Last modified 2023-01-18 04:55:22 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
- HOW TO TRAVEL JAPAN 2022 | Answers to the 20 MOST COMMON Questions
- Kim Dao (Youtube)
- Renata Pereira (Youtube) for general travel tips
- How to: Dining Out in Japan | Travel Tips | japan-guide.com
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
Activity & Sight-Seeing Ideas
Anime Locations / Tourism
- ANIME TRAVEL GUIDE JAPAN | 3 Must-Know Tips from a Local Otaku
- Collabo-Cafe
- Anime Tourism Association (Anime pilgrimages)
Akihabara:
- Radio Kaikan
- Super Patato (retro game store)
- Mandarake
- Rashinban
Ikebukuro (feeeeemale Akihabara):
- Animate
- K-Books
- Sunshine City
- Nakano Broadway
- Surugaya
- Shibuya Parco
Anime theme parks:
- Ghibli Museum / Ghibli Theme Park
- Awaji Island
- Fuji Q Highland (Evangelion ride and more)
Cities & Places
-
Tokyo
- Top 5 Things to do in Tokyo | japan-guide.com
- Tokyo Station (tip: spend a few hours)
- Tokyo Metro Gov Office Bldg observation deck
- Shibuya
- Shinjuku
- Harajuku
- Meiji Shrine
- Kwagoe
- Kamakura
- Nikko
- Hakone
- Kawaguchiko
- Samurai Museum (Tokyo)
- Bar Jigen (Kyoto)
-
Kyoto
- Top 5 Things to do in Kyoto | japan-guide.com
- Nishiki Market
- Kyto Museum (Kyto Animation section)
- Top 5 Things to do in Kyoto | japan-guide.com
-
Osaka
- Top 5 Things to do in Osaka | japan-guide.com
- Umeda Sky Building
- Osaka Castle
- Suntory Yamazaki Distillery (must book tickets months in advance!)
-
Matsumoto
-
Takayama
-
Gero Onsen
-
Shirakawa-Go
-
Kanazawa
-
Nara
-
Wakayama Prefecture
-
Koyasan
-
Donquiote
-
Nintendo World (Universal Studios Japan)
-
Ghibli Park
Shopping: