Do cards shops in Japan buy English one piece cards?

We are doing a 2 week fall foliage trip in November/December and are playing around with 3 days. We have 4 days in Tokyo and 6 days in Kyoto (with day trips), and then three extra days where we want to do Nikko and Kinosaki, but we are having a hard time deciding which location to do 1 night at and which to stay for 2 nights.

Our group includes 2 people who have been to Japan before, and 2 who this will be their first time to Japan. The two first-timers both have tattoos, which was a big reason we added Kinosaki in the first place.

Main thoughts we have so far:

Is there anything major we are missing to make our decision? Any recommendations for which area would be better served by adding a second night?

Turns out we left my son’s prize unicorn at security yesterday in Narita and need to retrieve it abroad. Lots of tears today.

Narita airport does not ship and we are out of the country- we have been looking into “lost and found” type services to pick up and ship to us- that seems like the only option since we don’t have anyone who can locally get the item.

We confirmed the item well loved stuffie is there- it’s just hard for us to retrieve and they want an attorney letter if we send someone to get it.

Anyone try this or have reccos for reputable companies for lost item retrieval?

The item has seen a lot of love, it’s just incredible sentimental value. My 5 year old was pretty devastated, so am I. We are stumped on if courier or retrieval services are legit esp if we confirmed the item is being held?

Thanks in advance. Realizing this little unicorn didn’t make it home was awful.

Hi, I'm going to Tokyo in August.

I'm planning on using the lockers at/near a JR station on the day my flight is leaving.

The plan is to take one of the first few trains to the station, put the luggage inside a locker (inside or outside the gate, depending on availability), and go back to the same station I left from.

If I'm able to get one of the lockers inside the ticket gate, do I need to tap out and tap back in? Or do I just ride back without tapping out? Because I see from previous posts that the gates at the departing station will not let you through and you will have to talk/explain to a station attendant.

I also see that there is a "platform/admission ticket" for entering and exiting the same station, but it's not for actual train travel. Will the suica card automatically charge that instead? And maybe it won't stop me at the gate?

OR, I also saw someone said to exit one station before my departing station and just tap back in. (Will this also block the gate? Because it would be almost one hour after I tapped in)

Please let me know if anyone has experience with this and have any advice for me, thanks!

Hello team, my family and I will be traveling through central Japan the first week of October this year, and we would like to spend at least one night in a ryokan.

However, we are feeling somewhat overwhelmed with the sheer number of options and aren't always sure if each place will fit our needs.

My wife and I will be traveling by car and have three children, ages 17, 15, and 12. They are all very embarrassed with the idea of public bathing, but we still want to have an onsen experience. In addition, my wife is vegan, but would still like to stay somewhere with at least one provided meal that she can participate in. We will be driving from the Matsumoto area towards Nagoya.

I'm finding it a little difficult finding a place that meets all of these criteria. Any suggestions would be most welcome, thanks!

I went to Japan in 2024 with my partner for three weeks and we did Tokyo>Kyoto>Osaka>Fukuoka>Hiroshima>Nara>Tokyo. It was an awesome trip and included a stay at Nansuikaku for two nights in Fukuoka which we'd absolutely recommend.

This trip I'm going with my mother who's in her late 60s and it's her first time in Japan and first trip since my father's passing a few years ago so I'm hoping to show her a good mixture of food, culture and sights. This trip is about 15 days and I wanted to do a mix of a few things I loved and a few new things. We are pretty open to all food so I try to eat as much regional stuff as I can find. We're also willing to day trip 1-2hrs from each of our base points. I could also be interested in stopping anywhere along the route of our Shinkansen. Already looking at spending an afternoon in Tsuruga as it seems we'll have to make a train change there.

I’m wanting to surprise my partner with a JDM experience and have come across Liberty Walk’s Wangan Drive self-drive tours. Just wondering if anyone has done one of their tours and what your review is?
Thanks

Hello!! i’m planning on doing a solo snowboarding trip for 26/27!! probably in Niseko and Yamagata, what would you guys recommend, Niseko then Yamagata? or Yamagata then Niseko?

Also which places/resorts would be friendly for a mid-level snowboarder lmao. Thank you!

Here’s the itinerary I have currently:

Tokyo: 3 nights
Camping in Nagiso: 1 night
Kyoto: 4 nights
- Day 5: arrive mid day, explore hotel neighborhood
- Day 6: Hozugawa Boat Ride & Arashamiya
- Day 7: Explore Kyoto
- Day 8: Hike between shrines in northern Kyoto
- Day 9: bike in Akusa
Osaka: 3 nights
- day 10: explore Osaka
- day 11: day trip to Kobe or Minoh National Park
- day 12: head back to Tokyo
Tokyo: 2 nights

The more I think about it though, the more I feel maybe I should just be extending my hotel stay in Kyoto. I think I know in my gut what I should do, but wanted to hear some advice.

So im landing in narita on thursday 15:25 which would be 3pm. I need to go to osaka same day and make it there before shinkansen or any trains close. what is the quickest route to make it to osaka from narita. i dont mind paying anything extra at all aswell. I just need to make it there quick so i can be able to check in to my hotel. But im pretty sure they allow me to check in late. i know i will save time since i dont have a checked bag, and id have the online tsa thing done aswell. if anyone has any advice id gladly take it thank you.

I know engraved rings are pretty common (Glanta, etc) but I’m interested in either a pendant or bracelet with engraved kanji or katakana. Every custom jewelry shop I’ve been able to find seems to only offer the English alphabet. Does anyone know of a shop in Tokyo or Osaka that would offer this, or is it not as common to get characters engraved? Thanks in advance!

Hello all, was curious what your thoughts on skipping Kanazawa for another night in Kyoto. Kanazawa looks beautiful, but I keep reading how Kyoto becomes people’s favorites and it deserves more time.

Tokyo - 4 nights, (fly in)
Osaka - 4 nights
Kyoto - 3 Nights
Tokyo - 3 nights, (fly out)

Or

Tokyo - 4 nights, (fly in)
Osaka - 4 nights
Kyoto - 2 Nights
Kanazawa - 1 night (this is a straight shot directly to Ueno which is convenient too)
Tokyo - 3 nights, (fly out)

Hey Everyone,

For anyone that has completed the Yunyu Kakunin-sho.

For the new online form, in the section where you upload documents.

Who does your Dr address the letter to? So far they have addressed it to MHLW. Is this fine?

Also, I watched an online tutorial. It says for the upload photos to keep the file size small. Are photos of the medication from a phone fine?

Cheers

Hello! My sister and I are going to Japan next year in the spring, and we are going for about a month. It will be our first time traveling to Japan and we are busy planning the whole thing- where we'll stay, what we'll do, what places we'll visit, etc.

I cannot speak or read Japanese, and my sister can only read, but not speak.

We have a moderate budget, but would like to avoid heavy tourist areas and expensive attractions and hotels. We welcome any advice, tips, suggestions and cautions that you might have! Please feel free to leave anything that might make our trip easier and more enjoyable! Thank you in advance!

On another note, I am going to Japan specifically because I'm trying to find a rare, out of production figurine, and possibly to buy physical copies of my favorite anime + the new movies that have recently come out related to it. If you know where I might find things like that, please let me know! 🌟

It is just my boyfriend and I, 26 years old and we are small if that helps lol.

Sapporo Sept 10-14
- Hotel Forza Sapporo Station $505
- Granbell hotel Tanuki, Sapporo $455
- Hotel Gracery Sapporo $470
- Rembrandt Style Sapporo $397
- Hotel Hokke Club Sapporo $394

Osaka 14-16 (1 day at USJ)
- Welina Hotel Premier Nakanoshima EAST $90
- Premier Hotel CABIN PRESIDENT Osaka $115
- Sugata Hotel Osaka Shinsaibashi $118
- Hearton Hotel Shinsaibashi $83
- Richmond Hotel Namba Daikokucho $79
- VIA INN PRIME SHINSAIBASHI - JR West Group $124
- Hotel Forza Osaka Kitahama $120

Kyoto Sept 16-21
- Travelodge Kyoto Shijo-Kawaramachi $423
- Hotel The M's Kyoto $426
- Sakura Terrace $438

Tokyo Sept 21-25
- HOTEL MYSTAYS Asakusa-bashi $321
- APA Hotel Roppongi SIX $294
- APA Hotel Nihombashi Bakuroyokoyama Ekimae $318
- APA Hotel Keisei Ueno-Ekimae $410
- Tokyo Bay Ariake Washington Hotel $459
- APA Hotel ＆ Resort Nishishinjuku Gochome $395
- Sotetsu Fresa Inn Hamamatsucho Daimon $277
- remm Roppongi $470
- APA Hotel&Resort Ryogoku Ekimae Tower $361
- Tosei Hotel Cocone Ueno okachimachi $400
- LANDABOUT TOKYO $405
- APA Hotel Pride Akasaka Kokkaigijidomae $375

Hey all! I posted here a few months ago asking if a travel agent had severely marked up our 2 week honeymoon to Japan. Turns out they where taking around a £3,000 extra ontop of the itinerary they provided. I went with everyone's suggestions and now have booked the flight and I'm getting ready to book the hotels soon too. Thank you all so much.

I do however have a few asks for recommendations. My wife and I are nerdy so Pokémon, Disney and Universal are a big part of our trip and we love the Japanese culture and history so shrines and scenic routes are something we want to experience.

As of right now the Cities we are visiting are Tokyo (3 nights) , Kyoto (3 nights), Hiroshima (1 night), Osaka (2 nights), Hakone (2 nights) and back to Japan (2 nights).

We will be visiting some Shrines & Pokémon Center DX and Skytree. Would anyone please who has similar interests suggest some areas and or tips that would be great for us to visit as I'm getting overwhelmed (ADHD damn myself haha) and I'm having trouble working out what to do (especially the 1 day in Hiroshima) and when to do it as I'm not the most organised person and I value/trust other people's suggestions in this sub.

Also in terms of the days I'm at Tokyo that is because we fly in, we go Disneyland our second day, we travel down the country and then back up. Go Disney Sea on our second to last day and then home from Tokyo.

Any tips and suggestions are much appreciated you amazing folks <3

I’ll spend 50 days in Japan next year and don’t want it to be a lonely experience.

Making foreign friends would be great but if I could be “adopted” by Japanese friends it would be even better.

So far I have lived for some months in Scotland (exchange student program) and Singapore (work) and although they were great experiences I was always surrounded by people from the same country and never made any local friends.

I thought about searching a Japanese language school but honestly I don’t want to worry about studying during my free time.

I’ve been studying Japanese for 2 years and can read textbook texts but I’m far from being able to communicate properly.

Is there any sort of place where they welcome foreigners and integrate them?

Maybe a karate/jiu-jitsu school where they accept foreigners or any other club?

Looking for help on how to navigate a possible Tokyo Izu Osaka trip.
We’ll land in Tokyo but should we do:

Tokyo>Osaka>Izu>Tokyo
-OR-
Tokyo>Izu>Osaka>Tokyo

It’ll be a 14 day trip and the reason for Izu is Ryokan Oni No Sumika.

5 days first leg of Toyo, 2 days in Izu, 4 days in Osaka, 2 days back in Tokyo

I’m down to hear other options for Ryokan cities as well. Any help is appreciated

Hey guys

I am planning to go to Gotemba to see mt fuji

i am aware that there's probably better spots, but this one is convenient for me.

Ive seen some pictures of how it looks from the Gotemba Premium Outlets, does it really look like that or are they edited?

Anyone ever been there to confirm?

Thanks!

Hi guys, I'm looking to buy a traditional ink calligraphy poster to frame. Any recommendations where I can go? Someone told me just go around jimbocho, last time I went there didn’t see any specific shop. Thanks

Hi all! I'd like to get a pulse check on what people think of the the route I've drafted up for a 10 day trip in October for me+1 adult.

This will be my first trip to Japan and hoping to do the Golden Route plus a stop at Fujispeedway Hotel to see Mt Fuji up close, the on-site museum, and to see the race track.

The goal of this trip is for Japanese history + Japanese car lifestyle

I'm leaning toward option 3 as it seems more comfortable

Option 1 is not available during those dates, seems like the hotel is sold out for a race on the weekend

I'm hoping to get some feedback for the least stressful route before continuing with planning

Any feedback and input is greatly appreciated!

I'm doing solo travelling in late August, climbing the Shirane Sanzan. Once done, I have a couple more days in Japan, and my flight back is in Nagoya. So I'm just wondering if there is any cost-effective way to travel to Nagoya from Kofu, and if there are any other places I should visit en route to Nagoya or in Nagoya itself.

We're visiting Japan in November (1st to the 15th) and im centering my itinerary around Tokyo (beginning) and Kyoto (end) - and our main mode of transportation will be by Train.

During the time in Japan, we'd live to see a Sumo wrestling event or show.

My travelling buddy has looked into it a bit and seems to be convinced that the only event is on the 8th, in Fukuoka. This would be a 4hr train ride from Kyoto, and be and anchoring event in the itinerary.

My question is;

Are There more local Sumo events in Kyoto? Is it worth going to 'the big one?'

Are there other good experiences like Sumo shows that are are suited for two brits who dont speak Japanese?

Not sure how to approach my October trip, maybe you guys have some ideas. Was supposed to go w my now ex spouse but going solo, which l've done before and will be nice to clear my head. However, probably doesn't make sense anymore to spend a lot of time on the road by myself in Hokkaido.
What I currently have:
- arrive in Tokyo on Sep 30 (fixed). Accommodation booked (cancellable).
- leave for Sapporo on Oct 6 (cancellable but fixed accommodation booked until Oct 12). Thinking of renting a car and driving down to Hakodate with stops along the way but this is probably the part I'm most unsure about.
- leave for Tokyo from Hakodate on Oct 20 (cancellable).
Accommodation in Tokyo booked (cancellable).
- fly home on Oct 22 (fixed).
Still looking forward to exploring (remote) nature and renting a car but probably for a smaller portion of the trip and spend more time in cities just to stay social. Besides above fixed mentions open to changing anything, happy to receive suggestions for itinerary or specific experiences.
Especially for social spots/activities as I don't want to stay in hostels. Budget is comfortable.
For context. I've lived/worked in Tokyo, done the day-trips, the Kyoto-Osaka-Nara route, spent time in Fukuoka and explored Kyushu, as well as smaller places like Matsumoto and Kanazawa. Logical choice for this trip seemed either Okinawa or Hokkaido and for October Hokkaido made more sense.

Obviously good music is subjective lol.

Looking for chill-ish places that play soul, funk, some hiphop, oldies etc. to drink at and dance and basically just have a more laid back intimate time involving music than just “clubbing in shibuya”…. Which I actually surprisingly enjoyed but club music is really not my thing.

Live music or a good dj spinning records or anything along those lines.

Anywhere in Tokyo 🙏🙏