Hi,
I’ll be visiting Japan for the first time in just two weeks! I like to plan ahead, so I’m trying to get everything sorted before I go. My itinerary includes stops in Osaka, Nara, Uji, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Shirakawa, and Takayama.
I’ve got a few questions though:
1. **Navigating Trains with Suica Card**: I’m thinking of getting a virtual Suica card on my phone for train travel, but I’m a bit nervous about figuring it all out. Is using Google Maps with Suica payment easy enough, or do you have any other suggestions?
2. **Kanazawa/Shirakawa/Takayama Itinerary**: I’ve tried my best to plan our itinerary, but I’m feeling a bit uncertain. Any tips or recommendations to make the most of our visit? Here’s our itinerary https://wanderlog.com/view/mvqltxfvam/trip-to-japan/shared.
3. **Long Flight**: This trip also marks my first long-haul flight—9 hours and 30 minutes to Beijing, then another 3 hours to Osaka. Any tips for making the journey more comfortable?
4. **Packing Dilemma: Rain Jacket or Light Jacket?**: Should I pack a full-on rain jacket or just a light one? I’m trying to save space for souvenirs, but I’m not sure what the weather will be like in late May and early June.
5. **Shopping for Traditional Items**: I’m excited to pick up some traditional Japanese items like a kyusu, cups, and a matcha bowl. Found a store [https://g.co/kgs/TuHGQex](https://g.co/kgs/TuHGQex), but I’m open to suggestions!
6. **Tea Purchases and Experiences**: Planning to get some loose leaf tea and matcha in Uji, especially from Nakamura Tokichi, Fukujuen, and Tsuen Tea. Also, I’d love to try a tea ceremony at Taihoan Public Tea House in Uji, but Im open for more suggestions 🙂
7. **Knives**: Lastly, any recommendations for where to find good quality knives? My current tip is knivestower in Osaka
Thanks a bunch for any help you can give me! I’m really looking forward to this trip and want to make the most of it. 😊
by Ersi_