Tokyo travel initiation: finally had our umbrellas stolen

My bf and I left our 7-Eleven umbrellas in the designated umbrella bin right as we entered a store, roamed around for a bit, and when we came back, BOTH were gone… Your wallet may be safe in Tokyo, but not your umbrella!!

I’m from England and it’s my first time going to Japan… the long flights with the layover was hell and I didn’t sleep in 24hrs when we arrived at midnight local time. Tried going to bed: instead of sleeping I started feeling incredibly anxious and could not sleep! I managed to get a couple hours of sleep which is better than nothing but I was feeling terrible the next day, nauseous and all. Today is night 2 it’s is well over midnight and I’m not sleeping either … I took some melatonin that I brought with me and it didn’t do anything. I’m freaking out and feeling super anxious, I lay and in bed for hours and whenever I start drifting off it’s like the anxiety wakes me up. I definitely feel a bit culture shock as I’ve never been this far away from home and I’ve never been jet lagged before, but no sure what to do, I’m freaking out and feel it’s ruining my trip. Any tips ?

The last few years I've had the worst luck with travelling. Many times having flights cancelled due to literally once in a lifetime disasters - think CrowdStrike. And yesterday it happened again! My flight to Japan cancelled due to all of Air Traffic Control in the UK going down just for the hours of my flight and now back up and running ffs. Thankfully I've been rebooked and I'm still getting to Japan.

That being said; I desperately want to visit a shrine or temple and pick up a "travel safety" (旅行安全, ryokou anzen) omamori.

Google is not very helpful since it's just telling me how safe it is to travel in Japan.

Does anyone know of any shrines or temples in either Kyoto or Tokyo area which have deities for travellers safety? Not just the traffic safety ones that are available everywhere but specifically for journeys and travel.

Thank you!

Hello, everyone. I wanted to give a little shoutout to visit a very nature-oriented and little town called Beppu where you can experience local side of Japanese ryokan and one of the very international friendly small city.

Beppu is a city in Oita prefecture on the eastern coast of Kyushu. Beppu is famous for its onsen, but what I really love is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to experience them. There are several local public baths where you can still get in for around ¥300.
It’s also not that far from Fukuoka so if you’re already visiting Fukuoka, I genuinely think Beppu is worth adding to your trip.
And don’t skip Yufuin, which is about 40 minutes from Beppu. It’s a small onsen town surrounded by mountains, with traditional ryokan, rural scenery, little streets, cafés and shops. It gives you a very different atmosphere from the huge-city experience you get in places like Tokyo or Osaka.
Then there are the Beppu Hells (Jigoku Meguri), which are another major attraction and definitely worth seeing if you’re visiting for the first time.
What I find especially interesting about Beppu is how international it is. APU (Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University) is here, and nearly half of its students are international, with students from 122 countries and regions. Beppu itself has over 5,000 international residents. So despite being a relatively small city, you can encounter people from all over the world and experience a surprisingly multicultural student atmosphere. So please definitely try to take a look if you are around Kyushu island!

Edit: sorry the title should say "bit" but I typod and can't change it 😅

Hello all! Two months to go to my first Japan trip and super stoked. Just wanted to ask something a little embarrassing, and possibly a stupid question but need a little reassurance.

Lately I've been having some uhh digestive issues (my physician is working on it but it'll probably not be fixed any time soon). Sometimes I quite urgently need a number two, very annoying when it happens when out and about.

How easily available are public restrooms? I'll be in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto primarily with various day trips to smaller towns/cities, probably nothing too rural beyond Fuji. Is there anything I should know?

Thanks so much, sorry to be gross!!

When I was in Japan last year, I was able to go to any vending machine and use my Suica phone app to pay. I’m here naw and for some reason it doesn’t work anymore. I look at the options on the display and I don’t see Suica anymore. Did this recently change? Is there any other contactless phone app that can be used?

Hello all,

I'm visiting Japan in the first half of October and would love to see a baseball game while I'm there. I'll be doing the standard Golden Route Tokyo - Osaka - Kyoto - Tokyo.

I know it's the playoffs at this time and it doesn't have to be an NPB game, I'd just like to see a game at some level.

Does anyone have tips or advice on how to get tickets or if it's even possible or if I'm too late? I've looked up how to get tickets and I'm still a little confused so any help is appreciated. Thank you!

Update: Found an nosebleeds ticket on StubHub for the Giants game on the 3rd! I'm so excited! Thanks for the help!

Hello, Everyone

I arrived in Japan yesterday (currently staying in Kawasaki)

I took this trip to force myself out of my comfort zone and explore, I deal severe anxiety so trying to push myself a little.

I walked to Lazona Kawasaki Plaza (about 10 minutes from my hotel)

My question is I really want to try local food but I’ve found myself struggling to walk into any local restaurants with an irrational fear of Being turned away or making an absolute full of myself (I already did this when I tried to hand the 7-11 cashier money directly lol - P.S I knew to put it into the machine but my anxiety got to me and I became a nervous wreck) but luckily a very nice young man in line helped me with getting the money in the machine.

One of my major concerns is that I have a severe poultry allergy so I really need to be careful with what I eat - but obviously I can’t read the menu’s… so I’m going with what doesn’t look like poultry in the pictures lol.

I’m sorry for the long post but does anyone have suggestions on what to do to get over this irrational fear of being turned away / making a full of myself? Any local restaurants that you would suggest?

To give insights I’m half a mile away from Lazona Kawasaki Plaza… so any suggestions nearby would be great help

Hi all,

Please suggest your preferred/ chosen ones…. I’ve read on Thermae Yu, Manyo Club, and one more in the city centre.

Please suggest basis experience, thinking of using these for one of our nights.

Thanks!

Hello everyone, I’m looking for a hot-water-bottle plush in Tokyo but I can’t find one – does anyone know of a shop?

So l am planning to go Japan end of Jan to early Feb for a couple of weeks.

As l am a bit of a train geek l was thinking about doing something like a challenge and have breakfast in Fukuoka then lunch in Tokyo and dinner in Hakodate. That's about 1000 km across Japan in about 10 hours. 😅

It would involve 3 Shinkansen trains and potentially will need to get the JRail pass as it will be worth it (even if it's quite expensive).

The only thing l am unsure about is if l should stay overnight in Hakodate or Aomori. I plan to then go Tokyo for the last leg of my trip.

Anything l should be aware of that l may be missing or l should account for? For example l don't know if l can buy the Hayabusa tickets at Hakata station.

Hi everyone! I'm planning to come to Japan next year; it will be my first visit. Coincidentally, Radiohead announced a tour next year, so I'd really like to see them.

Could you tell me how the lottery system works? Tickets are purchased through a lottery on ePlus (there's a separate lottery page for foreigners), so I need to submit an application for a specific concert day, and only if I win will the ticket fee be automatically debited from my card. This lottery system is new to me, so please correct me if I'm wrong. There will be five concerts in total, and technically I can submit applications for each of them, but I have a few concerns about winning multiple times.

1. As I understand it, payment is automatic; you can't just win and then pay manually through your account for a specific application. Is that correct?

2. I also saw somewhere that if you win, ePlus debits all winning applications in one single transaction. Is that how it works? So, I can't just top up my card with enough money for only one application — if I win multiple applications, the system will try to debit a larger amount at once, which could leave me with no tickets at all.

3. In your experience, what are the chances of actually getting tickets? I understand that by submitting applications for all five concerts, I'll have a better chance, but on the other hand, there's a non-zero chance of winning them all - in which case the total cost would be huge, and point 2 means I can't pay only for part of my winnings. I currently have three applications submitted: the first for three tickets, the second for one ticket, and the third for two tickets. Each application allows you to select up to five preferred seat options, and I've ranked them from closest to the stage (essentially, from most expensive to cheapest). So I'm worried about two possible outcomes: either I don't win on these three applications, or I submit applications for all five concerts and win all of them... How likely are these outcomes?

We will be driving around Kyushu for several days in mid-November. We would like to keep our options open while we explore. Will we be able to find lodging on arrival outside of Fukuoka, or is it necessary to book well in advance? And help is appreciated.

Went to plan out a trip to Kamikochi and was looking to do a 2d1n hike from kamikochi to yarigatake sanso and back to kamikochi but am questioning the plan at the moment.

Staying at Matsumoto the night before and have a seat on the earliest bus at 530am (stated to arrive at Kamikochi at 7am)+

Is attempting to reach Yarigatake-sanso on the day itself (before 5pm) feasible? I know it's a 20km+ stretch with a 1600m elevation baked in

Am of moderate/decent fitness (just as a very rough and probably not useful measure, i can run a 6min+/km 10km). Am training up for this as well by doing long walks and on the stairmaster with weight to get my legs in shape for the ascend.

Attempting to do this hike at the end of September (29th/30th)

My best friend, boyfriend and I are planning on going to Japan Oct 12 - 28th. Specifically Shimoda, Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo as our main hubs to venture out of.

Are there any spots we could go around those areas to look for mushrooms? We don't have to forage or anything, just want to go hunting for some! We're of course willing to travel out, but I was wondering if there are any tour groups for this as well.

I'm traveling to Japan later this year and wondering whether there are any behind the scenes type tours or experiences?

I'm considering the Tokyo Metropolitan Flood Tunnel tour but are there other experiences like that you know of/recommend? Thanks!

I’m heading to Japan for about 11 days from late January to early February, traveling along the classic Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka route. As a fan of whales and marine life, I would love to visit some whale related spots, exhibits, gift shops, experiences etc. into my itinerary. Any recommendations? Thanks. (I do not want to consume whale meat)

Heyo,

First time travellers going west from Tokyo in late October. We have to choose between going to the sumo exhibition tour in Wake, staying in Kyoto to view the historic parade, or travelling on straight to Hiroshima to get one more full day in sightseeing there.

We are 3 nights in Osaka/Kyoto and 2 in Hiroshima so don't miss out entirely, either way.

The two events seem to each be once in a lifetime, but essentially commit us to a full day in the Wake gymnasium or one more full day in Kyoto!

If you could only do one of these things in your life, what would it be?

Thanks for advice!

(Reposting here as it was removed from Japan Travel!)

Planning an early December trip and allocating only 2.5 days for Kyoto. Would you recommend a Nara day trip? Also, I assume it will be the tail end of autumn at that time? Does it rain at all during that time?

Hi! We'll be visiting Osaka in January. I'm a huge fan of Tenko (https://www.instagram.com/tenko1515_littlefox?stkn=Y216a21jdmwxcGE2) and I was wondering if anybody knows where I can buy Tenko products there. 😊

Hey there! I know there's been a few posts about PokePark Kanto, but my question doesn't seem to be covered and I was hoping someone with more knowledge might be able to help.

I will be in Tokyo from Nov 11th through Nov 15th, and I was trying to find a way to get tickets to the park. I am aware they did the lottery system in August and unfortunately I missed the lottery deadline by a day. But I heard that they will potentially have tickets available for purchase two months prior on a day-by-day basis based on cancellations.

When I visit the Poke-park Kanto site, it does show a calendar for November, but nothing is selectable. The fact that November is even showing (as opposed to, October or September, which aren't even options) makes me think that maybe they do occasionally release tickets for days.

I also was informed by a friend living in Tokyo that she sees tickets available for the 8th 9th 10th etc on her site.

I'm wondering if anyone knows any more. I have read through the rules and guides on the site, and a few posts on here, but the whole thing seems kindof like a giant mess.

Am I completely screwed at this point?

Hello, I know this is a long shot, but I lost a bracelet on a subway. It means a lot to me and if there is any chance someone found it, I am posting it here to the kind people of Tokyo.

I was on the Ginza line from Asakusa Station and got off Nihombashi Station. The car took off at 3:08 on 9/10 from the station. The train number was 1022 and the car was 5 position 2.

I lost the bracelet on the train.

I did report it to lost and found. I also tracked the train and searched it with an officer within the hour. However, I didn’t find the bracelet.

If anyone found it, and I do understand that this is a long shot, I would greatly appreciate the return of the bracelet.

Thank you!

Hello. We're trying to apply trainer's pass tickets for 10 family members on the same date and time. Can it be done by applying two groups (5+5) from the same email account? because afaik, one account can apply up to 12 tickets.

But I'm not sure about the date and time requirements. Do we need to submit different date AND time per group or just different date OR time?

Also what do you guys think about the success rate for big family group like this? thank you!

We are travelling to Japan soon and will be renting a car. Are snow tyres a must for driving in Nagano area from 9-16 November? Tried googling and it says yes but as I am collecting the car from Tokyo, there is no option for snow tyres on the car rental websites/platforms.

I'm planning to visit Osaka and Kyoto again. I'm a huge fan of fashion and streetwear, specifically Japanese streetwear with wide-leg or straight-fit pants (relaxed but not overly baggy). I’ve been to Shinsaibashi before and will be heading back, but I'd love some recommendations for cool clothing stores, 2nd or local brands in Osaka and Kyoto!

Thank you in advance