested in visiting other regions by the Shinkansen, the so-called Japanese Bullet Train, this is a Shinkansen Map. Currently there are roughly seven lines of Shinkansen.
The lines with different color are under the control of different train companies although all of them belong to JR group, which are shown upper left of the map.
If you'd like to see how Shnkansen looks like, please click here!
In addition if you plan to use Shinkansen a lot during your travel, there is a good deal pass that is available only for foreign travelers. Please check this "Japan-Rail-Pass" site.
Bus maps & schedules in Tokyo area
Buses in Tokyo area don't have the same kind of route finder sites covering all bus companies, so you need to check each bus company to search bus routes and the schedules. Unfortunately, some companies don't have English sites.
Toei-Bus (managed by Metropolitan government)
Keisei-Bus (has buses to go to Narita-International-Airport, Haneda-Airport)
Airport Limousine-Bus(for Narita-International-Airport and Haneda-Airport)
Geographical Information
Tokyo is a prefecture consisting of 23wards, 26cities, 3towns and a village. The 23wards area, which account to roughly one third of Tokyo (painted in yellow on the map), are considered as the main part of Tokyo Metropolis and gathered in the east part of Tokyo which is close to Tokyo bay.
About Japanese Measurement Systems
Time Indication Systems
In Japan, the AM/PM and military time systems are both equally used. It might be confusing at the start if you are not familiar with the military time system. A simple calculation can convert them, since the military system just keeps increasing the number until 24:00 instead of using PM after noon. So during the morning, both are the same, and to calculate military time after noon it is 12+the current number of PM
Date and Year Indication
In Japan we use the solar calendar and the dominical year(AD), but usually it is written as "Year, Month, Day". Also we still keep the traditional year system which indicates the reign of the current Emperor, thus this year is H26 (Heisei 26 year). Therefore, to write June 5th of this year, Japanese people write either 2014, 6, 5 or H26, 6, 5
Temperatures
Regarding temperature, the Celsius scale is used in Japan and most people don't know much about Fahrenheit temperature. There is an equation to convert between Celsius and Fahrenheit but it is a pain. I used to use a rough comparison way for atmospheric temperature when I was in the U.S. and since it is very simple I'll introduce it here.
10 Celsius degrees is 50 Fahrenheit degrees, and after that each 10 Celsius degrees will correspond with 18 Fahrenheit degrees, like 20 Celsius degrees is 68 Fahrenheit degrees, 30 Celsius degrees is 86 Fahrenheit degrees, and 40 Celsius degrees is 104 Fahrenheit degrees.
Other Units of Measurement
Regarding the unit for measurement of length, the metric system is used and for weight, grams and kilograms are used in Japan.
