Japan Trip Report (Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka-Tokyo)

**Intro**

My wife and I embarked on a much-anticipated journey to Japan, a trip we’d been planning since mid-summer. We booked our round-trip tickets in June, opting for economy flights given our pragmatic approach; we’d rather invest in experiences and good food than pricey flights or extravagant hotels. For this adventure, we settled for 4-star accommodations, finding comfort in the fact that we’d only be using the room for sleeping. Reflecting on the 13-hour flight from Texas, I’m considering a business class upgrade for our next adventure.

**Costs** (High-Level Breakdown)

Flights- 70K miles plus $50 tax for my ticket + $2055 for my spouse’s ticket from Texas → Japan (Haneda Airport)

Hotels – $2229 for two people (14 nights)

Experiences / Food / Transit / Shopping\*\* – $4284 (for two people)

Roughly $500/day for two people – this could be modified and adjusted depending on many factors but we were happy with the expenses. One thing about Japan is that although it seems like a large outlay initially, I found extremely good value in the spending as compared to some other places. Especially in Europe and some places even within the USA!!

**Highlights**

Tokyo Disneyland – This place was awesome! Did not expect to feel so alive at a place like this. The entire experience was flawless and buttery smooth. The rides were fun, the food was delicious, and the park was so clean with an amazingly friendly staff. Note for next time: staying closer to the park might save us from hefty cab fares.

Tsukiji Fish Market / Nishiki Market – Really loved the food here (Japan overall) and the atmosphere. The aroma of all the food was just a delight. Really immersive experience and wish we went back again. We did get to sample so many different varieties of food and highly recommend just sampling and tasting as much as possible.

Mt Fuji – Took a tour up to the 5th station on a clear day to see Mt. Fuji! This was honestly one of the highlights of our trip. Felt extremely fortunate to be able to see it in person as just a couple of hours after we left clouds overtook the mountain making it more difficult to see! Try to pick as clear of a day as possible to give you the best chance at seeing it in all of its glory.

Shibuya Sky – Visiting the Shibuya Sky was a breathtaking experience in every sense. High above Tokyo’s iconic Shibuya Crossing, we gazed out over the sprawling metropolis, its dazzling lights stretching as far as the eye could see. The panoramic views were nothing short of mesmerizing, and we found ourselves captivated by Tokyo’s grandeur. As we stood in awe, we couldn’t help but feel a sense of reverence for this vibrant city. A trip to Shibuya Sky is an absolute must for anyone seeking a unique perspective on Tokyo’s beauty and boundless energy.

**Lowlights**

Train Malfunction – One train malfunction in Kyoto left us a little stranded and to make matters worse it took a while for the doors to open in a crowded train so we started feeling super claustrophobic. This was kind of scary, but we chalked it up to taking one of these small local trains and making our way over to Osaka, not some systemic issues with the Japanese train system. Everything else was buttery smooth.

Struggles of picky eaters -While we pride ourselves on not being overly picky eaters, we do have certain moods and expectations when it comes to dining aesthetics. Navigating Japanese cuisine, renowned for its diverse and unique offerings, sometimes posed a challenge. Finding places that matched our specific vibe became a fun yet occasionally tricky mission. This particular aspect of our journey added a touch of adventure to our culinary exploration, allowing us to savor not just the flavors but also the experience of each meal. Navigating through the myriad of food options, each more tantalizing than the last, became an adventure in itself. While we cherished the idea of spontaneity, we quickly learned the value of having a plan. Google Maps became our trusty guide, helping us seek out the exact flavors and atmospheres we craved. It seemed almost comical that every time a particular culinary desire struck, say for sushi, fate would play its tricks, and sushi joints would mysteriously elude us. Embracing the unexpected became an integral part of our culinary journey!

Fushimi Inari / Arashiyama Bamboo Grove – These felt slightly overrated. Lowkey I was expecting a much better view after all the hiking up the stairs. Both of these felt like one-time visits but I can certainly see the beauty and the serenity/calming nature of the attractions so I do give it some bonus points for that.

**Pro Tips** that are out of the box from what I typically see here

\- Make reservations – seriously if you are a foodie, you are in for a treat as there are a ton of amazing restaurants. The only catch is they give priority to reservations otherwise you have to line up outside if the restaurant is full. This can be annoying as you can imagine when you just want to eat. So prioritize a few bucket list restaurants and feel free to add some flexibility to wander and seek out great hidden gems.

\- Lines and Queuing – Get used to waiting in lines as there seems to be a queue for all the good places. Everyone is really respectful so there is not a lot of pushing or skipping like I have seen in some other places. It honestly takes a lot of the stress/anxiety for me in waiting in lines and makes it into an experience.

\- JR Pass is not a hard requirement- If you were like me you may have been wrecking your brain trying to get a handle on whether a JR Pass is necessary or will you wind up with a losing money proposition. We honestly paid a La carte for the rides we needed and it came out cheaper. You’d have to really be visiting 5-6 places over the course of two weeks to really make it worth your whole, especially with the increased prices. Open to hearing if someone had more experience with the pass and found it worthwhile.

\- Get the Suica Card @ The Airport- My partner was having some issues stemming from not being able to load via Discover and Visa. Luckily she was able to buy via train stations a la carte.

\- SHIP. YOUR. LUGGAGE. – We made the mistake of thinking we could swing it by taking our carry-ons + backpack through some of the busier stations and that is definitely not a great time. If you can my recommendation would be to keep 1-2 change of clothes and ship the rest. Plan it in advance with the hotel so that it reaches there when you land. (If your hotel offers these services) – On a related note, pack light while going to Japan and buy luggage once there for extra shopping. You will definitely have loads of things you will want to bring back.

\- 50,000 Yen – Have at least 50,000 yen at all times. You don’t necessarily need it as you are entering Japan but have a way to quickly attain it if needed from ATMs. 7-11 is a great one-stop shop for these kinds of things.

\- Portable Battery Charger – Please get a large battery pack so that you do not have to constantly be in fear of your phone dying on you. Especially considering so much in Japan is reliant on having a functional mobile phone.

\- Disney Premier Access – This is a game changer but save these for the rides that are worth it. Can easily save 60-120 minutes per ride. Just fire up the Tokyo Disney Resort App, activate Priority Pass, and voila! You’re in the ‘fast lane,’ enjoying your favorite attractions with minimal wait times. Also for the 40th anniversary, they are giving everyone one free priority pass you can use for select rides.