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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/reddithrowaway233 on 2025-02-16 20:02:15+00:00.

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Context:

• 22 - was a graduation trip before I start work
• Partially with some friends, partially solo.
• First time in Japan
• From USA but ethnically Indian. Took some Japanese in college which helped a lot
• Vegetarian, but friends weren't, so separated for meals pretty often.
• What I brought: 1 carry-on and backpack. Overcoat, bunch of clothes, snow boots (needed for some places in the Alps), Asics Gel Kayano 14, meds, laptop.
• Pretty much planned the entire trip through Google Sheets (can share if needed), including vegetarian restaurants in all the cities.

Day 1: Landed in NRT

• Flight was delayed by like 6 hours so got through immigration in 45 minutes and went straight to my hotel (near Ikebukuro) and slept

Day 2: Tokyo

• Didn't plan this day at all so just did what I felt and went where I wanted to.
• Woke up hella early, got a protein shake from 7/11, checked out the area around my hotel, and went to a coffee shop in Shimokitazawa as soon as they opened.
• Walked around and checked out some thrift stores (didn't find anything too exciting) and got lunch.
• Went to Shibuya to see the Scramble and this anime I liked had a popup in the bookstore so got some posters.
• Went to Ginza to buy a gift that needed to be pre-ordered 2 weeks in advance and checked out some stores in the area (but didn't buy anything else)
• Got dinner and went back
• Random thoughts: The train from Ikebukuro to Shinjuku was packed like sardines with people shoving in which kinda took me aback.

Day 3: Matsumoto & Nagano

• Took a 9:30 AM bus to Matsumoto. It was lightly snowing when I got there which was exciting
• Got lunch and walked to the castle. It was so pretty. I paid 700 yen to go inside the grounds and in the castle. You had to take your shoes off so my feet were numb by the end of it. I enjoyed the inside but not sure if I'd go back in again.
• Had to kill a few hours in Matsumoto so went to a small shrine and got a goshuin book. Waited till the light show, which I thought was pretty cool, but it did feel weird seeing so many animations to a historical temple. If I had to re-do it, I probably wouldn't have waited the 3 hours to see it, and then have to wait another 45 minutes to get the train to Nagano, but that's your call to make.
• Took a short train to Nagano and checked into my hotel

Day 4: Nagano and Snow Monkeys!

• Bought the snow monkey pass at the station and took the first bus from Nagano to the monkey park (was planning on taking the second but made it in time for the first)
• I sat in the front and got off first and started walking up. It was a pretty long walk and not crowded at all early on. Seeing the monkeys was surreal. Def recommend
• Took the from the monkey park to Shibu Onsen and walked around. Such a pretty area but everything seemed pretty old and run down in Shibu, so I'm kinda glad I didn't stay there. Walked to Yudanaka, stopped at Obuse for sightseeing, and then went to Nagano
• Went to Zenko-ji, which was awesome, but I didn't pay to go all the way in. Got some lunch/ice cream there too. Definitely recommend the oyaki there.

Day 5: Togakushi Shrine

• Took the 9:30 am bus or so to Togakushi. The route was hella beautiful. Once I got to the middle shrine, there was like a 1.5 hour hike to the gates, and then further to the upper shrine. The snow was hella deep and my pants got kinda soaked. The cedar trees were breathtaking though so I definitely recommend it.
• Took the Shinkansen to Kanazawa. Got dinner and spent the night there
• Random Advice: They'll have a foreign help section in a lot of major stations and they'll always recommend the reserved seats, but I went with the unreserved seats since I'm a cheap fuck and noticed it was much less crowded and was able to get a set of 3 seats to myself.

Day 6: Kanazawa (Shirakawa-go day trip)

• I booked my bus trip about a week in advance since I knew it would sell out quick. I took the second bus in the morning and had about 4 hours there.
• I climbed to the viewpoint, walked around and checked out some of the houses, open-air museum, went to a shrine and temple, and got lunch. Definitely felt like 4 hours was too much and I ended up roaming around for a while till my bus got back.
• Honestly was super exhausted, so kind of just walked around the Higashi Chaya area and chilled in my hotel till dinner. This was mostly the last of my further-away day trips. The weather in Kanazawa is kinda ass and the annoying thing about it is the station is 20 minutes away from a lot of the hotels which are like 20 minutes away from the sights, but it's a small city so can't complain too much ig.
• Went to a random super tiny bar in chuo mishokugai and it was me and this Japanese couple there and I got to practice my Japanese with them. Probably the most immersive experience I had and they were so friendly which was awesome. I was worried before I entered since there was just a small Japanese menu outside and there were only like 6 seats inside and I didn't know how they felt about foreigners (I had to translate the name using lens and there were like 2 google reviews in Japanese), but I'm so glad I went.

Day 7: Kanazawa

• Checked out early and spent the day doing all the popular things in Kanazawa
• Went to Higashi Chaya to get the gold leaf ice cream and do some shopping, then walked around Kenrokuen, the DT Suzuki museum, and then the Nagamachi Samurai District.
• Took the afternoon Shinkansen to Osaka

Day 8 - 10: Osaka

• I'm kinda getting bored typing all this so gonna condense some more.
• Got a bit sick one day so took that day to rest and do my laundry
• Mainly did the popular stuff here: Dotonbori, Namba, Amemura, Osaka Castle
• Day trip to Nara: went to Todai-ji (absolutely magnificent), Kasuga-taisha Shrine, Kofuki-ji, and spent hella time feeding and petting the deer
• Random Advice: Don't wear your fancy Moncler puffer to Nara, a poor lady got hers ripped up :(
• Went to Kyoto in the afternoon and checked out Sanjusangendo Temple before checking in

Day 11: Kyoto

• Got to Kiyomizudera around 8 am. Not crowded at all. Crowds started coming in around 9am-ish. Would def do this as early as possible (probably earlier than me in Spring/Fall(
• Walked around Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka and took some photos of the Yasaka Pagoda. Then chilled in the fancy Starbies for a bit
• Went to Chion-in, Yasaka Shrine, and Heian Jingu before grabbing a very late lunch
• Walked around a park and along the river

Day 12: Arashiyama

• Probably my busiest day. Got there around 9:30 am and it wasn't super crowded but more crowded than anywhere else I'd been (besides Tokyo)
• Places I saw in order: Bamboo Forest, Tenryu-ji. Jojakko-ji, Gio-ji, Saga Torimoto Preserved Street, Otagi Nenbutsuji, Daikaku-ji, super late lunch, and Togetsukyo bridge
• Was bored so went to Fushimi Inari around 9:30 pm. I could hear boars making sound while walking up and was kinda scared but still went all the way to the top. Halfway has a very nice view and then the top is pretty cool too. Honestly, would've loved to do this during the morning as well, since I hardly saw any cats :(

Day 13: Kyoto

• Spent the morning just walking around Kyoto and exploring the city
• In the afternoon, I went to Kinkaku-ji since the sun was out. It was so crowded but so worth it, but it def wouldn't have been as nice without the sun, especially since it's so out of the way.
• Went to Kitano Tennmangu Shrine
• Random advice: Northern Kyoto is pretty far and not super accessible and there is sooooo much traffic after like 2:30 or 3 pm so I had to skip Ryoan-ji, which was one of the temples I wanted to see most since I got there pretty late. Plan this day accordingly. Also a lot of places like Ryoan-ji close at 4:30 during Winter as opposed to 5:00, so check the websites and not Google.

Day 14: Kyoto to Tokyo

• Went to Ryoan-ji late in the morning after checking out of my hotel since I HAD to see it. I'm so happy I did, it felt kinda cathartic
• Spent wayyy too much on matcha at the Marukyu Koyamaen store
• Took the train to Tokyo. Again, went unreserved since I'm cheap and ended up getting the E seat, but it got hella cloudy the closer we went to Tokyo and didn't see Fuji :(
• Went clubbing on a Sunday like a degen

Day 15 - 19: Tokyo

• Not really much to say here, did a lot of the standard Tokyo Stuff
• Visited Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ebisu, Akihabara, Asakusa, Teamlabs Borderless, Pokemon Store
• Did a lot of shopping and spent way too much money on drip, plushies, and gifts
• Wish I spent more time in Tokyo def feel like I barely scratched the surface of the city
• Bought hella snacks at the duty free in NRT before flying back. Would recommend buying stuff here since I believe it's the same price as everywhere else and you don't have to worry about packing it. My favorite snacks were the Matcha Millifeuiele or however you say it and the Matcha mochi with whipped cream inside. My family loved the peach/banana kitkats and Royce chocolates.

Overall thoughts:

• Sorry for yapping so much I'm sure y'all seen a lot of the same advice so gonna try to share sum unique stuff
• You can buy hella cheap suitcases at Akky in Akihabara and they're kinda shit but cheaper than paying like $35 one way for a checked bag if you're not flying direct like I did. This helped a lot since I didn't want to carry a large bag a...

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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/SomeGuyFromVault101 on 2025-02-15 08:43:57+00:00.

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A big thank you to the travellers in this subreddit and r/JapanTravelTips who have imparted their wisdom and experiences over the ages; they have helped me and many others in planning our trips!

I’m from Australia, and this was my first time in Japan. I spent 2 weeks in Tokyo through university exchange, and then stayed an extra 10 nights to explore Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Osaka. I already knew I would love the country before I went there, and I can safely say (having been to a few other places including the US and Europe) this was by far the best place I’ve ever travelled to. The culture is fascinating, the people are so considerate and kind (minus some foreign tourists!), and the food was legitimately some of the best I’ve ever tasted!

I can report that January is a really nice time to visit Japan. It’s a little cold (around 10 degrees Celsius during the days) but in the big cities it feels warmer due to all the buildings and the (really hot!) heating everywhere. The only places it got uncomfortably cold (low digits Celsius) were Nara and Hakone, so be prepared with thermals if you come in January, as those places mainly have outdoor activities!

The 2 weeks in Tokyo were a bit of a blur at times due to having to attend classes in Shinjuku, but I’ll do my best to recount each day. I also highly recommend visiting Tokyo as a student, as it was such an interesting vibe taking the train as a commuter in the morning and at times being squished in the train like a sardine! Even though the trains were amazing and frequent, I’m not sure how Japanese people do that every day!

4/1 - Arrive in Tokyo I arrived in the evening at Narita, and met a few other students and one of the teaching staff at the airport. For some reason, the uni recommended we take the skyliner and then a local train to our hotel in Ekoda. The skyliner was quite nice as it has reserved seating and there are spaces for luggage, however the local trains were sort of chaotic especially lugging around a big suitcase! Next time I’ll definitely take the airport limousine bus so I don’t have to worry about my suitcase. Thankfully it was around 7pm when we were on the trains so they weren’t that busy.

5/1 - Shibuya / Harajuku As part of our university orientation, all the students met at shibuya for a scavenger hunt! This was a bit silly but it was fun scrambling (ha) around shibuya and seeing the big sights such as the hachiko statue, the scramble (I thought it would be bigger, but it was still cool to see, although not as pretty as at night), the Disney store, and so on. I was feeling a bit jet lagged during this day, so our scavenger hunt became a bit blurry. At a later date I would return to shibuya at night which was a very different experience compared to the day. The tourists really seem to appear in droves at night, and I got the vibe that shibuya turns into part central when the moon comes out 😂 After the scavenger hunt, I checked out the miyashita park shopping outlet, which had so many options for food and souvenirs. I spent way too much money on presents for my family, and got a really nice “Shibuya” t-shirt with a drawing of the scramble. I also ate an unreasonably tasty pork bun and tempura chicken meal at a restaurant in the park. After this, I checked out Harajuku with another student. We went to Takeshita Street at around 4 or 5pm and it was genuinely unpleasant the amount of people wall to wall walking up and down the street. One thing that surprised me in Japan was that I rarely bumped into anyone, despite the overwhelming amount of people. Compared to Australians, who really don’t look where they’re going or if they’re in your way, Japanese people are hyper-aware of their surroundings and other people, and I love that. We did some souvenir shopping in some of the alleys of Takeshita street (cash only!) and checked out a “used” clothing store, which had prices that were definitely higher than I would have expected for used clothes! But this is Harajuku. Of course I had to try a Harajuku crepe. It was a bit tricky finding one without cream, but I managed to find a Nutella banana one which was decent! With the crepe success, it was time to retreat to the hotel and call it a night. But not before having a Katsu curry at coco ichiban, which became my favourite chain curry place in Japan! I’m now a convert of golden curry because of coco!

6/1 - Shinjuku / Ikebukuro First day navigating the morning trains at ikebukuro station! This station was absolutely packed, and there were so many amazing smells such as fresh croissants that would tempt me every day. Because we had to change trains at ikebukuro station to get to classes, I felt like I never fully explored the area, which was a shame as I missed out on trying the pikachu sweets cafe and many other things! Ikebukuro was a really nice area with lots of shops and restraurants! I would highly recommend staying here as it’s on the Yamonote line which makes it easy to get around Tokyo. Successfully making it to shin-okubo station, we walked to the university (about 10mins away). I used the digital suica card on my iPhone, which made it really easy to simply scan my phone through ticket gates, and top up my balance through Apple wallet. I will say that even though public transport is cheap in Japan, the price does add up especially if you are taking 2 trains each way, so budget more money than you think you’ll need for this! After university orientation (where we did some fun activities such as mochi-pounding and sake tasting) I went to Shinjuku station and then got lost 3 times in the station! It truly is a labyrinth of a place and (as our teacher let us know) the biggest station in the world! Thankfully I was pointed in the right direction by a few locals and made it out to the surface, on the way towards kabukicho! As I’m a fan of the Yakuza games, I had to check out the iconic cine city square. It was surreal wandering around kabukicho in real life after having run around the area so much in the games (props to RGG studios for how accurate they were able to capture the area in game!) I saw the Godzilla head and even though it’s a red light district, it felt pretty tame, there were no aggressive touts or anything like that. Of course, I also had to check out the Shinjuku batting cages as a fan of the yakuza games. This was an incredibly fun experience for me, as we don’t really have batting cages in Australia! For 400 yen, I got to swing (and miss) and have so much fun whacking baseballs. I had to pay for another round as it was so much fun! This worked up quite an appetite, so I got some amazing and cheap ramen from a local place that I couldn’t tell you the name of! The ordering machine was all in Japanese so I stood there looking dumbly at the machine. Before I could use google lens (genuinely so useful on this trip) a kind patron pointed to one option and said it’s the most popular. So I went with that and it was incredible, I believe it was a pork ramen with a hunk of fresh garlic and spring onion on top! It had just been starting to rain before I entered the ramen shop (it only rained once or twice in the whole 3 and a half weeks, the weather was really surprisingly sunny and clear for winter) so I had been using my umbrella. As I sat down in the ramen shop, I mistakenly placed my wet umbrella on the counter (!) and a Japanese man who sat down next to me seemed very upset! I quickly wiped off the condensation from the table and put the umbrella in my bag, but the man stood up and was visibly upset. Fascinatingly enough, he didn’t really look at me or direct his anger at me, but rather the store owner! I felt so bad, and the man refused to sit back down next to me, but after a short time he eventually left. “Sumimasen” didn’t seem to work here unfortunately! But I learnt a valuable umbrella lesson! In the evening, I checked out the Sunshine City department store in ikebukuro and the observatory, which had a really sweet view (but not as good as skytree) with a unique indoor “garden” space which seemed very popular with couples and families. At night, the lights were also dim and there was soft music playing throughout the observatory, it was a very relaxing way to end the day!

7/1 - Akihabara / Tokyo Dome After classes, I checked out akihabara with a few other students. I felt a bit rushed exploring this area and would love to go back another trip to see more of it. As someone interested in gaming but not anime, Akihabara was just ok. It was interesting seeing stores which were entirely devoted to trading cards, anime figures, and so on! But it didn’t really do much for me. There were some really nice bakeries and restaurants here though, and I managed to pick up a cheap copy of Dragon’s Dogma 2 at Book Off (however, if you’re using the wise travel card, be careful as book off declined my card, as well as 7/11 and Lawson! I’m not sure if anyone else has experienced this, but it’s a problem specifically with the wise visa debit card, as my normal visa debit worked in these places). I also ate an amazing katsu egg curry from a place called Hakuyotei Curry! After this, we checked out Tokyo Dome as they had a winter illumination… event? I was expecting a massive festival, but it was mainly a few attractions including a big igloo dome where you could take selfies and a long hallway of lights. It...

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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/Dragonbird7 on 2025-02-13 14:23:16+00:00.

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I took this trip in early November 2023. I can't believe that it has taken me this long to type up this trip report - but life happens. I planned this trip and booked hotels just a week before departure. A huge thanks to this wonderful community for helping me plan every detail of this trip, right down to booking tickets on the Resort Shirakami. I had a JR Tohoku Pass, which allows unlimited Shinkansen travel for five consecutive days. I focused on visiting only the top attractions (such as UNESCO World Heritage sites) in each place and always prioritized taking the earliest train to avoid crowds and maximize my time exploring at my own pace.

Day 1: Tokyo → Aomori → Hirosaki

• Early morning: Took the first Shinkansen from Tokyo to Aomori
• Until afternoon: Visited the Nebuta Warasse Museum and A-Factory in Aomori
• Afternoon: Took a local train to Hirosaki
• Evening: Explored the (seasonal) chrysanthemum flower arrangements outside Hirosaki Castle Park before grabbing an apple pie, picking up dinner at a supermarket, and settling in for the night

Day 2: Hirosaki → Akita

• Early morning: Rented a bike from a shop outside the JR station, visited Hirosaki Apple Park, and tried apple picking. It was an awesome experience.
• Late morning: Explored Hirosaki Castle (famous for cherry blossoms in spring) and sampled apple pies at various cafés. There’s even a guide ranking the best apple pies in town—worth checking out! Also visited Tsugaru-han Neputa Mura and watched a live musical performance.
• Afternoon: Returned the bike and took the Resort Shirakami scenic train around 2:30 PM to Akita (a five-hour ride). Spent the night in Akita. If you’re taking this train, make sure to select a window seat on the right for the best sea views. Also, take an early train if traveling in fall or winter, as it gets dark early—otherwise, you might miss the coastal scenery.

Day 3: Akita → Kakunodate → Sendai

• Early morning: It was raining, and I considered skipping Kakunodate. However, by the time I reached the next station, the rain had reduced to a drizzle. So, I quickly deboarded, took the next train back, and arrived in Kakunodate by 9:00 AM.
• Morning: Spent about 3 hours exploring the well-preserved samurai district. The Ishiguro Family Residence was a highlight. Picked up some overpriced sweets at a shop nearby, and as it started drizzling again, I quickly returned to the station, retrieved my luggage from a coin locker, and caught the Shinkansen around noon.
• Afternoon: Checked into my hotel (about 10 minutes from the station), then rushed back to catch a train to Yamadera to visit Risshaku-ji Temple
• Evening: The temple closes at 3:00 PM, so I climbed down quickly and took the train back to Sendai. Trains run about an hour apart, so plan your trip carefully.

Day 4: Sendai → Hiraizumi → Geibikei Gorge

• Early morning: Just missed the 8:00 AM Shinkansen to Ichinoseki and had to wait for the next one at 8:50 AM. From Ichinoseki, I took a local train to Hiraizumi, rented a bicycle, and explored nearby temples and Genbikei Gorge.
• Afternoon: Hurried back to Hiraizumi, explored Chūson-ji Temple (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), returned the bike, and caught another train to Geibikei Gorge. Managed to take the last boat ride of the day. Again, trains in this region are infrequent, so careful planning is necessary.
• Evening: Returned to Sendai

Day 5: Matsushima → Tokyo

• Morning: Took an early train from Sendai to Matsushima for a day trip. Enjoyed a Matsushima Bay cruise and explored Entsū-in and Zuigan-ji temples.
• Afternoon: Returned to Sendai for lunch. Took the Loople Bus, a sightseeing bus that makes a loop through central Sendai’s popular tourist spots. The full route takes about 70 minutes.
• Evening: Checked out and took the Shinkansen back to Tokyo

This trip was an amazing experience, and I enjoyed every minute of it as a solo traveler. I highly recommend visiting Tohoku in autumn - the region is less frequented by travelers but offers incredible scenery, rich history, and unique cultural experiences. My biggest challenges were the language barrier, infrequent public transport, and the difficulty of finding vegetarian/vegan options, but none of these would deter me from visiting again. Next time, I’ll just be better prepared. If you can, rent a car to explore at your own pace and visit places that aren’t easily accessible by public transport. Hope this report helps future travelers!

This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/AutoModerator on 2025-01-25 00:01:00+00:00.

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Are you traveling to Japan this month? Want to hang out with other Redditors while you navigate the country? Then this is the thread for you!

Please post any and all meetup requests here. Be sure to include:

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We have a Discord server you can use to coordinate meetups and other activities. You can join the official r/JapanTravel Discord here! There are also monthly meetup/planning channels, so react accordingly, and you can create threads for specific dates/locations if you so desire.

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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/cruciger on 2025-02-14 17:42:50+00:00.

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Hello everyone! I am writing this trip report for a couple's trip we took this Jan/Feb.

• We are a couple in our early 30s, speaking some Japanese. My 5th trip and my wife's 2nd. (Our last was Golden Route last year)
• We travelled with carry-on suitcases and a collapsible duffel bag for laundry/souvenirs.
• Credit to this post for the formatting: Trip Report: Osaka, Nara, Kobe, Sapporo, Tokyo, Enoshima, Kamakura (Solo Foodie: 11 Days, 10 Nights, Jan 2025) : r/JapanTravel

Mo 27. Shinjuku → Matsumoto (Mitsubikiya)

• Arrived in Tokyo the evening before and took a limo bus to business hotel in Shinjuku.
• 7:00 – 9:38: Ltd. Express Azusa to Matsumoto. Booked at 6:00 but window/neighboring seats had sold out. Should have booked in advance.
• Wandered around aimlessly. There are lots of cute shops and cafés in the historical castle town, and the view of the Alps is spectacular.
• Lunch: Okinadou. “Western” restaurant est. 1933. Applesauce, pork steak, and beer, all local. Simple and great.
• Visited Matsumoto Castle. It’s pretty under construction. There is an archeological dig you can watch. Bad for photos but still worth a visit.
• Stopped by a bar for an afternoon drink and met some interesting people, which took over most of the afternoon.
• Dinner: Mitsubikiya. A soba restaurant with an assortment of local specialties: fresh Azumino wasabi, duck hotpot, soba, and Shine Muscat grapes. There are rooms above and behind the restaurant where we stayed. Delicious and cost-effective.
• Planned to visit castle illuminations but felt ill from jet lag and slept immediately instead. Still an amazing day!

Tu 28. Matsumoto → Okuhida Fukuji Onsen (Kakurean Hidaji)

• Simple and solid breakfast, coffee and oranges at a kotatsu, and check out.
• Went to Ishii Miso Brewery to do a tour, but tours don’t start until 11:00. Not sure if the website hadn’t been updated yet or if I just missed the info. I should’ve done this on Monday when most museums & historical buildings in town were closed. Also saw Matsumoto Timepiece Museum. Fun enough.
• Early lunch: Nakamachi Saryo for tea and fancy fruit sandwiches. “Tabelog Gold oyaki” popup at Shinshu Omiyage Base (if you see it, must-eat!).
• Bought some souvenirs on the way to catch the highway bus. There's a HUGE gift shop and food court under the bus terminal where I should have gone instead.
• 13:05 – 14:50: Bus to Fukuji Onsen. Surprisingly, the Matsumoto–Hirayu bus ride was one of my favorite memories of the trip. Monkeys running across the road as the scenery gradually gets snowier and craggier… stellar views.
• Checked into Kakurean Hidaji. I planned this week of the trip around visiting this ryokan and it was totally worth it. So peaceful and secluded. Barely saw any other guests. Almost all the staff spoke English. Dinner was MOUNTAINS of mountain vegetables, river fish, and wagyu, and baths had an amazing view.

Wed 29. Okuhida Fukuji Onsen → Takayama

• 9:46 – 11:10: Bus to Takayama. Delayed 45 mins due to snow.
• Lunch: Kyoya. A touristy local delicacies restaurant in an old house. Got hobo miso with Hida beef, and mountain veggies. Good food and great atmosphere.
• Sakurayama Hachimangu (gorgeous in snow), Float Hall (very interesting museum about town’s festival), Nikkokan (eh), Kusakabe Mingeikan (cool enough)
• The old town was pretty, but it varied between super touristy parts full of low-quality souvenirs and so packed that it’s hard to visit, and streets where everything was closed. Didn’t really like the vibe. Possibly due to Chinese New Year, but the crowds there seemed to be mostly non-Chinese.
• Hidatakayama Retro Museum & Showakan were small but great fun.
• Drinks: Japanese Pub Yu (excellent American-style cocktails), dinner at an izakaya.
• I was worried that a half-day was too short for Takayama, but I was good with that. I heard it’s “a small town” but it felt a lot busier than most places I visit.

Th 30. Takayama → Shirakawa-go → Kanazawa

• 7:20 – 8:10: Bus to Shirakawa-go. Purchased in advance. Takayama → Shirakawa-go buses were sold out for days.
• Shirakawa-go was totally abandoned, with shoulder high snow coming down fast. Even with an umbrella it was too wet to use my map or phone, and some directional signs were snowed over. So I got lost. I tried to go to Gasshozukuri Minka-en but took a wrong turn and ended up at “Three Houses Viewpoint.” The atmosphere is amazing and kind of creepy… On the way back, we ran into HUNDREDS of people (mostly Chinese-speaking), and a massive queue to store luggage. I was regretting booking our visit when most stores, etc. weren’t open, but going later would have its own challenges.
• 10:25 – 11:35: Bus to Kanazawa. No buses sold out today.
• Lunch: Notomae Sushi Morimori Sushi. This is a famous Kanazawa chain, with two locations near the station, conveyor or table service. There was a long wait for the conveyor so we chose table service. Our sets were stellar and covered most of the regional specialties I wanted to try here.
• Omicho Market, Kanazawa Castle Park, Kenrokuen.
• Pastry at Le Musée de H – did not enjoy. They seated us conspicuously in a corner and the flavour and texture were poor for the price.
• Terrible weather! Wet and windy. Normal for Kanazawa.
• 18:00: Fuwari (reservation). An izakaya with very good rep from Western food guides. Well-cooked and lots of regional specialties but it didn't really blow my mind all things considered.

Fr 31. Kanazawa

• Breakfast: Ippuku Yokocho at Omicho Market. A food hall with oden, grill, and fried food. Seems lots of idols went there and they play idol music. Lively and tasty. We wanted hot food because we were cold but there are also lots of sushi places here, including a Morimori that had almost no line at breakfast time.
• Walked to Higashi-chaya-kai and visited some tea houses, which were interesting and peaceful. Very nice shopping here, if a bit out of my price range.
• Lunch: Bistro Todoroki-Tei. 100-year-old Western restaurant. Fine food, great prices.
• Taxi to Nagamachi. Samurai house, Shinise Kinenkan. Taxi to the next destination.
• 15:00 – 16:30: Fukumitsuya Sake Brewery (reservation). Extremely cool tour where you can enter the factory and see sake brewing in vats (English supported, winter only.) Even though we’ve done multiple brewery tours, we learned new things!
• 18:00: RISTORANTE HARAGUCHI (reservation). Kaga delicacy ingredients prepared in Italian style. Stellar meal. Wonderful way to leave Kanazawa.

Sat 1. Kanazawa → Nagano → Tokyo

• 10:05 – 11:10: Shinkansen to Nagano. Originally planned to leave early and visit Zenko-ji and Snow Monkey Park. I waffled a bunch on this after our cold and crowded time in Shirakawa-go, but it was a perfect sunny day so we eventually decided to go.
• We would have made the 11:15 bus to Snow Monkey Park but it was full. Had to wait for 12:20 – 13:05. The shinkansen and bus area were a mess of tourists and luggage. Large coin lockers were full. Beware trying to store a big bag here in ski season.
• Snow Monkey Park! There were a LOT of people, very international. The walk through the snow-dusted cedar forest was gorgeous and peaceful despite the crowds. The park was TOTALLY WORTH IT. Hundreds of monkeys of all ages doing monkey things and getting right up close to you. There's a lot more than just the onsen. Extremely glad I decided to go.
• 15:50 – 16:35: Return bus to Nagano.
• Dinner: Meiji-tei. “Sauce katsu” and other regional specialties in Nagano Station. Horse sashimi and venison katsudon. Huge portions! Even as the only meal today I couldn't finish it. Drinks at Kamosu on the floor below (local wine, sake, cider, gin.)
• 19:05 – 21:00: Shinkansen to Tokyo and check into our hotel in Otsuka.

Sun 2. Tokyo (Shibuya / Shinjuku / Ikebukuro)

• Meiji Shrine. Peaceful and foggy.
• Tried to go to i'm donut Harajuku at 10:20 (open 10:00), but there was a big line. Walked to the Shibuya location by 10:40 (open 11:00) but there was also a big line, so we decided not to wait.
• Lunch and shopping in Shibuya and Harajuku. Shibuya was a bit of a pain with all the construction around the station right now.
• Namco TOKYO arcade in Kabukicho Tower. I wanted to check out this new barcade. The neon decor and VR rides were cool. Drinks took a long time even though the bar wasn't busy at all. Food, drinks, and games were extremely overpriced. We left pretty quickly.
• Finished shopping in Ikebukuro Sunshine City. (Also went to a bunch more...

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Hello! Just wanted to write about my Japan trip from mid-January to the end of the month. This trip became my favourite vacation ever! It was our first trip to Japan, so we went for the standard Tokyo-Osaka-Kyoto-Nara trip.

Being from Sweden I didn't suffer from the cold, in fact I even won a few degrees compared to where I live. Point is, don't let winter scare you from going to Japan, it's mild (as long as you don't go to the North I guess)! We only had 2 AirBnB accommodations: 1 in Tokyo (Shinjuku) and 1 in Osaka (Fukushima Ward). This worked really well, we ended up paying a total of around 350usd per person for 10 nights. I did quite a bit of research before the trip, so I had a rough idea of which areas I wanted to go to most days. I also tried to learn some basic Japanese on Duolingo and with a phrase book. Even learned hiragana/katakana, it occasionally helped with reading train station names before the english text came up but not much more. For the most part I feel you can survive with minimal Japanese, even though the English level in Japan seems low.

We were 8 people (friends), which is quite a lot for a Japan trip. We often had to split up to find space at restaurants for example, though it still went pretty well. Most of my friends shared a pocket wifi, but I went for an esim (Ubigi) since I sometimes liked to go and do my own thing! I recommend it, if anything I think that everyone should have like 1gb, in case they lose track of the person with the pocket wifi.

As a side note, I was particularly interested in shrines and temples this trip so I definitely went out of my way to see them. Did research about them before, so found out about collecting goshuin which became one of my main interests during the trip. I also of course tried my best to follow the correct etiquette at shrines/temples, although it felt like I (non-asian looking) stood out a lot when I did that. Still think it was fine though?

Tokyo

Day 1 (Harajuku, Meiji, Shibuya): we started the day at Harajuku and went through Takeshita street. Yes it's overrated but still fun for the vibes, it was in the morning so it wasn't so crowded. Right after we visited Togo shrine, like 100m or so away, and it was really cool seeing such a peaceful place right next to Takeshita. Then we went to Meiji, and where I bought my goshuincho. This was definitely the place where I had to wait the longest in line for goshuin. After that we walked to Shibuya and spent the rest of the day there, eating lunch and especially shopping. Shout-out to the Parco building with the Pokemon center and more, also bought an awesome phone case at Casetify. Also spent a lot of time at Loft, looove those decorative paper things that you fold out (not sure what it's called, but for example it could be a paper sakura tree that you fold out and it becomes 3d).

Day 2 (Asakusa, Ueno, Tokyo Tower)

We started the day (weekday!) somewhat early at Senso-ji, which was definitely the most crowded thing we did in Tokyo. Though it wasn't that bad, especially when you reached the temple itself. There's also nice things to see around the main temple. We went to Asakusa shrine which was right next to Senso-ji, as well as a tiny fox shrine (Hikan Inari) right next to it. Very nice goshuin with little foxes on it! Overall I liked the temple/shrines. After walking around Asakusa a bit we moved on with out day. Some went to the Baseball Hall of Fame, though I opted for Ueno Park (and yakiniku lunch at Ueno). There were some really nice shrines/temple, and I went to the National Museum. Honestly not really a highlight to me, it's cool but I think you can skip it especially if you've already seen many nice museums in your life. Then I joined my friends at Tokyo Tower and we stayed there quite a bit and saw the sunset. I can recommend it, maybe not the best view possible of Tokyo (heard Shibuya Sky is the best?) but the building is cool!

Day 3 (Shinjuku)

A lot of walking around/shopping in Shinjuku. Saw Omoide Yokocho, Godzilla head... Went to big stores like Yodobashi Camera with a seemingly infinite amount of floors, the day passed by quickly! Overall really cool part of the city. Went to Hanazano shrine which was very calm, can recommend.

Day 4 (Setagaya, Akibahara, Ueno again)

My friends spent the morning at the Metropolitan Government Building, while I went to Setagaya to see some bucket-list shrines (like an hour of transport, as I wrote earlier I definitely went out of my way to go to shrines). Started with Gotokuji temple, a cat (maneki-neko) temple. Highly recommend, although it is somewhat touristy despite being quite a way from the more central Tokyo. Then I walked like 30min to Sakura shrine, which was nice and was selling really nice omamori, goshuincho, etc. The visit was less worth it since it wasn't cherry blossom season, but I still got satisfaction from it. The 30min walk was one of the least touristy ones I did, but I still appreciated getting a little insight on the vibes of residential Tokyo. Then I joined my friends at Akihabara and we spent the whole day there looking at stores. I also of course went to Kanda Myoujin shrine, which happened to have some kind of show/ritual/ceremony (???) with masked people playing music, holding a hammer-like object. A lot of people there praying, definitely the most lively shrine experience I had, felt a tad bit out of place as a non-Japanese but it was interesting. We finished the day in Ueno park, since there was a food festival going on.

Day 5 (Mount Takao)

Many in the friend group were craving a nature experience at this point, so we hiked Mt Takao. We went on a weekday (important I think!) so it wasn't so crowded. The hike was definitely easy, even on the more "difficult" paths. Of course went through Yakuōin Yukiji Temple on the way. Ate some nice soba noodles around the top. I went to the monkey park on the way down, though I think it's very skippable, the monkeys didn't look that happy. I took the chair lift both ways, because I found it super fun having my legs out in the air (as opposed to being inside a cable car). Unfortunately too cloudy to see Fuji. Overall I recommend Mount Takao, but it's not an absolute must-do. Would not do it if you suspect that it will be crowded. We finished off the day at the onsen near the station, which was really nice and accommodating to us non-Japanese.

Day 6 (Shinkansen to Osaka)

Travel to osaka via Tokyo station, went very smoothly! We were in the non-reserved cart. We were quite tired when we arrived at the accommodation, so we didn't do that much. Did some sake-tasting at a restaurant nearby.

Day 7 (Osaka)

Osaka was the part of the trip that i did the least research on, mostly followed my friends' advice. Went to Umeda Sky for some views, was cool but maybe not a highlight of the trip. Then I went to some shrines: Namba Yasaka (awesome!), Hozen-ji. Also went to Isshin-ji temple which was pretty, though had an interesting interaction with the priest when I went to get goshuin. Basically she seemed very skeptical of me, and wanted me to read some japanese words that were relevant to the temple, and read a brochure. To be clear I really appreciated this, I was genuinely interested in temples and wanted to learn more. With that being said it was a bit scary because I felt like the whole conversation had a bit of a negative undertone... anyways also went to Shitennoji shrine because it happened to have a flea market around it that day! Was a very impressive complex. Then I joined my friends at Osaka castle, which is super pretty. In the evening we went to the illuminage show right next to the castle (I believe it's a winter-only event), which was fun. Then we ate dinner in Dotonbori.

Day 8 (Kyoto)

I left the accommodation in Osaka at 6:30AM (alone) and was at Fushimi inari shrine a bit before 8. I often felt alone in the Torii gate tunnels, and it was trivially easy to take pictures with no one in them. I've read some say that even 7-8am is too late to avoid crowds, but i definitely did (maybe because it was January?). Aside from the shrines on the way, the nature was really nice. At some point in the middle of the mountain I went off-path and was in the middle of a forest alone. Then when I was back at the bottom around 10am, tourists were flooding in and the torii gates were super crowded. At that time I found the "secret" bamboo forest, and was completely alone. Overall these 3 hours of Fushimi Inari + bamboo forest where my favourite part of the trip.

Then I went to the Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka and ate some street food, the pork buns were pretty nice. Then I visited Kiyomizu-dera at around 11-12. This part was definitely crowded since I didn't have the early morning on my side anymore, but it was still tolerable (less so on the streets leading up to the temple). Then I walked to some other places of interest, like Kodaji temple and had a brief stop at Gion. After that I made my way to Philosopher's path, in the pursuit of a less crowded calm place (recommend the Kyoto Travel Congestion Forecast). Ginkakuji was beautiful, and the path was indeed peaceful. Though it's probably much more worth going during cherry blossom season! Then as my phone battery started getting dangerously low I joined one of my friends at Nishiki market. Yes it's probably tourist-trappy but what I bought was nice, and the sight was s...

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Itinerary Check - 2 Weeks in Japan (March/April 2025)

Hi everyone! I'll be visiting Japan for two weeks for my honeymoon and wanted to do a quick check to see if my itinerary looks reasonable. Open to any feedback or must-visit spots I might be missing! We had a 2020 trip planned we had to cancel so looking forward to a redo now for our honeymoon. It has been my dream for a long time to be in japan for sakura season.

A little background in case anyone wants to provide suggestions, we are in our 30s, and pretty open minded with what we like to do while traveling. We're mostly interested in wandering, the sights, cultural experiences, a little bit of shopping, and a lot of food along the way.

Tokyo (Arrival & East Tokyo)

Stay in Ueno - Starting off on this side of Tokyo for a quick stay with the ease of the Ueno station, while we adjust to jet lag.

• Day 1 (3/31) Ueno: Arrive 4:30pm at Narita, travel to our stay in Ueno. No real plans other than to deal with jet lag, explore as much as we can, go to 7/11, maybe make a quick stop at Ueno Park if time allows to see cherry blossoms.
• Day 2 (4/1) Asakusa: Exploring Asakusa, Senso-ji, Nakamise-dori, and Ameyoko Market.

Kyoto (4/2 - 4/6)

Stay in Shimogyo Ward near Nishiki Market

• Day 3 (4/2) Central Kyoto: Early train to Kyoto, Nishiki Market, Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, Pontocho Alley.
• Day 4 (4/3): Fushimi Inari (heavily debating this one - will it be too crazy during this time of year?), Kiyomizu-dera, Higashiyama, Gion.
• Day 5 (4/4) East Kyoto: Ginkaku-ji, Philosopher’s Path, Nanzen-ji, Yasaka Shrine, Gion or Sanjo area for dinner.
• Day 6 (4/5) Uji & Nara: Visit Uji in the morning on the way to Nara (Todai-ji, Nara Park, Kasuga Taisha Shrine) for the rest of the day.
• Day 7 (4/6): Kyoto flex morning before heading to Osaka midday.

Osaka (4/6 - 4/9)

Stay in Namba.

• Day 7 (4/6) Namba: Evening in Dotonbori, Hozen-ji.
• Day 8 (4/7) Central Osaka: Kuromon Market, Nipponbashi, Shinsaibashi (maybe), Amerikamura, Shinsekai. This day is TBD depending how much time is spent in each neighborhood. Too much? Which areas should be prioritized out of these?
• Day 9 (4/8) Himeji: Himeji Castle & Kokoen Garden. Possibly Kobe? Depending on timing and how we're feeling at this point.
• Day 10 (4/9): Flex morning before heading to Hakone.

Hakone (4/9 - 4/10)

• Staying at a ryokan for onsen & relaxation. Give our feet a rest!

Tokyo Part 2 (West Tokyo) (4/10 - 4/13)

Stay in Shibuya.

• Day 11 (4/10) Shibuya: Arrive in Tokyo, explore Shibuya, Shibuya Sky in evening.
• Day 12 (4/11) West Tokyo: Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Omotesando, Yoyogi Park.
• Day 13 (4/12) Shinjuku: Explore Shinjuku, Golden Gai, Omoide Yokocho. What else?
• Day 14 (4/13): Morning visit to teamlab Borderless. My husbands birthday! What else should we do in this area or back in Shibuya to celebrate?
• Day 15 (4/13): Last-minute shopping/exploring before flying home in the afternoon.

Questions:

• Does this all seem doable? Any recommendations or things I should tweak?

• Any restaurants I should book in advance during this time of year? I don't have any dinner reservations at the moment.

• Favorite restaurant suggestions in those areas?

• Any other fun activities you'd suggest?

Thanks in advance!

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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/liltrikz on 2025-02-13 10:37:25+00:00.

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Today I rode the Nozomi for the first time! It was a pleasant 2 hour and 15 minute ride from Tokyo to Kyoto. We had the seats on the back right of the cart so we had views of Mt. Fuji and space for our oversized luggage. Once we arrived in Kyoto and got ready to hail a cab with the Go app, I realized I didn’t have my phone! We went to Lost & Found at Kyoto Station and they said to come back in an hour after they’ve had time to work on the situation. They filed a report and we waited the hour at Kyoto Station.

We noticed after about 30 minutes that Find My showed my phone still being at Osaka Station, which was a great sign. We went back and they confirmed it had been found and they had a photo on a tablet of my phone! Huge relief. Luckily I still had a physical Suica from my first trip to Tokyo in 2023, as we had to head to Osaka from Kyoto to get my phone. My partner downloaded the Go Taxi app and we took our luggage to our hotel then we left for Osaka.

Not what I expected my first trip to Osaka to be, but what can you do? We made it to Lost & Found and handed them a receipt we were given back at Kyoto Station. They brought out my phone and a beanie I hadn’t even realized I left! If I was going to lose my phone, I got lucky in where I did.

We are heading back to Kyoto, very thankful for how thorough Japan can be with things like this!

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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/Icy_Display_3548 on 2025-02-09 12:21:25+00:00.

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I’m on a mission to ride the entire coast of Japan by train mostly via local and scenic lines, avoiding the Shinkansen except for reaching my starting points or returning to Tokyo. My goal is to complete this journey over the next year, aligning with my PR application timeline.

At the same time, I’m working toward another train-related challenge: visiting all 800+ train stations in Tokyo. So far, I’ve covered 226 stations, which I’ve been tracking on r/WaitingForATrain.

Why I’m Doing This

• I need clear goals to make things happen.
• I’ve loved trains since childhood—while some people are into anime, my passion has always been railways. Exploring Japan by train has been a lifelong dream.
• My job is fully remote, so I want to take advantage of this rare opportunity to travel.

Each leg of the journey will be about five days long, with 3–5 hours of train travel per day. This keeps the pace manageable while allowing time to explore each region.

For this first segment, I focused on the northwest coast of Honshu, traveling from Niigata to Aomori.

Day 1: Tokyo → Niigata

I took the Shinkansen to Niigata and stayed at Global View Niigata, a business hotel right by the station. It’s like an APA Hotel but slightly nicer. The sento in the basement was great, though they’re strict about tattoos. The cold plunge and sauna were a solid way to unwind.

For dinner, I had some incredible ramen at this spot () known for its soy + ginger soup base. The crispy pork was a standout. Apparently, the owner has expanded into Tokyo as well.

Overall, Niigata had a strong salaryman vibe—it felt more like a business hub than a travel destination, but it was an efficient stop for my journey.

Day 2: Niigata → Akita

I took the Inaho Limited Express along the coast toward Akita. The views were stunning from the start, with near-constant ocean scenery. I considered taking the Hakushin + Uetsu Lines, but from the platform, I saw they were packed commuter trains. The Inaho was pricier but 100% worth it.

Due to bad weather, my train was canceled after Sakata, and we had to transfer to a JR Bus for the rest of the route to Akita. It was a bit of a letdown, but JR refunded the full fare and even provided additional compensation, which was appreciated. The bus ride was about three hours and still had some nice coastal views.

First impressions of Akita: small town, quiet, and incredibly friendly. People actually smile back when you smile at them—it’s wholesome.

I stayed at Hotel Kan-Raku in the Kawabata area, a 20-minute walk from the station. I picked this area because it’s supposed to have good izakayas and bars, but it wasn’t as lively as I expected. The hotel was new, budget-friendly, and APA-style with friendly staff.

Food & drink recommendations:

• Beer Flight: The owner is a craft beer enthusiast, with a great mix of local Japanese (West Coast Brewery) and U.S. beers.
• Nico: Doesn’t look like much in photos, but hands-down the best pancakes I’ve had in a while.

Akita’s regional specialty is Hinaijidori chicken, but honestly? I don’t get the hype. Tried it at a few izakayas, and it felt overpriced.

Day 3: Exploring Akita

Spent most of the day at Tsurunoyu Onsen, famous for its milky sulfur hot springs. Well worth the 3.5-hour round trip from Akita!

This also gave me a chance to ride the Akita Shinkansen, which was a treat. Tazawako Station, the transfer point, is a beautiful little station, and I recommend trying the local soft-serve ice cream—even in winter. The milk is thick and flavorful.

Onsen tips:

• Cash only (¥2,200 with towel pack). Get the towel pack!
• The mixed outdoor pool is not worth it; I tried it and ended up staying indoors because the water was hotter
• Last shuttle leaves at 3:20 PM.

Day 4: Akita → Aomori (via Resort Shirakami)

This was the part I had been looking forward to the most. I’ve spent 10 years dreaming about riding the Resort Shirakami, and it did not disappoint.

• The train itself: Beautifully designed with a great atmosphere.
• The views: Nonstop coastal scenery—exactly what I wanted.
• Onboard experience: The train was half-empty until Goshogawara, so staff let me move to better seats for the views. There was even a live musical performance in Car 1, which was a great touch.

Pro tips:

• Car 4 faces forward from Akita, and C/D seats have the best ocean views.
• At Higashi-Noshiro, the train switches tracks, so seating orientation changes.
• Car 2 has semi-private seating, and I’d try to book there next time.

The train makes a few stops for passengers to explore, like Noshiro, which was a nice break.

Honestly? I’d love to redo this trip more slowly—maybe spend a week exploring the Gonō Line region.

Day 5: Aomori

Aomori feels completely different from Akita. It’s small, but it has more energy, more tourists, and a stronger food culture—partly due to the nearby U.S. military base.

Where to eat:

• Dandeion – Great for meat lovers.
• Apple pie near the train station – Aomori is famous for apples, and this was a must-try.

I stayed at Richmond Hotel, a 20-minute walk from the station. Highly recommend—larger rooms than APA, a work desk, laundry facilities (with availability tracking on the TV), and free drinks on every floor. The hot apple tea was delicious.

Aomori transit tips:

• The bus system is a little confusing—routes are labeled with trunk line letters and individual line numbers. Double-check before boarding.

Onsen recommendation:

• Asamushi Onsen (via Aomori Tetsudo Line) – The station building itself has a great sento, plus several onsen nearby.

Day 6: Aomori → Haneda

I flew back to Haneda instead of taking the Shinkansen since it it was cheaper and faster.

Next time, I plan to continue my coastal train journey from Aomori down to Sendai. Looking forward to seeing more of Japan this way!

Final Thoughts

This was an amazing start to my journey. If you have any feedback on how I can make these posts more informative or valuable, I’d love to hear it!

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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/suburuko on 2025-02-03 04:25:23+00:00.

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Thanks to this sub, everyone who has contributed their itineraries and trip reports, and countless YouTube videos, I'm feeling confident about our first trip to Japan in late March. I would appreciate any feedback folks may have on our itinerary, and I have several specific questions noted at the end of the post.

For context, my husband and I generally take trips for outdoor destinations, so having more of a city focused trip is still something we're learning to adjust to. I'm trying to strike a balance each day between having several options planned, while not being overwhelmed in case we need a day to relax or if a spontaneous desire arises. I took a lot of inspiration from this trip report, with the goal of creating a low-stress trip where we have the opportunity to observe, learn and appreciate much of what such a different country and culture has to offer.

Day 1-2 (Travel to Osaka)

• Fly to Tokyo Narita Airport (leave Thursday March 20, lose a day and land the evening of Friday March 21 around 5:30pm local time)
• Get SUICA card, JR pass
• Debating whether to take the train from Tokyo to Osaka or take a domestic Peach Aviation flight
• Stay: Hotel Hankayu International in the Umeda area

Day 3 (Osaka)

• Rest / walk around Nakazakicho
• If we're feeling recovered enough from jet lag, check out the National Bunraku Puppet Theater or take a Tombori River Cruise
• Dinner in Dotonbori - find the fugu!

Day 4 (Osaka)

• Nara day trip (via JR or Kintetsu train)
• Tickets to the Grand Sumo Tournament at Edion that evening

Day 5 (Osaka to Kyoto)

• 1 hr minute train ride (Hankyu-Kyoto line seems to be the best option from hotel to hotel)
• Visit the Daigo Ji Temple
• Walk around Gion District (have heard specifically the west end near Kawabata-dori is the best space to see cherry blossoms if they're blooming)
• Tempura Lunch @ Yoshikawa
• Visit the Ginkakuji Temple
• Walk the Philosopher's Path in the evening
• Stay: Hotel Resol Kyoto Kawaramachi Sanjo

Day 6 (Kyoto)

• Fushimi Inari Hidden Hiking Tour
• Visit the Kinkaku-Ji temple or Saihōji (Kokedera) Temple
• Shinkyogoku Street for shopping
• Dinner in Pontocho Alley

Day 7 (Kyoto to Hakone)

• Train from Kyoto to Hakone (3 hrs via Tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara Station, then transfer to transfer to the Hakone Tozen to Gora Station)
• From Gora Station, take the Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani
• Take Hakone Tozen back to Tonosawa Station, walk to hotel
• Stay: Yamanochaya Ryokan

Day 8 (Hakone)

• Fun2Drive, my husband likes fast cars so we booked the Nissan GT-R Nismo for a 5-hour drive around the Hakone area (10am-3pm)
• Walk/Bike around Lake Ashi or just relax at ryokan

Day 9 (Hakone to Tokyo)

• Train from Hakone Yumoto to Tokyo (take the Romancecar)
• Walk around Yoyogi Park
• Lunch and strolling in the Shimokitazawa Neighborhood
• Shibuya Sky at sunset, then just observe the madness that is Shibuya Crossing
• Kabukicho Nightlife if we're feeling brave
• Stay: JR KYUSHU HOTEL Blossom Shinjuku

Day 10 (Tokyo)

• Morning walk to Meiji Jingu
• Walk around the fish market (Tsukiji Outer Market)
• Check out Teamlab Planets
• If we have the energy, check out the Imperial Palace or at least the gardens
• Spend the evening at the Bridge listening bar (hi-fi audio hangout)

Day 11 (Tokyo to Denver)

• Walk by the Sumida River and through Ueno Park or Shinjuku Gyoena Park to see the cherry blossoms
• Visit the Senso Ji Temple
• Nakamise-Dori shopping or walking around Kuramae neighborhood until we need to head to the airport
• Flight out of Narita at 6:00pm

Ok, so on to the barrage of questions that I've been itching to ask this group:

• Train vs. Domestic Flight: For Day 1/2, we have the option of either taking the train from Narita to Osaka, or taking a domestic Peach Aviation flight from Narita to Kansai. Both options would seemingly get us to Osaka around the same time - 10pm - but I'm leaning more towards the train since my understanding is that the Kansai airport is still 40+ minutes from Osaka proper, so we'd still end up having to take a taxi or train/bus once we land. On the flip side, with it being the first time we're in the country and trying to navigate the trains, I could also see us getting on the wrong train by accident and getting to Osaka late that way as well. Any advice would be appreciated.
• Shipping Luggage: I've seen all of the posts recommending that we use luggage shipping services. Does this sub feel like the advice stands if we each have a carry-on size roller bag and a backpack? Would you ship two roller bags between hotels or is that manageable enough to bring on the trains? I worry a bit about shipping luggage and it taking over a day to get to our next location, and based on other posts it seems like laundry is prevalent enough at hotels that we can get by with packing lighter.
• Meal Reservations: We don't have any specific meals planned out save for one or two - I generally prescribe to the idea of saving lots of spots in my phone and then just eating wherever is closest to us or if something looks good nearby. However, I've heard that reservations in Kyoto are a must. Is that the case? If so, are there specific spots in Kyoto anyone would recommend based on our itinerary? We are pescatarian, so down for all of the fish but aren't necessarily looking for beef curry spots.
• Veggie Ramen: On the note of food, we're really excited to eat ramen but I'm curious if there is much veggie ramen to be found. Is that a normal offering at ramen shops or would we need to seek out specific vegetarian ramen locations?
• Shopping Advice: We're not huge on souvenirs but there are a few things I'd be interested in bringing back. Specifically, I'd love to find a nice kimono, some pottery, good tea, perhaps a couple of nice pairs of chopsticks. Any great spots people would recommend to find those items beyond those I've noted?
• Music: We love a good listening bar with hi-fi audio equipment, along with jazz bars. Any recommendations for those types of spots to wind down in the evening in any city would be appreciated!
• Taiko: Has anyone ever done a taiko event in any of these cities? I tried to find something we could go attend but didn't have much luck.

If you read this far, thank you. I appreciate the time that everyone takes on this sub to provide such thoughtful advice! I look forward to being able to post a trip report when we return so others can hopefully benefit in the future.

This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/MonoCanalla on 2025-02-02 10:58:12+00:00.

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I wrote this trip report in the hope to find people like me who dream about traveling to Japan and enjoy reading these, or that has been already and likes to see what other people did different and suggest how they could have done better.

So we made this trip in January because it was the only month we could have done it for some time. Been wanting to make this trip as the first time I visited Japan was September 2019, as I left it wanting to visit it again with all my heart. I almost bought a ticket for April 2020. On this trip report I will sometimes compare the trip I ended just a day ago to the one I had five years and a half.

Travelers: me (43m, Spanish), my partner (30f, Mexican).

-The lower back pain of Hell. I posted already on this sub or the other one asking for advice about this. While it’s true after around ten days the pain kind of went off (end of the trip, too bad), something funny happened around the middle of the trip. There is one of this “hidden” spots in Fushimi Inari in which people were praying to a pine tree. Or a sanctuary made around such tree. But the tree was raised high from its roots, in a way in which if left some space under the tree by which people were crawling trough. A message said that passing under the tree granted a relief on back and knee pain. I squatted and passed trough, and I didn’t have pain at all for the rest of the thousand of steps hiking up the hill of Fushimi Inari. Just after getting back to our hostel, I decided to take a walk around Gion and then that’s when I had back pain again. Coincidence?? I don’t think so!

-Take a flu shot. If you, like me, are prone on getting under the weather when it’s cold (I checked with my doctor, I’m fine), consider taking the flu shot (and covid shot since you are there) before trips like this, or actually every year anyways. I was exposed to people with the flu or under the weather back home, then my girlfriend kind of was under the weather the first days. First Tokyo days were very cold and windy, and soon after we went to Kiyomizu-dera on a rush because it was getting close to closing time. So we started walking uphill fast trough the street leading to the temple, dodging cars and people going down, and reached it on time to enjoy the dusk from there among Chinese influencers with fluffy jackets. As I was warm from the exercise, I took my jacket and scarf off, even though it was chilly. Then it started to rain. It was mild and didn’t take too long, but it was very humid. I knew that without the flu shot I’d be absolutely cooked after that, prob one week sick making my trip miserable.

-Crowds and over tourism . It was slightly more packed than my trip in 2019. While I saw much more westerners than then, we were still a huge minority. Still, in five years I see a change in Japanese people’s reaction. They are already used to having us around, and I can tell they are already tired and frustrated of not being able to communicate properly because their English or our Japanese. While like it’s said before, it’s nice and makes things easier to be able to say some basic and useful worlds in Japanese, I don’t think it’s necessary to stress out too much. I’m sad how I perceive over tourism is disrupting the flow of life in the cities I visited. I know the real problem is the abundance of airbnbs, so I always try to avoid them rather using booking.com, if that doesn’t cause problems of their own (I don’t know). I wonder if we are in a tourists bubble and still feeling the effects of post covid years, I wonder if people is gonna stay home for a while instead of traveling all thge time. 2021 and early 2022 was an amazing year to travel, cheap flights and cheap stayings. Now I think twice before considering to travel for leisure.

-Why the bad rep on Kyoto lately? “Overrated”? Walking around Gion is like walking around an outdoor museum. Every street, every corner, every perspective is incredible beautiful. I love how it’s full of hidden beautiful places.

-Shopping. In 2019, I left with much of the money I saved for the trip unspent. I was like “dude, I don’t need things, I’m fine”. Now, however, we saw so many things we wanted to buy and bring home. Incredible clothes, the food (sweets and curry mostly), and my beloved pottery. We went to a flea market and I found very nice antiquities, including a very nice singing bowl with a very beautiful note. But I found a stand from a pottery studio and bought some stuff. Visited another pottery studio in Gion and bought a cup after they made me the tour. I selected this pieces because I saw a different, more strong aura. However, I’d advise to plan your shopping well, because of course by the end of the trip I couldn’t buy something I really wanted. It was in Akihabara, an anime figure I’ve been haunting down since I decided (wrongly) not to buy it in 2019 for 200 euros. Now it was labeled as 300, and I wish I had the money available.

For clothes, our favorites were Uniqlo for the prices and the local unique collections, small japanese stores in Harahuku and Shibuya (that katana umbrella I didn't buy...). Small business shops in Shimakitazawa, the souvenir jacket store in Harahuku, and basically any store around Nakagyo Ward in Kyoto, like I Am Not Architect, and other shops I don't remmember the name. We focused of course in stuff we couldn't get elsewhere or that was crazy cheap, and we went crazy for shoes.

For my girlfriend it was aparently a big deal all the koprean cosmetics and skin care north of Shinhuku.

-Traveling solo. This time I had a travel companion and, well, while I was trying to create a vibe of silence and contemplation, we come from… let’s say vibrant cultures. We were… not loud, but not shy about talking to each other on the street, shops, etc… (not on the subway, and very quietly around temples if at all). However, the experience of traveling solo in 2019 was amazing and I recommended it to everyone. In general, traveling solo anywhere is always a good healing process and a means to take time to think or just be present (the silence and the new stuff your brain is fed with it's amazing; either way you are a better person at the end of the trip. But somehow in Japan it’s even better. I also love the hostel culture, meeting people and having a chat, making tea at the kitchen and offer it to anyone who’s around.

-Restaurants. I subscribe to the advice of just expiring neighborhoods and just following your gut. Smells good? Looks good? Go in. Some recommendations on these subs are ok. That way we really enjoyed curry koisus, engine ramen, Kamaiki, or Tsukemen Gonokami Seisakush. But other recs were not as good as any other restaurant on the neighborhood. If you are not impatient, look around and choose by yourself.

Train stations and shoppong malls normally have the best restaurants on the area, and Shimokitazawa has curry joints to die for.

Ironically, of course we planned to have good sushi, but we only enjoyed an ok sashimi on a shop around Tsukiji Market.

-Traveling in January. January was the only month I had time to travel, but otherwise I wish I had traveled another time. Even though I was a “mild” January by Tokyo standards, I didn’t enjoy the cold. Some areas with big avenues are very windy and it’s unpleasant. And more of the things we wanted to do were day things rather than night. Also, any big city you visit is more has a less happier mood during January or February. The foliage was of course not lush, and the streets, museums, and temples were crowded anyways despite being a month such as January, so not really much pros on going on January.

-Food. Because of budget reasons, we decided to have a good meal at a restaurant every day, and find something inexpensive for the other two meals of the day. However, by oing this you are on a risk of having a lacking diet daily. We stacked food from Seven Elevens, and tried to keep a balance between Japanese favorites like doriyakis with healthier choices like fruit smoothies. A nice breakfast from Seven Elevens can cost around 1000 yen/person. Later we found supermarkets which had some good inexpensive choices like sushi. In Kyoto, we spent slightly more than those 1000 each of us having late breakfasts at Nishiki Market. Our favorites were curry bread and matcha ice cream.

We are gym rats, so we were kind of sad our diet was so protein poor and so unbalanced for those two weeks. But some times can't be priorities on a Japan trip, can they?

-Airplane life: bless my aisle seat on my flight back. Flight luck is a lottery, it is really important who is sitting next to you in the flight and where you are sitting. For this one I had a young lady that somehow managed to watch tik toks on her phone during a long hour of the flight, perfectly audible outside of her headset. At the airport, control securitities are getting less strict, but depends where you are. We forgot to do our tax free thing at the airport and probably lost 30 euros, but what's done it's done. Also forgot to buy curry at the airport...

-On a miscelanious note, we loved the kitsunes at Fushimi Inari, the Ghibli Museum (again), the Nara Park for obvious reasons, but also the Nara mochis, the nice tea room and the gardens in the Shika Saru Kitsune building of Nara. Had a great time at Golden Gai (again), enjoyed a late dinner at a non google maps soba restaurant at Shinhuku with no tourists and full of fully tattoed japanese young guys (if you know what I mean).

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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/frozenpandaman on 2025-01-30 10:23:05+00:00.

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| Name | Old price | New price | |

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| | 5-day Hokkaido Rail Pass | ¥21,000 | ¥23,000 | | 7-Day Hokkaido Rail Pass | ¥27,000 | ¥29,000 | | 10-Day Hokkaido Rail Pass | ¥33,000 | ¥38,000 | | Sapporo–Noboribetsu Area Pass | ¥10,000 | ¥11,000 | | Sapporo–Furano Area Pass | ¥11,000 | ¥12,000 | | JR East–South Hokkaido Rail Pass | ¥35,000 | ¥35,370 | | JR Tohoku–South Hokkaido Rail Pass | ¥30,000 | ¥30,640 |

These passes will also now be purchasable by all non-Japanese passport holders (i.e. including foreign residents), not only those on a tourist visa.

Beginning April 1, 2025.

This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/dannyrab on 2025-01-28 18:24:07+00:00.

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Hey guys!

Me and my wife (early 30s) are going to Japan end of March into April this year.

I built out our itinerary and wanted to get your feedback before finalizing things.

Please give me your thoughts if I have done repetitive things, or if geographically something doesnt make sense in the order I put it. Also some suggestions for last days in Tokyo.

Also, I attached a list of restaurants and the bottom and would love to hear your feedback.

Day 1: Tokyo

|Arrive 16:30| |Ginza| |Sushi| |Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi Building|

Day 2: Tokyo

|Meji Shrine| |Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden| |Takeshita Street| |Omotesando| |Shibuya Crossing| |Shibuya Dinner|

Day 3: Tokyo

|Senso-ji Temple| |Namikase Street| |Tsukiji Outer Market| |Ueno Park| |Akihabara| |Tokyo Skytree (Sunset)|

Day 4: Tokyo

|Yoyogi Park| |mipig café| |Akihabara (Arcade)| |teamLab| |Odaiba (Shopping / Rainbow bridge)|

Day 5: Hakone

|Train to Hakone (85 Min)| |Hakone Open-Air Museum| |Lake Ashi (Hakone Sightseeing Cruise)| |Hakone Shrine| |Owakudani Valley| |Rokyan| |Isuien Garden|

Day 6: Kyoto

|Train To Kyoto| |Fushimi Inari Taisha| |Daigoji Temple| |Nishiki Market| |Gion District|

Day 7: Kyoto

|Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji).| |Nijo Castle| |Philosopher’s Path| |Kiyomizu-dera Temple|

Day 8: Kyoto

|Arashiyama Bamboo Grove| |Tenryu-ji Temple| |Togetsukyo Bridge| |Iwatayama Monkey Park|

Day 9: Osaka (Nara Day Trip)

|Train to Nara| |Todai-ji Temple| |Nara Park| |Isuien Garden| |Kasuga Taisha Shrine| |Kofuku-ji Temple| |Train to Osaka|

Day 10: Osaka

|Osaka Castle| |Kuromon Ichiba Market| |Shops in Namba| |Dotonbori| |Hozenji Yokocho|

Day 11: Osaka

|Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Arcade| |Amerika-Mura| |Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine| |Shinsekai| |Tsutenkaku Tower|

Day 12: Tokyo

|Asakusa & Sumida River| |Open|

Day 13: Tokyo

|Open|

Flight at 5:50 PM

Top Sushi

|Sushi Inomata| |Kiyota Hanare| |Hirō Ishizaka| |Kiyota| |Sushi Mizukami| |Sushi Suzuki| |Sushidokoro Yamato| |Sushi Kimura| |Tomidokoro| |Sushi Akira| |Takaoka Chiba| |Sushidokoro Yamada| |Sushisho Masa| |Azabujuban Hatano Yoshiki| |Sushi Takeru| |Sushi Ryujiro| |Hakkoku| |Sushi Arai sub counter| |Udatsu|

Yakiniku BBQ

|Yoroniku (よろにく)| |Sumibi Yakiniku Nakahara (炭火焼肉 なかはら)| |Ushigoro (うしごろ)| |Shin-Nihon Yakiniku Tou (新日本焼肉党)| |Yakiniku Kuro 5| |Yakiniku Jambo Hanare| |Yakiniku Yamachan| |Yakiniku Sudo Haruyoshi|

Casual Sushi

|1. Sushiro| |2. Kura Sushi| |3. Uogashi Nihon-Ichi Standing Sushi Bar| |4. Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka| |5. Katsu Midori| |6. Nemuro Hanamaru| |7. Katsumidori Seibu Shibuya| |8. Sushizanmai| |9. Ganso Zushi| |10. Uobei|

Kyoto Restaurants:

High-End: |Hyotei| |Kikyo Sushi| |Mizai| |Gion Sasaki| |Tempura Endo Yasaka| |

Mid Range: |Omen Udon| |Gion Tanto| |五燠堂 (Gooudou)| |G-men (Curry Ramen)|

Casual: |Chao Chao Gyoza| |Menya Inoichi| |Nishiki Market (Food Stalls)| |Kichi Kichi Omurice| || |Izuju (Gion)| |Kyoto Gogyo| ||

|Street Food| |Yudofu| |Yatsuhashi| |Taiyaki|

Osaka Restaurants:

High-End: |Matsusakagyu Yakiniku M (Dotonbori)| |Hajime| |Fujiya 1935|

Mid Range: |Mizuno (Okonomiyaki)| |Ichiran Ramen (Dotonbori Branch)| |Harukoma Sushi| |Yakiniku M Hozenji|

Casual: |Ajinoya (Okonomiyaki)| |Takoyaki Wanaka| |Dotonbori Akaoni| |Kiji Umeda (Okonomiyaki)| |Kuromon Ichiba Market| || |Tsurutontan Udon| |Endo Sushi (Osaka Central Fish Market)| |Okonomiyaki Chitose (Shinsekai)| |Endo Sushi| |Ramen Yashichi| |Fujiya 1935| |

Street Food: |Takoyaki| |Okonomiyaki| |Kushikatsu| |Horumon-yaki|

Tokyo Restaurants:

High-End: |Sushi Arai (Ginza)| |Sukiyabashi Jiro (Ginza)| |Den (Shibuya)| |Florilège (Omotesando)| |Narisawa (Aoyama|

Mid Range: |Afuri Ramen (Multiple Locations)| |Uoriki Kaisen Sushi (Shibuya)| |Ningyocho Imahan| |Tempura Shinjuku Tsunahachi (Shinjuku)|

Casual: |Ichiran Ramen (Multiple Locations| |Rokurinsha (Tokyo Station)| |Sushizanmai (Multiple Locations, Tsukiji Outer Market)| |Ginza Kagari| |Harajuku Gyoza Lou| || |TeamLab Planets Dining (Toyosu)| |Tsukiji Outer Market (Various Stalls)| |Sushisho Masa (Roppongi)| |Maru (Ebisu)| |Omakase Sushi Sho| |Katsu Midori (Shibuya)| |Tsuta (Sugamo)| |Kyubey (Ginza)| ||

Street Food: |Monjayaki| |Taiyaki| |Karaage| |Dango|

This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/bigWrist415 on 2025-01-26 19:35:57+00:00.

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48 hours after completing my 2nd trip to Japan in a year and hopefully this report can help others in their vacation planning. On this trip, I was accompanying my 17 year old daughter and a college friend on a 17 day trip to Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. Her focus on this trip was thrift shopping and she wasn't focused on cultural sightseeing. This was her friend's first trip to Japan and he was interested in the normal first timer's sightseeing as well as Universal Studios Japan and fun2Drive, a JDM driving experience in Hakone.

Our family had just visited Japan in June 2024 and we visted cultural spots in Tokyo, Kyoto, Miyajima, Kanazawa, and Shirakawa-Go on a 13 night vacation. This second trip was in January to take advantage of a long winter break between college semesters. I tagged along on the trip (just in case), but essentially I was a solo traveler and my daughter and her friend had their own itinerary for the trip. I'll lay out their itinerary and then my own itinerary.

We took Japan Airlines into Narita and then immediately took a bullet train to Osaka. I don't recommend a 3 hour train ride, following an 11 hour plane ride, but that's just how the itinerary developed after booking the Japan Airline tickets into Narita (and then flying out of Haneda). Some quick notes. We had the QR code ready for customs/immigration, picked up portable WI-FI devices, and then luggage forwarded (Yamoto) our suitcases from Narita to Osaka. Luggage forwarding worked flawlessly and I highly highly highly recommend forwarding.

We had three nights at the Dotonbori in Osaka and it was great! The hotel had come recommended on several travel blogs as a good value option hotel in a great location. The reviews were not wrong. The location was amazing, the rooms were fine, and the hotel had several free amenities (massage chair, happy hour, customer activities) that just made the stay more enjoyable.

My daughter's itinerary was pretty loose. She was less interested in sightseeing than I was and I suggested they just plan one main activity during the day and evening and leave time to explore.

Osaka - 3 nights

Daughter's three day itinerary: Night 1: arrival; Day 2: explore Dotonbori; Day 3: Nara; Day 4: Osaka Aquarium.

Dad itinerary: Night 1: arrival; Day 2: Cup of Noodles Museum, explore Dotonbori at night; Day 3: Nara; Day 4: Osaka Aquarium.

Our itineraries matched up for the Osaka portion. I hadn't visited Osaka on my last trip and I enjoyed it more than I thought I was. I'm not a foodie, but there was an energy and vibrancy to the night life. I researched the Yokohama Cup of Noodles for our last trip and when I found out that Osaka had cup of Noodles museum (founder's home town) - it was a no brainer for me to visit. I made three personalized cup of noodle as presents for my wife and kids and the experience was a lot of fun. No admission fee to the Cup of Noodles museum and I recommend the experience.

Did not visit Nara on our first trip, because we got our deer experience at Miyajima. The kids had a great time interacting with the deer at Nara. We got there early before a ton of tourist arrived. Quick note about traveling to Japan in the winter. It wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be. While you could see your breath, the daytime temps averaged in the low 50s and night time temps in high 30s to low 40s. I managed just fine in a long sleeve thermal shirt, sweater, and jacket. The manageable temperature and smaller crowd sizes make winter a viable travel time.

Osaka Aquarium was crowded with families and was as expected. It is a good aquarium. If you've been to major aquarium before then you know what to expect. I wouldn't necessarily go back for a 2nd time, but it is a good family or rainy day activity.

I'm not going to list any restaurant or food places that I ate at, because I'm not a foodie. However, I did challenge myself to eat where the locals eat and not to be intimidated at the lack of english menus. Consequently, I ate at Yoshinoya twice and had a very enjoyable beef bowl with rice for like 800 yen ($5 USD).

luggage forwarded from Osaka to Kyoto.

Kyoto - 7 nights ( 1 night sleep capsule/Millenials and 6 nights Solaria Nishitetsu

Having stayed in downtown Kyoto this summer, I knew I wanted to stay in this area again. I think it is perfect location for tourist due to its proximity to the train station, Gion, and Nishiki Market. I also thought it would be fun to try out an upscale sleep capsule hotel. The Millennials has a hotels in Tokyo and Kyoto and I'd call it a premium sleep capsule experience that is a tad pricey. The pods are more expensive in Tokyo than Kyoto and I enjoyed it for the one night we were there. The kids also thought it was "fun".

The Solaria Nishitetsu was great. No complaints. The location is great and our rooms were clean and comfortable.

Kids itinerary: day 2: shopping Onisuka tigers + explore; day 3: fushimi inari; day 4: Arashiyama bamboo forest+monkey park; day 5: Universal Studio Japan; day 6: Kiyomizu-dera; day 6: animal cafe

Dad itinerary: day 2: Ginkaku-ji, Philosopher's Path, Nanzen-ji; day 3: Kyoto Imperial Palace (it was closed; ugh!) Wife & Husband coffee shop; day 4: Uji day trip; day 5: Kobe day trip; day 6: Imperial Palace (english tour, Golden Pavillion, Nijo Castle)

I used this trip to supplement the Kyoto activities I did this summer (Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-era). I enjoyed the Philospher's Path. It must be incredible in the spring or autumn when flowers are blooming or vibrant. In the winter, there was no foliage, but I still enjoyed the walk and found it very peaceful. I also enjoyed the day trip to Uji. The weather was not cooperating and it was threatening to rain on me in the afternoon. However, Byodoin Temple is spectacular and the fact the temple is pictured on the back of a 10 yen coin. It felt like I was really witnessing a historical landmark. I did the Kobe ropeway and really enjoyed exploring the Herb Garden. However, the wind coming across the Kobe Harbor made it really cold in the morning. I had Kobe beef in Kobe and it was good, but not particularly memorable. I'm not a food guy, remember.

I enjoyed the tour of Nijo Castle and the Imperial Palace more than I thought I would. I had only a very basic understanding of Japanese history and visiting the Kyoto Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle make the historical references come to life.

On this trip I was able to eat at Hikiniku to Come (hamburg), No Name Ramen, and Chao Chao Gyoza. I wanted to eat at Hikiniku to Come this summer, but wasn't able to get a reservation given the popularity. In the winter, it still required a reservation, but given my flexible schedule, I was able to come by at noon to secure a dinner reservation. It was great. A fun and delicious experience. I didn't see any other tourist eating at No Name Ramen and I ate there twice. Solid ramen with tender beef. Chao Chao Gyoza required a 30 minute wait (even in the winter), but its a fun vibe and I had dinner there twice.

luggage forwarded from Kyoto to Tokyo.

Tokyo - 6 nights in Shinjuku

Previously, i stayed in Asakusa and Ginza, but we stayed in Shinjuku to get a difference experience and to facilitate day trips. The kids had a day trip to Hakone and Shinjuku was the most convenient train station to leave from. Since we were in Shinjuku, I planned day trips to Mt. Fuji and Kamakura that left from Shinjuku station.

Kids itinerary: Day 1: explore Shinjuku; Day 2: shop + explore Shibuya; Day 3: Shop + Mario Go-Kart in Shibuya; Day 4: Hakone - 2Fun2Drive; Day 5: TeamLab Borderless; Day 6: TeamLab Planets (expanded version).

Dad itinerary: Day 1: explore Shinjuku; Day 2: explore Harajuku + TeamLab Borderless; Day 3: My Fuji day trip; Day 4: Kamakura day trip; Day 5: Gotokuji Temple (lucky cat temple) and explore area; Day 6: Tokyo Imperial Palace and TeamLab Planets (expanded version)

I enjoyed TeamLab Planets more than Borderless. I need more structure as compared to just randomly walking around an exhibit. However, the tea garden at Borderless and coloring in a drawing and then having it scanned it and being incorporated into the exhibit was really fun. The Mt. Fuji day trip was great. I almost missed the tour, because I couldn't find the meeting spot, but it all worked out. I enjoyed visiting Kamakura and getting outside of Tokyo. I went to TeamLab Planets again, because the newly expanded TeamLab Planets had its' grand opening a day before we flew out (and I couldn't resist). It was fun revisiting Planets, but the new exhibits are not must-see.

I enjoyed our stay at the Gracery and would happily go back there for a future stay. It was very easy to navigate Tokyo, because we were close to a major train station. Also, the access to konbinis and restaurants was great. Yes, you are close to Kabukicho and you will be solicited by guys and girls, but you can just ignore them.

Happy to take questions and hope this write up is helpful.

This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/Illustrious-Dust-290 on 2025-01-26 02:02:03+00:00.

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On January 25, 2025. my mentally disabled uncle got on a train. We were about to board with him but the doors closed too fast.

We have contacted the police and they told us that there is a nationwide search but every train station we have visited DONT know anything about it. We have filed a missing person's report.

He was last seen January 25 2025 at 20:15 pm at Shin Kiba station on Platform 1, heading to Maihama. Wearing a brown jacket with a hood.

He is 62 years old, about 5 feet 2 inches. He has a mustache. He is a diabetic and needs medication so this is very urgent!!! Please call the Uruyasa police station if you find him or have seen him since last night.

Do you think we should try contacting a news media or anyone else? The embassy does not open until tomorrow...we will appreciate any advice or happy stories 🙏🏻

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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/anuragashok16 on 2025-01-25 14:51:47+00:00.

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Hey everyone! I’m planning a 4-5-day trip to Kyoto (25th Feb to 28th Feb 2025) with my spouse, and I’d love some feedback on our itinerary. We’re especially interested in early-morning visits (to avoid crowds) and vegan-friendly meal spots. Here’s what we’ve sketched out so far:

Day 1

• Morning (7 AM): Arashiyama (Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji, Kimono forest), then hop over to Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji before lunchtime.
• Afternoon: Nishiki Market for food/snacks (we’ll check for vegan options).
• Evening: Gion for lantern-lit streets and Yasaka Shrine.

Day 2

• Morning (7 AM): Fushimi Inari (JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station).
• Afternoon: Continue on JR Nara Line to Uji → Byōdō-in Temple, matcha shops, and river walk.
• Evening: Either explore Pontocho Alley or Shijo-Kawaramachi area for dinner.

Day 3

• Morning: Kiyomizu-dera around 8 AM, then Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka for that classic pagoda view.
• Afternoon: Okazaki Shrine, maybe check out Heian Shrine if time permits.
• Evening: Final night in Kyoto—souvenir shopping and a vegan dinner (possibly TowZen for ramen or Ain Soph. Journey again).

Day 4

• Biwako Valley / Nara / Osaka

Day 5

• Morning: Kitano Tenmangu for plum blossoms
• Afternoon: Leave Kyoto for KIX using Haruka.

Questions / Advice Wanted

1. Feasibility: Does the itinerary look feasible?
2. Crowd Tips: Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari are super popular—are 7 AM starts early enough?
3. Anything Missing: Is there a lesser-known gem we should squeeze in or something we should swap out?
4. Day Trip Advice: Biwako Valley / Nara / Osaka .. we are mostly leaning on Biwako because we both have not seen snow yet :-D

Any insights would be awesome. Thanks in advance!

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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/InternationalBox679 on 2025-01-23 15:15:23+00:00.

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Planning to visit Japan March 19-30, this is what we planned so far but not sure how hectic it will be and if its worth checking out everything in this timespan, or just adjusting the days in each city. Would love to hear some input and suggestions for things to do/remove. This will be our first time traveling to Japan. Landing in Haneda.

Day 1 (March 19): Arrival in Tokyo

• Land at Haneda Airport at 2 PM.
• Explore Shinjuku for shopping, nightlife, and unique stores.
• Optional: Visit Sky Lounge Stellar Garden.

Day 2 (March 20): Tokyo - DisneySea

• Full day at DisneySea.
• Evening: Relax and rest at the hotel.

Day 3 (March 21): Tokyo to Mt. Fuji

• Morning: Travel to Mt. Fuji. Stay at onsen.
• Activities: Explore the area, enjoy the onsen, rent pedal boat on lake ashinoko, hakone shrine.

Day 4 (March 22): Mt. Fuji to Kyoto

• Travel to Kyoto. Would love to hear recs.

Day 5 (March 23): Kyoto - Temples and Culture

• Morning: Visit Hokan-ji Temple and Fushimi Inari-Taisha (hike the Tori gates).
• Afternoon: Explore Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Kinkaku-ji.
• Evening: Visit the Gion District and Nishiki Market.

Day 6 (March 24): Day Trip to Nara and Uji

• Morning: Feed deer at Nara Park and visit Todai-ji Temple.
• Afternoon: Visit Byodo-in Temple in Uji, reserve matcha testing.
• Evening: Return to Kyoto.

Day 7 (March 25): Kyoto to Osaka

• Morning: Travel to Osaka.
• Afternoon: Explore Dotonbori for food and nightlife.
• Evening: Visit Osaka Castle.

Day 8 (March 26): Day Trip to Kobe

• Morning: Travel to Kobe. Visit Kobe Harborland.
• Afternoon: Enjoy vegetarian-friendly delicacies in Kobe.
• Evening: Return to Osaka.

Day 9 (March 27): Osaka to Hiroshima

• Morning: Travel to Hiroshima. Check into local hotel.
• Afternoon: Visit Peace Memorial Park.
• Evening: Explore Itsukushima Shrine (Miyajima).

Day 10 (March 28): Hiroshima to Tokyo

• Morning: Travel back to Tokyo.
• Afternoon: Shopping at GU and exploring Shibuya Sky
• Evening: Leisure

Day 11 (March 29): Tokyo - Last Day

• Ginza: Tsukji Outer Market, shop around at GU, Uniqlo.
• Evening: Prepare for departure.

Day 12 (March 30): Departure at 4:30 pm from haneda

This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/VanceMkk on 2025-01-23 16:06:25+00:00.

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I spent my fall of junior year living with a family in Kanagawa and attending school in Tokyo. I have been meaning to do a write up of my experiences as I used this subreddit for help on occasion and enjoyed reading others' posts. My experience was somewhat unique but I was able to travel extensively and hope that my experiences might be beneficial for those looking to travel to Japan or at the very least spend some time reminiscing with me! This is a long post, hopefully not a boring one.

Admittedly, I would like to learn more Japanese before I return (and I have every intention of returning, Japan was a magical formative experience for me). I had taught myself hirigana, a little ketekana and some basic words and phrases. I spent more time trying to learn customs as I was unsure of my homestay assignment until pretty close to my departure. Should I have been assigned an older couple I expected a more strict traditional experience and I hoped to be ready. Some things I learned were helpful, some not. I had an open mind and committed many faux paus while I was there. The funny part was, most Japanese people were far too kind and polite to ever correct me. I think most of all they appreciated the effort. If there is anything I hope to impart from this it is the smallest efforts are met with great appreciation and endearment. Respect Begets Respect.

Photos:

August:

I arrived late August and the heat and humidity were rather miserable. In spite of the weather, I did a few notable things:

1. Spent a day in Yokohama. Yokahama is a large city just south of Tokyo. Yokohama has an immigrant past exemplified by its bustling Chinatown. Later in my stay I would return to see Sankeian Garden, the estate of what was the wealthiest man of Yokohama that is now a lovely garden displaying Japanese maples and great examples of traditional architecture. Yokohama has many green spaces, some of which were built during the Tokyo Olympics where Yokohama was a venue. Shin-Yokohama station was the nearest Shinkansen station to where I was living and presented a quieter experience relative to Shinagawa or Tokyo stations in Tokyo. Yokohama is a lovely city but by no means a must see on a more packed itinerary.
2. Kamakura. Kamakura is a lovely area and I wish I had spent more time exploring the myriad of temples nestled throughout the region. When I visited in the summer the beaches were packed with people escaping the heat. the beaches of Kamakura actually represent some of the few sand beaches in the area. On this trip I visited the daibutsu, a giant bronze buddha statue second only to the Todaiji in Nara, another place I would visit. I would also later visit the island of Enoshima, famed for its views of Mt. Fuji, such views are usually elusive in the summer months when the clouds cling to the mountain. Kamakura lovely area and I'd recommend those staying in Tokyo to visit as a day trip to escape the hustle and bustle.
3. Explored Senso-ji and Tokyo skytree. Senso-ji is quite busy and touristy. It's a nice area but I only returned once or twice (I needed to collect a goshuin from the temple once I discovered the tradition). The temple grounds are spacious, especially for being in a busy part of Tokyo, but not unique enough to warrant the crowds. There are numerous better priced less crowded shopping streets that Japan has to offer. The skytree presents cool panoramic views but its busy and expensive and in my opinion not worth the time if one only has a limited number of days.

September:

Still hot. Spent my weekends further exploring areas of Tokyo. In early September a classmate and I hiked Mt. Fuji. I walked around Ginza and the Hamarikyu gardens, both nice for different reasons. Ultimately, I think it good to do a bit of wandering, especially when it comes to restaurants. I went to this amazing tempura place that was down a flight of stairs in a nondescript building outside of the busy area of Ginza. I sat at the bar and watched as the young chef expertly prepared my tempuradon.

Mt Fuji: We took a bus from Shinjuku to kawaguchiko where we took a train to fujiyoshida and stayed in a hostel for the night. We got up the next morning ~5am and took a bus to the 5th station, the common starting point. We began hiking around ~7am and took the most common path to the top. For reference, I'm a college athlete and my classmate is from a mountainous region of America so we ascending at a quite rapid pace. I would not recommend someone less fit or more sane to go as fast as we did. From the fifth station to the top we hiked for roughly 2 hours and 15 minutes. When we started, it was cloudy and raining. By the time we had reached the top we were above the clouds. I had applied a little sunscreen but evidently not enough. We hiked to the true high point of fuji, around the rim of the volcano and then descended. The descent was more difficult. The trail is loose and sandy and it is difficult to hold your footing with the momentum. At this point we were tired and ready to be done with our adventure but the trail kept going and going. Because of the early start we were done mid afternoon. I ended up sustaining second degree sun burns and thankfully our hostel owner knew a local nurse and I was able to get treatment the next morning. Thank goodness for Japanese health insurance! My friend hearing I was being attended fulfilled their dream of riding the tallest rollercoaster at Fuji-Q amusement park. They waited in line for 2 hours!

October:

My first "big" trip happened in October. The school I was attending put together some field trips that were partially subsidized by the school for study abroad students. It was first come first served so I was only able to get into one, however I think it was probably the best trip anyway. For a long weekend we went to Wakayama prefecture to visit holy sites related to Buddhism. Specifically, Shingon Buddhism's holy temples are housed on Koyasan (Mount Koya).

Nachi: We took an overnight bus to Wakayama prefecture that was chartered by the school. To get to Mt. Koya using trains is an arduous and convoluted process so I don't think I would have been able to replicate this trip on my own. From Tokyo the busride took about 9 hours. We first visited a part of the Kumano Nakahechi, a sacred pilgrimage path for followers of Buddhism that is a protected World Heritage Site. We saw the Nachi-taisha, a temple nestled on the side of a valley overlooking nachi falls, a site also sacred in Shintoism. I think there are few more beautiful places I have been. We explored the grounds of the falls and temple for a few hours before getting lunch and checking in at our hotel. The hotel had onsen, my first experience, and we were treated to a buffet dinner and breakfast. Of course, one of the students I was assigned to room with was a snorer... I woke up early but that was okay because I got to watch some of the Jets game before breakfast.

Koyasan: After breakfast we got back on the bus and drove to Koyasan where we were staying overnight in a Buddhist monastery. Mt. Koya is one of the few places in Japan where tourists can book such an experience so I was very happy. When we arrived we dropped our bags and got to exploring, we had several hours before dinnertime. A friend and I decided to go on a hike on one of the pilgrimage routes from the town. It was rainy but we hiked for probably two hours. I'm not a particularly religious person but I felt the spirituality of those woods viscerally; the green-ridged mountains and tall conifers were beautiful. We returned and freshened up for dinner where we were served traditional vegetarian Buddhist cuisine. The attention to detail was remarkable, the vegetables were cut and crafted into various shapes. They served us Udon that was simmered into individual pots next to us. It was delicious. When we had all had our fill, we assembled outside the monastery for our night tour of the famous Okonuin cemetary. It was raining but we were accompanied by a lovely temple monk who spoke perfect english. He guided us along telling us the history and lore of the cemetary, as well as some "spooky" trivia. "They say that if you look in to that well and don't see your reflection, it means you will die within the year!" Halloween comes early there I supposed... The most famous person enshrined in the cemetary is Kobo-Daishi the founder of Japan's Shingon sect of Buddhism. I can't remember his story well enough to recount here but for those interested it's worth researching. After the tour we went back to the Monastery to sleep. Why are traditional Japanese pillows so hard? In the morning we attended the morning Buddhist prayers and then were on our way back on the bus.

Hakone: I went for a day trip with a friend at the end of the month. Its a mountainous region close to Tokyo and popular vacation and onsen location for those who live in the city. I would say it was underwhelming, especially as we were limited to public transportation. There's several things to see and do but they're not walkable and require getting on and off busses. For those who are staying in one of the areas many wonderful Ryokan or with a rental car a better experience might be had but for me there would be better places for a day trip. I think most of Hakone's popularity comes from its convenience for those living in Tokyo.

November:

November was a big ...

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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/outandabout91 on 2025-01-22 20:25:29+00:00.

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This sub has been so helpful in planning this trip. I initially had a whole different itinerary set and now have a more concrete itinerary. It will be my husband and I traveling with our 2 year old from May 4-May19.

*I need advice for Day 5. In hindsight, we should have gone straight from Tokyo to Kyoto and have an extra day at the end to go to Miyajima Island instead however, the prices of the hotels I booked are way too high now for me to cancel and rebook.

Day 0: Arrive in Narita at 4:30pm. Estimating we will reach our hotel around 8pm. Have dinner and crash.

Day 1-4: Tokyo, Hotel-Banrai Hotel Asakusa

Day 1: Senso-Ji, Asakusa shrine, Nakamise Dori Street

Day 2: Shinjuku

Day 3: Shibuya & Harajuku

Day 4: Tokyo Tower area and Teamlab borderless*

**Note: Not planning too much and will just explore Tokyo without a definite plan. Will focus on 1 or 2 neighborhoods a day. Anything specific you think we must do? We don't want to do anything that requires a reservation as we have no idea how our toddler will be and I don't want to be restricted by adhering to certain times. The only exception to this is teamlab borderless but haven't decided on that yet.*

Day 5: This is the day I need some advice on. I was initially planning on staying overnight in Kawaguchi and visit the Mt Fuji Shibazakura festival, but then I saw that in May there's only like a 40% chance of seeing Mt Fuji and I am not sure if it will be worth staying one night there.

The other options are Kamakura, Hakone, Nagoya and I have points for all of them but just not sure which one to go with.

Kamakura: Love the layed back vibe of the coastal town and to visit the Great Buddha. However I feel Kamakura will feel similar to places we will visit during the rest of the trip.

Hakone: Lots to do even if Mt. Fuji is not visible. The open air museum, ropeway are some pros.

Nagoya: My husband loves Toyota and its not a requirement for the trip but he would love it if we visited the Toyota technology museum and the railway museum. My 2 year old is also currently obsessed with cars, trucks, trains. Also Nagoya is very different than the rest of the places we will be visiting and it is on the JR line so getting to Kyoto will be easier.

Day 6-9: Kyoto, Hotel-West Japan Kyoto Kiyamizu

One of these days if we can wake up before sunrise the plan is to do Kiyamezu Dera first thing in the morning and then walk down Sanenzaka and Nanenzaka. The other days we plan to do more of the non touristy temples and just relax and shop around. One day, if we are up for it we might do a day trip to Amanohashidate, rent a car and go to Ine. OR do a day trip to Miyajima Island

Day 10-11: Nara/Wakayama/Mie. Hotel-Hotel Nagisaya

also booked a room at Kamenoi Hotel with an open air private onsen in the room but might cancel this one as its's a bit out of our budget for 2 nights.

This is also the roadtrip part of our trip. We will be renting a car from Kyoto Station and Returning it in Osaka. The cost to return the car in Osaka will be about $50CAD.

Day 10:

Morning-Nara Kasaga-Taisha, Todai-Ji.

Afternoon-Lunch at Hatinashi Village in Totsukawa.

Drive to Hotel in NachiKatsura and relax in the onsen in the evening

Day 11:

Morning-Kumano Nachi Taisha, Seiganto-ji, Nachi Falls.

Afternoon-Yunomine Onsen, Hongu

Sunset: Maruyama Senmaida Rice fields

Day 12-13: Osaka, Airbnb near Namba Station

Day 12: Morning - Hashiguiiwa Rocks, then drive back to Osaka

Afternoon & Evening in Osaka

Day 13: Shopping day in Osaka

Day 14: Tokyo, Hotel-Almont Hotel Nippori (Right next to Nippori Station where the Skyliner goes straight to Narita)

Day 15: Fly out from Narita at 6:30pm

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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/Technojust on 2025-01-22 05:00:57+00:00.

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Sorry this may be a wall of text, but hopefully someone will do a google search one day and find even just a sentence from this helpful for their trip. 

Context:

• 20M. This would be my third time in Tokyo, first time visiting everywhere else. Only decided to visit Nara, Enoshima, and Kamakura around 12 hours in advance.
• I am Asian so I look Japanese-passing. Know just enough Japanese to survive. Can slowly read Hiragana/Katakana. Only Kanji proficiency is from knowledge of basic Chinese characters.
• Booked in advance 5 restaurants (initially 6 but cancelled one) and 2 attractions.
• All solo except for time in Sapporo and during the Kikkoman tour.
• I centered my itinerary around me being a big foodie, collecting goshuin, and carrying a camera. I’ve built up a list in Google Maps of 100+ restaurants in Japan that I add to as I scroll Instagram or watch JapanEat.
• Grew up with US Northeastern winters, so Japan was not that cold, including Sapporo. All the walking and heating in buildings and subways probably helped.
• EDC - Aer City Sling 2: Camera (attached via S-Biner). Anker MagGo Power Bank 10K (highly recommend - small and maintained a healthy phone charge throughout 14 hr days). Airpods. Goshuin book. Uniqlo drawstring bag folded up in case of shopping. Wallet, passport, coin pouch.

D1 Wednesday: Arrival in Osaka

• 8:45: Landed at KIX (smooth connection from HND) and cleared everything. Decided in advance to visit Mt. Rokko in Kobe, and bought a special tourist transportation ticket at the KIX Tourist Info Center. Did not know the booth only opened at 9:00, but I was lucky to not have to wait long.
• 10:30: Dropped off luggage (one backpack) at the hotel (1 min walk from JR Namba Station. Planned to eat at a health-orientated teishoku restaurant but they open at 11:00 so I wandered around the area until then.
• 12:00: Walked down to Namba Yasaka Jinja. A small crowd but nothing crazy. Took some pictures and got a paper goshuin. Walked through Denden town and only went inside the Animate store. Walked up to Kuromon Ichiba market and ate seafood and takoyaki. Walked to Hozen-ji Temple, which was very quiet, and got a handwritten goshuin.
• 15:15: Checked into the hotel after walking in this circle. Got organized and refreshed.
• 17:00: Shopping in Uniqlo Namba City for some necessary items. Went back to the hotel to drop extra stuff off.
• 19:30: Arrive in Shinsekai via metro, much quieter than expected. The decorations were touristy but cool nonetheless. Had kushikatsu for dinner, but the doteyaki was the star.
• 21:30: Arrive at Okonomiyaki Moegi. Had their regular okonomiyaki and a negiyaki, and learned that just one okonomiyaki is plenty for a full meal. Restaurant was full but with only one local.

D2 Thursday: Surprise trip to Nara

• 5:00: Woke up due to jet lag, decided to take advantage of the extra time and go to the Nara deer park and Todai-ji. I had done a little research on a Nara trip but decided against it, so I was not going into this fully blind. Got on the 6:10 train to Nara.
• 7:00: Got out of the station in Nara and walked towards Todai-ji and the deer park. Extremely quiet with no one around, only a few ojisans and others. Then snow started falling and it was so beautiful and peaceful. Went to Todai-ji and saw the giant Buddha, and there were only two other visitors in the hall. Got a written goshuin. Completely silent with the snow falling outside.
• 10:00: Left the temple and walked to the main deer park area. Tour buses started arriving and it got really loud really quick. Immediately turned into the Nara you see on Youtube and expect of a tourist hotspot.
• 12:00: Back at the hotel and went out to an eel restaurant. Really crispy and tender Kansai style grilled eel but pricey. Multiple floors for seating, and it was just myself and a staff for the majority of my meal. Kind of awkward.
• 15:00: Go to Umeda for a 15:30 reservation at Yakitori Ichimatsu. Got the sake tasting set which included a really good one from Akita. Everything was really good, but the tail skewer was so good I ordered another one a la carte. The seating was around 2 hours. Made the reservation 2 months in advance via omakase online concierge.
• 17:00: Got lost for 2 hours trying to find a cafe and 551 Horai in Osaka Station City. Found both but it really wasn't worth it. 551 Horai is everywhere. Learned to not rely on Google Maps GPS and instead focus on surrounding buildings and floor maps.

D3 Friday: Kobe Day Trip

• 9:40: Arrive in Kobe Chinatown. Wandered around a bit and got the famous pork buns at Roshoki. They open at 10:00 so I waited for less than 5 minutes to order and get my food. Wandered and ate other foods which was mostly disappointing. Saw a massive line for Yun Yun fried baos while I was in a cafe, so I stopped by later and miraculously did not have to wait in line. It ended up being the best thing I ate in Chinatown.
• 12:00: Arrive at the BE KOBE sign. Walked around the harbor area and checked out the earthquake memorial museum. It was mostly exhibits but the preserved area was pretty impactful.
• 13:00: Reservation at Mouriya for Kobe Beef (booked 3 months in advance via online form and confirmed via email). A must try experience but a little underwhelming when taking into account all the hype. The quality of beef was excellent and the service was top tier, but I think you can get a more exciting meal at the same high quality for cheaper at a nice yakiniku place instead. After, I walked to Ikuta shrine 2 minutes away and got a special January goshuin.
• 15:00: Begin the journey to Mount Rokko Garden Terrace. With some assistance from a very kind bus driver, I made it up the mountain. It was completely empty and the only tourists I later saw were one Chinese family and a group of four Koreans. The only other people were ojisans and obasans, and staff. I mainly stayed on top of a small brick tower and went crazy with my camera. A mild snowstorm passed by just before blue hour. Hands and feet were freezing but the black magic known as Uniqlo heattech kept my body warm.
• 18:43: Took the bus down and arrived back at Sannomiya station around 20:00. Explored the food court of San Plaza (the same one from the series JapanEat is doing), and had dinner at a tempura place that JapanEat gave S-tier to (which I agree).
• 21:30: Went to Osaka castle straight from Kobe for some night photography. The only other people there were three tourists and some people walking their dogs. Even in the area outside the castle grounds, there was nobody around. Eerily quiet and peaceful.

D4 Saturday: Kaiyukan Aquarium

• 10:00: Arrive back at Osaka Castle for morning pictures. Extremely packed and I did not go inside. The view from outside was nice enough. Got a written goshuin from Hokoku Shrine outside the grounds, which had significantly fewer people.
• 10:45: Second in line waiting for Chukasoba Uemachi (Bib Gourmand) and seated at 11:03. Excellent ramen and a pork rice bowl which is lunch only. It was completely silent inside except for the sound of slurping noodles. This was somehow my first bowl of ramen this trip, so I only realized later how excellent this ramen was after I had other bowls throughout the next few days.
• 13:30: Entry into Kaiyukan Aquarium with a timed ticket I bought online 3 weeks in advance. I overlooked how bad the crowds would be on a weekend, but was spared the ticket lines. Inside, there were lots of loud children and couples. I found the squid, octopus, and jellyfish more interesting than the whale shark which was smaller than I imagined. The cafe’s marketing hit my weak spot for aquatic animals and I got a whale shark soft serve (ramune flavor, very average).
• 16:45: Embark on a quest to obtain instagram-viral honey donuts at Ronpaul bakery. Instead, I took the wrong bus and ended up at Ikea and in the middle of nowhere. Found my wa...

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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/ButterscotchFar1294 on 2025-01-21 09:19:32+00:00.

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Waiting at the airport now after a little over 4 weeks in Japan and thought I would write a trip report to reflect on things and because I used this place as a resource for travel planning. Hopefully it will be of use to someone.

Started the trip arriving in Fukuoka on the 22nd of December off the New Camellia line ferry from Busan. Spent 3 days in Fukuoka, staying in Tenjin area. Particularly enjoyed Ohori park and Fukuoka's Gion district, although it may not feel as impressive if you have already been to Kyoto. Ate at a Yatai near Canal city which was a cool experience. I had heard how quiet the subways were but found Japanese people to be chatting comfortably. Went up the Fukuoka tower and to the Teamlabs exhibit. I never went to the Tokyo ones so can't really compare, but I found the opening exhibition that required an app quite underwhelming but the rest was very cool. Starting in Fukuoka was a cool way to build up to the craziness that is Tokyo.

Then we rented a car and did a 6 day roadtrip of Kyushu. We visited Kurokawa Onsen, Beppu, Kagoshima. Even though it was expensive, I enjoyed the freedom of being able to go where we wanted and not have to rely on busses/trains. Kurokawa onsen was a real highlight and we stayed a in a little cabin at a campsite called Kurasako onsen sakura, where we had our own private onsen. Did not particularly enjoy the Beppu gates of hell or Yufuin floral village. The south of Kyushu was awesome to drive along the coast and Kagoshima is just a fascinating city, with a constantly erupting volcano right next door. Unfortunately cancelled our trip to Takahiko Gorge due to not enough time. Driving in Japan is very slow compared to my country and I underestimated how long things would take. The petrol is very cheap for me, but the toll gates really added up.

Then we went to Kyoto by shinkansen for 5 days, which was probably a bit too much time. Highly recommend the trip out to Kurama hot springs and the walk over to Kibune. Then we went to Osaka by train. I won't write much about Kyoto or Osaka as I think there is enough info on them on here.

Then we did a little side trip for a gew days to Okayama and spent a night on Naoshima island riding bikes and visiting the art exhibitions. It was winter and this was the only point in the trip I felt like the colder weather negatively impacted the trip. It was also quite expensive staying on the island and paying for each art exhibition started adding up and they were quite small. I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. Also did the bike trip in Okayama, Kibi Plain which was awesome and very well setup. Then a quick visit to Himeji on the way back to Osaka.

Then I did a templestay in Koyasan for one night. I had previously done a buddhist templestay in Korea and I felt like the one in Koyasan was more luxury staying in temple accommodation whereas my Korea experience was closer to being a monk for a day. The Okunoin cemetery was absolutely beautiful covered in snow.

Then we took a bus down to Yunomine onsen, which was one of my favorite places on the whole trip. Saw heaps of monkeys and bathed in Tsuboyu. Went to the outdoor onsen in the river in Kawayu. Walked two days of the Kumano Kodo ending in Nachisan. Stayed in a cute homestay accommodation along the way.

Then travelled from Katsura to Tokyo by train and had 2.5 days in Tokyo.

Happy to answer any questions if anyone is planning something similar.

This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/alyssaelman4 on 2025-01-21 03:47:04+00:00.

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I have been reviewing the posts on this sub for the last 8 months and had posted a preliminary itinerary a while ago that received helpful feedback.

At this point, everything is mostly booked and I am hoping for some final comments. I want to make sure that we arent missing anything important and would love restaurant recommendations (and would also like to know if the places we have reserved are good, if anyone happens to have been!)!

Finally, though we want to see as much as we can, we also dont want to hate ourselves and be utterly exhausted, so if these days are too packed, please let me know!

Thanks so much for your comments!

PS: I included time stamps only for things that are already ticketed / reserved for a specific time.

Tokyo (Day 1, Thursday)

• 2:20 PM: Arrive HND
• Check into hotel in Shinjuku
• Free day to acclimate

Tokyo (Day 2, Friday)

• Meiji Jingu Shrine
• Yoyogi Park
• Walk / Shop around Harajuku (Takeshita Street, Cat Street, vintage shopping, etc.)
• Sushi lunch at Maguro to Shari
• Walk around Shibuya (Shibuya Scramble, Omotesando Street)
• 7:00 - 10:00 PM: Shinjuku Bar Hopping Tour: Dinner & Drinks in Golden Gai and Omoide Yokocho Street

Tokyo (Day 3, Saturday)

• Tsukiji Outer Market (super early!)
• 9:00 AM: TeamLab Borderless Museum
• Walk by Tokyo Tower
• 12:15 PM: Lunch at Pizza Studio Tamaki Higashi-Azabu
• 1:30 - 2:45 PM: Tokyo Imperial Palace
• Explore Ginza
• 8:30 PM: Dinner at Tempura Mochiku

Tokyo (Day 4, Sunday)

• Sensoji Temple
• Walk around Asakusa
• Ueno Park
• Ameyoko St.
• Explore Akihabara (casual dinner here?)

Tokyo --> Hakone (Day 5, Monday)

• Breakfast at Cafe Aaliya (opens 9 AM)
• Take Romance Car Train to Hakone
• Do as much of Hakone Loop as desired
• 3:00 PM: Check into Ryokan and relax
• 7:00 PM: Dinner at Ryokan

Hakone --> Kyoto (Day 6, Tuesday)

• 9:00 AM: Breakfast at Ryokan
• Open Air Museum
• Shinkansen to Kyoto
• 3:00 PM: Check into Hotel
• Kyoto Gyoen National Garden
• ?Dinner and drinks in Pontocho

Kyoto --> Uji (Day 7, Wednesday)

• Fushimi Inari Taisha (early!)
• Train from Inari Station to Uji Station (D: Nara Line, 30min)
• Tsuen Tea House
• Walk through Uji Park to Ujigami- jinja Shrine
• 1:30 - 3:00 PM: Matcha Factory Tour at Marukyu Koyamaen Factory
• 3:30 - 6:00 PM: Nintendo Museum
• ?dinner

Kyoto (Day 8, Thursday)

• Nijo Castle
• 11:30 AM: Lunch at Rokujuan
• Gingkaku-ji Temple
• Philosopher’s Path
• 3:00 - 4:00 PM: Glanta Jewelry Appointment (Ninenzaka location)
• Yasaka Koshin Do Temple
• 5:00 - 5:45 PM: Tea ceremony at Camellia Flower Tea House
• Walk around Higashiyama and Gion
• 8:00 PM: Dinner at Wagyu Ryotei Bungo Gion

Kyoto (Day 9, Friday)

• 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM: 10 hour private car charter

Arashiyama:

Bamboo Grove

Tenryu-ji Temple

Kameyama-Koen Monkey Park

12:30 PM: Lunch at Shigetsu

Gioji Temple & Garden

Ryoan-ji Temple

Kinkaku-Ji Golden Pavilion

• ?Dinner
• Drinks at Bar le Coq

Kyoto --> Osaka (Day 10, Saturday)

• Breakfast at Nishiki Market
• Train to Osaka
• ?Osaka Castle
• 3:00 PM: Check into hotel
• Umeda Sky Tower (Klook Conf#: ID: NFP347971)
• 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM: Osaka Food Tour

Osaka (Day 11, Sunday)

• Consider breakfast reservation at Happy Pancake
• Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street
• 1:45 - 6:00 PM: Sumo Tournament at Edion Arena
• Dinner: Dotonbori
• Walk to Namba Shrine before heading back to hotel

Osaka --> Tokyo (Day 12, Monday)

• Shinkansen to Tokyo
• 3:00 PM: Check into hotel in Toranomon
• 5:00PM: Shibuya Sky (pending getting tickets!)
• 7:30 PM: Dinner at Yakiniku Ikuta
• After dinner drinks on Nonbei Yokocho St.
• Karaoke at either Rainbow Karaoke or Karaoke Kan Shibuya

Tokyo (Day 13, Tuesday)

• 11:00 AM: Check out of hotel
• Free time for last minute errands
• 6:25 PM: Depart Tokyo from HND

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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/Cloud668 on 2025-01-20 18:09:50+00:00.

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Intro

I planned to visit Japan alone for about a week some time in December before Christmas, but not much specifics. I decided on Kansai because I sniped a relatively cheap United flight to KIX via SFO. Flying back was cheap since it's after the holiday rush. The time between leaving Kansai and returning to Tokyo would be spent elsewhere. One purpose of this trip was to plan a further trip with family some time in 2025.

I knew I had about 7 days, and originally I was thinking about 2 days in Osaka, 2 days in Kyoto, then 3 days in Tokyo; but trying to plan some specifics made it clear that this would be way too much time spent on the road, especially since the flight loses me a day. So I decided to split it between Osaka and Kyoto, with day trips in between. Kobe was originally on the menu, but I looked at the wagyu restaurant prices and thought, "maybe next time".

Expenditure breakdown (JPY¥/USD$)

Flight cost: $1270.61 (12/16 CLE-KIX, 1/17 HND-CLE)

• SuperHotel Namba Nippombashi
  • 12/17 ¥7560/$48.35
  • 12/18 ¥8820/$56.40
  • 12/19 ¥9360/$59.86
• Tassel Inn Kawaramachi Nijo
  • 12/20 ¥8750/$54.68
  • 12/21 ¥15400/$97.21
  • 12/22 ¥10650/$66.83
• Sarasa Hotel Namba
  • 12/23 ¥5580/$35.68

Total hotel costs: ¥68451/$437.59

Credit card charges: $187.77

Cash withdrawals: ¥30000 / $197.85

Total cost (excluding flight): $823.21

Packing:

I traveled with a ~30L backpack containing laptop and electronics because I was expecting some work calls, and a 28" Xiaomi Classic Pro (purchased secondhand). I packed 4 days of long-sleeve undershirt+underwear, jeans and trousers, 2 wool sweaters and 1 sweatshirt, down puffer and a barbour, 1 pair of Asics and a pair of Nicks boots.

Hotels:

SuperHotel at Namba Nippombashi was fantastic. I booked through their official site which didn't have a no-breakfast option. The room size was small and similar to all business hotels, but the layout was good and let me open my luggage on the floor without compromising chair space. The only criticism - a single elevator serves the entire building with the lobby on the second floor, and there's no stairway down.

Breakfast was a decent buffet, rice+curry, salad, cooked fish, cooked meat, some form of eggs, instant miso soup, yogurt, coffee/tea machines. Balanced with very low risk of stomach issues.

Craziest thing was that they had free alcohol from 2pm-8pm. No beer but a pretty extensive cocktail setup with shochu, sake, sour mixes, and liquors. I think I polished off like half a bottle of whiskey over the 3 days. It also made me ignore every nomihodai place.

Tassel Inn Kawaramachi Nijo was chosen for its decent transportation proximity and cheap price. It's also quite new so the room was definitely nice and clean. If I had a larger budget, I would've stayed a little more south, closer to Kawaramachi station and the Teramachi shopping street. I also wanted to pick somewhere that wasn't directly on a thoroughfare so it would be quieter, but this concern was not necessary. Laundry was easy to use.

Since my flight out of KIX was in the morning, I wanted to spend the last night close to the Namba JR station and booked Sarasa Hotel through Trip.com as a test. Tiniest room so far with a narrow and awkward layout. Front desk had 4 youngsters manning it who were clearly inexperienced. For the price, whatever.

Tourism itinerary:

12/17

• evening arrival: Processed through KIX very quickly with a prepared VisitJapanWeb QR code.
• Withdrew cash at ATM, purchased ICOCA. Was interested in getting the Kansai ONE Pass but their office had a long queue. Nankai-Kuko to Namba station.
• Checked in at hotel, then walked around Kuromon Market. Since it was the evening there was few people around. Bought some stuff at the pharmacy/cosmetic stores on behalf of family.
• Quick dinner at Niboshi-Ramen Tamagoro Kuromon
• Walked around Sennichimae and Namba Center, then went to bed early.

12/18

• Barely had any jet lag, woke up around 6am. Breakfast at hotel and left early.
• Headed south on Sakai-suji down Denden Town, took a detour to check out Kizu Market. Probably too early for the crowds.
• Checked out Imamiya Ebisu Jinja, then walked to Shinsekai, Tsutenkaku, and wandering around in Tennoji to Isshin-ji. Wandered through residential districts to Shitenno-ji, then back to Tennoji station.
• Around 11am now, malls are open and a lot more people are everywhere. Went to Bic-Camera at Abeno Q's because I forgot to bring a 2-prong adapter, 450-ish yen. Then went up to Abeno Harukas's observation deck entrance for the view. Didn't bother entering but view was still good.
• Walked back to Namba for lunch at Tonkatsu Kitcho. Most of the restaurants in Shinsekai was pretty busy.
• By this time I was already about 20k steps in.
• After lunch, started walking north on Sakai-suji through Shinsaibashi til Semba Center.
• West through Semba Center to Mido-suji shopping street, then south to near Shinsaibashi station and to Minamihorie.
• Visited a couple of /r/rawdenim favorites, such as UES Osaka, Blue Blue Osaka, Studio D'Artisan, and Momotaro. Walked through Orange Street and Amerika-mura as well.
• Starting to get dark, so I returned to the hotel.
• Another 10k steps, making it about 30k steps to explore north and south of Namba.
• Dinner at Abaraya.
• Walked to Dotonburi to fully experience the crowd, then a little bit of window-shopping at the mall.
• Found a yakitori place, Zanza, that does a beer and 5 omakase skewers for ¥550.

12/19

• Took the train to Minamikata station. Walked around the residential district, then along the Yodogawa Riverside Park to Juso Bridge.
• Wandered through Nakatsu to Umeda Sky building. Visited the 39th floor for a bit of the view and a break.
• Back to walking through Umeda. Visited the Kapital store.
• Quick lunch at Kaitensushi Sakae.
• Walked east through Ogimachi Park to Tenjin-bashi-suji.
• Beer and okonomiyaki at Chigusa.
• Croquette and beef katsu at Nakamuraya. Small queue but fast.
• South to Osaka Tenmangu Shrine
• South to Minamitenma Park, walked east along river to cross Temmabashi Bridge.
• Osaka Castle. Didn't enter the Keep but just walked around the gardens and ponds. There was also an Osaka Castle Illuminage thing but it didn't look particularly interesting.
• Waited for the sun to set and for the Osaka Castle spotlights to turn on.
• Dinner at Isshomaru for maguro, where I also consumed an entire roasted tuna collar by myself. I was not prepared for the absurd amount of tuna meat for ¥880 and the ensuing meat sweats.
• Returned to hotel. 20K steps today.

12/20

• Breakfast, check-out, then onwards to Himeji. No more Strava to conserve battery drain.
• Train stations are relatively easy to navigate, just make sure to take the right 'version' of the train line (i.e. not the local line that stops at every station). Sometimes it's annoying when the Google Maps train name is different from what the station and announcer calls it.
• Very nice ocean view past Kobe.
• Stored luggage at Himeji station. 1 large ¥700 locker was enough for both backpack and luggage. Paid with IC card which is very convenient.
• There's a shopping street you can walk through to the Himeji Castle area.
• Bought the Himeji Castle + Koko-En combined ticket.
• I think I spent around 2.5 hrs in the castle. They have a very nice route planned out for visitors and I did both the castle wall walk and the castle tower climb.
• This was one of the highlights of the entire trip, and the entire experience in the castle was simply excellently curated.
• Koko-en is a completely separate entrance from Himeji so it's a bit of a detour. Nice gardens but I'd skip if you're pressed for time.
• Udon set lunch at Menme near Himeji Castle.
• Walked back to Himeji station and took the train to Kyoto. Ride is about 2 hours and I had a nice nap.
• Bus out of Kyoto station to Kawaramachi and my hotel.
• Dinner, mazesoba at Ramen Hiryuu
• Walked across Nijo bridge and around Kamo river a bit

12/21

• Set breakfast at Nakau.
• I rented a bike for ¥1000 at FridgeBicycle. Need to return by 7pm.
• The goal was to bike to Fushimi Inari Taisha, but I took a wrong turn while cycling down Higashioji-dori and ended up at To-ji.
• To-ji would normally be a nice calm temple, but today happens to be the monthly market. Pretty insane crowd. I spent around 20 minutes here before escaping.
• Got my bearings and cycled to Fushimi Inari Taisha, which has a nice bike parking lot.
• Made it up to the observation deck and didn't do the upper hike loop.
• Lunch, tempura teishoku
• Cycled up north along the Kamo river to Gion and parked it in an alleyway behind some restaurant. I was a little apprehensive about parking it somewhere too public because it seems like the city is cracking down on bike parking.
• Walked through Yasaka Shrine, Maruyama Park, Otani Sobyo, past Kodai-ji, then through Ninenzaka, Sannenzaka, and up to Kiyomizu-dera.
• At this point it ...

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Tokyo - Joetsu - Osaka - Koyasan - [Seoul] - Fukuoka - Nagasaki - Tokyo

Yeah I just came back from Japan less than a year ago but made a last-minute yolo decision to go again over winter holidays.

I booked the roundtrip flights one week out, when I saw some pretty reasonable prices. The rest of the time leading up was spent frantically booking more flights/lodging whilst cobbling together some concept of a plan.

Some people seemed to find the last trip report helpful so here's another one, with the caveat that it's much more low-key. The previous trip, I was more determined to hit major tourist spots at least in Tokyo, this one not so much.

For food, I just went with what I liked before, or what was open and looked good at the time. So, no can't-miss ultimate dining destinations or whatever, though I can't say I had a single bad meal this trip. Nevertheless, I hope this will still be of use to someone.

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Wed 12/25 - Tokyo

I wanted to make it by Christmas since apparently decorations come straight down the next time. Unloaded bags, shot over to Roppongi for some pretty lights and strolled over to Omotesando. By 9pm, I already saw some places tearing things down.

Thu 12/26 - Chiba

Not a train nerd, but the Chiba suspended monorail looked interesting enough to check out. I spent over an hour riding the damn thing. It's just a commuter train and everyone else was carrying about their own business, but for me it was so cool. Wandered around a bit, got my Ichiran out of way, and finally headed back.

That's right, no Disney, no baseball, no shopping, no zoos, just a stupid sexy train.

Fri 12/27 - Tokyo

Tbh today was mostly killing time until the next destination. Ate hambagu steak for lunch, then headed over to Kiyosumi Garden. It was full of waterfowl and with waters perfectly serene .

Took a long walk over to Ginza for food and shopping. Ate jiggly souffle pancakes at Musashi no Mori, then spent time at Daiso which was packed with both people and curios.

At some point came across a horse sashimi gacha machine (as in, you don't know which you're going to get).

Ended the evening at Asakusa doing more of the same.

Sat 12/28 - Joetsu

I wanted to get some time in at Arai Snow Resort so as someone suggested, I rode the Shinkansen to Joetsumyoko Station and checked into the Toyoko Inn next door.

Nothing else planned for the day so I decided it'd be brilliant to trudge over to Takada Castle during a snowstorm. Pretty much the entire park area was carpeted, but the turret was still visible.

My wet dog self asked some older gentleman for directions to the nearest train station and he ended up walking me all the way there whilst sharing his umbrella. It was a pleasant surprise how helpful and chatty some of the older folk have been, esp if you speak with them in Japanese.

Sun 12/29 - Tue 12/31 - Joetsu

Took the free shuttle to and from Lotte Arai for snowboarding. Made reservations beforehand, zero issues.

I opted not to bring my gear and deal with luggage forwarding/storage whilst bouncing between different countries and a bunch of different cheap hostels. Under different circumstances I could see it making a lot more sense.

The first day, it was snowing hard all morning and there was a localised avalanche so some runs were closed. Pretty though. Things subsided after a bit and what can I say, powder's amazing.

After day 3 of riding, I took the Shinkansen to Nagano and did a quick visit to Zenkoji, which was surprisingly open that night I guess for NYE.

Back at Nagano Station, I boarded the Osaka-bound overnight bus, where I entered into 2025 passed out on the road, figuratively speaking.

Wed 1/1 - Osaka

Stressful day. My phone got damaged the previous day and needed to be repaired. Unfortunately, many places were closed on New Year's Day and possibly longer, so my options were limited. I asked the station info desk for help and thus commenced a wild goose chase for somewhere that's a) actually open and b) able to repair my Android phone. I gave up after the third failed attempt and decided to wait things out. It was just unfortunate timing.

I spent some time walking up Nipponbashi, which had a lot of electronic and geek culture goods, including some cheap phones that I briefly considered.

From there, I made my way to the Dotonbori area, which seemed more packed than I'd remembered, even dare I say dangerously so in some parts. (I fully acknowledge I am part of that traffic) Not really my cup of tea, I s'pose. Grabbed some okonomiyaki nearby and then bailed.

Thu 1/2 - Koyasan

Perfect day to escape the crowds. Started the morning stopping by Shinsekai, which gave off this retro Showa vibe. Even without the lights, very cool.

After, onwards up to Koyasan, which I was really excited about. Because I booked everything so late, I couldn't get a temple stay but I recommend it.

Fun fact: My ex and I did one here last time, but we overslept our alarm and missed the mandatory morning prayer service. A monk finally woke us up and we had to do the walk of shame to the dining area for breakfast with all the other guests staring at us. The monks were gracious about it but it was mortifying. DON'T BE US. I've always wanted to redeem myself but not this time I guess.

Anyways. That was a nice sunset to be caught from the mountains and then the largest cemetery in Japan to explore. It's pretty well-lit at night though there are some dark areas too. I was hoping to see some snow this time but nonetheless it was very peaceful to visit.

Fri 1/3 - Koyasan/Osaka

Dragged myself out of bed early to return to Okunoin cemetery during daylight for a completely different vibe (and to show my friends I'm not some weirdo who only visits graveyards at night). You can see all the old moss-covered gravestones in much better detail.

Also during the daytime, there were better views of all the various temples lining the streets, even though I didn't have time to stop at any.

Got back to Osaka by evening and decided to visit the Umeda Sky Building (not needing to reserve time slots ahead was nice). Great vista of the city and interesting architecture, worth it imo.

Sat 1/4 - Wed 1/8 - Seoul

Hopped over, had a blast, missed flight back

Thu 1/9 - Fukuoka

Well my small jaunt in Kyushu ended up a little less than expected, due to me missing my flight and bad stuff happening back home.

I arrived in Fukuoka one day later and went straight for ramen. Queued up for Hakata Issou, was wowed by the first sip of rich, umami broth. I'm not some ramen fanatic but this was ramen done right.

Was still pretty wrecked from travel, so I just did some light shopping at the station stores, chilled out with some fancy biscuits and latte, then boarded my bus to Nagasaki.

Fri 1/10 - Nagasaki

My friend asked me to visit a capybara onsen for him so that's what I set off to do today - off to Nagasaki Bio Park! However, once I arrived at the terminal where I was to transfer buses, I was informed that it was closed for the day due to dangerous road conditions. Booo, there went my morning.

Instead, I rode back and decided to check out Ouratenbo Park for some nice views of the city. It's up a hill but there are elevators if you don't want to walk. From there, I wandered into Glover Garden, which showcased the Western influence and mercantile history of the region.

I also visited the Chinatown, supposedly one of the biggest in Japan but definitely smaller than the one I saw in Yokohama.

Thought about visiting the Peace Park, but honestly the bomb stuff from Hiroshima was still weighing one me and I decided to skip it this time.

Overall, maybe it was the fact that I went to historical areas, but Nagasaki definitely gave me a sleepier, older, more relaxed vibe - not that that's a bad thing. The people I chatted with also seemed very friendly. Except for that baasan who scolded me for eating at a bus stop. What the hell.

Oh, the night view from Mt. Inaya was pretty dece as well.

Sat 1/11 - Nagasaki/Fukuoka

Nagasaki Bio Park - take two. This time, I made it, after getting lost multiple times that is. Couldn't really use navigation with my broken phone and for whatever reason, the bus system there has buses with the same number going different routes. It was utterly confusing.

Yeah so I eventually got there way later than expected, but still made it in time for capybara bathing. Except, today there was a water pipe issue so they would not be entering the onsen. Instead, they were out and about where they could be fed and pet. Sorry friend, maybe next time. They were very chill creatures, good at multitasking.

(There were other animals too btw; they just weren't my main focus.)

Getting back was much easier. ...

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My 10-Day Hokkaido Adventure: A Trip to Remember!

I just returned from an unforgettable 10-day trip to Hokkaido, Japan, and I’m excited to share some of the highlights and tips from my journey! Whether you're planning your own visit or just curious about what Hokkaido has to offer, here’s a summary of my experience:

First and foremost, I must mention the incredible hospitality we experienced. The Japanese people are by far the kindest, most polite, and helpful I’ve encountered anywhere in my travels. Simple phrases like “Sumimasen” (Excuse me) and “Arigato Gozaimasu” (Thank you very much), along with showing respect, go a long way. With these, you’re sure to be treated like gold wherever you go.

1. Traveling to Hokkaido ========================

• Our group of four flew from San Francisco to Osaka, then connected to a short flight to Chitose Airport. Upon arriving in Osaka, we cleared customs, which took about 15 minutes, then we collected our checked bags and rechecked them for the short flight to Sapporo, which took another 15 minutes.
• We traveled with one carry-on, one checked regular bag, and one checked snowboard bag. The ANA airline staff were incredibly helpful and kind throughout the process.
• Tip: Be prepared to go through customs in Osaka, (or wherever you touch down in Japan) before your flight to Sapporo—it adds a bit of time to your journey, but the process in Osaka was smooth.

2. Otaru: Our Home Base =======================

• We arrived in Chitose on a Friday night and took the JR Train directly to Otaru—a simple and easy journey that took about 1 to 1.5 hours. Otaru became our home base, and we stayed at the Grand Park Hotel Otaru—a great location with easy access to shopping and dining. There’s even a mall attached to the hotel, which was incredibly convenient.
• The following morning, I rented an all-wheel-drive Toyota Noah Hybrid with snow tires from Toyota in downtown Otaru. The car was perfect for our trip—it handled the snow beautifully and fit all of our gear, making it easy to travel to the ski resorts and back to Chitose on our return.
• Tip: If you visit in winter, be aware that it snows a lot in this area during the season. If you plan to drive, be prepared for snowy roads and occasional storms, especially if you’re heading to the resorts. However, the roads are very well-maintained and plowed during storms. We had no issues with the roads, and the infrastructure was top-notch. Also, make sure to check road conditions every morning via Google, as they update the info around 07:00.
• Tip: For connectivity, we used International data from our cell carriers, which worked perfectly in all areas. Some in our group also used pocket Wi-Fi, which was great in towns but didn’t work as well on top of mountains. A few of us used eSIM, which was essentially the same as using international data and worked seamlessly.

3. Snowboarding and Skiing in Hokkaido ======================================

• We spent the majority of our days hitting the slopes at some of the best resorts in Hokkaido: Kiroro, Kokusai, Sapporo Teine, and Niseko.
• We made a day trip to Niseko United, which was about a 1.5-hour drive on a snowy, sometimes white-out day. Again, the roads were well-maintained and ready for winter conditions, so despite the weather, it was really no problem getting there and back.
• The resorts Kiroro, Kokusai, and Sapporo Teine were all within 35-45 minutes from Otaru (depending on the weather), and we had snow for 7 out of the 9 days in the area. Despite the heavy snowfall, we had no issues getting to and from the resorts thanks to the well-maintained roads and our reliable rental car.
• Tip: If you're interested in more details about these resorts, feel free to DM me!

4. Otaru: A Hidden Gem ======================

• Otaru was such a charming, smaller fishing town. Walking around the downtown area was a true pleasure, and the food was amazing every day. The Otaru Fish Market is a must-see—don’t miss the king crab, they’ll cook it for you right in the market stalls. The local sushi was exceptional—fresh and bursting with flavor. The ramen to die for and really everything I ate was pretty fantastic. Check out the area known as Snoopy Village downtown.
• The town is known for its glass-blowing culture, and we took part in a glass-blowing class, which was such a fun experience. We also picked up some beautiful local pieces from the shops.
• Tip: Otaru has a strong presence of milk cream ice cream and chocolate shops. Make sure to explore the local chocolate shops and try a few—delicious!

5. Day Trips to Sapporo =======================

• We made several trips to Sapporo, a bustling city with everything you could want—from upscale fashion to street shopping and relaxing massages. The food scene is incredible, and we especially loved trying the soup curry downtown.
• One of the highlights of our Sapporo day trips was the drive to the Hill of the Buddha, which is about 30 minutes outside of Sapporo city. The views of the snow-covered fields were breathtaking, and it was snowing moderately during our visit, which added to the charm and beauty of the scene.
• We also enjoyed some great walks in downtown Sapporo. The underground mall and the covered shopping walk near Odori Park are fantastic spots for local shopping and exploring. These areas provide shelter from the snow and are full of great local shops and boutiques. Be sure to check out the Sapporo TV Tower—it’s a great landmark to visit and a fun place to explore in the heart of the city.

6. Onsen Relaxation ===================

• We took advantage of Kokusai Resort’s package deal with several onsens in the Jozankei area, and the Hoheikyo Onsen was a highlight. The onsen is tattoo-friendly and offers a relaxing and scenic experience. The best part? They have an incredible Indian curry restaurant right on the property with the best naan I’ve ever tasted. We visited Hoheikyo onsen both days we were at Kokusai Resort.
• Tip: If you plan to visit onsens, make sure to check whether they’re tattoo-friendly, as some require tattoos to be covered.

7. The Beauty of Winter Driving in Hokkaido ===========================================

• Renting a car was truly a game-changer. Driving through the snow-covered countryside felt like stepping into another world—magical, serene, and incredibly beautiful. As someone used to driving in snow (I live in Reno-Tahoe), the vast, snow-clad landscapes were breathtaking.
• Tip: If you're comfortable with winter driving, renting a car provides so much flexibility and allows you to fully experience the beauty of Hokkaido’s countryside.

8. Final Thoughts =================

• Hokkaido is an amazing destination for those looking to combine outdoor adventures, breathtaking nature, and delicious food. From the ski resorts to the charming town of Otaru and vibrant Sapporo, there’s truly something for everyone.
• Whether you’re into skiing, snowboarding, soaking in onsens, or just exploring local culture and food, Hokkaido has it all.

9. A Note on Following Local Customs ====================================

• One important thing to keep in mind while traveling through towns and cities in Japan is that public trash cans are scarce. Be prepared to pack out your trash as you walk around. This is part of the strong culture of cleanliness and respect for public spaces. It’s one of the reasons the towns and cities are so clean and well-maintained. It’s a small thing to keep in mind, but it goes a long way in preserving the beauty of Japan.
• Check other posts on Japanese local customs. I found Japan to be a wonderful place and I wanted to be as respectful as possible to the wonderful people. It was my pleasure to be a guest in their amazing country and I wanted to show my gratitude.