i’m planning on going to japan in august for 11 days. i’m 19 and going by myself but i want to know some suggestions for my trip and maybe some advice to get cheaper flights in leaving from vegas. if anyone could throw me out some recommendations i would really appreciate it.
I came to Takeshita street and it's wonderful, many different stores and stuff but the stuff was pretty pricey. Around ~40-50 AUD for t shirts and stuff. Things in Australia are very expensive and I was under the impression that I could shop for cheaper here. Since this is a touristy area, are these tourist prices? Where do the locals shop? Could someone please point me to an area where I can get good, authentic Jap clothes for cheaper?
I went to an outlet in Osaka where I found some good stuff, I tend on going to second hand stores and outlets here in Tokyo too but would be awesome to hear of some local stores that have nice stuff for a good price.
I was at a huge shop today and I was blown away by how high the prices were on used games
Does anyone have any suggestions for finding vintage Game Boy games?
Hi! I will be going with my friend to Japan soon for the first time and will be in Tokyo for about 5 days. I am reviewing the itinerary city-by-city and would really appreciate any insight on whether we're doing a good job haha
We want a mix of an authentic/cultural experience, plus the pop-culture stuff (we're big geeks!). Touristy things are OK for us but only when they are genuinley good (We don't need to brag that we went to the smallest mom-and-pop shops, but we don't want to do exactly the same thing every tourist is doing either). Some things are obviously popular for a reason, but we would love to also explore some hidden gems
We also want to make the most of the trip, since there's no telling when we will be back, so we'd rather be on the busier side than the empty, but exploring/breathing time is very important so we want each day to have room to explore around the areas of whatever activity we're doing that day.
Our current ideas for Tokyo (Jun 6-11) are:
Sat Jun 6:
Sun Jun 7:
Mon Jun 8:
Tues Jun 9:
Wed Jun 10:
Thurs Jun 11:
Thank you for the advice!
I'll be going to Tokyo soon and am craving Unagi, specifically Hitsumabushi. I've been looking at some of the higher rated places on Tabelog, but it doesn't seem like they generally serve Hitsumabushi. Any recommendations for good Hitsumabushi places, or should I try and eat it somewhere else? I'm also going to be in Hiroshima and Kyoto.
In addition, is there a better way to search for specific dishes on Tabelog?
Hey! Saw the 2025 guide still floating around and wanted to drop an update since a lot has changed this year, hopefully saves someone a headache 😅
So Tokyo was closed for renos from March 23 and reopens June 17th.. new interior, new hours btw (10:30am-9pm) and a menu update. A bunch of dishes got permanently cut including the Starter Curry plates and the Snorlax plate so if you were going back for those.. RIP lol
After reopening it's now strictly reservation only, no walk ins at all, not even worth trying. Merch is still fine without one though. Still 31 days in advance at 6pm JST, first wave was up to July 7 with more dates dropping separately so keep an eye out.
Booking is def worse than ever since Tokyo was closed. Slots go in literal seconds, felt worse than Ticketmaster honestly. Site still crashes too. Things that helped us: have your phone as backup cause random errors happen, and do NOT use iOS autofill for the OTP code (a common mistake), copy it manually from the email or it just won't work. Cancellations also randomly pop up around 10pm JST the night before so worth checking then.
We gave up doing it manually both times and used bots, honestly thank god tools like that exist (if it helps we used cafesnap bot) no way I'm waking up at 6am for this lol. Had our reservations sorted without the stress.
Osaka stayed open through the whole Tokyo reno (except they'll be closed for in June 8-16) so demand there has been way higher than usual. Same rules, slightly easier than Tokyo but not by much lately..
Good luck, it's 100% worth it when you get in 🙏
EDIT: updating of Osaka closure dates
EDIT2: I know a lot of you guys entered walk ins in Osaka, but for Tokyo, they've said:
[Reservation Notice]
* After reopening following renovations, the cafe will operate on a reservation-only basis for a while.
It has not yet been decided when we will begin accepting walk-ins. Please refrain from waiting around the store.
* Reservations for dates on and after Wednesday, July 8, 2026 will be announced at a later date.
* Merchandise is available for purchase without reservation.
* Dates may change without prior notice depending on circumstances.
We often enjoy oysters in the US and Canada, and have tried to duplicate that here in Tokyo. But all the oysters we've found - at oyster bars or at a market - are huge. I know even the Kumamoto oysters are grown in the US Pacific; is it not possible to find similar small oysters here?
Would you recommend a beach day for late May - early June? If so, where would you recommend for people staying in Tokyo? We can travel far for a day, the price is not a deal breaker, I just want your opinions.
PS: r/JapanTravel auto removed by question for some reason.
There are multiple Reddit threads about hiking Mt. Fuji that make it seem very difficult. In 2023 July, I did Mt. Fuji as a day trip from Tokyo. Below are the steps to repeat. It was an amazing day trip!
The most convenient way to get to Mt. Fuji is by bus from Shinjuku Station. Direct highway buses operate between the Busta Shinjuku bus terminal in Tokyo and Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station from spring to autumn. During the off-season, there are two round-trip buses per day, while during the climbing season from July to September, buses run hourly. The one-way ride takes about 150 minutes and costs 2950 yen, with seat reservations required. The first bus at 6:45 am gets you to Mt. Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station just before 10 am, leaving you a generous 7 hours for the mountain climb.
While most resources suggest a 7-10-hour round trip from Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station, my journey took just over 5 hours. This included climbing, stopping to admire the stunning scenery, enjoying a quick lunch at the summit, and descending. Now, as an average 45-year-old endurance hobbyist, I can assure you that the climb is achievable for many.
If you encounter altitude sickness or need to slow down and risk missing the last bus, don't worry. A taxi back to town can get you on a bus or train back to Tokyo, although it might cost you around $100 (14,000 yen).
After reaching the summit, I was greeted with the mesmerizing sight of the caldera - a mile-wide crater loop that you can walk around. Despite feeling the effects of the altitude during the short climbs, the dramatic vistas were well worth it. It's an experience that's not to be missed when you climb Mt. Fuji.
While the journey to the top is exhilarating, the descent down Mt. Fuji provides its own set of challenges and rewards. The path back is a never-ending zigzag alongside the Yoshida trail, steep and tough on the knees. Thankfully, my knees held up through the demanding trek down. As I descended, I was treated to some of the most fantastic views of volcanic rock formations, scattered patches of snow, and a green oasis that brought to mind the landscapes of New Zealand's Rotorua walk and Maui's Haleakalā hike.
Once back at the Mt. Fuji Subaru Line Station, I had a good 60 minutes before the 5pm bus, and I treated myself to an early Soba dinner, topped off with a well-deserved Asahi Dry. I was back in Tokyo for a second late dinner.
Looking back, it was one of my best solo hiking experiences ever. Listening to my favorite book, Musashi, during the hike added an authentic touch to the experience. It's rare to find a bucket-list hike or mountain that can be accomplished in a day from a major city. Sure, there are people who do Mt. Whitney in a day from LA, but that requires superhuman endurance. As for Mt. Fuji, it was an unforgettable day trip that I highly recommend for any travel and adventure enthusiast.
Hi everyone! Going to Tokyo next month for about 12 days. Any eSIM recommendations. I have AT&T and I think it’ll be too expensive to just use my service. Or if anyone just used their phone provider, how was that?
I’m heading to Tokyo for the first time in a few days, and I am in need of food recommendations. I’m good with any kind of food, any cuisine, any price. Thank you in advance!
do you know any clubs in tokyo in which they let people enter also by showing only the photo of their id card instead of the phisical one?
I wanted to go to Enter Shibuya but I read the reviews and saw people smoke ciggies inside. Red bar too. I can't tolerate the smell. Any non-smoking club? T2, Womb, Vent? Any recommendation? Thanks!
Visiting Tokyo and looking for some adult entertainment and fun. Heard Kabukicho is the red light district but nervous as reviews are so mixed.
Anyone been recently and have any advice? I know to stay away from anyone begging us to go in as they will scam us or drug us.
I’m a foreigner (black) with my buddy (also black foreigner) and do not speak Japanese.
Ich habe eine Frage ich will mit einem Kumpel nach Japan reisen nun es gibt ein Problem 2015 wurde er in USA verhaftet wegen Alkohol am Steuer und musste für 3 Tage ins Gefängnis das ist jetzt 11 Jahre her! Und vor 2 Jahren war er in Mexiko und ihm wurde die Einreise verweigert wie so umgehen mit der Einreise nach Japan?
Kann mir jemand helfen??
tried posting this before but it got removed so hopefully this version is okay 😭
anime finally got to me and now i kind of want to try a host club on my first japan trip lol
i know it’s all fantasy/sales tactics, but i’m still curious what the actual experience is like for foreign women. is it fun or just awkward/expensive? i speak basically no japanese so i’m also wondering how difficult it is to even get in somewhere safely
“Don’t eat while walking in Japan” is a relatively new Tokyo norm, not a long standing cultural rule. Nonetheless, it should be respected.
I recall living in Japan in the early 90s and seeing retirees on the train drinking a cup of sake or young people on the weekend coming home from a late night and drinking a beer on the train. I even use to see Japanese snacking and n the train or walking back to work eating skewers of yakitori. So I asked my Japanese wife if there has always been the rule of no drinking and eating in public?
For some additional context…my wife grew up in Tokyo in the 70’s/80’s and part of the 90’s before moving to the U.S. and she said that my memory is correct. Up through the 90s and even early 2000s, Japanese people generally didn’t care if others were eating or drinking while walking around in public. According to her, the big shift came after public trash cans started disappearing following the 1995 sarin gas attack, combined with the huge rise in foreign tourism.
Once trash cans disappeared, there was more concern about litter being left around, especially in crowded areas. As tourism increased, many visitors would leave cups, wrappers, skewers, etc. in public spaces, and Japanese society gradually responded by discouraging eating while walking altogether. Less because it was “traditional etiquette” and more because people didn’t want public spaces becoming messy. What’s interesting, and I think this is a helpful travel tip for first time visitors, is that you still see plenty of exceptions:
festivals
street food areas
Harajuku crepes
people drinking vending machine drinks while walking
So it feels less like “never eat while walking” and more like “don’t inconvenience others or create trash in crowded spaces.”
Curious whether other longtime Tokyo residents remember the same cultural shift.
For foreign visitors who aren’t sure, the best policy is to just do as you see the Japanese do.
Arriving in Tokyo on Monday mid-day from the US. What are some recommended ideas for the entry day - a day of exhaustion. Would love tips on things to do that aren’t too strenuous since i will likely have been without sleep for 24 hours. I will be with my family. Shopping seems like a bad idea since decision making ability will likely be reduced. Is there something to do /places that are recommended? We are staying in Ueno area. Appreciate any and all tips. Any great advice on jet lag also appreciated.
Regarding the title I have done NO planning whatsoever. There is a group of four of us and we will be staying in Tokyo the whole stay. Please let me know the best places to eat, stay, and activities preferably on the more inexpensive side!! thank you I’m so so excited to visit!
Also- one of my friends will be proposing to his girlfriend this trip! Any recs for a beautiful spot that will look nice in proposal photos?
Edit: I’ve been getting suggestions to be more direct with what I want: so I guess starting with suggestions of what part of Tokyo we should stay in would be helpful. We are an active group in our early 20s that appreciate good authentic food/experiences and nightlife. Thanks everyone