Distance conversion is a serious issue for US citizens planning to travel in Japan, because like almost every other country on earth, Japan uses the metric system for weights and measures. While many places online publish a distance conversion chart or can sell you a distance conversion calculator with this function, it's not a bad idea to be somewhat familiar with the metric system. Knowing something about the metric system will make you a more savvy traveler and facilitate your ability to understand distance conversion.
It's Based on Multiples of Ten!
There's almost nothing easier in mathematics than multiplying and dividing by ten - and that's what the metric system is all about!
When it comes to conversion distance, when traveling in Japan the only measurements you'll need to worry about are the meter and the kilometer. On occasion, you may need to know something about centimeters and millimeters, but typically only if you're shopping for fabrics or cigarettes.
A meter is just a bit more than a yard, or three feet; a kilometer is equal to one thousand meters. It's that simple!
Figuring the Distance
If you need to figure how far you're going, the easiest thing to do is divide the mileage by 1.6. It won't be 100% accurate, but this type of distance conversion is accurate enough for most travel purposes.
Therefore, if you are driving a rental car from Kyoto to Tokyo and the sign says 300 kilometers, you can use the above formula to determine the distance in miles, which is about 187.
For The Mathematically Challenged
If you're like most mere mortals, math may not be your strong suit. If this is the case, you'll be glad to know that there is an abundance of websites on the Internet that provide online software tools that will facilitate this type of distance conversion. Sometimes, it is as simple as printing out a distance conversion table, which you can keep folded in your pocket.
A conversion distance calculator is another option. Most of these look like regular calculators, and offer an entire range of metric conversion functions for weight, volume, area and temperature as well. Unlike a distance conversion chart or table which can be gotten for free, a distance conversion calculator will set you back about $50 or so - but for those of us who are mathematically challenged, it's a small investment in a tool that can make your life immeasurable easier when having to do a distance conversion.
