Japan for a first timer

For me if you're going to Japan for one time in your life, Kyoto is way more of a can't miss than Tokyo.

Possible controversial opinion but for a 10 day trip, I'd say skip Tokyo and do Osaka and Kyoto.

If you feel like you need a third place, I'd say Hiroshima over Tokyo.

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It seems Tokyo is like Madrid. You go there and spend a night then go on to what really interests you.

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I think going to Japan in and of itself is an overwhelming experience and then Tokyo is several magnitudes more overwhelming. And it's so expansive that you can spend a lot of time on trains just to get back and forth to places.

I think it's worth going, it's just its own trip. And I think you can have a very similar experience in Osaka while being close to Kyoto. In fact I had more fun in Osaka than in Tokyo.

Don't worry at all about getting in and navigating either Airport. Narita (NRT) is to the north, and is about 90 minutes by bus. Haneda (HND) is *in* Tokyo, and is a 15 minute or so train ride to Shinagawa station, where a lot of the bullet trains leave from. Which one you fly into will probably be dictated by the flight schedule. As I recall, most of the Star Alliance flights (ETA, into Haneda) landed way too early for my tastes. My tactic is to get on the plane, and set my watch to Japan time. I do not sleep on the place if it is after about 9:30AM in Tokyo (always in coach). I would land around 3PM at Narita. I took the bus to the hotel, and unpacked, and finally let myself pass out after 7PM. The first morning, I would always wake up 3-4AM, but then I was fully adjusted.

When you're exploring Tokyo, I suggest you not leave your hotel and approach a train station during the morning commute, it is a total madhouse.

Japan is a place were you need to be very polite As in, if there is a sign saying that talking on a cell phone is not permitted, respect it. When you're walking around, if you need to look at a map, step out of the flow of people. When you're going to go to a train station, find a map of the station to orient yourself with where the ticket machines are, etc.

When you get there, find the closest Lawson's or 7-11, and get a "Suica card." It's reloadable and used for transport, and tons of other things. A fair bit of the Japanese, particularly under 40 in the metro areas *can* read English, they just can't understand it very well when spoken. Use Google Maps in Japan, it labels things in both Japanese and English. You can eat very well out of convenience stores and grocery stores.

Abuse your hotel concierge. They can write out addresses in Japanese for cab drivers, etc. Cabs are expensive, and the doors are opened by the driver, not by you.

Keep in mind the cherry blossoms pop in different cities depending on the latitude. Tokyo is kind of in a bowl, which makes it unbearably hot in the summer, but I seem to remember plenty of sun. April usually has a good bit less rain than the winter months.

I spent a week there and loved everything about it. People are great. Stayed in Tokyo and did day trips to Kamakura, Mt. Fuji, Yokohama and hiked a little in the mountains near Fuji. Never felt unsafe walking around the city at night.

Good advice in this thread. Don’t skip Tokyo. Fun city.

Osaka and Kyoto are on list too.

Easy to get around even with language barrier

Lived in Tokyo for six years. Want to see a foreign land? Land in Seattle after being out country for six years. Coming back, I was on a cargo flight. Sat in the cockpit for about four hours. Twelve hour flight.
We went everywhere, ate and did everything. In our group, one kid’s Dad was an embassy dignitary. Larry spoke fluent Japanese, made life a lot easier. Everyone is spot on.

Bring plenty of money. Remember Tokyo is sectioned off by districts so each is a bit different. Sunday in Yoyogi park is an experience. Asakusa with the big shinto gates is amazing as well. I would also make a subway stop to Shibuya station to see the dog and famous crosswalk.

I would take the train everywhere in Japan. Down to see the big Buddah in Kamakura. Further down to see Fuji-san and then to Nagasaki or Hiroshima. They're both nice.

The best thing about Japan is if you need help, you can usually find someone to help you out. Usually a youngish college age person is more than happy to try out their Engrish with you. It's incredibly safe and the people are pleasant as long as you're respectful and act civil. Remember your phone can now translate about everything either by photo or by sound.

Bring 3x the money you think you will need and have room to spend even more than that.

Language isn't the barrier you think it is. Japan is where I learned how to point at menus as a kid, and that was the 80s. These days, with real time translation apps on phones, it's a non factor. The last few years I've been, I've only had to use translation tools on business documents. You need to learn very few words by heart:

Gaijin-When you hear this, that means the Japanese are referring to you
Sumimasen-Excuse me, (I need more beer)
Arigato Gozimas-Thank You


There are direct flights from Houston, usually clocking in under 12 hours flying west.

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slinger1317

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We are flying out to Seoul at the end of February 2024, spending a week, then flying to Beijing for four days and then to Japan and staying until April 5th.

Have to be honest in that although we travel quite often overseas for fun, putting this trip together has been sensory overload. I am thinking age is catching up with us

We will spend four days in Kyoto and four days in Tokyo with the rest of March spread out in Japan. We are staying in a few ryokan during our visit. I have told kids and grandkids I will set up camera towards the bed on the floor. Not so they can see the old people having sex, but to watch us trying to get off the floor every morning

Have fun with your trip planning!!! It should be an awesome trip