PANAMA
Travel to South America Panama with a special and free-spirited plan that suits me

chat Just tell us your request!
original You can create your own travel plan!

Chat with us

To give advice
Local coordinators.

  • Hiromi Matsumoto

    Hiromi Matsumoto

    Consultations in Japanese available

    AI Translation

    What is AI translation?

    Languages Spoken Japanese
    Travel Agency License Confirmed
    Service area Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, El Salvador
    Residence Guatemala
    After spending eight years at a travel agency specializing in Japan’s hidden gems—where I honed my skills in planning, sales, and tour guiding—I became captivated by Guatemala after joining a tour for just one day, which prompted me to travel there on my own. I subsequently worked for ten years as a cultural and public relations officer at the Japanese Embassy in Guatemala. Having established a solid network in Guatemala and determined to share its allure with more people in Japan, I co-founded, in January 2004 with my husband Shingo Matsumoto, a travel agency approved by the government tourism bureau. With qualifications as a travel operations manager and as a guide certified by the Guatemalan Tourism Authority, I have been involved in the travel industry for over 30 years. I am thrilled to deliver the full splendor of Guatemala and Central America to you!
  • Nobuhito Sasaki

    Nobuhito Sasaki

    Consultations in Japanese available

    AI Translation

    What is AI translation?

    Languages Spoken Japanese
    Travel Agency License Confirmed
    Service area Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Panama, Aruba, Cuba, Curaçao, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Belize, Mexico
    Residence Brazil
    At my previous major travel company, I had the opportunity to take care of Japanese expatriates and corporate clients in South America. With the generous cooperation of members of the Nikkei community, I learned about the unique business customs of South America and realized how challenging these countries really are. This insight motivated me to venture out on my own, determined to provide the speed, quality, and meticulous service that Japanese clients expect. Drawing on nearly ten years of experience in the Brazilian travel industry, I continue to study diligently every day with the aim of becoming the only local operator capable of offering clear proposals and explanations about the often perplexing local realities—even in regions that are extremely distant from Japan.

To give advice
Local coordinators.

  • Guatemala Coordinator Mr. Matsumoto

    Japanese

    Local travel license

    Hiromi Matsumoto

    Japanese

    Local travel license available

    For eight years, I acquired expertise in planning, sales, and tour guiding at a Japanese travel company specializing in hidden gems. After being captivated by Guatemala during a one-day tour, I moved there alone. In Guatemala, I worked for ten years as a cultural and public relations officer at the Japanese Embassy.
    I built a network in Guatemala and, aiming to share its charm with more people in Japan, established a government-approved travel agency with my husband, Shingo Matsumoto, in January 2004. I hold qualifications as a travel operations manager and a guide approved by the Guatemala Tourism Board, with over 30 years in the travel industry. I am eager to fully convey the allure of Guatemala and Central America!

    Show more

  • Japanese

    Local travel license

    Nobuhito Sasaki

    Japanese

    Local travel license available

    In my previous role at a major travel company, I assisted Japanese expatriates and companies in South America.
    With the cooperation of many people from the Japanese community, I learned the unique business customs of South America and realized how challenging the country was, which inspired me to start a business that could provide the speed, quality, and meticulous service demanded by Japanese people.
    With over 10 years of experience in the travel industry in Brazil, I aim to be the only local operator capable of clearly proposing and explaining the intricacies of distant destinations from Japan, and I continue to study daily.

    Show more

  • Japanese

    Local travel license

    Sayaka Katagai

    Japanese

    Local travel license available

    Since childhood, I have been interested in other countries, and during my university days when I started earning money and even after entering society, I would think about where I wanted to go whenever I had free time. (I couldn't easily leave Japan because the money didn't follow, though...) There were times when I would only have a rough plan, clutching just a plane ticket, and set off alone from Narita.
    Currently, I am living in South America, something I never imagined. These days, I think, "You never know what life will bring."
    However, as I began living in Ecuador, I encountered Ecuador's wonderful tourism resources and crafts, and I wanted more people around the world to know about them, hoping it would contribute even a little to the country's development, so I knocked on the door of a local travel company.
    What you think of as 'far away' on the other side of the world might feel much closer once you visit. Let’s leave the everyday behind and share new encounters and experiences together. We’ll be waiting for you on the other side of the world.

    Show more

What kind of country is Panama?

Panama, located between the North and South American continents, is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south, with the 80-kilometer-long Panama Canal constructed in its central region.
During the Age of Exploration, people came from Europe, and during the canal construction, many workers came from abroad. However, in the Kuna Yala region and the San Blas Islands, stretching from the eastern Caribbean side to the border with neighboring Colombia, indigenous peoples live preserving their traditional crafts and culture.
The fortresses of Portobelo and San Lorenzo, as well as the historic district of Panama City, are World Cultural Heritage sites, and Panama, home to various species of animals, birds, and flowers, also has numerous World Natural Heritage sites registered.

Various things to consider when traveling to Panama.

The best season for traveling to Panama
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December

Average temperature and rainfall in Panama (Panama City)

Average Temperature and Precipitation

Source: Weather Base (http://www.weatherbase.com/)

Cash, cards and currency exchange
Currency exchange directly from Japanese yen is difficult, so it is advisable to obtain US dollars in Japan beforehand and exchange them for local currency on-site.
In Panama, only coins are used in the local currency, the Balboa, while banknotes are exclusively in US dollars. Therefore, there may not be much need for currency exchange.
Credit cards are becoming more widespread, so it is advisable to use them for payments wherever possible, except at stalls and small shops where cards are not accepted, to minimize currency exchange and avoid losing money on fees.
Tips
Tipping is not a common practice. However, due to the large number of Western tourists, there are situations where it might be appropriate to tip.
Taxi: Generally unnecessary
Restaurant: Only if the service charge is not included, about 10% of the bill; unnecessary in casual eateries.
Hotel: When a porter carries your luggage or you order room service, about US$1-2.
Public Safety
Panama's safety cannot be considered secure compared to Japan. Additionally, the area around the Darien National Park, a World Heritage site, is classified as a Level 2 danger zone, with unexpected dangers lurking. It is recommended to join a reliable tour when sightseeing.
There are also issues with drug-related crimes and taxi driver scams, and the hygiene standards are not considered good.
Clothing
The temperature is high throughout the year, so you can generally wear summer clothes from Japan. However, air conditioning is often too strong in buses and restaurants, so having a light cardigan or shawl is convenient.
In the mountainous areas of the west, it gets very cold in the mornings and evenings, so visitors to this region will need warm clothing like sweaters or hoodies. Also, the sunlight is quite strong, so don't forget sun protection items.
Things You Should Bring
• Items such as stomach remedies, cold medicine, a mobile battery charger, insect repellent, and sun protection supplies.
Visa availability and arrangements
For Japanese nationals visiting for tourism or language study and staying for less than 180 days, a visa is not required. However, your passport must have at least six months of validity remaining upon entry.
Required vaccinations
There are no mandatory requirements for travel. However, vaccinations for hepatitis A, typhoid, tetanus, and yellow fever are recommended.
Panama is designated by the WHO as a country at risk for yellow fever, and vaccination is recommended for travelers over nine months old going to the continental region east of the Panama Canal.
 

Learn more about Panama.

Learn more

Other areas of interest besides Panama.

What is Oooh?

Just chat to discuss And, incorporating all of your requests,
Original travel plans It is a service that allows you to create

do you have any of these concerns?

  • Travel agency
    On a package tour
    Preferred location but
    It's not in there...

  • With my parents
    I want to go on a trip
    Because my legs are bad
    I'm worried about moving...

  • Maximize local
    To enjoy
    Last flight To
    I want to!

  • At a friend's house locally
    Because I'm staying
    Hotel only for 2 nights in
    That's fine, but...

And many more of your worries and requests, With Oooh, everything goes your way!

chat Just tell us your request!
original You can create your own travel plan!

Chat with us

Find travel destinations

Select the country you want to visit
  • IRELAND
  • UNITED KINGDOM
  • FAROE ISLANDS
  • GREENLAND
  • LUXEMBOURG
  • NETHERLANDS
  • ARMENIA
  • BELGIUM
  • AUSTRIA
  • ICELAND
  • BHUTAN
  • OCEANIA
  • MIDDLE EAST
  • SOUTH AMERICA
  • EUROPE
  • CENTRAL ASIA
  • ASIA
  • NORTH CENTRAL AMERICA
  • MALTA
  • LATVIA
  • ESTONIA
  • LITHUANIA
  • GEORGIA
  • AZERBAIJAN
  • SLOVAKIA
  • HUNGARY
  • NICARAGUA
  • EL SALVADOR
  • ALBANIA
  • MONTENEGRO
  • SERBIA
  • BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
  • ESWATINI
  • ZAMBIA
  • CYPRUS
  • OMAN
  • QATAR
  • BAHRAIN
  • VANUATU
  • AFRICA
  • GERMANY
  • SLOVENIA
  • JAPAN
  • CROATIA
  • CZECH REPUBLIC
  • PORTUGAL
  • SPAIN
  • MONGOLIA
  • SWEDEN
  • FINLAND
  • DENMARK
  • NORWAY
  • JORDAN
  • AUSTRALIA
  • SAUDI ARABIA
  • UAE
  • TURKEY
  • POLAND
  • GREECE
  • SWITZERLAND
  • EGYPT
  • COOK ISLANDS
  • FRANCE
  • ITALY
  • NEPAL
  • ZIMBABWE
  • UGANDA
  • TUNISIA
  • TANZANIA
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • SEYCHELLES
  • RWANDA
  • NAMIBIA
  • MOZAMBIQUE
  • MOROCCO
  • MADAGASCAR
  • KENYA
  • ETHIOPIA
  • BOTSWANA
  • MEXICO
  • CURACAO
  • ARUBA
  • GUATEMALA
  • COSTARICA
  • BELIZE
  • DOMINICAN
  • CUBA
  • UNITED STATES
  • VENEZUELA
  • URUGUAY
  • PERU
  • PARAGUAY
  • PANAMA
  • ECUADOR
  • COLOMBIA
  • CHILE
  • BRAZIL
  • BOLIVIA
  • ARGENTINA
  • UZBEKISTAN
  • TURKMENISTAN
  • TAJIKISTAN
  • KYRGYZSTAN
  • KAZAKHSTAN
  • NEW ZEALAND
  • HONGKONG
  • VIETNAM
  • TAIWAN
  • SINGAPORE
  • THAILAND
  • PHILIPPINES
  • CAMBODIA
  • MALDIVES
  • INDONESIA
  • INDIA

In Japanese
OK!

chat Just tell us your request!
original You can create your own travel plan!

Chat with us