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.

@KenAdams That looks like a very sensible itinerary to me. There’s a lot to be said for picking an area and just having a wander.

Akihabara isn’t the same as it used to be when I first went in 2009, but still fun. I’d really recommend taking a wander around the Yodobashi Akiba if you’re there. There’s also a beard papa next door, where you can get a great cream puff.

You might also want to spend a couple of hours in Den Den Town in Osaka. For me, it felt more like Akihabara used to than Akihabara does now, if that makes sense. The staff in the Taito station there could not have been more helpful and lovely.

On day 3, you might also want to consider swapping Shinjuku and Shibuya around. It looks like you have an evening in Shibuya at the end of the trip and I think the places on your Shinjuku list are really best enjoyed after dark. Kabukicho in particular doesn’t have the same vibe in daylight.

I notice you have gacha on your list a few times. There’s a couple of gacha stores on Shinsaibashi in Osaka that we found had more interesting selections that most of the others we saw. Keep an eye out for them when you’re there. They aren’t the biggest we saw but our best gacha all came from there.

Kurashiki looks lovely, and it’s made me rethink the second part of our trip (14 nights excluding travel). Currently we are staying for 6 nights in Tokyo, which I’m happy with. After that, we have booked 3 nights in Kyoto. I was then planning on go into Hiroshima for 2 nights, and finally to Osaka for the final 3 nights. However, there seems to be so much to see in the Okayama area.
Perhaps we should adjust our plans to spend time there? Or stay 5 nights in Kyoto and have more day trips? All thoughts gratefully received.
ps I am not liking this new MN app!

@Pusspot Kurashiki is an easy day trip from either Osaka or Hiroshima or you could stop on the way between them and leave your luggage in a locker in Okayama. It’s about 1hr 10mins to Kurashiki from either Hiroshima or Osaka. We’re doing it as a day trip from Osaka as the Hiroshima bit of our itinerary got a bit over-packed.

Can anyone help me with the Suica app?
I can’t get any of it in English, At all which is making any use impossible 🤦🏼‍♀️

@TakonekoI looked too and although refurb doesn’t start until 7th May it would seem that you can’t book in at all (sob)

@Takonekothat’s interesting- we could certainly stop off on the way back from Hiroshima. I’m trying to include a bit of calm into the trip, and I think a few hours in Kurashiki might tick that box. Thanks for replying.

@princesspadam I think the refurb began in May last year. I think it’s a full 18 month shutdown.

Had a bit of a search online and found this.

https://soranews24.com/2024/05/09/tokyos-famous-lost-in-translation-hotel-is-closed/amp/

Planning on seeing the light show at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building the night we arrive, to keep us awake.

Can anyone recommend a good vantage point where we can sit if tired?

@YesYesKitten I’ve just seen that Kura sushi have a Pokemon collaboration on until 17th April. There’s some special items on the menu and the prize items for the gacha game are Pokemon themed.

This is the advice I needed, thank you so much!

Do you have an iPhone or Android?

A question - Team lab Planets or Borderless? We would like to go to one, does anyone have any views on which is best. Just DH and I, no kids.

How are you with walking through knee deep water barefoot?

We have just booked planets - our thoughts are it has recently expanded with new areas plus the water and spongy floor rooms make it very different from other similar installations that you find in the UK. The flooring and water may however put you off, we have booked the 9.00 slot so it should be freshly cleaned! Obviously people that have visited can give you even better information.

Would love any reccomendations on what may be nearby to this area to include that day.

@Jellyslothbridge What about the Senkyaku Banrai? https://www.toyosu-senkyakubanrai.jp/languages/en/

It’s a cool place to hang out and have lunch, especially if you’re into seafood. The free foot bath was also a great place to sit and relax for a bit.

@KenAdamsyes I have an iphone
i had originally downloaded the green icon Suica app which was entirely in Japanese
however I’ve now found welcome Suica mobile app which is red however it says I can’t top up from my home country

I don't think you need the app, you can just add it as a payment card I believe.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/108772

Getting close to finding out if the cherry blossom forecast is accurate. Selfishly I'm hoping it's delayed...

@princesspadam

I can confirm @KenAdams is correct. We just installed Suica as a payment card. No need for the app. It worked perfectly.

😁 Yes, I'd read about that. OK as long as there's no underwater surprises....

The thread is now huge! What a great resource. I’m scrolling but can not find the recommendations for learning the language (not Duolingo). Has anyone got an on-line recommendation please? Also a book.

Fascinating thread, we’re just starting to plan our first trip to Japan so I’m pilfering liberally from all the excellent advice and recommendations. Undecided whether to travel in July or postpone until Easter 2026, is the summer weather really unbearable for a first visit?

I'm doing Duolingo but its not great. YouTube videos showing phrases you'll actually use have been the most useful.

Absolutely postpone. A lot of what the is to see is outside so you'd want to be comfortable. Autumn is another option with the beautiful colours in the garden.

I don’t do well in extreme heat and humidity, so I avoid the summer. If you’re ok with the heat then there’s pros and cons. If you’re set on going to all the big famous sites then Easter is as crowded as it gets. We’re going back at Easter this year but Easter is late this year and we’re spending a lot more time off of the “Golden Route”. The summer would be less busy than the Cherry blossom or autumn foliage peaks.