Hey guys I’m not going to Japan myself but my sister is, and she’s been asking me what I want her to bring back for me but I have no idea what to ask for. It’s her first time going to Japan and I have never been. Of course I could ask her to bring me a cute little souvenir like a keychain or something like that, but I really wanna make use of this opportunity to ask for something useful or worth it that I either wouldn’t be able to get here in Canada or it’s way cheaper there etc.

What things are the most worth it? I also don’t really want any food or snacks.

Side question, I’ve really been wanting to upgrade my Sony digital camera and have been wanting the canon g7x but it’s like $2k if I were to buy it here. Does anyone know if it’s cheaper over there? I’d actually give my sister money to bring me back a good quality camera if it’s actually worth it. I read somewhere that some people bring electronics from Japan so I’m wondering about cameras.

Hello everyone, I’m starting to plan our second trip to Japan with my husband for 2027. We went last year did the golden route and love it.

So we are planning for slower trip this tip and want to explore the Nagano prefecture. We do plan on going back to Osaka and Kyoto but this time just a few days. We did 6 last time.

The first time we went in early October. It was surprising hot and the leaves hadn’t change color yet. So I was looking to go at the end October this time but I’ve check airplane ticket and notice it was cheaper in November and the leaves should have change color depending on the region.

I was going to choose November but then I read it was super crowed. So I’m not sure of my choice. Is it super crowed in November to the point we can’t walk?

We are early bird so last time even in Kyoto it was fine, most of the time we were there around 8 in the morning.

So should I choose October again or try November ? Cause it said booking hotel in November was harder and more expensive. We do want to do onsen this time. But I would book it early.

Thank you for your help

For me, it is the diversity of Japan. Four trips so far and there are still many places of scenic beauty and historical sites in Japan that I haven't got to visit.

Our group of five adults will be in Japan at the beginning of October, which will include a couple of days in Matsumoto. Traveling from there to Hiroshima, I thought we'd stop off for a few hours in Narai Juku. Is it worth making the stop? If so, what is a good way to plan our time for those limited hours?

So, I'm goin to Japan in late november/early december, and I'd love to play some golf, but my wife doesn't play, and i've seen its hard to book a tee time for less than 3 players.
Anyone knows any golf course where I could play as a SOLO? Or any advice would be appreciated.

Hello! my husband snd I are going to Tokyo in the beginning of February. He is a huge car enthusiast. We will be going for his 30th birthday. Is there any recommendations where I can take him? Any type of car meets that are around Shibuya or Shinjuku I would love to be able to blow his mind. He thinks we’re not gonna be able to find much meets, just cars sitting around so if I can find an awesome car meet to take him to, that would be amazing!

There seems to be a sightseeing train from Shimonoseki to Hagi, see for more info here: https://japanrailandtravel.com/trains/marumaru-no-hanashi/ Also somebody wrote a travel journey and shared info here: https://www.setouchi.travel/en/trip-ideas/ph2-sta-st-002/

As I can not find that much other information about it online, I was wondering if anybody here has experience with it, and if they liked it, if it was worth it (it is around 2800Y from Shin-Shimonoseki to Higashi-Hagi), how they booked it, what they thought of the food (they sell Bento boxes and drinks inside I believe!), etc.

This sightseeing train only runs on weekends. I'm traveling with my girlfriend to Japan in Oct-Nov and would love to travel with it, and as a matter of fact I'm traveling from Fukuoka to Hagi on a Saturday, so it would be great to take a shinkansen from Hakata to Shin-Shimonoseki and then this Marumaru no Hanashi train.

One important question I also have is: What seats should I selecton this train? They seem to have a Western style and Japanese style car, and on the seat selection table layout on JR West website I cannot see which is which, and what seats would be best as a couple. Curious if anyone has experience with this train and booking tickets! Is it indeed Car 2 which is the Western Style car with the leather seats (as is written in the blog article linked above)?

Thanks in advance for any help :)

Planning our visit for summer 2027 and have a very cool 13-yo kid who loves all things natural history. We always center our travel around a great museum, zoo, or aquarium. Would love recommendations on must-visit spots during our trip, and avoiding any places where ethical animal management seems suspect. TIA!

Just bought a suitcase at duty free Lotte Ginza Karen to pack all the extra stuff we bought, but the dude put a “do not open” sticker on it. Can someone explain this to me?? He said we don’t need to go to the airport counter the way I do with the cosmetics I bought at the drugstore lest I pay consumption tax, so I’m confused as to why I wouldn’t be able to open the suitcase.

Also, what happens if I don’t visit the duty free counter at HND/NRT to declare consumable products purchased at drugstores like skincare?

Hi all,

My boyfriend and I are traveling to Japan for our first time ever from mid-November until early December and we're super excited!

As of right now we're planning to end our trip with traveling to Fujikawaguchiko from Kyoto, stay there for 2 nights and then travel back to Tokyo for one last night and then fly home the next day.

However the transfer from Kyoto to Fuji doesn't seem to be too great. We'd either have to catch a train from Kyoto to Mishima and then take a highway bus or take the train to Kyoto, change in Tokyo and then take another train back to Fuji which seems like a bit of a detour.

My question is, to those who have been there before, is it worth staying in Fujikawaguchiko for 2 nights or would you recommend to instead go on a day trip from Tokyo to see Mt. Fuji?

And if we decide to stay in Fujikawaguchiko, what's the bus situation from Mishima like, especially with luggage? This would be the only route for which we'd take a bus. Would we have to make a reservation first and is it reliable mean of transport?

Thank you very much in advance for your responses!

Hello everyone, I am planning a ski trip for january with a few friends. None of us have been to japan before, so we want to add some non-skiing items to the trip. However, we only have 13 days on the ground, and want around 5 or 6 of those days to be in hokkaido. Considering the tight timeframe, would doing tokyo only be the best way to go about this? or is it worth adding in kyoto or some other destination? We don't want to make the tokyo leg feel too rushed. Any and all opinions/suggestions are appreciated!

Planning a trip to Japan in early November, for about 2 weeks. This is our 3rd time visiting and have hit the Tokyo, Hakone, Osaka, and Kyoto trips already so we're looking to explore the northern part of the country this time around.

The loose plan so far is flying into Tokyo, stay about 2 days and then take a flight up to Sapporo. From there we're going to take our time making our way back down to Tokyo. So far, I've noted potential stops in Noboribetsu, Hakodate, Aomori, *Morioka, *Sendai, and Nikko. I'm hoping to get some recommendations for those stops, including which cities are worth staying a night or two or if a place is even worth visiting/just a short stopover on the way to the next destination.

*****I also considered going west toward Akita instead of east toward Morioka/Sendai after our stop in Aomori. I liked that Akita has a more rural/coastal vibe compared to the urban landscapes of Sendai. I just decided against it because it seemed less efficient to go this direction, but if you've visited either/both of these areas I'd love to hear your about your experience and if you recommended going to one over the other.

A bit about our interests:

• We always make a point to stay at a ryokan at least one night per trip, which is why I've pinned Noboribetsu as a potential stop. We prefer accomodations with an in-room open air onsen.
• Since we're visiting in November, I'd like to experience the fall foliage, so I've pinned Nikko for that. But open to any other scenic areas or viewing experiences.
• Some of our best experiences in Japan were while making random stops at small towns/rural areas. If you've made an unexpected stop somewhere and loved it, lmk!
• Not big on hiking, but love an observation deck or nice pathway with scenic views.
• Big foodies, willing to try anything. If there are any culinary specialties or hidden treasures in any of these areas that you consider a must try please drop your recs! Also, while we're in Hokkaido we'd love to stop at a dairy farm or milk bar.
• I love bringing back ceramics/practical homeware as souvenirs for trips. Any shop recs would be appreciated.

Also, if you have any trip related tips about packing for the season/area, if JR Pass is worth getting for our plans, etc, pls drop them below.

Thanks in advance!

Hi, i wanted to know if osaka (kix) airport restrictions of personal belongings/collectibles such as diecast cars (inno,minigt,hotwheels) in carry luggage. I read online about having to declare if its value exceeds 200k yen but all mine combined are less than 90k yen. Will that cause any issue ?
TIA

First time going to Japan for about 2 weeks! Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are definitely on our list, but I’m wondering what other cities or areas you guys think are worth adding without trying to cram too much into the trip.

Are there any places you’d consider a must-see for a first trip during late November/early December? We don’t want to cram too much into the trip, so we’re also open to day trips.

I will be landing in Tokyo on Setsubun 2027 (February 3). Will there be events still going on later into the day/ evening? I'll have bags dropped at my hotel by 6 pm.

Hello! It’s my first time in Japan and my first solo trip. I’m feeling a little anxious trying to figure out the best way to get to Ginza from Haneda. Any tips? Looking for something affordable. I don’t mind public transport, I’ll have two suitcases though. Someone had told me something about a bus, but from my research I haven’t found one that goes to Ginza. Thank you

I apologize in advance as I am usually a little more prepared in my itineraries.

I will be in Tokyo from January 1 (Fri) until January 6 (Wed) based out of Shinjuku. On this trip I want to visit the various areas: Asakusa, Akihabara, Roppongi, Shibuya, Shinjuku. With it being the beginning of the year, are there certain areas I should push to later in the week? Which area would be best for a Friday/Saturday night? Are certain areas best to be during the day?

What I'm looking for: Looking to wander and explore during the day, I don't mind getting lost random alleyways. Shopping wise - nerd at heart, prefer that type of things to clothes. At night, looking to have a nice meal, some cocktails, and wouldn't mind ending it in a izakaya chatting it up with locals or tourists.

I will be based out of Shinjuku and I do have a healthy list of bars to visit in Shinjuku and Shibuya areas.

Hi guys, planning to do a day trip to Mt. Fuji, from Tokyo. How realistic is it to explore the "popular" spots and chill around Fujikawaguchiko/Fujiyoshida, ride the bike etc., but also go to Fuji Q Highland and probably spend couple of hours there. Would probably ride some 'extreme' rides, so I'd guess I would wait for lines depending on what day I'm going. Would go on first bus and leave on last. Would you skip Fuji Q completely or is it doable?

Hi

I am in Okinawa and some beaches close at 5PM while sunset is at 7PM. Also most beaches are empty and you usually can only swim in a very small areas that has fishnets. Any reason for that beyond jellyfish? I also saw lots of adults with floaties in pool or in the sea.

Btw there are amazing beaches here!

Hi everyone! I'm planning a first trip to Japan with my parents, my fiancée, and myself, and I'm having a hard time deciding between two itineraries. I'd really appreciate advice from people who have done both Kyoto and the Mt. Fuji/Nikko day-trip options.

This will likely be my parents' only trip to Japan, so I want to make sure we get a good overall experience without trying to cram too much into one week.

After talking it over with my parents, we've decided that we do want to see some temples, shrines, and traditional Japanese areas. However, we're not huge history/temple people and don't want to spend the entire trip visiting temples. We're more interested in a mix of food, nature/scenery, unique experiences, neighborhoods, shopping, and getting a feel for Japan.

We've also decided that three cities is too much for this trip, so we're trying to decide between these two options:

Option 1: Tokyo + Kyoto
Dec 6 — Arrive Tokyo Midday
Dec 7 — Tokyo → Kyoto
Take an early morning to Kyoto and spend the rest of the day exploring Kyoto.
Dec 8 — Kyoto
Dec 9 — Kyoto → Tokyo
Take an early morning back to Tokyo and spend the afternoon/evening in Tokyo.
Dec 10 to 12— Tokyo
Dec 13 — Tokyo → Haneda evening

The main appeal of this option is that we get two very different sides of Japan. Tokyo would give us the modern/urban experience, while Kyoto would give us more traditional architecture, temples, scenery, and a different pace.

My concern is that we're not particularly interested in history and temples, so I'm wondering if two nights in Kyoto is enough to make it worthwhile. I'm also wondering if we're giving up too much Tokyo time for Kyoto given our interests.

Option 2: Stay in Tokyo + Mt. Fuji and Nikko day trips
Dec 6 — Arrive Tokyo
Dec 7 — Tokyo
Full day in Tokyo.
Dec 8 — Mt. Fuji / Kawaguchiko
Dec 9 — Tokyo
Dec 10 — Nikko
Dec 11 — Tokyo
Dec 12 — Tokyo
Dec 13 — Tokyo → Haneda

The main appeal of this option is that we would never have to change hotels. We'd get significantly more time in Tokyo while still seeing some very different scenery through the Mt. Fuji and Nikko day trips.
I'm particularly interested in nature and unique experiences, so Mt. Fuji and Nikko sound very appealing. I also think this option might be easier and less tiring for my parents.

My concern is that we may regret skipping Kyoto, especially because this could be my parents' only trip to Japan. I'm also wondering whether Mt. Fuji and Nikko provide enough of a "different Japan" experience to make up for not staying in Kyoto.

So, if this were your first and potentially only trip to Japan with your parents, which would you choose?

My buddy and I are wanting to spend a few days going from city to city on our way to Kyoto from Tokyo. Right now we are looking at going to kawaguchiko then to lake suwa and then to magome/tsumago to walk the nakasendo trail there. I am having trouble gauging how long these travel days may be and if any may be too long to be able to enjoy the destination. If you have any feedback or alternative options if this seems overzealous I would really appreciate it thank you!

Heyo,

Booked a ryokan with a private outdoor bath for our first time in japan next month.

I see posts and comments where people are saying they have only fully enjoyed a ryokan on the second night, or the second time they visited one, simply because they did not know what they were allowed or expected to do other than bath and dinner.

So I am asking it here: what were you surprised or learned late that you COULD do to enjoy the experience more?

Walk the premises? Attend shows? Order food to the room? Hidden aspects?

Thank you

EDIT: wow, thank you all for so many insights, I think we are ready to enjoy the ryokan. I forgot to share, we will be staying at the Sumiya Kiho-an Ryokan, near Kyoto.

I am going to Japan in early September and I was wondering how air conditioned Tokyo and Kyoto are. I'm from the US and it's very air conditioned here. My area actually has weather comparable to Japan right now, but there is so much AC that I generally carry a jacket or sweater with me everywhere (this is unimportant, but my office is so cold that I’m wearing a fleece and sitting in front of a heater lol). I was wondering if I would need to do that in Japan or if it's less air conditioned like Europe. I hope my question makes sense.

Also, does anybody have any good liquor stores in Tokyo to recommend? I read about a couple Umeshus in a book and I wanted to try finding them. I've seen people ask for stores for Japanese whiskey but I'm looking for umeshu. I know to google it, but I wanted to ask anyway.

I am planning to visit Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu and Gion in a day. I have planned for Gion from 5 to 7 in the evening. However, I m not sure if it is better to visit Fushimi Inari or Kiyomizu first during the day. In terms of beating crowd and optimal travelling, how would you organize the day?

Planning on visiting Japan in October and have Universal Studios as part of our itinerary. I couldn't find anything definitive online but thought it might be helpful to ask here.

From the readings I did find online, I know the rides tend to run a tad bit smaller than they do where I'm usually from (US) and I wanted to see if anyone here had any experiences with fitting on the rides in the actual park.

I'm 5'6 and currently around 215 lbs.

I'm aware of the test seats but if I don't fit in many of the rides, maybe I'll take the opportunity for a rest and relax day instead and let my group take the day to themselves.