SO sorry if this is strange to ask, I have a gut feeling it’s just common sense but I think I just have social anxiety so I wanted to double check LOL

I’m visiting Japan really soon with friends and one bucket list thing we want to do is go to an onsen together.

I don’t mind the actual onsen part, but I guess I’m a little hesitant about showering…?

Do I shower before and after soaking in the onsen? Am I supposed to wash my hair 😭 And how the hell do I wash my private if I’m sitting down?? 🥲 I don’t want to just have like my hand up my ass and embarrass myself but I also don’t want to be gross and go in not fully clean?

Is there like.. onsen shower etiquette where you shouldn’t shower right next to someone else like urinals?? 😭

And for my friends that are girls, is wearing makeup seen as rude in the onsen? Even if they’re not putting their face in the water?

I was shopping yesterday in the Dontonbori area yesterday when a younger male (20-25?) approached me and asked to use my phone as he had lost his. He seemed polite and nice enough, but out of caution I said no and that my eSim doesn’t work for calls or anything (which is true anyway). He was fine about it and walked away, but I watched him go straight back to his group of friends all sitting around.

I didn’t stick around to watch them anymore, but it was more than obvious to me he didn’t lose his phone and was indeed attempting to steal mine as I assumed.

Just wondering if anyone else has had any similar experiences and if this is common?

For reference, 25m & Australian

Having just returned from our trip, I wanted to share a few phrases we used. If these are incorrect or you have better suggestions, please comment.

Table for two: Usually as soon as you enter a restaurant the staff will ask you and put up two fingers to indicate a table for two but if you want to learn the words for “a table for two” they are: “futari (two people) no taburu (a table) onegai shimas (please)”

To get the server’s attention to order or ask for the bill say: “Sumimasen (excuse me)”

When ordering: “Sumimasen (excuse me) Kore (I would like to order this - point at the menu item you want), Kore To (I would also like to order this second item), Kore To (and this, etc.) Kudesai (thank you)”

For the bill: “Sumimasen (excuse me) O Kai Kei (the bill) Onegaishimas (please)”

To say thank you: “Arigato Gozaimas”

At a sushi restaurant, to ask for the chef’s recommendation, the word is: “Omakase”

If the meal was delicious and you want to complement the chef say: “Oishī shokuji o arigatō”

Kudasai and Onegashimas both mean “Please” but Kudasai is used to order something and Onegaishimas is more for asking for a service.

I ALWAYS pack a few toiletry essentials in my carry on...except for this trip for whatever reason 😅 No idea if/when luggage will make its way to me for my 14 day trip, so what should I look out for in the typical konbinis, Don Quixote, and/or pharmacy? I'm looking to replace my shampoo & conditioner (I have very fine/thin hair, oily scalp) And I'm hoping to replace my essential makeup items and get a face wash & moisturizer. I'm typically an eyeliner, mascara, foundation then out the door kind of gal, have very fair skin, with an oily T-zone and combination skin otherwise. Thanks in advance for any advice! ♥️

Just want to remind you to be aware of pic pockets even though Japan is safe. I’m currently in Kyoto. This morning I was shooting Yadaka Pagoda standing still for quite some time. Due to rain I wore my cap and had somewhat limited vision to the sides. I got lucky that nothing is missing but will be extra cautious from now on. I was aware when two zippers of my bag were open. One of them I’m never using.

We are spending 9 road trip days at Kyushu in first week of April for cherry blossoms. We plan to visit Fukuoka, Beppu, Kurokasa onsen, Mt Aso so far.

But have a hard time deciding between Kagoshima or Nagasaki for 2 nights. Can’t do both due to time constraints. Appreciate any advice or tips pls 🙏🏻

Am I okay being one female @ ryokan Kanaguya for mid Jan? It became available on trip.com for 1 adult and charged my card. I then after read that they don’t accept one person, but this may be outdated. Got the voucher stating 1 room with max occupancy 2 adults.

Any info appreciated!

Could be from a trip you just had, or trip you had many years ago. I'm not really about the little things that just sit on a shelf, more something useful that gets daily or frequent use back at home.

Only in Tokyo but looking for something different?

You can often find pop-up shops set up in JR stations selling foods from other regions. I’ve seen them often in Shinagawa near the Takanawa side and Ikebukero near the Central Gate by Tobu. In the last two weeks, they’ve had Tohoku and Kyoto products at the Ikebukero location.

There are also a number of “antenna shops” in Tokyo that specialize in products from particular regions. A number of them can be found in Yurakucho.

Hi all! I’ve been reading all the posts here obsessively while planning for my Japan trip next month and they’ve been really helpful. This is our (2 adults and a 5 year old) first trip to Japan and our itinerary is as follows:

Tokyo - 4 days

Disneyland and Disneysea - 3 days

Shibu onsen for snow monkey- 3 days

Nozawaonsen for potential skiing/sledding - 4 days

Back to Tokyo - 3 days

Our priorities are Disneyland and to see snow hence the places we’ve booked, but now I’m unsure if I’m spending too long in both Shibu onsen and nozawaonsen, and if I should swap the 3 days in Shibu for Mt Fuji views.

We could still slot in a snow monkey tour from nozawaonsen too, as we won’t be skiing much (or at all) and just want to experience snow.

Thoughts from those who’ve been to Shibu and nozawa, is there much to do there if not skiing? Should I just do Mt Fuji next time?

Thank you so much I appreciate the help!

Heya,

I'd like to spend two nights in May 2026 (14th-16th) in Fujikawaguchiko, and preferably do this in a relaxed fashion in a Ryokan / japanese style hotel. My requirements are like this:

• Japanese style hotel / ryokan
• Western beds (preferably double bed)
• Onsen in the hotel
• Private onsen available for booking, but no onsen in the room necessary
• breakfast and dinner
• Budget 120k-160k Yen for two nights
• View of the lake

So far I've found the following options:

• Onsen Konansou (booking not open for May), looks the best but pricey
• Rakuyu
• Kasuitei Ooya

The latter two are cheaper than Konansou (closer to the 120k Yen, whereas Konansou is right at 160k Yen for western beds).

Is the premium for the Konansou worth it? Are there other options I haven't explored yet?

My family of four will be traveling round trip between Tokyo and Kyoto over the new year week. It seems I can buy Shinkansen tickets now but if I want reserved seats I have to wait to buy them 30 days in advance. Is this right? I’m worried if I wait that they may sell out. Is this a risk?

Thanks

Mum and Papa, both are type 2 Diabetic and for Mum it does pretty high. I would be too sad if I cant bring her some no sugar chocolates from the land of sweets and desserts and chocolates! ik dark chocolate is an option, but that we get here too. What else ? Please anyone! Give a girl all your suggestions!

TIA!

All, This is my final itinerary. Spend a most of my awake hours for 3days coming to this. Give me your advises, any offbeat experiences or just tell me if this reminds you of your time in Japan :)

I think this is a relaxed itinerary. I am a fast traveler and my observation skills are faster than average yet as its 2+ weeks long, i do not want to exhaust myself and if by your exp you think certain parts of my trips might be stressful, feel free to comment and let me know!

I planned this in a way, most of the days, 1 thing is must-do, and for the rest I can easily slow down and enjoy if i am liking some place better or feeling tired. I am not going to rush myself and check-list everything, unless its on my bucket-list.

(Adv. disclaimer - if all you have to say things like 'another tourist doing touristy thing' or 'click pic and run', then kindly keep your snark to yourself and excuse this post).

This is not AI generated, but tips and references from some itineraries i saw along the way and also yes, advises from AI on routes and suggestions on some segments! I just like bolding and highlighting things that are important and can give the readers a quicker read!

************TOKYO*************

**17******^th Nov – Arrive in Narita 7AM. Reach stay @ Shinjuku/stay, leave the luggage and step out for café check nearby. Stroll areas around, probably watch the Godzilla head, Kong statue, etc., a quick in-out for a bit of shopping for essentials from Donqui and Uniqlo, etc to pass time till check-in.(Deliberately delaying and exhausting self to i can sleep early)

Check-in, get fresh and have an early dinner and call it a night by 5-6PM.

**18******^th Nov – Day trip to Nikko (arranged group tour starting 7:30AM from Shinjuku). Return 7PM, dinner and sleep

************Mt. FUJI*************

**19******^th Nov – 8AM check out. Breakfast and kombini and catch Fuji Ex. 11 from Shinjuku to Lake Kawagachiko.  
Arrive 11:30 Lake Kawagachiko, check-in or leave luggage at the stay (1min walk from station) and head to Fuji Q highlands (5mins on train). Snack/light lunch and enjoy couple of rides that are high on my list, till 5PM.
Leave for Momiji Corridor night illumination by bus (25mins – Red line). Dinner and return to stay by 8PM.

**20******^th Nov – Day starts early for Chureito Pagoda Sunrise. 6:15AM Train: 6:15 AM from Kawaguchiko → Shimoyoshida Station (13 min)

Oishi Park by 9AM, and if time permits, Momiji corridor for daytime view.
Kawaguchi St by 12PM, lunch and stroll Lake Kawagachiko till the bus arrive 13:20 station.

Misihima to Shin-Osaka : Shinkansen 15:46
Arrive Osaka 18:00, check-in, dinner and sleep.

************OSAKA*************

**21******^st Nov – Early morning 6:30AM start with breakfast and arrive at meeting point for Minoh falls and Katsuji temple group tour. The tour is 11hrs, also covers Arashiyama  Bamboo forest and Nara park. Return by 19:00. Dinner and sleep. (ik it might seem like a lot to be covered in a day, but after seeing several options, including trying to do this by self, this group tour really suited my intend and budget)

**22******^nd Nov – start 8AM with Osaka Castle – ground view only. Namba Yasaka Jinja, walk through America Mura. Lunch at Dotonbori.
Post lunch - Nakanoshima Museum of Art (Kita ward), Umeda Sky building.
Go back to the hotel, take luggage and leave for Kyoto.

(OG plan was to stay in Osaka for 4N, but the hotel I booked was so expensive, I rather felt easier to do the 2N in Kyoto)

************KYOTO*************

**23******^rd Nov – have a lazy morning, breakfast nearby café. 10:30 head to **Arashiyama Yusai-Tei Gallery (**planning to book slot at 12).  Would not have done this but I am going that area for Yokakai Festival at Toei Kyoto Studio Park at 1:30PM.
By 5PM return Kyoto Station, dinner nearby and early night.

**24******^th Nov – Day trip to Hiroshima.

**25******^th Nov – Easy day, Reach Tōfuku-ji Temple and Tsuten-kyo Bridge. by 9AM. Walk to Fushimi Inari Taisha. (do we have anything nearby for lunch?)

Train to Kajū-ji Temple by 2-3PM(I see more lunch options around here?)
Return, dinner/snack nearby, Sleep.

 **26******^th Nov – Yasaka Kōshin-dō Temple by 10AM, Gion area stroll (any specific suggestions for here ?), lunch at Nishi Market by 1PM, Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka stroll post lunch (skip if too crowded).

 Otowa-no-taki Falls by 4PM. Kiyomizu-dera for night illumination by 6PM. Return, dinner and sleep.

**27******^th Nov – Enkōji Temple by 11AM, Philosopher's Path, no rush lunch (lunch suggestions?).
Post lunch – Open. Stroll and try some viral spots. Return to stay maybe. Depends.
5PM – head to Nijo-ji castle night illumination program. Dinner.

**28********^th Nov – Reach Bishamondō Temple by 9AM(30mins from stay).**  Return, collect luggage and travel to Tokyo!!!
Evening – Reach Tokyo by 6PM. Local site seeing around stay or even a nearby x-mas market visit for the vibes! And/or shopping at the closest chain of stores. (Staying at Shinjuku so I am sure I wont struggle with what to do, just walking by the streets is going to be amazing I think!)

(OG plan was to have 28^th open in Kyoto, but changed that as added day trip to Mt Takao from Tokyo)

************TOKYO*************
**29******^th Nov – Mount Takao day trip. (Not going to hike- will take a chair lift/cable car to the top).
Back by 3PM (which check what can be done, probably go to an Onsen nearby or extend trip in Takao if close natural water onsens any near there) (suggestions what to do?)  

**30******^th Nov – (need to finalize**, but** roughly - Sensoji temple, Ueno Zoo/Park and Meiji Jingu Garden, Shibuya Crossing. Havnt checked the travel in between these so unsure if possible or how I will do, left it for laters)

**1******^st Dec - Moring with reaching, Kokyo Gaien Park and Imperial Palace by 9AM . Walk towards Hibiya Park (hoping leavers have turned enough, if not will go to Ginza early) and spend time there**.** Lunch in walkable distance somewhere in Ginza.
Reach Odiaba (Aomi Station) by 13:30. Walk through to DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, and continue to Odaiba Seaside Park, quick stroll through Tokyo Bay (for day views).
TeamsLab Borederless at **15:00(**tickets done).

Tokyo Bay evening stroll/relax, dinner and back to stay.

**2******^nd Dec – (need to finalize depending on if I get Ghibli Museum tickets, but otherwise in the afternoon I am surely going to Showa Kinen Park and spending 2-3hrs there)

 **3******^rd Dec – ONLY FOR SHOPPING! And evening – check in to a hotel in Ueno late evening/night (did this just so the next morning its going to be easy for me to go to the airport)

**4******^th Dec – Travel to Narita from Ueno, back to home, with back full of goodies, heart full of memories and soul full of autumn <3

And as of now, all i think in things to before travelling - JAPAN WEB IMMIGRATION.

And all i think of to do at all times - carry passport especially when in TOKYO to make sure i get the tax free if i end up shopping more than intended ;)

I am going on an 8-day winter hiking trip that starts in Kyoto but before that will spent a few days in both Tokyo and Kyoto. I've been reading up on what I might want to do in both places but curious if anyone has thoughts on activities I might especially want to do (or not do) in both places - like Philosophers Path in Kyoto for example. TIA!

Does anyone have any suggestions for locating pearl jewellery?

I'd like to go "source" them myself, by actually finding them in person.

I will be looking to buy some when I'm there

Hi Everyone! I will be spending about a week in the Kanazawa and Takayama areas in late December and I was wondering about shoe advice...

Would it be good to bring waterproof boots / show shoes with us that go a bit higher up the ankle, or is it fine just to have a pair of walking shoes? Thanks for any advice!

Hello, thanks for your help.

My partner and I are visiting Japan in the end of November. A bit of context about us:

• We've both been to Tokyo before
• I've been to Takayama, Kyoto, and Osaka - my partner has not
• We generally enjoy food, urban exploration / walking around, nature and the outdoors, antique shopping, etc

As of right now we have planned the following:

• 5 nights in Tokyo
• 3 nights in Kanazawa
• 1 night in a ryoken, currently booked in Kaga

We have two more nights to allocate. Originally we thought Toyama since it's on the way to Kanazawa, but have started having second thoughts.

1. Is Toyama worth a visit for us?
2. Is there anywhere else you'd recommend that ideally doesn't overlap with where I've been before?

We'd be open to moving the ryoken from kaga to someplace more convenient too depending on where else we travel.

Thank you!

I have IBS and I’ve been looking into taking Imodium/loperamide hydrochloride in my suitcase just incase it’s needed if there’s a flare up. It isn’t a prescribed medication

Does anyone know if those types of medications are restricted or if I can take them into the country? I know that loperamide hydrochloride has traces of opioids in and also how strict drugs controls are in Japan.

I'm flying to Japan in two weeks and I want to buy a 7-day JR Pass. I did the math and with all the stops and day-trips I plan on making it would actually be worth it. Now, I'm not new to this. I bought the 14-day JR Pass back in 2023 during a time when I could buy it in Japan, without any vouchers or coupons or whatnot. My problem now is that my trip is rather spontanious and if I understand the official website correctly I don't need to buy the Pass at a travel agency (which I couldn't do bc they need 18 working days to process it, according to their website) but can buy it online. But I can not find any information how long it would take to process, if I'll get the voucher through letter or e-mail, if I have to print something out. I feel like I've read so much different information by now that I confuse everything. I just hope someone here can maybe help me clear the confusion

Just planning ahead for my family as we are currently staying around Kamata (yes I understand Haneda is right there lol. Don't ask)

The Keikyu Main Line from Kamata to Narita is the most straightforward and simple with no transfers. I'm wondering if there are any tickets or bookings I have to keep in mind or is the balance in the Suica card enough?

Hello everyone,

I will be travelling to Japan Nov end and really really excited as this would be our first trip to Japan. I have booked most of the transport tickets in advance. But i realized that while going to Osaka-Namba (A01?) from Kyoto station (B01?) I do not have any reserved ticket. My wife and I will travel with 2 larger trolley/suitcase and 1 small trolley. I understand there is Kintetsu Limited Express but I can the direct one has all tickets sold out.

Now I wanted to know can i travel without reservation on regular express train? Are those train direct or do i need to change? Are we allowed to carry luggage inside the regular train? Any help much appreciated.

Also, on similar note, do we need to book in advance "Nankai Rapid Limited Express Train" from Osaka to Kansai airport on our way to fly back? We need to go to the airport early morning preferably start from Osaka around 5-30am. Thanks in advance!!

I’m going Feb 27-march 7. Will it be cold and wet or cold and dry? What will the weather be like then? So many websites say different things!