r/JapanTravelTips

Hi! I’m going to Japan next year and I’m super excited for it, however, everywhere I look and read it seems like tourists are a bother and I can’t help but be worried that I’ll be bothersome for the locals, I’m super excited but this causes me anxiety and I’m very worried about it, I’m not sure exactly how to word it, but will I be a bother?

Edit: Thank you for the replies! I think a better way to word my question was how to avoid being a bother, if there were any tips or things to read or take a look at before I go I’d really appreciate it!

(Sorry if I’ve made any mistakes, this is my first time posting on Reddit)

Hi! I'm doing a solo trip to japan in February and I'm looking to see what any recommendations on what I should do for getting from osaka to haneda airport. Seen alot of talk about the shinkansen train but I'm not sure about luggage and then I've spotted that there is a relatively cheap flight from osaka straight to haneda. Any recommendations are welcome thanks in advance!

I got a really good deal on an Apartment hotel in Osaka that I have for the next two weeks and am using as a basecamp, so I’m open to random overnight stays in other places. So far I have 2 nights booked in Tokyo (one night left).

Question is: should I extend my stay in Tokyo, or stay in another city like Kyoto? What would you do?

This November I will be taking a 12 day trip to japan. heres how I see it playing out so far, its a very rough draft.

Day 1 - Travel Day
Day 2 - Arrive in Tokyo
Day 3 through 6- Stay in Tokyo
day 7 through 10 - Stay in Osaka
Day 11 - Fly home
Day 12 - Arrive home

Question 1- How should I fly to tokyo, and how/where should I fly back home?
Question 2- Where should I book my rooms at? I was thinking of using Booking.com because they came to mind.
Question 3- Where should I book my flights at? Im flying out of Detroit Michigan, its about a 16 hour flight.
Question 4- Is there any program, application, "Life Hack" ETC you use to simplify/organize the process? if so what are you doing to improve quality of life
Question 5- Regarding planning the essentials of a properly functioning trip, is there anything I may be missing?

I've never flown on my own, or even planned for anything like this at all, so any advice on flying and general planning would be great.

Hi guys,

Im looking for some omakase recs since im going to tokyo in a week or so. I know that omakase isn’t cheap but do you have any recommendations for spots that are a 100 dollar max?

With my best friends we are currently planning an almost 3 weeks long trip to japan, we might have gotten a bit ambitious which is why I'm here...
We've already bought our tickets and booked a few hotels but one thing that's been bugging me is anything related to public transportation.

I'll detail our schedule briefly:

17 Dec - 20 Dec : Tokyo
20 Dec - 22 Dec : Nagano
22 Dec - 25 Dec : Otaru
25 Dec - 28 Dec : Sapporo
28 Dec - 30 Dec : Sendai
30 Dec - 5 Jan : Tokyo

Nagano is quite close from Tokyo and from memory it seems that a single shinkansen is enough to make the trip, however the trip from Nagano to Otaru must be done via planes, but I think it's possible to take the shinkansen to Hokodate and from there rely on local transports all the way to Otaru (we face the same dilemma with Sapporo to Sendai).

We are currently considering to purchase a JR Pass but after scooping around a few posts I find myself a little hesitant. I have made a few research on it and I'm still a little confused, I have no idea if the pass works in Hokkaido, I've heard there are some JR bus lines so I think it should be fine for trains (if we go by the shinkansen which we most likely will). I also have no idea if we absolutely must book shinkansens with a JR Pass, if we have to I'd like to know when to do it, we would rather do it as early as possible.

I think that's it, I'm probably missing a few things so if anyone has any suggestion I'm all ears, likewise if anyone wants to recommend a place for either Nagano, Otaru, Sapporo or Sendai I'll take it! (our schedule is always subject to change lol)

I've seen people do both, really. Thing is were gonna be 4 people - 3 of us love anime - but aren't necessarily there to buy anything (figures, manga, whatever). 3 of us also love gaming but again - aren't necessarily the collecting type. I'd love to hear y'all's recommendation. Edit: first time in Japan for all of us!

What is currently the cheapest way to store a medium bag for ~2 weeks? There are so older posts, but they are years old so I wanted to check in with the current state.

My present understanding is that JAL offers services like this at the airports.

Also, Yamato will often be able to hold your bag for 7 days when you send it to a hotel or airport.

Last Ecbo is an option for up to 14 days, but the price is relatively significant.

Are there any additional options or can you comment about these solutions?

I’m visiting Tokyo end of September/early October. I’ve been keeping an eye on calendars/announcements for museums’ special exhibitions.

Unfortunately it seems for a few of the major places, like Mori Art Museum, I will be visiting at a time when they don’t have a special exhibition on display.

I’ll continue to keep an eye out for exhibitions being announced, but in the meantime, I’m curious to hear about folks’ favorite *permanent collections* in Tokyo, and why you loved it?

Thanks!

Starting to plan a trip.

My only option is to land in NRT but I hope to start my trip in and around Osaka first and work my way back to Tokyo for departure.

To maximise time I thought I could catch a domestic flight from NRT to Osaka after we land because flights seem to be quicker and cheaper than trains.

Questions: is this reasonable? Can I stay in the terminal after customs or will I have to go through security again in NRT and how long could customs plus security take?

Should I just reset for a night in Tokyo and make my way to Osaka the next day?

Thanks for your advice

I've been wanting to visit or live in Japan for a while, but have had difficulty thinking of what my name would be in Japanese.

I feel like Bjorn (pronounced beorn) would be kinda odd, and from what I've heard, decently awkward for locals to pronounce. I've seen people say it would be pronounced byo-run but I'm not sure.

The most obvious answer for me is to use Kuma as its a direct translation from my Danish name - but would this be accepted as a name in Japan? Or would people think I'm weird?

Planning my first trip to Japan, and seeking help to build a 2 week itinerary. I'm not particularly interested in visiting the major cities (aside from Kyoto). I'm much more interested in seeing the beautiful countryside, the temples and shrines, the ancient architecture, the forests and mountains, the rural gems. I'd like to enjoy onsen, and stay in a ryokan.

This trip has been a dream of mine for 20+ years. If anyone can provide recommendations, I'd greatly appreciate it.

*Edit: Sorry for not being more specific! I definitely have a list of places I'd like to see while there, but was hoping to hear from those who've already experienced Japan and have found some hidden gems in the more rural parts to add to my list.

I would love to hike the Nakasendo trail, explore the forests of Yakushima, visit the village of Shirakawa-go, spend a few days in Kyoto. I also believe Kyushu has much to offer, and am researching it now. I hope to see as much beautiful landscape, temples and shrines, and ancient architecture as possible. I'd love recommendations for shrines, temples, ryokans, etc!

I haven't decided on which month to visit yet. I know the summer can be brutal, but that might be the only chance I get to visit with my schedule being what it is.

I don't really have a budget. I've looked at airfare and the cost of some of the ryokan accommodations, so I'm piecing together a budget currently.

I'll be heading to Japan for a month. I've been to Tokyo and Kyoto before so I'm hoping to explore more of the nature in Japan this time. Does this itinerary work in terms of most logical transfers between places and not rushing around too much? Or should I cut something out?

October 4 - Arrive in Osaka

5 Osaka

6 Osaka

7 Osaka

8 Onomichi to do the Shimanami Kaido cycle over 3 days

9 Omishima

10 Omishima (extra day to explore the island)

11 Imabari

12 Hiroshima 

13 Hiroshima

14 Naha 

15 Tokashiki Island 

16 Tokashiki Island

17 Tokashiki Island

18 Naha

19 Tokyo 

20 Matsumoto

21 Matsumoto to Narai day trip

22 Matsumoto to Kamikochi day trip

23 Matsumoto to Takayama

24 Takayama - Shirakawa-go day trip

25 Kanazawa

26 Kanazawa

27 Lake Kawaguchiko via Tokyo 

28 Lake Kawaguchiko

29 Tokyo (with day trips to Nikko, Mt Takao and Shirahama Beach, Izu, over

the next few days)

30 Tokyo

31 Tokyo

Nov 1 Tokyo

2 Tokyo

3 Depart

Me and my partner are looking forward to visiting next year, but not sure what the ideal time is. We don't mind trading the cherry blossom for fewer crowds, but visiting the winter with very short days and colder weather sounds bad to us as we're not from a cold country.

Should we try visiting before, or after the cherry blossom? We're very much into day hikes, nature and cities of course.

What are the pros and cons of each of the times?

EDIT: 2027 autumn is kinda too far for us

Hello everyone,

I apologize if this thread is deemed low-effort, but I really don't know where else to ask is.

Six weeks from now I'll be visiting Japan for the 4th time. I would like to visit some of the least-populated/ least-visited areas, and I also really enjoy cycling (and swimming).

In this regard I was struck with the idea to visit Shimane prefecture and cycle along its coast, staying in different towns along the way. The duration for this particular part of my trip would last about one week, starting in Matsue.

My question was about renting a bycicle there (I don't feel like taking one with me all the way from Europe). Has anyone done something similar or have experience renting bycicles for longer periods in less visited areas like this?

Any thoughts or tips are appreciated.

My family of 7 is planning to go to Japan next year January for my 50th birthday celebration. Me and my siblings and my Senior Mom who is 70 yo.. we already travelled last year. It was fun but tiring because we end up getting lost a lot in the train stations. I feel like we spent a lot of time getting lost and looking for food to eat during our last travel. Next year Im torn between DIY or Tour package. It's a bit pricey compare to DIY but I think mas maging comfortable ang mom ko as well kasi may kasama transfer ang tour. Ok din si mama sa tour but my other siblings don't like tours kasi ayaw nila ng minamadali sila. We still can't decide. May iba pa bang options?

Hi there, I will be going to Japan in September. My first stop would be tokyo, im more of an anime fan, so I prefer to stay somewhere near Akihabara. Other than staying inside akihabara, I also found out that ueno is also a good area to stay in, while also close to akihabara, are there any other areas near akihabara thats good to stay in? Specific hotel recommendations are also much appreciated!

So I ended up with a dilemma regarding my itinerary for my late September travel in Japan (which is getting more packed the more I review it even if I don't move much): for my second week, after the last day of the Tokyo Gaming Show, I was considering a trip to FujiQ and Hakone (2D-1N), but the problem is after that. Kusatsu is a nice onsen town but that's it, there's nothing much to explore in the surroundings. Nikko has a great historical and lake/forest scenery, but Kinugawa onsen serves mostly as a resting point, the "modern" hotels and onsens looking a bit outdated. Lastly Shuzenji in the Izu peninsula combines boths but to a lesser extent ("jack of all trades") and is a bit trickier to arrive even if departing from Hakone.

Those (Hakone included) are my options for between the 22-25, I'm leaving the weekend for shopping and exploring Tokyo (specially its nightlife), with the possibility of one day for Disneysea, since my return flight is the 28th at night.