japan

Last modified 2023-01-16 01:41:27 UTC by ubbies#1337 — All History — Edit — Raw

Japan Trip Planning

Travel Dates: Sept 18 - Oct 6 (18 days)

Budget

• Flight:
  • Economy (1 stop): $1,535
  • Premium (1 stop): $2,356
• Hotel:
  • Tokyo (spa hotel): $200+/night
  • Kyoto:
  • Osaka:
  • Other:
• Buses & Trains: ???
• Food & Drink: ???
• Shopping: ???
• Gifts & Souvenirs: ???

Tips & General information

• Get the JR Pass + Pocket Wi-Fi bundle
• Pocket Wi-Fi recommended over SIM card (can be used by multiple phones) (arrange pickup at airport)
• Bring $200-$300 cash as backup payment for businesses that are cash-only
• Rush Hour: 7:30am-9:00am & 5:00-6:30pm or 7:00pm
• Buses in Tokyo stop running at 10PM and trains stop running 12AM
• Upgrade for extra leg room if flight is long (e.g. 10+ hours)
• Spend 2-3 days minimum in each major city
• Figure out how to get from airport to hotel and back to airport
• Confirm mobile carrier works in Japan before trip or purchase SIM
• Interact with the locals to get recommendations, etc
• Luggage slots must be reserved for bullet train and there's a limit to luggage size
• Kyoto: Taxis are recommended method for traveling in the city
• Stay in a Ryokan for at least one night of trip
• Stay in Shibuya or Ginza

Links

• Japan Travel Checklist
• Ultimate Checklist for Japan Travel [2023]
• The Essential Guide to 2 Weeks in Japan for First Time Visitors
• Japan Guide
• Travel Japan
• Travel Caffeine
• Japan Travel Planning (Facebook Group) for recommendations on bars, restaurants, etc.
• Klook for WiFi, Bus, and Train passes, etc.

Videos:

• JAPAN HAS CHANGED | 8 New Rules + Things You Need to Know Before Traveling
• ANIME TRAVEL GUIDE JAPAN | 3 Must-Know Tips from a Local Otaku
• HOW TO TRAVEL JAPAN 2022 | Answers to the 20 MOST COMMON Questions
• Kim Dao (Youtube)
• Renata Pereira (Youtube) for general travel tips

Books:

• Japan Travel Guide: Things I Wish I'D Known Before Going to Japan
• Eyewitness Travel: Japan
• Eyewitness Travel: Tokyo Top 10

Itineraries:

• The ‘Classic’ Golden Route First Time Japan Trip – Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka 2 Week Itinerary
• The ‘Extended’ First Time Japan Trip Itinerary – Tokyo, Mt Fuji/Hakone Region, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima
• The ‘Japanese Alps’ First Time Japan Trip Itinerary – Tokyo, Kyoto, Japanese Alps and Snow Monkeys

Transportation

Flight

• Hopper for flight alerts
• Scott's Cheap Flights
• Airport arrival: Haneda in Tokyo is preferred compared to Narita for distance to Tokyo

Buses, Trains and Shopping

• Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) for Shinkansen (buy 2-3 weeks before trip)
• JR Pass Calculator
• Suica and Welcome Suica for all other trains and shopping (mobile app available)
• Yamato Transport for shipping luggage across Japan and to your hotel to avoid bringing luggage on trains

Accommodation

• Booking.com

Activity & Sight-Seeing Ideas

*Japan Tours & Trips (September 2023)

Cities & Places:

• Tokyo

  • Akihabara
  • Tokyo Station (tip: spend a few hours)
  • Shibuya
  • Kwagoe
  • Kamakura
  • Nikko
  • Hakone
  • Kawaguchiko
  • Samurai Museum (Tokyo)
  • Bar Jigen (Kyoto)

• Kyoto

  • Nishiki Market
  • Kyto Museum (Kyto Animation section)

• Osaka

  • Suntory Yamazaki Distillery (must book tickets months in advance!)

• Castles

• Shrines

• Temples

• Museums

• Manga & Anime

• Festivals

• Industry & Commerce

• Onsen

• Matsumoto

• Takayama

• Gero Onsen

• Shirakawa-Go

• Kanazawa

• Nara

• Wakayama Prefecture

• Koyasan

• Donquiote

• Nintendo World (Universal Studios Japan)

• Ghibli Park

Shopping: