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Make sure you have translators and $$$ converters easily accessible on your phone. Check with your phone carrier if you have coverage in Japan, if not get a temp sim card for Japan.
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have fun!!
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Have a great time, Japan is on my bucket list
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Learn some Japanese.
Sayuonara
Konnichiwa
Sumimasen
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Get a PASMO card. You can use them anywhere and easy for the trains/public transpo. Google is great for getting around. Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Fushimi, Fuji all within train rides depending on how long youre there. Go by a convini (7eleven) the snacks are awesome. My go to was the egg salad sando and I would buy a piece of spicy fried chicken and add it in. If you have tattoos have to cover them to go to the Onsen (but theyre awesome and relaxing).
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Take a train to Kyoto, check out the old neighborhoods and some temples. Drink warm saki by the river. Use the trains/subways as much as possible. Eat Japanese food, try Mister Donuts, Mos burger and definitely try the food at Family Mart, Lawson Station or 7/11.
Osaka is a huge city, but to get the historic Japan experience, go to Kyoto for a day or half a day. It will be worth it.
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Ahhh! So jealous! :-)
Congratulations and have a great time love!
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For sure.
When are you going. will it be Cherry Blossom season? check bloom schedule...
Must go to Kyoto and Nara and visit Kinkakuji and Ryoanji temples for sure. google those.
Osaka is a great city and great food city...
DM me if you want to HMU for more details or are looking to do/see/eat something?
Oya Sumi!
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Thank you all for all the great tips!!!
I am super stoked and it was incredibly affordable, otherwise I just couldn't go.
I've already started my duolingo!
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I've been doing duolingo for my return trip to Japan as well. You will love it there.
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Check out YouTube
there is a lot of information there.
Lots of pointers and tips.
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Have a great trip! You're literally living my dream
Enjoy yourself and explore everything that you can
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Kyoto - Absolutely must visit. The Arashiyama district in the western part of the city is everything that people picture Kyoto to be and has some of the best temples to visit, as well as a very cool bamboo forest. Closer to downtown Kyoto, Chion-in is my personal favorite temple. Kinkakuji (the building covered in gold that you see in a million pictures) is worth the hype, but don't sleep on Ginkakuji, which I like even better. Nijo Castle is very cool if you're at all into Japanese architecture or history. If you happen to be there during cherry blossom season, take a stroll down the Philosopher's Path--it's absolutely STUNNING. If you're feeling adventurous, pop into any of the restaurants along the Ponto-cho. They probably won't speak English and they probably won't have an English menu, but it's a very cool experience.
Hiroshima - The Peace Memorial Museum is heartbreaking and terrifying and a place that everyone should visit once. It's one thing to hear about nuclear weapons and the destruction that they cause and it's entirely another to see the aftermath for yourself.
Nara - Definitely worth a day trip but no need to spend more than that here. Check out the giant buddha (housed in the largest wooden structure in the world) and feed some deer. But watch your pockets because the deer can get pretty aggressive! lol
Other side trips - Biwako, the largest lake in Japan. Anything in Wakayama Prefecture (Nachi falls, Kumano Kodo, etc). Kinosaki Onsen is the cutest looking hot sprint resort town north of Kyoto. Some Americans get weirded out by the idea of communal bathing in the nude (even though it's all separated by gender) but onsen hot springs are an integral part of Japanese culture and also SUPER relaxing.
Food - Obviously the food in Japan is AMAZING, but what many people don't expect is that the bread and Italian food are also incredible. Walk into any bread bakery and pick anything and it's going to better than 90% of the bread you get in the US. Ditto for Italian restaurants. So if you ever get tired of Japanese food (is that possible?? lol), check out an Italian place. You won't regret it.
I could go on. And on. And on. But that's probably enough for now. Enjoy! 
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Have a fantastic trip and be safe!
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Google translate and make sure to download it before hand. It’ll translate in real time as you point your camera to it, pretty nifty. Not sure what part you’re going to but for the most part just be nice and you’ll be fine 😂. Also yen is aaaaawful right now so your dollar will go a long way
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I've been to Osaka probably 10 times in my life. Great town, lots of manufacturing there. You could consider Osaka to be like Long Beach. Working mans town but close to a lot of really great towns/cities.
1. Get to know public transportation and be able to recognize your train, stops. This is tough as the character set as you know if different. Have a card with your town name and hotel to show taxis drivers. Most great places are within 2 hours by train.
https://osaka-info.jp/en/information/to-tourist/the-dos-and-donts-of-manner/
2. Just enjoy the culture, food, drink. Be careful of the raw chicken sushi, not common but is for sure around.
3. There are lots of websites that teach you how to culturally fit in, how to meet somebody, how not to offend them. Study up on this.
https://www.klook.com/en-US/blog/do-and-donts-japan-guide/
4. Enjoy the bidets in the hotels, be prepared for holes in the ground in older establishments, bars, traveling when sightseeing.
Places in Order of my preference:
Kyoto
Nara
Himeji
Uji if you love tea
Castle of Takeda: This would be a full day trip, so try to incorporate something else along the way there or back.
Most important, have fun, enjoy the different culture, and try to become one of them while you are there.
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Get a rail pass here so you can use the major trains for free and you can also book a bullet train with it (the ones that make every stop). Then when you land, you just go to the office and pick it up. The street food is the best experience I have enjoyed.
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Oh and that’s a solid 10-11 hour flight, make sure to bring something for the travel
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Make sure you go to Osaka Castle, especially if you're going during the Cherry Blossom. That would be sometime in March.
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Very cool. I will actually be in Osaka in a few weeks. Really depends how long you stay in Osaka, but it's known as Japan's Kitchen. Please be mindful and respect the people and culture. We do not need another Johnny Somali. Here are a few places:
1. Dotonbori is filled with towering neon signs, clubs, bars, and restaurants serving up local specialties. It is where you see the famous Glico man neon sign.
2. umeda sky building - A observation building
3. Team Lab Botanical Garden - Night time garden that is very IG'able
4. Nara Park - This is outside of Osaka where you can feed the very friendly bowing deers
5. Himeji Castle - This is outside of Osaka, but very quick by train. Much better than Osaka Castle
6. Kobe - Head over to the city to get legit Kobe Steaks
7. Universal Osaka - We already have that in California, but they just open Donkey Kong Land
8. Kyoto - Very popular town outside of Osaka
There are so many more places. Either way, enjoy and have a great time!!
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For everyone saying they want to go.
This trip was beyond affordable.
Its 12 days, including tavel and stay and was under 2200 for 2 people and the exchange rate is really good rn.
It's very doable, plus me and my friend are big time with planning things out. A lot of perks come from planning/ prebooking. 
Say you even take a card out ,with zero interest, if possible. You can chip away, every pay check, or whatever other income. You can do it!
So get out there! Treat yourself!
But thanks for all the advice! I'm not too worried about being a jerk, as I make it a point to not to be one anywhere. :0)
and I'm not too concerned about being tattooed, I can cover when needed and like I said, I make it a point not be disrespectful no matter where I am.
I do understand the ins and outs.. would love more recommendations on what worth really seeing vs.. touristy attractions.
Not that I'm opposed, as I will be a tourist.. just wanna have a chill yet adventurous time.
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Show them your titties DL.
The Japanese have a thing big breasted women as do I.
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^ sounds like a plan.
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| There are 23 comments on this blog. |
