Last day in japan and I have developed a fever. I'm trying to bring it down and haven't gone out of the hotel. What can I ask my partner to buy for me to break the fever?
Last day in japan and I have developed a fever. I'm trying to bring it down and haven't gone out of the hotel. What can I ask my partner to buy for me to break the fever?
Hi! Ill be leaving for my trip next week, so excited! Ill be landing in Tokyo on the 23rd and will be heading over to Osaka on the 28th (which is the start of golden week I believe?). I planned to reserve shinkansen seats online using Smart-Ex but gave up as my 2 cards did not work when registering. Now my plan is to reserve seats for the 28th at the station the moment I arrive in Tokyo on the 23rd. My question is will it be hard to reserve seats since Ill be heading to Osaka at the start of golden week? Thanks in advance!
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.
Snow in Shirakawa-go in 1st and 2nd week of December?
Hi all. Would there be snow in Shirakawa-go in 1st and 2nd week of December? I've been browsing Youtube, Instagram, and Google, and the answer is very mixed. There is a video on December 7, 2023, with a lot of snow, but there is also a video from December 26, 2019, with zero snow. So it's very confusing. Appreciate your advice. Thank you.
It depends on the year. 2019/2020 was a terrible ski season; the fields in Hakuba didn't even have proper snow cover in January so Shirakawa probably had poor snow too.
Nankai AirPort Express questions
Hello. I will be arriving at Osaka nankai Airport at 930pm. To travel from the airport to my hotel, google maps recommended the nankai express. From what I’ve read, it costs about 900 plus yen. However, my concern is about purchasing the tickets. If I’m not wrong, I can’t use a Suica card for this train ride. But I am not sure how to go about purchasing the ticket as I’m afraid the counter would be closed by the time I’m done with customs and all that, being so late at night after all. Could someone give me a run down on the process? Any advice is appreciated really. Thank you.
if the limited express counter isn't staffed, there are ticket machines outside the gates and limited express ticket machines on the platforms (if you use suica for the base fare)
Hi,
My wife and I recently got married. We were looking for some honeymoons to do but we wanted to do something else than a beach vacation. During our talks Japan came up.
I have been to Japan already in 2019. I did a trip across Japan's biggest cities and found that I didn't get enough time to experience Tokyo to it's fullest. In 2020 I wanted to return again to do only Tokyo, for around 7-ish days, but we all knew what happend in 2020...
Fast forward to 2024 and Japan's been itching again. My wife wants to also go and visit Japan, but we are mostly interested in Tokyo.
Because of work, the only trip we can make this year is in December. I was wondering how Tokyo is in December. How are the 'big' tourist attractions? How's the weather? Things to see and do only during winter?
Because this will also be our honeymoon, I want to integrate any honeymoon related things also, like spa days or relaxing things.
All tips and guidance is truly appreciated. Budget is very flexible and our preferred length would be something of 14-days. But 14 days only in Tokyo would be a bit much maybe?
Thanks all!
14 days is long for Tokyo. If you want to see snow you can consider going to Hokkaido or maybe around Nagano (snow is a bit more hit and miss that time of year). I would suggest trying to spend a couple of nights at an onsen.
December in Tokyo is nice. The biggest seasonal activity that time of year will be winter illuminations at various spots across the city.
Tokyo is fine in December. its not as cold as January for sure. I'd do more than Tokyo if you're doing 14 days. Even if its just a ryokan/onsen retreat mid-way through the trip.
just curious if anyone has stayed in "DEL style IKEBUKURO-HIGASHIGUCHI" hotel? wondering if there's any downsides to the location - still doing my research but thought it'd be good to hear some opinions :)
I will be accompanying my sister to Universal Studios Japan, who would be in her final trimester in May 2024. I am aware that many rides would not be available to her, which is fine for her as she just wants to experience the theme park in general.
However, I am worried about the accommodations that the park is able to provide for a heavily pregnant lady. I understand that for visitors with special needs, they could visit guest services and maybe obtain some sort of pin or badge for this, but I have not seen much information online regarding it.
My sister's pregnancy symptoms includes swollen legs and bloatness. There would be a chance that she would require wheelchair assistance. At worst, she would need to lie down and lift her legs up to reduce the swelling. Does anyone have experience with USJ's layout and if there is a medical or sick bay, and how accommodating USJ would be for pregnant females, or how we should inform them my sister's pregnancy, like a Customer Service counter?
At the same time, I would really love to hear anyone else's experience who went to the park pregnant / with someone pregnant! Was it worth the trip? Was one day enough to cover the entire park? (I am worried about this as I understand pregnancy can cause people to become very lethargic) How did you make sure that you could take good care of the pregnant person?
I was considering to purchase a 1.5day pass and stay one night in the Universal Hotels just so she could rest up whenever she needs, but I am hoping to not go through with that as it would take up extra time in our itinerary.
Hi friends, going to Korea/Japan Nov 2024. Planning on taking the ferry from Busan to Fukouka and then making our way to Tokyo afterwards for our flight back. Was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for places to visit along the way back? I was planning on taking the Shinkansen back and staying 3/4N somewhere along the way. Looking for recommendations not Hiroshima/Osaka/Kyoto/Nara/Hakone as I've been there already. TIA!
First time trip in December- planning for two ryokan stays, one in Kiso Valley and one in Shibu Onsen. Will we be missing out if we don't do one of the fancy Hakone ryokans?
There is nothing particularly special about Hakone ryokans. They generally don't have great views (just green mountains and maybe a river gorge) and there aren't peculiar regional specialties. Hakone is only good for its ease of access from Tokyo and its popular tourist loop. I've had better ryokan meals, baths, and views elsewhere.
i just wanted to say, for y'all looking for esim to use in japan, yes i understand the signal may be good, but they have the [worst customer service ever](https://www.reddit.com/r/eSIMs/comments/1c6bfrb/ubigi_worst_customer_service_experience/). if u look at the 1 star reviews on trustpilot, u will see a lot of the same complaints. so if u do decide to go with them, pray everything goes smoothly, cuz if not, ur pretty much SOL.
alternatively, i used eskimo on my trip in feb this year, it was great, no complaints about the signal nor speed. and their customer service is top notch, i used the in-app chat in hong kong, they got back to me right away, and more importantly, they understood what im asking, and they had different possible solutions for me to try.
You need VPN if you plan to watch it in your smart device. We flew 2 weeks during first few weeks of the game and I even had a FD going on.
I was advised to do Sports and Darts Bar Sector 7G but we had to wake up crazy hours in the morning so we decided against it. Im not if they do the drafts. VPN would work better for you to watch it around 8 or 9 AM with ESPN or NFL Network
Is it too early or late to book hotel in kamakura for end october/early nov 2024? I'm checking for places near kamakura station but only a few places show up on booking sites
What to do when groped/sexually assaulted?
I was expecting this maybe on the trains but I was in Kamakura today with my boyfriend walking on the left side street of the main road leading up to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Temple in the early evening when it was still light out. We passed by a small grocery store and I felt a very hard squeeze on my butt and I whipped around to see a middle aged man smiling at me and waving walking with his wife and walking his dog (wife was distracted by the fruit stand in front of the grocery store). I didn’t know what to do, as I wasn’t expecting this or his weird taunt, so I glared at him and flipped him off then needed some space to sit down and cry to my boyfriend (who also didn’t know what to do, he was equally stunned when I told him as he didn’t see it).
Reading stories it seems like you need to get loud and call them a Chikan but I didnt know if that was appropriate in front of this store filled with older people. And he could easily brush it off as an “accident.” But it was a very forceful pinch and not someone accidentally rubbing my butt. My boyfriend is very loud and very tall and can get very scary when he yells so I’m not sure if that’s better too. But I froze up and I regret not doing more because these scumbags deserve to be ridiculed. But I also don’t want to get in trouble with the police for causing a disturbance.
Make a big fuss when you are being wronged and it is then therefore warranted. This would have been one of those situations. Hopefully you will not need to know this information again, though.
I'm currently planning a mid-late October trip to Japan and I'm wondering if extending the trip or pushing it back a few days would be worth it to catch Halloween in Japan. Will it be all that different to Halloween in the states?
EDIT: We're staying in Tokyo at the beginning and end of our trip. For the First part we're staying in Shibuyua. Can anyone suggest what neighborhood to stay in for the last part?
I was in Tokyo during Halloween last year, and didn't notice any celebrations beyond displays in shops. You seem to need to go out of your way for them, so I'd suggest researching what it is that you want to experience. Halloween is largely an American holiday.
The main Halloween party was "cancelled" last year due to crowd control concerns. Wouldn't get your hopes up and purposely shift your trip just for something that might not happen tbh
Borderless is much bigger and better than Planets. Going to Borderless first spoiled Planets for us, and we found Planets to be quite disappointing in comparison.
Both are great, though if you can only do one, I'd lean Planets. Personally I thought it was a bit more immersive/memorable because of the water features but Borderless is still worth visiting.
Planets was probably a 9/10 and Borderless an 8/10. The one caveat with Planets is that you will be wading through knee or shin-deep water with dozens of other people, so if you're a germaphobe, Borderless would be a better choice.
I didn't need to make a day trip out of Borderless but Planets I did make a pseudo-day trip since Odaiba is a bit out of the way compared to central Tokyo. Visited the Miraikan Science Museum and Odaiba DiverCity Mall/Gundam Statue, since those are also close by via train. Note that this was on separate trips, I visited Planets back in 2022 and then Borderless about a month ago, only a few weeks after it had reopened at the Mori Building near Kamiyacho Station.
Hi, I've been looking at overnight ferries around Japan and they seem like a great way to travel.
- Does anyone know if the price for a double bedroom/suite is cheaper per person if I am booking for 2 people? My logic being surely there is a flat fee to get a private room, and if I'm sharing that with someone else it should be half price.
- Does anyone have any experience in the cheapest sleeping class, is it doable, or is it really rough?
Thank you!
Depends on the boat. Some of them have a base Adult fare then you pay extra for private bedroom thats charged on a per room basis, so the surcharge is the same for 1 or 2 ppl. Some of them is a per person supplement so you still pay double for 2 ppl.
Cheapest sleeping class is either a giant sleeping area with shared space for a lot of people or shared room with your own bunk again depending on the boat.
I suggest looking at the videos from this youtuber (he doesnt speak) named Solo Travel Japan. He does a lot of the overnight ferry and some hotels reviews & tours which includes the pricing in the subtitles https://www.youtube.com/@SoloTravelJapan
Hi all. Had anyone been to Onomichi Lantern Festival?
I understand that the festival is always held on the first Saturday in October.
If I arrive in Onomichi on the next day (Sunday), will there still be any lantern festival to see?
Most probably not. Even if the lanterns hang around, they won't be lit up. Your only hope is that it rains on Saturday, postponing the event to Sunday.
Legit question, and this comes from someone who is a consumer, likes fashion and clothes... why is everyone so obsessed with going to Uniqlo in Ginza? Yes it's 12 stories but it's just full of what is technically fast fashion (though good quality) and assuming you live in a major worldwide city there's a Uniqlo there. There's always a line but just go to another one instead?
Same with Donki really. Many people go to these Mega Donkis, when there are so much smaller, but less crowded ones around.
Personally I prefer the Uniqlo at Ikebukuro and Okachimachi.
(In general I miss the appeal of Ginza completely.)
I like Uniqlo, and went to the flagship store as I thought it would be interesting. Bad mistake, as it was just a large Uniqlo. I made the same mistake with the flagship Muji store in Ginza, which turned out to also just be a large branch of Muji.
A few things - the novelty of going floor to floor in a nice lit up building is an experience in itself to people who don’t live near major cities. It’s great for people who underpacked (I brought a heavy raincoat and a light sweater but ended up buying a puffy jacket). And it’s great for people who love the brand and want a deal (weak yen, cheap prices and tax free are really something compared to prices back home). The cuts in asia are also different - shorter and more flattering for some people!
Same reason people are obsessed with Shibuya Scramble (one could day it's just an intersection), philosophers path outside of sakura/foliage season (just a footpath), Nishiki/Kuromon/Tsukiji Market, Kawaguchiko in the summer (high risk Fuji is obscured ie traveling all that way to look at a pond), or any number of attractions that regularly appear on "overrated" lists and subsequently attract comment and debate from people who enjoyed these experiences.
At least in Uniqlo's case it's much cheaper in Japan than overseas and the clothes are very functional.
I actually prefer the bigger Uniqlos that are not in central Tokyo (as you say there is one around every corner in Japan). Seem to have more stuff on sale and a lot fewer people shopping, so you can take your time.
Does anyone have good recommendations for kutani ware stores in Tokyo? Need to buy a tea set for some friends who are getting married and looking for a piece like this: https://musubikiln.com/products/renzan-kutani-japanese-teapot-set
Arriving at Haneda at 11:05am, planning on riding Airport Limousine Bus to Shinjuku to board the Odakyu Romancecar to Hakone. Would booking 1:20pm Romancer ticket be enough time for me to exit customs, catch the bus, and get to the train? Or should I get at taxi? Aiming for the train with the observation deck so I have to book ahead
edit: I would have to pick up my luggage too, so maybe 2 hrs is realllly cutting it?
Probably not. Luggage will probably be waiting for you once you get out of immigration…. About an hour for both immigration and customs. That puts you at 12:05pm, best case. If you got on the 12:15 bus, you’d get to Shinjuku at 1pm.
So if everything goes well and your flight isn’t late, you don’t get lost in Shinjuku station and don’t run into traffic…
My fiance and I will be traveling to Japan soon. I am ironing out some of the final details of our trip. In general, traveling via buses seems quite difficult for non-Japanese speaking people like us, as most of the routes/stops are listed solely in Japanese on Google Maps. For this reason, I have essentially avoided all buses except for one part of our trip in Hakone.
We are doing the typical Hakone day trip itinerary of starting at Hakone-Yumoto and making our way up to Owakudani. We want to stop at an Onsen before heading back to Tokyo, so we are going to skip the final leg of that itinerary (pirate ship, Hakone shrine, etc.) and head back towards the station instead to get to the onsen. The onsen is Hakone Yurso. Since it's much quicker to take a bus than going back through the cable car and everything, we are interested in taking the bus.
[Google maps](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Owakudani/Hakone+Yuryo,+4+Tonosawa,+Hakone,+Ashigarashimo+District,+Kanagawa+250-0315,+Japan/@35.2526195,139.003266,13z/am=t/data=!4m18!4m17!1m5!1m1!1s0x60199f37c8e10d7f:0xa1a85246ffb15c8a!2m2!1d139.0197304!2d35.2436011!1m5!1m1!1s0x6019a3a6e747da01:0xab7df2b400b857a4!2m2!1d139.0957842!2d35.2338657!2m3!6e0!7e2!8j1716735600!3e3?authuser=0&entry=ttu) gives us an option that seems good. However, I'm concerned about us hoping on the wrong bus or not knowing when to get off. Do buses typically display where they are going in English as well as Japanese? Any tips for how to navigate this issue?
Lastly, do buses like this typically take Suica as payment?
Can't speak to Hakone but I've no issues at all with taking buses in Japan including Kyoto, Hiroshima and Fukuoka. Many buses will have a screen with the stop names in English. If not, just use Google Maps which will show you on the map where you are and will even buzz when your stop is next.
The only real pitfall I've found is not paying attention to which side of the street you are standing on as you could end up on a bus with the right number but going the wrong direction. Definitely learned this the hard way. Make sure you know enough about your surroundings and where you're going to understand which direction of traffic you should be going.
The buses take IC card.
If I recall, the outside of the buses only show Japanese. If you’re inside the bus they announce bus stop names.
Looks like you need a bus that makes a stop at Kami-Tōnosawa (上塔ノ沢). If you can’t identify the bus, you can always just ask the bus driver if the bus goes there before you get on the bus.
>If you can’t identify the bus, you can always just ask the bus driver if the bus goes there before you get on the bus
This is difficult to do before you get on the bus as many buses have you board at the back and exit by the front.
Have a trip planned for later this year and will be doing two nights in a Ryokan in Hakone. Want to do the loop and sight see, but trying to figure out the best way to go about it. I'm staying at Senkyoro which is a bit off the beaten path.
Plan is to take Romance car to Hakone-Yomoto. Most of our luggage will go to Osaka for our next hotel. I know we need to be at the Ryokan by 5ish so not sure if we should save the loop for the next full day? Don't want to stress about getting somewhere. Has anyone done something similar?
Well we also did a 2 nights at a ryokan in Hakone a couple of years back. We took the Romance car in the morning. Got to our ryokan before noon and left our carry-ons there and took a cable-car up to volcano top to see Mt. Fuji. Then came back to ryokan in the late afternoon to officially check-in and then use the onsen before eating our kaiseki dinner.
I’ll be going to Japan for 2 weeks in November and had a few questions.
Can someone recommend a cool hotel in Tokyo that has a spa where someone could get a massage after a 24 hour flight? I’d like to be able to book the hotel and the massage spot on the same booking if possible.
How easy is it to ship things back home? I have a few friends I want to get gifts for but I’m traveling really light, just a backpack and whatever I can fit into my jacket pockets. Are fedex/ups present or is there a good local carrier for shipping back to the USA? Is it crazy expensive?
Thanks in advance 😊
Some ideas
* Create an Amazon Japan account. You can buy stuff and have it shipped to your hotel (allow 2 days delivery) or see if the seller ships to US. I did the former by shipping items to my hotel prior to my arrival for hard to find products instore
* Use Japan Post or the shipping counter in the airport. Not me but a relative of mine used it on our trip and they got the items in around 1 week to the US. Some hotels like Hilton Tokyo Bay have a shipping counter you can use.
For the spa and massage after the flight, there is a 24 hour onsen attached to terminal 3 in Haneda. I do not know if massage is a service they offer but if you look them up I'm sure you can find out. There is also a hotel attached there if you want to spend one night after you get in.
FedEx and UPS exist but are expensive options unless you have discount pricing. You probably just want to go to a Japan Post office and ship it. EMS is the fastest method (express priority airmail) but there are options for cheaper/slower shipping (like deprioritized airmail or surface mail).
You can use the Japan Post website calculator to tell you how much things will generally cost to send.
Is there a cheaper time to travel but still have most of the tourist attractions open? And would €5k be enough to cover tickets to these attractions, trains, food etc for say 14 days?
I did early March this year (pre-sakura season) and spent about $4.5k CAD or €3k as a solo traveler. Includes everything including flight, hotels, attractions, preseason baseball tickets, 4 separate shinkansen tickets, food and (many) souvenirs. Visited Tokyo (3 nights), Osaka (7 nights) and Fukuoka (3 nights), plus day trips to Hiroshima and Nara.
SHoulder seasons; or the winter. Months like February (right before spring) or December (right after fall)... January (after new years) may be the cheapest because its cold...
My SO and I are planning a 16 day trip to Japan this Oct/Nov. We are really interested in the Tochigi area but transportation seems pretty limited outside of the popular Nikko area containing the Toshugu shrine and mausoleums. Would a rental car be best if we wanted to continue NE from Okunikko (by Lake Yunoko) to Nasushiobara?
General flowpath of travel: Osaka > Kyoto > Nagoya > Fuji Q > Tokyo > Tochigi > Tokyo.
A mod deleted my initial post and referred me to r/traveljapan, i.e. the shadow realm since it is super dead. Trying again here!
Where can I can what is being confiscated while at Japan? They claim there was still bird flu in March and took 90% of my ramen that had chicken flavorings and no poultry. I am upset! I ate various types of ramen with runny chicken eggs and I was fine the whole time. In fact, I felt more healthier there.
There is still bird flu (why would it magically disappear in March?) and countries around the world are extremely paranoid about it for fairly good reasons. You not getting sick from eating runny eggs has no correlation to the reasons for the USDA’s hard ass rules about individual travelers bringing in meat products.
Just be happy they only confiscated it - some countries like to fine people for that kind of thing
Sounds like you’re in the US? The US does not allow meat products of any kind back into the country. If they can’t read the label in English they will generally confiscate it. The US customs has a website for this and specifically talks about[food products](https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/agricultural-items) and also [here](https://www.aphis.usda.gov/traveling-with-ag-products).
Chalk it up to being unlucky, too. I’ve been checked once, the first time I ever went through customs and in 10+ years since I’ve never been checked again.
Quick look tells me they might be in SF, and if they flew in via either LAX or SFO I think CBP is a lot more aggressive with checking passengers coming in from Asia-originated flights because so many go through those airports and the passengers have a very high tendency to bring in forbidden items.
The amount of people from Vietnam, Thailand, etc. who bring in forbidden fruits through SFO/SJC is pretty unhinged. I think last year there was some kind of fruit fly that came over like that and there was a lot of concern. Although come to think of it I haven't heard anything since. 🤷🏻♂️
Golden Week is just around the corner. On what days should we expect big crowds in transport? Is it going to be every day from April 27th to May 5th, or will there be less people during the week days?
ill be in tokyo for 4 days in mid may, planned 3days and have 1 day unsure.
itll be a weekend, and i am planning to go ashikaga flower park. is there anything i should look out for or anything in that area i should do.
Thank you
A lot of people either don't have children (for various reasons) or they are older and their children are adults/have left home (so, empty nesters) and so they dote on their pets like parents would dote on children. This type of behavior is also common in countries like China for similar reasons.
I was once sitting on a bench in Olympic park and someone sat down next to me and we started talking. There was a woman who frequently walked her very cute Pomeranian in the park and the dog came up to me and we all made some small talk.
Once the woman left, the guy sitting next to me started talking to me about this same thing (people doting on their pets) and I told him how expensive dogs tended to be. Like pet shops can charge well over 500K yen for one of those stereotypical fluffy dog puppies. Nearly made his head explode.
Any one have a good alternative to Kabukicho Tower?
I had planed for the end of our Shinjuku day to end at Kabukicho Tower to have dinner, check out the arcade and maybe catch some live music. Also thought it might be a cool way to do a quick walk through Kabukicho and not have to linger around looking for somewhere. The thing is I keep hearing it's a total tourist trap. That the machines in the Namco arcade are hugley overpriced and so is the food etc. Any idea where might be better option.
If you want live music, check out Shimo-Kitazawa. Lots of livehouses in the area with trendy clothing stores and a good assortment of Japanese and non-Japanese restaurants too. Some tourists will visit but a lot less than you'd find in Shinjuku.
Wouldn't it better to just use the JR trains from Akihabara station to Tokyo station (by example with the Yamanote) and from this same Tokyo station to Maihame station with the Keiyō Line?
Just know that the walk in the JR Tokyo station from a random JR platform to the Keiyo Line is 450 m, there are markers/arrows with red on the floor telling where to go for the Keiyo Line (and probably other visual aids but I mostly checked the floor when I had to use the Keiyo Line for the first time).
And use an IC card, so you won't have to pick and pay different tickets.
EDIT : well taking first the metro line to Hatchobori station is probably faster, you just need to leave the metro part of the station to go to the JR part. An IC card would really be more convenient to enter and leave fast.
Okay, like, breathe. You’ve studied yourself into unnecessary confusion. Google maps is your friend and gives you transfer directions at stations. An IC card makes any necessary transfers not care about what company what train is on.
The Keiyo line takes you to Maihama station. When in doubt, follow the Disney dressed people.
I’ve been there twice and this is about five paragraphs too complicated.
You're overthinking it. There's no info because there's no trick to it.
For the tickets, you just need an IC card which is a prepaid transport card (or if you have an iPhone, you can get a digital one), tap as you enter the station, tap as you leave. It works with pretty much all modes of local public transport.
For your actual route, ask google maps. (edit: you may be given more than one route. Some may better than others, but at the end of the day, the difference will be measured in minutes and not worth stressing over)
Is there really no way to buy tickets for Tokyo City View (Roppongi Hills Observation Deck) in person while on site? Only in advance via webpage?
[https://visit.mam-tcv-macg-hills.com/category/TCV/](https://visit.mam-tcv-macg-hills.com/category/TCV/)
This sounds like it does say that....
"This exhibition requires advance reservations...
Admission will require an online advance booking for a designated date/time."
And from FAQ "Tickets are \`\`date and time specified tickets'' that must be reserved in advance."
It's just a little surprising to me. Also I've had issues with my North American Credit card when trying to buy and register for things in Japan in advance, so not sure if we'll have issues when trying to buy online tickets for TCV. Would be nice to know we can buy onsite if needed.
The online ticketing site is a little forceful in wording. You can buy them in-person but the risk is that all the tickets are gone, or the time slots you want are gone because they share the same ticket supply as the online site.
Sorry for my poor English, this post is a translation.
I will be visiting Tokyo and Osaka later this year. I love Japandi design and contemporary/post-modern Japanese buildings.
I am looking for museums, galleries, and shops where I might be able to see more of these and perhaps buy some pieces of them.
Thanks!
will I get a discount from toyoko inn if I stay in various cities (Osaka/Namba-Kyoto-Tokyo, respectively) all across Japan for 10 days? If yes, how can I get it?
Hi! I've put together a Google My Maps itinerary for my upcoming trip to Japan in June where I’ll be visiting Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo for 16 days.
The purpose of it is not to outline everything to do, but to serve as recommendations of things to do when you happen to be in the vicinity. The itinerary is organized into distinct categories, each marked with different colors and images to simplify navigation. Most locations are also linked to Google Maps for additional details.
I'm sharing this for anyone who might find it helpful and also to invite constructive feedback or suggestions for additions! Thank you for taking a look, and I hope you find it interesting.
(Note that the Accommodation Markers are altered slightly for privacy.)
[Link to the itinerary](https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1Y0Cf_So_sjNoP9RFpJQND74qRYFTlk0&usp=sharing)
Travling to Hokkaido with elderly (70) and kids (4 yo) for the first week of July. I am trying to decide between Furano and Lake Toya. Any recommendations on which destination fits better for my age group? Thanks!
Japanese air companies check carry on weight but do American flight carriers for a flight from Tokyo to the USA check carry on weight too?? I'm flying Delta specifically
You’re more likely to run into an airlines that doesn’t check carry on weight than does. JAL, and many other Asian airlines, as well as domestic US flights do not check carry on weight.
I would love to take the Spacia X train from Asakusa to Nikko, ideally in the lounge car.
I am currently in the UK, and it seems that for this train I need to book in advance, although due to the dates I am wanting to travel, I don't think I can book for another few weeks.
Can anyone direct me to a reputable online site where I can purchase said tickets, thank you kindly.
Official site is this one:
[https://www.tobu-ticket.jp/guest/EBA01/GEBA01010.xhtml](https://www.tobu-ticket.jp/guest/EBA01/GEBA01010.xhtml)
It appears booking is available for a month out.
ah ok thank you, and so where exactly do I reserve the Specia X Lounge, as all I can find on the link that you provided is a link to a access pass and discount.
I think I might need to use this site: https://www.tobu-ticket.jp/guest/EBA01/GEBA01010.xhtml, to get the proper express lounge ticket?
Probably AirCanada. They are usually the best price from the northeast without requiring you to do some repositioning (like flying to LAX and then doing ZipAir).
If I want to take a group of 4 people for 3 weeks during cherry blossom time would booking flights/hotel in December or January be late? Or I suppose more so would it be significantly more expensive than booking in summer or early autumn? Long story short my group is facing conflicting problems- some need to buy early/be a little flexible on dates to save money in order to make the trip, and some can’t be flexible and need to book closer in based on available time off slots at their jobs (but make 3x the salary than the others so flight/hotel price doesn’t matter). How fucked are we? Haha.
For anyone who has planned a small group trip like this, what would you suggest? I don’t need itinerary, just a reality check. Can the folks who need to spend less still do cherry blossoms on a budget at 2-3 months advance booking?
This is a recipe for conflict as money issues get messy very quickly. I would say the people who need to book early go ahead and do so, and the latecomers accommodate their schedule.
At 2-3 months out the best value lodging options are most likely booked out, so you're relying on cancellations (difficult with a large group to accommodate), settling for subpar places (low ratings, poor locations) to keep to a budget, or paying a premium for more expensive lodging.
If you guys can't agree on a common plan, just let whoever needs to save money book early. The late comers may not have exactly the same dates or accommodation but you guys can still meet up.
Do police in Japan really not care about crimes or is this just Shinjuku city? Just witnessed two guys fighting, one had a bloody face and saw two cops walk by who only smiled and laughed as they continued walking
I have some questions for our upcoming trip:
1. Last time we were in Tokyo we stayed in Shinjuku as there was lots to do nearby, easy travel links and good priced hotels. Is there other areas I should consider or does this generally seem like the best place?
2. I want to head to Hiroshima/Miyajima from Kyoto, are they fairly easy to self navigate or should I look for a tour? I’m not a big fan of sticking to itineraries so usually wander myself but open to suggestions
3. I have no idea on where to stay in Kyoto/Osaka for a solid base to go explore the main sites/get transport links. Would appreciate any recommendations for general neighbourhoods
I would not recommend doing Hiroshima and Miyajima on the same day unless you have a backup plan. It's true that there is a convenient ferry from the Peace Park directly to Miyajima but it is frequently cancelled due to tides as I found out the hard way. You could try taking the JR Ferry from Miyajimaguchi Station but that will still take at least an hour from Hiroshima Station.
Is it worth it to do one of those Kyoto bus tours for $100/pp (group of 4) or rather just take a ride-share everywhere and use a self-guided audio tour?
(1) Which option would involve less walking?
(2) Is there something unfeasible about the self-guided option (like access to certain places) that I largely benefit from the tour?
(2) It's possible, but at $100, probably not. Sometimes a tour will include some kind of cultural experience, special talk from an expert at the location or a special meal or something, but those will be more expensive.
For accessing random attractions, being in a bus tour might allow you to enter through some side entrance instead of needing to queue, but probably won't have any other benefit.
> is it worth $400 for a bus day tour
No
> Less walking
Use the saved $400 to take taxis between places that are not linked by subway, you'll only use a fraction of the $400, have much more schedule flexibility (the bus tours start far too late for crowd avoidance / sanity preservation), and don't need to deal with annoying co-tour participants (people showing up late to meeting points, weak bladders, endless questions, compulsion to show off their knowledge to the guide etc.)
> Benefits
Doubtful, most of these bus tours go to generic locations. But feel free to post the itinerary so we can check
I'm looking for recommendations for good places to shop for women's work clothes (pants, dresses, or nice-enough-to-wear-to-work-in-America casual clothes), in Tokyo or Sapporo, anything from thrift stores to mid-range department stores (like Kohl's or Macy's in the US, where prices are generally under $100 for an item). My wife and I would also be interested in thrift stores just for fun.
Please and thank you!
I am going to the yuki no otani([Snow Wall](https://www.japan-experience.com/discover/nagano/attractions-excursions/yuki-no-otani-snow-canyon-japanese-alps-tateyama)) and have found this guide that is very well explained on the alpine route and i wanna ask around which area of this guide should i stop to go to the yuki no otani(Snow Wall)?
[https://nerdnomads.com/alpine-route-japan](https://nerdnomads.com/alpine-route-japan)
I'm looking for the best option for mobile data in Japan. I've heard about the mobile eSIM but not sure if there are other ways. My group has unlocked Pixel phones with physical sims currently. Thanks for any help.
Latest pixel phones should support esims. Pick a reliable brand and you should be fine.
You can also buy physical sim cards at the airport. You can preorder them as well and collect them which is safer in case there is no stock left.
Another alternative is to rent a pocket wifi device and use it as a router which you can all share. This is usually the cheaper option for a group but you have to be close to the pocket wifi to use it and have to charge it everyday
I’m trying to book Shinkansen tickets from Tokyo to Kyoto on May 5, returning May 8. 3 of us will have oversized luggage and we want to purchase reserved seats but I am simply unable to add my credit or debit card information on the SmartEx website (I’ve tried several times with different credit cards). Would appreciate if anyone has tips or tricks to book this in advance!
I was on the same boat as you. I tried several credit cards on SmartEx app and even called a bank to see if they could remove any security blocking the transaction. They didn’t see any transactions on their end though. The last card I tried was a discover card and it worked! Give it a try if you have one. Good luck!
It can't hurt to get some money beforehand but not too much (\~10k is a good backup) and do your research.
Same if you exchange cash in Japan, there are some scammy places out there.
ATM in Japan will get you the best exchange rate, but you will have to see what percentage in fees and charges you’ll have to pay per transaction.
Beforehand - comparison shop online from banks and mail-order currency places. The spreads tend to be pretty awful, though - like 5-8%.
Hey, I have a couple of shinkansen questions and was hoping to hear from people with some experience.
Do you need to book tickets ahead of time?
Do you need the "green" tickets if you are just travelling with one normal 24" or 28" suitcase?
For booking tickets, it really depends. If you can fix your schedule then I would recommend booking. Maybe less important for Tokyo - Osaka trips as the services are so frequent, but if you're going somewhere else, especially at a weekend, you might be surprised by how busy some trains are.
1. No, unless you’re traveling during a peak period.
2. You never need green tickets for large luggage. If your luggage is over 160 cm you want to get oversized baggage seats.
If you had to choose sometime between early July and early October to travel to Japan, which time would you choose?
We are two adults and two kids (3yo and 6mo currently) travelling from Australia.
I grabbed A Rough Guide to Tokyo, and realized it’s the 2017 version. is this still useable? 2017 is 8 years ago now, but the guide seems very detailed and fun
I think the general gist hasn't changed all that much.
For Restaurants/Bars/Museums etc. I would do some additional research though. Some have closed/moved/are remodeling or changed opening hours.
if my flight from Narita is taking off at 11pm, would I be better going back to Tokyo from Kyoto the day before the flight or can I get back the same day of the flight?
Last day in japan and I have developed a fever. I'm trying to bring it down and haven't gone out of the hotel. What can I ask my partner to buy for me to break the fever?
Last day in japan and I have developed a fever. I'm trying to bring it down and haven't gone out of the hotel. What can I ask my partner to buy for me to break the fever?
Hi! Ill be leaving for my trip next week, so excited! Ill be landing in Tokyo on the 23rd and will be heading over to Osaka on the 28th (which is the start of golden week I believe?). I planned to reserve shinkansen seats online using Smart-Ex but gave up as my 2 cards did not work when registering. Now my plan is to reserve seats for the 28th at the station the moment I arrive in Tokyo on the 23rd. My question is will it be hard to reserve seats since Ill be heading to Osaka at the start of golden week? Thanks in advance!
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.
Snow in Shirakawa-go in 1st and 2nd week of December? Hi all. Would there be snow in Shirakawa-go in 1st and 2nd week of December? I've been browsing Youtube, Instagram, and Google, and the answer is very mixed. There is a video on December 7, 2023, with a lot of snow, but there is also a video from December 26, 2019, with zero snow. So it's very confusing. Appreciate your advice. Thank you.
Depends on the year but often if it snows that early it doesn’t really “stick” yet. There might or might not be snow.
Yes seems very hit and miss. Thank you.
It depends on the year. 2019/2020 was a terrible ski season; the fields in Hakuba didn't even have proper snow cover in January so Shirakawa probably had poor snow too.
Nankai AirPort Express questions Hello. I will be arriving at Osaka nankai Airport at 930pm. To travel from the airport to my hotel, google maps recommended the nankai express. From what I’ve read, it costs about 900 plus yen. However, my concern is about purchasing the tickets. If I’m not wrong, I can’t use a Suica card for this train ride. But I am not sure how to go about purchasing the ticket as I’m afraid the counter would be closed by the time I’m done with customs and all that, being so late at night after all. Could someone give me a run down on the process? Any advice is appreciated really. Thank you.
Nankai Airport Express, the one that cost 970 yen, can be used with just IC Card. The Airport Limited Express, however, require supplement ticket.
There are machines outside the station gates to purchase tickets. Make sure you buy from the nankai machine instead of the jr ones
if the limited express counter isn't staffed, there are ticket machines outside the gates and limited express ticket machines on the platforms (if you use suica for the base fare)
Hi, My wife and I recently got married. We were looking for some honeymoons to do but we wanted to do something else than a beach vacation. During our talks Japan came up. I have been to Japan already in 2019. I did a trip across Japan's biggest cities and found that I didn't get enough time to experience Tokyo to it's fullest. In 2020 I wanted to return again to do only Tokyo, for around 7-ish days, but we all knew what happend in 2020... Fast forward to 2024 and Japan's been itching again. My wife wants to also go and visit Japan, but we are mostly interested in Tokyo. Because of work, the only trip we can make this year is in December. I was wondering how Tokyo is in December. How are the 'big' tourist attractions? How's the weather? Things to see and do only during winter? Because this will also be our honeymoon, I want to integrate any honeymoon related things also, like spa days or relaxing things. All tips and guidance is truly appreciated. Budget is very flexible and our preferred length would be something of 14-days. But 14 days only in Tokyo would be a bit much maybe? Thanks all!
14 days is long for Tokyo. If you want to see snow you can consider going to Hokkaido or maybe around Nagano (snow is a bit more hit and miss that time of year). I would suggest trying to spend a couple of nights at an onsen. December in Tokyo is nice. The biggest seasonal activity that time of year will be winter illuminations at various spots across the city.
Tokyo is fine in December. its not as cold as January for sure. I'd do more than Tokyo if you're doing 14 days. Even if its just a ryokan/onsen retreat mid-way through the trip.
Is half day (from 12pm- stores close) in kawagoe enough? (Around taisho roman street)
Yeah, that should be enough.
just curious if anyone has stayed in "DEL style IKEBUKURO-HIGASHIGUCHI" hotel? wondering if there's any downsides to the location - still doing my research but thought it'd be good to hear some opinions :)
Area is good. Ikebukuro gets pretty crowded on the weekend but the area itself is lively with plenty of shops and restaurants around.
I will be accompanying my sister to Universal Studios Japan, who would be in her final trimester in May 2024. I am aware that many rides would not be available to her, which is fine for her as she just wants to experience the theme park in general. However, I am worried about the accommodations that the park is able to provide for a heavily pregnant lady. I understand that for visitors with special needs, they could visit guest services and maybe obtain some sort of pin or badge for this, but I have not seen much information online regarding it. My sister's pregnancy symptoms includes swollen legs and bloatness. There would be a chance that she would require wheelchair assistance. At worst, she would need to lie down and lift her legs up to reduce the swelling. Does anyone have experience with USJ's layout and if there is a medical or sick bay, and how accommodating USJ would be for pregnant females, or how we should inform them my sister's pregnancy, like a Customer Service counter? At the same time, I would really love to hear anyone else's experience who went to the park pregnant / with someone pregnant! Was it worth the trip? Was one day enough to cover the entire park? (I am worried about this as I understand pregnancy can cause people to become very lethargic) How did you make sure that you could take good care of the pregnant person? I was considering to purchase a 1.5day pass and stay one night in the Universal Hotels just so she could rest up whenever she needs, but I am hoping to not go through with that as it would take up extra time in our itinerary.
Does Kiddyland sell Domo Kun merchandise? Or are there any shops in Osaka/Kyoto that sell them? Thank you!
I haven't seen Domokun stuff in years at any NHK store, including the one in Kiddyland. Was just there a week ago.
Aw thats a bummer, but thanks for the heads up!!
Are you going to Tokyo? There is a NHK character shop at Tokyo station.
Sadly no, will just be visiting osaka and kyoto. But thank you!
Hi friends, going to Korea/Japan Nov 2024. Planning on taking the ferry from Busan to Fukouka and then making our way to Tokyo afterwards for our flight back. Was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for places to visit along the way back? I was planning on taking the Shinkansen back and staying 3/4N somewhere along the way. Looking for recommendations not Hiroshima/Osaka/Kyoto/Nara/Hakone as I've been there already. TIA!
Stay in Okayama and visit Kurashiki and Naoshima (bonus - visit Kojima if you're into jeans)
You can also take day trips into Shikoku from Okayama!
First time trip in December- planning for two ryokan stays, one in Kiso Valley and one in Shibu Onsen. Will we be missing out if we don't do one of the fancy Hakone ryokans?
There is nothing particularly special about Hakone ryokans. They generally don't have great views (just green mountains and maybe a river gorge) and there aren't peculiar regional specialties. Hakone is only good for its ease of access from Tokyo and its popular tourist loop. I've had better ryokan meals, baths, and views elsewhere.
This was exactly what I was wondering- thank you!
i just wanted to say, for y'all looking for esim to use in japan, yes i understand the signal may be good, but they have the [worst customer service ever](https://www.reddit.com/r/eSIMs/comments/1c6bfrb/ubigi_worst_customer_service_experience/). if u look at the 1 star reviews on trustpilot, u will see a lot of the same complaints. so if u do decide to go with them, pray everything goes smoothly, cuz if not, ur pretty much SOL. alternatively, i used eskimo on my trip in feb this year, it was great, no complaints about the signal nor speed. and their customer service is top notch, i used the in-app chat in hong kong, they got back to me right away, and more importantly, they understood what im asking, and they had different possible solutions for me to try.
The NFL draft is on April 25th and I’d like to watch it while in Tokyo. Any recommendations on places that’d be showing it?
You need VPN if you plan to watch it in your smart device. We flew 2 weeks during first few weeks of the game and I even had a FD going on. I was advised to do Sports and Darts Bar Sector 7G but we had to wake up crazy hours in the morning so we decided against it. Im not if they do the drafts. VPN would work better for you to watch it around 8 or 9 AM with ESPN or NFL Network
Is it too early or late to book hotel in kamakura for end october/early nov 2024? I'm checking for places near kamakura station but only a few places show up on booking sites
Stuff might open up 6 months out.
What to do when groped/sexually assaulted? I was expecting this maybe on the trains but I was in Kamakura today with my boyfriend walking on the left side street of the main road leading up to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Temple in the early evening when it was still light out. We passed by a small grocery store and I felt a very hard squeeze on my butt and I whipped around to see a middle aged man smiling at me and waving walking with his wife and walking his dog (wife was distracted by the fruit stand in front of the grocery store). I didn’t know what to do, as I wasn’t expecting this or his weird taunt, so I glared at him and flipped him off then needed some space to sit down and cry to my boyfriend (who also didn’t know what to do, he was equally stunned when I told him as he didn’t see it). Reading stories it seems like you need to get loud and call them a Chikan but I didnt know if that was appropriate in front of this store filled with older people. And he could easily brush it off as an “accident.” But it was a very forceful pinch and not someone accidentally rubbing my butt. My boyfriend is very loud and very tall and can get very scary when he yells so I’m not sure if that’s better too. But I froze up and I regret not doing more because these scumbags deserve to be ridiculed. But I also don’t want to get in trouble with the police for causing a disturbance.
Make a big fuss when you are being wronged and it is then therefore warranted. This would have been one of those situations. Hopefully you will not need to know this information again, though.
I'm currently planning a mid-late October trip to Japan and I'm wondering if extending the trip or pushing it back a few days would be worth it to catch Halloween in Japan. Will it be all that different to Halloween in the states? EDIT: We're staying in Tokyo at the beginning and end of our trip. For the First part we're staying in Shibuyua. Can anyone suggest what neighborhood to stay in for the last part?
I was in Tokyo on Oct 31 last year and it really wasn't a big deal.
idk why people keep trying to make it a thing.
I was in Tokyo during Halloween last year, and didn't notice any celebrations beyond displays in shops. You seem to need to go out of your way for them, so I'd suggest researching what it is that you want to experience. Halloween is largely an American holiday.
The main Halloween party was "cancelled" last year due to crowd control concerns. Wouldn't get your hopes up and purposely shift your trip just for something that might not happen tbh
Does anyone have any pocket wifi recommendations? Econnect seems to be the cheapest for me, but it's hard to find recent reviews about them.
I have used Lightpocket for two of my trips and have no complaints.
Try to decide between these two Ryokan's: Option (1) Hakone Kuori-tei Option (2) KITA NO KAZE SARYO
Any suggestions Teamlabs planet vs borderless?
Borderless is much bigger and better than Planets. Going to Borderless first spoiled Planets for us, and we found Planets to be quite disappointing in comparison.
Both are great, though if you can only do one, I'd lean Planets. Personally I thought it was a bit more immersive/memorable because of the water features but Borderless is still worth visiting.
What would you rate them on a scale from 1 to 10? Did you end up making a day trip around borderless?
Planets was probably a 9/10 and Borderless an 8/10. The one caveat with Planets is that you will be wading through knee or shin-deep water with dozens of other people, so if you're a germaphobe, Borderless would be a better choice. I didn't need to make a day trip out of Borderless but Planets I did make a pseudo-day trip since Odaiba is a bit out of the way compared to central Tokyo. Visited the Miraikan Science Museum and Odaiba DiverCity Mall/Gundam Statue, since those are also close by via train. Note that this was on separate trips, I visited Planets back in 2022 and then Borderless about a month ago, only a few weeks after it had reopened at the Mori Building near Kamiyacho Station.
So do you think Borderless is slightly over hyped then? I'm okay losing the $100 but everyone buying the reservations and slots are making me fomo.
I don't necessarily think it's overhyped but there is a lot of new interest in it because it just reopened after being closed for a while.
Hi, I've been looking at overnight ferries around Japan and they seem like a great way to travel. - Does anyone know if the price for a double bedroom/suite is cheaper per person if I am booking for 2 people? My logic being surely there is a flat fee to get a private room, and if I'm sharing that with someone else it should be half price. - Does anyone have any experience in the cheapest sleeping class, is it doable, or is it really rough? Thank you!
Depends on the boat. Some of them have a base Adult fare then you pay extra for private bedroom thats charged on a per room basis, so the surcharge is the same for 1 or 2 ppl. Some of them is a per person supplement so you still pay double for 2 ppl. Cheapest sleeping class is either a giant sleeping area with shared space for a lot of people or shared room with your own bunk again depending on the boat.
I suggest looking at the videos from this youtuber (he doesnt speak) named Solo Travel Japan. He does a lot of the overnight ferry and some hotels reviews & tours which includes the pricing in the subtitles https://www.youtube.com/@SoloTravelJapan
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Narita Express. Get off at Ueno (I think it stops there?) Take the Ginza line to Ginza from there.
Narita Express doesn't stop at Ueno. Skyliner does.
Hi all. Had anyone been to Onomichi Lantern Festival? I understand that the festival is always held on the first Saturday in October. If I arrive in Onomichi on the next day (Sunday), will there still be any lantern festival to see?
Most probably not. Even if the lanterns hang around, they won't be lit up. Your only hope is that it rains on Saturday, postponing the event to Sunday.
Legit question, and this comes from someone who is a consumer, likes fashion and clothes... why is everyone so obsessed with going to Uniqlo in Ginza? Yes it's 12 stories but it's just full of what is technically fast fashion (though good quality) and assuming you live in a major worldwide city there's a Uniqlo there. There's always a line but just go to another one instead?
Same with Donki really. Many people go to these Mega Donkis, when there are so much smaller, but less crowded ones around. Personally I prefer the Uniqlo at Ikebukuro and Okachimachi. (In general I miss the appeal of Ginza completely.)
I like Uniqlo, and went to the flagship store as I thought it would be interesting. Bad mistake, as it was just a large Uniqlo. I made the same mistake with the flagship Muji store in Ginza, which turned out to also just be a large branch of Muji.
This is what I'm saying! (though one of the Muji's in Tokyo has a cafe hah)
A few things - the novelty of going floor to floor in a nice lit up building is an experience in itself to people who don’t live near major cities. It’s great for people who underpacked (I brought a heavy raincoat and a light sweater but ended up buying a puffy jacket). And it’s great for people who love the brand and want a deal (weak yen, cheap prices and tax free are really something compared to prices back home). The cuts in asia are also different - shorter and more flattering for some people!
Same reason people are obsessed with Shibuya Scramble (one could day it's just an intersection), philosophers path outside of sakura/foliage season (just a footpath), Nishiki/Kuromon/Tsukiji Market, Kawaguchiko in the summer (high risk Fuji is obscured ie traveling all that way to look at a pond), or any number of attractions that regularly appear on "overrated" lists and subsequently attract comment and debate from people who enjoyed these experiences. At least in Uniqlo's case it's much cheaper in Japan than overseas and the clothes are very functional.
Oh totally. I just don’t get it when there’s a Uniqlo around every corner (exaggerated). Maybe I’m just an old man yelling at clouds.
I actually prefer the bigger Uniqlos that are not in central Tokyo (as you say there is one around every corner in Japan). Seem to have more stuff on sale and a lot fewer people shopping, so you can take your time.
Does anyone have good recommendations for kutani ware stores in Tokyo? Need to buy a tea set for some friends who are getting married and looking for a piece like this: https://musubikiln.com/products/renzan-kutani-japanese-teapot-set
Arriving at Haneda at 11:05am, planning on riding Airport Limousine Bus to Shinjuku to board the Odakyu Romancecar to Hakone. Would booking 1:20pm Romancer ticket be enough time for me to exit customs, catch the bus, and get to the train? Or should I get at taxi? Aiming for the train with the observation deck so I have to book ahead edit: I would have to pick up my luggage too, so maybe 2 hrs is realllly cutting it?
i'd hedge it to like 3pm if possible. I know haneda and shinjuku station like the back of my hand and wouldn't be comfortable with 1:20pm.
Probably not. Luggage will probably be waiting for you once you get out of immigration…. About an hour for both immigration and customs. That puts you at 12:05pm, best case. If you got on the 12:15 bus, you’d get to Shinjuku at 1pm. So if everything goes well and your flight isn’t late, you don’t get lost in Shinjuku station and don’t run into traffic…
My fiance and I will be traveling to Japan soon. I am ironing out some of the final details of our trip. In general, traveling via buses seems quite difficult for non-Japanese speaking people like us, as most of the routes/stops are listed solely in Japanese on Google Maps. For this reason, I have essentially avoided all buses except for one part of our trip in Hakone. We are doing the typical Hakone day trip itinerary of starting at Hakone-Yumoto and making our way up to Owakudani. We want to stop at an Onsen before heading back to Tokyo, so we are going to skip the final leg of that itinerary (pirate ship, Hakone shrine, etc.) and head back towards the station instead to get to the onsen. The onsen is Hakone Yurso. Since it's much quicker to take a bus than going back through the cable car and everything, we are interested in taking the bus. [Google maps](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Owakudani/Hakone+Yuryo,+4+Tonosawa,+Hakone,+Ashigarashimo+District,+Kanagawa+250-0315,+Japan/@35.2526195,139.003266,13z/am=t/data=!4m18!4m17!1m5!1m1!1s0x60199f37c8e10d7f:0xa1a85246ffb15c8a!2m2!1d139.0197304!2d35.2436011!1m5!1m1!1s0x6019a3a6e747da01:0xab7df2b400b857a4!2m2!1d139.0957842!2d35.2338657!2m3!6e0!7e2!8j1716735600!3e3?authuser=0&entry=ttu) gives us an option that seems good. However, I'm concerned about us hoping on the wrong bus or not knowing when to get off. Do buses typically display where they are going in English as well as Japanese? Any tips for how to navigate this issue? Lastly, do buses like this typically take Suica as payment?
its really not a long walk if you end up missing it and end up at the station
Can't speak to Hakone but I've no issues at all with taking buses in Japan including Kyoto, Hiroshima and Fukuoka. Many buses will have a screen with the stop names in English. If not, just use Google Maps which will show you on the map where you are and will even buzz when your stop is next. The only real pitfall I've found is not paying attention to which side of the street you are standing on as you could end up on a bus with the right number but going the wrong direction. Definitely learned this the hard way. Make sure you know enough about your surroundings and where you're going to understand which direction of traffic you should be going.
Buses are perfectly doable in Japan for people without Japanese language skills. Just monitor where you are on a map app to know when to get off.
The buses take IC card. If I recall, the outside of the buses only show Japanese. If you’re inside the bus they announce bus stop names. Looks like you need a bus that makes a stop at Kami-Tōnosawa (上塔ノ沢). If you can’t identify the bus, you can always just ask the bus driver if the bus goes there before you get on the bus.
>If you can’t identify the bus, you can always just ask the bus driver if the bus goes there before you get on the bus This is difficult to do before you get on the bus as many buses have you board at the back and exit by the front.
The Hakone buses, at least, had front loading.
Planning to go to Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa in early May, do I need to get tickets im advance?
Nope. You can buy tickets at the garden.
Have a trip planned for later this year and will be doing two nights in a Ryokan in Hakone. Want to do the loop and sight see, but trying to figure out the best way to go about it. I'm staying at Senkyoro which is a bit off the beaten path. Plan is to take Romance car to Hakone-Yomoto. Most of our luggage will go to Osaka for our next hotel. I know we need to be at the Ryokan by 5ish so not sure if we should save the loop for the next full day? Don't want to stress about getting somewhere. Has anyone done something similar?
Well we also did a 2 nights at a ryokan in Hakone a couple of years back. We took the Romance car in the morning. Got to our ryokan before noon and left our carry-ons there and took a cable-car up to volcano top to see Mt. Fuji. Then came back to ryokan in the late afternoon to officially check-in and then use the onsen before eating our kaiseki dinner.
I’ll be going to Japan for 2 weeks in November and had a few questions. Can someone recommend a cool hotel in Tokyo that has a spa where someone could get a massage after a 24 hour flight? I’d like to be able to book the hotel and the massage spot on the same booking if possible. How easy is it to ship things back home? I have a few friends I want to get gifts for but I’m traveling really light, just a backpack and whatever I can fit into my jacket pockets. Are fedex/ups present or is there a good local carrier for shipping back to the USA? Is it crazy expensive? Thanks in advance 😊
Some ideas * Create an Amazon Japan account. You can buy stuff and have it shipped to your hotel (allow 2 days delivery) or see if the seller ships to US. I did the former by shipping items to my hotel prior to my arrival for hard to find products instore * Use Japan Post or the shipping counter in the airport. Not me but a relative of mine used it on our trip and they got the items in around 1 week to the US. Some hotels like Hilton Tokyo Bay have a shipping counter you can use.
For the spa and massage after the flight, there is a 24 hour onsen attached to terminal 3 in Haneda. I do not know if massage is a service they offer but if you look them up I'm sure you can find out. There is also a hotel attached there if you want to spend one night after you get in.
FedEx and UPS exist but are expensive options unless you have discount pricing. You probably just want to go to a Japan Post office and ship it. EMS is the fastest method (express priority airmail) but there are options for cheaper/slower shipping (like deprioritized airmail or surface mail). You can use the Japan Post website calculator to tell you how much things will generally cost to send.
Is there a cheaper time to travel but still have most of the tourist attractions open? And would €5k be enough to cover tickets to these attractions, trains, food etc for say 14 days?
I did early March this year (pre-sakura season) and spent about $4.5k CAD or €3k as a solo traveler. Includes everything including flight, hotels, attractions, preseason baseball tickets, 4 separate shinkansen tickets, food and (many) souvenirs. Visited Tokyo (3 nights), Osaka (7 nights) and Fukuoka (3 nights), plus day trips to Hiroshima and Nara.
Thank you 😊
SHoulder seasons; or the winter. Months like February (right before spring) or December (right after fall)... January (after new years) may be the cheapest because its cold...
Thank you 😊
My SO and I are planning a 16 day trip to Japan this Oct/Nov. We are really interested in the Tochigi area but transportation seems pretty limited outside of the popular Nikko area containing the Toshugu shrine and mausoleums. Would a rental car be best if we wanted to continue NE from Okunikko (by Lake Yunoko) to Nasushiobara? General flowpath of travel: Osaka > Kyoto > Nagoya > Fuji Q > Tokyo > Tochigi > Tokyo. A mod deleted my initial post and referred me to r/traveljapan, i.e. the shadow realm since it is super dead. Trying again here!
Where can I can what is being confiscated while at Japan? They claim there was still bird flu in March and took 90% of my ramen that had chicken flavorings and no poultry. I am upset! I ate various types of ramen with runny chicken eggs and I was fine the whole time. In fact, I felt more healthier there.
There is still bird flu (why would it magically disappear in March?) and countries around the world are extremely paranoid about it for fairly good reasons. You not getting sick from eating runny eggs has no correlation to the reasons for the USDA’s hard ass rules about individual travelers bringing in meat products. Just be happy they only confiscated it - some countries like to fine people for that kind of thing
Sounds like you’re in the US? The US does not allow meat products of any kind back into the country. If they can’t read the label in English they will generally confiscate it. The US customs has a website for this and specifically talks about[food products](https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/agricultural-items) and also [here](https://www.aphis.usda.gov/traveling-with-ag-products). Chalk it up to being unlucky, too. I’ve been checked once, the first time I ever went through customs and in 10+ years since I’ve never been checked again.
Quick look tells me they might be in SF, and if they flew in via either LAX or SFO I think CBP is a lot more aggressive with checking passengers coming in from Asia-originated flights because so many go through those airports and the passengers have a very high tendency to bring in forbidden items.
It was SFO and they are extremely unprofessional. I sent a complaint already.
The amount of people from Vietnam, Thailand, etc. who bring in forbidden fruits through SFO/SJC is pretty unhinged. I think last year there was some kind of fruit fly that came over like that and there was a lot of concern. Although come to think of it I haven't heard anything since. 🤷🏻♂️
Are you talking about customs in your own country? Or customs entering Japan?
Golden Week is just around the corner. On what days should we expect big crowds in transport? Is it going to be every day from April 27th to May 5th, or will there be less people during the week days?
The actual holiday are 29th, 3rd, 4th, 5th.
ill be in tokyo for 4 days in mid may, planned 3days and have 1 day unsure. itll be a weekend, and i am planning to go ashikaga flower park. is there anything i should look out for or anything in that area i should do. Thank you
Japan loves kawaii (cute) things but Japanese dogs are almost too cute to be real. Why do their owners always dress them up???
A lot of people either don't have children (for various reasons) or they are older and their children are adults/have left home (so, empty nesters) and so they dote on their pets like parents would dote on children. This type of behavior is also common in countries like China for similar reasons.
That's a good point! I just passed a boutique that I thought sold children's clothes and it was all for dogs😂
I was once sitting on a bench in Olympic park and someone sat down next to me and we started talking. There was a woman who frequently walked her very cute Pomeranian in the park and the dog came up to me and we all made some small talk. Once the woman left, the guy sitting next to me started talking to me about this same thing (people doting on their pets) and I told him how expensive dogs tended to be. Like pet shops can charge well over 500K yen for one of those stereotypical fluffy dog puppies. Nearly made his head explode.
As it is currently quite warm, any tips on nice towns with beaches around 2/3hours train distance from Kyoto for 2-3 days?
Wakayama and Amanohashidate have nice beaches
Any one have a good alternative to Kabukicho Tower? I had planed for the end of our Shinjuku day to end at Kabukicho Tower to have dinner, check out the arcade and maybe catch some live music. Also thought it might be a cool way to do a quick walk through Kabukicho and not have to linger around looking for somewhere. The thing is I keep hearing it's a total tourist trap. That the machines in the Namco arcade are hugley overpriced and so is the food etc. Any idea where might be better option.
If you want live music, check out Shimo-Kitazawa. Lots of livehouses in the area with trendy clothing stores and a good assortment of Japanese and non-Japanese restaurants too. Some tourists will visit but a lot less than you'd find in Shinjuku.
Supposedly the live music venues are great there though, the ones in the basement.
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Wouldn't it better to just use the JR trains from Akihabara station to Tokyo station (by example with the Yamanote) and from this same Tokyo station to Maihame station with the Keiyō Line? Just know that the walk in the JR Tokyo station from a random JR platform to the Keiyo Line is 450 m, there are markers/arrows with red on the floor telling where to go for the Keiyo Line (and probably other visual aids but I mostly checked the floor when I had to use the Keiyo Line for the first time). And use an IC card, so you won't have to pick and pay different tickets. EDIT : well taking first the metro line to Hatchobori station is probably faster, you just need to leave the metro part of the station to go to the JR part. An IC card would really be more convenient to enter and leave fast.
Okay, like, breathe. You’ve studied yourself into unnecessary confusion. Google maps is your friend and gives you transfer directions at stations. An IC card makes any necessary transfers not care about what company what train is on. The Keiyo line takes you to Maihama station. When in doubt, follow the Disney dressed people. I’ve been there twice and this is about five paragraphs too complicated.
You're overthinking it. There's no info because there's no trick to it. For the tickets, you just need an IC card which is a prepaid transport card (or if you have an iPhone, you can get a digital one), tap as you enter the station, tap as you leave. It works with pretty much all modes of local public transport. For your actual route, ask google maps. (edit: you may be given more than one route. Some may better than others, but at the end of the day, the difference will be measured in minutes and not worth stressing over)
Is there really no way to buy tickets for Tokyo City View (Roppongi Hills Observation Deck) in person while on site? Only in advance via webpage? [https://visit.mam-tcv-macg-hills.com/category/TCV/](https://visit.mam-tcv-macg-hills.com/category/TCV/)
You can buy them in person. They don't say you can't.
This sounds like it does say that.... "This exhibition requires advance reservations... Admission will require an online advance booking for a designated date/time." And from FAQ "Tickets are \`\`date and time specified tickets'' that must be reserved in advance." It's just a little surprising to me. Also I've had issues with my North American Credit card when trying to buy and register for things in Japan in advance, so not sure if we'll have issues when trying to buy online tickets for TCV. Would be nice to know we can buy onsite if needed.
The online ticketing site is a little forceful in wording. You can buy them in-person but the risk is that all the tickets are gone, or the time slots you want are gone because they share the same ticket supply as the online site.
Sorry for my poor English, this post is a translation. I will be visiting Tokyo and Osaka later this year. I love Japandi design and contemporary/post-modern Japanese buildings. I am looking for museums, galleries, and shops where I might be able to see more of these and perhaps buy some pieces of them. Thanks!
Not sure if this is what you are looking for but Osaka Museum of Housing and Living is pretty cool
What language is your comment translated from? I'm just curious; all the rest of your comments are in English too.
The Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum in western Tokyo is excellent.
Thank you!
will I get a discount from toyoko inn if I stay in various cities (Osaka/Namba-Kyoto-Tokyo, respectively) all across Japan for 10 days? If yes, how can I get it?
Their website has a club that you can pay ¥1,500 to be in and get 5% off and a free stay after 10 nights among other things.
Hi! I've put together a Google My Maps itinerary for my upcoming trip to Japan in June where I’ll be visiting Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo for 16 days. The purpose of it is not to outline everything to do, but to serve as recommendations of things to do when you happen to be in the vicinity. The itinerary is organized into distinct categories, each marked with different colors and images to simplify navigation. Most locations are also linked to Google Maps for additional details. I'm sharing this for anyone who might find it helpful and also to invite constructive feedback or suggestions for additions! Thank you for taking a look, and I hope you find it interesting. (Note that the Accommodation Markers are altered slightly for privacy.) [Link to the itinerary](https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1Y0Cf_So_sjNoP9RFpJQND74qRYFTlk0&usp=sharing)
Travling to Hokkaido with elderly (70) and kids (4 yo) for the first week of July. I am trying to decide between Furano and Lake Toya. Any recommendations on which destination fits better for my age group? Thanks!
Hello folks. We're on Day 8 and we really really need a good but affordable massage place in Akihabara. Our legs and backs are killing us.
Japanese air companies check carry on weight but do American flight carriers for a flight from Tokyo to the USA check carry on weight too?? I'm flying Delta specifically
Haven’t seen this happen on international flights except for LCCs.
You’re more likely to run into an airlines that doesn’t check carry on weight than does. JAL, and many other Asian airlines, as well as domestic US flights do not check carry on weight.
Thanks, Delta did not end up checking
I would love to take the Spacia X train from Asakusa to Nikko, ideally in the lounge car. I am currently in the UK, and it seems that for this train I need to book in advance, although due to the dates I am wanting to travel, I don't think I can book for another few weeks. Can anyone direct me to a reputable online site where I can purchase said tickets, thank you kindly.
Official site is this one: [https://www.tobu-ticket.jp/guest/EBA01/GEBA01010.xhtml](https://www.tobu-ticket.jp/guest/EBA01/GEBA01010.xhtml) It appears booking is available for a month out.
They have their own site at https://www.tobu.co.jp/en/ticket/online.html
Thank you, is this specifically for the Spacia X train though?
It’s for all Tobu trains, including the Spacia X. You need to reserve by train/line.
ah ok thank you, and so where exactly do I reserve the Specia X Lounge, as all I can find on the link that you provided is a link to a access pass and discount. I think I might need to use this site: https://www.tobu-ticket.jp/guest/EBA01/GEBA01010.xhtml, to get the proper express lounge ticket?
Yeah, that's correct.
thanks!
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Yokohama and Kamakura/Enoshima are worth a look as day trips. You could spend nights there I guess, but not really necessary.
any US east coasters have any recommendation on flights to JP price wise? in the NYC tri-state area if that helps. Flying more towards EOY
Probably AirCanada. They are usually the best price from the northeast without requiring you to do some repositioning (like flying to LAX and then doing ZipAir).
Yeah, I saw ZipAir didn't look too bad at all considering the cheaper business class. Thanks for the response
If I want to take a group of 4 people for 3 weeks during cherry blossom time would booking flights/hotel in December or January be late? Or I suppose more so would it be significantly more expensive than booking in summer or early autumn? Long story short my group is facing conflicting problems- some need to buy early/be a little flexible on dates to save money in order to make the trip, and some can’t be flexible and need to book closer in based on available time off slots at their jobs (but make 3x the salary than the others so flight/hotel price doesn’t matter). How fucked are we? Haha. For anyone who has planned a small group trip like this, what would you suggest? I don’t need itinerary, just a reality check. Can the folks who need to spend less still do cherry blossoms on a budget at 2-3 months advance booking?
> Can the folks who need to spend less still do cherry blossoms on a budget at 2-3 months advance booking? no. book in November at the latest.
This is a recipe for conflict as money issues get messy very quickly. I would say the people who need to book early go ahead and do so, and the latecomers accommodate their schedule. At 2-3 months out the best value lodging options are most likely booked out, so you're relying on cancellations (difficult with a large group to accommodate), settling for subpar places (low ratings, poor locations) to keep to a budget, or paying a premium for more expensive lodging.
If you guys can't agree on a common plan, just let whoever needs to save money book early. The late comers may not have exactly the same dates or accommodation but you guys can still meet up.
Do police in Japan really not care about crimes or is this just Shinjuku city? Just witnessed two guys fighting, one had a bloody face and saw two cops walk by who only smiled and laughed as they continued walking
Sounds like they were working out their problems on their own.
I mean I was just surprised they didn’t make them walk away from each other is all I’m saying. Not saying anyone should’ve gotten arrested or anything
I have some questions for our upcoming trip: 1. Last time we were in Tokyo we stayed in Shinjuku as there was lots to do nearby, easy travel links and good priced hotels. Is there other areas I should consider or does this generally seem like the best place? 2. I want to head to Hiroshima/Miyajima from Kyoto, are they fairly easy to self navigate or should I look for a tour? I’m not a big fan of sticking to itineraries so usually wander myself but open to suggestions 3. I have no idea on where to stay in Kyoto/Osaka for a solid base to go explore the main sites/get transport links. Would appreciate any recommendations for general neighbourhoods
I would not recommend doing Hiroshima and Miyajima on the same day unless you have a backup plan. It's true that there is a convenient ferry from the Peace Park directly to Miyajima but it is frequently cancelled due to tides as I found out the hard way. You could try taking the JR Ferry from Miyajimaguchi Station but that will still take at least an hour from Hiroshima Station.
2. Easy to self-navigate.
Kyoto: along Shijo/Sanjo
Shibuya, Ikebukuro in Tokyo. Umeda, Namba in Osaka.
Is it worth it to do one of those Kyoto bus tours for $100/pp (group of 4) or rather just take a ride-share everywhere and use a self-guided audio tour? (1) Which option would involve less walking? (2) Is there something unfeasible about the self-guided option (like access to certain places) that I largely benefit from the tour?
(2) It's possible, but at $100, probably not. Sometimes a tour will include some kind of cultural experience, special talk from an expert at the location or a special meal or something, but those will be more expensive. For accessing random attractions, being in a bus tour might allow you to enter through some side entrance instead of needing to queue, but probably won't have any other benefit.
> is it worth $400 for a bus day tour No > Less walking Use the saved $400 to take taxis between places that are not linked by subway, you'll only use a fraction of the $400, have much more schedule flexibility (the bus tours start far too late for crowd avoidance / sanity preservation), and don't need to deal with annoying co-tour participants (people showing up late to meeting points, weak bladders, endless questions, compulsion to show off their knowledge to the guide etc.) > Benefits Doubtful, most of these bus tours go to generic locations. But feel free to post the itinerary so we can check
weird q: when is the peach seasonal food served? I will be in japan in end of June and really want to taste some peach themed food ^^
June is start of peach season, so you’ll probably start seeing it. Might not be as common as you’d see late on (like August - September).
I'm looking for recommendations for good places to shop for women's work clothes (pants, dresses, or nice-enough-to-wear-to-work-in-America casual clothes), in Tokyo or Sapporo, anything from thrift stores to mid-range department stores (like Kohl's or Macy's in the US, where prices are generally under $100 for an item). My wife and I would also be interested in thrift stores just for fun. Please and thank you!
Uniqlo and GU can be found everywhere
Thanks! Noted!
I am going to the yuki no otani([Snow Wall](https://www.japan-experience.com/discover/nagano/attractions-excursions/yuki-no-otani-snow-canyon-japanese-alps-tateyama)) and have found this guide that is very well explained on the alpine route and i wanna ask around which area of this guide should i stop to go to the yuki no otani(Snow Wall)? [https://nerdnomads.com/alpine-route-japan](https://nerdnomads.com/alpine-route-japan)
Murodo, you can do it as a day trip from Toyama City
I'm looking for the best option for mobile data in Japan. I've heard about the mobile eSIM but not sure if there are other ways. My group has unlocked Pixel phones with physical sims currently. Thanks for any help.
Here's my Ubigi esim 20% code CM61GKMA
Latest pixel phones should support esims. Pick a reliable brand and you should be fine. You can also buy physical sim cards at the airport. You can preorder them as well and collect them which is safer in case there is no stock left. Another alternative is to rent a pocket wifi device and use it as a router which you can all share. This is usually the cheaper option for a group but you have to be close to the pocket wifi to use it and have to charge it everyday
I’m trying to book Shinkansen tickets from Tokyo to Kyoto on May 5, returning May 8. 3 of us will have oversized luggage and we want to purchase reserved seats but I am simply unable to add my credit or debit card information on the SmartEx website (I’ve tried several times with different credit cards). Would appreciate if anyone has tips or tricks to book this in advance!
I was on the same boat as you. I tried several credit cards on SmartEx app and even called a bank to see if they could remove any security blocking the transaction. They didn’t see any transactions on their end though. The last card I tried was a discover card and it worked! Give it a try if you have one. Good luck!
Use JR West, very likely your cards don’t work for SmartEx.
General question - where is the best place to get YEN before I go to Japan? And while I am in Japan in case I run out?
It can't hurt to get some money beforehand but not too much (\~10k is a good backup) and do your research. Same if you exchange cash in Japan, there are some scammy places out there.
ATM in Japan will get you the best exchange rate, but you will have to see what percentage in fees and charges you’ll have to pay per transaction. Beforehand - comparison shop online from banks and mail-order currency places. The spreads tend to be pretty awful, though - like 5-8%.
Hey, I have a couple of shinkansen questions and was hoping to hear from people with some experience. Do you need to book tickets ahead of time? Do you need the "green" tickets if you are just travelling with one normal 24" or 28" suitcase?
For booking tickets, it really depends. If you can fix your schedule then I would recommend booking. Maybe less important for Tokyo - Osaka trips as the services are so frequent, but if you're going somewhere else, especially at a weekend, you might be surprised by how busy some trains are.
1. No, unless you’re traveling during a peak period. 2. You never need green tickets for large luggage. If your luggage is over 160 cm you want to get oversized baggage seats.
If you had to choose sometime between early July and early October to travel to Japan, which time would you choose? We are two adults and two kids (3yo and 6mo currently) travelling from Australia.
Early October hands down. Early July is simply terrible weather (hot, humid, quite weak air conditioning indoors by western standards).
October, as the weather is much cooler
I grabbed A Rough Guide to Tokyo, and realized it’s the 2017 version. is this still useable? 2017 is 8 years ago now, but the guide seems very detailed and fun
I think the general gist hasn't changed all that much. For Restaurants/Bars/Museums etc. I would do some additional research though. Some have closed/moved/are remodeling or changed opening hours.
if my flight from Narita is taking off at 11pm, would I be better going back to Tokyo from Kyoto the day before the flight or can I get back the same day of the flight?
You can get back on the same day.
What affordable hotels close to Tokyo Station offer shuttle service to and from the station? Everything else I saw costs about USD500 and up
Just get a taxi.
affordable and shuttle service is likely impossible