Japan reopened to independent international tourists on 11 October 2022, and restrictions were dropped on 29 April 2023. Visitors no longer need to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 vaccine. Guided tours in Japan are worth every penny and can help visitors make the most of their trip. There are three types of guides: licensed tour guides, volunteer guides, and local guides.
A knowledgeable guide can provide in-depth tours of Japan, covering various aspects such as tradition, culture, history, modern customs, and fashion. Hiring a knowledgeable guide can provide a deeper understanding of the destinations and local culture. Some benefits of hiring a guide include selecting a licensed tour guide, volunteering a guide, or combining both.
An updated Japan travel guide is available with tips, information, and advice to help travelers plan their trip to Japan. It includes suggestions for itineraries, including Tokyo, Kyoto, and other cities, as well as airport guidance. TourRadar offers 294 trips with 4914 customer reviews, and private English-speaking tour guides can be booked online.
In conclusion, guided tours in Japan are worth every penny and can enhance the experience for visitors. While it may not be necessary for non-Japanese speakers, having a knowledgeable Licensed Guide Interpreter can provide a deeper understanding of the destinations and local culture. Hiring a knowledgeable guide can be beneficial for first-time visitors or those with limited time, but not everyone needs one.
📹 15 Tips for First-Time Travellers to Japan | japan-guide.com
In this video we list some of our most useful tips for first-time visitors to Japan, specifically those landing at Narita Airport and then …
What is the best way to tour Japan?
Japan’s bullet trains, known as shinkansen, are a popular mode of transportation for tourists and locals due to their efficiency and ease of navigation. With a speed of up to 320 km/hour, they are accessible even to those who don’t speak Japanese. However, the shinkansen may not be the most affordable option. Regular regional trains are cheaper but run slower, such as from Tokyo to Osaka, which takes 2.
5 to 3 hours on the shinkansen. Alternatively, the Japan Rail Pass offers unlimited travel on the Japan Railway shinkansen line, Limited Express, local trains, and even the Miyajima Ferry for seven, 14, or 21 days.
Is Japan tour expensive?
Japan travel costs vary depending on travel style, duration of stay, and accommodation choice. Budget travelers can expect to spend around Rs. 5, 000 to Rs. 10, 000 per day, while mid-range travelers may spend between Rs. 10, 000 to Rs. 20, 000 per day. Luxury travelers can expect to spend upwards of Rs. 20, 000 per day. Accommodation in Japan can be expensive, especially in major cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. Budget travelers can find hostels and guesthouses starting from Rs.
2, 000 to Rs. 5, 000 per night. Mid-range hotels can cost between Rs. 5, 000 to Rs. 10, 000 per night, while luxury hotels can cost over Rs. 10, 000 per night. Affordable alternatives include capsule hotels, ryokans, and minshukus, offering a unique and budget-friendly experience.
Are private tour guides worth it?
Travels with Audrey offers guided tours to provide a comprehensive understanding of a destination, including its history, culture, quirks, and traditions. Local expert guides, also known as “local insiders”, are essential for small group tours and custom tours. They have earned licenses that grant them special privileges and valuable access, such as access to museums, palaces, and special venues.
Private tour guides are also beneficial for travelers who prefer to explore a location independently. They offer a unique perspective and connection to the local culture, allowing them to provide fresh and unique insights about a location. Private guides meet clients in hotel lobby, know the city and monuments inside out, and can respond to requests for unscheduled stops. They can point out landmarks and suggest places to visit at your leisure.
As a private tour, you can dictate the focus and pace, ask questions, and even stop for impromptu drinks or tapas. Local guides can easily obtain tickets on the spot for almost all attractions without waiting in line. This allows you to fully appreciate the cultural heritage and diversity of a destination.
Is it easy to tour Japan on your own?
Japan is a safe and easy-to-get-around country with excellent transport links, making solo travel a common experience. The term “ohitorisama” (party for one) refers to people living and doing things alone, often reverently so. The Japan National Tourism Organisation operates a 24-hour English-speaking helpline for solo travelers, providing valuable information and assistance. Flash Pack’s 12-day Japan trip offers a small group adventure.
Best places to visit in Japan include tachinomi bars, where you can try kushikatsu, edamame, draft beer or sake, okonomiyaki, and takoyaki. Street food options include okonomiyaki, fried octopus-stuffed dumplings, and kitsune udon. Kitsune udon is a beloved noodle broth, while kappo restaurants offer high-end, multi-course dining without the formality of kaiseki. Overall, Japan is a great destination for solo travelers looking to explore the country’s culture, food, and culture.
Are Japan travel packages worth it?
Tour packages are offered by numerous companies both within and outside Japan due to the economies of scale inherent to the packaging and sale of such products. The resulting cost savings are passed on to the consumer in the form of lower prices, making tour packages an attractive option for travelers.
What is the best way to tour around Japan?
Japan’s bullet trains, known as shinkansen, are a popular mode of transportation for tourists and locals due to their efficiency and ease of navigation. With a speed of up to 320 km/hour, they are accessible even to those who don’t speak Japanese. However, the shinkansen may not be the most affordable option. Regular regional trains are cheaper but run slower, such as from Tokyo to Osaka, which takes 2.
5 to 3 hours on the shinkansen. Alternatively, the Japan Rail Pass offers unlimited travel on the Japan Railway shinkansen line, Limited Express, local trains, and even the Miyajima Ferry for seven, 14, or 21 days.
How much does it cost to hire a tour guide in Japan?
A private tour guide in Tokyo can cost between $30 and $70 per hour, depending on the type of tour and the specialized experience. Hiring a private guide allows for a deeper exploration of Tokyo’s culture and hidden spots, making it an unforgettable experience. Tokyo offers a variety of tour options, each with its own flavor and cost. Regular and group tours are popular and easy-to-choose options, offering a classic way to explore Tokyo’s iconic landmarks.
Platforms like Viator offer these tours, which are popular and can even lead to making new friends along the way. Group tours, on the other hand, allow for a more structured itinerary, allowing for more time to explore Tokyo. Overall, hiring a private guide in Tokyo offers a unique and memorable experience.
Can I tour Japan on my own?
Japan is known for its safety, as it ranks 9th in the Global Peace Index (GPI) for societal safety, conflict, and militarization. However, it also has its hazards. Before embarking on a solo trip to Japan, it is essential to consider the following safety factors:
- Traveling in a group or with a group of people.
- Using public transportation or taxis.
- Using public transportation or a taxi.
- Being aware of potential risks and ensuring you have adequate insurance coverage.
- Being aware of local customs and traditions.
Should I have a tour guide in Japan?
A tour guide can significantly enhance your experience in Japan by providing an insider’s perspective on local culture, traditions, and off-the-beaten-path spots. They can provide richer understanding of the history and context of these places, answering any questions you may have. Private tours are also more flexible and allow you to experience more of Japan, making your trip more enjoyable and enriching.
Can I go to Japan without a tour guide?
This blog discusses the benefits of exploring Japan without a guide, highlighting the importance of good planning and research. Japan is a land of discovery, offering unique experiences and experiences. If you’re a first-time visitor, you may decide to book a tour guide and holiday package or plan your own trip and explore without a guide. This option is appealing for those who want to see the “real” Japan and enjoy the freedom of being in complete control of their travel experience.
This blog will cover how to plan your trip, the main reasons why exploring without a guide is a good idea, how to get around with the JR Pass, and a list of recommended activities. By doing so, you can enjoy the flexibility of exploring Japan on your own while enjoying the freedom of being in complete control of your travel experience.
Do you need a guided tour to go to Japan?
The author suggests that while a tour guide isn’t necessary, planning ahead and studying can help discover interesting things, such as good street food. They mention an exclusive sushi experience in downtown Tokyo that required weeks of reservations and organization by a travel company. While they prefer discovering street food, they don’t oppose paying for a tour guide, such as a 3-4 hour guided food tour in each city.
📹 How to Spend 14 Days in Japan- A Japan Travel Itinerary
00:00 Intro 00:46 Trip Overview 01:42 Things to know 02:55 Day 1 – 2 Osaka 07:05 Day 3 Koyasan 11:00 Day 4 Nara …
My “14 days in Japan” itinerary is now available on my shop: 👉shop.allansu.com/b/0Y5f9 This is an updated itinerary based on this article and my trips to Japan. The itinerary will cover day-to-day activities, transportation between cities, hotels, restaurants, and a travel budget. I’ve also included a “Custom Google Maps” for Japan with saved pins and locations that follows the itinerary.
For anyone reading this. I went to Japan last June. Before going, I watched this article probably 7 times. I couldn’t have been more excited. Allan does a legitimate perfect job of describing how Japan feels and what you should be doing there. The trip changed my life. Follow his advice. I get emotional perusal this article now. Thank you, Allan
I am a Japanese living in Okinawa. There are 47 prefectures in Japan, and I think that each of the 47 prefectures has 47 different charms. That’s why I love this country. In addition to sushi, ramen, and sukiyaki, each prefecture has its own traditional cuisine, traditional culture, and wonderful scenery. For example, in Okinawa, where I was born and raised, there are many other unique Okinawan dishes such as Okinawa soba, goya chanpuru, pawpaw, and sata andagi. Also, since Okinawa was originally a single country called the Ryukyu Kingdom, it has its own culture and history. Karate is also a sport that originated in Okinawa. In terms of music, Sanshin, Eisa, and Kachaashi are famous. As you can see, Japan has more than just one attraction. I would like you to travel to Japan and find your favorite prefecture. I translated it so there may be some wrong English
I think in my Japan adventure I really want to do it the other way around: See the hustle of the cities at first then go and relax in the mountains and nature to decompress. *Thanks for all the likes, I will be heading to Japan Aug 2023, my father passed away in Oct ’22 and this article has given me inspiration for places to scatter some of his ashes. 🥲
What a beautiful documentary of your trip! perusal this really made me reminisce my honeymoon back in Dec 2019 on my first trip to Japan. We had 11 days to travel and we went to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara. It was tiring traveling to all of them in a short amount of time, but I loved it! The culture, the people, the food- I loved every minute of my stay in Japan. I can’t wait to come back with my husband. 😊
It seems like tourists often buy food at convenience stores these days, but we don’t recommend doing so. It’s better to go to restaurants because you can find much more delicious food at the same price or a little higher. For the same reason, we also do not recommend cheap conveyor belt sushi that is brought to you by trains like those at amusement facilities.
I’ve been planning a trip to Japan throughout the duration of the pandemic and every month or so I come back to this article to meticulously lay out my trip. This is honestly the best resource on all of YouTube for an in-depth look at what Japan is like, and the HD captures with the ambient music/simple voiceover makes this such a serene watch. Keep up this amazing work, Allan!
Bro I hate travel guides, but yours was so thorough and enjoyable that I can’t help to give thanks through a little bit of money. You deserve at least a bowl of ramen (hopefully you don’t live in CA because inflation sucks and this is barely enough). My girlfriend and I are going this January and this helped me so much with the planning/prep. It makes such a difference having a good, thorough but concise, and enjoyable guide. Thank you so much for the article and your help!
Your camera work was incredibly amazing! You obviously didn’t even use a drone yet you were also able to capture the scenery in the best ways possible. My jaw dropped when the screen switched to Hida Folk Village scene. Your minimal edits to the colors delivered the realest atmosphere and I definitely felt like I was there traveling throughout the entire article, the mountain scene at the onsen was my fav part. Also your voiceover was very clean and professional. Hope to see more Japan’s articles from you in the future!
Hi Allan, I was lucky enough to visit Japan recently and I can’t thank you enough for this article. Thank you for all the suggestions. I’ve followed so many of your recommendations and everything was fantastic. Of all, Okonomiyaki in Okaru, Osaka was probably one of the best meals I’ve had in Japan. And most important of all, Koyasan. I was blessed to have spent a night in the temple and it was an experience of a lifetime. And Okunoin cemetery was the highlight of the trip. It was one of the most serene, peaceful places I’ve ever been. And as told in the article, once you cross the Gobyobashi bridge, you enter Kobo Daishi temple which has surreal spiritual energy, that cannot be expressed. A must, must visit!
Out of all the countries in the world. I wish I lived in Japan. When they had that big earthquake and floodings. I saw how the communities came together. It was amazing to see everyone helping one another like that. It’s a big difference then what happens in the United States. Our government will not help properly and will shoot and kill anyone taking supplies from stores. The mindset here is way different when tragedies happen on a large scale. Japan and the people there are better then any other. Much respect for their great attitudes.
I was trying to decide whether to go back to Japan in the spring or autumn (as last time I went in winter) and was very tempted by cherry blossom season in spring but my gosh the autumnal foliage is absolutely gorgeous. I’m in awe 😭 This was so beautifully filmed and especially like the extra suggestions you gave in each place for extra days. I’m so glad you and your partner had a great time!
Thank you Allan for this amazing article, we pretty much followed your route after perusal the Iceland article and visited last June. I came across this article whilst staying in Kyoto a few days ago, I started to watch and recognized your calm voice from the Iceland article and so watched this through. (I also subscribed of course). Our next destination was Osaka, but after perusal your article, we decided to go to Koyasan first. I had never heard of the place and would definitely have missed it. We went yesterday – 19th February 2023, it was was raining hard, misty and fairly cold (snow on the ground). We started with the Danjō-garan temple complex and had the place completely to ourselves, the rain and mist added to the experience and was one of the best days of my life. We have travelled to over 40 countries including many over the past 9 months and Koyasan for me rates right up there with the best places in the world. We also spent a fair while at the Cemetery which was also an amazing experience that we will not forget. Thank you so much for letting us know about this place and for making such awesome articles. We will definitely check where Allan went before finalizing out itinerary in future!
We went to Japan towards the ending of May 2023 and honestly 7 nights and 8 days isn’t enough. However, having booked before the lockdown, it was our wish finally coming true and we can say, it’s the best time ever had there We covered the theme parks, Kyoto Bamboo park, Tokyo et al and stayed in Osaka ❤😊
I absolutely loved going on holiday to Japan. The most beautiful place I’ve ever been to. Went to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima, saw so many amazing places in each area. I definitely want to go again one day and explore even more parts I haven’t been to yet. Amazing article explaining it all. Thank you!
This was so beautiful and helpful. My mother and I want to take my kid sister to Japan for her 18th birthday in 2025. I honestly can’t wait because ever since i was a child it’s been a dream of mine to go to Japan. This article helped make it feel a lot more like a reality than a dream and I thank you for that. 🙇🏻♀️
I travelled Japan in September 2019. I had the best time, lots of incredible sights, delicious food and amazing people. I went to many of the places you did, but couldn’t help thinking that leaving Hiroshima out was wrong. It’s a wonderful city and is such an important location in world history. The museum and peace part are so moving. And while in the city a visit to Miyolima Island is gorgeous. In saying that, loved the article.
I really wanto go to Japan. Like,, its the top of my wishlist. Theres something about Japan thats just relate to me, and I want to feel the experience. Seeing your article wake up this deep desire within me and make me to keep going to saving up! Your itinerary article is SO detailed, you tell us about the season when you came, all of the name of the place, even for accomadation, your transportation, and you include your budget too! Thats SO HELPING! Youre amazing. Kudos to you man!
Thank you for your wonderfully edited and narrated articles – your suggestions about Kyoto are great for first-timers and for seasoned Japanophiles. I particularly like your tone and your presence in these articles – tone is calm and respectful, presence is not “all about me and a little Japan too” but just right. Domo arigato gozaimasu!
I really hope I can study abroad in Japan next year for my 3rd semester. The culture and connection to nature is so beautiful, and your article has given me so many great ideas of where to visit if I do get that chance! If not, definitely #1 on my travel list. Also currently been learning Japanese for a few months
I am a Japanese living in Iwate prefecture in the north of Japan. Since there are four seasons when you come to Japan, it is recommended to change the location according to the season. For example: Spring is the Kanto region, summer is the Kyushu region, autumn is the Kinki region, and winter is the Tohoku region. I think spring is the best season. You may not be able to come here for a while due to the corona virus, but there are many different cultures, so please do your research in advance and experience many cultures. Thank you for making this article,
I am Japanese. When you come to Japan, I think it’s good to think about the season. Especially when looking at natural scenery, the seasons are important because you can see completely different beautiful scenery such as cherry blossoms in spring, green leaves in summer, red leaves in autumn, and snowy scenery in winter. Autumn is my favorite. The collaboration between the yellow and orange autumn leaves and the shrine is breathtakingly beautiful. Be careful as the temperature can vary greatly. It would be nice to visit both the big city of Tokyo and the calm atmosphere of Kyoto and compare them.
Excellent article, thank you for sharing such a beauty with us. I’ve been to Japan many years ago ( in Kumamoto and Osaka) and I absolutely love it. The people are so polite and respectful! Their food was simply outstanding, so healthy and I low fat. I truly wish to visit Japan soon . Thank you once again and please stay safe !
came across your YouTube article and honestly its amongst the best I have ever seen, the flow of filming, sound, editing are very impressive and informative. Just arrived from Iceland and Norway and Japan has been on my list for a long time,. Have not decided yet between a cruise vacation or one just like you did. I thank you
I have been to Japan many times but you still managed to put a few places on my list of new spots to visit on future trips. Some places I would recommend that are not on your article are Magome/Tsumago Nakasendo Trek (a 3 hour hike between these two towns on the famous trek), Nachi Falls (Japan’s highest waterfall in Wakayama Prefecture), Yamadera (mountainous temple town), Onomichi (seaside town) and Hokkaido which is now accessible via Shinkansen, though probably easier to take a budget flight to Sapporo. If you’re looking for day trips from Tokyo probably two of the more popular ones are Kamakura (Little Kyoto) & Nikko (mountainous temple/onsen town). Kamakura can be combined with Enoshima & Yokohama.
Hi, Allan! I’ve been researching Japan for a week or so and this is by far the best article/vlog/documentary I found. I got emotional at some points with the fottage and the soundtrack combined, that was truly inspirational. I’m seriously considering changing my whole itinerary because of this article. Thank you so much. Greetings from Brazil!
Such a refreshing and calming article to watch, perfectly documented the entire trip and gave descriptions on each part of your journey in each town/city. One of my favorite youtube articles in general now, hoping you had the best time and if you ever travel there again, have a great trip again. This has motivated me to take my family there once I get a stable income, as the Japanese culture is fascinating to me and I’ve been a fan of the country since a small age. Thank you for this article, Allan 😌
I am a Japanese. Thank you for making a beautiful introductory article of Japan. And I thanked my ancestors for perusal this article. 🙂 From a different point of view, I would like to make a article that everyone in the world can enjoy traveling in Japan. I hope that the time when everyone in the world can visit Japan and enjoy culture and nature will come soon.
This article makes me nostalgic it reminds me of the trip I had to Japan back in 2018, and sadly with covid nobody can go anywhere, so it feels kind of good to see all of those places I’ve been to and all the other places I want to go to. I hope that in the near future it will be possible to travel again.
Beautifully shot, beautifully edited, this was like travel ASMR. I recognized many places I’ve visited before, and many more I now hope to see for the first time. I’ve been waiting years to visit Japan again, and I don’t know how much longer it’ll be, but this really scratched an itch for me. Thank you for creating this superb content!
Most helpful article yet. I’ve heard they will be opening back up to tourists who can prove vaccination in November 2022. And for it to be so cheap was surprising. I’m planning to go in 2025(just me) on ¥1,000,000(about $8400) but I also plan to spend around $2000 (¥250,000) at the Gundam store in Yokohama. I want to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom at least once before I die. I can’t wait to see the locals faces when I spend an entire months rent on Gundam. Little do they know I saved up for 3 years to make it possible.
Great overview of where to go in Japan! This article brought back so many happy memories for us. The temples and shrines in Kyoto are breathtaking, the deer in Nara are so cute and Tokyo is such an impressive modern city! We’d love to go back and explore the country more one day and you’ve given us some great inspiration for our next trip!
The elderly couple at Sushi Ippei are really lovely. I visited them 4 years ago as a random sushi shop near my hostel, walked in alone and had a really great meal. They conversed with me a little in English and were generally very lovely folks. Loved that place, and had a great memory of the restaurant.
I’m Japanese, from Nara🦌 Thank you for visiting and making beautiful article☼ I’m glad you and many people like Japan☺️☺️ Here is 4 seasons so you can enjoy any seasons! My favorite season is spring bcs we can see cherry blossoms, sakura🌸 And it’s confortable temperature. If you come again, have a nice trip! ありがとう🇯🇵🧡
You’ve designed an amazing itinerary, including lots of good stuff off the tourist trail. I’ve spent a lot of time in Japan over the past 30 years, and I would enjoy this tour for myself as well as enthusiastically recommend it to a friend who had 2 weeks to spend in central Japan. Also beautiful articlegraphy. Is it possible you did those lovely smooth camera moves handholding a smartphone? Well done, either way.
Such a refreshing and calming article to watch, perfectly documented the entire trip and gave descriptions on each part of your journey in each town/city. One of my favorite youtube articles in general now, hoping you had the best time and if you ever travel there again, have a great trip again. This has motivated me to take my family there once I get a stable income, as the Japanese culture is fascinating to me and I’ve been a fan of the country since a small age. Thank you for this article, Allan
Thank you for a nicely done, efficient and enjoyable article! Pleasant background music, explained in a calm way, without omitting any information, using a relaxing tone of voice, without hurrying through anything. Definitely a route me and wife will take, following you in your steps. Thanks! (subscribed half way through the article, and started following you on IG 🙂 )
I love how detailed this article is! Thanks for including information about public transport, Sim cards, a budget break down, a Q&A in the caption of this article, and so on. These are usually things I figure out spontaneously once I arrive in the country, but since I know 0 Japanese, this is super helpful!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼 Really looking forward to my trip next spring 😊 I’ll be there for 3 weeks and will be arriving in Tokyo and departing from Osaka, so I’ll definitely check out some places you mentioned in this article
I visited Japan last month and it was a blast! A lot of the places we went to were because of this article so thank you for that. One part that was a bit sad was when we visited the Senko-Ji temple. The dog completely lost its color, mostly gray now, and looked feeble with flies hovering around it. We asked the monk about the dog and he told us that it could barely see. Also, the walking up mountains was a bit understated in the article. There are A LOT of steps and you will be exhausted, and possibly turn around before making it to the top. The journey to the top would usually be worth, but we warned of the hike up haha.
What a beautiful article!! Thank you for showing your trip to Japan! My fiancé and I are looking into having our honeymoon after our wedding next year (in June) and we would love to do a 10-14 day trip similar to this one you have just shown!! Do you think June weather would be pleasant enough? We are so excited and hope borders should be open for tourist by then! 😊
Im a little apprehensive about Traveling to Japan by my self, Ive traveled to Korea for 2 weeks by my self before back in 2017 and 2019 and i found that a breeze with getting around. Korea is very Tourist friendly i found and as long as you can read Korean Ie – it only takes about 2 hours or less of study to learn Korean Hangul, it will make your Trip There so much easier reading signs and Train Destinations and menus. So my Quetion is.. Did you know abit of Japanese to help you around or read Japanese ? i heard Japan isnt very English friendly so would i need to learn a bit of Japanese first ? ..allthough im not great at learning other languages unforunately .. I would love to go but im worried i will find it hard to get around effectively where as in korea just after one day i could navagate around seoul and surrounding areas really well. Amazing article also .. ive been wathcing many Travel articles about japan and by far this is the most informative and well prepared .. thank you.
Thank you for sharing! As a Japanese, I’m sincerely proud of being a part of this country and I love this country as much as I thank god to be borne as a Japanese. To foreigners, I think Japanese sometimes may be seen to be too shy. But in such case, please be reminded of the language barrier between Japanese and English! Both are so different! Every time you are in trouble in Japan, please be reminded that most of Japanese are very kind and most of time glad to help foreigners who are traveling Japan. Please don’t hesitate to talk to Japanese local. I as a Japanese guarantee that 9 of 10 of them will try their the best to help you.
As world explorers we contain a courage to embrace the unknown and be free spirited. We want to carve our own path and know we can overcome the challenge of planning a trip using our own brain. I have a lot of that in me. That is what makes it so hard to view your most wonderful presentation. You have done the work for me and will follow your excellent advice. Love, Laura
Great story telling through you lens. I love how you presented the material through the relaxing audio, your calming voice, and the beautiful article/photo-graphic talent. I picked out some great recommendations. Going to Japan in the fall, aswell, but will need to make another trip to visit the Hokuriku arch route which resembles a similar route you took from kyoto to tokyo.
Decided to book a trip to Japan. My parents amd I decided to make Kyoto our hub to go around places nearby like Osaka, koyasan and so on as day trips. That’s only for 7 days of our 16 days in japan. We’re just taking things slow cuz we don’t like having to jump around cities, lugging around luggage even if we pack light. But that’s just our preference. Having a hub to go to and from places. Rest of the time we are hoping around towns amd cities we want to check out. And then spend a few days in Tokyo.
I’m not sure if you will read this comment given it’s more than an year. I have a question… But first, let me say this article is absolute art, loved it, and I am planning my japan trip pretty much based on this itinerary. Thank you very much. My question is: I am planning not to buy a JR pass… Im arriving at Osaka and Departing from Tokyo. I am searching for non reserved seats trains to go between cities, such as from Nara to Kyoto, and I can see fares around 700-900 yen for a single ride ticket, does this sound right? And also, Can i use an IC card to make the travel? as in, I tap in with the IC card in Nara, and Tap Out in Kyoto, as if I were using the metro, or it depends on the region? or better just buy the tickets at the vending machine and leave the IC Card for Metro and local buses? Lastly I just want to ask… How on earth is it possible JR passes can be affordable? With the price increase this year, a 20+ days JR pass is more than 800usd… But single ride tickets go from 5-50usd, a shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo is around 9000yen, 50usd… I guess what I’m trying to say is, I find it difficult to find the JR Pass option profitable, but is it because of the price increase? or is there something else i’m not considering about buying single ride tickets? I know reserving a seat has an extra fee, but goes around 500yen for JR trains such as Nara-Kyoto. I’m a bit surprised on how cheap single ride tickets are compared the JR Pass price haha. Thank you!
This is the best travel blog article on Youtube and is not close, the amount of information and beautiful editing packed into this is mindblowing, is also mindblowing that Allan has only 145k subscribers, what the actual… Thank you, sir, I’m planning a trip to Japan and this was so incredibly helpful
I plan to visit Japan next January, so how would you rate my current itinerary? Week 1 Wed-Sun Seoul, Korea Week 2 Mon-Tue Osaka Wed-Fri Kyoto Sat-Sun Nagoya Week 3 Mon Magome Tue Tsumago Wed Narai Thu Matsumoto Fri Yamanouchi Sat-Sun Nagano Week 4 Mon-Tue Kusatsu Wed-Sun Tokyo Week 5 Mon-Wed Naha, Okinawa Thu-Sun Taipei, Taiwan
You tend to forget how large the world truly is. Millions of people live in only the few cities you can visit in Japan. a lot of times it makes you think about how all these people truly have their own lives. We are all strangers but to ourselves we are the main character. I’ve always found it odd how we actually managed to keep these countries working and people together. You can find someone that lives in Central Tokyo living a normal life that to you seems like worlds apart different
Hi Allan, thanks for your article. Me and my best friend are planning on going to our first time to japan and wondering if we should buy the jr rail pass to move around the main cities you pointed here, is it worth buying it? or everywhere or most places in Japan are walking distance? we are traveling for 21 days
If you want to visit Japan, I think April or October is good. You can see the cherry blossoms in full bloom in April and the autumn leaves in October. A place I would like you to visit personally is a hot spring inn called Okawaso in Fukushima Prefecture. This is a ryokan that has been talked about as being similar to the “infinite castle” that appears in the Damon Slayer. The area is also my hometown. Fukushima Prefecture still has few tourists due to the impact of the nuclear power plant accident. I want everyone to visit. I’m sorry I can’t speak English well.