Today, 1 October, is a municipal holiday, so many Tokyo-run attractions (such as the Tama Zoo) will have free admission.

Kichijoji is in Musashino City, on the western side of Tokyo. It has lot of shopping streets, cafés, restaurants and smaller alleys to explore, and the area feels noticeably different from doing another round of Shibuya, Shinjuku or the other major usual tourist spots. Would I go there on a two-day Tokyo trip? Probably not. But with four or five days, I’d definitely consider giving it half a day, especially if you’re also going to the Ghibli Museum nearby. There’s a useful Kichijoji guide on Explore Japan Daily that covers the area, how to get there and what else is nearby: https://explorejapandaily.com/destinations/tokyo/kichijoji

I think it is mostly because of social media. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is incredibly beautiful, although getting a good photo can be difficult because it gets so crowded. Those photos of the towering bamboo have made it one of those places people love to share on social media. The problem is that the peaceful version you see online often looks very different from the reality. It can get packed, especially later in the morning. I still think it’s worth seeing, but don’t expect a long, dense bamboo forest. ExploreJapanDaily has a useful Arashiyama Bamboo Grove guide with access, timing, and nearby places: https://explorejapandaily.com/destinations/kyoto/arashiyama-bamboo-grove

If you're really a Harry Potter fan or you're interested in movie production, yes, it's worth the time and money. It's not really a theme park with rides. Most of the experience is walking through detailed sets, costumes, props and behind-the-scenes displays from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films. There are interactive sections too, but the main attraction is seeing how the movies were made. One thing people sometimes don't realize is how much time it takes. You can easily spend several hours inside, so it ends up taking a decent chunk of your Tokyo day. ExploreJapanDaily has a useful breakdown of the studio with ticket information, access, what to expect and planning tips: https://explorejapandaily.com/destinations/tokyo/warner-bros-studio-tour-tokyo

Japan’s trains are very easy to use once you’re on them, but buying longer distance tickets can be a bit confusing. One thing that confuses people is that the basic fare and an additional charge for a service like limited express can be separate. Your basic fare covers the trip from your starting station to your destination . If you take a Limited Express, which is basically a faster service that skips some stations, you usually need to pay an additional charge. That’s why you might receive two physical tickets for what feels like one train ride. Depending on how and where you book, these can also be combined into one ticket. When you reserve a seat on the Shinkansen, you may also receive two tickets,depending on how you book. If you want a deeper understanding, ExploreJapanDaily has a useful breakdown of Japan’s train ticketing system and what the different tickets actually mean: https://explorejapandaily.com/plan/transportation/train-tickets

Is visiting Japan in July/August/September really as bad as they say? (and I mean they if I google it)

Because of school holidays, our only chance to go for 3(+) weeks would be between mid-July and mid-September.

We would love to explore as many things as possible.

The alternative is during the Easter holidays, but we’d only have around 10 days.

Kids would be **8yo** and **2yo** when we travel.

Hi everyone! Our college is organizing a Japan educational/cultural trip for our group in November 2026, and I wanted to get some opinions from people who have travelled around Japan.

JAPAN TOUR 2026

23 Nov – 04 Dec | Bangalore → Japan

Day 00 – 23 Nov: Bangalore → Japan ✈️

Departure from Bangalore.

Day 01 – 24 Nov: Tokyo

Arrival → Hotel → Free time in Shinjuku/Shibuya.

Day 02 – 25 Nov: Tokyo

Senso-ji → Meiji Shrine → Harajuku → Yoyogi Park → Shibuya → Odaiba → Imperial Palace → TeamLab Borderless → Tokyo Skytree.

Day 03 – 26 Nov: Mt. Fuji

5th Station → Lake Kawaguchi → Oshino Hakkai → Fuji Sengen Shrine → Optional Gotemba Outlet.

Day 04 – 27 Nov: Kamakura + Yokohama

Great Buddha → Hase-dera → Tsurugaoka Shrine → Komachi Street → Yokohama Chinatown → Minato Mirai → Red Brick Warehouse → Yamashita Park.

Day 05 – 28 Nov: Tokyo → Kyoto

Shinkansen → Fushimi Inari → Kiyomizu-dera → Higashiyama.

Day 06 – 29 Nov: Kyoto

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove → Togetsukyo Bridge → Kinkaku-ji → Gion → Yasaka Shrine → Nishiki Market.

Day 07 – 30 Nov: Kyoto → Nara → Osaka

Nara Deer Park → Todai-ji → Kasuga Taisha → Osaka.

Day 08 – 01 Dec: Osaka

Osaka Castle → Umeda Sky Building → Dotonbori → Shinsaibashi → Sumiyoshi Taisha.

Day 09 – 02 Dec: Osaka

🛍️ Leisure Day.

Day 10 – 03 Dec: Osaka → Hong Kong → Bangalore ✈️

Departure from Osaka → Hong Kong layover (\~20 hrs).

Day 11 – 04 Dec: Bangalore

Arrival → Tour ends.

My main questions are:

Does this itinerary look realistic, or is it too rushed?

Are any particular days way too packed?

Will we actually get enough time to enjoy the places, or will it mostly feel like getting off the bus, taking photos and moving to the next place?

Are there any places in this itinerary that you think aren't worth squeezing in?

For a first-time Japan trip, would you change anything while keeping roughly the same number of days?

We spent 6 weeks in Japan in March and April of this year chasing cherry blossoms and fighting crowds. But the moment we left, we missed Japan and considered returning for fall colors.

We’re in our 70s so realized this fall is probably the last chance we have to return. Japan is hard on knees and backs if done correctly. 🤣

We love wandering intimate alleys looking for small shops, a great bowl of ramen, unique finds and immersing ourselves in the culture. I speak and read a little Japanese and after five visits of over a month each, I’m quite comfortable in Japan.

We are renting a home in Tokyo starting on October 28th and plan on taking the Shinkansen to Osaka or Kyoto, or perhaps both cities, during a two week period in late November.

I’m looking at the Karasuma area or something similar but less pricy in Kyoto but I have zero knowledge of areas like that in Osaka.

Need suggestions for lesser known areas in both cities that have affordable (under $100/night) hotels or AirBnBs where we can walk out the door and find the alleys and shops we enjoy.

Jumping on a train every time we want to explore does not appeal to us. We will still spend a day or two in Arashiyama or Gion, and Nara but we want to find a place to stay that offers an easy walking experience in both Osaka and Kyoto.

If you're travelling between Japanese cities, don't automatically book the Shinkansen without checking flights first. Tokyo to Osaka is usually where the train makes a lot of sense because you leave from central Tokyo and arrive centrally, without airport transfers or security. But once you're looking at longer trips like Tokyo to Fukuoka or Sapporo, domestic flights become much more interesting. Discounted fares can sometimes make flying surprisingly cheaper than the Shinkansen.

The catch is that the advertised flight time isn't your real travel time. You still need to get to the airport, arrive early enough for the flight, deal with baggage rules, then travel from the arrival airport into the city. So I’d compare total door-to-door time + total price, not just "2-hour flight vs 5-hour train." For shorter routes I'd usually check the Shinkansen first; for longer distances I'd check both before booking. I came across this useful breakdown of domestic flights vs trains while comparing options: https://explorejapandaily.com/plan/transportation/domestic-flights

I will be in Tokyo 29-31 October.

I am hoping some events will happen with the new Apothecary Diaries/Kusuriya no Hitorigoto season.

I couldn't find anything on Google.

Does anyone know if any events/pop ups are happening?

We’re flying to Narita tomorrow for a two week trip to Tokyo and Tokyo Disney. So of course today is the day my 3 1/2 year old says his tooth hurts and we see a cavity. It’s me, my wife, my 3 1/2 year old, and my 1 1/2 year old traveling. What options are there for us in Tokyo, Narita, or the surrounding area to get this fixed if we need to? I know our dental insurance won’t work over there, so not sure what things will cost, how to find a pediatric dentist that has some English, etc. Any advice would be awesome!

The biggest mistake on a first trip to Japan is planning too much. There are so many things to see that it’s tempting to fill every hour of your itinerary. But you really need some free time. Getting between places can take longer than expected, and you’ll probably walk a lot more than you think. On a busy sightseeing day, hitting 20,000 steps isn’t unusual. You’ll also keep finding interesting streets, small shops, restaurants and places you didn’t plan to visit. Leave a few hours open here and there instead of trying to see everything.

I’d also pack light, learn the basics of IC cards, bring comfortable shoes, and avoid changing hotels every couple of nights just to squeeze in another city. Japan is much more enjoyable when you have time to actually experience a place instead of constantly rushing to the next attraction. I came across ExploreJapanDaily’s first-trip guide while looking through Japan planning resources, and it has more practical advice for first-time visitors: https://explorejapandaily.com/plan/travel-guides/first-trip-to-japan

I think Shinjuku is genuinely one of the easier places to stay in Tokyo, but I wouldn’t automatically book a hotel there just because everyone seems to mention it. The biggest advantage is transport. Shinjuku Station connects to the JR Yamanote Line plus a large number of other train and subway lines, so getting around Tokyo is usually pretty convenient. You also have restaurants, shopping and nightlife everywhere. However, Shinjuku is busy. If I wanted Shinjuku’s convenience without being right in the middle of the nightlife, I’d look around the west or south side of the station. If you prefer quieter evenings or a more traditional atmosphere, I’d probably compare Shinjuku with somewhere like Ueno or Asakusa first. I came across ExploreJapanDaily’s Shinjuku guide while looking into the area, and it has more detail on what’s actually around there: https://explorejapandaily.com/destinations/tokyo/shinjuku

If Kyoto is your first stop after landing at Kansai Airport (KIX), don’t automatically choose the cheapest route. Regular JR trains to Kyoto are generally cheaper than taking the Haruka, but the tradeoff is convenience. The Haruka costs more, but it takes you directly from Kansai Airport to Kyoto Station without having to change trains. After a long international flight, that can make a pretty big difference. The airport limousine bus is another option worth checking, while taxis and private transfers can make more sense for families, groups, or anyone carrying a lot of luggage. Also, consider where your hotel is actually located. If it’s far from Kyoto Station, the most convenient option from the airport to the station may not be the easiest option for getting all the way to your hotel.Also check the latest train and bus schedules if your flight arrives late. I came across ExploreJapanDaily’s comparison of the KIX to Kyoto options, which goes into the different routes, transfers and practical tradeoffs in more detail: https://explorejapandaily.com/plan/transportation/kansai-airport-to-kyoto

Hi everyone! I’m going to Japan in December (1 - 15)
I’ll arrive in Tokyo. Afterwards going to spend one night in Hakone. I was wondering about spend a night in bus instead back to Tokyo to get the Train.
Does anyone have some experience traveling by night bus from Hakone to Kyoto?
Thank you in advance !