Japan planning thread

[Takoneko]

I’ve just booked the hotels for my third trip to Japan next year and about to start planning the itinerary in earnest.

Japan threads pop up here quite a bit and I think people spend a lot of time on planning for Japan trips. I thought it might be nice to have a shared thread where we can pool questions, tips and share research for anyone who has a trip coming up.

All budgets and styles of trip are welcome, whether you’re going hiking, temple-hopping, skiing or visiting theme parks, maid cafes and arcades and whether you’re going to hostels or 5 star hotels. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way to enjoy Japan. It has something for everyone.

We’re a couple in our late 30s and our trip will be mid-budget, probably up to about £3.4k per person with food and spends. We’ve splashed out a bit on direct JAL flights and have upgraded all our hotel rooms to at least king size beds in hotels that are in really well connected locations. They are all mid-range Japanese business hotel chains rather than luxury hotels though. (Candeo, Daiwa Roynet and Sotetsu Fresa). We like Japanese food but we’re definitely more likely to be eating eat in mom and pop restaurants and mid-range Japanese chains than in fancy kaiseki places. Any recommendations for mid range restaurants with relaxed atmospheres would be very welcome.

We plan to use the Sanyo-San’in rail pass in the second half of our trip and would be really interested to share ideas for places to visit with anyone else who is planning on using that pass (or who has used it in the past). At the moment we are thinking Iwakuni, Miyajima, Kurashiki and Onomichi from Hiroshima and Himeji and Uji from Osaka, but we are open to other ideas. I speak passable tourist Japanese and we are ok with going to places that don’t cater to English speakers and muddling through with broken Japanese and Google translate.

@YesYesKitten On booking.com if you go to the filters there should be an option to filter only for triple rooms. That should filter out all the places where you’d need to book two rooms. Triple rooms aren’t super common but there should still be plenty of options. When is your trip? If you try booking too far in advance you will get more limited options as many places don’t open their bookings until 6-9 months in advance. If you’re still 10 months or more away from your trip you’re probably too early.

Thanks @Takoneko , looking for late July/Aug 2025.

Also, thinking of flying to Tokyo, then bullet train to Osaka as a base for day trips to Kyoto and Hiroshima.

Just checking Osaka is the best base and we need to book the train in advance?

Hi, we are planning a Japan trip for this autumn and torn between two Tokyo hotels. Has anyone ever stayed in either the 'Shibuya Excel Hotel' or the 'Shibuya Stream Hotel'?

Osaka is a great base as it is very well connected. Stay in central Osaka on the midosuji (red) metro line if you’re going to be doing a lot of day trips.

Hiroshima is a long way for a day trip from Osaka IMO, especially if you’re also planning to visit Miyajima. I know people do it, but just be aware that the two cities are a long way apart.

How long is your trip?

@MillieMollyMandi we looked at those hotels, but have now booked the Daiwa Roynet Ginza (thanks to @Takoneko for the advice).
We got a better price on Hotels.com compared to Booking.com btw.
We're now looking for our Kyoto hotel - any recommendations please? We're hoping that the accommodation on the rest of the trip is less spendy!

@Takoneko thinking of a trip of around 2 weeks in total, so a week based in Tokyo and a week in Osaka. I was thinking of something beachy too like Okinawa but I think that might be too far.

We're reconsidering our number of nights in Hiroshima. We were thinking of 3 Kyoto, 2 Hiroshima and 3 Osaka, but now wondering if we should do 3,3,2. We need to be in Osaka for our flight home. Thanks all.

@YesYesKitten If you have a full two weeks then you can afford to have a couple of long day trips in there without it feeling too rushed. A week in Tokyo and a week in Osaka will allow you to see loads of really interesting places. Both are great home base cities for exploring. If you’re doing a lot of day trips think carefully about where you stay in Tokyo. It’s a very big city so I’d take into account which stations the trains for any day trips depart from. If you’ve got to commute across the city first to get the train it can add a lot of extra time onto the journey.

Osaka is easier because, wherever you’re going, the most convenient place to stay will pretty much always be on the Midosuji line in central Osaka.

Is Osaka just to see Osaka or for day trips? A couple of nights is enough to get a feel for Osaka but you could also spend far longer there if you’re using it as a base.

I think Hiroshima is similar. It really depends on whether you’re just there for the city or to see the wider region. We’re spending 5 nights in each of them in April and don’t have enough time for everything we wanted to see from those cities.

@Takonek we were thinking of just staying in Osaka itself and do our day trips from Kyoto (eg Nara, Himeji). We will be tired by the end of the trip so Osaka could be for shopping and generally exploring the city itself. I need to remind myself that we're in our late 50s now - energy levels aren't quite so good as 20 years ago!
However, when I look on the map, quite a few of the attractions are closer to Osaka, so perhaps my original plan of 3,2,3 is better.
We're only booking hotels with free cancellation, so could change our plans, but I'd rather not have the hassle.

I need to remind myself that we're in our late 50s now - energy levels aren't quite so good as 20 years ago

This is a relevant point. I've been visiting Japan for close to 20 years (am mid 50s myself) and can absolutely see a difference in my stamina and energy levels. And I'm not particularly unfit now but age does creep up on you.

Even changing train lines in some stations can be a good 15 minute walk with multiple stairs! Then there's all the walking out and about. Travelling between places etc.

I just came back from a 15 day trip and tbh the last couple of days I was just knackered. I'd originally scheduled a long day trip for one of those days and ended up not going and just staying local. I just couldn't face it.

@Pusspot do you know if hotels.com are OK if things go wrong?

I only use booking.com as I find the site easier to navigate.

@Pusspot Wherever you choose to spend the extra night you’ll have plenty of options for things to fill your time and two night in either is enough to see the main sights without rushing too much. I don’t think there’s a “right” answer. Both are good.

@DancingLions this is so true. I certainly need to be match fit for this trip, and to pace ourselves. I'm intending to travel as lightly as possible to ease the strain.
@YesYesKitten good point. We haven't used Hotels.com before, as we used to get a good cash back/discount incentive with booking.com. The affiliation has changed, hence the search on H.com. The price difference was about £160 for the Tokyo hotel, so worth it for us.
@Takoneko thank you, I think we're back on 2 nights in Hiroshima now. It won't make much difference in the scheme of things.

I'm deep into booking/planning for April. I do have a few questions though. Firstly has anyone used Klook? We have our USJ tickets but are thinking of booking a timed entry into Super Nintendo land through there. No kids with us and am struggling to justify the fast pass prices.

Secondly, I have done the JR pass calculator and it is cheaper to book the Shinkansen separately. I have read about the QR codes - I assume this is straight forward.

Also I am going to try and get Studio Ghibli tickets but I am aware this is difficult. Any experiences of booking tickets through a tour agency like Klook for these? So expensive but I think it is going to be difficult to get through the Studio Ghibli website.

As long as you’re going to USJ for opening time in the morning you can just get your Super Nintendo timed entry on the USJ app when you get to the park. If you’re not planning to arrive to USJ until later in the day then that may not work, but we had no trouble getting timed entry slot for fairly early in the day this April without booking in advance.

I don’t have any experience of klook so can’t advise there.

Hi all,

We're less than two weeks before our trip to Tokyo, have no itinerary and no clue and starting to panic a bit as Facebook is bombarding me with videos and I don't know where to start! We're first timers in Japan, early 50s, couple only, and only 5 nights due to work etc

Sat 22/2 fly from LHR on JAL

Sunday 23/2 arrive HND at 17.20, have 5 nights booked at the park hotel which apparently is in the shiodome tower and close to Shimbashi station

We have concert tickets for Tues 25/2 in Yokohama and have a hotel next to the stadium booked on points, and a morning booking for the cup noodle museum for the weds morning as it's close by.

We have 9am teamlabs planets tickets for Thursday 27/2

Flights back Friday 28/2 21.30 via Finnair.

So basically we have Sunday evening, all day Monday, Tuesday morning before going to Yokohama, and Thursday and Friday - we think that we'll probably spend time in Yokohama on the Wednesday and make our way back to Tokyo in the afternoon or evening.

We like food, wandering, and have no strong dislikes for crowds or anything. We'd like a mixture of seeing calmer and more traditional things like shrines and parks but would like to also see some of the more modern side of Tokyo. Not at all wanting to go to Disney etc. I think it looks as though Ueno/Asakusa have enough to see and do to spend a day and evening, not sure whether that would be a good combination with teamlabs for the Thursday or whether to go there Monday and go Shibuya after teamlabs. Would quite like to experience onsen but realise that we have very little time and there's so much to do! We don't want an hour-by hour schedule as it's nice to wander, but no structure at all will mean we come home with regrets. We're viewing this as a taster trip which was an impulse buy (we really love Green Day 😂) and will probably return to Japan for a longer trip at a later date.

Can anyone help make sense of this please?

@HostessTrolley I’d probably combine teamlabs with Asakusa. Is it Teamlab borderless at Azabudai? If so, you could get the water bus from Hinode or Hamarikyu Gardens to Asakusa, which is really nice.
There’s loads to do in Asakusa and Ueno so you’ll have no trouble filling the rest of the day and evening. Do make sure you go into the tourist information centre in Asakusa and go up to their roof for the view. It’s free.

On the Wednesday what about heading over to Kamakura for a bit before going back to Tokyo? You’re already a most of the way there in Yokohama.

Hi all, I have another question please relating to my Japan trip in October.
I'm hoping to pack lightly, and potentially use cabin size suitcases, which we would check in. We need to update our luggage before we go, hence the forward thinking. Has anyone successfully travelled around with just cabin size wheeled suitcases? We would have a soft hold-all each as well, My concern is that we wouldn't have much space for shopping (this probably wouldn't be for clothes though).
I have read about the luggage forwarding service and wondering if anyone has used it?
Tbh I'm not keen on the concept (I'm a worrier!) but can be swayed. Thanks!

@HostessTrolley we've stayed at the Park in Shimbashi - it’s in quite a quiet area and perfectly fine, although our room was pretty small (though comfortable). It’s very handy for transport connections. And on our very last day the weather was super-clear after a typhoon and we suddenly got a fantastic view of Mt Fuji from the lobby window.

If you love food and wandering and you’re in Asakusa, you’ve got the whole Senso-ji temple area to explore, plus the very entertaining Kappabashi-dori ('kitchen street') experience nearby. We walked from one to the other easily.

We also went to the Ramen Museum in Yokohama, which was good fun (be prepared to eat plenty of ramen - you're 'expected to order at least one bowl of ramen' when you go into the restaurants).

I have read about the luggage forwarding service and wondering if anyone has used it

In my experience, luggage forwarding is safe and efficient. I've used it a few times. The Japanese take a lot of pride in their services and do not like to make mistakes! Plus this is something they do every day of the week so they are really good at it. It really does make travel so much easier. Honestly, I would go for a standard size check in suitcase rather than a smaller case and holdall. The holdall will get heavy when you have to lug it around everywhere (speaking from experience!).

You'd be a rare person not to do any shopping at all! If you're checking in luggage anyway, you might as well use a decent size suitcase. Then the smaller wheeled cabin bag or a rucksack to keep with you while you don't have your suitcase, as the luggage services sometimes pick up the night before.

I was also a bit cautious the first time, but they are really good. It's so nice not to have to worry about getting big luggage from A to B.

@DancingLions thank you for your reply, it's put my mind at rest. I'm sure we will want to do plenty of souvenir shopping on our trip. I've heard that Osaka is particularly good for that.

Can anyone recommend an e-sim provider, many thanks.

Re luggage, please can I recommend getting 4-wheel spinner cases? They are the default there and I read that it's considered a bit rude to trail your suitcase behind you.

I've bought mine from Airalo. I haven't used them in Japan as this is our first time out there, but I've used them in Turkey and Morocco and it was so easy - and so cheap compared with using roaming on my contract