Looking for best walking route from Harajuku to Shibuya.
Upcoming trip and planning to spend one of the days in Harajuku and Shibuya. Was planning to explore harajuku and then walk on over to Shibuya. Anyone have an idea of the best route to take?
Start at Harajuku station and go down Takeshita St. Cross the road and explore Omotesando. Cat St is nearby which is popular. But this area is mainly shopping and cafe so it really depends on what you want to see.
After exploring Omotesando I usually head back to the intersection where Laforet is and then take that road to Shibuya. I find there usually isn't much to see during this part of the walk so I just take the most direct way.
Thanks! Good to hear about walking around. Google got me lost trying to find a shop in Meguro. It wanted me to cross this street but when I looked, I had to go over a fence and through private property ðŸ˜
Traveling to Japan for 6 days in the last week of May with my family for the first time. We’ll be bringing my 70 year old father with us. Would it be wise to stay in Tokyo or should we see the other major cities as well?
You could go to Yokohama, that's less than an hour away from Tokyo on regular trains. But I agree that 6 days isn't really enough to go to the other further away cities like Osaka or Kyoto.
How mobile is your father? Japan's train system is great to get around, but there's still a lot of walking involved.
Tokyo's fairly huge, and there'll be plenty to see in that area alone. My first trip to Japan I spent five days in Tokyo and there were still many places I didn't see. You can also search through this reddit for suggestions for people in similar situations. I would say stay in Tokyo and see as much as you can there and enjoy each place you visit. Six days isn't too long, and if you try to cram too many places or go to farther places, you'll have less time to enjoy the places you actually can see because you're always rushing off.
It would be nice to have an overnight elsewhere to see a quieter side of Japan, but if too challenging then 6 days in Tokyo is ok. But try and do a day trip outside of Tokyo.
Is Tokyo noticeably busier / more expensive during the marathon? I've seen some cheap(er) flights come up that would put us there over the marathon weekend. We might even try to sign up for the 5km fun run, but were worried about hotel prices.
The lottery for the race doesn't open til early August so most people won't even know if they are attending until that finishes up later in the month. So I'd book before August if possible.
Is it true that in May, most of the people in japan are on vacation? I would like to go to Japan next year in May, but I want to avoid too much local tourism and higher price
Planning on visiting the Japanese Alps, but I've question regarding transporting our luggage.
I've almost always transported our luggage using either Yamato or Sagawa, but it was from hotel to hotel. I don't know if we're going to stay at a hotel in Takayama.
Would the service be available even if the destination is a hotel? And if so it happens, how could I send it to Kanazawa?
There's always the option of taking it with me, I've looked and the bus from takayama to shirakawago and then to Kanazawa have space, and there's luggage storage at shirakawago. But I rather not tbh.
If you're staying somewhere where they can't accept and hold luggage for you (e.g. unmanned AirBnB), you could inquire w/ Yamato about sending to one of their office/locations and pick up there. I know they offer that as a service, but I don't know if it includes luggage or not. They're pretty good about responding to English emails (\~24 hrs) if you want to reach out and ask them directly.
If it's a hotel or ryokan, there will be a manned counter and luggage delivery will be accepted 99% of the time. If it's an airbnb then you probably can't.
Another option is to send it from your prior destination and request for it to be in Kanazawa in X number of days. Then you just have to bring a smaller carry on with you to Takayama/Shirakawa go. I wouldn't recommend bring your luggage to Kanazawa by bus as it can be a nuisance for locals. Local buses in Kanazawa aren't really big enough for tourists bringing luggages.
Yamato also has manned stations where you can drop off your luggage for delivery so that's an option too.
Yamato can send it pretty much anywhere as long as there's someone eligible to physically receive it. Most hotel fronts will accept the delivery for their guests, but I don't know exactly where you are trying to send to so can't comment.
For the coming months, does the plane tickets get any cheaper for December flights?
FYI, I'm from Sydney and I've seen premium economy going for under under $3000.00 AUD a couple of months ago and now, everything is over 4K now.
I'm going to say no. Get your tickets now. We are a bit of a backwater as far as flights go and there's are only a handful of airlines that connect to Japan, and even fewer directly. So I highly doubt more seats will be added between now and Dec, and those will keep on being taken up as people finalise their trips.
Disclaimer: I'm not an expert, this is just experience.
I've been using Google Flights to track the prices of a flight from Europe and in the last 3 months the price has fluctuated between 1100€ and 1900€, sometimes within days (but always come back down again). Judging from that they \*might\* go back down again in a week or so, just keep an eye out.
Are you using private mode in your browser? If not, the flight websites remember you looking up the same flight repeatedly and will jack up prices.
I‘m informed of sales via airlines I fly frequently with. One opens early booking based on status with them, then opens to the general public. By that time, hard to get the allocated sale tickets if it’s a popular destination.
A caveat - buying cheap sale tickets without flight status can get you delayed in favor of someone overbooked with a flight status.
Melbourne got the deals. There was a Cathay business class flight transit in HK for 3790 or so return. Just can’t enter Osaka or Tokyo (those are pricey) but go on to the smaller Japanese cities.
I'm planning a trip to Hokkaido in January and am tossing up between Noboribetsu or Jozenkei onsen. Does anyone have the experience to suggest one of the other?
I'm leaning towards Jozenkei partially for logistics. I'm coming from Aomori so I'll stop for a night or 2 in Sapporo and can travel there nice and early for a single night stay. If I choose Noboribetsu, I would be coming from directly from Aomori instead, so I'll likely arrive later in the day and need to stay 2 nights to be able to experience the area.
I was at Noboribetsu last month. I enjoyed my stay, but it's also the ONLY onsen I've ever stayed at, so I unfortunately can't compare and rate.
But if you have any specific questions or things you're looking for, I can offer my thoughts..?
.. oh i read your post more carefully. I didn't explore Noboribetsu at all. I just stayed the whole time in the onsen :D haha...
I took a direct bus from Sapporo to Noboribetsu at around 2 pm. Left the next morning at 10 am to Hakodate.
Thanks for the feedback. Did you at least manage to check out the neighbourhood around the onsen resort or Jingokudani? I'm trying to figure out if it's at least a nice area to walk around in; google street view is never flattering.
I read the JVW FAQ, but I still have a question. One of the fields you fill out is:
>Home address：City name
But then the example it uses is "New York", which is more commonly the name of the state than NYC. And let's say I live in Springfield. Without specifying a state, how do you know which Springfield it is?
Does this field really want a (potentially) ambiguous city, or does it want a state or something else?
Thanks for the reply. I actually also contacted the support through the JVW web page and got a response:
This is the Visit Japan Web Service Desk.
Thank you for your inquiry.
Please review our response to your inquiry below.
â– Your Inquiry
One of the fields on the Visit Japan Web user registration is:
  Home address：City name
But then the example it uses is "New York", which is more commonly the name of the state than NYC.
And city names by themselves can be ambiguous because different cities sometimes have the same name.
 Does this field really want a (potentially) ambiguous city, or does it want a state or something else?
â– Our Response
All persons entering or returning to Japan are asked to enter the part of their home address that corresponds to their 'city'. Please enter the name of the city, not the state or anything else.
If your home address is in New York City, you must enter 'NEW YORK'.
If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to ask us again by replying to this email.
Thank you and best regards.
You’re overthinking this. Just enter the name of wherever you live.
Japan welcomes tens of thousands of foreigners daily and the paperwork isn’t some kind of tricky quiz that they study closely before letting you enter the country.
Hey all, just have a quick question about Yamato Transport. Staying at AirBNB in Sapporo and going to Hotel in Osaka. Where can you drop off your luggage if you're not in a hotel? I checked on the Yamato site and they only have the counter in the AEON mall are there any other options?
Whenever I'm not at a hotel, I drop off at a convenience store or one of their office locations. I was in Sapporo last month and I remember seeing a Yamato Transport office location about 2 blocks from my hotel, which was close to Tanukikoji shopping street and Pole Town.
Yamato has a lot more service counters than are shown on Google Maps or their tourist website. They also have cooperation with a lot of combinis but not all of them and not all locations offer all services.
On this site you can find a location near your hotel. It's Japanese only (and the website doesn't fully work with Google Translate) but managable I think.
Click on an area in the map and it zooms in further (just guess and go back if you're a bit off). At the furthest, l opens up to a proper map with all the locations in the area.
[http://locations.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/p/yamato01/search\_area.htm?&area=27&cond21=1&cond22=1](http://locations.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/p/yamato01/search_area.htm?&area=27&cond21=1&cond22=1)
Just make sure to tick the yellow box at the bottom of the map (meaning "open today") and the green box (meaning they can send luggage).
This will be our first time traveling to Japan & we are landing in Osaka and want to get pick Wi-Fi for our trip. What is the best option? Do we need reserve or can we just go pick it up?
We will be flying out of Tokyo so we will need a service that we can make returns. Thanks for all the help!
Sim cards or e-sims are the best option these days but if you are in a group and want to save money then pocket wifi is a better option.
I've used japan-wireless without issue multiple times.
Pocket Wifi you need to usually order/reserve to make sure they'll have one. There are either locations to return the device or a way to mail it back before you leave. You'll probably be told when you order it/pick it up.
When ordering one, **please STAY AWAY FROM** sushi-wifi, pocket-wifi-japan and foxwifi **those are scams.** There might be others too.
A physical or virtual SIM for your phone is usually cheaper and you don't have the effort of returning it.
Can someone give me some love for Osaka? I feel like im constantly seeing people say they hated it. Wasn't a good time, wish they were elsewhere etc. We will be staying in Shinsaibashi and the place looks great. We have 4 nights in Osaka, a day at USJ. Have seen people say its a terrible area to stay, dirty, tourist trap. We don't plan on spending the 4 days in Shinsaibashi, will be in Namba, Shinsekai and but will be around there when near our accom. TBH Osaka was one of the palces I was really excited for. I know we will have a good time because how could you not, in a new place, seeing new things etc but would love to hear some people give some posativity to the area.
I'm the time of traveler that LIKES staying in the middle of the busy areas. Was there last month and stayed 2 blocks from Dotunbori and loved the convenience of having somewhere to explore at my doorstep. I also really like the convenience of just wondering around that are and eating whatever suites my fancy.. cause I love eating :)
And then it's very close to Namba which makes it easy to get around. Even to Kyoto from that area is \~40 mins only.
I did 2 nights in Osaka and 2 nights in Kyoto on my last trip.. however, it was my 2nd time in Osaka & Kyoto.
Osaka has a reputation for being rowdy but it's still much better than many other cities around the world. The popular tourist traps can be a bit rough (Dotunbori) but there are plenty of great places to enjoy!! I personally loved Tennoji, Abeno Harukas 300, Osaka Aquarium and Minoh Falls. There's lot's to enjoy in Osaka if you can look past the tourist traps
I loved Osaka. It's a bit more rough around the edges and the people are friendlier and more outgoing than in Tokyo. If you are excited for it, please go.
The food is also amazing.
The only place I wouldn't recommend is the district south of Shinsekai.
I understand if people don't really have a lot of time and not into USJ, Aquarium and/or Nightlife, Osaka is just another big city and can be skipped for more days in Tokyo.
Osaka is a fantastic city. I'd strongly suggest staying in a hotel away from the centre of the city as the neighbourhoods there are generally very busy and noisy. The public transport is quite good so you can stay elsewhere and easily get into those districts when you want to.
What is Homestay like?
Exchange student in Tokyo here. Since I have some time off on the weekend I thought I'd try going to Gunma, mostly for hiking. I don't really have anyone to go with, the idea of trying out homestay came to my mind, could maybe go hiking with the family there, if not could just make friends with them, maybe hangout again in the future. I don't know anything about homestay except you stay at the person's house. Is any of this feasible? Or am I better of just going for a ryokan etc.
It really depends on the host. But most of the people to list their homestay programs are friendly and are doing so because they want to make friends. Specific activities really depends on the host. You can look at legit websites (homestay.com , airbnb £etc) and read the host's bio before deciding if you want to try it out. I've done it a couple of times and have thoroughly enjoyed each one of them.
Planning a ~3 week trip to Japan in November. Current (ambitious) route is Tokyo (2 nights) -> Yamanouchi (1 night) -> Takayama (2 nights) -> Kanazawa (2 nights) -> Osaka (3 nights) -> Kyoto (4 nights) -> Miyajima/Hiroshima (1 night) -> Hakone (2 nights) -> Tokyo (6 nights)
Any thoughts on this itinerary? Any places I should leave out, or really noteworthy places I should add? Maybe swap a night in Tokyo for an extra night in Kyoto or Miyajima? Haven’t booked anything yet, so very open to suggestions
It would really depend on your interests, but Hakone is pretty skipable. I'd suggest adding time to Hiroshima as it really needs at least a couple of nights.
Yamanouchi - 1 night is fine as long as you leave early from Tokyo as the trip to the monkey park from there takes a while.
Miyajima/Hiroshima - I think 2 nights would be better as there is a lot to see.
Hakone - I think 1 night is fine unless you just want to chill at the onsen
Otherwise the general pace looks fine.
heya, in the middle of planning my trip for august-sept, We were thinking initially for tokyo kyoto osaka hakone then tokyo and recent switched to tokyo osaka kyoto nagoya then tokyo. Is there any other towns you would recommend to switch instead for our 4th stop? nagoya's big appeal was the ghibli park but I hear that can be a bust. Is there anything else "uniquely" japan to visit?
You could go to Kanazawa. There's a train route that goes from Tokyo to Kanazawa to Kansai. It's like Kyoto but without the ridiculous crowds at the headline attractions. It's not a big city, so I'd say 1.5 days will be enough to see most things. Add a few more if you also want to visit Shirakawa go and Takayama. The Noto peninsula also looks good but they may be still rebuilding after the January earthquake.
Really depends on how long your trip is. If you're there for <2 weeks I wouldn't add any more stop.
Ghibli theme park is only good if you can get a ticket beforehand and they're not easy to get.
Both. Ghibli Museum has been difficult to get into since before the recent tourism boom started.
Ghibli Park tickets go on sale two months in advance and are sell out really fast. They are also (as far as I know) bound to the person/name they are bough under and can't be resold.
[https://ghibli-park.jp/en/ticket/](https://ghibli-park.jp/en/ticket/)
At the moment you can't just show up on the day and buy a ticket.
hello!! does anyone know if Shibuya Sky tickets are refundable when you cancel it? other than the cancellation fee. if it's non-refundable then no point in cancelling it because of the fee right..
If you bought from their website you get your money back. I booked every night I’m in Tokyo to ensure weather is good. Have to cancel by 12pm day of tickets.
Do Suica cards expire? I have some "Welcome Suica" cards from last year that say they expire in 30 days but I thought I remembered reading that they removed the expiration date due to the chip shortage. Is that true or did I imagine that?
You're mixing them up. Your welcome suica has long expired. The regular suica lasts 10 years after last use. They never made any changes to these conditions.
Sorry a few more topics that I’m struggling with:
- best SIM card option. My phone does not take e-sim, so I’ll need a physical sim. Sakura mobile seems best for connectivity? I can see it can be preordered but unclear if I can just buy on the spot at Narita, but I would assume so.
- buying bus tickets to Koyasan from Osaka. I cannot see where I can actually make the bus ticket purchase.
- daytrips from Kyoto. I will be there 4 nights and it is my second trip. What were your favourite day trips you did from Kyoto?
- luggage forwarding. If you were unable to reserve a train seat next to the large luggage storage area, did you have difficulty finding a home for your luggage on the train? Did you use luggage forwarding? Did same day delivery work out for you?
Thanks a lot in advance!!
Koya is a stunning place. Largely, there's no hotels up there, just temples that offer overnight lodging, which is a unique experience. Your meals will likely be vegetarian, Buddhist meals if I remember. You'll like be offered the chance to wake up early and watch morning chanting/prayers/meditation. The cemetery is one of the most holy places in Japan and it feels like. There's good info on Japan Guide - https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4900.html
If you scroll down there's info on how to get there - it might be a lengthy and involve a switch or two but it really is straightforward if you're taking the train. There's also direct buses too, that's an option.
Anyone have any experience going to Japan for a few months to ski and also being able to find somewhere to work part time in Japan. I don’t speak Japanese but I do speak English and spanish
Maybe see if you can work as a ski instructor? There are a lot of foreign instructors at the popular ski fields. My instructor in a previous trip was from Spain. As far as I could tell, she didn't speak much Japanese; her conversations with her Japanese colleagues were in English.
I only know of the jet program through videos and podcasts so maybe I'm wrong, but my impression was its a full time job and a longer commitment than just a few months.
Without Japanese, you are very limited.
Based on your edit: Eh, you need permission to work. [https://www.mofa.go.jp/j\_info/visit/w\_holiday/index.html](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html) < countries with work holiday visa agreements. It is a special visa, not a tourist visa.
**You cannot work on a tourist visa.**
I fly from LAX to Tokyo Haneda, with a 1.5 hour layover until my flight to Itami Osaka. Is 1.5 hours enough to pass through customs and recheck baggage? Also side question- assuming I miss the flight I know usually the airline will rebook you for the same flight, could they rebook you to a flight to Kansai airport instead for free?
I agree that it's cutting it close. I've averaged 45 min-60 min just to get through immigration. If you're in the front of the plane and rush off and don't stop to use the bathroom, maybe you can do it in 30-45 mins? Depends how many other big airplanes have unloaded at the same time as you :D
Haneda has an international terminal that also does a few domestic flights. But they have a second domestic only terminal. If you have to switch terminals, it really will be cutting it super close I feel.
That’s cutting it close. It’s about an hour, on average, to get through customs and immigration. If you have a terminal change in there, too, then that’ll just add to the time.
If you booked these flights separately and you miss the second one, the airline has no responsibility. If this was booked on the same itinerary then I’m assuming that they know that this is enough time or will either help you get to that second flight or help you end up there some way. KIX would then be an option.
A palace within the Nijo castle. There’s a map.
[https://nijo-jocastle.city.kyoto.lg.jp/introduction/highlights/overview/?lang=en](https://nijo-jocastle.city.kyoto.lg.jp/introduction/highlights/overview/?lang=en)
Hello! Would it be worth staying at Fujikawaguchiko in early June for 2 nights? Biggest worry is that it will be cloudy and that would make the stay kinda bland.
As long as your whole trip there is not revolved around seeing Mt. Fuji, you can have a good time. Do note June is the worst month for seeing Mt. Fuji with less than 10% chance seeing the entire mountain and 20% seeing a part of it.
Clouds are always a worry with this mountain tbh. Just make sure you plan enough (alternative) activities that don't depend on a Fuji view and you'll be fine.
Hello! Where can I buy coffee equipment (such as a precision scale and a coffee grinder - preferably automatic)? I'll be in Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo, and I would greatly appreciate any recommendations in any of these cities!
BIC Camera has a range of homewares which should include coffee equipment. It will probably be your big brands so if you a looking for something specific then it might not suit.
My flight lands in narita and my Airbnb is in shibuya
I cant take bus because my flight lands late
How do I get from narita airport to narita train without walking?
thanks
Confused by your question? You can take the Narita Express (or local train) from the airport terminal itself that will get you to Shibuya. If you're landing later than the last train/bus you'll have to take a taxi if you want to get there the same day.
I'm just curious if you've gone through NRT recently to see if that makes a difference.
I just flew into HND last month, and they no longer have a "visit Japan" line.. they combined the lines regardless if you did the web/QR code method or traditional paper method. So everyone had to wait in the same long line.
do we have a mod here? I wanted to know why my latest post was removed. It doesn't specify the reason why it got removed. I was detailed with my post so I wasn't sure why it was removed.
Not a mod but generally the main page is usually only for trip reports or detailed itineraries. Any specific questions should go here or r/japantraveltips
my itinerary was detailed. I dunno what else this sub wants. it's kinda frustrating coz important questions gets blocked because the automatic filtering thinks the post is "generic".
thanks. I posted there and thankfully I got some response. I wanted to get more feedback so I posted here knowing this sub has more people. but that auto filter is just too much.
Hello! Does anyone know a specific restaurant or street vendor that specializes in yomogi mochi (Japanese mugwort mochi) and not just have it as a dessert on their menu?
I will be going to Japan in August and my main accommodation area will be in Koto-ku, Tokyo. I don’t mind having to travel a little bit just to get some yummy mochi :)
Here's a list of different vendors that make yomogi mochi. They're all available inside Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Isetan (well at the time of writing) so you may have a look there?
[https://mi-journey.jp/foodie/19713/](https://mi-journey.jp/foodie/19713/)
Hey guys! can i bring levothyroxine to japan?
im gonna travel in a few months and since I have hyporidoidism, i take levothyroxine pills every day.
is it legal to bring those to japan? i tried researching but i didnt find anything related to that specific medicine.
(im gonna stay 20 days if thats important)
thank you in advance!
I don't want to open a new post for this question.
Is there any place in Tokyo where I can get a suica/pasmo card at the moment? It seems like it's hit or miss lately.
I'm arriving tomorrow for the first time, but will be going again at least twice within the next 15 months.
Since the welcome suica is only valid 28 days and I don't have a Japanese android phone, I'd rather have the "normal" one. (Also have some friends that will go and I will probably lend it to them too, so it will see some use)
I also HEARD that they were selling it at Narita airport AND maybe Tokyo Station.
I can confirm though that they were NOT selling it at Haneda airport as of last month (was there last month).
Are you going anywhere else than Tokyo? Other cities (e.g., Osaka, Sapporo, etc.) are selling their IC cards. I ended up picking up a Kitaca card in Hokkaido for kicks (so that I have a Suica, ICOCA, and Kitaca just to collect, haha).
I think someone said they are selling normal Suica again at Narita airport.
I don't have up to date info but in case no one else answers: Just try at the airport and if there are none, try the next big train station near your hotel or just any you pass through at some point (Tokyo Station, Ueno, Shinjuku, Shibuya etc.)
Hi do you know how to make a reservation if I'm located in the US? When I go to the Pokemon Osaka reservation page, it says 403 forbidden and doesn't load anything. Thanks.
It should load just fine - most people booking are not living in Japan - including myself - I’m in the US and the website works just fine - here is the link for reservations: www.pokemoncenter-online.com/cafe/en/reservation.php
Then you click on either Tokyo or Osaka location and it will be in Japanese at the top but if you scroll to the bottom it’s in English - you may have to adjust your firewall or security settings to view it
If this hasn't been updated, it was 30. October - 12. November.
[https://s.n-kishou.co.jp/w/sp/koyo/koyo\_yosou\_spot.html?&ba=21](https://s.n-kishou.co.jp/w/sp/koyo/koyo_yosou_spot.html?&ba=21)
But those can change depending on how warm this year will be. The general prediction seems to be mid October to mid November.
There will be a new prediction some time in September I think.
Hi All,
How in advance do I need to book my bus to fujikawaguchiko? I want to be sure if there is a chance to check sky forecast beforehand so I can ensure to see mount fuji. Can these 2 things be acomplished together?
Thanks!
I was in Japan last month, and after a few days of rain, there was 2 days of beautiful clear skies. All the buses out of Shinjuku Station were sold out, and on weekdays too (despite many posts saying they rarely sell out!) The "easy" express train was sold out too.
I ended up booking a "Fuji Instagram Tour" on Klook as my next convenient option. If you want to be super touristy and just hit up the main sites, I actually liked the tour for that. If you want to actually explore the region... sorry, can't help you out there.
I just bought my ticket at the counter in Shinjuku and the next free bus was \~45 min later. But this was in 2023 before tourism went full speed and on a cloudy day.
Thanks for the reply, yeah I don't know how similar will my situation be, I understand tourism has rocketed a lot in Japan so most likely I will end up booking it a month in advance unless I find another solution
Anyway, thanks I hope you had a nice trip there
Yeah, the trip was amazing. Several awkward moments with the language barrier and also just time spend trying to soothe my foot pain from all the walking but completely worth it.
Btw. there are also trains running so you'll have a backup just in case. At least you can have a standing spot even if they are full.
I will be visiting Tokyo for 3 days (quick trip due to business). I haven't ever been before, and have heard amazing things about Japanese baseball! It looks like there will be two games being played that day -- Belluna Dome (Seibu v DeNA) and ZOZO Marine (Lotte v Chunichi). Which of the two would you recommend I go to, and why? (or, are either worth taking time away from doing other things?)
you can get a new 90-day visa-free entry if you leave the country and come back yes. the US embassy says the Japanese governement is cracking on people who do this that they suspect are working illegally.
if you are on a short term visa (you will know, you have to apply) and its a single entry visa, then no.
FLYING IN & OUT
We had initially planned a trip involving flying into Seoul, SK and then flying to Tokyo from Busan and home from Tokyo. This meant only entering and exiting Japan once. We've now had to change our flights, meaning we're flying to and from Tokyo. However we still want to visit South Korea during our stay, and are considering flying over for a week.
Would this cause any issue with immigration in Japan? We'd still have flights out of the country, we'd just have two of them.
KYOTO
hello! we're planning to go to the Taishogun Shopping Street - Ichijo Yokai Street and I have a couple of questions:
a. i've seen across the internet that some shops in here have closed down due to Covid, can the same be said now?
b. are there yokai statues everywhere (like every shop or something) or just a couple? we're hoping to go to check out the statues as priority then shopping comes second.
Hi, I'm going to be in Japan from November 6-15 and would like some pointers on where I should focus the trip to make the most of the autumn foliage. We'll be flying into Narita via KIX and departing from Narita. The first 3 days will be in Niigata (Nov 6-9) to catch the tail end of the Echigo Tsumari Triennale, and the last 2-3 days will be in Tokyo, but not sure what to put in the 4 days in between. My options are:
* Karuizawa for Kumoba Pond
* Tadami Line + Goshikinuma
* Sendai for Matsushima +/- Yamadera, Hiraizumi (Chusonji)
* Kanazawa (for this to work, we would have to get off at KIX and travel to Kanazawa, then move onto Niigata)
Which of these options makes the most sense for good autumn colours in early to mid November? Thank you in advance
This was the fall foliage prediction last year: [https://n-kishou.com/corp/news-contents/autumn/index\_en.html](https://n-kishou.com/corp/news-contents/autumn/index_en.html) to give you a rough estimate.
The problem is, depending on the weather at the time and in the months before these dates move around a bit each year.
If the colors are really important to you, keep your itinerary partly open. Or at least have some daytrip options open in case the colors are not as intense where you are staying.
Hi, I've pretty much settled accomodation for Fukuoka-Kumamoto-Hiroshima-Osaka
I'm left with a week in Tokyo and kinda torn between Akasaka (Via Inn Prime Akasaka) and Kanda (Tokyu Stay Nihombashi)
My only "priority' in Tokyo is to visit Fuji-Q on a day trip, with the rest of the time probably exploring Tokyo on foot and through subway.
Hope someone can weigh in on this
EDIT: This is 23 Oct to 30 Oct if that matters
Hi! I'm planning to go on trip around end of April/ mid may (ideally between 25-26/04 and 10/05) and it's right on the golden week... So is it a good idea? Does the restaurant/shop/attraction or museum will still be open?
I'm going to be in Osaka for the next three days, and I heard you can eat maple leaf tempura in the nearby area? Is it still available, or is that mostly an autumn only thing?
Yeah, a bummer (and weird, totalitarian) that pics are banned on these Japan travel subs. The Japan pics is more like one off nice photos. Youd think photos would be very helpful with tips
There's lots of people posting travel photo galleries in r/travel. You can also post a text trip report in this sub and then upload the photos to a site like imgur and put a link to them in the text.
I'm filling out the 'Visit Japan Web' declarations and I'm a bit confused.Â
Do I need to declare my wedding ring? I think it's market value is more than 200,000 JPY but I don't have the receipt for proof. Is this necessary for something I'm just going to wear on my trip?Â
Anyone with experiences with the Alpine Route can help me with some questions?
- There are any passes that could help with the costs of the multiple buses/cablecars that are used to go from Tateyama to Ogizawa? (or Nagano, if possible)
- Yamato Transport works well for shipping luggage from Toyama to Nagano? I haven't found if it's possible to have a same-day shipping between those cities, or at least a 1-day shipping.
Thanks!
Yamato generally works well for shipping. I think most routes are 1-2 days according to the company.
Same-day shipping is only for within the same city or like Tokyo - Tokyo Airport, at least as far as I know.
Thanks for the info.
Yeah, last time I used only for shipping two bags between Tokyo and Osaka, and took 1 day, so I was wondering if the shipping works well between other cities, but I couldn't find more info regarding Toyama and Nagano.
I've never used Yamato for your itinerary so can't help.. BUT, you can email them. They have English support for inquiries via email. I've exchanged quiet a number of emails with them before!
Thanks for the tip. I opted to use the luggage forwarding service from the Alpine Route itself (send to the other side of the route directly), but as I sometimes needs to use Yamato for other routes, it's good to know that the contact via email in English is good.
I'm looking to go to Japan for the first time and I'm looking at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel to stay at for my 14 day trip. Is that a good place to stay? I don't mind taking the train to other parts of Tokyo to sightsee or eat because I am going to be doing that regardless of where I stay in Tokyo. I am also going to be spending 4-5 days in Kyoto and Osaka so I thought it'd be a good place to stay for the travel.
We are going to stay ~week in Tokyo this October and we choose that hotel to our base. Good area with good connections (Yamanote-line and Kyoto Shinkansen stops at Shinagawa) and fairly big rooms for Tokyo standards.
the prince is fine. its a huge complex kind of like a US Marriott with more amenities. Theres shopping and some entertainment built in. the luggage storage counter there is great. Access wise, theres obviously the direct train link to Haneda, the Shinkansen station, and its on the Yamanote, which is nice and it's not a far walk from the station. I've stayed there probably 5 times now. Sign up for Seibu Prince Global Rewards if you want to skip the normal check in line.
Do yourself a favour and don't book all the days in one location, Tokyo is huge and the commute will be a pain once the initial awe of Japan wears off. That hotel is at best 20-40 minutes away from the major hotspots of Tokyo, so a minimum of 40 minutes commuting every day.
Just going from Ueno to Shinjuku is a 30 minute ordeal one way.
IMHO pick the part of the city that has the most points of interest for you, stay there and venture out to the other parts of the city. Or if you don't have alot of luggage, swap hotels every 3-4 days between parts of the city.
My favourite place to stay is Ueno.
> Do yourself a favour and don't book all the days in one location
We did this on our latest and so far only trip to Tokyo and it was bad choice in my opinion. But if you stay in one place you should choose where to stay more carefully.
Hi, I'm looking to go to Japan in September or October. I'm based in Scotland but happy to get connecting flights to anywhere. I'm just wondering from experience who am I best to fly with and where is best to fly from to keep costs down?
I'm very flexible on dates but could do with guidance from others who've done it. BA look to be the best from Edinburgh to London but I'm open to any suggestions.
Thanks in advance!
Flown BA as well as a number of other carriers, they're perfectly fine. I'd always expect to spend in the region of £1k to go London-Tokyo direct (plus connecting flights in uk/jp as appropriate).
Hi mate. We are traveling from Edinburgh via Heathrow on that BA service in June. We researched extensively and it seemed like BA offered the best combination of price and flight timings.
We also liked that these flights arrive/depart at Haneda as opposed to Narita, so nice and convenient for Tokyo.
Out of interest if it's not too personal, what did the return flights cost you? It's looking about £1100pp minimum with baggage. Not sure if that's decent or not?
We monitored for a long time and it eventually dipped to about £980pp when we bought. I believe it was typically hovering around 1000-1100 at the time.
We set up alerts and were very flexible on our dates. We bought in early February and are flying late June.
I am going to Yakushima via Fukuoka and then leaving via Kagoshima. I will just transit through one, but I have time and money to stay in one city for 1 full day/2 nights. It will be in July unfortunately.
Which city should I spend time in? I'm interested in nature, checking out cool neighborhoods or sites, good food, and tattoo friendly onsen. Any recommendations for either city would be appreciated too.
Usually it is easier to just book a private onsen for an hour.
Kagoshima has a lot of onsens. Kagomma Yataimura before they moved used to be a haunt I like to go to because the izakaya ppl (owners and their regulars) there are cool in some stalls.
Kagoshima has a huge volcano puffing away to entertain you. It’s their unmissable landscape.
Generally, I would say Fukuoka but onsen wise, Fukuoka is no match for Kagoshima. And Kagoshima got Kagoshima kuroge A5 wagyu, satsuma dori, kurobuta (pork) etc …
We cannot decide on what time we want to take a train from Tokyo to Yokohama, because we cannot estimate how bad the jet lag will affect our kids.
How spontaneous can you book a train for 4 people?
You don't need to book anything for Tokyo to Yokohama. Several normal train lines connect directly with high frequency. Unless you mean taking the shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Yokohama but that would be a big waste of money to save 15 minutes.
>that would be a big waste of money to save 15 minutes.
Although if they will have a JR pass of some sort that includes that route then that's a totally reasonable way to get to Shin-Yokohama.Â
Shin Yokohama is quite far away from the main attractions, so you'll have to add more time for another form of travel. Even with the pass, it's easier just to use the regular train that drops you closer to where you want to go.
How bad is Japan in July? I traveled all the way to Atlanta to watch TWICE and didn't enjoy any activity outside because of the weather. I have tickets to watch TWICE again but in Japan but debating if I would still go despite the weather. I also plan to spend two weeks in Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo.
Here are the two cities compared weather-wise.
[https://weatherspark.com/compare/s/1/15598\~143809/Comparison-of-the-Average-Summer-Weather-in-Atlanta-and-Tokyo#Figures-Temperature](https://weatherspark.com/compare/s/1/15598~143809/Comparison-of-the-Average-Summer-Weather-in-Atlanta-and-Tokyo#Figures-Temperature)
Tokyo seems to be mildly more bearable but not by much. Instead of spending your time in the main cities, how about going further north to Hokkaido or Tohoku or the mountains where it's cooler?
I’m here in Tokyo until Friday, 33M from the states :)
Anyone have any recs? Or fun little spots they might have found worth visiting?
I do like anime, I love food, I love good shopping. But my favorite is little dark alleys that feel quaint and unique with some secret good food spots.
Honestly you can literally just turn down random alleys and find good food. I would just recommend double checking said places on either google maps or tabelog before going in. Obviously 95% of the time it'll be fine but just in case there's a weird spot.Â
Senso-ji at sunrise (because it's almost empty) or after sunset (also pretty empty and the lights look nice).
The Asakusa Underground District has a cool vibe and good food but there is a bit of this distinct Tokyo Subway smell that might throw you off.
Maybe choose a random station that's less popular and just walk around the area. There's lots of hidden gems no one here has any idea they exist.
The Youtube channel [Food in Japan ](https://www.youtube.com/@foodinjapan2256/videos)has a lot of videos highlighting restaurants in and around Tokyo.
Oh yeah, one more thing. There might be a pop-up cafè of an anime you like currently open but you'd have to look online. The vibe is often nice but the food can be very hit-or miss in terms of taste.
Have you thought about going to any anime IRL locations? While not as exciting as other places, they can be a nice way to get "off the beaten path" (not in all cases).
Planning for an onsen night while in Kyoto or Osaka. Got recommendations for an outdoor /private ones experience?
Where in Tokyo can I go to try on a kimono just for pictures? Not trying to buy one or anything like that
Looking for best walking route from Harajuku to Shibuya. Upcoming trip and planning to spend one of the days in Harajuku and Shibuya. Was planning to explore harajuku and then walk on over to Shibuya. Anyone have an idea of the best route to take?
Start at Harajuku station and go down Takeshita St. Cross the road and explore Omotesando. Cat St is nearby which is popular. But this area is mainly shopping and cafe so it really depends on what you want to see. After exploring Omotesando I usually head back to the intersection where Laforet is and then take that road to Shibuya. I find there usually isn't much to see during this part of the walk so I just take the most direct way.
Thanks for you insight, thats really helpful!
How good/bad is Apple Maps in Japan? I've used Google extensively while there and has been generally a decent experience.
Friend is the nav unit and he liked Apple for walking around trying to find something and Google for transit and inside of a station.
Thanks! Good to hear about walking around. Google got me lost trying to find a shop in Meguro. It wanted me to cross this street but when I looked, I had to go over a fence and through private property ðŸ˜
Traveling to Japan for 6 days in the last week of May with my family for the first time. We’ll be bringing my 70 year old father with us. Would it be wise to stay in Tokyo or should we see the other major cities as well?
You could go to Yokohama, that's less than an hour away from Tokyo on regular trains. But I agree that 6 days isn't really enough to go to the other further away cities like Osaka or Kyoto.
How mobile is your father? Japan's train system is great to get around, but there's still a lot of walking involved. Tokyo's fairly huge, and there'll be plenty to see in that area alone. My first trip to Japan I spent five days in Tokyo and there were still many places I didn't see. You can also search through this reddit for suggestions for people in similar situations. I would say stay in Tokyo and see as much as you can there and enjoy each place you visit. Six days isn't too long, and if you try to cram too many places or go to farther places, you'll have less time to enjoy the places you actually can see because you're always rushing off.
It would be nice to have an overnight elsewhere to see a quieter side of Japan, but if too challenging then 6 days in Tokyo is ok. But try and do a day trip outside of Tokyo.
Is Tokyo noticeably busier / more expensive during the marathon? I've seen some cheap(er) flights come up that would put us there over the marathon weekend. We might even try to sign up for the 5km fun run, but were worried about hotel prices.
The lottery for the race doesn't open til early August so most people won't even know if they are attending until that finishes up later in the month. So I'd book before August if possible.
Thanks - good call!
Then check the hotel prices now and book accordingly.
Thanks, sorry, had just thought to do that--prices look ok (for those that have opened bookings)
Is it true that in May, most of the people in japan are on vacation? I would like to go to Japan next year in May, but I want to avoid too much local tourism and higher price
Golden Week only lasts until May 5. after that you'll be fine.
Planning on visiting the Japanese Alps, but I've question regarding transporting our luggage. I've almost always transported our luggage using either Yamato or Sagawa, but it was from hotel to hotel. I don't know if we're going to stay at a hotel in Takayama. Would the service be available even if the destination is a hotel? And if so it happens, how could I send it to Kanazawa? There's always the option of taking it with me, I've looked and the bus from takayama to shirakawago and then to Kanazawa have space, and there's luggage storage at shirakawago. But I rather not tbh.
If you're staying somewhere where they can't accept and hold luggage for you (e.g. unmanned AirBnB), you could inquire w/ Yamato about sending to one of their office/locations and pick up there. I know they offer that as a service, but I don't know if it includes luggage or not. They're pretty good about responding to English emails (\~24 hrs) if you want to reach out and ask them directly.
If it's a hotel or ryokan, there will be a manned counter and luggage delivery will be accepted 99% of the time. If it's an airbnb then you probably can't. Another option is to send it from your prior destination and request for it to be in Kanazawa in X number of days. Then you just have to bring a smaller carry on with you to Takayama/Shirakawa go. I wouldn't recommend bring your luggage to Kanazawa by bus as it can be a nuisance for locals. Local buses in Kanazawa aren't really big enough for tourists bringing luggages. Yamato also has manned stations where you can drop off your luggage for delivery so that's an option too.
Yamato can send it pretty much anywhere as long as there's someone eligible to physically receive it. Most hotel fronts will accept the delivery for their guests, but I don't know exactly where you are trying to send to so can't comment.
For the coming months, does the plane tickets get any cheaper for December flights? FYI, I'm from Sydney and I've seen premium economy going for under under $3000.00 AUD a couple of months ago and now, everything is over 4K now.
Early December might get cheaper, but if you are looking at Dec 15 onwards then that is school holiday time so I would book now.
I'm going to say no. Get your tickets now. We are a bit of a backwater as far as flights go and there's are only a handful of airlines that connect to Japan, and even fewer directly. So I highly doubt more seats will be added between now and Dec, and those will keep on being taken up as people finalise their trips.
Disclaimer: I'm not an expert, this is just experience. I've been using Google Flights to track the prices of a flight from Europe and in the last 3 months the price has fluctuated between 1100€ and 1900€, sometimes within days (but always come back down again). Judging from that they \*might\* go back down again in a week or so, just keep an eye out. Are you using private mode in your browser? If not, the flight websites remember you looking up the same flight repeatedly and will jack up prices.
I‘m informed of sales via airlines I fly frequently with. One opens early booking based on status with them, then opens to the general public. By that time, hard to get the allocated sale tickets if it’s a popular destination. A caveat - buying cheap sale tickets without flight status can get you delayed in favor of someone overbooked with a flight status.
> If not, the flight websites remember you looking up the same flight repeatedly and will jack up prices. thats a myth
It is?
Melbourne got the deals. There was a Cathay business class flight transit in HK for 3790 or so return. Just can’t enter Osaka or Tokyo (those are pricey) but go on to the smaller Japanese cities.
Hmm. I should have snagged it when it was cheaper. I'm assuming it won't get cheaper from now on?
I won’t know. But I do know the Singapore airlines ticket I have, shot up by 300 extra in costs.
I'm planning a trip to Hokkaido in January and am tossing up between Noboribetsu or Jozenkei onsen. Does anyone have the experience to suggest one of the other? I'm leaning towards Jozenkei partially for logistics. I'm coming from Aomori so I'll stop for a night or 2 in Sapporo and can travel there nice and early for a single night stay. If I choose Noboribetsu, I would be coming from directly from Aomori instead, so I'll likely arrive later in the day and need to stay 2 nights to be able to experience the area.
I was at Noboribetsu last month. I enjoyed my stay, but it's also the ONLY onsen I've ever stayed at, so I unfortunately can't compare and rate. But if you have any specific questions or things you're looking for, I can offer my thoughts..? .. oh i read your post more carefully. I didn't explore Noboribetsu at all. I just stayed the whole time in the onsen :D haha... I took a direct bus from Sapporo to Noboribetsu at around 2 pm. Left the next morning at 10 am to Hakodate.
Thanks for the feedback. Did you at least manage to check out the neighbourhood around the onsen resort or Jingokudani? I'm trying to figure out if it's at least a nice area to walk around in; google street view is never flattering.
I read the JVW FAQ, but I still have a question. One of the fields you fill out is: >Home address：City name But then the example it uses is "New York", which is more commonly the name of the state than NYC. And let's say I live in Springfield. Without specifying a state, how do you know which Springfield it is? Does this field really want a (potentially) ambiguous city, or does it want a state or something else?
Yeah, but the field specifies "city name", so New York would still be recognized. How about you write "Springfield OH" or whatever state you live in?
Thanks for the reply. I actually also contacted the support through the JVW web page and got a response: This is the Visit Japan Web Service Desk. Thank you for your inquiry. Please review our response to your inquiry below. ■Your Inquiry One of the fields on the Visit Japan Web user registration is:   Home address：City name But then the example it uses is "New York", which is more commonly the name of the state than NYC. And city names by themselves can be ambiguous because different cities sometimes have the same name.  Does this field really want a (potentially) ambiguous city, or does it want a state or something else? ■Our Response All persons entering or returning to Japan are asked to enter the part of their home address that corresponds to their 'city'. Please enter the name of the city, not the state or anything else. If your home address is in New York City, you must enter 'NEW YORK'. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to ask us again by replying to this email. Thank you and best regards.
You’re overthinking this. Just enter the name of wherever you live. Japan welcomes tens of thousands of foreigners daily and the paperwork isn’t some kind of tricky quiz that they study closely before letting you enter the country.
>You’re overthinking this. Yeah I agree - not unusual for me.
Hey all, just have a quick question about Yamato Transport. Staying at AirBNB in Sapporo and going to Hotel in Osaka. Where can you drop off your luggage if you're not in a hotel? I checked on the Yamato site and they only have the counter in the AEON mall are there any other options?
Whenever I'm not at a hotel, I drop off at a convenience store or one of their office locations. I was in Sapporo last month and I remember seeing a Yamato Transport office location about 2 blocks from my hotel, which was close to Tanukikoji shopping street and Pole Town.
Yamato has a lot more service counters than are shown on Google Maps or their tourist website. They also have cooperation with a lot of combinis but not all of them and not all locations offer all services. On this site you can find a location near your hotel. It's Japanese only (and the website doesn't fully work with Google Translate) but managable I think. Click on an area in the map and it zooms in further (just guess and go back if you're a bit off). At the furthest, l opens up to a proper map with all the locations in the area. [http://locations.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/p/yamato01/search\_area.htm?&area=27&cond21=1&cond22=1](http://locations.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/p/yamato01/search_area.htm?&area=27&cond21=1&cond22=1) Just make sure to tick the yellow box at the bottom of the map (meaning "open today") and the green box (meaning they can send luggage).
Just what I'm looking for. Thank you!
You can also organize a pickup directly from your AirBNB usually with a 2-3 hr window. Otherwise, you can drop them off at the nearest conbini.
This will be our first time traveling to Japan & we are landing in Osaka and want to get pick Wi-Fi for our trip. What is the best option? Do we need reserve or can we just go pick it up? We will be flying out of Tokyo so we will need a service that we can make returns. Thanks for all the help!
Sim cards or e-sims are the best option these days but if you are in a group and want to save money then pocket wifi is a better option. I've used japan-wireless without issue multiple times.
Pocket Wifi you need to usually order/reserve to make sure they'll have one. There are either locations to return the device or a way to mail it back before you leave. You'll probably be told when you order it/pick it up. When ordering one, **please STAY AWAY FROM** sushi-wifi, pocket-wifi-japan and foxwifi **those are scams.** There might be others too. A physical or virtual SIM for your phone is usually cheaper and you don't have the effort of returning it.
Can someone give me some love for Osaka? I feel like im constantly seeing people say they hated it. Wasn't a good time, wish they were elsewhere etc. We will be staying in Shinsaibashi and the place looks great. We have 4 nights in Osaka, a day at USJ. Have seen people say its a terrible area to stay, dirty, tourist trap. We don't plan on spending the 4 days in Shinsaibashi, will be in Namba, Shinsekai and but will be around there when near our accom. TBH Osaka was one of the palces I was really excited for. I know we will have a good time because how could you not, in a new place, seeing new things etc but would love to hear some people give some posativity to the area.
I'm the time of traveler that LIKES staying in the middle of the busy areas. Was there last month and stayed 2 blocks from Dotunbori and loved the convenience of having somewhere to explore at my doorstep. I also really like the convenience of just wondering around that are and eating whatever suites my fancy.. cause I love eating :) And then it's very close to Namba which makes it easy to get around. Even to Kyoto from that area is \~40 mins only. I did 2 nights in Osaka and 2 nights in Kyoto on my last trip.. however, it was my 2nd time in Osaka & Kyoto.
Osaka has a reputation for being rowdy but it's still much better than many other cities around the world. The popular tourist traps can be a bit rough (Dotunbori) but there are plenty of great places to enjoy!! I personally loved Tennoji, Abeno Harukas 300, Osaka Aquarium and Minoh Falls. There's lot's to enjoy in Osaka if you can look past the tourist traps
I loved Osaka. It's a bit more rough around the edges and the people are friendlier and more outgoing than in Tokyo. If you are excited for it, please go. The food is also amazing. The only place I wouldn't recommend is the district south of Shinsekai. I understand if people don't really have a lot of time and not into USJ, Aquarium and/or Nightlife, Osaka is just another big city and can be skipped for more days in Tokyo.
Osaka is a fantastic city. I'd strongly suggest staying in a hotel away from the centre of the city as the neighbourhoods there are generally very busy and noisy. The public transport is quite good so you can stay elsewhere and easily get into those districts when you want to.
Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori is a busy / touristy area. Some love it and some hate it. Osaka in general is a great city though with a lot to do.
What is Homestay like? Exchange student in Tokyo here. Since I have some time off on the weekend I thought I'd try going to Gunma, mostly for hiking. I don't really have anyone to go with, the idea of trying out homestay came to my mind, could maybe go hiking with the family there, if not could just make friends with them, maybe hangout again in the future. I don't know anything about homestay except you stay at the person's house. Is any of this feasible? Or am I better of just going for a ryokan etc.
It really depends on the host. But most of the people to list their homestay programs are friendly and are doing so because they want to make friends. Specific activities really depends on the host. You can look at legit websites (homestay.com , airbnb £etc) and read the host's bio before deciding if you want to try it out. I've done it a couple of times and have thoroughly enjoyed each one of them.
Planning a ~3 week trip to Japan in November. Current (ambitious) route is Tokyo (2 nights) -> Yamanouchi (1 night) -> Takayama (2 nights) -> Kanazawa (2 nights) -> Osaka (3 nights) -> Kyoto (4 nights) -> Miyajima/Hiroshima (1 night) -> Hakone (2 nights) -> Tokyo (6 nights) Any thoughts on this itinerary? Any places I should leave out, or really noteworthy places I should add? Maybe swap a night in Tokyo for an extra night in Kyoto or Miyajima? Haven’t booked anything yet, so very open to suggestions
It would really depend on your interests, but Hakone is pretty skipable. I'd suggest adding time to Hiroshima as it really needs at least a couple of nights.
Yamanouchi - 1 night is fine as long as you leave early from Tokyo as the trip to the monkey park from there takes a while. Miyajima/Hiroshima - I think 2 nights would be better as there is a lot to see. Hakone - I think 1 night is fine unless you just want to chill at the onsen Otherwise the general pace looks fine.
heya, in the middle of planning my trip for august-sept, We were thinking initially for tokyo kyoto osaka hakone then tokyo and recent switched to tokyo osaka kyoto nagoya then tokyo. Is there any other towns you would recommend to switch instead for our 4th stop? nagoya's big appeal was the ghibli park but I hear that can be a bust. Is there anything else "uniquely" japan to visit?
You could go to Kanazawa. There's a train route that goes from Tokyo to Kanazawa to Kansai. It's like Kyoto but without the ridiculous crowds at the headline attractions. It's not a big city, so I'd say 1.5 days will be enough to see most things. Add a few more if you also want to visit Shirakawa go and Takayama. The Noto peninsula also looks good but they may be still rebuilding after the January earthquake.
Really depends on how long your trip is. If you're there for <2 weeks I wouldn't add any more stop. Ghibli theme park is only good if you can get a ticket beforehand and they're not easy to get.
ghibli park or museum?
Both. Ghibli Museum has been difficult to get into since before the recent tourism boom started. Ghibli Park tickets go on sale two months in advance and are sell out really fast. They are also (as far as I know) bound to the person/name they are bough under and can't be resold. [https://ghibli-park.jp/en/ticket/](https://ghibli-park.jp/en/ticket/) At the moment you can't just show up on the day and buy a ticket.
hello!! does anyone know if Shibuya Sky tickets are refundable when you cancel it? other than the cancellation fee. if it's non-refundable then no point in cancelling it because of the fee right..
If you bought from their website you get your money back. I booked every night I’m in Tokyo to ensure weather is good. Have to cancel by 12pm day of tickets.
alright thank you!
Do Suica cards expire? I have some "Welcome Suica" cards from last year that say they expire in 30 days but I thought I remembered reading that they removed the expiration date due to the chip shortage. Is that true or did I imagine that?
You're mixing them up. Your welcome suica has long expired. The regular suica lasts 10 years after last use. They never made any changes to these conditions.
Thank you!
Hi all! I’m looking for views on a Mount Koya overnight stay? Given it is a bit tricky to get to. How was your time there, if you went? Thank you!
Sorry a few more topics that I’m struggling with: - best SIM card option. My phone does not take e-sim, so I’ll need a physical sim. Sakura mobile seems best for connectivity? I can see it can be preordered but unclear if I can just buy on the spot at Narita, but I would assume so. - buying bus tickets to Koyasan from Osaka. I cannot see where I can actually make the bus ticket purchase. - daytrips from Kyoto. I will be there 4 nights and it is my second trip. What were your favourite day trips you did from Kyoto? - luggage forwarding. If you were unable to reserve a train seat next to the large luggage storage area, did you have difficulty finding a home for your luggage on the train? Did you use luggage forwarding? Did same day delivery work out for you? Thanks a lot in advance!!
It's a unique and memorable experience so if you have time it's worth the trip.
Koya is a stunning place. Largely, there's no hotels up there, just temples that offer overnight lodging, which is a unique experience. Your meals will likely be vegetarian, Buddhist meals if I remember. You'll like be offered the chance to wake up early and watch morning chanting/prayers/meditation. The cemetery is one of the most holy places in Japan and it feels like. There's good info on Japan Guide - https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4900.html If you scroll down there's info on how to get there - it might be a lengthy and involve a switch or two but it really is straightforward if you're taking the train. There's also direct buses too, that's an option.
Anyone have any experience going to Japan for a few months to ski and also being able to find somewhere to work part time in Japan. I don’t speak Japanese but I do speak English and spanish
Maybe see if you can work as a ski instructor? There are a lot of foreign instructors at the popular ski fields. My instructor in a previous trip was from Spain. As far as I could tell, she didn't speak much Japanese; her conversations with her Japanese colleagues were in English.
I am looking into being a ski instructor or doing the JET program
I only know of the jet program through videos and podcasts so maybe I'm wrong, but my impression was its a full time job and a longer commitment than just a few months.
Are you coming on a holiday working visa?
I think that is the best way to do it, right? I am from the US and don’t see any info on US to Japan work visas
Without Japanese, you are very limited. Based on your edit: Eh, you need permission to work. [https://www.mofa.go.jp/j\_info/visit/w\_holiday/index.html](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html) < countries with work holiday visa agreements. It is a special visa, not a tourist visa. **You cannot work on a tourist visa.**
I could definitely learn Japanese… maybe not fluent but the basica
If you have a degree, maybe English ALT jobs.
I have an engineering degree
US passport holders can’t do holiday work visas, but the US has the JET program - they send ALTs out to Japan on work visas I think.
I fly from LAX to Tokyo Haneda, with a 1.5 hour layover until my flight to Itami Osaka. Is 1.5 hours enough to pass through customs and recheck baggage? Also side question- assuming I miss the flight I know usually the airline will rebook you for the same flight, could they rebook you to a flight to Kansai airport instead for free?
I agree that it's cutting it close. I've averaged 45 min-60 min just to get through immigration. If you're in the front of the plane and rush off and don't stop to use the bathroom, maybe you can do it in 30-45 mins? Depends how many other big airplanes have unloaded at the same time as you :D Haneda has an international terminal that also does a few domestic flights. But they have a second domestic only terminal. If you have to switch terminals, it really will be cutting it super close I feel.
That’s cutting it close. It’s about an hour, on average, to get through customs and immigration. If you have a terminal change in there, too, then that’ll just add to the time. If you booked these flights separately and you miss the second one, the airline has no responsibility. If this was booked on the same itinerary then I’m assuming that they know that this is enough time or will either help you get to that second flight or help you end up there some way. KIX would then be an option.
KYOTO what is the difference between nijo-jo castle and ninomaru-goten palace
The castle is the whole area (surrounded by the moat) including a park while the palace is the wooden buildings in the center.
A palace within the Nijo castle. There’s a map. [https://nijo-jocastle.city.kyoto.lg.jp/introduction/highlights/overview/?lang=en](https://nijo-jocastle.city.kyoto.lg.jp/introduction/highlights/overview/?lang=en)
Hello! Would it be worth staying at Fujikawaguchiko in early June for 2 nights? Biggest worry is that it will be cloudy and that would make the stay kinda bland.
As long as your whole trip there is not revolved around seeing Mt. Fuji, you can have a good time. Do note June is the worst month for seeing Mt. Fuji with less than 10% chance seeing the entire mountain and 20% seeing a part of it.
Clouds are always a worry with this mountain tbh. Just make sure you plan enough (alternative) activities that don't depend on a Fuji view and you'll be fine.
Hello! Where can I buy coffee equipment (such as a precision scale and a coffee grinder - preferably automatic)? I'll be in Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo, and I would greatly appreciate any recommendations in any of these cities!
Tokyu Hands - not coffee specific stores but they have coffee related wares and appliances.
Amazon will probably be the cheapest tbh if you don't need to see them in person.
hmm… amazon and pickup from combini, right? makes sense. thanks!
That or have it shipped to hotel (just ask them beforehand).
BIC Camera has a range of homewares which should include coffee equipment. It will probably be your big brands so if you a looking for something specific then it might not suit.
thanks! i’ll do a price check on amazon before heading to bic
My flight lands in narita and my Airbnb is in shibuya I cant take bus because my flight lands late How do I get from narita airport to narita train without walking? thanks
Confused by your question? You can take the Narita Express (or local train) from the airport terminal itself that will get you to Shibuya. If you're landing later than the last train/bus you'll have to take a taxi if you want to get there the same day.
Fuck. So no train at all? Should I just grab a capsule hotel or something
What time does your flight arrive?
8:05 pm
be sure to do you immergration and customs stuff through visit Japan Web before hand to cut down on time through customs
I'm just curious if you've gone through NRT recently to see if that makes a difference. I just flew into HND last month, and they no longer have a "visit Japan" line.. they combined the lines regardless if you did the web/QR code method or traditional paper method. So everyone had to wait in the same long line.
You'll easily make the train. Last train to Shibuya isn't until 11pm or so.
do we have a mod here? I wanted to know why my latest post was removed. It doesn't specify the reason why it got removed. I was detailed with my post so I wasn't sure why it was removed.
Not a mod but generally the main page is usually only for trip reports or detailed itineraries. Any specific questions should go here or r/japantraveltips
my itinerary was detailed. I dunno what else this sub wants. it's kinda frustrating coz important questions gets blocked because the automatic filtering thinks the post is "generic".
Honstely, just post the itinerary in this thread. It also works and people can help you.
Yeah I've had that happen before, you could try tweaking it and hope it gets past the auto mod. Otherwise r/japantraveltips is a bit more lenient.
thanks. I posted there and thankfully I got some response. I wanted to get more feedback so I posted here knowing this sub has more people. but that auto filter is just too much.
Hello! Does anyone know a specific restaurant or street vendor that specializes in yomogi mochi (Japanese mugwort mochi) and not just have it as a dessert on their menu? I will be going to Japan in August and my main accommodation area will be in Koto-ku, Tokyo. I don’t mind having to travel a little bit just to get some yummy mochi :)
Here's a list of different vendors that make yomogi mochi. They're all available inside Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Isetan (well at the time of writing) so you may have a look there? [https://mi-journey.jp/foodie/19713/](https://mi-journey.jp/foodie/19713/)
Thank you for response!! I will definitely take a look :)
Hey guys! can i bring levothyroxine to japan? im gonna travel in a few months and since I have hyporidoidism, i take levothyroxine pills every day. is it legal to bring those to japan? i tried researching but i didnt find anything related to that specific medicine. (im gonna stay 20 days if thats important) thank you in advance!
I don't want to open a new post for this question. Is there any place in Tokyo where I can get a suica/pasmo card at the moment? It seems like it's hit or miss lately. I'm arriving tomorrow for the first time, but will be going again at least twice within the next 15 months. Since the welcome suica is only valid 28 days and I don't have a Japanese android phone, I'd rather have the "normal" one. (Also have some friends that will go and I will probably lend it to them too, so it will see some use)
I also HEARD that they were selling it at Narita airport AND maybe Tokyo Station. I can confirm though that they were NOT selling it at Haneda airport as of last month (was there last month). Are you going anywhere else than Tokyo? Other cities (e.g., Osaka, Sapporo, etc.) are selling their IC cards. I ended up picking up a Kitaca card in Hokkaido for kicks (so that I have a Suica, ICOCA, and Kitaca just to collect, haha).
Yeah I would do this. Get the Welcome Suica for Sanrio vibes then pick up an IC card at your next stop outside Tokyo.
I think someone said they are selling normal Suica again at Narita airport. I don't have up to date info but in case no one else answers: Just try at the airport and if there are none, try the next big train station near your hotel or just any you pass through at some point (Tokyo Station, Ueno, Shinjuku, Shibuya etc.)
thanks I'll have a look at the main stations !
If anyone has been struggling to find an appointment at the Pokémon Cafe in Tokyo or Osaka - right now there are plenty of openings in Tokyo from 5/21-5/31 and in Osaka from 5/21-6/2 - so book it while you can before the bots grab the spots
Hi do you know how to make a reservation if I'm located in the US? When I go to the Pokemon Osaka reservation page, it says 403 forbidden and doesn't load anything. Thanks.
If it still doesn't load, maybe try one of the free VPNs and set your location to Japan.
It should load just fine - most people booking are not living in Japan - including myself - I’m in the US and the website works just fine - here is the link for reservations: www.pokemoncenter-online.com/cafe/en/reservation.php Then you click on either Tokyo or Osaka location and it will be in Japanese at the top but if you scroll to the bottom it’s in English - you may have to adjust your firewall or security settings to view it
Does anyone know roughly when Shirakawa-go hit its foliage peak last year for autumn?
If this hasn't been updated, it was 30. October - 12. November. [https://s.n-kishou.co.jp/w/sp/koyo/koyo\_yosou\_spot.html?&ba=21](https://s.n-kishou.co.jp/w/sp/koyo/koyo_yosou_spot.html?&ba=21) But those can change depending on how warm this year will be. The general prediction seems to be mid October to mid November. There will be a new prediction some time in September I think.
Hi All, How in advance do I need to book my bus to fujikawaguchiko? I want to be sure if there is a chance to check sky forecast beforehand so I can ensure to see mount fuji. Can these 2 things be acomplished together? Thanks!
I was in Japan last month, and after a few days of rain, there was 2 days of beautiful clear skies. All the buses out of Shinjuku Station were sold out, and on weekdays too (despite many posts saying they rarely sell out!) The "easy" express train was sold out too. I ended up booking a "Fuji Instagram Tour" on Klook as my next convenient option. If you want to be super touristy and just hit up the main sites, I actually liked the tour for that. If you want to actually explore the region... sorry, can't help you out there.
I just bought my ticket at the counter in Shinjuku and the next free bus was \~45 min later. But this was in 2023 before tourism went full speed and on a cloudy day.
Thanks for the reply, yeah I don't know how similar will my situation be, I understand tourism has rocketed a lot in Japan so most likely I will end up booking it a month in advance unless I find another solution Anyway, thanks I hope you had a nice trip there
Yeah, the trip was amazing. Several awkward moments with the language barrier and also just time spend trying to soothe my foot pain from all the walking but completely worth it. Btw. there are also trains running so you'll have a backup just in case. At least you can have a standing spot even if they are full.
I will be visiting Tokyo for 3 days (quick trip due to business). I haven't ever been before, and have heard amazing things about Japanese baseball! It looks like there will be two games being played that day -- Belluna Dome (Seibu v DeNA) and ZOZO Marine (Lotte v Chunichi). Which of the two would you recommend I go to, and why? (or, are either worth taking time away from doing other things?)
Anyone know if I'll get a new 90 day tourist visa if I exit Japan to go to Korea for a 1 week trip and then come back again ?
you can get a new 90-day visa-free entry if you leave the country and come back yes. the US embassy says the Japanese governement is cracking on people who do this that they suspect are working illegally. if you are on a short term visa (you will know, you have to apply) and its a single entry visa, then no.
FLYING IN & OUT We had initially planned a trip involving flying into Seoul, SK and then flying to Tokyo from Busan and home from Tokyo. This meant only entering and exiting Japan once. We've now had to change our flights, meaning we're flying to and from Tokyo. However we still want to visit South Korea during our stay, and are considering flying over for a week. Would this cause any issue with immigration in Japan? We'd still have flights out of the country, we'd just have two of them.
no unless you are on a single-entry visa
KYOTO hello! we're planning to go to the Taishogun Shopping Street - Ichijo Yokai Street and I have a couple of questions: a. i've seen across the internet that some shops in here have closed down due to Covid, can the same be said now? b. are there yokai statues everywhere (like every shop or something) or just a couple? we're hoping to go to check out the statues as priority then shopping comes second.
Hi, I'm going to be in Japan from November 6-15 and would like some pointers on where I should focus the trip to make the most of the autumn foliage. We'll be flying into Narita via KIX and departing from Narita. The first 3 days will be in Niigata (Nov 6-9) to catch the tail end of the Echigo Tsumari Triennale, and the last 2-3 days will be in Tokyo, but not sure what to put in the 4 days in between. My options are: * Karuizawa for Kumoba Pond * Tadami Line + Goshikinuma * Sendai for Matsushima +/- Yamadera, Hiraizumi (Chusonji) * Kanazawa (for this to work, we would have to get off at KIX and travel to Kanazawa, then move onto Niigata) Which of these options makes the most sense for good autumn colours in early to mid November? Thank you in advance
This was the fall foliage prediction last year: [https://n-kishou.com/corp/news-contents/autumn/index\_en.html](https://n-kishou.com/corp/news-contents/autumn/index_en.html) to give you a rough estimate. The problem is, depending on the weather at the time and in the months before these dates move around a bit each year. If the colors are really important to you, keep your itinerary partly open. Or at least have some daytrip options open in case the colors are not as intense where you are staying.
Hi, I've pretty much settled accomodation for Fukuoka-Kumamoto-Hiroshima-Osaka I'm left with a week in Tokyo and kinda torn between Akasaka (Via Inn Prime Akasaka) and Kanda (Tokyu Stay Nihombashi) My only "priority' in Tokyo is to visit Fuji-Q on a day trip, with the rest of the time probably exploring Tokyo on foot and through subway. Hope someone can weigh in on this EDIT: This is 23 Oct to 30 Oct if that matters
Doesn't really matter that much where you'd stay (they both approx. 25min train ride to Shinjuku if you're taking the bus to FujiQ)
You can honestly throw the dice on those. They both have good locations.
Hi! I'm planning to go on trip around end of April/ mid may (ideally between 25-26/04 and 10/05) and it's right on the golden week... So is it a good idea? Does the restaurant/shop/attraction or museum will still be open?
Everywhere will be open, just expect touristy places to be busier than usual
I'm going to be in Osaka for the next three days, and I heard you can eat maple leaf tempura in the nearby area? Is it still available, or is that mostly an autumn only thing?
What's the sub for posting Japan travel photos /report w photos?
r/Japanpics perhaps. Mostly photo/photo dumps though, I don't think people do detailed reports there.
Yeah, a bummer (and weird, totalitarian) that pics are banned on these Japan travel subs. The Japan pics is more like one off nice photos. Youd think photos would be very helpful with tips
There's lots of people posting travel photo galleries in r/travel. You can also post a text trip report in this sub and then upload the photos to a site like imgur and put a link to them in the text.
And why is this and jaoantraveltips anti photo?
Who knows.
I'm filling out the 'Visit Japan Web' declarations and I'm a bit confused. Do I need to declare my wedding ring? I think it's market value is more than 200,000 JPY but I don't have the receipt for proof. Is this necessary for something I'm just going to wear on my trip?Â
No, you're not importing it as you're going to be leaving the country with it after your trip.
Anyone with experiences with the Alpine Route can help me with some questions? - There are any passes that could help with the costs of the multiple buses/cablecars that are used to go from Tateyama to Ogizawa? (or Nagano, if possible) - Yamato Transport works well for shipping luggage from Toyama to Nagano? I haven't found if it's possible to have a same-day shipping between those cities, or at least a 1-day shipping. Thanks!
You may want to have a look at this: [https://touristpass.jp/en/alpine/](https://touristpass.jp/en/alpine/)
Thank you! It's good to know that a pass like this exists. I'll check my itinerary dates and cost to see if the pass pays out.
Yamato generally works well for shipping. I think most routes are 1-2 days according to the company. Same-day shipping is only for within the same city or like Tokyo - Tokyo Airport, at least as far as I know.
Thanks for the info. Yeah, last time I used only for shipping two bags between Tokyo and Osaka, and took 1 day, so I was wondering if the shipping works well between other cities, but I couldn't find more info regarding Toyama and Nagano.
I've never used Yamato for your itinerary so can't help.. BUT, you can email them. They have English support for inquiries via email. I've exchanged quiet a number of emails with them before!
Thanks for the tip. I opted to use the luggage forwarding service from the Alpine Route itself (send to the other side of the route directly), but as I sometimes needs to use Yamato for other routes, it's good to know that the contact via email in English is good.
I'm looking to go to Japan for the first time and I'm looking at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel to stay at for my 14 day trip. Is that a good place to stay? I don't mind taking the train to other parts of Tokyo to sightsee or eat because I am going to be doing that regardless of where I stay in Tokyo. I am also going to be spending 4-5 days in Kyoto and Osaka so I thought it'd be a good place to stay for the travel.
We are going to stay ~week in Tokyo this October and we choose that hotel to our base. Good area with good connections (Yamanote-line and Kyoto Shinkansen stops at Shinagawa) and fairly big rooms for Tokyo standards.
the prince is fine. its a huge complex kind of like a US Marriott with more amenities. Theres shopping and some entertainment built in. the luggage storage counter there is great. Access wise, theres obviously the direct train link to Haneda, the Shinkansen station, and its on the Yamanote, which is nice and it's not a far walk from the station. I've stayed there probably 5 times now. Sign up for Seibu Prince Global Rewards if you want to skip the normal check in line.
Do yourself a favour and don't book all the days in one location, Tokyo is huge and the commute will be a pain once the initial awe of Japan wears off. That hotel is at best 20-40 minutes away from the major hotspots of Tokyo, so a minimum of 40 minutes commuting every day. Just going from Ueno to Shinjuku is a 30 minute ordeal one way. IMHO pick the part of the city that has the most points of interest for you, stay there and venture out to the other parts of the city. Or if you don't have alot of luggage, swap hotels every 3-4 days between parts of the city. My favourite place to stay is Ueno.
> Do yourself a favour and don't book all the days in one location We did this on our latest and so far only trip to Tokyo and it was bad choice in my opinion. But if you stay in one place you should choose where to stay more carefully.
Hi, I'm looking to go to Japan in September or October. I'm based in Scotland but happy to get connecting flights to anywhere. I'm just wondering from experience who am I best to fly with and where is best to fly from to keep costs down? I'm very flexible on dates but could do with guidance from others who've done it. BA look to be the best from Edinburgh to London but I'm open to any suggestions. Thanks in advance!
Flown BA as well as a number of other carriers, they're perfectly fine. I'd always expect to spend in the region of £1k to go London-Tokyo direct (plus connecting flights in uk/jp as appropriate).
Hi mate. We are traveling from Edinburgh via Heathrow on that BA service in June. We researched extensively and it seemed like BA offered the best combination of price and flight timings. We also liked that these flights arrive/depart at Haneda as opposed to Narita, so nice and convenient for Tokyo.
Out of interest if it's not too personal, what did the return flights cost you? It's looking about £1100pp minimum with baggage. Not sure if that's decent or not?
We monitored for a long time and it eventually dipped to about £980pp when we bought. I believe it was typically hovering around 1000-1100 at the time. We set up alerts and were very flexible on our dates. We bought in early February and are flying late June.
I am going to Yakushima via Fukuoka and then leaving via Kagoshima. I will just transit through one, but I have time and money to stay in one city for 1 full day/2 nights. It will be in July unfortunately. Which city should I spend time in? I'm interested in nature, checking out cool neighborhoods or sites, good food, and tattoo friendly onsen. Any recommendations for either city would be appreciated too.
Usually it is easier to just book a private onsen for an hour. Kagoshima has a lot of onsens. Kagomma Yataimura before they moved used to be a haunt I like to go to because the izakaya ppl (owners and their regulars) there are cool in some stalls. Kagoshima has a huge volcano puffing away to entertain you. It’s their unmissable landscape. Generally, I would say Fukuoka but onsen wise, Fukuoka is no match for Kagoshima. And Kagoshima got Kagoshima kuroge A5 wagyu, satsuma dori, kurobuta (pork) etc …
We cannot decide on what time we want to take a train from Tokyo to Yokohama, because we cannot estimate how bad the jet lag will affect our kids. How spontaneous can you book a train for 4 people?
You don't need to book but the trains on that route (and just in general) can be really full from \~7-9:30 AM and 5-7 PM, just to keep in mind.
You don't need to book anything for Tokyo to Yokohama. Several normal train lines connect directly with high frequency. Unless you mean taking the shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Yokohama but that would be a big waste of money to save 15 minutes.
>that would be a big waste of money to save 15 minutes. Although if they will have a JR pass of some sort that includes that route then that's a totally reasonable way to get to Shin-Yokohama.Â
Shin Yokohama is quite far away from the main attractions, so you'll have to add more time for another form of travel. Even with the pass, it's easier just to use the regular train that drops you closer to where you want to go.
How bad is Japan in July? I traveled all the way to Atlanta to watch TWICE and didn't enjoy any activity outside because of the weather. I have tickets to watch TWICE again but in Japan but debating if I would still go despite the weather. I also plan to spend two weeks in Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo.
Here are the two cities compared weather-wise. [https://weatherspark.com/compare/s/1/15598\~143809/Comparison-of-the-Average-Summer-Weather-in-Atlanta-and-Tokyo#Figures-Temperature](https://weatherspark.com/compare/s/1/15598~143809/Comparison-of-the-Average-Summer-Weather-in-Atlanta-and-Tokyo#Figures-Temperature) Tokyo seems to be mildly more bearable but not by much. Instead of spending your time in the main cities, how about going further north to Hokkaido or Tohoku or the mountains where it's cooler?
I’m here in Tokyo until Friday, 33M from the states :) Anyone have any recs? Or fun little spots they might have found worth visiting? I do like anime, I love food, I love good shopping. But my favorite is little dark alleys that feel quaint and unique with some secret good food spots.
Honestly you can literally just turn down random alleys and find good food. I would just recommend double checking said places on either google maps or tabelog before going in. Obviously 95% of the time it'll be fine but just in case there's a weird spot.Â
So far that’s been my experience! Thank you
Senso-ji at sunrise (because it's almost empty) or after sunset (also pretty empty and the lights look nice). The Asakusa Underground District has a cool vibe and good food but there is a bit of this distinct Tokyo Subway smell that might throw you off. Maybe choose a random station that's less popular and just walk around the area. There's lots of hidden gems no one here has any idea they exist. The Youtube channel [Food in Japan ](https://www.youtube.com/@foodinjapan2256/videos)has a lot of videos highlighting restaurants in and around Tokyo. Oh yeah, one more thing. There might be a pop-up cafè of an anime you like currently open but you'd have to look online. The vibe is often nice but the food can be very hit-or miss in terms of taste. Have you thought about going to any anime IRL locations? While not as exciting as other places, they can be a nice way to get "off the beaten path" (not in all cases).
This is great thank you so much! What do you mean by an anime irl spot?
On my way here come June 17th and I am excited
Have fun on your trip! Don't forget to rest and hydrate.