π FREE Written PDF Japan Guide with Language tips, best Hotels, when to visit and more π
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jisLU_Xcj8POcishY46twjkJEIZnpPLG/view?usp=share_link
You told me your biggest concerns about visiting Japan so this video will either give helpful solutions, or myth bust things that arenβt true about Japan, and shouldnβt be an issue.
We cover how much of a language barrier there actually is and how to best communicate. Japanese public transport and how to navigate, is Japan expensive and the costs of everyday activities, is Japan busy and when to visit to avoid crowds, and helping those with vegan or vegetarian food requirements as well as allergies, or people concerned they wont find an English menu. We also cover Japan itineraries, where to go, and how long to visit each area along with Cultural mistakes and what not to do in Japan as a tourist.
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO:
All past and future Japan videos in one place: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLszSmMLISbAf_wJit1kbw1tAcwnPUZogl
TOP TOKYO HOTEL SUGGESTIONS:
π* Budget Hotel great location for transport links. Really well reviewed:
https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/ueno-woo.en.html?aid=1864334&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=JCon
π* Budget Hotel, near Ueno also. Cozy living, with rooftop:
https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/petit-grande-miyabi.en.html?aid=1864334&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=JCon
π* Mid Hotel, near Shibuya. Sleek but minimal hotel in the heart of things: https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/tokyu-stay-shibuya.en.html?aid=1864334&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=JCon
π* Luxury Hotel near Yoyogi Park: https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/trunk-yoyogi-park.en.html?aid=1864334&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=JCon
π For more HOTELS around the rest of Japan, along with a FREE WRITTEN version of the tips in this video, Iβve linked them all in one single PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jisLU_Xcj8POcishY46twjkJEIZnpPLG/view?usp=share_link
π Dietary requirements website: https://www.justhungry.com/japan-dining-out-cards
π* To get the eSIM discount I mention visit the link below and add the coupon:
Use code SUITCASE15 & get 15% off (new customers)
Use code SUITCASE10 & get 10% off (existing customers)
https://airalo.pxf.io/c/2373656/1268485/15608
π Suitcase Monkey Second YouTube channel for even more light hearted travel vlogs around the world: http://youtube.com/@carryonmonkey?sub_confirmation=1
If you would like to support what we do on this channel:
π https://www.patreon.com/suitcasemonkey
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#japantravel #japantravelguide #japan
00:00 Your Biggest Japan Concerns
00:28 Language Barrier
3:32 Is Japan Expensive?
5:56 Using Public Transport in Japan
8:30 What not to do in Japan
10:11 Japan Itinerary
13:04 When to Visit Japan
14:44 Is Japan too Busy?
16:14 Vegetarian, Vegan, Allergies in Japan
I asked what are your biggest concerns aboutΒ
a potential visit to Japan and this is how youΒ Β
responded. Some on this list are totally validΒ
worries, but can be helped with solutions weβllΒ Β
get into, Some are understandable but IβllΒ
hopefully demonstrate why theyβre nothingΒ Β
to worry about. And some are simply out ofΒ
date concerns that Iβm hoping to dispel andΒ Β
calm your thoughts. If this video helps justΒ
one person, then this will all have been aΒ Β
big waste of my time. But, Iβm hoping thatΒ
wont be the case, so, letβs talk about it.
Weβll start with 1 of the 2 biggest concernsΒ
people had about a potential trip to Japan.Β Β
The language barrier. This was the mostΒ
frequent response I got and the good news is,Β Β
if this is the biggest thing holding youΒ
back from the potential trip of a lifetime,Β Β
I promise, it shouldnβt be, and hereβs why.
The first time I went to Japan was 2011, and everyΒ
visit since, the country gets better and betterΒ Β
with language barriers. Yes itβs gonna be moreΒ
confusing than a trip to Iceland, for example,Β Β
but there are more English signs, English menus,Β
more broken English speakers than ever before.
And thereβs a reason for this.
In the last few years, the Japanese have simplyΒ
had way more experience with foreigners, comparedΒ Β
to the decades prior, so they are much betterΒ
equipped to deal with tourism. And the result is,Β Β
more often than not, I think youβll be pleasantlyΒ
surprised with the amount youβll understand.
There will of course still be aΒ
language barrier. Not everythingΒ Β
will be in English but enough that matters, is.
The icing on the cake though, isΒ
how attentive and perfectionistΒ Β
Japanese customer service can be. ItΒ
is also part of the fun when traveling,Β Β
having those slightly confused moments soΒ
enjoy them. Whenever Iβm solo in Japan,Β Β
and Iβm a little confused, its peopleΒ
have always been patient with meβ¦
It should be said though that once youΒ
venture off the tourist beaten path,Β Β
things will definitely get harder so itΒ
just depends how much this bothers you.Β Β
Iβll be covering suggested itinerariesΒ
later in this video and the countrysideΒ Β
is a part of that but there is a differenceΒ
between tourist countryside and countryside.Β Β
So venturing out of the big cities is easilyΒ
achievable, if language is a concern for you.
But, what are some solutions when things do getΒ
tricky. Number 1 is to download the Google orΒ Β
Apple Translate apps. These help converting yourΒ
spoken words out loud or translating written textΒ Β
such as menus and they work surprisinglyΒ
well. How else would you know the prideΒ Β
this restaurant has for its fluffy bread. ItΒ
might not be perfect but it is good enough.
You will of course need data for your phone toΒ
use these 2 apps. For every trip weβve takenΒ Β
over the last 3 years, weβve used an eSimΒ
which works on most phones nowadays. ThisΒ Β
isnβt sponsored but I do have a link belowΒ
that gives you a 15% discount as a newbieΒ Β
or 10% off as a returning customer so IβllΒ
leave the one we typically use in the videoΒ Β
description below. As ever, Iβve also sharedΒ
a free written PDF version of this video withΒ Β
links to hotel suggestions around Japan, andΒ
other tips mentioned throughout this video.
Lastly on this topic, I wanted toΒ
teach you my favourite JapaneseΒ Β
word that sits outside of theΒ
usual ones but is super useful.
βSumimasenβ
βSu-mi-ma-senβ
It basically means βexcuse meβ and isΒ
so versatile. Helpful when you bump intoΒ Β
someone in a busy Tokyo. When someoneβs back isΒ
turned and youβre politely trying to get theirΒ Β
attention. When your grasp on JapaneseΒ
isnβt good enough, because letβs face it,Β Β
this is a 2 way situation, and youβreΒ
lightly apologising for any confusion.
βSu-mi-ma-senβ
Now letβs talk about the biggestΒ
misunderstanding with present dayΒ Β
Japan and one I hope to completely removeΒ
from your assumptions. And that is JapanΒ Β
being expensive. Our month here followedΒ
10 weeks travelling around SE Asia. And,Β Β
I kid you not, Japan was sometimes cheaperΒ
than Bali, sometimes cheaper than Thailand.
This Tokyo hotel per night $53 USD
This apartment in Osaka per night $45Β
This Tokyo restaurant with one Ham cutletΒ
at 5 Dollars, one beef yakisoba at $5.50Β
This 40 minute Tokyo trainΒ
from our hotel to Shibuya $2.70Β
These lunchtime sushi boxes $2.40Β
This super popular central Kyoto attraction $3.30
The greatest egg sandwich you will ever eat $1.70.Β Β
You really need to hunt theseΒ
down, they are life changing.Β
A day ticket for Tokyo Disneyland $55.Β
PS Check out this video for how that wentΒ
The largest Cafe Latte thatΒ
Starbucks has on offer $3.85
Japans economy has unfortunately been stagnant orΒ Β
declining for decades. There are manyΒ
reasons for this, but the end result,Β Β
is a country thatβs generally hesitant toΒ
raise its prices and now, a weakened currency.
Of course, like anywhere, Japan can be cheap andΒ
can be expensive. This 4 course Kobe beef menuΒ Β
came in just under $100 dollars per person. But myΒ
point is, this country isnβt expensive by default.Β Β
And that the key difference with Japan, is thatΒ
the lower end restaurants and hotels have a muchΒ Β
higher quality than youβd experience elsewhere.Β
So if you want to keep your costs in check,Β Β
it is certainly possible, and you donβtΒ
have to grit your teeth whilst doing it.
As highlighted in this recent Abroad inΒ
Japan video, you can spend $1000 USD forΒ Β
an entire 2 week trip here ifΒ
youβre watching your spend.
Even back in 2019, when thingsΒ
werenβt as bad for the Yen,Β Β
I noted down every single transactionΒ
during our 14 days here and that cameΒ Β
out as $2,000 per person. That was eatingΒ
out every night, staying at good hotels,Β Β
packing in heaps of attractions andΒ
travelling to 3 different regions by train.
That video also covers some cost saving tips and,Β
Iβll link in all the usual places to watch next.
But, unless some big economic change happens,Β Β
in Japan currently, you donβtΒ
have to spend a lot, to get a lot.
The second biggest concern, after language, wasΒ
questions around using public transport. Now,Β Β
this one is totally understandableΒ
and a valid concern but does haveΒ Β
a surprisingly obvious and workable solution.
Itβs important to start out by saying,Β
Japans transport network is clean,Β Β
largely on time to the second, with regularΒ
trains and is an experience in itself.
The downside is that it is very confusingΒ
to fully understand whatβs going on,Β Β
but when you break it down, train by train,Β
there is a pretty simple, non flashy answer.
All I do, is put 100% faith into GoogleΒ
Maps and it always works out. I have noΒ Β
idea how the network operates, or even mostlyΒ
what is going on, but I can follow this app.
It might surprise some of you that train linesΒ
and platforms are sign posted in an alphabetΒ Β
youβll understand, along with colours and numbers.Β
So for this journey, for example, I see Green,Β Β
Yamanote Line, Platform 1, and just followΒ
those signs. Then, once Iβm at the platform,Β Β
I go off the live departure times shownΒ
on Google Maps for my specific train.
In all the big cities, departureΒ
signs are displayed in English also,Β Β
but Google Maps was in sync, soΒ
that was always my starting point.
Admittedly, I do still have nerves whenever IΒ
return to Japan and use its trains on my own,Β Β
but Google Maps always sees me through.
Hereβs also 2 messages I receivedΒ
and wanted to share, so you donβtΒ Β
just think itβs me living in anotherΒ
world. And, if you have visited Japan,Β Β
please feel free to either echo my thoughtsΒ
in the comments or disagree where youβve hadΒ Β
a different experience, in the hopeΒ
itβll help others wanting to visit.
For getting the tickets themselves the easiestΒ
option is the Suica Card, which you can collectΒ Β
at both Haneda and Narita Airport. These can alsoΒ
be used on buses where you can tap in and out.
For the Shinkansen trains, youβll need to buyΒ
a separate ticket. But I would just purchaseΒ Β
these from the service counters as it canΒ
get unnecessarily confusing via the ticketΒ Β
machines. Itβs worth noting that the 2 times weΒ
were looking confused at Osaka and Hiroshima,Β Β
we had English speaking staff approachΒ
us and help purchase the tickets for us.
But, again, youβll work all this out,Β
like everyone else. Riding the BulletΒ Β
trains is always one of my JapanΒ
highlights. Grabbing a bento boxΒ Β
for the trip and watching the world go byΒ
at an outrageous speed, does not get old.
And one final transport tip: If youβreΒ
travelling from Tokyo to Kyoto, then try to sitΒ Β
on the right side of the train for a potentialΒ
sighting of Mount Fuji on your way. Magical.
Next, letβs go through some quick etiquetteΒ
and cultural questions that came up. LotsΒ Β
of these concerns centred around notΒ
wanting to do something that mightΒ Β
offend the locals. There are countless videosΒ
on this platform around this one topic alone,Β Β
and feel free to watch them, but IΒ
can summarise with just 2 suggestions.
Number 1, check if you need to takeΒ
your shoes off when entering a new room,Β Β
and Number 2, donβt be a dick. Honestly,Β
as long as youβre considerate to others,Β Β
it really isnβt something you shouldΒ
worry about, theyβll understand youβreΒ Β
not accustomed to Japanese rules and 99%Β
of the time, wont hold it against you.
For those asking about Japans reliance on cash,Β
I must say, this was this years biggest surprise.Β Β
Cash has always been king here and you definitelyΒ
should arrive with a bunch of notes. But,Β Β
we were shocked how much more widely card andΒ
Apple Pay was accepted this year compared toΒ Β
past visits. Previously, card was taken around 20%Β
of the time, and this year, maybe 70% accepted?
There are plenty of cash machines all overΒ
the country, again you can just search onΒ Β
Google Maps. Some times, for whateverΒ
reason, our cards werenβt accepted,Β Β
so if you have ones from differentΒ
banks, itβs worth having a backup.
Youβll be happy to hear that tippingΒ
in Japan is totally not a thing,Β Β
so thatβs one less thing to think about.
And tattoos in onsens are still a no-no.Β
My best advice is to book a hotel that hasΒ Β
a private onsen, and then itβs totally fine.Β
This also reduces anxiety of parading aroundΒ Β
with your meat and two veg waftingΒ
in the wind, for everyone to witness.
OK so letβs move to some more of the funΒ
stuff; some of you touched on questionsΒ Β
around planning an itinerary β but also how toΒ
spread the trip out, where to visit, when to go.
So, this is totally subjective and to be used asΒ
a general guide or starting point. There is noΒ Β
one way to visit Japan and this is solely basedΒ
off places we have visited and enjoyed. But,Β Β
the classic 2 week first time Japan itineraryΒ
would have 3 or 4 bases β So Tokyo obviously,Β Β
having the most things to do, Kyoto havingΒ
more of a traditional vibe with things,Β Β
and then maybe some nature and a shortΒ
stop somewhere else. This gives you,Β Β
the great variety of bustling city,Β
traditional capital, and Japanese countryside.
If you wanted a 4th area to visit, andΒ
you arenβt a super fan of Nintendo,Β Β
I personally would skip Osaka, and leave it forΒ
a potential return trip to Japan. It does have aΒ Β
very different vibe compared to Tokyo, and isΒ
a great city, but Iβd personally recommend theΒ Β
variety of something different, over a second neonΒ
city, after youβve spent time in Tokyo already.
But, if you wanted to keep that 4thΒ
stop city based and had 2 spare nights,Β Β
Iβd suggest Hiroshima. We visited for the firstΒ
time this year, so Iβll be making a video aboutΒ Β
it eventually, but we really enjoyed it. The twoΒ
unique stand outs were the incredibly powerfulΒ Β
Peace Museum; obviously not a fun few hours butΒ
possibly the most powerful Museum youβll visit,Β Β
and our number 1 trip highlight, MiyaJimaΒ
island. I cannot wait to edit this future video,Β Β
because it was so stunning. And IβmΒ
not even showing you my best footageΒ Β
here. Sorry, youβll need to wait forΒ
a dedicated video for the good stuff.
But, for a break from city life, the countrysideΒ
does provide a welcome contrast. Takayama isΒ Β
a relatively easy trip from Kyoto, withΒ
Shirawkawago not too far from there also.
But thereβs a certain mountain that probablyΒ
ranks number 1 as an alternative. For Fuji,Β Β
Iβd suggest Hakone or Lake Kawaguchiko.Β
Most of all these places I just mentionedΒ Β
are featured in our 2 14 Days in Japan travelΒ
vlogs, which despite being a few years old,Β Β
still hold up in terms of the majorΒ
sites at each location. All the bestΒ Β
hotels weβve stayed at over the yearsΒ
are linked below in that PDF I mentioned.
In terms of the best areas to stayΒ
in Tokyo as its such a huge city,Β Β
Iβve also added some updated suggestions onΒ
there, and tried to cover different budgets.
One final wild card for you is Okinawa. IΒ
came here for 4 nights during that firstΒ Β
trip to Japan and I loved it so much, weΒ
returned this year. Flights from Osaka orΒ Β
Tokyo are just 2 to 3 hours for as little asΒ
$50 and itβs a very different side to Japan.Β Β
Again a video will be coming, but OkinawaΒ
is this country at its most laid back,Β Β
and the warmest, so it might beΒ
a great option for some of you.
As for when to go, this is actually a prettyΒ
important question. Here is a general overviewΒ Β
of what Iβm about to go through, but theΒ
only period to really avoid is GoldenΒ Β
Week. This is the end of April, beginningΒ
of May time. Everything will be packed,Β Β
hotels pricer than ever, andΒ
likely with little availability.
Visiting over the Summer isnβt out of the questionΒ
but does have an asterisk to it. July and August,Β Β
especially, can get swelteringly hot and not inΒ
a βPina Coladaβ kinda way. More like a βday atΒ Β
the coal mineβ. But there are lots of greatΒ
firework festivals taking place in August soΒ Β
it does have its upside. June is seen asΒ
Japans rainy season, they call it Tsuyu,Β Β
and again it isnβt crazy to visit atΒ
this time, but something to keep in mind.
The end of March, beginning of April is theΒ
best time for Cherry Blossom and Iβve madeΒ Β
a whole video about how to maximise thisΒ
amazing time of year. Do be aware though,Β Β
this is very much peak season, so not goodΒ
for avoiding crowds, which weβll get to next.
On the flip side, Japans autumn seasonΒ
is equally stunning around November butΒ Β
again can be busy. September andΒ
October are solid shoulder monthsΒ Β
where crowds will have died down but theΒ
winter temperatures havenβt crept in.
Speaking of winter, we visited thisΒ
year late January into February andΒ Β
it was surprisingly nice. OutsideΒ
of Okinawa, it was a little cold,Β Β
but only around 10 to 15 degrees everywhere else.Β
One difference we found, compared to England, say,Β Β
is that the sun was out a lot more here.Β
So unlike a grey Winters day in the UK,Β Β
the direct sun really helped, and it often feltΒ
warmer than it looked on paper, or, screen.
One concern I got way more than I expected,Β
was about Japan being too busy and dealingΒ Β
with crowds. Again, this is a totally validΒ
concern, but does depend how much of a dealΒ Β
breaker this is for you. We live in London soΒ
that is admittedly our baseline, but thereβs onlyΒ Β
really 2 places Iβve been and felt impacted byΒ
too many people here. The first is Tokyo Disney,Β Β
which Iβd urge you to check out this video asΒ
itβs literally the worst example of crowds.
And the other is Kyoto. Since its space is muchΒ
smaller than Tokyo, but itβs equally popular,Β Β
it feels way more packed. For me, itβs neverΒ
been so bad that itβs unpleasant, I mean, itΒ Β
still remains popular for a reason. But Iβd justΒ
advise seeing the busiest attractions early orΒ Β
late in the day. So the Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera,Β
Fushimi Inari Shrines, or the bamboo grove allΒ Β
being slightly notorious for people. And, we bothΒ
hate queuing for food, no matter where we travel.Β Β
And will almost always move on to somewhereΒ
else. But Japan has so many good food placesΒ Β
that we always find somewhere else to visit,Β
and arenβt looking at Tik Tok for inspiration.
For Tokyo, it is a very busy placeΒ
obviously, but in its defence,Β Β
thatβs kind of its thing so it feelsΒ
like part of the experience. I mean,Β Β
what is Shibuya crossing without all thoseΒ
people crossing it? I have never seen thisΒ Β
sight with my own eyes, but Iβd suggestΒ
avoiding rush hour if you value your space.
If crowds are a real concernΒ
but you still want to visit,Β Β
Iβd advise visiting mid January to mid March,Β
as we just did. Just, donβt go to Disneyland.
Food in Japan is one of the highlightsΒ
for many people. But this was also oneΒ Β
of your hot topics, especially for peopleΒ
with allergies, vegans or vegetarians,Β Β
as well as general questions around findingΒ
English menus and food you can enjoy.
The allergies concern is the biggest one,Β
especially if your reaction could be severe.Β Β
Although not perfect, the best advice I can giveΒ
is a really useful website Iβll link to below,Β Β
that translates most dietary restrictions toΒ
the restaurant. The idea is you can print themΒ Β
out beforehand as cards, or show them from yourΒ
phone and is a useful tool that may be sufficient.
For vegetarians and vegans, again, thisΒ
can be a little tricky but certainly notΒ Β
impossible. Japan is a lover of fish andΒ
they often use fish extract in stock,Β Β
which will then end up in variousΒ
sauces and soup. Soups? Soup.
But the upside, Japan is also a loverΒ
of tofu, rice, mushrooms, edamame,Β Β
so yes they are meat eaters but vegetablesΒ
do also play a large part of the diet.
The app youβll probably alreadyΒ
be familiar with is Happy Cow,Β Β
and it does cover Japan pretty well.Β
I have some friends who used it,Β Β
along with Google Maps and it worked for them,Β
but it did require a bit of extra planning.
For those asking specifically about EnglishΒ
menus, as mentioned, these are found in theΒ Β
big cities and tourist areas. The easiestΒ
phrase to ask though, is βEigo no menyΕ«β.
βEigo no menyΕ«?β
But, if all else fails, just do theΒ
universal symbol for menu whilstΒ Β
looking slightly confusedΒ
and theyβll get the hint.
If they donβt have an English menu,Β
you can always ask for the standardΒ Β
menu before sitting down and try the translateΒ
apps I mentioned earlier. You can also searchΒ Β
for the word English on Google Map reviewsΒ
and youβll often get the general consensus.
Finally, in the big cities, there are loads of nonΒ
Japanese food places around, again just search inΒ Β
Google Maps. But I would encourage you to try allΒ
the classic Japanese dishes while youβre here,Β Β
but yes, pasta, burgers, sandwiches, again,Β
trust me on the egg ones, Indian food, pizza,Β Β
itβs all pretty easy to find. We also hadΒ
several times where the menu was online. AndΒ Β
then either our phones did the translating forΒ
us or they had English sections to their site.
My personal top tip for finding uniqueΒ
Japanese dining is by searching the wordΒ Β
Izakaya. These are casual diners, servingΒ
smaller tapas style plates to share as aΒ Β
couple or group. This is a great wayΒ
to sample lots of different items,Β Β
usually at a good price and one of theΒ
main ways we find restaurants in Japan.
So, did I help at least 2 people outΒ
there? Do explore our other Japan videos,Β Β
past and coming soon, and check out theΒ
links to hotels, food and transport,Β Β
Iβve placed below. Let me know ifΒ
youβve any further questions for aΒ Β
potential follow up video and as always,Β
thanks for watching Suitcase Monkey.
47 Comments
All links mentioned in this video on one free PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jisLU_Xcj8POcishY46twjkJEIZnpPLG/view?usp=share_link including hotels, transport info, eSim, when to go, language tips and more. Any other topics or questions that might be good for a future video, let me know! Thanks for watching as ever. π
Thank you! Will watch. Did our first trip last year thanks to your previous videos. Next time β want to venture further afield β from the usual Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and the Onsens. Would really love to see some material on other places in Japan.
Really helpful video β weβre off to Japan in September. On an organised tour, but your tips will still be a great help to us. Thank you! πX
Great video! Returning to Japan for another trip this Fall. I agree with a lot of your points. At the risk of sounding like the decrepit Gen-Xer that I am, I think social media has done a disservice to warping minds of people who haven't been able to travel much before.
1) Everyone hears the stories of Kobe steakhouses, extremely fancy sushi spots or square watermelons that cost insane amounts of money and think that is the norm. The reality is any morning that my hotel doesn't offer breakfast, I just grab a hot milk tea or coffee and an onigiri at a nearby Family Mart using my spare change.
2) The country is chock full of temples and shrines, so if you hate crowds you can stumble across some even in central Kyoto and Tokyo that are very quiet. Likewise, walk down one or two streets from the main "tourist" blocks and you will still be in a similar environment and also be completely to yourself.
3) I agree on the etiquette thing, which actually applies to nearly any country. People feel like they are bound to cause a national incident by mistake. In reality, maybe the wait staff will be annoyed you didn't follow proper protocol the first few times but most other locals don't care. Just be nice and willing to learn and not some jerk defacing a bamboo tree and you'll be fine.
Brilliant video β as always! I lived in Tokyo as a kid (1960-4) and as a result of your video (will check the others) am now stimulated to plan a trip in 2025!
Great Video! Informative and entertaining als always. Loved the "stupid way" to ask for an english menu πβ€
Fantastic video. I look forward to more from your Japan visit.
I always find these travel vlogs very helpful for new people who want to travel to beautiful countries like Japan and thanks for sharing Paul!
Great info on this one dude!
The humour and informative value is what keeps me coming back. I'm actually landing in Tokyo on April 29, Golden week. I'll be in Japan for 7 weeks this time, staying in Okubo, Ginza and Asakusa. It's my favourite city in the world. Thanks again!
What is it like to find public toilet in the cities?
Great video and lots of useful info, thank you very much!
I absolutely have no worries
I love your videos! Always so informative and entertaining! Thank you!!!
Do you realize that tourist spot in kyoto like fushimi inary, kiyomizudera, bamboo forest arashiyama have cemetary inside ?
Are you supposed to wear undergarments when wearing a kimono [asking for a friend]?
thanks for that β€
Is the middle of May a good time to visit? βΊοΈ
Really great video β thank you so much! I hope that the Japan tourism Org uses this video to their benefit!
I lived there briefly nearly 40 years ago, loved it, and have been wanting to get back there again. Thanks for doing this video, it is a great nudge! Ahhhh, your video of the food options! Love it. π
Hi π, Thank you so much for helping me, myself and I for other informative and entertaining video!!! πβοΈ
You have hit all the right notes in this wonderful guide for the first time visitor. Harriet and I have been many times. Every time you visit , you discover new places. I don't think you can see it all in a lifetime. A great starting point with this video. Well Done Mate!π Sending you and Chiaki (got her name right haha) much loveβ€ from Jim and Harriet
Love your videos thank you! Just wondering, when you went in January, was it snowing anywhere then, cos I love cooler weather and less crowds, but like to avoid snow as it complicates getting around sometimes? So going in January sounds appealing, but what about snow then please? Cheers from Australia
I have been to Japan 4 times. You are spot on. β€οΈ Okinawa
Thank you for this fantastic video!
Iβve been to Japan. I never felt so safe in cities. Language wasnβt a problem.
I went pre iPhone existence
Thank you for another great video on Japan, just returned from a trip. Whatever you have mentioned in the video is perfect , relevant information. We had an amazing time as a family , we used only public transport and it wasnβt hard at all using Google maps. We started planning with your old videos in Japan. Waiting for your next videos and plan another trip . Thank you for doing this
Monkey my darling,
I'm in the early stages of planning a tip to Japan in the fall of 2025.
My current notion is to arrive in Osaka for a few nights and maybe explore Nara. I might avoid Kyoto. My view of over tourism is that it is best dealt with by just not going there. Next, I thought of four nights at Takamastu exploring the art and islands of the Sotouchi 2025 arts festival.
In contrast, I thought I would then spend a week or so on the Nakasendo Trail. Walking from village to village is my kind of thing, and the self-guided tour packages look look like a fun option.
After this I thought I would avoid Tokyo. Again, over tourism is over tourism, but also the place seems totally youth orientated. Rather than head to Tokyo, I thought Kanazawa might be fun for a few nights. Mini Kyoto with gardens and all that.
Perhaps then back to Osaka for a quick getaway.
What do you think?
Mπ
The little details you add (like which side of the train to sit to see Mount Fuji) are what makes you such a great travel guide ππ»ππ»ππ»ππ»
Great video for first timers. Also you can withdraw cash from ATM's inside the post office.
I find the pictures on the menu quite helpful so I never really had a problem ordering.
As for etiquette, dont be loud. This applies especially inside public transportation.
And Okinawa is a great place to visit. Great people, cheap seafood.
And also i can recommend visiting Nagoya.
Most people's perception of Japan is Tokyo but if you go outside of that, you will discover it isn't all skyscrapers. Enjoy the countryside and other cities.
And food isn't expensive unless of course you go to a higher end restaurants. I find eating out cheaper there than in Toronto plus i don't have to tip at all π.
good video
Super helpful video! Along with alleviating logistical travel questions, the part I appreciated most was the itinerary tips.
Can you cover up your tattoo if it's fairly small with some skin coloured tape or patch and use the public onsens without bothering anyone?
Another great video β thanks. Excellent tips for my next visit to Japan.
I'm mostly worried about my phone not working. I have a prepaid phone from StraightTalk, and they couldn't give me a consistent answer on whether it will work or not with an eSim or Japanese SIM at the airport. I'll find out the hard way.
I have to say that I am always impressed by the level of detail and practical tips you include in your videos! Hands down the most useful vlogs I have found on YouTube. Thanks a lot! π
Thank you for the thorough information this is so helpful!
That egg sandwich, is the reason I always reserve my breakfast solely for that for all 7days of my 1week trip in japan
this kind of concerns-address video is very helpful! maybe a good idea for other locations, too
This was wonderful π
I like traveling
Stunning and so informative!
your videos are amazing ill be in Japan may1-8 this is helping a lot
Hay fever?! I hear hay fever/pollen is bad all year (thanks to USA planting a million non-native trees, post-War). Any tips? Thinking of a February holiday
Your travel guide and tips are really helpful and informative! Keep up the fantastic work!
Thanks for the great info on the trains! Definitely going to be my biggest challenge. Thank the gods I already have a sucia card, so hopefully it won't be to bad lol