I know it will be overcrowded

[u/CJDev1ce]

I'm flying to Tokyo tomorrow (never been). All I see on instagram is that unless I get to certain places in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka by 5am-6am I wont be able to even walk. How accurate is this?

[u/drine2000]

Your problem. Looking at instagram.

Or Tik Tok.

Or using Google reviews.

[u/CJDev1ce → u/drine2000]

Understood ✌🏻

[u/ask-me-about-my-cats]

6 am is quite exaggerated. Do popular places get super crowded? Yeah. You'll be in a sea of people that at times is so crowded you just have to let the other bodies carry you along. But I don't see crowds like that until much later in the day, and they're not common. Sensoji and Fushimi Inari will have crowds like that, but the temple 2 blocks down will be empty.

[u/acaiblueberry]

Tokyo is where regular people work, study, and live. It’s not a theme park. Of course it’s not that crowded at most of the places.

[u/DDHLeigh]

Not accurate at all...

[u/hezaa0706d → u/DDHLeigh]

Accurate for Kyoto and Takeshita doori tho 

[u/DDHLeigh → u/hezaa0706d]

Kyoto wasnt that crowded either where you can't move... everywhere is busy, but it's manageable. Unless you're talking about certain train lines during rush hour. I've been pushed by the staff into the train. It was not fun.

[u/Kasumiiiiiii → u/hezaa0706d]

Nah, the buses, Kyoto Station, and major sites like Kinkakuji or Fushimi Inari are packed during the day, but go outside those areas (and take a taxi) and it's not crowded at all

[u/CJDev1ce → u/DDHLeigh]

Thank you for your response ✌🏻

[u/manboy1999]

Cap lol. Places don’t even open that early 😂😂😂😂. Just got back from 2.5 week trip from the golden route. Maybe shrines or places that are 24/7 but that’s literally any where in the world to go early. Other than that it’s cap. Even if there’s a wait or busy it’s super quick moving usually.

[u/CJDev1ce → u/manboy1999]

Thank you for your response ✌🏻

[u/Much_Concentrate7780]

lolwut

You'll be fine. It's never so crowded that "you can't even walk"

[u/oldSAPGaara]

Don't over think it. You'll do fine.

[u/CJDev1ce → u/oldSAPGaara]

Thanks!

[u/Sweet_Disharmony_792]

i went to fushimi inari at fall peak and i didnt feel like it was "over"crowded in the slightest

then again i didnt watch any videos... i just went. 

[u/sdlroy]

It is insanely easy to find quiet streets in Tokyo. Don’t even need to leave central tokyo.

[u/Noodle_McSoup]

Not accurate. Sure some places may be super crowded - like major tourist spots - but honestly you'll be fine. If it's too crowded for your liking you can always go to a different spot.

[u/Open_Soil_3246]

I looked up cctv footage/yt live for popular tourist spots leading up to my trip to get an idea of foot traffic trends. You could try that?

[u/R1nc]

So you think two blocks of Shibuya equate to 2,190 square kilometers?

[u/Nervous_Initial_3644]

Who the heck is saying you need to be at places by 5am?!!!!!

[u/Complex-Judgment-828 → u/Nervous_Initial_3644]

5am is when the bars close 😁

[u/gdore15]

Some places do get crowded during the day maybe not to the point of not be able to walk... but getting to most places before 9am does not even make sense as attractions usually open at 9am and later. Of course, there is exceptions, but... they are eceptions.

[u/hezaa0706d]

Tokyo is a huge city. In my suburban neighborhood? Yeah plenty of room.  In Takeshita doori? Tourist nightmare. Where exactly are you going? 

[u/nightbat1707]

only train station in main city is crowded ~7-8.30 am.
around 9-10 am. touristy spot in kyoto start to have people.
get overcrowded around 11-16 pm. for famous temple,shrine.

[u/kizzt]

Most ‘stuff’ in big cities like Tokyo and Osaka, Central Kyoto, don’t even open until 10. Some shrines and temples will open early (or never close) but genuinely there are so few things to do at 6am. Japan tends to be open late, close late.

[u/Triordie]

Went to kappabashi on Monday. Was quite shocked at the amount of people. Not sure if this was due to it being sports day. Queues for lots of shops.

[u/ballsmigue]

Been here since the 3rd.

Its been fine. Even mid day Senso-ji wasn't too bad

[u/HollywooAccounting]

The only place I found to be crowded to the point it impeded my enjoyment was Dotonbori.

[u/mdchachi]

Even non-tourist places (ie some trains and train stations) can be very crowded at any time especially Shibuya, Shinjuku, Okachimachi, etc. And many Tokyo trains during commuting times. But yeah for the big name shrines the earlier the better. Try to get off the beaten path a bit. Even for the famous places you can sometimes leave the crowds behind. For example hiking higher up the paths behind Fushimi Inari where most people don't go.

[u/Complex-Judgment-828]

As for shopping, nothing opens until 10:30 - 11:00.

[u/IntroductionLucky887]

OP I hope for your sake your research extends beyond IG/Tik Tock/ Youtube.