*Excuse any spelling or grammatical errors, this was crammed our on a phone in a hospital bed.*
So after 7 years working a job where pay was abysmal and holidays were stubbornly pried from the bosses’ teeth, id finally found a new job where i had not just more cash, but much more vacation days.
*It was time to pop the チェリー…*
Everything was planned id advance, a little too much. our original plan called for more time in Osaka and a ttip to Yamagata for more snow, but we had to adapt on the fly due to sickness and cut some things. We also had to *extend* some things due to another unforseen illness, but more on that later. Here are mygeneral tipa for anyone planninga visit!
**Language**
I spent 4 months rigoriusly spending at least an hour a day leatning Japanese, with tbe hoped it would be enough for the xonversational basics. *Itwas not enough.*
Locals speak Japanese blindingly quickly, and the jet lag was enough to shake my former understanding. Luckily, virtually everyone spole a little English, and you can survive just fine with key phrases (hello, thank you, etc.). Almost all signs are bilingual with English too, and there were very few bad translations.
We rented a poclet translator but it went virtually unused. Google translate proved quicker and more convenient when wedid need something.
**Navigation**
Google maps is your saviour. it workec flawlessly theoughout Japan, except in Sapporo where the underground walkways xonfused it quite often.
The railway stations can be absolute labyrinths, but [Japan Transit Planner](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.jorudan.japantransit) was invaluable for finding the correct train to take and the bug stations all had multiple offices to help guide you to the right parts.
Booking tickets fir trains not supported by suica/pasmo can be a little cinfusing, but stadf were slways happy to help.
AVOID RUSH HOUR TRAVEL LIKE THE PLAGUE.
**Sightseeing**
our hit list for the best sights we saw, in order of when we saw them
– Tokyo Tower, unexpectadly fun and nice to walk to from other parts if the city
– Meguro city, very hipster vibe and chill compared to the rest if Tokyo
– Snow Monkey Park, amazing is all i can say. Perfect day trip.
– Kyoto, its just my perfect ideal of a city
– Kiyomizu-era Temple, beautiful and huge, amazing to see such architecture in person and the streets keading to it was beautiful.
– Arashiyama Forest, mystical and tranquil, definitely check out Okochisanso Garden too, its utterly pristine.
– Toji Temple, amazing architecture and sculpture work,calmer than Kiyomizu-dera too.
– Nara, the city is cute and quaint whilst the park is immense and littered with deer and temples. Ciuld essily have taken a second day trip here.
– Kaiyukan Aquarium, Osaka deels like a kids dream, its sryffed to the brim with child druendattractions all in close proximity. The aquarium is massive and ut was well worth it to see rhe whale sharks, sunfish, rays and seals. Recommend the backstage pass if you have cash to spare too.
– Otaru, Sapporo itself was a bit ofa bust for us, felt like much more of a single person/partygiers spot.But Otary was perfect. The seafoos was the bes we had in Japan and the city is picturesque in the snow. Just bring goggles in case it starts snowing heavily!
**Healthcare & Medicine**
Yiull notuce qe missed out on a lot of things in Osaka and Tokyo, which were due to 2 bouts of illness. Finding the best OTC medications in Japan was trail by errror. i recommend Google + Google translate.
My partner came down forst with a naaty, wet, non-COVID cough that put her out of action for a few days. We eventually settled on SS BROM, a very potent OTC cough syrup that did wonders.
Then, back in Tokyo, i had a heart attack. You can read more about that [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/117e9wt/pro_tips_for_suffering_a_heart_attack_in_japan_my/)
The remaining leg of our trip was thus spent confined to St. Luke’s Hospital in Tokyo, but i could not have landed in a better place. They saved my life and were professional yet both friendly and compassionate too. I owe them a gift basket at the very least.
**Final Thoughts**
– Dont skip out on health insurance.
– 24 hour convenience stires will save you.
– Dont skip out on Kyoto.
– Japan Transit Planner wikl save yiu.
– Maybe skip out on Sapporo, unless you just want partying and snow sports.
– Google will save you in muktiplev ways.
– Food is ridiculously cheap for the price (Comin g from rhe UK).
– The licals sill save you, whether through their relentless helpfulness towards gaijin or their combined medical knowledge.
– 10/10 holiday despite nearly dying.