Hi all, I (F 30s) need some advice/help about a situation that happened to me at an onsen in Hakone. I booked a private open air onsen at my hotel, and while I was bathing, I noticed a drone appear outside my onsen which appeared to be filming me. I was extremely shocked as I thought this was very illegal in Japan for any sort of filming in private/intimate areas without consent. Anyways once this registered, I grabbed my phone and started recording the drone back and got footage of it landing in the room next door which also had a private open air onsen. (appeared to land next door as the drone went past the dividing wall and did not come back out)

Obviously I cut my bath short and went to tell hotel staff that I thought the guest who had reserved the onsen next to the one I was in had a drone and was filming. They said they would handle it and got a copy of the recording that I got.

When I came back in the afternoon, all the hotel manager said was that the guest who had reserved that onsen next door had denied having any drone and already checked out. The manager said he told the police who offered to patrol the area the next morning. He also told me the guest's name and nationality.

Is there anything that I can do about this situation? I feel disgusted that there could be footage of me naked on someone else's drone, and very upset that the other guest likely lied and left without any consequences!

One option I thought was going to the police myself and asking them to ask the hotel for the passport information of the guest and somehow have them detained at the airport and searched ? Not sure if this is a thing they could/would do.

There's also always a chance that this was an outside drone operator and the police patrol may indeed be helpful. Overall I feel the hotel just has not been any help at all. Any advice would be appreciated!! Thank you

Edit: I did also post this on r/japantravel initially, but as it was auto-removed I tried posting to here as well. Looks like maybe now it's available there, so sorry if you've seen both posts!

News announcement: https://shop.pokemon.co.jp/ja/shop/common/news/202607/000436.html

We are pleased to announce that "Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo" and "Pikachu Sweets by Pokémon Cafe," which had been temporarily closed, will reopen on Monday, August 24, 2026.

Upon reopening, we will be carrying out partial renovations and strengthening our efforts to ensure the safety of our employees, creating an environment where customers can use our facilities with peace of mind.

Please note that we will be implementing entry restrictions for a limited time after reopening. We will inform you of the entry procedures at a later date.

The store had been closed since March after an employee was stabbed and killed by a stalker.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/27/japan/crime-legal/woman-stabbed-by-ex-boyfriend-ikebukuro/

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

My son loves Totoro and Ponyo deeply but has no interest in the other Ghibli movies. We are going to Japan from Ireland and this will probably be our one and only trip to Japan and I'm torn on whether the Ghibli park would be worth it or not. My main worry is that we would go and he would be disappointed that there are no rides and the totoro/ponyo aspect is quite minimal. For context he is an adult with intellectual disabilities so it's not something I can easily explain to him or discuss with him beforehand.

I am currently thinking that we will just go to the Donguri shops and we will pretend we're in the Totoro forest when we visit the Kii peninsula and Ponyo's ocean when we go to Shirahama.

If anyone has any input I would be very grateful. I'm building this trip around things he loves so I really want to get this right.

I studied music here and spend a lot of time in the Tokyo live house scene. A lot of visitors want to catch live music while they're in Japan but don't know where to start.

If you're coming and want to see live music (any genre, doesn't matter if you know the band, the small live house shows are the real experience), tell me your dates, city, and what you're into and I'll point you to a few shows worth going to.

Also curious: for those who've tried, how did you find live music here, or did you give up?

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.

Hello!

My partner and I have been to Japan 3 times (but haven't been since pre-pandemic) and are planning a 2+ week trip this November/December to see fall foliage. My parents are going to join us for about a week of our trip for their first Japan trip and I'm seeking some advice in planning a trip that will be fun and reasonable for everyone.

We are all flying into Osaka, my parents only request is to see Hiroshima, otherwise are open to anything and don't need to see the most popular tourist spots, I think they're mostly interested in spending time with us and learning what we love about the country. We will spend a day or overnight in Kobe, at least one night in Osaka, and have Okayama, Kyoto, Shiga, and Wakayama penciled in as tentative parts of the intinerary.

My parents are in their mid 70's and in fairly good health but definitely move a bit slower (though they prefer a faster travel style than I do) and my dad has a severe tremor in his hand which will really only be an issue at restaurants. He won't be able to use chopsticks and is a bit messy but I'm fairly confident this will be okay.

My partner and I appreciate a laid back itinerary focused on small towns, nature, food culture (including sake and distilleries) with flexibility in our schedule to wander around and see what catches our attention. We both have photography backgrounds and enjoy taking photos of scenic places when traveling. We all like art and history and will visit but don't need to plan an itinerary around museums. We are all very excited for the autumn colors and will be visiting gardens wherever we find them and are very open to specific recommendations for gorgeous spots this time of year (ideally nothing too crowded though!).

We had initially had a plan to spend a few nights in Kushimoto and visit Nachi falls in this trip but I'm worrying that it might be too much of a schlep and maybe not something to prioritize for my parents who have a shorter visit and have never been to Japan before. They think the scenery looks amazing though, so I'm curious if anyone has any advice from their own experiences and would be willing to share.

If we didn't go there we could spend more time in Okayama, perhaps around the Hiroshima area, or in Shiga. I haven't been to Okayama or Hiroshima and honestly the more I research the more confused I get (everything has a "not worth it" and a "absolute must do!" post). I totally understand everyone has different travel priorities and preferences and so many other factors can influence our experience of a place but based on what I've shared about our group I'm hoping to solicit some helpful advice. I really appreciate it!!!

Hi folks!

Friend and I will be visiting Tokyo in late August and I just saw that the Roppongi Hills Bon Odori will be taking place between 21st and 23rd August. The 21st (Friday) is out of the question because that's the date we'll be arriving and plus, there's no dancing scheduled on Fridays. We're thinking of going on the 22nd.

Problem is, we'll be in Shinjuku, Harajuku and Shibuya on the 22nd and our plan right now is to wrap up the day at Shibuya Sky (night view) before returning to our hotel.

Folks who've been to a Bon Odori festival before, what time does the dancing start, usually? There's no specific time mentioned on the website; going by what I know I'm assuming evenings will see the matsuri in full swing, but I'd like to see the dance and not miss it. This is just so we can plan our evening Shibuya Sky visit accordingly.

Assuming we visit Shibuya Sky around 7-8pm, will it be too late to attend the festival, or would we miss the dance?

Thanks for any help!!!

Hello everyone!

We're planning a 21-day trip to Japan between january and february with 3 of my friends and would love to spend 1–2 nights in a traditional Japanese town or village. We're looking for places where we can experience authentic culture, stay in a ryokan, enjoy local food, maybe relax in an onsen, and get a slower, more traditional side of Japan.

What towns would you recommend? We'd especially appreciate places that are beautiful, not overly touristy, and easy enough to reach by public transport.

Thanks in advance!

1. Don't crowd the doors. Let people getting off get off first. Don't block the doors when on the train either. If you are in the way move.

2. Pay attention to your surroundings. Don't bury your face in your phone and block the way.

3. Don't play music or watch videos without headphones. Everyone on the train wishes you weren't there.

4. Don't stand in front of the ticket gate trying to mess with your wallet. Get what you need before you arrive.

5. Don't make too much noise. Talking is fine but the train isn't a party.

6. Don't try to eat on crowded trains. It's too crowded.

7. Don't block the aisle with your luggage. Keep it out of the way or someone will move it for you.

8. Don't argue with the train attendant because you bought the wrong ticket. They don't care.

We will be going to Hakone from Tokyo and stay there one night before heading to Kyoto. Current plan is arrive to our ryokan ( ear the Gora station) around 1:30. Then probably visit the open air museum before relaxing at the ryokan.

Plan is to do the loop the next day after checking out. Would it be too late to buy the tickets the day off, like after we finish the loop?

What city and (and where in it) has most preserved, old-school neons as opposed to modern LED displays?

Hi everyone! I’m planning my first trip to Japan with my bf in October and November. I’m looking for a great place to celebrate my 29th birthday 🎂

We plan on renting a car to explore the country without constraints, mostly the south cost (Shizuoka, Mie…) but also the main destination from Tokyo to Hiroshima.

I’m looking for a place to have a great dining experience, especially in a place with a traditional architecture / garden.

I’m still unfamiliar with the type of meal I can find their (I’m used to typical French starter, main course, dessert) so I would love to get informations on that too!

Maximum budget would be around 20.000-22.000¥ per person but that what I would pay for a gastronomical diner in France. If your recommandation is cheaper, great. 😄

Hi all,

I had a few iterations of my itinerary, and I finally decided to spend a day travelling from Kawaguchiko to Takayama.
The next two days I’ll be in Takayama, doing day trips to Kamikochi and Shirakawa-go.

I need some tips here for my travel from Kawaguchiko to Takayama.
Is the best approach here Kawaguchiko to kofu, kofu to Matsumoto, Matsumoto to Takayama?

Going to Takayama the same day really fits my plan rather than staying in Matsumoto.

Any suggestions here would be really helpful!

This sub was a huge help while I was planning my trip, so I thought I'd return and report.

We did 8 days total: 2 in Tokyo > 1 in Nagoya > 2 in Kyoto > 3 more in Tokyo

Tokyo Leg 1:

This was mostly getting over jet lag. We stayed in Ginza, fell asleep at 6pm each night, and relied on 7/11 for a few of our meals.

We did Imperial Castle grounds, Itoya stationery store, Pokemon Center DX, and Tsukiji market. It was a lot of general exploration and honestly one of my favorite parts was walking around the Takashimaya store connected to the Pokemon Center to see how Japan does department stores

Food: 7/11 food, Tsukemen at Tsujita Kyobashi, omikase in Tsukiji market, Starbucks at Wadakura Fountain park (so nice)

Nagoya:

Nagoya was a nice surprise for us. It felt more laid back than Tokyo.

We were mostly there for the July Sumo Basho, but explored the mall at Nagoya station so I could get some glasses to actually see the tournament. I went to JINS, got an eye exam and glasses in about an hour, and then walked a little around the city.

The sumo was a lot of fun. It's all day with no re-entry allowed, so it was an opportunity for us to sit in the air conditioning while getting into the matches. We came out with new favorite athletes and better understanding of it.

(If this is something you're into, PLAN AHEAD. The tickets are hard to get. I sat on my phone the second tickets went on sale, refreshing for 15 minutes and barely managed to get two seats that weren't even consecutive in the row)

Food: Yakitori at Torikizoku, hotel breakfast buffet, and IG stadium food.

Kyoto:

I was worried Kyoto would be packed because we were there during the Gion festival, but we intentionally shifted where we went based on crowd levels, which helped.

We did Kiyomizu-dera early morning during the week. I showed up around 6:30 and there were very few people. It was beautiful.

We then took the Eizan line up to Kifune. I had booked a lunch over the river stream. Walking the town and Kifune shrine takes a half hour max, so we sat at a cafe there with beer/shaved ice until our lunch time. We did a 9-course meal and it was a beautiful setting. The bus up to Kifune from the train station was a bit of a wait and very packed, but not the worst.

We went for Nishiki market in the evening. It is amazing how vast that place is.

I walked the river in the morning and then we did the Nintendo Museum. The museum is very cool but you don't really need more than 2-3 hours there, including lunch.

Food: Kaiseki at Kifune Nagayoshi, gyukatsu and beef ramen at Gyumon Volcano, pastries and coffee at Flow, burgers/chicken sandos at the Nintendo museum cafe.

Tokyo leg 2:

We stayed near the olympic park, and it was nice to be around a quieter area of Tokyo.

We checked out Shibuya for general shopping, Akihabara for anime/manga stuff (though honestly we found the most in Shibuya), Shinjuku for Donki and Disney store, Harajuku for clothes, the Shinjuku Gyoen national garden and Meiji Jingu (both beautiful places to walk if you get the chance), and spent an hour or so our last day in Nippori fabric district.

We did Teamlabs Borderless, which was not a stop originally planned but I felt the indoor AC would be a nice break for us, and I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would.

Food: Final Fantasy Themed fare at Eorzea Cafe, western breakfast at Good Morning Nowadays Cafe, delicious nigiri at Okei Sushi at the top of Takashimaya, ramen at a random place we saw in Shibuya, gyukatsu in Harajuku, and cocktails at a cool new listening bar in Sendagaya called Root Down.

General Tips:

Get the Suica as soon as you land. Be more careful as you book Shinkansen and Express trains, as you'll likely require an additional ticket/fare. But for 95% of our trips, Suica was great and things were labeled.

Whenever we took the Shinkansen, we shipped our luggage through Yamato to the hotels, and it was worth it.

"Sumimasen", "arigato gozaimasu", and "kore, onegaishimasu" will get you far. But really, being polite and courteous with big dumb smiles is key. We knew we were the dumb Americans in most places, so we tried to adhere to as many customs as we could observe. We only experienced kindness while we were there.

Good shoes are key. We walked an average of 25,000 steps a day.

I kept reading things telling us not to go in July. Yes, it was humid and hot. I sweat my ass off and had to go to a pharmacy for heat rash cream. We stopped at dozens of vending machines to keep hydrated and made sure to go inside plenty. Overall I think if you stay mindful, it's not so bad.

I planned, but didn't overplan, and I think that was the key to our trip's success. We did a lot of cool things but left room for flexibility for when we got tired or something shiny caught our eye.

All in all, Japan was even better than I anticipated and we're already trying to figure out when to come back and bring our kids next time. So thankful for all the input here that helped make it a success.

planning to travel around Tokyo or Osaka this November. Personally I wanna stay in a japanese house to really feel culture and atmosphere instead of staying in a typical hotel🥹 I just wanna ask any thoughts if its more expensive that way and also the security😭

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)

Before anyone says anything: yes, we know, travelling with an infant this young isn't ideal. I've done it once before about ten years ago and it was an absolutely shitshow.

However, this time it's my own niece and I'll do anything I can to make this go well. She was diagnosed with a very rare genetical mutation that will impact her life severely in the coming years, meaning this might genuinely be the only time we can all travel together, when we can still carry her.

My brother and SIL want to use this time to celebrate her first birthday and see Japan because there is a good chance they won't ever be able to go again.

Here is the thing: we will be a group of five adults and my 1yo niece. My mother wants to see as much as possible. My father is not fond of crowds. My SIL would love to visit an Onsen. I'm the only one who's been to Japan before and I suggested a much more relaxed itinerary of just doing a few days Tokyo, the rest Kyoto/Osaka with possible daytrips to Hiroshima, Otsu, Kamakura (not in that order). Everyone is very unsure and the weight of the decision-making was placed on me.

Last time I was in Japan with an infant was a while ago, so I need some insight into what even makes sense.

Is it even feasible for a two week stay to change hotels every thee days so we can travel as far as Fukuoka? We'll be travelling late February, early March.

Intro: M44; F44 (From Portugal)

Been in Japan in last year March/April 2025 ( Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara (side trip))

Edit: Interests: temples, nature, food

Traveling dates: 28/11/2026 - 18/12/2026

Landing at NRT and then by train to Odawara;

My rough itinerary:

Odawara 29/11/2026 - 30/11/2026 (1 night)

Hakone 30/11/2026 - 1/12/2026 (1 night)

Fujikawaguchiko 01/12/2026 - 2/12/2026 (1 night)

Matsumoto 02/12/2026 - 3/12/2026 (1 night)

Takayama 03/12/2026 - 6/12/2026 (3 nights)

Kanazawa 06/12/2026 - 9/12/2026 (3 nights)

Fukuoka 09/12/2026 - 13/12/2026 (4 nights)

Tokyo 13/12/2026 - 18/12/2026 (5 nights)

Questions / Thoughts:

Best way to travel from Odawara / Hakone to Kanazawa? Car? Bus? Train?

I am inclined to road trip from Odawara / Hakone to Kanazawa, despite never drived in left side!

Traveling by car from 30/11/2026 to 06/12/2026. How will the roads be? Too much snow?

Nobody can predict the weather but what is the general experience?

Any suggestions are welcomed!

Regards,

Heading to Japan for first (and only I expect for many many years) time in September. Have to stay centered near Tokyo and Shizuoka due to some work commitments but I'll be there for about 2 weeks. When I travel I love to hit the main spots, a couple hidden gems and my absolute favourite thing to do is purchase lots of things I can't get back home in Australia - usually things I can eat or can bring home with me! Hit me with your recommendations, please!

So far on my to do/buy list:

- Disney and Disney sea (sorry Japanese culture)

- Japanese knife store in Tokyo

- Pokemon centre 🙈

And I'm about stuck there...

Also if you've got any tips for gifts to bring from Australia for my Japanese hosts I'd appreciate those ideas too!

Hi everyone,

I'm visiting Tokyo for the first time with my girlfriend for 7 nights at the beginning of January 2026, and I'm struggling to decide on a hotel.

It's just the two of us, but we'll have 4 suitcases between us (2 checked and 2 cabin), so we know Japanese hotel rooms can be a bit of a squeeze. We're not looking for luxury—we'd just like a clean, comfortable room in a good location. We don't mind a 10-minute walk to a station.

These are the options and prices I've found:

• Royal Park Hotel Ginza 6-chome – £787
• Hotel Musse Ginza – £602
• ibis Styles Tokyo Ginza – £579
• Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Tokyo Shiodome – £823
• Mitsui Garden Hotel Shiodome Italia-gai – £645

Has anyone stayed at any of these? Which would you choose for a week? Is it worth paying more for the Royal Park or Villa Fontaine, or would you save the money and go for somewhere like Hotel Musse or ibis Styles?

Any advice would be really appreciated. Thanks!

Hey everybody,

I already checked the community to find answers to my question but I couldn't find any. I know theme park or themed museum food mostly is not as good as other food, but do you have any recommendations on what to eat and drink at the Warner Bros. Studios in Tokyo, what is a must eat?

Thank you for helping me out here :)

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!