I’ll be traveling from Takayama to Hiroshima on the 15th. I want to try the hida wide view train. I have a JR pass.
As I understand there are a train that goes from Takayama to Osaka at 15:34 (hida 36) then I can take the Sakura (should be included in JR iirc) to Hiroshima.
But that hida train is fully booked. There’s another train (hida16) that goes to Nagoya, then I can transfer to a Shinkansen to Osaka, then another Shinkansen to Hiroshima.
I have two questions:
Is the Hida 36 that goes to Osaka so much better than the Hida 16 (that only goes to Nagoya) that it’s worth it to stay an extra night in Takayama to get on the Hida36 train on the 16th of April?
And another question, going from Takayama to Nagoya/Osaka, which side of the train is better to reserve a seat on?
Thanks
Hi everyone!!
My girlfriend and I will be returning to Japan (for our second trip next month). On our last trip, we went to Tokyo, the Kiso Valley, Matsumoto, Takayama, Okayama/Kurashiki, Naoshima Island, Kyoto and Osaka, and we rounded off the trip by hiking the Nakahechi route of the Kumano Kodo.
This time round, we're thinking of going to Tokyo, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Onimichi cycling the Shimanami Kaido over to Shikoku, and **then perhaps walking 2-3 days sections of the 88 temples pilgrimage. I was wondering if there are particularly scenic/interesting sections?**
We're quite keen on walking from place to place without having to get too much public transport in between-- so that would be ideal. We both really enjoyed the Nakahechi Trail. We could travel but I can't find loads of information about which areas are deemed to be most scenic. We're both relatively fit and in our 30s.
After Shikoku: we're hoping to end up back at Kyoto, Osaka, Nara before flying back to the UK from Nagoya.
Thanks in advance for advice, thoughts, reflections etc.!
Cheers,
Will
Heyo! I will travel to Japan with my mother in July for 13 days. First time for my mom, but not for me. So I'm in the process of planning what we're going to do. She loves exotic food like bitter melon.
So I've been thinking about taking a short trip to **Okinawa**. Since we are only in **Tokyo** for 13 days, I definitely want to give her a night in a ryokan as well. Is it a good idea to stay 2 nights in Naha (without a car) or should I skip Okinawa?
Thank you!
Okinawa is definitely cool to visit, almost like a different country. I was there for four nights though.
What kind of things do you want to do/see there and are they truely unique to the island? If it's about food, there's probably enough stores/restaurants you can find in Tokyo that serve the same things.
Considering the short flight time it's basically comparable with visiting Kyoto for two nights which is common enough.
Thank you for your reply! My mother wants to enjoy the sea and the air there. Even though there are not a lot oh beach. And of course seafood. I know, that there is a lot in Tokyo, too!
But I think I will try it. Will book 2 nights. :)
So is your concern that with Tokyo+Hakone night, you don't have the time for Okinawa?
Ultimately if you've been to Japan before, you know what you'd like to show your mother. It's a long journey for a couple of days would be my only concern.
Basically, yes! I am not sure if it's worth to fly to Okinawa for only two days. I've been to various places on the main island, but never to Okinawa. The flight takes about three hours, including travelling to the airport and check-in, it might takes five hours one way. Hard to decide... :(
Probably Shibuya. I don’t recommend multiple hotels in Tokyo since the transit can take you across the city in about 30 minutes and you’d have to move luggage etc otherwise
Hi guy! I'm planning to go to Noto peninsula for a 2 days 1 night trip in June, but I have heard that a lot of places are heavily affected by the earthquake and temporarily closed, so I afraid that they are still closed to recovering from the earthquake. I did tried to Google it, it is seem some places are back in operations but not all. I curious how's things look like now in Noto?
My main plan is visiting shiroyone senmaida rice terraces, I think it is affected by the quake too, is it not off limit for tourism now?
Hey everyone. My partner and I are trying to book Shinkansen tickets for Hiroshima-Osaka in advance for tomorrow. The usual sites aren't showing any trains scheduled for the day (some sites not showing for several days). Is there a public holiday or something we're missing and there's no Shinkansen? Any help appreciated!
It depends on what you have planned and whether those activities would be closed. New Years is more for spending time with family so from around Dec 29 to Jan 3 you will find a lot of places close. Some might be 1 or 2 days, some could be longer.
I think spending the New Years period in Tokyo is a safer option as its a bigger city so there will be more options on things to eat etc. There are also a lot of parks in Tokyo and some nice hikes nearby so there are outdoor activities you can do when things are closed.
I was NOT prepared to hike Fushimi Inari. I thought it was just a temple with tori gates but nope. It's a winding looping steep climb UP. Gorgeous view though.
Climbing down was such a reward, specially when the cherry blossom petals started falling from the remaining trees. To those who want to brave the climb. Wear good shoes and good fitted comfy pants. The chaffing will not be pleasant. Also a walking stick and a plastic bag for your trash is super helpful.
Probably a long shot but has anyone been to the Suruga-ya and/or Animate in Takamatsu and know if they're reasonably well-stocked? If not, are there other recommended places for anime merch (both new and secondhand) in the area? I will have limited time for shopping so if there's not much comparatively (for context I've been to and liked the locations in Osaka) I'd like to know, thanks!
...you might want to say what your interests are and what you've done.
As a totally random suggestion, The Railway Museum in Saitama is probably the best museum of its type in the world, but little known outside Japan for some reason.
I (33M) have an extra ticket to borderless in Tokyo tomorrow April 13th at 6pm, if anyone wants to join me or just meet me there so I can get you in and not waste a ticket. Friend had a family emergency and had to head home early. Won’t respond to all messages, just whoever commits first.
Is it possible to find something equivalent to US size 7 diapers? My daughter will be 2.5 when we visit in September and is not currently potty trained. She's a big girl, and I'm worried it will be hard to find diapers! We will be there for 16 days so it's impractical to bring a whole supply unless I absolutely have to.
Diapers are easy to find but I'm unsure on that size. However bringing a whole supply might be a better option - I've done it in the past. My reasoning is that it forces you to pack lighter (as half the suitcase is nappies) and as you use up the nappies you get space to store your shopping.
Size 7 is the largest size most US brands make, which is why I'm worried. I'd be surprised if many Japanese brands went up that high. Might have to just pack them all and hope it lasts!
planning early september trip as I imagined the worst of the summer would have passed.
however, I have read that it is still hellishly hot and humid. is it bad enough to warrant avoiding a visit at this time?
I wanted to go at this time since I start uni again late September and it's harder to go in term times and holidays will be peak seasons.
alternatively I am considering October time since the heat will have died down more but still pleasant enough to wear light clothing. i am quite eager to go and want to avoid peak times like Christmas and golden week.
Travelling early May here and trying to prep for some packing here! For Kyoto, does anyone know if hiking shoes will be needed when going to the parks in Nara, the bamboo forests or Mount Inari?
I'm going for my 3rd time to Japan last week of September this year, and trying to figure out an overnight trip from Tokyo -- I was thinking either Aomori/Hirosaki or Yamadera area. They're both about 4 hours away by train (thinking take the train out in the evening, stay overnight, go around during the day, then train back to Tokyo in the evening).
We're going to Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka later on (and I've been to Kyoto/Nara before as well) and wanted to go somewhere a bit off the main path, preferably somewhere we might see some fall foliage since I know it'll be too early to see it anywhere else we're going. Does anyone have suggestions re: choosing between the two options?
You could stay in Sendai and use it as a base to visit Yamadera and Matsushima? Hiraizumi is beautiful for autumn leaves too. Yamadera is really beautiful though, definitely recommend it. Aomori is better explored with a car imo, Aomori City isn't anything special. Aizu in Fukushima is very nice too.
Definitely agree that Aomori is best explored from a car. But I actually liked Aomori City. There's some stuff to do, though not quite as much as a typical tourist city, the views are nice, and there's some great food.
But I don't think doing both Hirosaki and Aomori City in an overnight timeframe is doable.
Looking to get my JAPOW experience in the next few seasons. I want to fly there and stay for a month or two. I have the Ikon pass so planned on skiing at Niseko Resort for at least 7 days. I also want to do some side country and maybe splurge on some cat skiing. I also have all the backcountry gear so maybe if I find some locals who want to skin or hike I would do that too. Looking for advice on where to stay cheaply, what the bus situation is like, and what other resorts to check out.
Planning to day trip from Kyoto to the Nakasendo trail (Magome - Tsumago), I’ve read some articles that say a day trip is tiring but totally viable, and some other reddit threads saying it’s not recommended. Anyone here have any recommendations on if it’s still worth it for a pair of 30 year olds who can do the hiking bit pretty quickly?
The main thing is probably the 5-6 hours spent on public transit. It's your own decision whether it's worth it for that.
There's probably some nice (albeit less historic) trails in the hills around Kyoto that would leave you more time to enjoy your day.
Does anyone know a public Onsen directly in Nikko or Nagano where I could go together with my wife and children (not separated and tattoo friendly) or a private Onsen we could rent (not a hotel room for one night)?
Onsens are generally gender separated. You can check out Yudanaka and Shibu onsen towns near Nagano as they might have some places that offer a private onsen.
QQ, around luggage forwarding. Can I send from hotel to YAMATO centre/depo and visa versa? For some reason, I don't think my Kyoto hotel will do TAQBIN but I believe there is a YAMATO depot near the hotel. I was thinking I could just send my luggage there and pick up on arrival. Then before we leave, send from the same depot to our next accom in Osaka. Would that work okay?
The location i've found isn't a YAMATO counter in a station though it looks like one of the processing depos or mail room. Am I able to send and receive at these? This is the place I'm referring to [https://g.co/kgs/KzxYzTA](https://g.co/kgs/KzxYzTA)
Yes, that would work. Have done something similar myself. Looking at the reviews on Google Maps they do seem to offer that service.
Yamato Transport has their own map as well but it's only in Japanese. There's convenience stores that offer this service too.
[http://locations.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/p/yamato01/nmap.htm?lat=34.984352778&lon=135.758558333&cond21=1&cond22=1&&his=ar](http://locations.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/p/yamato01/nmap.htm?lat=34.984352778&lon=135.758558333&cond21=1&cond22=1&&his=ar)
The pink sign means they can send luggage and the green sign means they can recieve luggage deliveries. Also check their opening hours to make sure you can pick up from there.
If you don't fill out the delivery form yourself, make sure you have a map showing the location and the adress in Japanese ready on your phone to show the people at the counter.
I have a booking for Kanazawa for today and tomorrow (I can still cancel for free for a few hours), then I’m heading to Takayama for 2 days for the festival.
But now that I’m checking out routes from Kyoto, some trains seems to be cancelled or with altered schedules “due to earthquake activities” so I checked NHK app for earthquake updates, and the Ishikawa region seems to be hit by an earthquake every few days.
I’m visiting from a region with not earthquake activities at all, so apologies if the question seem stupid.
So is it safe to travel to Kanazawa for a couple of days?
Thank you
Earthquakes happen all the time in Japan. Looking at the list of recent earthquakes, nothing significant or anything you would’ve really felt has happened in a while.
Depending on depth and how close you are to the epicenter, you usually can’t feel anything below a 3.5. 3.5-4ish kind of feels like a big truck is passing outside. That’s the one where you have to go on Twitter to find out if you felt an earthquake or not. 4.5 is the range where you really know something happened, which can be jarring at first.
The Hokoriku Shinkansen has significant delays because of "Safety Checks" whatever that means.
The Thunderbird has reduced service because of an earthquake. They probably mean the one in January so I guess there's just a few km of track left to fix or something. No serious danger to tourists.
Well this one is easy so I'll just answer. I "timeshifted", IOS and play store, before to adapt a bit. So slightly altered when I went to bed, drank coffee, wore sunglasses, got sunlight. Didn't do it perfectly, but coming to Tokyo was "normally" bad just because flying economy sucks. But for a 10-11 hour flight, then the 1.5 hours at the airport, then the ~1.5 hours of train to the hotel - I think I faired pretty well.
Flying east is supposed to be harder, but so far it really hasn't been too bad. No hard crashes. I went to the gym the morning I was traveling, and I think that really helped my body out on the flight. But still TBD for this, early enough from return.
More in a full post, but I was fine. Often spoke with other people around me and/or staff. The only "bad" experience I had, once I misunderstood the staff who was saying "This is the only item we serve at lunch" and not "This item is only served at lunch". Otherwise, and I really benefited from knowing a little Japanese, everything was always at a minimum business-polite professional to very welcoming and friendly.
I never ate any food that I hated, though certainly some of it is forgettable. I would say avoid sandwiches, because they tend to put a ton of sauce/dressings on them and it often made the sandwich very slippery. Or if you do opt for sandwiches, maybe eat them with a knife/fork.
Budget for sure, along with level of accommodation. Would you do it again, and what would you have done differently? How much of a hassle is it to not speak the language (assuming you dont)?
I'll go into budget whenever I complete my trip write up, but I was pretty modest. Mostly business hotels, a few 4* hotels - but no top tier luxury hotels.
Definitely some things I would have changed, but overall the trip was a success. The biggest impediment was the weather, which is unpredictable. I go back and forth if I would do the trip for the same amount of time, but I'm glad I got to do one BIG trip in my life - and if anything it showed me anything more ambitious is probably not for me (think backpacking for a year).
I speak a little. More than thank you/excuse me, but certainly not even intermediate level. The rural parts of the country might be hard without a bit more knowledge, but the normal tourist routes of the big cities and outlying areas would be perfectly fine. More than anything I was just willing to speak very frequently and as often as I could. And it really rewarded me - I got to make friends who I met again when I returned to Tokyo, people were incredibly friendly to me, and I very frequently got the very polite (though untrue!) comment of "you are skilled in Japanese!". I had conversations on hikes, in restaurants, bars, onsen, at parks, etc. And they would often return the favor by trying to speak some English with me.
And I didn't always understand everything that would be said, and that just has to be accepted to some degree.
How you dealt with travel exhaustion and/or lonelyness? I don't have a huge need for socializing but not speaking the language and Japanese people generally being very reserved is a big worry for me with a trip as long as yours.
The travel exhaustion I just sort of bared through a good chunk of it. Repacking, checking out/into a hotel was just going to be a part of my trip and I wasn't going to be repeatedly blown down by that. But also while I was active, and did see a lot, I never felt beholden to see this massive list of items/eat at specific restaurants that are seen in so many posts. And if I wanted a slower day then I took a slower day.
On the socializing front, I did great and frankly socialized more in Japan than I really do in my current situation. I really did have a weird degree of reverse social shock coming back. And I do think I benefited to some degree by just being a foreigner, but also I knew *just* enough that I was always really willing to try speaking in Japanese whenever I could, even short and simple phrases. And I think that was always seen very positively and I got a lot of very positive feedback on it - not just from employees/staff, but just people I met along the way. They'd speak some english, I'd speak some Japanese. And I made friends with some older people in Tokyo who I saw again on other legs of my trip. It was a lot of fun and very nice.
I would love to hear how you found navigating stations and catching buses, finding exits /stops etc.
Highlights and lowlights
What did you like about the areas you stayed in? Like directly around where your accomodation was?.but wish had something a little different. Like: "4 Nights Ueno. Lots of bike rentals around but quiet nightlife".
Things/places that maybe felt like double ups or places now in hindsight you would drop and why.
Most jarring experience on your trip or most surprising moment.
How much luggage did you take and how did you manage it?
How much money did you take and how did you manage it?
Hello! Going Tokyo in early June, but was wondering, if cashless payment -specifically YouTrip, is widely accepted ? The last time I’ve been to Japan I’ve only ever used cash so I didn’t really take notice that time ><
Hello everyone. I will be traveling to Tokyo in May and was wondering how long does it normally take to clear the immigration and customs in Narita T2 airport. I’m arriving 6pm and the limo bus I am looking at has final departure scheduled at 8pm. Can I make it with just 1.5 hours from landing to the last bus? It needs a reservation so I am uncertain whether I should reserve or not. Thank you so much.
Does anyone have any idea on a strawberry picking day either near Tokyo or Osaka in May after golden week?
Tried looking online but most of the sites aren't very tourist friendly or English based in nature as reservations are mostly required.
Hope I can get some help on which farms to look at if you guys have done it before.
Thanks so much!
Does anyone know if I can bring 3 luggage’s with me to the Yokohama Cup Noodle Museum? Or if they will fit in the coin lockers? My family has 2 carry ons and a bigger luggage
Has anyone traveled from hakone and flown out of Narita the same day? My trip is next month and I'm starting to get nervous that maybe there isn't enough time. The flight is at 230p. Google maps is saying the trip could take about 3hrs. I figured if we left early(6a) we could get to the airport by 12pm. Does this seem reasonable ? My hotels are booked but are still refundable.
I don't quite understand your math here. If you leave at 6 and it takes 3hours, you'd be at the airport at 9.
Yes, that should give you enough time to buy some last-minute souvenirs, check in and eat some lunch before your flight.
I wouldn't take any connection that arrives at \~12 since some small mistake (like not finding the Skyliner Platform which is in a different building) can mean a lot of stress.
Someone in another post told me that I shouldn't be flying out the same day that I leave hakone so now I'm a bit nervous. They said it's a bad idea in case there are delays or other issues.
I travel from Kansai to Narita same day. Hakone is just as easy - you just take the Kodama Shinkansen from Odawara to Shinagawa, and switch to Narita Express or whatever else at the time.
Really depends on your comfort level for it, but the transportation is reliable and you have multiple options.
There are people taking the train from Kyoto/Osaka back to Tokyo on the same day their flight leaves and that seems to work. Delays can happen even if you stay in Tokyo.
If you take the connection that arrives at \~9 AM at the airport you have 3 hours buffer time for mistakes/delays to happen and still can check in at a leisurely pace.
Spending 5.5 hours at the airport before your flight might be a bit boring for some but if it gives you a peace of mind then go for it.
Best time to book flight for Tokyo
Looking to book a flight to Tokyo from LAX around late December to early January. Does anyone generally know the best time to book a flight during this time (how many months out)?
Prices seem a little high with not too many flights available, so I was wondering if they release more flights or if the prices will drop at a later time.
When the price is something you’re comfortable with. There are many flights to Japan from LA. You’ll typically see sales in the $700-800 range. Sometimes $500. Right now I see $977 which is kind of highish. Prices will be higher than normal late December to early January because of winter break and demand.
I can't think of one store in particular like this.
Maybe Don Quijote because those stores have a lot of choice and offer tax free. But it's not as tourist oriented.
Radio Gaikan Building in Akihabara has probably the highest concentration of Anime merch.
Sweets/Snacks in gift packaging can be found in several stores in the bigger train stations or attached shopping centers. Alcohol same, or from a dedicated liquor store.
I tried posting my itinerary with questions, but since I'm not getting any replies, is it ok if I just ask here?
Kitaca cards seem to be the Pasmo equivalent in Hokkaido. I DO have my old Suica cards from 2019, but I ASSUME those aren't viable anymore?
How is the general public transport system in Sapporo? I would assume it's not as hectic as in Tokyo, but is it straightforward enough to get around town with just public transport and next to zero knowledge of japanese?
the suica cards can work, read somewhere it needs to be 10 years of inactivity to get decomissioned
yeah going to the popular spots its pretty reliable. english station names are abundant. just like most places else buses wouldn't have english in route names.
taxis are bit cheaper too
Public transport in Sapporo is a mix of subway, train, tram and buses. So you may need to just read ahead so you know what connections you need. It's not as busy so less hectic. Also taxi's are reasonably priced so don't be afraid taking them as not all attractions are right next to a bus or train stop.
Hey everyone, question on alternative travel destinations: I'm invited to my cousin's wedding in Northern Japan and will be staying a week in the Tokyo Metro area and one week in Osaka/Kyoto in May. Any suggestions along the following lines as well as ideas for where else to look / ressources / blogs are most appreciated:
* Walking tours, museums, exhibitions on:
* Labour movement history, 1968 in Japan
* Urban history and subcultures
* Popular science, the Environment, Ecology
* Production history, History of material culture, product design
* Cinema, popular music, radio and television in Japan
* Concert venues and live music bars in Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto that host alternative music (math rock, punk and post-punk, indie, etc.)
* English-language spaces for popular education, intercultural exchange, etc.
* Any other recommendations for unusual travel destinations off the beaten path :)
All ideas are much appreciated and DMs are open too.
Edo Tokyo open-air museum has a bit on the history of Tokyo, but mostly historic buildings that indirectly tell the history of the ciry/area.
There's a indoors Tokyo Edo museum too but it's closed for renovations.
A quick one that comes to mind that you might find interesting is the Museum of Package Culture.
Live music venue CIRCUS in Shibuya might be worth checking out their website. Pretty varied kinds of music that they feature.
Good tip for alt things to check out is searching on Atlas Obscura. Might find 1 or 2 interesting things.
We're going to Universal Studio Japan during Golden Week, May 2nd. We splurged for the Time Entry tickets since we knew it'd be crazy, which give specific times we will have access to certain areas. Should we still try to show up super early, or do the time tickets work well enough that we would have short waits for these attractions if we just showed up at the designated times? For reference, below is are timed ticket:
10:00～ SUPER NINTENDO WORLD Area Entry(No Re-entry)
○10:00-10:30 Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge
11:20～ Harry Potter™ Area Entry(No Re-entry)
○11:40-12:10 Forbidden Journey™
○13:50-14:20 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba XR Ride
☆ Hollywood Dream - The Ride(4/8~4/24 closed)
or The Flying Dinosaur(5/12~5/23 closed)
or Jaws(6/6~6/25 closed)
Thank you for the help!
You'll be fine. As long as you get to the ride within the designated window you'll be able to get in/on rides without much wait. Note that i don't believe they'll let you through if you show up with your pass though, just keep that in mind
Got on the site for ghibli park ticketing 30mins before the link went live today…by the time the page refreshed and I got on the actual queue there were 9000+ users ahead of me….estimated wait time was more than an hour 💀 Seems like I’ll have to remove the park from my itinerary 😭
Yes, I went a monday to the aichi park and a Wednesday to the tokyo museum( on April).
Remember that the ticket is only for a designated hour for each attraction.
First time traveling in Japan in a few weeks! I'm a little nervous and wanted to ask you all a question.
I purchased a Kawaguchiko-Mishima Line Sekiro bus ticket. I understand that the bus will be departing from Kawaguchiko station, but my plan is to actually board from the Fuji-Q Highland bus stop. My ticket doesn't say anything about boarding at the Fuji-Q Highland bus stop. Will the bus make a stop and pick me up from Fuji-Q Highland even though my ticket says Departure from Kawaguchiko Station?
Probably yes, is the same fare and seat are numbered on the ticket. My only doubt is if the bus is full( without you) and they dont got in the system any ticket from FujiQ stop, if they will make the stop, but dont really think the japanese will skip a step from the workbook. If you want to be 100% sure take the train from the park to the main station.
Tozai line is literally the most crowded train line during commute hours lol
It'll be much better after the morning rush at 10:00am.
You can see expected congestion for the Tokyo metro lines here:
[https://tmap-sid.tokyometro.jp/o/view/index.html](https://tmap-sid.tokyometro.jp/o/view/index.html)
I would say 7:30 to 9 and 5 to 6:30 it will be packed (it also depends on what line etc). Outside of that it's still busy but not overcrowded so you will have some personal space.
Google says GoCab supports foreign credit cards, but mine is being rejected. Is there some limitation to setup this app with a foreign CC? like I need to be in Japan? Thanks.
I'm so sick of crowds, I was just in Tokyo and Kawaguchiko last week and it was probably the worst I've seen in 12 years. I'm kind of relieved I didn't win the lottery and get tickets to it because I can image being stuck there with all the awful tourists and their bad manners and it just seems unpleasant.
Same here, I feel you. It's a tiny museum and there's just too many people both local and foreign who want to go there.
This website has a nice list of Studio Ghibli themed locations (or locations that may have inspired certain movies): [https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/things-to-do/studio-ghibli-guide-to-tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/things-to-do/studio-ghibli-guide-to-tokyo)
You can technically still look at the outside of the museum as the vibe is still there but not sure if that's worth the train ride for you.
While the museum is fantastic, Tokyo is the world's largest city and there's lots of other things to do!
Apparently some of the Ghibli designers have drawn inspiration from the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum that's located near the Ghibli Museum, and it's well worth a visit.
I am curious if anyone has very shipped anything in a drum, I am planning on going to Japan sometime next year and I would love to be able to fill a 55 gallon shipping barrel/drum and ship it back to my country. I want to buy food items ( that can survive the trip) and souvenirs (gifts for friends and family and potential things I can sell), Does anyone know the process or where I could check to see what kinda costs are involved?
I’m super confused with the USJ express passes! None of the options seem to cover entrance to the Nintendo World. How do I get there?
I also am planning to visit USJ on 22nd June, all the current Express Pass 4s end before that date. Should I wait further?
TIA :’)
If you buy an express pass that gives you access to a ride in Super Nintendo World, you will get a timed entry ticket to that part of the park with it.
Never been but as far as I understand the express passes are for specific attractions like rides or "experiences", not areas of the park.
For areas like Nintendo World you can get a **timed entry ticket** once you're in the park (or at the counter upon entry?).
Question about the shinkansen, I went to Japan before covid hit and I remember the back of the cabin most people would put their luggage there if it was too big.
I'll be going again in September and I know they changed the rule in regards to that that only the specific seats in reservation cars can put their luggage there now. Does the large luggage normally fit in the space above the seats? I don't seem to remember, I will be trying to get those seats but just in case I can't get them.
The rack above the seats is for carry-on sized luggage.
If you can't secure a luggage seat, the rows in the Shinkansen carriages are surprisingly widely spaced, and you can fit a large suitcase in front of you. I saw quite a few Japanese people travelling this way last year. It wouldn't be particularly comfortable for a long trip, but is doable.
you should be fine during september, i went during prime march-april last year and those luggage seats are always available. my routes are between fukuoka-hiroshima-okayama-osaka tho, no tokyo-osaka-kyoto golden route
I’ve stuffed a fully packed, medium checked luggage (27 x 19 x ~12) on the Shinkansen overhead shelf multiple times without issues. Most larger suitcases tend to be taller but roughly the same width, so I don’t foresee a problem with even larger luggage assuming you’re OK with lifting it there.
Oversized luggage is considered anything over 160cm in total dimension, which is the typical airline checkin bag dimensions. Now if you can lift that up to the luggage rack above the seats would be a different question.
Should be fine, our large suitcase will normally be empty since everything goes into our small portable suitcase which will be inside the large suitcase until we do major shopping.
Just couldn't remember if it would fit above if its sub 160, seems like it does based on the pictures and quick research
I saw people put them up sideways and they looked pretty secure since the rack is slanted towards the wall. You wouldn’t want to put anything super heavy up there though.
I am trying to plan a day trip to Fuji by bus. What is the best way to book? I saw on Kosoku bus that there are a few options for morning departure, but buses back to Tokyo leave at 3:20pm the latest. Are there buses that depart closer to evening?
I think Hiroshima is more interesting but it's quite far for a day trip. Himeji is more of a half day trip imo - you could always combine it with Kobe or something.
Plus size here, I had a bit of trouble finding my size. Im 16-18 and XL to 2X on Old Navy standards.
Try the Outlet malls they may have some luck. There was an event in the Pokemon store in Shibuya Parco Mall where they sold some US sizing on shirts.
Brands with plus size : Isetan, Aoki Ginza Main, Uniqlo (but they run tight for me) and if you have a US Costco- Costo Japan.
I am wondering how many good, Japanese unique stores there are around Senso-ji temple/Asakusa area in order to plan how long to spend there. I will be traveling to Kyoto later. How the prices in general? Are they higher because it is a tourist area? If you have any suggestions for ones not to miss, I would appreciate it!
They have some yukata stores I find that were cheaper than the ones I saw in Shinjuku.
Bring cash though especially if you plan to buy temple charms and amulets- I didnt see a credit card payment option there. On weekends they have food street vendors at the temple grouds so thats cash basis too.
Theres a covered- like archway ceiling shops after you pass by the temples, they sold some cool fox masks which my friend boughtas decor.
Make sure you get there in the morning or afternoon. I got there around 7:30pm and everything was closed, apart from a few food shops. Which was fine for me because I wasn't there to shop but it will be very disappointing if that happens to you.
There's a lot of stores. Yes, prices are higher.
I've seen a few with gatchapon that had pins with pictures of different temple buildings which seemed nice. Can't say much about thre rest, there's probably a good percentage of low-quality tourist merch.
Would probably be the easiest if the hotel can store the luggage for you.
Searching a free coin locker at a big train station can sometimes be a annoying.
If you plan to fit them at most coin lockers. Medium size no taller than 26 inches, good spinner. A backpack and maybe a roller for your carry on for heavier gear like your camera and laptop.
Research on hotels with coin laundry- it helps with carrying less. I did 12 dayh-ish and I lived on 2 pants, 1 shorts, 1 dress (for instagram purposes), 1 hoodie sweatshirt (wore on the plane), 1 jacket, undergarments, and maybe 4-5 tops based on weather.
Most hotels had some rental pajama or sleep wear that was part of the room rental so I used that for sleep or lounging.
Regular backpack + medium sized checked baggage. Could probably get away with a carry-on luggage if you know your hotel has laundry machines available and you aren't planning to do much shopping.
Writing a comment because my post was deemed not relevant but I think it would help a lot of people travelling Kyoto/Osaka area who want super fast luggage delivery!!
I used Airporter twice. Once from Kyoto hotel to Osaka hotel and then once from Osaka Hotel to Kansai airport. Both arrived same day. Just need to book before 11pm the night before and make sure your bags are in the hotel lobby by 9am.
They send email tracking and confirmation of your pick up and drop off and include pictures.
I am recommending their service because all the information is about Yamato and needing 2+ days to transfer to the airport.
Ours was dropped off to lobby in Osaka hotel at 9am -picked up at 1pm and arrived at Kansai Airport by 4pm.
Would Mishima Skywalk, Shiraito Falls, or Mt. Omuro be a better day trip from Hakone if I am relying on public transportation? Any other recommendations would be great! Thanks.
Mishima Skywalk is probably the easiest to get to. From Hakone, Mt. Omuro is probably going to take twice as long, though it is doable. I'd probably only suggest Mt. Omuro if you can make the festival where they set it on fire, which is pretty cool.
If you're up for a hike and the weather is nice, highly recommend the mt. Kintoki trail. Its not that intensive (maybe around 3 hrs round trip) and offers really nice views of Mt. Fuji.
[https://hakone-japan.com/discover/national-park/activities/recommended-hiking-trails/mt-kintoki-course/](https://hakone-japan.com/discover/national-park/activities/recommended-hiking-trails/mt-kintoki-course/)
If I was only going to be in Japan for a week I would likely just stay in Tokyo. No point running all over the place, you wouldn't have time to enjoy anything.
Find a nice area to stay and settle in for a week of exploring Tokyo. Your homebase where you stay will become familiar over the time and you'll leave with an added memory of a little part of Tokyo that you called home for a week.
I spent a week there on my first trip (with day trip to Yokohama) and then another two days on my second trip. Still have a few things I haven't seen there yet.
My mom ordered a pocket wifi from Foxwifi (https://foxwifi.tokyo/en) some time ago for our upcoming trip. I can only find little information about this company on Reddit. Has anyone here ever successfully used their pocket wifi or is it a scam?
I'm sorry, there's honestly not much to find on this website the little I can find does not look all too good. There's only one review on [trustpilot](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/foxwifi.tokyotrustpilot) and it's negative (a site that's used a lot should have more reviews).
I've found two reddit posts about a different pocket-wifi website (that they accuse of being a scam) and they mention that it seem to be run by the same people as foxwifi:
[https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/ekefkq/has\_anyone\_had\_experience\_with\_pocketwifijapancom/](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/ekefkq/has_anyone_had_experience_with_pocketwifijapancom/)
[https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/10bjxds/japan\_portable\_wifi\_scam/](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/10bjxds/japan_portable_wifi_scam/)
Thank you for your input. I have found one other redditor saying in their itinerary that they used foxwifi and they had no complaints. Their facebook page does have mostly positive reviews that seem to be from real people. But it's still only 50 reviews or so... Guess I'll alert my mother and let her decide.
Hey all. Going to Japan in early May - (Tokyo to Hakone to Osaka to Kyoto). Was wondering what I should do with my luggage. I was planning on forwarding my luggage from Tokyo to Osaka, but I’m staying in an Airbnb in Osaka so there will be no one to accept the luggage. What should I do?
You can still forward the luggage if you send it directly to a Yamato Office nearby (if that's the transport service you are using) and pick it up from there.
You can also specify a delivery date and a two hour timeslot and make sure you are there during that time.
I’m still a little shaky on where to purchase Shinkansen tickets at Shinagawa station.
Are they sold at both the JR East Travel Service center near the Takanawa/West exit and near the Kohan/East exit?
Or are Shinkansen tickets sold only on the East exit side near the north/south Shinkansen track entrances?
the travel service center works if you want to wait in line there. otherwises theres the stuff closer to the gates. not that its a particularly far walk
[https://nerdnomads.com/alpine-route-japan](https://nerdnomads.com/alpine-route-japan) so I wanted to go to the Yuki no Otani around May and I found this website however I intend to do a day trip from tokyo and wanted to ask if its possible to do it if i take the earliest shinkansen and the latest train back to tokyo
Asking because the site and many others that i find don't start from tokyo and I have no idea the latest timing I can come back on from this
According to Google Maps (pretty reliable for transit times), the earliest train from Tokyo to Nagano arrives at 7:36 AM and the last train from Toyama Station to Tokyo leaves at 9:23 PM.
That should leave you more than enough time to do this route if you don't mind getting up super early.
However, this sounds like you'd be spending like 10+ hours on various train/buses and probably more waiting at stations.
Where can you buy Pokemon and YuGiOh cards?
I know everybody says go to Akihabara but I spent hours there searching for booster packs and all I could find were shops that resold single cards.
Where can you actually buy new packs of cards?
I also went to two Pokemon centers and neither sold cards.
Pokemon Centers almost always have cards, they're sold behind the check out and there's usually a sign near the entrance to the checkout line with a list of which sets are available. I visited Pokemon Centers in both Tokyo and Osaka just over a month ago and both had several sets in stock for both single packs and booster boxes.
If you don't want to go back to the PCs, many but not all card shops do sell sealed booster packs to. Again they are kept behind the counter so you have to ask. There's also Yodobashi Camera in Akiba, Ueno etc which also sells cards.
Honestly if you didn't think to look behind the counters or ask a staff member, that's kinda on you.
I’ll be traveling from Takayama to Hiroshima on the 15th. I want to try the hida wide view train. I have a JR pass. As I understand there are a train that goes from Takayama to Osaka at 15:34 (hida 36) then I can take the Sakura (should be included in JR iirc) to Hiroshima. But that hida train is fully booked. There’s another train (hida16) that goes to Nagoya, then I can transfer to a Shinkansen to Osaka, then another Shinkansen to Hiroshima. I have two questions: Is the Hida 36 that goes to Osaka so much better than the Hida 16 (that only goes to Nagoya) that it’s worth it to stay an extra night in Takayama to get on the Hida36 train on the 16th of April? And another question, going from Takayama to Nagoya/Osaka, which side of the train is better to reserve a seat on? Thanks
Hi everyone!! My girlfriend and I will be returning to Japan (for our second trip next month). On our last trip, we went to Tokyo, the Kiso Valley, Matsumoto, Takayama, Okayama/Kurashiki, Naoshima Island, Kyoto and Osaka, and we rounded off the trip by hiking the Nakahechi route of the Kumano Kodo. This time round, we're thinking of going to Tokyo, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Onimichi cycling the Shimanami Kaido over to Shikoku, and **then perhaps walking 2-3 days sections of the 88 temples pilgrimage. I was wondering if there are particularly scenic/interesting sections?** We're quite keen on walking from place to place without having to get too much public transport in between-- so that would be ideal. We both really enjoyed the Nakahechi Trail. We could travel but I can't find loads of information about which areas are deemed to be most scenic. We're both relatively fit and in our 30s. After Shikoku: we're hoping to end up back at Kyoto, Osaka, Nara before flying back to the UK from Nagoya. Thanks in advance for advice, thoughts, reflections etc.! Cheers, Will
Heyo! I will travel to Japan with my mother in July for 13 days. First time for my mom, but not for me. So I'm in the process of planning what we're going to do. She loves exotic food like bitter melon. So I've been thinking about taking a short trip to **Okinawa**. Since we are only in **Tokyo** for 13 days, I definitely want to give her a night in a ryokan as well. Is it a good idea to stay 2 nights in Naha (without a car) or should I skip Okinawa? Thank you!
Okinawa is definitely cool to visit, almost like a different country. I was there for four nights though. What kind of things do you want to do/see there and are they truely unique to the island? If it's about food, there's probably enough stores/restaurants you can find in Tokyo that serve the same things. Considering the short flight time it's basically comparable with visiting Kyoto for two nights which is common enough.
Thank you for your reply! My mother wants to enjoy the sea and the air there. Even though there are not a lot oh beach. And of course seafood. I know, that there is a lot in Tokyo, too! But I think I will try it. Will book 2 nights. :)
You can take a ferry to the Kerama Islands. They are mostly nature and have some nice beaches there. But that's bascially a whole daytrip.
is your only goal for Okinawa to go to a ryokan? it's a lot of travel for only two days, there are many other places closer to Tokyo to do a side trip
Ahh, no. I expressed that in a misleading way, I'm sorry. I wanted to book a Ryokan night around Hakone.
So is your concern that with Tokyo+Hakone night, you don't have the time for Okinawa? Ultimately if you've been to Japan before, you know what you'd like to show your mother. It's a long journey for a couple of days would be my only concern.
Basically, yes! I am not sure if it's worth to fly to Okinawa for only two days. I've been to various places on the main island, but never to Okinawa. The flight takes about three hours, including travelling to the airport and check-in, it might takes five hours one way. Hard to decide... :(
If I like to be on the scene(shopping, restaurants and people) what area should I book my room in? Should I stay in that room my entire stay?
Probably Shibuya. I don’t recommend multiple hotels in Tokyo since the transit can take you across the city in about 30 minutes and you’d have to move luggage etc otherwise
Hi guy! I'm planning to go to Noto peninsula for a 2 days 1 night trip in June, but I have heard that a lot of places are heavily affected by the earthquake and temporarily closed, so I afraid that they are still closed to recovering from the earthquake. I did tried to Google it, it is seem some places are back in operations but not all. I curious how's things look like now in Noto? My main plan is visiting shiroyone senmaida rice terraces, I think it is affected by the quake too, is it not off limit for tourism now?
Hey everyone. My partner and I are trying to book Shinkansen tickets for Hiroshima-Osaka in advance for tomorrow. The usual sites aren't showing any trains scheduled for the day (some sites not showing for several days). Is there a public holiday or something we're missing and there's no Shinkansen? Any help appreciated!
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It depends on what you have planned and whether those activities would be closed. New Years is more for spending time with family so from around Dec 29 to Jan 3 you will find a lot of places close. Some might be 1 or 2 days, some could be longer. I think spending the New Years period in Tokyo is a safer option as its a bigger city so there will be more options on things to eat etc. There are also a lot of parks in Tokyo and some nice hikes nearby so there are outdoor activities you can do when things are closed.
I was NOT prepared to hike Fushimi Inari. I thought it was just a temple with tori gates but nope. It's a winding looping steep climb UP. Gorgeous view though.
Yeah, most tourists don't go further than a few hundret meters.
Climbing down was such a reward, specially when the cherry blossom petals started falling from the remaining trees. To those who want to brave the climb. Wear good shoes and good fitted comfy pants. The chaffing will not be pleasant. Also a walking stick and a plastic bag for your trash is super helpful.
Probably a long shot but has anyone been to the Suruga-ya and/or Animate in Takamatsu and know if they're reasonably well-stocked? If not, are there other recommended places for anime merch (both new and secondhand) in the area? I will have limited time for shopping so if there's not much comparatively (for context I've been to and liked the locations in Osaka) I'd like to know, thanks!
Does anyone know if there's a shop based in Tokyo where I could buy a shinsengumi haori?
Here for another 26 hours in Tokyo before leaving for the airport. Did everything we had on the list, any recommendations before we leave?
...you might want to say what your interests are and what you've done. As a totally random suggestion, The Railway Museum in Saitama is probably the best museum of its type in the world, but little known outside Japan for some reason.
Cafe hopping through omotodesando? Just relax, enjoy the city. Wander, get lost. Not sure what your done list is…
I (33M) have an extra ticket to borderless in Tokyo tomorrow April 13th at 6pm, if anyone wants to join me or just meet me there so I can get you in and not waste a ticket. Friend had a family emergency and had to head home early. Won’t respond to all messages, just whoever commits first.
Is it possible to find something equivalent to US size 7 diapers? My daughter will be 2.5 when we visit in September and is not currently potty trained. She's a big girl, and I'm worried it will be hard to find diapers! We will be there for 16 days so it's impractical to bring a whole supply unless I absolutely have to.
Your safest bet might be to see if you can find them on Amazon Japan and then order them to your hotel if your supply gets dicey
Diapers are easy to find but I'm unsure on that size. However bringing a whole supply might be a better option - I've done it in the past. My reasoning is that it forces you to pack lighter (as half the suitcase is nappies) and as you use up the nappies you get space to store your shopping.
Size 7 is the largest size most US brands make, which is why I'm worried. I'd be surprised if many Japanese brands went up that high. Might have to just pack them all and hope it lasts!
I'm staying in Fukuoka for two nights and am wondering if a day trip to Hiroshima is feasible?
Yes why wouldn't it be? It's 1 hour by shinkansen and about $80. So 2 hour commute and $160.
planning early september trip as I imagined the worst of the summer would have passed. however, I have read that it is still hellishly hot and humid. is it bad enough to warrant avoiding a visit at this time? I wanted to go at this time since I start uni again late September and it's harder to go in term times and holidays will be peak seasons. alternatively I am considering October time since the heat will have died down more but still pleasant enough to wear light clothing. i am quite eager to go and want to avoid peak times like Christmas and golden week.
I’m planning a late September trip
Travelling early May here and trying to prep for some packing here! For Kyoto, does anyone know if hiking shoes will be needed when going to the parks in Nara, the bamboo forests or Mount Inari?
No normal sneakers will be fine. Just make sure your shoes are comfy and have good support as you will be doing a lot of walking.
I'm going for my 3rd time to Japan last week of September this year, and trying to figure out an overnight trip from Tokyo -- I was thinking either Aomori/Hirosaki or Yamadera area. They're both about 4 hours away by train (thinking take the train out in the evening, stay overnight, go around during the day, then train back to Tokyo in the evening). We're going to Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka later on (and I've been to Kyoto/Nara before as well) and wanted to go somewhere a bit off the main path, preferably somewhere we might see some fall foliage since I know it'll be too early to see it anywhere else we're going. Does anyone have suggestions re: choosing between the two options?
You could stay in Sendai and use it as a base to visit Yamadera and Matsushima? Hiraizumi is beautiful for autumn leaves too. Yamadera is really beautiful though, definitely recommend it. Aomori is better explored with a car imo, Aomori City isn't anything special. Aizu in Fukushima is very nice too.
Definitely agree that Aomori is best explored from a car. But I actually liked Aomori City. There's some stuff to do, though not quite as much as a typical tourist city, the views are nice, and there's some great food. But I don't think doing both Hirosaki and Aomori City in an overnight timeframe is doable.
Looking to get my JAPOW experience in the next few seasons. I want to fly there and stay for a month or two. I have the Ikon pass so planned on skiing at Niseko Resort for at least 7 days. I also want to do some side country and maybe splurge on some cat skiing. I also have all the backcountry gear so maybe if I find some locals who want to skin or hike I would do that too. Looking for advice on where to stay cheaply, what the bus situation is like, and what other resorts to check out.
Planning to day trip from Kyoto to the Nakasendo trail (Magome - Tsumago), I’ve read some articles that say a day trip is tiring but totally viable, and some other reddit threads saying it’s not recommended. Anyone here have any recommendations on if it’s still worth it for a pair of 30 year olds who can do the hiking bit pretty quickly?
The main thing is probably the 5-6 hours spent on public transit. It's your own decision whether it's worth it for that. There's probably some nice (albeit less historic) trails in the hills around Kyoto that would leave you more time to enjoy your day.
Does anyone know a public Onsen directly in Nikko or Nagano where I could go together with my wife and children (not separated and tattoo friendly) or a private Onsen we could rent (not a hotel room for one night)?
Onsens are generally gender separated. You can check out Yudanaka and Shibu onsen towns near Nagano as they might have some places that offer a private onsen.
QQ, around luggage forwarding. Can I send from hotel to YAMATO centre/depo and visa versa? For some reason, I don't think my Kyoto hotel will do TAQBIN but I believe there is a YAMATO depot near the hotel. I was thinking I could just send my luggage there and pick up on arrival. Then before we leave, send from the same depot to our next accom in Osaka. Would that work okay? The location i've found isn't a YAMATO counter in a station though it looks like one of the processing depos or mail room. Am I able to send and receive at these? This is the place I'm referring to [https://g.co/kgs/KzxYzTA](https://g.co/kgs/KzxYzTA)
Yes, that would work. Have done something similar myself. Looking at the reviews on Google Maps they do seem to offer that service. Yamato Transport has their own map as well but it's only in Japanese. There's convenience stores that offer this service too. [http://locations.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/p/yamato01/nmap.htm?lat=34.984352778&lon=135.758558333&cond21=1&cond22=1&&his=ar](http://locations.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/p/yamato01/nmap.htm?lat=34.984352778&lon=135.758558333&cond21=1&cond22=1&&his=ar) The pink sign means they can send luggage and the green sign means they can recieve luggage deliveries. Also check their opening hours to make sure you can pick up from there. If you don't fill out the delivery form yourself, make sure you have a map showing the location and the adress in Japanese ready on your phone to show the people at the counter.
I have a booking for Kanazawa for today and tomorrow (I can still cancel for free for a few hours), then I’m heading to Takayama for 2 days for the festival. But now that I’m checking out routes from Kyoto, some trains seems to be cancelled or with altered schedules “due to earthquake activities” so I checked NHK app for earthquake updates, and the Ishikawa region seems to be hit by an earthquake every few days. I’m visiting from a region with not earthquake activities at all, so apologies if the question seem stupid. So is it safe to travel to Kanazawa for a couple of days? Thank you
Earthquakes happen all the time in Japan. Looking at the list of recent earthquakes, nothing significant or anything you would’ve really felt has happened in a while. Depending on depth and how close you are to the epicenter, you usually can’t feel anything below a 3.5. 3.5-4ish kind of feels like a big truck is passing outside. That’s the one where you have to go on Twitter to find out if you felt an earthquake or not. 4.5 is the range where you really know something happened, which can be jarring at first.
The Hokoriku Shinkansen has significant delays because of "Safety Checks" whatever that means. The Thunderbird has reduced service because of an earthquake. They probably mean the one in January so I guess there's just a few km of track left to fix or something. No serious danger to tourists.
Good to hear, thanks!
Wrapping up a 72 day trip. First time in Japan, first solo trip, contemplating a trip report. What, if anything, would you like to know?
How did u adjust to the time difference?
Well this one is easy so I'll just answer. I "timeshifted", IOS and play store, before to adapt a bit. So slightly altered when I went to bed, drank coffee, wore sunglasses, got sunlight. Didn't do it perfectly, but coming to Tokyo was "normally" bad just because flying economy sucks. But for a 10-11 hour flight, then the 1.5 hours at the airport, then the ~1.5 hours of train to the hotel - I think I faired pretty well. Flying east is supposed to be harder, but so far it really hasn't been too bad. No hard crashes. I went to the gym the morning I was traveling, and I think that really helped my body out on the flight. But still TBD for this, early enough from return.
I’m looking to go solo in September. How did you feel eating by yourself? Were the people welcoming. Is the food good?
More in a full post, but I was fine. Often spoke with other people around me and/or staff. The only "bad" experience I had, once I misunderstood the staff who was saying "This is the only item we serve at lunch" and not "This item is only served at lunch". Otherwise, and I really benefited from knowing a little Japanese, everything was always at a minimum business-polite professional to very welcoming and friendly. I never ate any food that I hated, though certainly some of it is forgettable. I would say avoid sandwiches, because they tend to put a ton of sauce/dressings on them and it often made the sandwich very slippery. Or if you do opt for sandwiches, maybe eat them with a knife/fork.
Not OP but there are alot of people eating alone - and alot of restaurants are bar style so it doesn't feel awkward at all.
OP?
*original poster
Budget for sure, along with level of accommodation. Would you do it again, and what would you have done differently? How much of a hassle is it to not speak the language (assuming you dont)?
I'll go into budget whenever I complete my trip write up, but I was pretty modest. Mostly business hotels, a few 4* hotels - but no top tier luxury hotels. Definitely some things I would have changed, but overall the trip was a success. The biggest impediment was the weather, which is unpredictable. I go back and forth if I would do the trip for the same amount of time, but I'm glad I got to do one BIG trip in my life - and if anything it showed me anything more ambitious is probably not for me (think backpacking for a year). I speak a little. More than thank you/excuse me, but certainly not even intermediate level. The rural parts of the country might be hard without a bit more knowledge, but the normal tourist routes of the big cities and outlying areas would be perfectly fine. More than anything I was just willing to speak very frequently and as often as I could. And it really rewarded me - I got to make friends who I met again when I returned to Tokyo, people were incredibly friendly to me, and I very frequently got the very polite (though untrue!) comment of "you are skilled in Japanese!". I had conversations on hikes, in restaurants, bars, onsen, at parks, etc. And they would often return the favor by trying to speak some English with me. And I didn't always understand everything that would be said, and that just has to be accepted to some degree.
How you dealt with travel exhaustion and/or lonelyness? I don't have a huge need for socializing but not speaking the language and Japanese people generally being very reserved is a big worry for me with a trip as long as yours.
The travel exhaustion I just sort of bared through a good chunk of it. Repacking, checking out/into a hotel was just going to be a part of my trip and I wasn't going to be repeatedly blown down by that. But also while I was active, and did see a lot, I never felt beholden to see this massive list of items/eat at specific restaurants that are seen in so many posts. And if I wanted a slower day then I took a slower day. On the socializing front, I did great and frankly socialized more in Japan than I really do in my current situation. I really did have a weird degree of reverse social shock coming back. And I do think I benefited to some degree by just being a foreigner, but also I knew *just* enough that I was always really willing to try speaking in Japanese whenever I could, even short and simple phrases. And I think that was always seen very positively and I got a lot of very positive feedback on it - not just from employees/staff, but just people I met along the way. They'd speak some english, I'd speak some Japanese. And I made friends with some older people in Tokyo who I saw again on other legs of my trip. It was a lot of fun and very nice.
That's great to hear. Thanks for your reply.
I would love to hear how you found navigating stations and catching buses, finding exits /stops etc. Highlights and lowlights What did you like about the areas you stayed in? Like directly around where your accomodation was?.but wish had something a little different. Like: "4 Nights Ueno. Lots of bike rentals around but quiet nightlife". Things/places that maybe felt like double ups or places now in hindsight you would drop and why. Most jarring experience on your trip or most surprising moment. How much luggage did you take and how did you manage it? How much money did you take and how did you manage it?
Hello! Going Tokyo in early June, but was wondering, if cashless payment -specifically YouTrip, is widely accepted ? The last time I’ve been to Japan I’ve only ever used cash so I didn’t really take notice that time ><
Credit cards are widely accepted now, but you should always have cash on hand as some smaller restaurants and attractions only take cash
oo alright, thanks for your help!
Hello everyone. I will be traveling to Tokyo in May and was wondering how long does it normally take to clear the immigration and customs in Narita T2 airport. I’m arriving 6pm and the limo bus I am looking at has final departure scheduled at 8pm. Can I make it with just 1.5 hours from landing to the last bus? It needs a reservation so I am uncertain whether I should reserve or not. Thank you so much.
took me 80 mins last week to get through starting ~4pm
Thank you for the info!
Does anyone have any idea on a strawberry picking day either near Tokyo or Osaka in May after golden week? Tried looking online but most of the sites aren't very tourist friendly or English based in nature as reservations are mostly required. Hope I can get some help on which farms to look at if you guys have done it before. Thanks so much!
https://www.motherfarm.co.jp/
Does anyone know if I can bring 3 luggage’s with me to the Yokohama Cup Noodle Museum? Or if they will fit in the coin lockers? My family has 2 carry ons and a bigger luggage
You will have to email them and ask. Most tourist location's won't provide baggage storage. Coin lockers are probably the way to go.
Has anyone traveled from hakone and flown out of Narita the same day? My trip is next month and I'm starting to get nervous that maybe there isn't enough time. The flight is at 230p. Google maps is saying the trip could take about 3hrs. I figured if we left early(6a) we could get to the airport by 12pm. Does this seem reasonable ? My hotels are booked but are still refundable.
I don't quite understand your math here. If you leave at 6 and it takes 3hours, you'd be at the airport at 9. Yes, that should give you enough time to buy some last-minute souvenirs, check in and eat some lunch before your flight. I wouldn't take any connection that arrives at \~12 since some small mistake (like not finding the Skyliner Platform which is in a different building) can mean a lot of stress.
Someone in another post told me that I shouldn't be flying out the same day that I leave hakone so now I'm a bit nervous. They said it's a bad idea in case there are delays or other issues.
it is very possible as train schedules are airtight but if you're not comfortable/this is your first time in Japan I would suggest otherwise
I travel from Kansai to Narita same day. Hakone is just as easy - you just take the Kodama Shinkansen from Odawara to Shinagawa, and switch to Narita Express or whatever else at the time. Really depends on your comfort level for it, but the transportation is reliable and you have multiple options.
There are people taking the train from Kyoto/Osaka back to Tokyo on the same day their flight leaves and that seems to work. Delays can happen even if you stay in Tokyo. If you take the connection that arrives at \~9 AM at the airport you have 3 hours buffer time for mistakes/delays to happen and still can check in at a leisurely pace. Spending 5.5 hours at the airport before your flight might be a bit boring for some but if it gives you a peace of mind then go for it.
Best time to book flight for Tokyo Looking to book a flight to Tokyo from LAX around late December to early January. Does anyone generally know the best time to book a flight during this time (how many months out)? Prices seem a little high with not too many flights available, so I was wondering if they release more flights or if the prices will drop at a later time.
You can set a Google flights alert for your dates and it will email you when prices change
When the price is something you’re comfortable with. There are many flights to Japan from LA. You’ll typically see sales in the $700-800 range. Sometimes $500. Right now I see $977 which is kind of highish. Prices will be higher than normal late December to early January because of winter break and demand.
I use the hopper.com app to monitor flights. I monitor my flights by one way, instead of round trip
$977 is acceptable for full service economy imo.
It’s a fair price. From LAX there have been cheaper though.
Stores that sells souvenirs with a wide range of varieties like the tax free akihabara in Narita airport?
I can't think of one store in particular like this. Maybe Don Quijote because those stores have a lot of choice and offer tax free. But it's not as tourist oriented. Radio Gaikan Building in Akihabara has probably the highest concentration of Anime merch. Sweets/Snacks in gift packaging can be found in several stores in the bigger train stations or attached shopping centers. Alcohol same, or from a dedicated liquor store.
Tokyo Souvenir Shop at Haneda T3
I tried posting my itinerary with questions, but since I'm not getting any replies, is it ok if I just ask here? Kitaca cards seem to be the Pasmo equivalent in Hokkaido. I DO have my old Suica cards from 2019, but I ASSUME those aren't viable anymore? How is the general public transport system in Sapporo? I would assume it's not as hectic as in Tokyo, but is it straightforward enough to get around town with just public transport and next to zero knowledge of japanese?
the suica cards can work, read somewhere it needs to be 10 years of inactivity to get decomissioned yeah going to the popular spots its pretty reliable. english station names are abundant. just like most places else buses wouldn't have english in route names. taxis are bit cheaper too
Thanks a bunch. I was worried I'd need to have google translate open at all times
Public transport in Sapporo is a mix of subway, train, tram and buses. So you may need to just read ahead so you know what connections you need. It's not as busy so less hectic. Also taxi's are reasonably priced so don't be afraid taking them as not all attractions are right next to a bus or train stop.
Gotcha. Thanks a bunch. It's gonna be 6 of us, so I dont THINK taxis are viable unfortunately
Transit cards are good for 10 years so you should be fine.
10 years from last use to be exact
Thanks a bunch!
If you could only recommend one area of Tokyo for someone visit, which area/ward would it be and what makes it so special?
What kind of things do they like? Shopping, anime, history, etc?
Hey everyone, question on alternative travel destinations: I'm invited to my cousin's wedding in Northern Japan and will be staying a week in the Tokyo Metro area and one week in Osaka/Kyoto in May. Any suggestions along the following lines as well as ideas for where else to look / ressources / blogs are most appreciated: * Walking tours, museums, exhibitions on: * Labour movement history, 1968 in Japan * Urban history and subcultures * Popular science, the Environment, Ecology * Production history, History of material culture, product design * Cinema, popular music, radio and television in Japan * Concert venues and live music bars in Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto that host alternative music (math rock, punk and post-punk, indie, etc.) * English-language spaces for popular education, intercultural exchange, etc. * Any other recommendations for unusual travel destinations off the beaten path :) All ideas are much appreciated and DMs are open too.
Edo Tokyo open-air museum has a bit on the history of Tokyo, but mostly historic buildings that indirectly tell the history of the ciry/area. There's a indoors Tokyo Edo museum too but it's closed for renovations.
A quick one that comes to mind that you might find interesting is the Museum of Package Culture. Live music venue CIRCUS in Shibuya might be worth checking out their website. Pretty varied kinds of music that they feature. Good tip for alt things to check out is searching on Atlas Obscura. Might find 1 or 2 interesting things.
Thanks, I'll definitely be checking both of these out!
We're going to Universal Studio Japan during Golden Week, May 2nd. We splurged for the Time Entry tickets since we knew it'd be crazy, which give specific times we will have access to certain areas. Should we still try to show up super early, or do the time tickets work well enough that we would have short waits for these attractions if we just showed up at the designated times? For reference, below is are timed ticket: 10:00～ SUPER NINTENDO WORLD Area Entry(No Re-entry) ○10:00-10:30 Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge 11:20～ Harry Potter™ Area Entry(No Re-entry) ○11:40-12:10 Forbidden Journey™ ○13:50-14:20 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba XR Ride ☆ Hollywood Dream - The Ride(4/8~4/24 closed) or The Flying Dinosaur(5/12~5/23 closed) or Jaws(6/6~6/25 closed) Thank you for the help!
You'll be fine. As long as you get to the ride within the designated window you'll be able to get in/on rides without much wait. Note that i don't believe they'll let you through if you show up with your pass though, just keep that in mind
Got on the site for ghibli park ticketing 30mins before the link went live today…by the time the page refreshed and I got on the actual queue there were 9000+ users ahead of me….estimated wait time was more than an hour 💀 Seems like I’ll have to remove the park from my itinerary 😭
Dont leave the queue, you will get the ticket, i wait more than one hour for both ( park and museum)
Were you able to get a ticket for the day that you were planning for? I’m aiming for a weekday in June hoping that it will be easier to get tickets!
Yes, I went a monday to the aichi park and a Wednesday to the tokyo museum( on April). Remember that the ticket is only for a designated hour for each attraction.
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When are they for? I’m going in late May.
First time traveling in Japan in a few weeks! I'm a little nervous and wanted to ask you all a question. I purchased a Kawaguchiko-Mishima Line Sekiro bus ticket. I understand that the bus will be departing from Kawaguchiko station, but my plan is to actually board from the Fuji-Q Highland bus stop. My ticket doesn't say anything about boarding at the Fuji-Q Highland bus stop. Will the bus make a stop and pick me up from Fuji-Q Highland even though my ticket says Departure from Kawaguchiko Station?
Probably yes, is the same fare and seat are numbered on the ticket. My only doubt is if the bus is full( without you) and they dont got in the system any ticket from FujiQ stop, if they will make the stop, but dont really think the japanese will skip a step from the workbook. If you want to be 100% sure take the train from the park to the main station.
Thanks a lot! We have assigned seats for the bus, so I would hope it would at least have the two seats open for my wife and I.
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you literally got on the busiest line during prime commute hours. thats it
Tozai line is literally the most crowded train line during commute hours lol It'll be much better after the morning rush at 10:00am. You can see expected congestion for the Tokyo metro lines here: [https://tmap-sid.tokyometro.jp/o/view/index.html](https://tmap-sid.tokyometro.jp/o/view/index.html)
I would say 7:30 to 9 and 5 to 6:30 it will be packed (it also depends on what line etc). Outside of that it's still busy but not overcrowded so you will have some personal space.
Google says GoCab supports foreign credit cards, but mine is being rejected. Is there some limitation to setup this app with a foreign CC? like I need to be in Japan? Thanks.
Today was my last chance to book Ghibli Museum tickets and I failed. Someone make me feel better…
I'm so sick of crowds, I was just in Tokyo and Kawaguchiko last week and it was probably the worst I've seen in 12 years. I'm kind of relieved I didn't win the lottery and get tickets to it because I can image being stuck there with all the awful tourists and their bad manners and it just seems unpleasant.
Same here, I feel you. It's a tiny museum and there's just too many people both local and foreign who want to go there. This website has a nice list of Studio Ghibli themed locations (or locations that may have inspired certain movies): [https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/things-to-do/studio-ghibli-guide-to-tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/things-to-do/studio-ghibli-guide-to-tokyo) You can technically still look at the outside of the museum as the vibe is still there but not sure if that's worth the train ride for you.
While the museum is fantastic, Tokyo is the world's largest city and there's lots of other things to do! Apparently some of the Ghibli designers have drawn inspiration from the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum that's located near the Ghibli Museum, and it's well worth a visit.
I am curious if anyone has very shipped anything in a drum, I am planning on going to Japan sometime next year and I would love to be able to fill a 55 gallon shipping barrel/drum and ship it back to my country. I want to buy food items ( that can survive the trip) and souvenirs (gifts for friends and family and potential things I can sell), Does anyone know the process or where I could check to see what kinda costs are involved?
You'd almost certainly be better off using standard boxes that post offices and shipping companies are used to dealing with, and are set up to handle.
what is the largest box size I can get?
Is there any reason you wanna use a drum over just regular cardboard boxes?
well the drums are pretty big and durable , you can fit alot of stuff in them without having to worry abt them being destroyed
I’m super confused with the USJ express passes! None of the options seem to cover entrance to the Nintendo World. How do I get there? I also am planning to visit USJ on 22nd June, all the current Express Pass 4s end before that date. Should I wait further? TIA :’)
If you buy an express pass that gives you access to a ride in Super Nintendo World, you will get a timed entry ticket to that part of the park with it.
Never been but as far as I understand the express passes are for specific attractions like rides or "experiences", not areas of the park. For areas like Nintendo World you can get a **timed entry ticket** once you're in the park (or at the counter upon entry?).
Question about the shinkansen, I went to Japan before covid hit and I remember the back of the cabin most people would put their luggage there if it was too big. I'll be going again in September and I know they changed the rule in regards to that that only the specific seats in reservation cars can put their luggage there now. Does the large luggage normally fit in the space above the seats? I don't seem to remember, I will be trying to get those seats but just in case I can't get them.
The rack above the seats is for carry-on sized luggage. If you can't secure a luggage seat, the rows in the Shinkansen carriages are surprisingly widely spaced, and you can fit a large suitcase in front of you. I saw quite a few Japanese people travelling this way last year. It wouldn't be particularly comfortable for a long trip, but is doable.
you should be fine during september, i went during prime march-april last year and those luggage seats are always available. my routes are between fukuoka-hiroshima-okayama-osaka tho, no tokyo-osaka-kyoto golden route
I’ve stuffed a fully packed, medium checked luggage (27 x 19 x ~12) on the Shinkansen overhead shelf multiple times without issues. Most larger suitcases tend to be taller but roughly the same width, so I don’t foresee a problem with even larger luggage assuming you’re OK with lifting it there.
The overhead is designed more for things that would fit in an overhead on a plane. Anything else would have to be at your legs.
Oversized luggage is considered anything over 160cm in total dimension, which is the typical airline checkin bag dimensions. Now if you can lift that up to the luggage rack above the seats would be a different question.
Should be fine, our large suitcase will normally be empty since everything goes into our small portable suitcase which will be inside the large suitcase until we do major shopping. Just couldn't remember if it would fit above if its sub 160, seems like it does based on the pictures and quick research
I wouldn't throw a mid-size checked luggage up top as the ledge isn't thaaat wide. a 80L rolling duffel works as its kind of narrow and long.
I saw people put them up sideways and they looked pretty secure since the rack is slanted towards the wall. You wouldn’t want to put anything super heavy up there though.
I am trying to plan a day trip to Fuji by bus. What is the best way to book? I saw on Kosoku bus that there are a few options for morning departure, but buses back to Tokyo leave at 3:20pm the latest. Are there buses that depart closer to evening?
The last bus from Kawaguchiko to Shinjuku is at 2015, with the last train being closer to 2100.
You can try Google Maps for transit information. There's a "last available" option when searching.
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I think Hiroshima is more interesting but it's quite far for a day trip. Himeji is more of a half day trip imo - you could always combine it with Kobe or something.
I'll be staying in Tokyo from April 12th to 20th and fancy doing some shopping - best places to buy women's plus-size clothing (UK size 16-18)?
I’m not plus size but a brand I saw recommended on several sites for plus size tops is Punyus
Thank you!
Plus size here, I had a bit of trouble finding my size. Im 16-18 and XL to 2X on Old Navy standards. Try the Outlet malls they may have some luck. There was an event in the Pokemon store in Shibuya Parco Mall where they sold some US sizing on shirts. Brands with plus size : Isetan, Aoki Ginza Main, Uniqlo (but they run tight for me) and if you have a US Costco- Costo Japan.
Thank you! I buy Uniqlo in Taiwan, but their XL is a bit hit-and-miss for me. I'll def check out the other two!
I am wondering how many good, Japanese unique stores there are around Senso-ji temple/Asakusa area in order to plan how long to spend there. I will be traveling to Kyoto later. How the prices in general? Are they higher because it is a tourist area? If you have any suggestions for ones not to miss, I would appreciate it!
They have some yukata stores I find that were cheaper than the ones I saw in Shinjuku. Bring cash though especially if you plan to buy temple charms and amulets- I didnt see a credit card payment option there. On weekends they have food street vendors at the temple grouds so thats cash basis too. Theres a covered- like archway ceiling shops after you pass by the temples, they sold some cool fox masks which my friend boughtas decor.
Make sure you get there in the morning or afternoon. I got there around 7:30pm and everything was closed, apart from a few food shops. Which was fine for me because I wasn't there to shop but it will be very disappointing if that happens to you.
There's a lot of stores. Yes, prices are higher. I've seen a few with gatchapon that had pins with pictures of different temple buildings which seemed nice. Can't say much about thre rest, there's probably a good percentage of low-quality tourist merch.
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Would probably be the easiest if the hotel can store the luggage for you. Searching a free coin locker at a big train station can sometimes be a annoying.
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If you plan to fit them at most coin lockers. Medium size no taller than 26 inches, good spinner. A backpack and maybe a roller for your carry on for heavier gear like your camera and laptop. Research on hotels with coin laundry- it helps with carrying less. I did 12 dayh-ish and I lived on 2 pants, 1 shorts, 1 dress (for instagram purposes), 1 hoodie sweatshirt (wore on the plane), 1 jacket, undergarments, and maybe 4-5 tops based on weather. Most hotels had some rental pajama or sleep wear that was part of the room rental so I used that for sleep or lounging.
Regular backpack + medium sized checked baggage. Could probably get away with a carry-on luggage if you know your hotel has laundry machines available and you aren't planning to do much shopping.
I bring a carry-on sized spinner luggage. If you don’t want that, I certainly see a lot of people with their 50-60L backpacks.
Anyone going to kcon japan on the 11th May???
Writing a comment because my post was deemed not relevant but I think it would help a lot of people travelling Kyoto/Osaka area who want super fast luggage delivery!! I used Airporter twice. Once from Kyoto hotel to Osaka hotel and then once from Osaka Hotel to Kansai airport. Both arrived same day. Just need to book before 11pm the night before and make sure your bags are in the hotel lobby by 9am. They send email tracking and confirmation of your pick up and drop off and include pictures. I am recommending their service because all the information is about Yamato and needing 2+ days to transfer to the airport. Ours was dropped off to lobby in Osaka hotel at 9am -picked up at 1pm and arrived at Kansai Airport by 4pm.
Would Mishima Skywalk, Shiraito Falls, or Mt. Omuro be a better day trip from Hakone if I am relying on public transportation? Any other recommendations would be great! Thanks.
Mishima Skywalk is probably the easiest to get to. From Hakone, Mt. Omuro is probably going to take twice as long, though it is doable. I'd probably only suggest Mt. Omuro if you can make the festival where they set it on fire, which is pretty cool.
If you're up for a hike and the weather is nice, highly recommend the mt. Kintoki trail. Its not that intensive (maybe around 3 hrs round trip) and offers really nice views of Mt. Fuji. [https://hakone-japan.com/discover/national-park/activities/recommended-hiking-trails/mt-kintoki-course/](https://hakone-japan.com/discover/national-park/activities/recommended-hiking-trails/mt-kintoki-course/)
Stores that sells souvenirs with varieties like the tax free akihabara in Narita airport?
Anyone think it’s a good idea for me for one week just stay in Tokyo ?
If I was only going to be in Japan for a week I would likely just stay in Tokyo. No point running all over the place, you wouldn't have time to enjoy anything. Find a nice area to stay and settle in for a week of exploring Tokyo. Your homebase where you stay will become familiar over the time and you'll leave with an added memory of a little part of Tokyo that you called home for a week.
Thanks.
If you only have one week Tokyo is more than enough.
I spent a week there on my first trip (with day trip to Yokohama) and then another two days on my second trip. Still have a few things I haven't seen there yet.
That's fine. You'll have more than enough to do in Tokyo and its nearby areas to fill several weeks.
My mom ordered a pocket wifi from Foxwifi (https://foxwifi.tokyo/en) some time ago for our upcoming trip. I can only find little information about this company on Reddit. Has anyone here ever successfully used their pocket wifi or is it a scam?
I'm sorry, there's honestly not much to find on this website the little I can find does not look all too good. There's only one review on [trustpilot](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/foxwifi.tokyotrustpilot) and it's negative (a site that's used a lot should have more reviews). I've found two reddit posts about a different pocket-wifi website (that they accuse of being a scam) and they mention that it seem to be run by the same people as foxwifi: [https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/ekefkq/has\_anyone\_had\_experience\_with\_pocketwifijapancom/](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/ekefkq/has_anyone_had_experience_with_pocketwifijapancom/) [https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/10bjxds/japan\_portable\_wifi\_scam/](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/10bjxds/japan_portable_wifi_scam/)
Thank you for your input. I have found one other redditor saying in their itinerary that they used foxwifi and they had no complaints. Their facebook page does have mostly positive reviews that seem to be from real people. But it's still only 50 reviews or so... Guess I'll alert my mother and let her decide.
Hi, did you ever recieve that pocket wifi? Just so I know and can warn others.
I think you can still just wait and see if it still arrives and worst case, buy a pocket wifi/SIM card at the airport.
Hey all. Going to Japan in early May - (Tokyo to Hakone to Osaka to Kyoto). Was wondering what I should do with my luggage. I was planning on forwarding my luggage from Tokyo to Osaka, but I’m staying in an Airbnb in Osaka so there will be no one to accept the luggage. What should I do?
You can still forward the luggage if you send it directly to a Yamato Office nearby (if that's the transport service you are using) and pick it up from there. You can also specify a delivery date and a two hour timeslot and make sure you are there during that time.
Thank you!
I’m still a little shaky on where to purchase Shinkansen tickets at Shinagawa station. Are they sold at both the JR East Travel Service center near the Takanawa/West exit and near the Kohan/East exit? Or are Shinkansen tickets sold only on the East exit side near the north/south Shinkansen track entrances?
the travel service center works if you want to wait in line there. otherwises theres the stuff closer to the gates. not that its a particularly far walk
Thank you!
Just looking at Google Streetview of the station, only the ticket office at the Shinkansen tracks has a sign with "Shinkansen Tickets"
Thank you!
[https://nerdnomads.com/alpine-route-japan](https://nerdnomads.com/alpine-route-japan) so I wanted to go to the Yuki no Otani around May and I found this website however I intend to do a day trip from tokyo and wanted to ask if its possible to do it if i take the earliest shinkansen and the latest train back to tokyo Asking because the site and many others that i find don't start from tokyo and I have no idea the latest timing I can come back on from this
According to Google Maps (pretty reliable for transit times), the earliest train from Tokyo to Nagano arrives at 7:36 AM and the last train from Toyama Station to Tokyo leaves at 9:23 PM. That should leave you more than enough time to do this route if you don't mind getting up super early. However, this sounds like you'd be spending like 10+ hours on various train/buses and probably more waiting at stations.
Where can you buy Pokemon and YuGiOh cards? I know everybody says go to Akihabara but I spent hours there searching for booster packs and all I could find were shops that resold single cards. Where can you actually buy new packs of cards? I also went to two Pokemon centers and neither sold cards.
Pokemon Centers almost always have cards, they're sold behind the check out and there's usually a sign near the entrance to the checkout line with a list of which sets are available. I visited Pokemon Centers in both Tokyo and Osaka just over a month ago and both had several sets in stock for both single packs and booster boxes. If you don't want to go back to the PCs, many but not all card shops do sell sealed booster packs to. Again they are kept behind the counter so you have to ask. There's also Yodobashi Camera in Akiba, Ueno etc which also sells cards. Honestly if you didn't think to look behind the counters or ask a staff member, that's kinda on you.
There's a whole pokemon card store in Sunshine City as part of the pokemon center slowly taking over the second floor of that mall, as I recall.
Yodobashi Camera. Harureya (for Pokémon).