Weekly Japan Travel Information and Discussion Thread – September 22, 2023

16 comments

1. Hihi, I’m not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but just wanted to ask what it’s like to rent kimonos at Asakusa! Will be going with my family in Dec, and wanted to see if it would be better to find one and pay on Klook or find a store when we’re there!

2. Hello! I’m a solo female traveller heading to Japan for business. I’ve booked in at the shiba park hotel for 4 nights (my meetings are in the area) and then Five nights at the hotel gracery shinjuku for a change of pace/slight savings. My question is if the area (kabuchiko) for hotel gracery is fine at night for solo women? Would it be better to just stay in one place the whole time? I have tattoos so a lot of the onsen hotels I see recommended in the threads for other single women travellers seem like a waste. Thank you for any insight!!

3. For one of my days in Tokyo in late February, I’m planning a visit to a Teamlab exhibit. Just wondering if I should plan for Planets or the new Borderless opening in January. I know I want to do one of them.

4. Has anyone been to Takumi Sushi Owana in Ebisu? Got reservations and just wanted to see other people’s thoughts.

5. In Tokyo/Kyoto, any recommendations on the highest quality wagyu beef I can get for the least amount of trouble? I would love to try some good quality wagyu beef but not 100% sure I want to go to the trouble of making reservations for a $200 high end meal. I basically just want to try some decent quality without putting it on a pedestal and wasting time and money.

6. My husband and I are in Japan right now, staying at a hotel with a private in room, open air onsen. The water looked clear and lovely, but when we got in, there was lots of stuff floating around in the water (once the water got stirred up). It looked like flakes of skin to me. I don’t know if I’m being uptight or if that’s really something to be concerned about? I guess I would have thought they would change the water between guests but maybe not?

7. Hello everyone! Counting down to our trip in December! Would you please look at these 3 hotels and share any thoughts? Or suggestions that might be better around the same price point? Looking for walkable and near transportation, restaurants. we are a family of 3 with a teen kiddo.

   1) Hundred Stay Tokyo Shinjuku
   2) Shibuya Excel
   3) Tokyu Stay KYOTO
   Thanks to all!!!

8. Planning to go to Japan Nov 6 to Nov 20, my preliminary plan is to stay in Tokyo for 4-5 nights and then go to Kyoto / Osaka. Planning to see Nara as well. I originally thought I could stay in Kyoto for a few nights and a few nights in Osaka, then I found out both cities are quite close. I don’t want to move around too much, would it be better just to choose one of the two? I’m planning to go back to Tokyo for the last 2 nights before I leave Japan since my plane will fly back out through there.

   Thank you 🙂

9. Does anyone know how low Itsukushima Jinja’s tide need to be for you to be able to walk to it? I tried searching online but couldn’t find the exact meter/feet. It simply says to go during low tide. Is 1.49 m low enough?

10. If the Golden route path starting in tokyo and ending in Osaka (then back to Tokyo for return flight) is the most common path then is the reverse option equally viable (meaning you fly into Osaka and make your way north and leave out of tokyo)?

11. Asking this again in the new weekly thread:

    Are there any notable temporary attractions in November? I’m thinking of Fukuoka/Osaka/Tokyo.

    Anything that is possibly more enjoyable as a solo traveler?

    Someone mentioned Sumo tournaments in Fukuoka in November, I’ll have to check that out!

12. Hi all! Husband and I just booked flights to Japan for 12/28-1/8. We’ve been to Japan twice before, to mainly touristy areas (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka + visited a friend in Tsunagi). Due to ticket prices, we’re flying into Tokyo HND and out of Osaka KIX. We would like to visit other cities and towns, but also need to make our way to Osaka by 1/8. Any suggestions?

    We love trying foods/desserts and seeing various things like shrines, statues, hiking, Pokémon, Nintendo, festivals, fun drinking areas, fashion, and thrift stores. We’re pretty open to new experiences. Would love suggestions!

    We just booked these flights, so we will def be researching a lot in the next few weeks to decide what to do. The goal is to have a plan before the JR pass goes up to see if it’s worth buying it at current prices.

13. So it looks like October will have summer like weather for many regions of Japan. Please prepare for heatstroke prevention as you would during the summer.

    Temperatures will also drop below 20C during mornings and evenings so be prepared for large temperature swings as well.

    https://tenki.jp/forecaster/r_fukutomi/2023/09/21/25345.html

14. Is two full days and one night enough time to cover Teshima Art Museum + most of Naoshima’s main sights? In need of a sense check! Thank you in advance!

    Day 1:

    * Kurashiki -> Teshima (arrival ~9:20AM)
    * Teshima Art Museum (10:00AM)
    * 1:40PM ferry from Teshima -> Naoshima
    * Hiroshi Sugimoto Gallery if time permits
    * Benesse House Museum after dinner (late access)

    Staying overnight in the Benesse House Hotel.

    Day 2:

    * Arthouses
    * Lee Ufan & Valley Gallery if time permits
    * Chichu Museum
    * Naoshima -> Okayama in evening

15. Uber question: Does Uber Japan have an option if we can hail a bigger cab? We have about 3 check in bags and 2 carry on worth when we want to transfer hotels within Tokyo – Example Shinjuku–Asakasa .
    Or will it be easy for us to find a larger taxi that can carry all of our stuff

16. I’m hoping to go to the tori-no-ichi festival on 11/11 after I get to tokyo. My plane arrives at Narita at about 8pm and I’ll get the skyline to ueno station, check in with my luggage at my hotel which is nearby, then walk the 20 mins to the otori temple. I know it’s tight but even if I get to the temple with 15 mins left I will be happy.

    Does anyone know if the festival finishes at midnight on the dot or will it spill over a bit? And is it plausible for me to get there before midnight? Thanks for any advice.