The trip was great. Japan was amazing. I (42M) traveled solo, with minimal planning, and everything worked out great. I did Tokyo > Kyoto >Hiroshima > Hakone > Tokyo (with day trips to Kamakura, Nara, and Mayajima).
* The best “tip” I have is don’t worry too much. Even things that went “wrong” led to really great stuff, so it really didn’t go wrong after all. And some of my favorite parts of the trip were the ones I didn’t plan.
* Japan is not a hard place to get around without speaking the language. Learn some key phrases – hello, thank you, excuse me etc. – and be friendly and polite, and you’ll have no problem with just English. Easiest place I’ve ever traveled.
* If you have an iPhone, use the SUICA card in the wallet. This was so convenient. I just added $2000 each time the card was running low. Not having to stop to buy metro tickets was so so so great.
* I got an e-sim and it worked great. From reading some posts on reddit, I figured out how to make it work with Verizon without activating TravelPass, while keeping my iMessage active (I can explain if people want). I had great reception almost everywhere. Super easy to set up beforehand.
* I also set up a smartEX account and downloaded the app, which allowed me to buy Shinkansen tickets on my phone. During Golden Week, this came in handy. And, the part I liked best was you could use the smartEX app to associate the Shinkansen ticket with your SUICA. That way, you just used you SUICA card to get through the gates. To do this, you need your SUICA card no., which is unavailable in the Apple Wallet. You need to download the SUICA app, and your card number can be found there.
* Most of my hotels had onsen (public bathes) and I absolutely loved them. I would go out all day, then come home for a little siesta, starting with the onsen. A really cool part of Japanse culture. I had thought about going to an onsen in Hakone, but had no idea they had them in the hotels – a very pleasant surprise. I will always seek out hotels with them, from now on.
* I’m sure a lot of people learn this fast, but there is nowhere to throw out trash, so the American custom of taking things to do can jam you up. There are, however, recycle bins at every vending machine, so I started just buying water / coffee from them, and it was easy to ditch the empties.
* If you are able bodied, hiking is a great way to beat crowds. Hike all the way up to the top at Fushimi Inari, and you’ll love it. I also loved the Kurama to Kibune Hike in Kyoto, which had great sights, and almost no people. I also did the Daibatsu hike in Kamakura, which was great, and climbed Mount Misen on Miyajima. Some of my favorite stuff.
* I went to two baseball games – highly recommend. Really fun atmosphere, much different than the states.
* Saw an indie rock show, in a tiny club, thanks to this site. [https://www.tokyogigguide.com/en/gigs](https://www.tokyogigguide.com/en/gigs)
* BRING GOOD SHOES. I came with some kinda crappy adidas that have never given me issues, and two days in my back was killing me. I bought some dope ECCO sneakers in Tokyo and it saved my trip. Back healed up, and I was walking 25K steps a day, no problem.
* Seeing sights is cool, but sometimes the best part was just getting to them, or exploring the neighborhoods nearby. Japan was such a great place just to walk, explore, and go with the flow. With packed itineraries, I think you lose some of that, which would be a shame. One of my favorite parts of Japan was encountering a staircase, path, or street that looked cool and just going . . .
I think that is all for now, otherwise I could go on forever. It was such a great trip.
by ronnylite