✈️ What you need to know for Going to Japan in 2024 ✈️ 

I've not done mine yet for our travel to Tokyo in March, great to know about this beforehand. Now I will wait until after January 25th before entering my trip into the Visit Japan Web site. Thanks Amy 🙂

Thank you for the update! I literally did mine 2 weeks ago 🤦‍♀️ glad i saw this

Good the two QR codes is confusing

it means i need to register again on the 25th or on the 26th? my flight is on the 26th and i've got 2 qr codes

@@Twinkle_Cutlass The system updates on the 25th at 3am Japan time. So you'll need to do that section of Visit Japan Web again after 3am Japan time. QR codes from before 25th Jan won't be valid any more; you'll need to get the new, single QR code. Have a wonderful trip!

Nothing wrong with a bit of vicarious travel through videos! :-)

Same, I’m not even finished with college yet but I always watch these Japan guide videos so I can plan my dream trip in the future 😂 never wrong to dream and plan!

@@may3877 Nothing wrong with that! And you'll be ready when the time comes!

Went back with a neighbor last year. He loved it. For me it were 13 years since. Averaged about $70. CAD per night in hotels. Saw friends had fun. Showed him around Tokyo, Kyoto, Kobe, Himeji, Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Fukuoka. We had a great time.

I'm almost 32, and could have traveled to Japan since i was 18, but wasted so much time and money on Ordering Pizza, buying video games, eating at restaurants....hopefully 2024 will be the year once I find a Job again. My goal is to get a Job by April so that in October I can have between $3000-$4000 to finally go.

Ah that's going to be amazing! You'll be able to do so much on such a long trip! Will you be going all around Japan?

@@cakeswithfaces We will mainly be doing the Golden Route with a lot of day trips. Instead of only a few days in cities, we want to really take our time and spend at least a week in each to gain a deeper sense of it. In December, we are already going to Hokkaido and eastern Japan so we aren’t gonna go there during the summer.

@@israelgollin8089 That sounds fantastic! And I'm glad you'll be spending time in each place to explore everywhere. There are so many good day trips around the Kansai region!

Thanks, hope it helps!

Glad it helps! Enjoy planning your trip!

Thanks so much! It'll be on the way to you in the post today - have a wonderful time in Tokyo! 🎶

Thanks so much! Enjoy planning your trip!

Thanks so much, that means a lot! 🥰

Thanks so much! Enjoy planning your trip!

Thanks, hope they help!

Thanks so much, so happy to hear that!

The best places are these surprise finds! Bet you're glad you didn't give up and go to a fast food place!

Thanks, enjoy planning your trip!

Enjoy planning your trip! October's a great time to go!

It'll be here before you know it!

Not long to go...!

Hope it helps! Enjoy planning your trip!

Thanks! Enjoy planning your trip!

@@cakeswithfaces Thank you!!

Hope it helps! :-)

Have an amazing time!! ✨✨

Hope it helps! Enjoy planning your trip 🎶

Have a wonderful time!!

Thanks so much!! 🥰

It took quite a few goes to take a photo! 😅 But got there in the end!

Thanks for the recommendation

Tickets have just gone on sale (got mine already!).

Osaka's such a fun city! Enjoy Dotonbori at night!

Woop woop! Hokkaido in winter's an unforgettable experience. Have an amazing time!

Hope they help! April's a great time to go!

There's always something that changes! ☺️

Hope you get some free time to explore! Try as much Japanese food as you can!

Ooh exciting!! You'll have to let me know how it goes! I'm sure you'll love it.

I recommend the love hotels

@@manny5848 Well some have free karaoke...

Thanks so much! Hope they bring back happy memories. 🥰

Thanks so much, that's much appreciated! 🙏 So glad you enjoyed the video! ✨

Exciting!! Where are you planning to go in Japan?

@@cakeswithfaces Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya and working my way back to Tokyo!

@@XNick291X Have an amazing time!!

@@cakeswithfaces I'll try

Thanks so much! I always try and include everything I'd want to know. Hope it helps! ☺️

Excellent, thank you! It's a great time to go - it'll be lovely and warm! ☀️

Ooh exciting! What are you most looking forward to there?

@@cakeswithfaces Seeing my eldest daughter and just being in Japan to experience it.

@@jdeckard1243 That sounds lovely! 💖 I'll be going back to Kyushu this year too!

How exciting! You'll be able to do so much in a whole month! Where are you planning on going?

Its really exciting! My bf has some relatives living in Nagoya, so we'll be going there first, and then meeting up with some of his friends and travelling pretty much all over the country! Of course the most popular places but some more rural areas too! :D@@cakeswithfaces

They say tourist numbers already reached 2019 levels towards the end of last year!

Thanks so much! Are you hoping to catch the cherry blossoms?

@@cakeswithfaces Nah I figured it'll be crowded, expensive and in the middle of Ramadan. I'll be there the first two weeks of March so hoping to catch the tail end of the Plum blossom festival in Setagaya (Hanegi park) and maybe the early blooms in Matsuda.

@@Panda_Roll Good call! I tend to avoid peak cherry blossom season too - unless you really want to see them, the rest of your trip will be that much more enjoyable! Many of my recent Japan vlogs were filmed at the start of March - I think it may have been unseasonably warm, but it was a lot warmer than I expected (coming from the UK at least!).

@@cakeswithfaces I really hope that's the case. I heard march's weather is a bit temperamental so praying for sunshine. Will you be updating the pop up list for 2024? I don't think there are any interesting ones in March but would love to visit if any during my stay in Tokyo.

@@Panda_Roll I update the pop-up cafes list every week or so. They don't usually announce them very far in advance, so there should be a few more coming up for March if you check back nearer the time! cakeswithfaces.co.uk/japan/pop-up-theme-cafes-japan-2023/

That sounds fantastic ( if you get any free time off from work). Enjoy all the delicious food! I'd love to go to South Korea one day too.

No problem!

Yes it'll be fine! I'm still using one first purchased in 2010 and it's still going strong!

@@cakeswithfaces it hasn't been used since 2019. Hoping it will still work. Seems you have used yours more frequently.

@@dwarfagp It'll be fine - they last for 10 years since they were last used.

@@cakeswithfaces OK, for some reason I was thinking it was 3 years - thanks :)

Thanks! 🙌

👍

So glad it's finally happening! It'll definitely be worth the wait. It'll be so good to finally experience all the plans you made!

That'll be an amazing experience!

Ah that's bad luck with March 2020 - glad you could reschedule! It'll be worth the wait. A return trip from Tokyo to Osaka and/or Kyoto was always the gauge of whether a JR Pass is worth it, because they were a similar price (I think the individual ticket's slightly less), but that rule's gone out the window now!

That sounds fantastic - they're great places to go! The snow festival and Hakodate are really an experience. Congratulations on managing to get Ghibli tickets!

Hope you can make it back there sometime! 🤞

Why would you want to wear mask. Time to ditch them

Oh I love Book Off! We've spent many hours there searching for treasures! You're right - everything secondhand is in excellent condition. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

maybe she got sick? what do you know? everyone wear masks in japan...its not a big deal like the west wanted to make

Ah that's so great to hear! What were the highlights of your trip?

I went to Odate, Akita for Hachi-ko's 100th birthday festival (I fell so hard in love with this small town I shall be visiting each trip), saw Fuji-san on a fully cloudless morning with fall colors and lastly while in Aomori I saw some of the first snow of the season falling. I also saw the new Godzilla movie in a Japanese theater on my last day. I also went all the way south to Ibusuki to find the Eeveelution lids and took the Queen Beetle over to Busan for an overnight.@@cakeswithfaces

same. I went in May 2023 and will be going again this October/November. Any tips or knowledge of what it's like in October in terms of weather and such?

@@killininstinct343 I'm going back again Oct/Nov. The weather, depending on where you are, isn't bad. It was a little unseasonable warm when I went though but normally temps are in the 60s-70s (F) for highs and 30s-40s for lows. If you're going up north I saw snow on Nov 11th in Aomori so it gets colder there. That being said the whole time I was there I only wore basic pants and sometimes a hoodie in the morning, only few days did I wear it the whole day, then tied it around my waist once I was too warm but otherwise I was in short sleeves.

@@killininstinct343 If it helps, all the videos in this playlist were filmed during the first two weeks of October: ru-vid.com/group/PL-YXkErUfa4lHnPn_vIoMA2tOGs3WnSiN It was still warm at the start of October, but it cools off as the month goes on - so t-shirts, hoodies and a light jacket should be god! Although the temperature does vary throughout Japan, so if you're going to Tohoku or Hokkaido it will be much colder.

Exciting!! Not long to go! Have an amazing time.

Glad that worked out well! It's easy to spend the leftover credit when you can use it at vending machines and some shops!

Never too early to start Japlanning!

Thank you!! 🙌

Sounds good! Make the most of your Tokyo Wide Pass with some great day trips!

👍

Thanks so much, that's much appreciated! It'll be on the way to you in the post today.

Thanks - I think most dropped the requirement just after I flew in spring last year. It was mostly asian airlines that required masks, but as my BA flight was a codeshare with JAL they had the rule too.

Thanks so much! I'd love to go to South Korea too.

@@cakeswithfaces I'm following closely your #japanuary and loving it makes me want to go back even more

@@margaretgerhardus6247 It's so good seeing all the places and experiences that other people have enjoyed!

last time i was there it was only cart 1-3 so it's been limited it seems, though it wasnt an issue when i was there in october/november 2023

I think the carriage numbers depend on the train - but it'll always say at the station which ones they are, and in the announcements too. :-)

Good tip! Glad you saw Fuji - I was unlucky last time as it wasn't clear enough but it's a lovely view when you get it!

I'm hoping to get tickets for TeamLab too! 🤞 Good luck!

Thank you!

You'll be able to show him round all the best places! Have a great trip!

Thanks for the updates! I'll be going to USJ for the first time this year! (It's never been top of my list before, but it fits into my plans this time so I thought I'd give it a go!).

🙌🙌

Fantastic - will you be going to Shibu Onsen? It looks lovely! Where are you going in Saga? (Just getting ideas as I have a Kyushu trip planned too!).

im not sure about the onsen right now but will consider it. the wlak up the 400 something steps to the onsen? do look lovelyand scenic. not sure about actually entering the onsen for a dip for personal reasons. shibukawa areas will be a bit Initial D themed and cultural. as for saga, they have a famous temple much like Kyoto does. Saga castle ruins, , Yotoku Inari shrine, kouno park, yoshinogari historical park, hasuike park are some places im considering. might try to see if any anime sites from the series "zombieland saga project" i can visit. any other places of opportunity in saga are candidates. @@cakeswithfaces

@@Nelsea7190 Sounds fantastic! Yutoku Inari Shrine looks amazing - I'm not sure if I'll have time to visit but I'd love to go there!

They have cute themed items for Halloween at Ikea (Japan only - the UK one never does that!).

Good call with the yen! Glad you enjoyed driving in Japan. For me, I like not having to drive when I'm on a trip (makes it feel like more a holiday/adventure!) - but it's true that there are places, especially in the countryside, that are easier to get to by car, and some places that I've skipped because of long train/bus journeys with multiple changes. Yes - it's true about Suica cards. We still have one that was first bought in 2010 that still works!

Machines can get very angry and bleepy sometimes!

It'll be here before you know it!

I'll be trying out luggage delivery (and filming a video!) soon on my next trip! It's mentioned briefly towards the end of this video (about 12:30): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LkUqZF8ul7w.html I've always carried everything back with me in my suitcases (pack light on the way out!) as that's the cheapest option. But the easiest way to send parcels home is at the Post Office. You can also buy boxes there. My friends have used them when they bought a lot of figures! Yamato Delivery (who do the luggage delivery) is another option (they'll also have boxes at their stores).

IC cards you can get in Nagoya are the Toica (with the chicks, in the video!) because it's in JR Central's area, and there's also Manaca, which you can get from Meitetsu Railway Stations. Both can be used around Japan, just like Suica.

The bamboo forest in Kamakura's one of my fav places! So peaceful. You will love the Ota Memorial Museum of Art in Harajuku for ukiyo-e. For your daughter, you can't beat Akihabara for the atmosphere and anime excitement, so that's a must-visit. Nakano Broadway will have more Godzilla and Ultraman stuff - it's a treasure trove of all sorts of collectibles and memorabilia. Ikebukuro is an up-and-coming area for anime fans too, with the huge Namco Bandai Cross Store, Anime Tokyo Station and lots of other shops and arcades dotted around. I'm sure you have Godzilla in Shinjuku on your list (they're on the Hotel Gracery), and there's also a Godzilla statue near Tokyo Station: g.co/kgs/xj4tyvH

I've always avoided the summer 😅 The main problem is the humidity, not just the heat, so plan to take your time and not rush around too much. Vending machines are everywhere so you can stay hydrated with cold drinks. Many people use umbrellas/parasols when it's sunny. The benefit is there are lots of festivals and fireworks to enjoy in summer! And kakigori never tasted better than when it's hot. 🍧

Good tip! To get around the shininess :-) And your English is perfectly understandable! :-)

​@@cakeswithfaces You helped me so much with my upcoming trip to Japan! Thank you! You are great! 🤗

@@TheMihaiMarinescu Thanks so much, so happy to hear that!

Thanks!

That'll be an amazing experience! Staying for a longer time, staying with a family and all the Japanese you'll learn - make the most of it! :-) Good luck with the planning!

Airalo is a good eSIM if your phone is compatible with it. 4G connection & was able to hotspot up to 3 devices from it.

@@bravosierra2447 thanks I will look into that.

As much as I do love Japanese trains, there are some places in the countryside that are easier to access by car. Have a fun trip! Just watch out for toll roads - there are lots of them in Japan. I've never driven there myself (because the trains are so good!) but there are passes you can get that make it easier to deal with the numerous tolls.

@@cakeswithfaces Yeah, I was doing a bit of research. Tokyo > kyoto with 4 people on the bullet train is $576AUD. By car toll road, it's about $70AUD. When I saw that I was instantly like 'yeah, we driving' aha

@@dragonzord6615 For a group, it pays off. It takes longer but you might see some interesting things along the way. Enjoy the michi no eki!

Glad you got one! Seems they're coming back in some places now.

On my first trip to Japan back in 2010, before pocket wifis were a thing, I went without any internet. It's do-able but you have to do a lot more planning and research. You can get offline maps (Ulmon City Maps 2 Go, or save an offline map from Google Maps). Most hotels offer free wifi, although it might not be fast enough if you want to stream video or watch anything in the evenings. One or two hotels I've stayed at even offered a phone with wifi that you can borrow, although you need to be careful with security and personal details. While there is public wifi around in cities, it can be a hassle having to register for it each time, and of course there can be language barrier when you're registering. So, while it is do-able, I'd always get a pocket wifi for convenience - I think it's worth it. It makes it that much easier to be able to check opening times, see what's nearby, use Google Translate, look up restaurants (especially if you're vegan!) and have that extra flexibility to make the most of your time.

Thanks for the reply. I will check out the prices of pocket wifi rental and see if I can factor it innto my holiday budget. Thanks again John, Ireland and @@cakeswithfaces

It says here it's Japan time: ghiblipark.com/archives/1203#:~:text=The%20important%20thing%20in%20obtaining,every%20month%E2%80%9D%20in%20Japan%20time. You can Google "what time is it in Japan" to make sure you've converted the time correctly. (I did that the other day to make sure I got TeamLab Borderless tickets!). I haven't stayed in Asakusa myself, but there are hotels there with lovely views of the river and the SkyTree. The best hotel for you depends on your price range. You really can't go too wrong - just put your price range in Expedia (or your preferred hotel site), pick somewhere near a station, and do a quick check of the reviews before booking. Once you've chosen a hotel, do a quick search on Google or a comparison site like Trivago, because the prices vary on different sites. You might have seen it already but this video should help! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TAmhxg9MwIc.html

Haha, thanks for passing it on! It's available now: updated recently so it has all the correct details about the JR Pass, etc: cakeswithfaces.co.uk/product/japan-travel-guide-book/ Just filmed this week's video!

That's good to know! At least we don't have to fill in that section again!

There's a section about it in this video (a trip planning checklist for all the things you need to get sorted!) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-OhbjDd8DqzQ.html Personally I like pocket wifi too, because you can share it between you and connect any other devices you have eg an ipad. Previously I've got mine from japan-rail-pass.co.uk and it's always been good. Last year I tried Sakura Mobile and tbh I wasn't impressed - it was slow and not as reliable.

How up to date they are really depends on the place. Some places don't change much, and others do eg lots has closed in Odaiba. Most of the info in my Japlanning series is still relevant - except details about the JR Pass which is now different. I try not to repeat content too much, but there are some places I'll always go back to, and make new videos while I'm there. Feel free to ask in the comments if you're not sure about anything. I always get notification about comments, even on old videos.

@@cakeswithfaces We're finally planning for our first trip to Japan since 2019 and researching for places to go seems trickier now in some ways compared to back then. Most of the Japan travel videos in RU-vid are from before the pandemic, and because of the constant change, some of the newer videos seem outdated and you really have to cross check everything just to be sure.

@@georgebenta3435 Some things have changed, and some things not so much - it really does depend! Of course, as soon as you mention any details in a video, they're bound to change the day after...!

Why's that?

@@cakeswithfaces Japan didn't increase interest rates like most other countries did during covid, which is a big part of the reason of why their currency got weaker. With other countries interest rates now stopping rising, people think Japan's currency will strengthen back. However, the issue of it's struggling economy due to the aging population is outweighing the above. Not to mention they have th highest national debt in the world of any country, these along with a number of other reasons (one of which being foreign investment in Japan losing traction due to businesses not trusting Japan's currency and economy) are driving investment out of Japan. Essentially, if there are small gains back to the Yen, I personally expect them to be short-lived. Plus, we're much rather going to see them slightly weaken, then sustain, then weaken again as time goes on. Although the strong drive into tourism is going great for the country, this will only slow the weakening of the currency. In essence, your risk of getting a good rate now isn't worth exchanging, as the likelihood is the Yen will get weaker is far higher than it getting stronger, in my opinion. It'll probably only be slight and gradual so if you're planning a trip for the end of the year (like I am, I'm moving there for a year in September from the U.K), i'd advise buying your currency later down the line. I expect when I arrive in Japan the exchange rate will have gone from £1 = ¥187.61 to £1 hitting ¥200 at least. Just edited this post as of 4th April 2024 and it's at ¥192.50 to £1.

@@ThisMusicIsToogood The best rate I've had so far is 192. We'll see I guess!! It's good for tourists but not so great for people living in Japan.

Thanks for the update! At least there are lots of Suica card alternatives.

I think you can only book the Hida Limited Express a month in advance (on JR West's site). If your plans depend on getting the Hida ticket, it seems like a good idea to book everything a month before. Long distance trains are busy during Golden Week and going to the country is popular - I haven't travelled during that time so I can't say how early you'd need to book, but if you know when you want to go, it makes sense to book it as early as you can, to get it locked in.

Okonomiyaki! One of my favs - I always miss it as they hardly ever have it at Japanese restaurants abroad. A mix of batter, shredded cabbage & very tasty sauce on top. 😋

@@cakeswithfaces amazing!! Thank you :)

I'm not sure abut visas, but for Visit Japan Web, when you "Register a planned entry/return" and enter your trip details and dates, you have to enter an address - they're required fields. I haven't seen any instructions on what to do if you don't have any accommodation booked. If you have any hotels booked at all, I'd give those details - or maybe if you have one booked for your first night, you could use that? There's only space for one address, so when you're staying in multiple places, I'd usually put the first one.

By the end of last year, tourist numbers reached and then exceeded numbers from 2019, so yes - I think it'll be very busy in springtime!

This video might help - it's the process I use for choosing hotels in Japan: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TAmhxg9MwIc.html

Tbh I'm not sure; I'm not familiar with US passport cards. I think for tax-free shopping, they check the stamp in your passport that you get when you land in Japan as proof that you're a short stay foreign tourist, so it could be that you need the full passport book - but that's just my guess. To get the QR code for shopping on Visit Japan Web, you have to take a photo of the landing stamp, so that's part of the proof they need.

When there's only space for one, I've always just put the first one.

Mid February isn't peak time, but if there's any way to check availability on their ticket website, it might be worth it having a look so you don't miss out!

That's the way life is!

It can be tricky, but it's do-able if you're prepared! Here's my list of restaurants with vegetarian options. I travel with meat-eaters so it focussed on places that serve meat and have a veggie option, and Japanese styles of food (because if you've travelled all the way around the world to Japan, you want to try authentic local food!) cakeswithfaces.co.uk/japan/vegetarian-restaurants-in-japan/