Last modified 2023-10-01 20:12:06 UTC by ubbies#1337 — All History — Edit — Raw

Japan Trip Planning

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

Budget

Purchase travel insurance for flight
Use Skylets guest service when arriving at airport
Japan - Power Plugs & Socket: Travel Adapter Needed?
Notify bank before traveling to Japan
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
Buy a luggage for souvenir shopping at DonKihote on the last couple of days

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

JR Pass Calculator (see if a pass is worth it for your trip)
My JR Pass
Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) for Shinkansen (buy 2-3 weeks before trip)
Japan Transit Planner
Pasmo
Suica and Welcome Suica for all other trains and shopping (mobile app available)

Limosine and Shuttle:

Luggage forwarding:

Yamato Transport for shipping luggage across Japan and to your hotel to avoid bringing luggage on trains
https://www.jalabc.com/

Akihabara:

Ikebukuro (feeeeemale Akihabara):

Anime theme parks:

Tokyo
- Top 5 Things to do in Tokyo | japan-guide.com
- TOKYO Has CHANGED: BEST 7.5 NEW Things To Do In TOKYO 2023!
- Tokyo Station (tip: spend a few hours)
- Tokyo Metro Gov Office Bldg observation deck
- Tokyo Tower
- Tokyo Skytree
- Imperial Palace and East Garden
- Shibuya
  - Shibuya SKY
- Ginza Art Aquarium Museum
- Shinjuku
- Harajuku
- Meiji Shrine
- Kwagoe
- Kamakura
- Nikko
- Hakone
- Kawaguchiko
- Samurai Museum (Tokyo)
- Bar Jigen (Kyoto)
- Maharaja Roppongi (Nightclub)
Kyoto
- Top 5 Things to do in Kyoto | japan-guide.com
  - Nishiki Market
  - Kyto Museum (Kyto Animation section)
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!)
Castles
Shrines
Temples
Museums
Manga & Anime
Festivals
Industry & Commerce
Onsen
Beaches
Theme Parks
Matsumoto
Takayama
Gero Onsen
Shirakawa-Go
Kanazawa
Nara (to pet and feed deer)
Wakayama Prefecture
Koyasan
Donquiote
Nintendo World (Universal Studios Japan)
Ghibli Park

Shopping:

print hotel receipts/bookings for customs/entry
avoid smoking hotels, can find nonsmoking hotels.
Manga cafe overnight??
Night bus, sleep & go
luggage forwarding: Ta-q-bin, will move your luggage from hotel to hotel for you.
storage lockers, 700jpy/day, can be useful.
premium Japanese airlines are an option.
cheap flights: Google flights, momondo, skyscanner, flight tracking alerts.
insurance: travel & health insurance, list of medicine translation, confirm medicines are legal, check pharmacy for the good vaccinations
buying tickets in advance, many places need to be booked
Japan Pocket wifi, prebook and pick up at airport. Sakura wifi,ninja wifi
one night stay at airport hotel might be good
transit passes, maybe ic card though. Suica good option
do shopping at the end