I think we had the most fun just walking around and not trying to do anything with a scheduled time. Coming upon stuff rather than going someplace specific and exploring the train stations was more fun and less stressful. Walking down side streets and seeing school kids walking to school. Coming across a gatchapan store or a place that looks good to eat at feels more like exploring and less like being a tourist. We found Kyoto to be so crowded it was off putting. We like the small unknown shrines butter than the famous ones. Honestly, Japan is so fascinating if you are a foreigner you can’t go wrong just winging it.
That's exactly what my wife and I do. Just wander and eat and eat in JR Stations. We were just in Kyoto and we ventured out to small neighborhoods beyond the Sanjo and Gion areas, away from the crowd.
The key word in enjoying all of these attractions is "GOING EARLY!" My Kyoto Starbucks, bamboo forest, Fushimi shrine, Disney Japan, Universal Studios, and various castles experiences were all "amazing" because I was early enough to beat the crowds. The lines and people in all your photos will be crazy if you wait till 1pm to do your attractions!
@@kb4123 when I was in Japan in April of 2024, I was consistently waking up at 5am every single day I was there so I used that as an opportunity to visit various attractions and restaurants super early. I beat a lot of crowds that way.
I'd rather avoid the region when it's that packed. Beginning to think checking what popular tourist destinations are and then avoiding those is the best approach. (Or go during typhoon season)
I don't know about some of the rest, but this girl is dead wrong about Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Maybe she doesn't like nature or walking? I don't know, and I don't care. This was a highlight of our last trip to Kyoto. It is beautiful, and the crowds are not that bad at all if it is not the weekend. If you go on the weekend, try to go a little earlier if possible. But DO NOT MISS IT -it is stunning!
Agreed! It was Amazing!! Plus there are multiple things to do in Arashiyama. The bamboo forest, monkey park, Arashiyama River and bridge, shops and restaurants, kimono forest, and rickshaw rides. A ton of things to do in one area if you are short on time.
When I went in August it was too crowded with tourist to enjoy. Also it is much smaller than what pictures might suggest, it's not a forest it's just a small park inside the city. When I took the train between Kanazawa and Kyoto I saw that there are a lot of natural bamboo forest everywhere, so when I came to visit this amusement park in Kyoto it was underwhelming and I felt dumb not to have taken a ride to outside the city to walk in an actual forest.
I lived a year in Kyoto so I might be a bit biased, but Arashiyama with good weather is defs worth it as are some temples nearby. Something to definitely not miss if you're in a healthy condition is Fushimi Inari, such a gorgeous shrine
Osaka Castle is a good photo op from the outside in the park if you don't have time. Instead definitely visit Himeji Castle or one of the 12 pre-modern tenshus that still stand today if you want to see the inside. If you really want to sit down at the Starbucks at Ninenzaka in Kyoto, try visit really early or later in the evening. It's easier to find seats before tourists arrive or after most leave the area in late afternoon. As a side note, I don't think it's just about time and money/budget. People have different interests and places they want to visit first. "Attractions to skip if you visit Japan for the first time..." could have been a better title, and hopefully viewers will have already picked up on what you like and dislike and then decide if they should skip too.
The highlight of my last Japan trip was Nara - ancient forest, old-style Japan, friendly deer (that you can feed!!), beautiful architecture, chill quiet atmosphere ❤❤
Loved TeamLab in Tokyo! Agreed that Arashiyama bamboo forest can be skipped if it's busy, you can hardly take photos and it's pretty pretentious when folks are taking the cab up just for an Insta pic Yasaka Shrine in Gion at night is pretty, as a free 24 hour place to check out
I like the video but give me a break about the fish asking you for help. See, this a problem many people have in putting human feelings and consciousness in into animals who have a 10 second attention span. I can say with certainty THEY DO NOT CARE! LoL 🤣😎
Gion performance is indeed a must in Kyoto. Sad we cannot take picture or video but highly recommend. You obviously must do Fushimi Inari and Kiyomizu Dera but before 9am
I agree!! It was a great showcase of Japanese arts and culture. And I love how it was pretty traveler friendly since the programs are in different languages 💖
For the Bamboo Forest, the whole Arayashima area is beautiful. You just have to leave the bamboo forest and you can walk to shrines, temples, gardens and the protected area with traditional houses. I definitely recommend it WITHOUT a guide. The reason it is crowded is because all the tours only go to the same 2 spots, so just explore the rest of the area. The bamboo forest was disappointing though, but the area is worth exploring!
@@TheTravellingLuis Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street (and surroundings). I spent a whole afternoon in the area, exploring shrines and stopping at any interesting spots for some photos. I went during the sakura, so it was very beautiful and pretty quiet as there was not that many tourists in that area.
About Tokyo: - I agree with the Art Aquarium. It is beautiful with the colors, but the living conditions for the fish are horrible. Very little space, many fishes in a small aquarium and only plastic "vegetation". I wouldnt go back there for that reason - myself, I feel that Meiji Jingu should not be skipped and it can easily be combined with Harajuk and Takeshita Dori for the "Kaaui" culture (which is a "must see" for me in Tokyo - if you want to include Mount Fuji, I would not do a day trip, but stay there for 1 or 2 nights, so that your chances of seeing Fujisan are better. We stayed for two nights, on one day it was perfect, on the other day, you didnt see the mountain at all. I agree about the ropeway, I also prefered the boat ride (and walking along the shores of the lake) For other "must sees", it depends on your interests. Personally, I feel that Shinjuku (ideally you stay there) should be included, for the crazy neon lights, Omode Yokocho, Golden Gai, Kabuchiko. Also, I would include Akihabara, even if like me, you are not an anime or manga fan. Even though its very busy, if you like food, I would also go to the Tsukiji outer market. I would also visit one observation tower, on a clear day, to get great views over the city. The Tokyo Government Metropolitan Building in Shinjuku is free to visit. Otherwise, consider Shibuya Sky right next to Shibuya Crossing. TeamLab Planets and soon to reopen TeamLab Borderless are great fun and interactive, and another "must see" in my opinion. There are many other options, depending on what you are looking for. Myself, I really enjoy walking around Yanaka near Ueno park, for glimpses of old and traditional Tokyo.
The current Osaka Castle is a concrete reconstruction based on the Edo Period design of the main tower. It has actually been destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries. The inside is now a museum, complete with elevators and air conditioning. I honestly still think it's worthwhile to visit, though. They did a beautiful job with the reconstruction and it's very educational. The castle grounds are gorgeous, especially during cherry blossom season.
I would not skip meiji jingu, It has interesting history in it. There's a reason why it's popular. Many go there because of the emperor who built it is very compatible to his wife, thus it became a place for people to wish for happy marriage and love fulfillment. Though thanks for telling people to skip some of these so it will be less crowded. lol.
I decided to pass through Yokohama on my last evening in Japan. Major regrets, wished I stayed a couple of days at least. I'm a solo traveller who enjoys walking cities and Yokohama was extremely enjoyable. More spacious and architecturally diverse.
you should drop by ramen museum nearn shin-yokohama station and try different kinds of ramen at the lower ground. ramen kiosk serve really good noodles.
I disagree and agree with Meiji shrine and the bamboo forest, but you can avoid the bad experiences. Meiji shrine was the first shine that i was able to see in my first time in japan, so i really recommend it if you are in Tokyo for the first time and don't go to Kyoto in the first days. The bamboo forest it's not crowded in the morning , so you need to go before 10 or 9am and it will be perfect. Also, the monkey park it's a must do if you are in the area.
You can't completely skip Yokohama. Aside from the soon-to-be closed Gundam Factory Yokohama, there's Chinatown, Red Brick Warehouse, and the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum.
If you are a westerner traveling to Japan for the first time and your interest is in experiencing historical Japanese culture, please DO NOT spend the majority of your time in Tokyo or Osaka!!! As some who has lived in Japan, you are missing out on incredible destinations like Nikko, Shirakawago, Koya and Hiroshima in addition the usual suspects, Kyoto and Nara. The Art Aquarium Museum in Tokyo??? It’s much, much worse than animal cruelty. There are literally 1,000+ ways to better spend your time and money.
Generally agree, except for the take on the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. I literally stood there in the middle of the forest and had an ethereal moment that I will remember for the rest of my life. I lost the crowds, I lost the noise, I lost all my problems and just marveled at the beauty of small leaves blowing across in a gentle breeze like snow, silently in muted sunlight. It does take time, effort, and a good bit of walking to get there, so if you are pressed for time, you might be better off skipping it. Like a fine whiskey or wine, The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest requires you to sip it to enjoy it, not just down it like a shot.
I highly recommend the Sagano Romantic Train, Tenryu-ji Temple in Arashiyama and the Shigetsu Soba restaurant that the monks operate, the Saga-Toriimoto Town-scape preserved street near the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and just strolling around Arashiyama to visit spots like the Arashiyama Electric Train station, the Kimono Forest, and the Observation Decks around Arashiyama Park.
I would not recommend Osaka Castle. Instead, take the train to Himeji and see a real castle, not a 19th century reproduction. My mistake was doing Himeji before Osaka, it made Osaka Castle like, 'that's it? So disappointing'. I agree with you on the bamboo grove. It was really disappointing, I was expecting a forest, not a small layer of bamboo hardly obscuring the buildings in the background. Agree with Starbucks too, terrible coffee.
My husband and son happened to encounter a local tour guide to see the Osaka castle grounds. The tour was free and excellent. My son, husband, and I visited Himeji Castle on the same trip. There were people dressed in period clothes, including a falconer. We toured inside the castle. It was fascinating to see the old structures and climb a ladder-like staircase to reach the top.
Agree on the bamboo grove - it’s really quite short/small and runs parallel to the main road. It doesn’t really go anywhere, you go in on one end and pop out on the other on the same street. The Higashiyama Starbucks was just a normal Starbucks, as someone who stayed near kiyomizu-dera and passed through a lot. Super crowded too! Rest of the area is beautiful though. Personally, I was not a fan of Osaka castle. It’s all rebuilt and new-ish, and the inside is pretty empty. The building next to it was like a shopping mall. It felt like it was a modern tourist attraction with a false historic shell. (And this is coming from a Japanese person who loves history - I was disappointed) Great video though! Super helpful
@@TheTravellingLuis Himeji for sure as a must see castle, and Matsuyama castle in Shikoku. Those are real castles, where you can see how they actually lived in Japan. Osaka castle is not even 100 years old, becaus it was build in 1931.
I also like castles and have seen quite a few of them in Japan. My favorite one is in Kumamoto, on the southern island of Kyushu. There was a heavy earthquake in 2016, and the castle was extremely damaged, but has been since renovated, and its really great to visit. Also, from the top floor, you have great views over the city. If you go on the weekend, there is a fun/food market infront of the castle, which is good fun. Other castles to consider are in Kanazawa (which is a great city with plenty of interesting things to enjoy and visit), Okayama and of course the probably most famous castle of Japan in Himeji.
I recommend Amanohashidate and taking smaller trains that tourists don't take. The only catch is that you have to be able to communicate somehow in Japanese, since these are the trains frequented by high school students (and there is no English support, just like the buses that leave Matsuyama Airport). I took one from Fukuchiyama to Miyazu, then from Miyazu to Amanohashidate. On my upcoming trip with my son, we are going to the Toei Studio Park in Kyoto. I believe my son will want to go inside the EVA. We will, however, go to Osaka's tower, since my son wants to experience the slide. The bamboo forest looks appealing. I can call my son "baka deshi" while walking with him. 😄😄😄
I recommend Fuji goko ,five lakes around the mt.Fuji ,if you love lakes/ mountains or if you're a nature lover ! And Hokkaido ( North ) ! No aquarium !! No animals should live in cages or tanks !! Thanks ! I am originally from Tokyo, been living in the States for 35 years + ! I recommend Omote Sando / Meiji Jingue Mae/Aoyama / Ginza ,if you love hi fashion & European style cafes & great foods !! Skytree in Asakusa ! Kyoto is a MUST !! Yamaguchi & Okayama are very nice as well ,if you love samurai ,they've got ancient authentic samurai villages there !! I recommend October to visit Japan !! Avoid our notorious summer & rainy season !! 💛💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💞
😢 I was Soo sad I found ur vid after I went to Japan. And some of the tips were Soo trueee. Like the Starbucks (there were literally no seats. I wore kimono that day so I could take pics in the prefecture but we spent like 1hr plus queueing for a drink and cake...i mean some other tourist took pictures of me just standing at the side with like 3 luggages 😂 so that's something) and kyoto shrines (they are sooo prettyyy). But well, I am going again in 2 years sooo
Meiji Jingu is religious shrine is not a tourist attraction, treating it like any other attraction seems wrong. Tourist can go there but it's not meant for tourist. But you can skip Harajuku, Takeshita dori, and the Tokyo Imperial Palace area.
Meiji jingu is a state shinto shrine I think. Its a shrine managed by the government and imperial family since it is a shrine dedicated to emperor meiji
I'm happy to hear finally other asian people talking about how our people mistreat animals like objects and i agree 100% it's not a good thing,sure this exhibitlooks beautifle,but all those little fishies are not looking very happy in their tinyprisons.
To me, Meiji Jingu and Sensoji in Asakusa are an absolute must. Something I felt could have been skipped was the Imperial Garden. It really wasn't too impressive. The most impressive thing about it was the moat around it.
Omg I was kinda bummed I didn’t get to the imperial palace in Tokyo - I assume that’s what you mean by the imperial garden. I went to the imperial palace in Kyoto though.
@@TheTravellingLuis Sorry, I should have clarified it. Yes, I meant the Imperial Palace Garden in Tokyo. It really wasn't anything special. The huge walls and some wooden buildings were nice but the actual garden part really wasn't living up to the name or the hype. Walking down the short distance from Tokyo Station and seeing it from the outside really would've been enough.
Just a short side-note; The Osaka castle as you see today is not the original but rather a rebuilt in concrete. The only original part that is left of Osaka castle is the wall lining around the castle and the castle moat.
If you type in "smartex app' in the App Store, it should be the first result. The official name is "Shinkansen smartEX App" - the logo has a white background with a shinkansen outline in blue and the word "EX" on the top of it. The developer is Central Japan Railway Company. Hope this helps!
I feel the same about the fishes in Ginza Aquarium! I cannot be sure that the conditions for animals are fine, so it’s an easy pass for my incoming trip. The theater you recommend in Kyoto seems amazing!
I agree with skipping most animal based "attractions". While Japan does have laws for animals' safety, the country's animal welfare views are low compared to the United States, where I'm from. I went to a rabbit cafe because I own and love rabbits, and while it wasnt a sad or depressing place, as someone who works in a zoological setting and has high standards for animal care, I felt the cafe was lacking. It didnt ruin the experience, but I didnt leave feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. So if I were to go to Japan again I'd skip the animal cafes. For Osaka, my friend actually told me NOT to bother going inside Osaka Castle. It's been modernized and is just a simple museum like interior, so none of the cool old architecture can be enjoyed. It was very bland for him, so I didnt bother doing it myself. Found the outside grounds to be lovely though! And speaking of Kobe! Oh Kobe!
Thanks for expressing your feelings/ opinions regarding treatments/ lacking protections of animals in Japan !! I am Japanese who's been living in the States for 35 years plus & not proud of that about my country myself !! 👍👍💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💞
I just can’t queue too long if i’m too hungry 😂 for me any restaurants there are delicious, I don’t normally go to those that famous places promoting online (unless there are few people queuing), also just need to beware of scam or stuff 😂
We went to Arashiyama bamboo grove in October and missed the big crowds. It was still busy, but really loved it…… maybe the weather was on our side then :)
If you have gone up observation decks or towers in others countries, I say skip Tokyo Skytree, Shibuya Sky or Tokyo Tower. Remember, these are no longer the tallest manmade towers in the world. Depends on what you're looking for, being several stories high up and seeing tiny buildings and streets all the way down starts to feel the same in other countries 😅
In Tokyo I would skip the top level of Tokyo Tower. It's way too expensive for almost the exactly same view from the regular ticket. Also, getting inside the Osaka's Castle was a bit of a turn off, since it has been transformed into a shopping-mall-like museum, instead of keeping the original looks (like Matsumoto's one). The exterior, on the other hand, is 10/10, the gardens and everything else is fantastic. So I would recommend going to the Castle, just don't bother to go inside.
Arashiyama Bamboo Park is a must see, it's pretty and we got so many beautiful pictures. Maybe you didn't walk deep enough? On the other hand, I never really enjoyed the river boat rides, specially the sumida river ride - those are a waste of time. As for the Mt Fuji ropeway, the views at the top is beautiful! (even after hiking Chureito pagoda). However, I agree if you don't have time and better just view Mt Fuji from the lake Kawaguchi.
Maybe I didn't walk deep enough. But it was also very cloudy so it wasn't as pretty as videos/pics I saw :) Maybe I'll give it another try in the future if I have more time in Kyoto.
I went to Meiji Jingu nearly by accident. My point here is that i agree that it's skippable, especialy if , like me, you went here on the week-end. Too much people and most importantly they are a lot of wine barrel from burgundy. I couldn't stand it! (my french area, franche-comté, can't stand against burgundy,another french area. that all : ) Interesting enough, you say that we can skip the tsutentaku and that what i did on my first trip. BUT i will return in Japan this monday and i think i will go around but not inside the tower. The park nearby was also not the best i saw in japan, but it was nice, very calmy. I think i may have some other things to recommand in on month, after i return home from japan, even if i will totally skip Tokyo this time.
@@spark_6710 I understand that there are a lot of animal rights activists in the U.S. But just wondering if you all ate sashimi or any seafood when you visited Japan.
Kiyomizudera Temple in Kyoto is a favorite, especially in the evening. It is worth visiting in my opinion. If you ever visitNagoya, you may consider doing the Nakasendo Trail. Admittedly it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is a good experience. Nagoya's Toyota museum is a must-see too, even for non-car enthusiasts.
I would like to go to Japan but skip the temples and shrines since I don’t believe in anything abt it. I would like to know if is worth it going for the food, culture, historic buildings like the palaces and all the cool museums, as well as the cool neighborhoods and shops. I noticed most of the videos in RU-vid talk about the temples and shrines, so it gets me thinking of it’s worth it? Im planning to to for 12-14days. I would also love to visit cool small villages/towns
For Kyoto, I totally agree with you, I would definitely skip the Arayashima bamboo forest, because for me, its way to crowded and the pleasure of being in a beautiful bamboo grove is not there for me, if there are so many other people. Overall, Kyoto is beautiful and offers a lot, but its also extremely touristy. I am glad that I was there twice and I enjoyed it a lot, but I would now not return, because there are so many other places in Japan that are also great and a bit less crowded. In Kyoto, visiting some of the beautiful temples, shrines and gardens is my "must see" - there are so many of them, and personally I would not only choose the most famous ones, but also some less famous ones, because they are so much more peaceful. Walking around Gion in the early evening and having a drink or dinner in one of the old buildings is also a good experience. The philosophers path is a nice walk along a small stream, through nice neighbourhoods and past peaceful temples. Nishiki market is extremely crowded, but its good for streetfood and for buying "food related" souvenirs like knifes, bowls etc.
@@jadecom6I was in Osaka and surrounding areas only.. I guess we preferred having arbitrary destinations but be going through interesting areas and shopping streets for the 20km we walked a day, instead of temples spaced far apart. Might have been the part of Kyoto we chose, and the fact that I'm not into seeing temples or Geishas. Some of the streets were cute I guess - not sure if that can be seen elsewhere.
From my experience in Tokyo, I agree that Sunshine City is a must visit. I didn't go to the Pokemon center but the two big Gashapon stores were a bigger draw for me. Also the Planetarium there put on a good show and the "haunted" section of Namjatown was cool. I wish I had more time to explore Namjatown as it had some other areas that looked fun and possibly some good places to eat. I disagree on skipping the Art Aquarium. Although it can be tricky to find I thought it was a beautiful experience. Go on a weekday though so it is less crowded. Small Worlds Tokyo may not be for everyone but I think people should do some research on it to see if it is for them. I ended up spending a lot longer there than I expected looking at all the little details in the miniatures exhibits. Also agree that a daytrip to Yokohama can be skipped unless you can see the moving Gundam or you are a huge fan of Cup Noodles. A better day trip is either Kamakura or Enoshima. If you go to Kamakura be sure to visit the Sasuke Inari Shrine. It's off the "beaten path" but worth the visit. Once you go up the torii gate framed stairs to the shrine and look back, the thick growth around the shrine completely blocks out the city as if you have walked into a "mystical" land... absolutely beautiful.
Not really it was refurbished around 1950 but the tenshu is from 1931. The original castle lasted 30 years (1585-1615) before it was burned to the ground during the second siege. It was then built in a slightly different area in thr 1620s, lasted 40 or so years, was struck by lightning and burned down (an all too common fate for Japanese castles). It was then rebuilt in 1843 and then destroyed by fire during the Boshin War in 1868. It was then somewhat rebuilt in 1931 and actually survived WW2 with little damage (thr arsenal grounds not so much), but most of the work was done in 1995-1997 (making it look like the Edo period) A reconstruction of a reconstruction of the original which itself was a quasi reconstruction.
For Osaka, my 3 favorite places in random order are: - the castle: get there early and/or prebook your ticket, so that you can also visit from the inside, for me it was worth it - Dotonburi, as mentionned by Sarah. There, I would also visit Don Quijote, which is like a crazy discount chain selling pretty much everything (it cant be described, you have to go there yourself), as its located right on the canal and has a big ferry wheel - the Kaiyukan Aquarium, which is one of the best aquariums I have visited wordwide Personally, I am not a huge fan of Osaka. I find that it is a bit a "cheap copy of Tokyo". So if your time in Japan is limited, instead of adding Osaka to Tokyo and Kyoto, I would rather go for Hiroshima and nearby Miyajima Island, for more diversity. But of course, thats only my opinion.
@@TheTravellingLuis Yes, I went inside and I thought that it was worth it. But only if you dont have to wait for ages in line (something I have no patience for ;-)). You can even dress up as a "samurai" inside, which was good fun.
I have a bunch of trains I want to ride and I'm definitely planning my future trip around that! 1 overnight train, the pokemon train, and maybe the hello kitty train! Then there's 2 capsule hotels, one the night we get there and one close to the airport. An onsen is a must too!!! So is the pokemon hotel! And a shrine visit! An udon place!
Well , i dont think should skip Meiji jinggu at all.. again explore your own Japan itinery. It is not any scam .. it just you have to make your own japan Trip personally base what your interest 😊
Osaka Castle ..... the castle is definitely impressive from the outside. The grounds surrounding the castle is also impressive. The park around the area is also nice. HOWEVER, the interior of the castle was disappointing. The interior had been gutted. There are no timber structure to be seen. No wood floor or wood panel walls. Inside, it is a modern museum made of concrete and smooth concrete floors like what you will find in an airport terminal. Stairs from floor to floor are modern. It is not much different from many museums in different cities around the world. My disappointment would have eased a bit if it is pack full of artifacts ..... but, no. The top floor observation deck that surround the perimeter of the building has a nice view in every direction. I think I was excited only because it follows the disappointment I felt after seeing the interior. AGAIN, the exterior is a must see. Nijo-Jo Castle ..... This is a must see. Shoes off inside. You walk around on the very wood floor those ancient samurais and court officials walked on. You see the original rooms and walls. IMPRESSIVE. BTW, no photos allowed. The castle grounds and surrounding buildings are also impressive. The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is famous so you should check off that bucket list box. Don't spend too much time there. It is mobbed with tourist. You get to walk through fenced in corridors through the forest. It was nice but I think the hype is bigger than reality. The surrounding residential neighborhood was beautiful. Near by, at Arishiyama, the monkey park is also more hype than reality. Sorry, I am not much into animals. Again it is one of those check box you need to check off. But, don't spend too much time there. It's not like I am soaking in a steaming hot spring with a snow monkey soaking next to me. It is just a bunch of monkeys running around the tourist. Bamboo forest NEXT to Fushimi Inari Taisha (the famous iconic red gates in Kyoto) ..... I did walked through a real bamboo forest on the side of a slanted mountain. Big timber bamboos. I am not fenxed off from the bamboo. The trail was quite flat so it is an easy walk. You find it at about 500 feet into the start of the Fushimi Inari Taisha red gates, there is a side trail on the right hand side. It starts up hill a bit. Lot of people look at it and skipped it and continued with the red gates to the mountain top. Some did walk into this side trial but turned back because it does not look interesting. I took the trail. In a short time, I encountered a small shrine. This is where most people turned back because it does not look very interesting going forward. I continued. Walked through a path that is surrounded by bamboos. Steep slope down the mountain. Steep slope up the mountain. ... All bamboos. The trail is FLAT. Later, the trail narrows. I encountered a few very old cemeteries and abandoned farm houses. Towards the end, there is a "water fall". The actual water fall is just one stream of water from atop the cliff falling into the final cemetery at the very end of the trail. It is the most creepy place I have walked through. I'm in a deep valley with tall bamboos blocking the remains of daylights of late afternoon. Those old abandoned house, I suppose in ancient time families would take a long time to reach this place and the houses serve as a place to stay over night. This is a very remote place. The ultimate reward at the end of the trail amongst the old abandoned houses ..... A WORKING TOILET HOUSE.
I went to Nijo-Jo Castle at night for a special event but I definitely would love to go back during the day. Thanks for sharing your experience in Japan! 🥰
I found Tokyo to be mostly enjoyable, if you can avoid the salaryman on their way to work and the rush hour in the evenings. I found Osaka to be highly overrated, beyond the castle and shines and gardens (it's actually a very densely populated city, not nearly the size of Tokyo) and my favorite places were Hiroshima, Kyoto and Nara - all laid back, all had excellent eating and shopping and plenty of things to see and do.
I think another place you can partially skip is the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. I said "partially" because you don't really have to climb the entire route on the hill and trying to walk the entire Torii route will take more or less an hour of your time, depending on how fast you can walk or the pace of the crowd. The hundreds of Torii shrines gets old quickly and there are still too many tourist even if you walk up the hill. You need to go very early or almost night to avoid the crowds. Fushimi inari is another site where tourist seem to forget that it's a religious shrine.
伏見稲荷は無料なので、時間の余裕があるならぜひ行くべきです。頂上まで行くのは個人的な体力にまかせるしかありませんが、他のお参りするだけの寺社仏閣とは異なりハイキング気分で気軽に楽しめると思います。始めて行く欧米の観光客にとって、それはかなりエキサイティングかつ、エキゾチックな体験になると思います。ただし、あなたの言うように日昼はかなり混雑するので早朝を選択する方が良いと思います。夜間は景色が限定的になるのと、冬場の寒さであまりお勧めできませんが春以降なら楽しめると思います。しかし、京都はどこへ行っても混雑から避けられません Fushimi Inari is free, so if you have time, you should definitely go. Getting to the top is up to your own physical strength, but unlike other temples and shrines that you just visit, I think you can easily enjoy it as if you were hiking. I think it will be a very exciting and exotic experience for Western tourists visiting for the first time. However, as you said, it gets quite crowded during the daytime, so I think it's better to go early in the morning. I don't really recommend it because the scenery is limited at night and it's cold in winter, but I think you can enjoy it after spring. But no matter where you go in Kyoto, you can't avoid crowds.
I also reccomend one of the most beautiful little gardens in kyoto: Tenjuan, south of the Nanzenji Sammon Gate. You can take a look on google maps photos, that were taken there.
I am planning to visit Japan this year in the month of November with my wife and 20 months old baby. We have two options : Nov 8-18 or Nov 15-25. Which one do you think would be better considering the fall season, the cold weather, crowds etc? Thanks in advance.
I think your dates are pretty close together so I don’t believe it will be drastically different. I think the fall leaves would show up better later in November though 😁
Bamboo forest, cloudy, dark, gloomy... this is now on my list 😂 Thanks for the suggestions, I'm planning a trip and I'll take your advice on everything except that.
Just seeing the pictures and videos online for the art aquarium made me just skip. Imagine being a fish and you’re always exposed to bright lights with no reprieve
That’s completely fine! 😊 I went to Sensoji for a little bit in Tokyo. I went maybe around 6pm-ish and it was empty. But all of the stores were closed already.
if i find something i will add Yokohama to list again. saw the Gundam there, walked through Motomachi area nearby, beautiful indeed. didnt know of Gundam man hole covers but that one thing isnt enough to visit there (didnt know it was there), even the ferris wheel area isnt wnough to suffice the visit. i did like the Arashima bammboo grove as a small side visit, not the biggest forest but interesting to see. Gion-Shijo area of Kyoto in sakura season is a very suggested place to view the blossoms.
It’s preference at the end of the day. No right or wrong. Personally not fond of cruising type of sightseeing. I enjoy the 4-5 miles walk in Japan and soak in all the amazing cultures, architectures, views, and experiences. Went to all these crowded areas but would still go again 🥲🥺🥺
That's so true!! There's no right or wrong way to enjoy Japan. And people have different interest when it comes to things they enjoy doing while traveling ☺️
Great video. Thank you for all your helpful tips. We will be going there in October this year, same itinerary as yours. Going to check out your other videos on Japan now.
You can skip a Sumida River tour. The boats look cool and futuristic, but it was just another boat ride. We did this last July when we were in Tokyo. Take the time you would go on the boat and really visit the side streets around Senso-Ji Temple.
Hmm you're probably right 😅 I had an office fish before and it was a pain trying to get the pH in the water to be just the right on so the fish lives longer...
I’ve been inside the Osaka Caslte. It didnt keep any of the actual interior. Just a Museum. But the top was pretty nice. There is a stamp you can get if you’re collecting stamps. I’d recommend just looking from the outside
Lived in japan for a long time, some of the places are just tourist trap and overrated. There’s a lot of places I Japan that the locals only know; so better you ask a local for advice when touring Japan.
Been to Japan 8 times, 3 more trips booked for 2024 and never once given up time going to any shrine or temple, but Castles yes. It bewildering to me why tourists so automatically have shrine and temple visits planned on their 'will do list' when it's virtually a 'would not do' in their own countries. Understandable visiting if you're of Shinto or Buddhist faith, but otherwise ??? Yes there can be nice gardens in shrine grounds but the best gardens are independent locations. I remember on one trip being asked by a transfer driver what we were visiting, and not visiting, during our stay and when we mentioned we don't bother visiting any shrines he said "that's great there's so many other places you should visit instead". Every hour you're at 'another' temple or shrine is a valuable hour wasted to experience so much more of what Japan offers.
This is such a weird comment. I visit religious buildings everywhere, naturally including my home country. And yes, I mean visit, as in getting there and walking and having a look around. Why wouldn't I? I admire the architecture and the art. I enjoy soaking in the spiritual atmosphere. Shrines and temples are no different. Skipping this experience entirely is definitely missing out on a part of Japanese culture. It's, of course, a personal decision. However, I find it odd to point fingers specifically at people who visit shrines and temples during their trip in Japan as if that's an oddity - like religious buildings all over the world don't offer and profit from tourist visitations. 🤷🏻♀️ I remember my friend and I were in Japan during New Year's once. It was such a great experience. We had sake at midnight at a local shrine. I don't even know the name of it. It was pretty small compared to what else you can find around Tokyo, but quite a lot of people had gathered there and they were super welcoming and invited us to come celebrate with them. And the next day we watched workers at a shrine in Kamakura making fresh mochi from scratch. It was awesome! There were also basically no other tourists around, mainly locals doing their New Year's visits. One of my best experiences visiting Japan ever. That being said, next to shrine and temple visits, I always make sure to mix things up, as there is so much to see and do. Shopping malls, theme Cafés, castle grounds, parks, tiny ramen stores that seat no more than four people at a time, all of these are absolutely brilliant. It's the overall experience, really. Again, it's you do you for everyone, but never once taking off your shoes and putting them in a little bag to carry them around with you during a temple visit... definitely missing out on an experience - especially in January. Can absolutely recommend. 😁
Shinkansen I think is a one and done thing if you're traveling in japan. If you're traveling from Tokyo-Osaka just take a flight. You shave off over an hour from your commute at almost half the price
Omg, I cannot wait for my trip! I'm going this April with 3 other friends and we're all so very excited. Our itinerary is after landing, check in our Airbnb, then the following day, head to Ghibli Park. Then head to Kyoto and stay for 3 days, with a day trip in Osaka. Then take a train back to Tokyo and spend 5 days in Tokyo. I'm bringing an extra empty suitcase on this trip lol
Extra luggage is a great idea! I brought an extra backpack to put my clothes in going back home, and filled my luggage to the brim with stuff I bought 😅
For the day trip to Osaka, you can make that a full day thing since the Shinkansen is a 20 minute ride and can last pretty much to late at night. Japan is a really choose your own adventure type of country since there’s so much to do even if you only visit Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto! You might have just missed the cherry blossoms in Tokyo since they bloom in about 2 weeks but you may still catch them in Kyoto if you arrive at the beginning of April!
Oh yeah, 120 yen is for regular train fare. But I was talking about the Maple Tree tunnel train ride - it was 940 yen round trip per person. So about 470 yen one way pp and definitely more than the regular 120 yen fare.. 😳
Skip Tokyo Tower. You will probably end up going to Skytree anyway. Fuji-Q Highland is a must! Some of the best coasters you will ever ride. Be ready to stand in line forever though.
Thank you for your video, i will go to japan this year. my main worry is, when i have a JR pass, how can i reserve a seat using the JR pass. So if you make a video., i will watch it for sure
I believe there are plenty of blog posts and youtube videos talking about how to reserve seats if you have the JR rail pass. I did a little research about it but since I didn't get the JR pass I didn't research any further. But I'll look into it and I"ll include those info in a future video :)
I recommend October. Avoid summer & rainy season !! Not sure when or how soon you'll go there ,though ! I am Japanese who's been living in the States for 35 +years ! Hope you'll have a blast in Japan !! 👍💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💞
