Japan Trip for Review

13 comments

1. >5:30 AM – 6:00 AM: Arrive in Kyoto and **freshen up at your hotel** (early check-in if possible, or leave luggage at the hotel)

   Is this a chat GPT?

   6AM?! Yeah that’s not going to happen. This is going to be a shitty day. There’s little to no reason to do an overnight bus to Kyoto, you’re not going to get any sleep, you’re not getting into any hotel that early. Most hotels don’t start check-in until 3:00pm – 4:00pm. 6am? Nah. Lot of hotels will charge you the previous night for something that early and that’s IF they even let you in.

   It’s just a 2-3hr train ride. Just go via train the next morning or the previous afternoon.

   Better yet this is a 5 full day trip. That’s a stay in Tokyo and do day trips kind of trip. Not a do Tokyo, Kawaguchi, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Tokyo again kind of trip.

   Forget the night bus, forget Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka and stay in Tokyo and do that plus Kawaguchi and maybe Yokohama or something.. Orrr better yet instead fly in/out of Osaka and forget about Tokyo.

2. The kind of very regimented planning here makes my head hurt a bit. A lot of the fun of Japan is stumbling across unexpected things, and you should expect to get lost a few times.

3. You need to look at your travel times 30 minutes to go from Ginza to Narita?

   Going from the Pagoda to Lunch in Kawaguchiko in 30 minutes? You probably want to do the walk to Honcho Street at the same location, Shimoyoshida, maybe have lunch there. Either way that small train won’t be 30 minutes to get back to Kawaguchiko.

   I know you’re trying to save money on hotels with the overnight buses, but you’re probably going to be exhausted.

4. You leave no room for issues, tiredness, or flexibility. You will be exhausted and jet lagged on day 2 and it will carry over to the next nights. Cut back by 2X and enjoy your trip!

5. If you try to follow the time, that can get exhausting, you should be mor flexible and see your routine ray as idea of things to do.

   Ameyoko that’s seems a bit lake, check opening hours of the stores but usually store close at 8pm.

   Usually not possible to check in early,
   You would have to get a place that accept that you check late, as in you book the night you spend in the bus and check in when you get there.

6. This is TOO planned out IMO…

   Other people have said it better but if you need this kind of planning for your travel you’re going to miss so much of what Japan is about… 

   …and you’re also going to come off as rushed, stuffy and rude. 

   Stay home, Japan is not for you. 

7. Wow, i agree with the comments above. That’s ambitious.

   I’d advise you to check other itineraries online, get a bit of a feeling what’s possible, and then decide on your priorities 🙂 Make a bit of a more flexible schedule.

   Also, be aware that Mt. Fuji may not be visible at the time of your trip (the surrounding places are still beautiful, though, but is that a priority for you?)

   Less may be more 🙂

8. Hot take about Ueno zoo- I just got back from one month in Japan and the zoo was a priority for me because of the pandas, and it’s the most ethical zoo in Japan.
   Well, if you care about that aspect then don’t go. It is not ethical, the only animals properly caged were the pandas and while it was a lifetime goal to see a panda, the lines to see them were long and the pandas literally just sit there and eat.
   Do what you will with that info, but I don’t recommend the zoo for people who care about animals well being.

9. Tokyo to Fuji in 2 hours? Good luck.

   Fushimi and Kiyomizu at those times? Good luck.

   Hotel check-in early? Highly unlikely. Usually 3:00 PM on.

   Shopping at Ginza at 9:00 AM? Nothing opens until 11:00.

   Ginza to Narita in 30 minutes? Helicopter?

10. Whenever I see planning by the hour I get worried. One, you never know how you’re going to feel once you get to Japan. I felt really sick after almost 24 hour travel and my first day I slept through most of it.

    Second, you never know what the day will bring, be it the weather or just your mood. It’s great to have an itinerary of overall locations to explore, but I suggest you be more flexible and explore the areas and you might stumble across amazing things!

11. Maybe account for longer transportation times than you have in there. We found travel times about double what Google suggested, due to having to get around / navigate / get lost in the huge system.

    Also, unless you have reservations for your meals, or are happy to eat whatever street food / convenience food is available (without being picky or needing vegetables etc), I would add in lots of time for finding food.

    We spent hours wandering around Kyoto trying to find food, often went hungry or unsatisfied

12. So you make a chatGpt plan and expect us to check it for you? How rude.

13. Hi, just finished my 16-day trip in Japan

    Check out Hotel Granbell Shinjuku for a nice rooftop bar with a great view/vibe and inexpensive drinks. It’s like 1400 yen for a long island iced tea and the sausage platter goes amazing with the sunset at around 6.45pm. I was going to either check out Bellovisto or Granbell but chose Granbell due to my airbnb being nearby

    There is a 500 yen fee if you’re not a hotel guest but I’m happy to pay the 4 bucks to chill in Tokyo rather inexpensively

    Also, this place in Awaji in Osaka.. holy mother of value it was 720 yen for tempura platter, 720 yen for sashimi platter etc
    I went HAM on the food there and total bill was 3,000 yen for 2 pax, give it a try

    https://maps.app.goo.gl/fowePCofxFuaF7Jj7?g_st=ic

    Kaisenyataiokuman Awajiten 海鮮屋台おくまん 淡路店