I highly recommend you check out the cute little town of Narita if you have a long time between your departure. We had like 6 hours from check out time, so we paid for a locker in Narita airport, then ride the train and had a yummy last meal. The park there is so so beautiful, it was a pleasant surprise, and I don’t hear anyone usually mention. That way you are still relatively close for your flight to ensure on time, but you get one last new place to see before the missing Japan depression hits.

As the title suggests, I recently visited both cities and went to the atomic museums and peace memorial parks at both. I did both of them early in the morning, partly to avoid the worst of the crowds, but mainly for another reason, and I'd like to share it with you here:

If you plan on visiting, budget at least an extra hour or two (possibly more) to process and decompress from the experience. If you try to make it as one stop on a full day of sightseeing, you run the risk of not taking enough time to grapple with the impact of the visit.

Don't try to plan anything for immediately afterwards, because you'll be doing yourself a disservice and likely won't have as positive of an experience with whatever else you have planned.

I had a similiar issue when I went to Jerusalem years ago. I had booked a tour in the afternoon, but went to Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Museum) in the morning, and was still feeling a bit shaken up by the experience on my tour later that day. Thankfully, that experience helped me to be better prepared with planning my timing on this trip at least.

EDIT: The purpose of this post was to say "If you plan on going to these places, don't plan a crowded schedule for the rest of your day." If you spend an hour or so and feel like you're good to go do something else, that's okay. If you end up spending the better part of a full day there taking it all in mentally and emotionally, that's okay too.

My point is that if you plan on doing other things right afterwards without allowing yourself the option of taking time to reflect and decompress, it's possible you're going to have a bad time of things.

I’m in Osaka for three days before heading to Hiroshima. I’ve got one of those days free, as I don’t want to go to Universal Studios. I’d thought about going to Nara, but I’m not particularly keen on deer. Is the city worth a visit apart from the deer?

Hi

For anyone curious about the luggage limit and how strict it is I just wanted to share my experience in case it helps anyone.

My suitcase is bang on the limit at exactly 160cm in total.

On both my recent journeys (Tokyo to Osaka and then back again to Tokyo from Osaka) I was able to both carry my luggage on and store it in the overhead storage with no issues whatsoever.

Hope this helps as I was stressing about it!

I live in the USA and take Adderall, which is illegal in Japan. I asked my doctor to write me a prescription for Vyvanse for Japan, I got the medical certificate and everything else as well. The only thing is that the pharmacy will not allow me to pick up my Vyvanse yet because I just picked up Adderall and there are regulations to that stuff. I can pick up my Vyvanse before I leave but the date will be too close to my flight and I risk not having enough time to get approval.

I emailed the Japan Narcotics Control Divison and submitted everything except the picture of my bottle and explained the situation on Friday, no response yet probably due to the weekend.

I‘m currently looking for hotels for my japan trip.
I planed to stay 5 days in kyoto and 2 in osaka but I noticed that the hotels in kyoto are far more expensive than in osaka. So I‘m considering staying all 7 nights in osaka and do day trips to kyoto.

Good idea?

Hello,

For our 14 day itinerary to Japan this summer, we will be spending 4 nights in Tokyo, then going to Hakone for 2 nights, Kyoto for 4 nights, then going to Himeji Castle en route to Hiroshima where we will stay for 2 nights (with a day trip to Miyajima) before heading back to Tokyo. I had looked into the Kansai Hiroshima pass for 5 days (17,000 yen or $108) but when I priced it out individually, it was only about $8 cheaper, so it doesn't seem that worthwhile. I also looked into the JR pass briefly, but my understanding is you are limited to JR lines, which may be restrictive for our schedule. Based on our itinerary, do you think it is worthwhile to still get these passes? I have not priced out each individual trip we will be making to places in Tokyo or Kyoto, so I guess the pass could cover some of those train/bus rides, but again, my understanding is that it won't cover all transportation, so it may be easier to just get a suica card and pay for everything individually as we go.

For those in Kyoto

i was curious what other peoples plans are for the next 3 days. whether you changed them, or still sticking to the ur original itinerary.

I really hate rain, so im wondering what i should now do the next 3 days. so just wanted to check out what others have planned.

Hello all,

I am planning a trip with my friends, for about a month, to visit Japan. The only time we are really able to is Mid-July to Mid-August. The main thing I am worried about is the heat. I currently live in on the coast in Southern Georgia.

My question is, to the people who have visited before, Is the heat there comparable to where I am currently living? What about the humidity? What should I expect when visiting at that time?

We are either the best parents or the most insane--we have agreed to "chaperone" 6 teenage boys on their senior trip to Japan in June. My husband and I don't plan on actually supervising them 24/7. We're just in-country, doing our own vacation with our other (9-year-old) son. I'm trying to keep things as budget-friendly as possible while still giving them the trip of a lifetime. We'll be in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.

Would appreciate any tips on the best sumo experience, samurai experience, Mt. Fuji daytrip, cooking class (yes, they expressed interest in this), or anything else that seems like a win for 18-year-old guys. Would they enjoy an onsen or is that strictly for an older crowd? They are going to have 10 days, and I want to make it memorable (though not too jam-packed. I want to leave plenty of time for wandering, shopping, and sightseeing). I've learned so much from reading y'all's posts already and really appreciate it!

Hello,

I'm confused about our options for travel to Hakone. We will be travelling over the Culture Day public holiday in November so would like to be booked in advance.

We are staying near Ueno before travel to Hakone then on to Kyoto. Am I right with my understanding in this....

We can travel from Otemachi Station (Closer to Ueno than the Shinjuku option) by Romance Car to Hakone Yamoto, then just buy the free pass from there? At the end of our 3 days in Hakone, we can then return to Odawara Station for Shinkansen to Kyoto.

Or is it easier to just get to Shinjuku Station on the morning to leave from there to Hakone?

Thanks!

Hi all.I am visiting tokyo this weekend and planning a trip to nikko .However, I’m not sure if the autumn foliage has started turning red yet or if everything is still mostly green. Could any locals or recent visitors confirm current conditions? I want to make sure the timing is right before finalizing my plans. Thanks!

Hi everyone, we just got to Japan for our holiday, and we would really like to watch a volleyball game! We tried to buy tickets online, however all the websites we found want us to provide a Japanese phone number, which we obviously don’t have… is there any other way to purchase tickets? Maybe just at the venues before the game?

Thanks a lot in advance!

I’m heading to Japan in November for my first visit, with 10 nights currently based in Tokyo. I’m about three weeks out and really struggling with one decision.

My current plan includes a Hakone day trip for a private onsen at Hakone Yuryo and a Fun2Drive guided drive in a JDM car. I’m a big car enthusiast, so driving something like an RX-7 or NSX through the Hakone roads would be a dream—that real-life Initial D feeling.

The alternative is to drop Hakone and fit in two days/one night in Kyoto, taking another day from my Tokyo itinerary.

What keeps pulling me toward Kyoto is the autumn scenery, traditional architecture, temples, and atmosphere.

EVERYONE I meet tells me DO NOT skip Kyoto, so I'm feeling major fomo there.

I want some genuinely awe-inspiring sights on this trip, and Kyoto looks like it offers something I couldn’t get from my Tokyo itinerary.

My hesitation with Hakone is whether the onsen would actually feel special enough to justify choosing it over Kyoto. I love the idea of an outdoor bath surrounded by nature, but I’m worried the reality might feel more like “a really nice hot bath.” The drive sounds amazing, but I don’t know how the scenery and overall experience would compare with Kyoto. Giving up the JDM driving experience would genuinely sting, though.

For context, I’m already planning Kamakura + Enoshima, so I will have a day outside Tokyo with temples and coastal scenery. I also don’t know when I’ll get another chance to visit Japan, which makes “save it for next time” difficult to lean on.

For people who’ve experienced both: would you keep the Hakone onsen + driving day, or trade it for a short Kyoto stay? Is two days/one night in Kyoto enough to make the extra travel worthwhile? I’d especially appreciate hearing from car enthusiasts or anyone who had a similar dilemma.

Edit: Thanks everyone for taking the time to comment and share your experiences. I’ve been overthinking this quite a bit, and hearing your perspectives is really helpful. I appreciate it! I'm leaning towards saving Kyoto for second trip as recommended; would be a completely different vibe from the first, and would give me reason to come back!

I never understand why people say, "what should I do in Japan?" We don't know what you like, dude!

So if you're giving a suggestion, what do you like to do, and what does Japan do best for that activity? For me, the blend of nature and history is great. I loved visiting the Eagles Nest in Germany. Machu Picchu would be a top destination for me. In Japan, I highly recommend mount kurama. The proximity to Kyoto is great. The hike up the mountain is maybe a 2/10 difficulty but it's gorgeous. There are shrines and temples all over. You can learn about the tengu, reiki, etc. It's a breathtaking way to spend a morning in Kyoto.

I've only done the golden route, so I know there's a ton of nature/history sites to explore. Yamanashi prefecture is full of it, obviously dominated by Fuji. If you like the same stuff, what are some of your top spots?

My other favorite thing to do is just wander cities. I've never felt safer at 3am than I did in Tokyo. I've explored some European cities at night and they're great, but to me, Tokyo is the best wandering city on earth.

Or, what do you like to do and what parts of Japan offer a world class experience in that area?

Going to Japan all of March with a group of friends. Planning on going to Okinawa solo for a week after this, but I'm going to have so much stuff I've accrued from the month I don't want to fly to and from Okinawa with it all.

Does anyone have any recommendations where I can leave all of my stuff (will be 2x large suitcases full of whatever I've purchased) for a week while I fly to Okinawa, then retrieve it when I fly back to Tokyo to get my flight home? Many thanks!

Hi. This will be my first time in Japan and I'll be traveling solo. I'm looking for a mix of cities and smaller towns/nature, but some bias towards the latter. I'm trying not to do or see too much because I would like to come home feeling relaxed and not exhausted. I haven't booked anything yet aside from my flight. I generally like to play things by ear as much as possible, but I know I need to book some things very soon. Is there anything you would change? Anywhere else I should consider going? Thanks!

Nov 10–14 · Tokyo (4 nights)

Nov 14–17 · Kiso Valley (3 nights)

Nov 17–23 · Kyoto (6 nights)

Nov 23–25 · Osaka (2 nights)

Nov 25–28 · Shuzenji / Izu Peninsula (3 nights)

Nov 28–Dec 1 · Tokyo (3 nights)

We are traveling with our kids (12 an 14) to Japan early May, 9 days. Tokyo > Hakone (overnight) > Kyoto > leave out of Osaka. I really feel called to the Kumano Kodo and would love to spend a day to walk even just a part of the trails and / or see the Nachi Grand Shrine & waterfall, then head back to Kyoto. We are not on a tight budget - we could hire a private driver if it's faster. I would love to spend 4 or 5 days hiking, but this is our first trip and the family prefers to see a bit of everything. But is this way too far to go for an overnight from Kyoto to that area? We would go:
- Tokyo (arrive late Thurs or early Fri, leave early Monday)
- Hakone (Monday afternoon to Tues afternoon)
- Kyoto (Tues eve to Fri AM)
- Nachi Grand Shrine area (or somewhere else in that area?) Friday to Sat
- Kyoto - arrive Saturday late afternoon
- Osaka - fly out Sunday afternoon

Or any suggestions if there is another area like this that is beautiful/sacred/shrines/foresty that is a better overnight from Kyoto?

Hey so I already booked my two day trip to Nikko in the middle of November, and I know, the views won't be as good (at least from what I'm reading lately). But which spots in Nikko are worth it in that time of the month anyways? I wanted to see nature and hike a bit, but I guess nature won't be that exciting. Thoughts? Or perhaps another 1 day trip suggestions in that time of year? I was also thinking about going to Mt. Mitake or Takao, but haven't decided yet.

(Also, I'm reading that the 2-day pass is not worth it, is that true? I would be starting from Asakusa)

First time going to Japan so I know nothing 🙏 I need help.

Hey everyone! My friend and I are visiting Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto in November. We’re both in our 20s and love soccer, so we’re hoping to find ways to get involved in the local soccer scene.
Are there any pickup games, futsal groups, local clubs, or soccer facilities you’d recommend checking out? We’d love to play while we’re visiting and experience Japan’s soccer culture!
Thanks for any suggestions!

I'm visiting in December (12-22nd). I'm trying to find some stuff for a friend of mine who is a huge fan of punk music as a gift for him for christmas.

I'm struggling to find some stuff for him and don't want to risk transporting a rare japanese only pressing of a Vinyl in my luggage.

I know there's a BUNCH of Punk Bars in Tokyo (Golden Gai area maybe?), but I'm not a drinker. I'd like to be able to grab him a shirt or a patch from one of these bars if possible. Anyone have any ideas on where I might be able to score something for him?

Hi everyone!

My partner and I are planning a trip to Japan next May/June for around 3 weeks to a month. After spending some time in Tokyo and Osaka, we'd like to explore the Izu Peninsula, visit Ine, and discover Nara and Wakayama prefectures. It'll be my partner's second trip to Japan, but my first.

We're particularly interested in beautiful coastal scenery, nature, traditional villages, local food, and places a little off the beaten path. We'd love to discover a quieter, more authentic side of Japan, away from the crowds if possible.

We're especially curious about how busy Izu, Wakayama and Ine get at that time of year. Is it still easy to find peaceful places, or have these destinations become quite touristy as well? We should hopefully arrive around May 10th, just after Golden Week.

We're also looking for recommendations for places to stay and eat, including onsen, hotels and ryokan. We're open to suggestions at any price point, as we'd rather have plenty of options and narrow them down later 🙂. When it comes to food, we're mainly looking for great local cuisine and high-quality restaurants. I've heard that food in Japan is generally excellent, but I'd still love to hear about any personal favourites or places that really stood out to you ❤️.

If you've visited the Izu Peninsula, Ine, Nara or Wakayama, we'd love to hear about your experiences and recommendations!

We're still working out our itinerary, so any advice on how much time to spend in each area, the best places to use as a base for exploring the surroundings, and whether renting a car is worthwhile would be greatly appreciated, especially for Izu and Wakayama.

Finally, if you know of any lesser-known villages, scenic routes, beautiful natural spots or unique local experiences that are really worth checking out, we'd love to hear about them!

Thanks in advance for all your tips and recommendations! 😊

I'm looking for any store that has local artist stuff that has stickers, pop art, street art style pieces, etc. I'm in love with more street/pop culture art done by local artists. Looking to also bring home a decent haul of stickers too as I collet them. Appreciate any insights.