Japan for 2 Weeks - Advice Appreciated on Itinerary!

• 

  altomic on 25/04/2018 - 10:12

  +1

  check all these posts that asked the exact same question

  • 

    IceCreamBandit on 25/04/2018 - 10:15

    Already reading them through now. Just wanted to see if there was any different advice this time based on time of year I'm travelling, the places I want to go to etc.

• 

  Detective Pikachu on 25/04/2018 - 10:52

  +1

  Ghibli Museum

  If you plan to stay in an AirBnB, some offer complimentary portable Wi-Fi modems.

  • 

    IceCreamBandit on 25/04/2018 - 10:58

    +1

    Of course! Thank you!!!

    And am checking out Airbnb options now :)

    • 

      Mellyp on 26/04/2018 - 08:31

      +1

      Just be weary, the free WiFi is often limited for the month so if previous stayers used it heavily you might be out of luck.

      I fall strongly in the ‘get personal wifi’ camp as it’s necdesaey to have map and train access at all times and the times between air bnb you’ll be stuffed (and that’s when you’ll need it most).

      I don’t love air bnbs in Japan, the houses can be very cold and it’s hard to know what you get until you turn up.
      I definitely prefer hotels, and would recommend you investigating Remm Akihabara. I stay there every time I go. Keep in mind rooms in Tokyo are small, so you’ll be getting very close to your travelling companion.

      • 

        IceCreamBandit on 26/04/2018 - 11:32

        Thanks for you tip! I'll be staying for only a few days in various cities a personal wifi modem may make it more convenient without having to learn how to use a new wifi thing every time.

        Will look into Remm Akihabara as well! Thank you!

      • 

        Neenie Beamer on 26/04/2018 - 18:50

        +1

        I stayed at REMM too, gee it was good having a shiatsu massage chair in the room after a long day of walking and shopping! I liked REMM so much I didn't even bother look around I just booked it again for next month's trip.

  • 

    monkeybusiness on 25/04/2018 - 21:09

    +3

    Make sure you book early for Ghibli Museum tickets. Tickets are released months early with the designated day you want to visit.

    You can't just walk in the buy tickets so book to not be disappointed (I had to find this out the hard way when I was there)

    • 

      IceCreamBandit on 26/04/2018 - 11:44

      Make sure you book early for Ghibli Museum tickets

      Thank you so much for this. Have just set multiple reminders on my phone to do this!!!

• 

  Herodotus on 25/04/2018 - 11:06

  +5

  Please see a sumo match.

• 

  JimmyLmao on 25/04/2018 - 12:30

  +3

  You simply must go to Harajuku too, whilst in Tokyo! Also the main road in Akihabara is closed off to cars on Sundays, and it gets really busy with lots of people dressing up, same situation with harajuku on a Sunday. So check it out :) Also check out Shinjuku! May I also recommend the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building as a good free look-out.

  As for accommodation, airbnb is really cheap and was good enough for me! If you're a bit fussy then get a more expensive airbnb (although they're pretty much all the same small apartments). I recommend just staying in the one spot and not changing airbnbs as much as possible, because it's such a hassle to carry your luggage around, and you have to be out by 10am and usually can't check in the next one until 3pm. So just stay at the one place near a train station in Osaka or Kyoto, then visit the other, and Nara, via day trips!

  Make sure you get the timing right on the JR pass, because even if you activate it at night time, it counts as a whole day. It doesn't work in periods of 24hrs. Once you're ready to go and they're activated, you can go up to the shinkansen ticket counter and book seats, even for the rest of your trip in advance, but there's usually always free seats unless an event is on, so you can just do it as you go :) you'll want them for the shinkansen back to Tokyo otherwise you'll pay a couple hundred $ for two tickets. The 7 day JR passes would probably pay for themselves in your situation, compared to buying tickets.

  In Kyoto you'll mostly have to catch buses everywhere, so the JR pass won't be useful in that respect. Buses in Japan are weird. You enter through the back/middle door, then sit down, and pay when you get off. The amount you pay is shown on a screen and depends on what stop you're at, but google maps usually gives the exact cost anyway. However, if you get some sort of ic card, tapping to get on & off would be easier, not sure which card to get. Fushimi Inari Tashi is great and you can get there via train and JR pass so it's a good place to start!

  Make a trip to visit Himeji too! It's not too far away by train from Osaka, and has the most amazing castle in Japan out of them all!

  I found that a lot less people speak English than I was suspecting, and only a few places have English food menus, so if that makes you uncomfortable, keep an eye out of food places with self order machines so you don't feel under pressure. Make sure to eat all the pan fried gyoza you can! Because it's ridiculously good and cheap over there. It's perhaps one of the things I miss the most after coming back :(

  But most of all, have fun! Have the important things organised so you have peace of mind, then have rough plans for the days, but go with the flow! You may find you really like a particular place and want to spend more time there, or you may find a place to be less exciting and you allocar a whole day to it.

  • 

    IceCreamBandit on 25/04/2018 - 13:51

    +1

    Thank you so much Jimmy!

    Will check out all your recommendations and especially Himeji, that place looks awesome!

    Will be careful with JR passes and the itinerary is coming together nicely now :)

    Thanks again!

    • 

      JimmyLmao on 25/04/2018 - 13:57

      +1

      No worries, have a good trip!

    • 

      robotshepard on 26/04/2018 - 10:53

      +1

      Just adding to the Kyoto buses thing- I just came back from Japan and Kyoto has a daypass for buses for 600y, in 3 trips it pays for itself as the trips are 230y each. In Kyoto there is also a MASSIVE undercover mall, I almost got lost in there a couple times.

      Also if you see a place selling honey that also has soft serve icecream?? Get the honey icecream you'll never regret it

      • 

        IceCreamBandit on 26/04/2018 - 11:16

        +1

        Thanks for the tip on day passes! Just bookmarked the official page with information and will keep it in mind.

        Honey is also one of my favourite things to eat so I will go searching for it at the malls, thank you!!

• 

  undercut on 25/04/2018 - 15:58

  +4

  A few to add for Tokyo -

  Sensoji - Tokyo's oldest temple. Lots of great street food in the area. Try the Asakusa Menchi. Go to the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center for a superb view of the area.

  As mentioned above, you can cheap out by going to the free Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation decks instead of Skytree. Here's a pic I took from the top: https://www.instagram.com/p/BhLWcmMHWxd/?taken-by=travel_wit…

  Disneyland is great fun. Make sure you go on a weekday for a less crowded experience. Buy tickets online, and you won't have to queue at the gate. As soon as you enter, go get a fastpass for your most desired ride, which saves you from queueing up. The turkey legs are delicious :D We found DisneySea more interesting than regular Disney.

  Tsukiji fish market

  Yoyogi Park on a Sunday to see Elvis impersonators, dogs with their hair did and suchlike.

  Walk around Kabukicho at night. Maybe visit the robot restaurant if you're game.

  Public transport is awesome. You can buy a Suica/PASMO card from the ticket machines at the airport (head down to the bottom level for the trains). You then load it up, and whatever you don't use is refundable.

  The Keisei Skyliner was the best option for us for transport from the airport to our Airbnb. You can get discounts if you buy online too. This website gives you a good overview of the process: https://tokyocheapo.com/travel/keisei-line-from-narita/

  Get an ING Direct account to withdraw money from ATMs for free. There are lots at the airport, so there's not really any need to get JPY in advance.

  Airbnb was definitely the cheapest and most convenient option for us. Plus most Airbnbs will supply a free portable wifi device.

  Great cheap eats: sushi train Uobei Sushi (120JPY per plate - go nuts!) or Genki Sushi
  CoCo Curry House
  Ichiran Ramen
  Yoshinoya
  Gindaco Takoyaki

  You can also get some pretty tasty stuff from the konbini (convenience stores) like Family Mart and 7-11. I ate a Famima pork bun every day for breakfast for around 100JPY.

  Check out the Abroad in Japan Youtube channel for some great travel advice.

  Interesting facts:
  No one uses their mobile phone on the subway out of respect for each other
  No one smokes or eats on the street out of respect for each other
  Overall, it's an extremely polite society and we found the Japanese people to be so helpful

  Have a brilliant time :D

  • 

    undercut on 25/04/2018 - 16:07

    +3

    Shopping wise:

    Electronics, gaming and toys: Yodabashi Camera in Akihabara
    Cheap souvenirs: Any 100 Yen store, including Daiso, Seria and Can Do
    Food, cosmetics and random crap: Don Quijote, Tokyu Hands
    Clothes: Uniqlo, G.U.
    Cool vintage electronics: Hard Off Tokyo

    If you're a whisky drinker, there are some amazing Japanese whiskies that can be had for around half of what you'd pay in oz

    Most stores are tax free if you spend above a certain amount, so make sure you bring your passport whenever you shop

    • 

      IceCreamBandit on 25/04/2018 - 19:10

      Thank you so much for all the suggestions!!!

      A lot of the above has been added to my to-do list! Still deciding between Disneyland/Disneysea. We've only ever been to Disneyland Hong Kong so maybe DisneySea for something unique?

      Have just read upon Suica/PASMO and will definitely get that. Will be very convenient for use in multiple cities rather than just buying single tickets every time. May buy one just as a souvenir!

      Keisei Skyliner looks really useful, I will be after something relatively easy as I will be in transit for ~14 hours. Used points in a previous OzBargain deal to get cheap flights but I have to fly to Melbourne before going to Narita…6am first flight in Sydney landing around 7pm local time in Tokyo :(

      Will definitely look into ING Direct and eat as much of everything as possible, I love Japanese food so this should be great!

      And thank you for the tips regarding shopping too, will be pretty much bringing an empty suitcase and buying clothes etc as I go!!!

      And thanks for the tips about phones on trains and no eating on the street. Currently powering through a Lonely Planet guide so seeing some tips/places being repeated is really reassuring!

      Thanks again, you've been awesome :)

      • 

        monkeybusiness on 25/04/2018 - 21:12

        +1

        Disneyland if you want an experience that is very family friendly with a gearing towards all ages. Focus is very much on fairytales, etc

        DisneySea if you want an experience more for the teenager and up crowd.

      • 

        IceCreamBandit on 26/04/2018 - 11:43

        @monkeybusiness:

        Thanks for the insight monkeybusiness :)

        Leaning towards DisneySea for something different at the moment :)

  • 

    FlatEarth on 26/04/2018 - 18:38

    +1'ed just for mentioning Abroad In Japan.
    I love that channel ;)

• 

  sauce2k on 25/04/2018 - 21:28

  +2

  I just came back from my own 2 weeks trip in Japan.

  It was my first time there and I can confidently say it’s the best country I’ve ever been to lol!

  I did heaps research before I went (probably too much)!

  Like the guys already mentioned above get a wifi or sim. The airbnb we stayed at had free portable wifis so it was quite convenient! SIM cards can be expensive but we still got one to use on the bullet trains between Tokyo Kyoto and Osaka.

  Airbnb is definitely cheaper than hotels! We went during cherry blossom season and stayed in Shinjuku, cost us about $780 for 5 nights. You will pay a lot cheaper during non peak season. If you are going to Mount Fuji I recommend you to look for a Ryokan in the mountains. It’s going to be a little pricey but you will have a really good experience. Try look for one that has a private onsen and includes breakfast and dinner. One night is all you need.

  As for travel, get a Suica card. It’s like opal here , you just top up as you go. Trains aren’t cheap in Japan, you will be paying more than you pay here. We didn’t get a JR pass so maybe it’s different for you guys.

  Food wise I recommend you to check out Mark Wiens on YouTube. I pretty much went to most of the places he recommended and omg they were awesome! We find that for $30-40 oz each per meal, you will have a very very very decent feed in japan.

  I recommend you not to go to Tokyo tower it’s a tourist trap haha.. go to the metropolitan government building it’s free to go up there.

  For Osaka, check out Universal. If you can’t be bothered getting express pass just use the single line for all your rides. We find that sometimes it’s faster than the express line (crazy I know!).

  Happy to send you my trip plan. Just DM me :)

  Enjoy!

  • 

    IceCreamBandit on 26/04/2018 - 11:49

    +1

    Thanks sauce2k!

    I've been researching non-stop the last few days but I think the more prepared I am the better, especially as I only have very very basic Japanese haha…

    Still looking at all the various accommodation options so will check out the Ryokan. At the moment I've set aside a whole day for Mt Fuji, may make it an overnight stay at a Ryokan!

    Have watched plenty of Mark Weins since I booked the flights, will need to re-watch a few so thanks for the reminder!

    Will definitely visit the government building as the photos up there look great!

    Wasn't thinking of Universal as we aren't super into rides, we're mostly looking at visiting shrines and temples at the moment but will keep it in mind!

    May PM you if I need more inspiration for the trip. Thank you!!!

    • 

      sauce2k on 26/04/2018 - 16:07

      No worries happy to help! haha you are quite lucky, I can see people here are pretty helpful! I wasn't as lucky as you are. :)

      If you enjoy Shrines and Temples you will freaking LOVE Kyoto..I loved Kyoto so much!

      We actually rented a bike for 2 out of the 4 days to get around Kyoto. It's totally up to you guys because the roads are not flat in Kyoto and a lot of uphills too! For us, we really enjoyed the bikes. Most temples/shrines have free bike parkings. The bike company we went with is J-Cycle. Super friendly staff.

      We stayed the below airbnb for Tokyo and Kyoto. The one in Tokyo is really small (it's Japan so it's standard) but it's close to Shinjuku station. The one is Kyoto is massive though!

      https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/11408765

      https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/9180372

      There's this one place we went in Kyoto, which is quite hidden and I reckon it's a must visit - Genkoan Temple. Punch it in Google and you will know why. It's such a beautiful little temple and we literally just sat there for 30 mins and felt brilliant afterwards. It's hard to describe but you will know once you are there!

• 

  randoom on 25/04/2018 - 21:42

  +3

  If you have time near Kyoto and like nature and hikes, I couldn't more highly recommend Kurama and Kibune (see https://www.japanvisitor.com/kyoto/kurama-kibune). It's a train ride north but well worth it to go hiking, see the views, temples and so on. We didn't go but there's onsen there you could visit too. If you're made of money ($125+ AUD each), you can dine "over" the river at certain times of the year. We decided to sit across the road and eat whilst watching people have said experience and paid more like $10 each for snacks.

  Some tips:

  Definitely get an IC card. Means you can just get on and off public transport with ease. The ones we got last for 10 years so I'm sure you'll be back in that time. A nice trick we found was you can spend credit on the IC card at convenience stores like the ones at airports. We drained the little left on our IC cards by buying food/drink/etc just before we left. Food at airport convenience stores have the same cheap prices as elsewhere in Japan.

  Japan is still very cash-based in many areas, particularly the more remote places. That said, we actually couldn't get onto the train leaving the airport without paying in cash as our international cards weren't accepted there. Thankfully 7Bank ATMs saved the day.

  Ghibli Museum is a must-visit if you're a fan on anime (and even if you're not…) — but make sure you get your tickets before you go. Read up on their website how to get tickets and be prepared to be online on the 10th of the month before you go.

  Don Quijote (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Quijote_(store)) is a must-visit if just for the experience. Prices vary wildly from good value to downright rip-off and vary between stores. There's some huge stores around the place, particularly in Akihabara and Asakusa.

  Capsule hotels are a must-do as well, even if just a night. It was a great experience and completely different from what I was expecting.

  Finally, you must try okonomiyaki and the ramen over there — just amazing.

  PS If you have left-over yen at the end of your trip, go shopping at the airport. We finished up by spending some fiddly amount of yen in cash/coins at duty free, and then paying the rest on credit card. No waste and the cashier got to do the counting for us.

  • 

    IceCreamBandit on 26/04/2018 - 11:56

    +1

    Kurama and Kibune look great…was maybe thinking about hiking so I'll keep it in mind. Definitely want to see natural scenery along with shrines and stuff so I'll be going to the Arashiyama bamboo groves and the nearby temples.

    IC card is a must, I'll probably buy that at the same time I can buy my JR passes (which can only be bought 3 months in advance I think?). I loved using the Octopus card in HK for all things travel and convenience stores so I imagine it will be the same! Will also have plenty of cash ready as well.

    Have just set reminders about buying tickets early for Ghibli as it is an absolute must-see thing on our list!

    Will definitely be in Akihabara and Asakusa so will keep a look out for Don Quijote!

    Will look into Capsule hotels…might get a bit claustrophobic though!

    Hehe I'll be eating all the okonomiyaki/ramen/udon/everything I can while I'm there!

    And thanks for the tip with using up remaining yen…will remember to keep some space left in my carry-on luggage so I can buy some last minute things!

    • 

      randoom on 03/05/2018 - 01:04

      No worries, enjoy the trip! Take it all in and don't rush too much - we did 2 weeks and barely slept.

      Final tip I almost forgot: pachinko. Even if you don't play, just go for the experience and the crazy atmosphere. You'll find parlours everywhere in the cities. Gambling is illegal in Japan but pachinko "isn't" gambling. Rather, money goes in, you play and (might) win ball bearings; take ball bearings to a prize counter and win a prize (a bag of chips, dishwashing liquid, a pen etc) — and if you have enough balls, you'll get a special trinket (like a plastic encased gold charm). You then take said trinket to a secret nearby location (outside, across the road, down the street etc), slide it into a hole in the wall and you'll magically get presented with money back.

      Sounds crazy, but it's all true. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachinko

      Only in Japan.

• 

  shagaroo on 26/04/2018 - 10:00

  +1

  Booked this place for stay in December - has laundry facilities. It's in Shinjuku which is hive of activity and has a train station on a convenient train line.

  And this place in Kyoto - not sure about laundry for this place.

  Mind you, we have a family of 6 so not sure if they suit you.

  • 

    IceCreamBandit on 26/04/2018 - 12:01

    The Shinjuku place looks awesome but unfortunately booked out for my visit. Enjoy!!

    Tsumugi Inn looks great but it is a bit pricey (but definitely worth it for a whole family). It is on the shortlist though!!

    Thanks Shagaroo!

• 

  McEels on 26/04/2018 - 10:27

  +1

  Haven't been (yet…maybe one day) but this Reissue cafe does amazing coffee art if you're into that sort of thing.

  https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restaurant_Review-g1066456-d1…

  • 

    IceCreamBandit on 26/04/2018 - 12:03

    The pictures on tripadvisor look awesome, will check it out!

    Thanks!!

• 

  Captainmeows on 26/04/2018 - 11:38

  +1

  I really loved the Nara park, the deer were adorable.

  If you have time I would recommend a day trip from Nara to Mt Koya. It was the highlight of my trip and super interesting.

  • 

    IceCreamBandit on 26/04/2018 - 12:04

    I have a whole day set aside for Nara so I might head up to Mt Koya!

    Thank you for the recommendation!

  • 

    sauce2k on 26/04/2018 - 16:18

    Haha don’t let the deers eyeing on the cookies !!!! They can be quite aggresive LOL

• 

  DarthAntz on 26/04/2018 - 11:44

  +1

  September 17 and 23rd/24th are public holidays (silver week, respect for the aged day), and because its a long weekend, many people will travel to be with family etc. transport and hotel bookings will be busy during this time. Book early.
  https://www.officeholidays.com/countries/japan/index.php

  • 

    IceCreamBandit on 26/04/2018 - 12:06

    Thanks for the dates! Thankfully I am travelling just after that but I will be there for the Health and Sports public holiday on October 8th which seems really interesting! Will be finalising all accommodation by the end of the week hopefully!

• 

  woodwa on 26/04/2018 - 15:27

  https://maricar.com/en/akihabara.amp.html

  Like mario Kart. Do it on the streets of akihabra!

• 

  Dont Care on 26/04/2018 - 19:14

  Don't swim or drink at Fukoshima

• 

  ay-papii on 26/04/2018 - 21:58

  My girlfriend and I got back from Japan last week and it was amazing! We visited Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.
  We had a JR Pass but also got a Pasmo card as that allows you to use on local lines without needing tickets as well as you can use it at convenience stores and selected vending machines. There is also SUICA cards which work the same as Pasmo. Another good thing about them is that at the end of your trip whatever money you have leftover on the card will get refunded to you once you return the card at a ticket office. The JR pass allows you to travel on all JR lines including the Yamanote line which is a loop of Tokyo and connects all the main districts.
  In Tokyo we stayed with an airBnb in Shinjuku which is one of the main districts in Tokyo.
  Akhihabra is great, definitely go to a Sega arcade store. Levels n levels of fun!
  Kabikucho at night is great, a lot of people hate as it's seen seedy but a lot of cool bars operate there and little market shops.
  We recommend DisneySea. Easily spend a whole day there.
  If you're into Mario kart then best way to see Tokyo is through maricar. You get to drive on the streets of Tokyo dressed as your favourite gaming character and cruise around!!! The course we chose took us to Tokyo tower aswell as Shibuya crossing. It was awesome! If you choose to do Maricar you will need an International driving Permit/license. Easy to obtain through RACV.
  Tokyo Metropolitan Building is a must if you want to see Tokyo from above and how big it really is plus going up there is free. It's in Shinjuku so that was a bonus for us.
  The Imperial palace is nice as the gardens are beautiful and it's peaceful in there.
  I personally think Yodobashi is overrated and expensive. Yes it has A LOT of things but you can find the same stuff in Aus for a bit cheaper. In saying that you can find data sims there for about 1000 yen which give 1.5GB, that definitely helped us there when we didn't have our pocketwifi. Another giant store competing with Yodobashi is BicCamera. Same stuff similarish prices. Another store called Don Quijute is great though. They have stores basically in all districts and are cheaper and are a tax free store if you spend more than a certain amount, 5000 JPY for instance. I actually ended up getting a suitcase from there.

  In Osaka we stayed at Umeda through booking.com but the same apartments can be found in AirBnb also. Great location in the sense it's close to everything. The Umeda Sky Building is great to go up and view Osaka.
  The Namba/Dotonbori area is where you'll see most the tourists and people though. Basically the stomach of Osaka if you get what i mean. Food everywhere, i loved it! Plus the famous Glico man sign is there and it's own store.
  Osaka castle is amazing but try go early as more n more people start to come as the day goes on.

  We did a day trip tour to Kyoto and got to see most the heritage sites so that was good but i feel like to really appreciate you need atleast 2/3/4 days to explore all the sites and Kyoto itself.

  Hope this helps and goodluck with it. It's a country that you will love

  • 

    Mellyp on 27/04/2018 - 10:20

    Don’t do mario kart. It’s so dangerous; in 2017 they had 1 accident a week and 70% of those accidents were caused by tourists. Essentially the carts are on the road with regular traffic but they’re so low they can be difficult to see, they also don’t have a roll cage and you don’t have a helmet so one wrong move could be devistating.

    • 

      ay-papii on 27/04/2018 - 11:16

      It's dangerous if you don't follow instructions from your guides. We did a 3 hour session and there were no troubles. There was also 2 other groups going around Tokyo and nothing happened. The karts are brightly lit up so not hard to spot, especially when there is 6-8 karts driving around in a line

      • 

        Mellyp on 27/04/2018 - 11:59

        It’s so unsafe they’re considering banning it soon. A very quick google will show you that.

      • 

        ay-papii on 27/04/2018 - 13:42

        Show me where it says they're considering to ban it?
        Yes you're not provided with helmets but you have a seatbelt. You have experienced tour guides and thousands of people do it every year and have for years and I've heard positive things from everyone who has. We did it and it's one of the best things to do. They also offer an insurance if you are super worried which costs 500 yen. Next to nothing for peace of mind.

        You know that Melbourne is thinking of having their own one soon.

  • 

    IceCreamBandit on 27/04/2018 - 20:31

    Thanks for the super detailed comments! Will definitely grab the JR Pass and SUICA card!!!

    Yeah we're planning to do 3/4 days in Kyoto and 2/3 in Osaka, but it will be a fairly packed schedule to see a bit of everything.

    Thanks so much again for your help!

    • 

      ay-papii on 27/04/2018 - 23:13

      Haha no worries, glad to be of some assistance. Enjoy your trip!

      I myself can't wait to go back to Japan

• 

  ay-papii on 26/04/2018 - 22:03

  +1

  Oh yeah grab as many different KitKats as you can, so many interesting flavours 😂😁

  • 

    myusername on 27/04/2018 - 15:35

    try the kit kat sake that rocked

    • 

      ay-papii on 27/04/2018 - 16:47

      +1

      Sake one was good! Strawberry cheesecake flavour which came in a box shaped like Mount Fuji was definitely one of my faves

• 

  myusername on 27/04/2018 - 15:35

  whilst in Tokyo check this out http://www.shinjuku-robot.com/pc/index.php?lng=en robot Restaurant is awesome

  Kuromon Ichiba Market isnt anything special as the locals told me it's only really for tourists, something you'll see in about 10 mins.

  Tsūtenkaku tower is reasonably close to Shitennoji temple.

  In Osaka spend your time in the little alleyways looking for little bars or eateries, the types that only seat 5 or 6 people, those ones rock, and honestly the best ones are the ones that DON'T have foreigners there.

  Have just gotten back from 2 weeks in Japan.

  Just looking at where you're going get yourself a jr pass, it seems expensive but it pays for itself.

  • 

    IceCreamBandit on 27/04/2018 - 20:34

    Thanks myusername!

    Will look to find the more 'local' restaurants to get a more authentic experience as well as going to the touristy parts.

    Much appreciated!

    • 

      myusername on 28/04/2018 - 09:56

      if you're after some good local restaurants pm me.

      like i said i been there 7 times now and ONLY eat where the locals eat lol

    • 

      myusername on 28/04/2018 - 10:57

      Places not to eat :
      Yoshinoya
      CoCo Curry House
      Genki Sushi

      they're like the maccas of that genre

      you can find sooooo many better places to eat than those ones

• 

  jennkei on 28/04/2018 - 01:09

  I don't know whether you're interested in anime/some video games, but if you are, the themed cafes are worth visiting.

  Tokyo:
  * If you're into food, Tsuta (soba-ramen), Nakajima (sardines, go for lunch), and Fuunji (ramen) were nice.
  * Since you're going to Odaiba, perhaps consider Miraikan. Miraikan was futuristic and scifi. Quite enjoyable, especially since it was cheap.
  * Fresh omakase sushi at a sushi place. (Went to Sushi Dai but been several years.) But the average quality of food we got off the streets/in random restaurants was superb anyway.

  Osaka/Kyoto:
  * Onsen!! We used the Osaka Unlimited Pass for a few days and onsen are awesome. If you don't mind nudity (no one else will). And being away from your partner for a few hours. (Gender-segregated.) We both agreed this was a fantastic way to relax and wind down the day. The OUP also has other attractions, some of which are worth it. It's now the Osaka Amazing Pass, it seems.
  * Kaiyukan. While on hindsight (after a few years and a few documentaries), it's kind of cruel, it was pretty interesting when I was there. Whale shark merch is the best.
  * (Already on your list) Kinkakuji. Even though you can't go in it, it's really shiny and nice in pictures.
  * (Already on your list) Dotombori with the free-with-pass river cruise is nice and neon at night. Good okonomiyaki is everywhere, too.
  * Rikuro cheesecake. Yum!
  * Second-hand kimono and haori at a market in Kyoto. 500yen and up. Can't quite remember where, will have to ask partner if you're interested.
  * Wanted to do a maiko experience (where they dress and make you up like a maiko) but wanted to be cheapo and couldn't find the cheapest place. :( If you don't mind the cost and are interested, this is quite a unique experience. Satisfied myself with the cheap kimono instead.

  If you're curious, these are the Google Maps I used.
  Stuff we didn't visit is marked with grey symbols. Stuff we visited usually have some comment on them.
  Tokyo (Most recent trip): https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1maM9y8GcoZbLCYiT…
  Tokyo (Older trip): https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=zh1mZTYGXEY0.kn4J…
  Osaka/Kyoto: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=zh1mZTYGXEY0.kOMh…

  Have a lovely trip. :)

• 

  pat0809 on 28/04/2018 - 18:53

  In my opinion, the view of Tokyo Skytree is much better than the view from it.

  The best view of Tokyo is definitely Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills.

• 

  phocus on 30/04/2018 - 15:12

  Send your luggage from hotel to hotel. Saves you having to navigate train stations looking for lifts.

  • 

    IceCreamBandit on 30/04/2018 - 15:30

    That sounds great! Is this kind of service available between cities as well? What is the cost like? Thanks!

    • 

      phocus on 30/04/2018 - 15:57

      yup.

      I forget the name of the courier company, but its the logo of a cat with a parcel in its mouth. You can even send to airport, from airport and to hotels.

      Roughly $12ish i think for each piece and its an overnight service. It really saves the back and makes your trip infinitely better.

      • 

        nismo on 12/05/2018 - 22:23

        That sounds like Kuro-Neko Yamato
        (Black Cat Yamato), except in most pictures it's actually carrying a smaller cat in its mouth.
        http://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/en/

      • 

        letmesingh on 13/05/2018 - 00:32

        @nismo: oh thats brilliant

• 

  Chopel on 30/04/2018 - 22:59

  @IceCreamBandit Do you mind to PM me your finalise itinerary. cheers.

• 

  letmesingh on 13/05/2018 - 00:30

  I'm flying September too… will be there between 12 to 23sep 18

• 

  DiscoJango on 02/09/2018 - 11:01

  hi guys

  im going to japan in october. like most of you im researching and planning the crap out of my trip

  the one area that has me stumped is mobile simcard data. i understand that most hotels have free wifi, but i need data for when im out and about, mainly for google maps directions

  i see some people mention that their hotels gave them free hot spots to take around with them, how does this work? is there an extra fee, how much data do you get, are the speeds ok? i used booking.com to book my hotels and none of them mention these free portable hot spots

  i also read that to get a japan sim i need to order one locally here well in advance before going to japan

  • 

    letmesingh on 06/09/2018 - 10:56

    Hey Man, I hired ivideo wifi router for 10 days, cost me $49 with shipping and return, gives me unlimited 4g data (I think its 10gig every 3 days so around 30 gig whole trip. As much I have studied you can buy a sim after you land at the airport. or you can buy a sim at Singapore airport if you flying through there. I think it gives u 2gb data a day for 15 days and cost around $32 SGD. I'm flying next week so will be back before you fly, will update you accordingly

    • 

      DiscoJango on 06/09/2018 - 13:10

      Thanks man, appreciate it!

      Im flying direct from melbourne, so no stop over in singapore unfortunatley

      • 

        letmesingh on 06/09/2018 - 13:16

        there are plenty of Japan Sim posts here, but keep in mind there are no actual unlimited data sim cards.

      • 

        DiscoJango on 06/09/2018 - 16:40

        @letmesingh: after reading the fine print, the unlimited ones get considerably slowed down after 1gb worth of downloads per day.

        however 1gb a day should be more than enough for google maps and some light internet googling :)

        after some googling ive shortlisted to fox wifi, ninja wifi and japan wifi buddy, who all have similar prices, around $60 for 7 days

      • 

        letmesingh on 06/09/2018 - 17:13

        @DiscoJango: i got iVideo for 10 days for $50. they currently have 10% off. plus $2 off if you like their facebook and register on website

      • 

        letmesingh on 06/09/2018 - 17:17

        +1

        @letmesingh: https://www.ivideo.com.tw/english/

      • 

        DiscoJango on 06/09/2018 - 19:15

        @letmesingh: thank you very much

        any recomendation on which of the 6 portable wifi's they have? they all seem same same to me

      • 

        letmesingh on 06/09/2018 - 20:43

        @DiscoJango: I choose the one with softbank network. Japan WiFi Softbank 601HW, it does have 5g coverage in tokyo and osaka

      • 

        letmesingh on 08/09/2018 - 20:14

        @DiscoJango: Hey Mate, I just found this

        https://www.klook.com/activity/3110-sim-card-japan-osaka/?kr…

        so $30 for 8 days unlimited data. 30gb in 4g speed and after that unlimited 3g

      • 

        DiscoJango on 08/09/2018 - 21:16

        @letmesingh: thanks for that, however it appears to be a data sim only

        i was thinking of getting a sim and putting it in my ipad, but then i realised the advantages of having a hot spot, in that me and my mrs can tether our phones to it for data. i could do this with an ipad but it drains the battery pretty quickly

        i made an account with ivideo, just need to pick which hot spot of theirs to use

        i honestly have no idea what the difference between the six models they have on offer are, other than one is a "501hw" and the other is "601hw",

        its also confusing/contradicting when it says unlimited data and then right after, 100gb, unless this means its unlimited, but gets slowed down after 100gb?

      • 

        letmesingh on 08/09/2018 - 21:17

        @DiscoJango: i think it goes to 3g after 100gb

      • 

        DiscoJango on 10/09/2018 - 11:00

        @letmesingh: ended up getting this model, as it appears to have the most battery life

        https://www.ivideo.com.tw/english/wifi/47723

        im not too fussed up super super fast internet, as i wont be youtubing/uploading/netflixing, just google map directions mainly, google translate app and some light internet browsing for looking things up

        thanks again for your assistance :)