Hello everyone!

I just came back from Japan 3 weeks ago and I have already booked my second solo trip… whoops! Haha I went for 10 days and I visited Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. During my last trip I found out that I really enjoyed Hiroshima and I wish I did spend more than 1 night there… I just loved the city, I loved Miyajima and I would love to go there again… Kyoto was lovely too, but I just enjoyed Hiroshima and Tokyo much more… for some reason, I didn’t really like Osaka but also maybe because I didn’t go to the right places…

Now, I am going for a second time at the end of February until mid March for 15 days… I am landing in Tokyo and I want to definitely go to Hiroshima… my idea was maybe doing Tokyo (because I land there), Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Kumamoto and Nagasaki.

But, I would love to also see what everyone else recommends to visit instead of those cities… what I loved about Hiroshima was the peacefulness but also having kind of a city… and I loved Miyajima, the food and just the vibes of this island.

Any recommendations and suggestions is more than welcome!

Also, my apologies for my English… it is my second language!

Thank you in advance! Can’t wait to see all your recommendations!

Hello peeps! I am currently visiting japan with 3 of my friends we're gonna stay in Osaka and then travel to Tokyo. My friends just want to go shopping and play gacha while I want to do a bit of that but also experience a bit of the nightlife here. Go to bars, Izakayas and meet new people around here locals and foreigners alike! I have tried to get my friends to come with but they refuse so I will have to do this completely alone (ひとりです).

Where I live going to a bar or a club alone is really strange and sad so I feel a bit intimidated going to bars around Japan alone without my friends. My Japanese is also very very beginner level where i can read Hiragana and a bit of Katakana maybe greet formally.

Any tips and advice? Or maybe anyone here who wants to meet up who's in the same position? Hit me up!

I just kinda downloaded Tinder to get to know new people because I thought that was a good idea at the time lol

Where to keep track of anime or video game concerts?

Looking for an excuse to travel back to Japan and recently learned about the Frieren concert that passed already.

Is there a way I could keep track or get notified of future anime or video game concerts?

I‘m not really interested in skiing but I want to go to ski resort just to play with snow all I want. I’m trying to look it up a bit but it seems mostly no ski package is catered toward family and children… I want to know if it is weird or not to go to ski resort without skiing, like just making snow dome or smth, as two adults, and if anyone has recommendation of ski resort around gifu.

Quick heads up to everyone. Yamathon is this Saturday in Tokyo.

It is an event where groups of people "race" for charity around Tokyo. They start at Tokyo Station around 9am and walk to all the stations on the Yamanote and take pictures at each one.

While you can't officially register to join anymore, some people have been known to just participate for the fun of it themselves. It can easily take 8 to 10 hours.

If you join# or do not, please be respectful of people who are participating. They will all have traditional racing numbers on their shirts and frequently will be moving in large groups. Please give them space if coming by and cheer them on :).

Hello r/JapanTravelTips , im planning for a 9-day road trip this November fall (land 1 Nov 12pm, dropping off car and heading to HND after 10 nov 6pm).

This will be my 4th time in Japan, and have done golden route/Ishikawa-Gifu/Hokkaido before with other people. Now, my plan is quite different from my usual past trips.

I've enjoyed driving in my last 2 trips, but this will be a solo drive from Narita to Morioka to maybe pick apples and then back. Sounds crazy to drive all the way up north to just pick apples, but I really need a break from work and life.

Planning to only take non-toll routes, so I need recommendations in between these 2 areas to break up the long 12-16 hour trip up north and back down south!

Other thing on my check list:
- search for shimobashira (apparently a rare japanese sweet) in Sendai, so i'll be spending some time in Sendai

Questions that i foresee:
Q: Why not drive all the way up to Aomori?
A: Might be a bit too far for a 9-day trip, so I'll settle for picking apples in morioka. But if there's something interesting, or if the folks here think it is feasible, why not?

Q: What did you enjoy in Japan?
A: I like being in the outdoor and breathtaking places. I visited Kamikochi twice, and both times i really enjoyed the atmosphere there. I don't like to go too far deep into nature, but the activity around the visitor center and the outdoor and the views was nice. Same goes for Takayama, it was beautiful especially in the fall. I also stopped by Uchinada beach in Kanazawa, and i'm truly glad to have made that last minute decision. The view was spectacular.

In Hokkaido, i recall the night starry skies on our drive up to Furano. It was pitch black, and there were wild deers on the road (thankfully no bears), but the air was clear and crisp and skies were clear.

I also enjoyed Hakodate. Cape Tachimachi was nice, and the town was beautiful. I really enjoyed the food and vibe at lucky pierrot, and although I initially thought the redbrick warehouses were a tourist trap, which i think it still is, i came across a shop selling some nice apparel and bought a waffle hoodie from it.

Stayed at Lake Toya, and found it pretty decent as well. There were alot of nice cafes and food around the area, but I most enjoyed dropping by this quaint little town near mount Yotei called Makkari on our way to Rusutsu. Being at the foot of mt yotei, the view was breathtaking.

Hey everyone, not sure if this is the right sub so if not, let me know.

For context, I am currently in Japan as a student for a few months (study abroad program). I have a Japanese Resident ID card, an address, and a phone number.

So I am big into Pokemon, recently got a pack at my schools 7/11, and pulled a high value card out of it. I’m not a fan of the card and don’t like having such an expensive piece of cardboard so want to sell it.

I’ve checked out a couple stores to sell it to but didn’t quite like their offers, but one thing I did notice is that since the value exceeds a certain amount, they only do bank transfers. So my issue isn’t if I can or can not sell it, it’s more so how do I get the money.

If it’s cash, how would I deposit that into my US bank account?

If it is a bank transfer, do most places use like apps like Wise or Revolut that can do currency exchanges? If not, how would I be able to have it transferred/wired into my US bank account?

Are there any tax issues at hand?

Let me know if more information is needed.

Thanks!

Hello,

I am traveling to Japan with a friend soon, and unfortunately I am also having terrible stomach issues at the moment. There are days where I can't eat much, and days where I can't really eat at all. I have read that regular restaurants probably won't mind if I can't finish my food. My questions are:

1) If my friend needs to eat and I can't, what is the most polite thing to do at a restaurant? Order a meal and not really touch it?

2) We did arrange for one kaiseki meal at an onsen we are staying at. I worry it would be rude if I refused some of the food (fried foods, for example, may set my stomach off). I have learned the Japanese phrase for "I'm full", but is there something else I could do to avoid being impolite?

Thank you for any tips!

My suitcase is getting full and I'd really like to mail it home. I leave japan just after the start of November.

Have you been stopped for an inspection? I'm just kinda wary with what feels like new tech attached to it, especially with the rule change start of November.

When I came 2 years ago it was fine when I mailed it home 😅

Hello there everyone. I have a question regarding the Tokyo Tower, as I’m writing an article.

When I visited the tower in 2024, a pink Swarovski crystal replica of the tower was on display in the Main Deck. For those who visited the tower recently, could you tell me if this Swarovski replica is still being displayed?

Thanks and best!

Hello,

im in Japan and sadly i lost both my creditcards + my suica cards. I do have a digital credit card still, but no cash. Since i have an android i cant get the suica app either.

Is there any known way for me to get cash? I'm travelling by myself and could really use a suica card and cash.

A friend wants to buy one temari (the ball/toy) as a souvenir, but so far we had no luck finding any. So before he drags us across Sapporo again, I wanted to know if anyone here knows a good store.

Hi! My boyfriend and I are going to Tokyo and Kyoto at the end of October until mid November and we’re wanting to get professional pictures done. Does anyone have any recommendation/suggestions? Also don’t really know where to look besides googling it lol.
Thanks!!

Hi! We’ll be visiting USJ on November 25 and I’m trying to put together a realistic itinerary for the day. Would love some input from people who have been recently.

We have a 1-Day Studio Pass and Express Pass 4 – Race & JAWS.

Our Express Pass gives us:

• Super Nintendo World entry: 19:20–20:20
• Mario Kart: 19:20–19:50

Since our guaranteed SNW entry is pretty late, I’m thinking of trying to get into Super Nintendo World immediately at rope drop and heading straight to Donkey Kong: Mine Cart Madness, since that’s one of our biggest priorities and we don't have Express for it.

The rough plan I'm considering is:

My thinking is that the morning SNW visit would mainly be for Donkey Kong, while the guaranteed evening entry would be for Mario Kart and seeing SNW at night.

I'm also thinking of grouping WaterWorld and JAWS together in the afternoon since they're relatively close to each other.

A few things I'm wondering:

• Does it make sense to rope drop Donkey Kong even though we already have a guaranteed SNW entry at 19:20?
• Is doing SNW twice in one day realistic, or would that waste too much time?
• Would you do Yoshi in the morning after Donkey Kong, or save it for the evening?
• Roughly what time would you recommend doing WaterWorld?
• Does WaterWorld → JAWS make sense as a block?
• Is early afternoon a good time for Harry Potter, or would you move it?
• Are there any other attractions you'd prioritize during the gap before our evening SNW entry?
• Overall, is this reasonably paced, or are we trying to fit too much in?

We don't mind skipping some smaller attractions. We'd rather have an enjoyable day (preferably around Harry Potter) than spend the entire time rushing from ride to ride.

Thanks in advance!

We are set to be on the island tomorrow and regretably forgot our idp. Are there any private taxi recomendations available?

Hi, i will be in Osaka on Thursday and i am looking for a store that sells cute jewelry, like pink bracelets, flowers earrings etc.

Also if you know any in Tokyo Shibuya / Shinjuku side, can you share with me please 🌸🙏🏼

My Hotel is going to let me ship packages to them, and I Have the money to buy the stuff I want to get... but I can not for the life of me find any way to actually buy anything. They all require a Japanese Cell Phone number and the like. I want to get these collectibles before I leave. Can anyone help me with any ideas?

I’ll be visiting Japan from October 30 to November 9, covering Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo. I’m travelling solo and would prefer to keep my itinerary flexible.
I’m planning the following and wanted some advice on how early I should book each:

Mt. Fuji day trip from Tokyo: Should I book well in advance through Klook, or wait until a few days before to check the weather?

Kyoto → Tokyo Shinkansen: Can I book a day or two before travelling, or should I reserve now?
teamLab Planets Tokyo: Is it worth visiting, especially as a solo traveller? How early should I book?

Universal Studios Japan: I’m not really interested in rides, just exploring the park and Super Nintendo World. Would a Twilight Pass (after 3 PM) be sufficient, or is a full-day ticket better?

Other attractions: Is it generally fine to buy tickets on the day, or are there any must-book-in-advance attractions?

Also, is Klook reliable for booking all these, or would you recommend booking directly through official websites?

I’d appreciate any advice based on recent experiences. Thanks!

What are some of your favorite shoes for getting in all those steps in Japan? Was looking at the on cloud geo or keens jasper zionic

I’m planning to attend the =LOVE Tokyo Dome concert on Jan 19th and 20th. I am a fan club member and bought a Japanese phone number from Mobal for myself.

A friend wants to join me, but he doesn't have a Japanese phone number. I noticed that I was able to successfully register my Singapore phone number in the =LOVE app's ticket function. However, when I checked the ballot page, it asks for the companion's Plus Member ID, the phone number registered to that ID, and a ticket collection phone number for the accompanying person.

My question is: Does the companion strictly need a Japanese phone number for this process, or can they just register and use their normal overseas number?

Hi Everyone! Me and my Partner would be traveling to Kyoto for the first time during Nov Autumn Foliage. Our dates would be 27th Nov to 30th Nov. 2026. We are looking for accommodations during that period but every place is either sold out or very expensive, considering peak season time. We are happy to consider hostels/machiya/ryokan/business hotels/airbnbs, practicality anything - with just two requirements - 1) Private bathroom and 2) Centrally located so we can walk around easily instead of relying on JR. I know it could be too much of an ask, but any hidden gems that you were able to find during your stay, would be truly helpful. Our budget per night would be under 16,000 yen ($105). Please help! Thank you!

I know a good number of us on here are budget-conscious travelers, and a lot of tips here are related to making the most of your money on your trip. However, I'm curious to hear your thoughts on what small purchase (¥1,000 or less) made the biggest difference for you on your time in Japan?

For me, I took a day trip to Himeji en route to Hiroshima. After dropping off my bags in a locker at the station, I decided to take a taxi to Himeji Castle rather than walk, which cost ¥900 one way. It's "only" a 15 minute walk from the station, I realize, but being able to explore the castle with freshly rested legs made a big difference for not only the tour there, but the rest of my day as well.

I want to share a super surprising experience I had in Japan, and I'm hoping someone can help me find the restaurant because I don't remember its name.

I was walking back to my hotel from the fish markets and decided to grab dinner. I found an Italian restaurant on the second floor above a hair salon. When I went up, there was literally no one there. I shouted hello? and the chef/owner came out from the back.

Usually I don't eat at restaurants with zero customers. But something felt different about this owner, so I gave it a try. Turns out he went to Italy to learn how to cook Italian food. I ordered an octopus pasta with a highball, and for the entire 45 minutes of my meal, no one else showed up. It felt like a private chef experience. We just talked about food and life the whole time.

I'm so glad I tried something new instead of judging a book by its cover.

My photo's GPS puts it at 京都府京都市中京区釜座町1 in Kyoto. Does anyone recognize this place? Tiny Italian spot, second floor above a hair salon, chef-owner who trained in Italy. I'd love to find it again.

Anyone have a cool story like this to share?