Been to Japan 4 times and this advice is all 100% true.

Yes finally!!!!! A realistic person talking about Japan!!!! None of that influencers crap about every single person going to the same restaurants in Tokyo/kyoto/osaka

Tip one I recommend for every trip. Plans are important, yes, but the days without plan, just waling around are so wonderful. And so less stressful!

On my spontaneous days I just get on a random train and set a time limit, probably like 40-60 mins and just get off and explore. It's found me some really cool hidden gems

I'm not one to make itineraries in advance. I fly by the seat of my pants. I got off a bus in Kyoto in the middle of nowhere and walked 8 hours back to the large tower and using it as my only guide. It was awesome. Saw geisha, temples and a whole bunch of other cool random stuff I happened by. Never know where the adventure will take you.

Please don’t miss Nagoya either. It’s such a beautiful place if you love the small town vibe with beautiful neighbourhoods and it also has a studio Ghibli themed park.

we originally only booked two days in kyoto and then three in osaka, but ended up extending Osaka to 6 days and just taking day trips to Nara, Kobe, Wakayama and another day(trip) to Kyoto. Having a "base" for almost a week felt really good, we enjoyed Osaka and doing everything as daytrips was way more relaxing than having to hurl around luggage and doing checkous/ins everyday. After that, two days in a Ryokan in Arima Onsen to relax before heading for Tokyo again to finish out the trip there. I'd do it like this again cause we saw so much and really had time to just wander around and immerse ourselves instead of hustling from spot to spot.

Super accurate. Second time I went to Japan my sister and her friend came and it was their first time and they had a crazy itinerary. I warned them that it was insane but they naively dismissed my concerns and thought I was dumb for not agreeing to do certain things like Universal Osaka or the deers in Nara. Fast forward to the trip and they were completely exhausted, eating at McDonald’s while I was exploring Okinomiyaki shops, admiring Yakushi-ji Toto and its cherry blossoms, and soaking in parts of the country I didn’t see last time. Eventually they caught on to my wisdom and started to follow my lead just walking in a random direction of town and seeing what we would find. If it’s your first time just go to Asakusa in Tokyo first to get it out of your system, then try to get to Kyoto/Osaka asap. Tokyo is literally 10 full sized cities in one area so you’ll always be able to chip away at it the more you visit but the West of the country has more approachable urban areas that you can devour without being overwhelmed.

Agree on enjoying it for multiple days, especially Kyoto! I didn't really spend a lot of time there and really regret it. It's such a beautiful area with a lot of history.

Honestly the best way to explore Japan is actually to talk/ hang out with the locals and stay out of the tourist trap destinations. (I have had the most experiences/ enjoyment this way)

Visiting Japan twice and what I learned is the true way to appreciate Japan is if you kinda spent your day like an ordinary japanese people do.

I hope tourists continue to explore the popular destinations like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and so on. This way, when I visit rural Japan again, it won't be overcrowded with visitors. Haha!

I loved being cash only in Japan. The card fee & international charge fee really adds up if you're not looking. Also, with a card, your money is an imaginary amount of you don't think about it. With cash, it's physical & you can run out; which means spending less/ keeping to the budget.

This is good for going almost anywhere! Don’t overplan, make sure you carry cash because in most places there are still places who don’t take card, and leave the big tourist city to explore!

For Osaka I recommend 3 days max. After 1 day you have seen everything. For the second day visit Universal Studio. Also don't waste your time on the inside of the Osaka castle. Outside was pretty, inside was boring. I would recommend for the third day to visit Minoh Park, ramen museum and maybe some shops if you still need souvenirs

Osaka is so central u can do a day trip to Nara, Hiroshima & Kobe each. Next time, I might stay longer in Osaka. Kyoto is such a fun city with great shopping deals but be ready to take taxis. Busses are so crowded rn. You just need to take an express train to Kyoto from Osaka and u save a ton of money too. Nagoya is also criminally underrated.

If you all want to explore country sides of Japan, here are tips that I learn from the hard way. 1.Shuttle bus! Unless your hotel is close to the local station, Always ask the hotel service if they offer shuttles! Don't rely on local buses, if you are in hot spot, the local bus always get full by overflow tourists! Yup I waited like 2 hours in the snow day because 2 buses I missed were full. 2. Book train tickets or any transportation early! Again, the numbers of tourist in Japan increase every year. Don't even try to take local train without booking it unless you don't have luggage with you. You can also book the ticket ahead in the first day of your tip in the station if you have time. 3. If you don't care too much popular food/restaurant, you can ignore this. But, same as transportation, some fancy restaurants require reservation or going there early as possible. Manage your meal time like 7am, 11am, 5pm. I wasted lots of time on waiting in line. Some restaurants offer waitlist text, you can sign it up first then shop nearby.

Just come back from japan.. from my experience you dont need to browse / find most recommended restaurant / most reviewed resto from youtuber / tiktok.. just go to restaurant that you feel like going to.. they never fail me tho

I went to Japan for 3 weeks and it was my best trip ever

The advice is too real! I needed to hear that, I packed my trip like a can of sardines and it felt more like work than a vacation 😢

Did all of the recommendations on my first trip without seeing this short before and can fully agree to them 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

When I was with my dad in Japan I was hungry after hours of walking so we went tp a restaurant in akihabara. It was empty but I ate there the best beef I could have. THE FOOD WAS DELICIOUS

Japan or elsewhere - avoid card or phone pay and stick to CASH wherever you can. Here's 7+1 reasons why: 1) More direct people contact. There are enough card readers in our lives already, and they don't smile. 2) Real things and touching make better memories. Do you even know what the money looks like, in your destination country? 3) Shop owners don't have to pay a fee to corporations. For some, this means their livelihood. Think of it. 4) You keep better control of your budget and expenses. 5) Risk is limited to what is in your purse, as opposed to the maximum ATM withdrawal. 6) You maintain better knowledge of prices, i.e. what things are worth. Stay based. 7) You get free math training. More brain cells. Bonus: Cash keeps you independent. Don't take freedom for granted - freedom to choose, freedom to travel.

I’m probably biased because I’ve lived in Kyoto, but to me it’s the best place to visit in Japan, I always tell people to spend as much time as they can there if they go to Japan 😛

I’m dying to visit Japan. I’m trying to learn some basic Japanese to help get around easier!

I traveled to Japan with girls who don’t know how to have fun and it was my biggest regret really. Travel with people who want to have fun. I hate when people complain and try to control our decision in travel

I stay in Yokohama and day trip from there. I also make a list of stuff that I would like to do and then decide if/when/where when I am there. I also jump on random trains and get off at a random stops to explore. Not being tied to an itinerary is soooo much better.

My two friends and I had been dreaming of going to Japan since we were kids and this last summer we spent the month of July for my 23rd birthday in Japan. Starting up in Sapporo and making our way down through different many different towns and cities till eventually ending in Kyoto and Osaka. The only thing we had planned was the onsen and hostels for each stop. This was the most incredible Journey I have ever been on, exploring the local culture, food, and natural wonders of each region. Hokkaido itself was my absolute favorite, everything there felt like being in Hayao Miyazaki film. While in Japan it is very important to respect the people and their culture so everyone can have a great experience. I want to go back to Japan someday to hike across the country and to Snowboard the ski resorts in Hokkaido in the dead of winter.

If you're into castles, I'd highly recommend HIMEJI.

When i went last year i just see the oldest and looks shady restaurant and they where the best food i ever have. No rush also just see in goodle map what place nearby my hotel.

Yeah, our plan is literally to plan a couple things we really want to do But mostly it's going to pick what days we want to be in an area and to explore, obviously pick some places to go to, but nothing scheduled

I absolutely agree with not overpacking your itenirary. My bf and I went to a 14 day trip to Japan, and while we enjoyed it, everyday felt like we're in a rush and pressure to catch the next train. I would've loved to just leisurely walk the streets enjoying every little things that we see. On our next trip, we definitely will not plan too much abd will have lots if free days.

I just want to explore Japan without a busy itinerary, I want to explore and experience a normal walk, too

I agree, Kyoto is a must visit!

that’s why i’ll go for 6 months no plans at all, just vibes and chill in the best country

I did a 50 day trip to Japan, explored everywhere. Yes, i agree with these 3 tips

These are ACTUALLY good tips. Thank you

I overpacked my itinerary for Japan. At minimum, I had at least 2 1/2 days in Kyoto and that still wasn’t enough to explore Kyoto. Her tips are the real deal.

Definitely plan ahead! Had one of my best trips going to Osaka, and visiting Kyoto, Nara, and Tsujiri in an 8-day trip. What's important is to plan your meals and breaks too!

Cards are much more common than this makes it out to be. I lived in a small town in Japan 10 years ago and most stores and restaurants took card. Only the mum and pop stores run by elderly couples were cash only. Those are often the best places to go so I highly recommend having cash but if you don't want to then 90% of places will have a card reader

The over scheduling one is so real 😭 I was in Osaka for a school field trip and I honestly didn’t find it all that fun for the majority since our schedule was so full. There was barely any time to explore and we just had to keep moving. There wasn’t any time to rest other than at the hotel either so my feet hurt really bad the entire time :(

I was able to do a day trip to Osaka for Universal studios. Pretty fun tbh. I did a shinkansen

If you're going to Osaka/Kyoto/Nara/Kobe, I recommend just staying at Osaka then take day trips to Kyoto/Nara/Kobe. Lugging your luggage from Osaka then to Kyoto is such a hassle for me. Also, these places are easily accessible from Osaka by regular trains (yes, no need for the bullet train)

I and my husband just came back from Japan just now. I stayed in Osaka for 5 days instead. And it was incredible experience. Another 8 days we stay in Tokyo. Probably visit Japan again next year.

The cash thing is very true for mom and pop ramen restaurants, which are Japan’s best ramen restaurants.

One video told me “plan everything in advance. Now this video tells me don’t plan too much, and btw ‘you can even find amazing restaurants by not planning” at all. Traveling is tricky like that. Do you plan everything in advance, or plan nothing? We can say this for sure: If you plan on going to Miyazaki museum or Disney, you def need to plan ahead. If you are going to Kichijoji to eat lunch and shop at Loft, no planning is necessary and make sure give yourself time to wonder about and explore. Thanks for your help.

I lived there for about 10 years. Lived in the Kyushu and Honshu. Country and city. I don’t remember a place that didn’t take plastic except maybe the bus, or some taxis? Maybe trains (Though I had that JR pass which was essentially a credit card). I heard that “no plastic” rule before I moved there but was surprised at how incorrect it was.

I love the fact that Japan accepts cash only- people will soon realise that it's far better than taking unnecessary risks of being targeted by online scammers especially when travelling

For anyone with military background. Book one hotel every other night and just stay up all night on days you don’t have a hotel. You have experience living on 3 outfits for a week, save hundreds of dollars👍

its great that cash is king still in these places which means i dont have to be potentially ripped off with each transaction i make

Same. Too much Tokyo, not enough days with little to no planning. My most favorite memories from Japan weren't Sky Tree or Kiyomizudera, it was the spontaneous bar we drank at where we took a shot of tequila with the friendly bartender, or the izakaya we saw a line out the door for where there were only 8 seats.

I spent 5 days in Osaka as home base to explore Kobe,Kyoto and Nara. Then went to Tokyo by night bus after spent 1 full day at USJ through murodo for a day to enjoy snow and continue my journey to Tokyo and stay for 4 days there

BIGGGG on not overloading your itinerary!! first time I went we were so overwhelmed with waking up at 5am everyday to do something we had planned and not getting back will like 8-9pm. Second time I went planned much less things and had more free days and was able to really enjoy it more this time

Finally a video that actually talks about visiting Japan in a way that’s actually fun! I swear if I hear about Ichiran being the ‘best’ ramen one more time 😒

Good tips. Even though I am usually a heavy planner, I feel when I visit Japan one day, it will be more on the spontaneous side. Just explore and see where that takes me.😂I’d also like to see a range of different locations (the touristy areas, the countryside, temples, big cities, small towns, etc.).😊

Japan is really fun 😊

Yes! Please confine your visit to Tokyo, Osaka and Kobe. Stay on the paths.

We never got to go to japan when we visited korea due to covid restrictions. The great thing about korea was most places did accept card. And i had an emergency and needed to go to a small pharmacy there and the lady was sonnice regardless if i was a foreigner, and she had the voltaren i was looking for in less than 5 seconds. Amazing! I hope to visit japan someday. Especially where they ba e bowing deer and the island where people never die

I regretted doing more days in Osaka than Kyoto. I would do only 3 days in Osaka next time and Kyoto I’d do 4 or more :) also having a couple down days to randomly explore and do laundry is everything

I really want to visit Kobe. My grandparents lived the for a few years in the 60s, my grandfather was an engineer and helped with the construction of some kind of factory. I have some letters my grandmother wrote during their stay, where she wrote about their daily life. An amazing time capsule.

first 2019 guided trip was like 1stpoint. had to skip one thing nearby just to calm down. 2022 solo trip 3-4 places max a day and still enough leisure time to clear a full 2 days of planned activities earlier than planned. heading for 3rd trip in 3 weeks. nervous and excited.

I love this, I really want to visit Japan. I hope we get to soon.

Even a week in Osaka is too short 😂 It being a great hub to travel to Himeji, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe. No hustle with suitcases and trains are 15€/$ max. Choose one thing like Mizudera or a castle and explore the neighborhood around it. Expect 35k steps!

I just came back from Japan. Credit cards are accepted everywhere except in tourist area where some old souvenir shops and street food vendors. Go small restaurants where a lot of people are standing or sitting outside. It’s good that why they are waiting. Most Japanese server don’t speak English well, but menu mostly have great pictures; and also even small restaurants mostly have English menus. Just smile, point on what you want, and have your google translator ready. Taxi drivers mostly are older; be ready to have the address translated to Japanese ready. Japan is a great country to visit.

Every restaurant is darn good, if they let you in as a foreigner, that is.

12 days in Osaka and use it as base (cheaper than the surrounding cities). Do day trips to Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, etc. you can do multiple day trips to cities you like. Use the regular train. It will be only 5-10 minutes longer than the bullet train but one fifth the price.

True. Just coming from Japan last week, and I would have preferred to have more time just to explore.

Amazing advice, especially about the Tokyo one.

Nice tips, and would love to check out your other videos!!!

Okonomiyaki in Osaka is a must have!

😊 Been there once and this advice is true! Spend at least 3 days in a region to make most of the time of exploring and admiring the place!

Looks like fun

Tip 3 is sooo true as someone who has been before

The first tip is so true because my dad wayyy overplanned for our stay, and it just felt like we were running around everywhere most of the time to make it to every reservation

she is on point! I was in Japan for 14 days, got the Rail Pass 😉 The only thing I regret…the packed itinerary! But I was there to see architecture and we got it done ✅ next time I would like to be able to hang out with the peeps more, other than architects 😂

My first regret is going in the middle of summer. It was unbearable last year!!! Second was too much time in Tokyo and Osaka and not adjusting well to having a typhoon ruin 1/3 of our trip!! Next time I will skip all the cities and spend all my time in Kyushu, Yakushima and Okinawa

I’m so excited to visit Kobe, I’ve heard amazing stories.

Best said!! So true

Japan's so beautiful :0

You make it look so good that I wanna go with my friends.

Thank you! Next year will be my first trip.

I also bring kids not having so much fun. But we will come back and explore more. Thank u for ur video. So happy..

I would say lots of place to explore in Japan. Even if u land in Tokyo, you can explore the northeast or fuji area. One more thing to mention is Japan is very seasonal, same place in different season are very different, that’s why you can visit Japan a lot of time

I never plan anything when going abroad, much more enjoyable for me to just explore and take it easy.

Currently planning my 1st trip to Japan. Your channel is very useful!! Thanks!

So plan for 3 weeks to visit Japan

I think other prefectures outside of the big tourists spots like Tokyo and Osaka are also a great experience. (Ofc for a short term trip, it's not as ideal since you're trying to make the best of the time and less touristy areas won't give you much opportunity) I'm studying in Fukuoka and live in Itoshima. Yes there's not a ton to do, but it's a very interesting experience. And ofc the city area of Fukuoka has its own attractions too.

I love the dark blue dress, so cute ♡

I spent my entire trip in Tokyo and I felt like I could have spent a month in the city. I do plan on going to other cities on future trips.

We went to Tokyo, Hakuba, Kyoto and Osaka didn't get to explore Kyoto or Osaka biggest regret of our trip (wish we stayed longer) but we did get to love Hakuba (snow) and some of Tokyo (loved Ahkibhara) and Shibuya crossing :D

Spent 3 days in Hiroshima.. Wonderful city

thanks for this

So clean

correct i got lost and found the famous restaurant and i cancelled all my iterinary and just go around and enjoy hahaha

Japan seems so fun.. ❤

I try to plan all of my vacations this way, leaving a few free days here and there between planned days for exploring.

Tokyo is still my must, i stay there a whole week and so far i have avoided the Golden Route. I prefer Nagano, Miyagi and Tochigi over Kyoto or Osaka

point 1 is the only thing i wanna do. just live in tokyo for 2 weeks. just explore

Went to Hamamatsu for 2 nights. Serene place, and I love the strawberry farms ❤

Weird coincidence. My 12 days to japan was 3 days in kyoto, 3 days in osaka and 6 days in tokyo. Every day we planned for 1 thing per person (3 total) and the rest of the time was free which gave us lots of time to explore. And eating where we were at, at the time, worked out phenomenally.