JAPAN HAS CHANGED: 2024 will be BETTER for Tourists! 

You're really keeping us updated for overseas viewers, thank you so much and I really appreciate your effort making this videos!

Ive been watching your videos since i was a kid. I am now 22 and am finally going to Japan in January 2024, and although i wont get to be there for the stuff youre talking about im still very excited. Thank you for your videos all these years

Thanks for the updates and information.

So many interesting changes! Thanks for keeping us up to date!

So much information to digest but thank you for the kind updates !

Thank you for all the new updates! Can’t wait to get back in March. Hope all is well take care Aloha.

So much to look forward to! We'll be there for 3 weeks in Jan/Feb spending most of the time outside of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto. With many computers open to beat the ticketing system, we managed to also get Ghibli Park tickets for all 3 areas of the park. Thanks for the detailed information. Great videos.

Really great update on range of topics. Nicely done.

Thank you for the wonderful updates!! I am so excited for the upcoming Japan trip but at the same time so nervous 🥲🤗

Very well documented!

Thanks for the information. So much to look forward to

That was a hugely informative video Ninja 🐒 im surprised at how much is going on in the background, Disneysea expansion , wow I love it there🎉

This will greatly help us since we are traveling to Japan this March.

Very informative! thank you!

A reminder to every visitor. Get an IC card. Just do it. It was a pain to drive some routes without one.

Great video and thanks for always keeping us up to date with everything about Japan P.S I didn't know you were a Pokemon fan too😁✌

Thank you for the updates. Some friends and I are planning our first trip in late October 2024. I appreciate seeing updates like these. Is it really crowed during the Halloween period?

I might go next year in March to Okinawa with my friend I have no clue what to expect but watching u helps me a lil to be prepared thatnks

Good tips! And alerts for 3024! Excellent for my next trip!

I’ll be there this Christmas 🎄

Wow. Great video.

Please consider adding timestamps to your videos in the future - would definitely influence my interest level 👍

Looking forward to visit Japan again in 2024

. I always look forward to watching your travel vlog - your adventures are so inspiring. Your positive energy is infectious! Just curious, have you heard about the new v4 Bento Bag and the Ikigai Backpack by NomadLane? They could be great additions to your travel gear.

Thank you

Thanks for this. We were going to visit Japan in January 2024, but decided to move it to May 2024. I figured I won't enjoy the weather as much as I'd like to. I'm not too keen on anything 50 degrees below lol

It's insane to me that the Ghibli tickets took so long to finally be avail for sale internationally. Well, a lot of things are like that, so it's not exactly surprising, but it's still crazy. It would be like if hotels didn't have international bookings available online lol.

those donkey kong mine carts are bound to be a ride🤩

I'm so excited for the edo theme park with the onsen, especially since the odaiba onsen theme park closed during lockdown

Thank you for this update. Where can I find further updates please? I’m travelling to Japan in March 2024

Hello! Loved the video! Are you sure studio ghibli tickets go on sale 3 months in advanced? I heard they are on sale every 10th of the month for the following month (I.E feb 10th for march 1st - 31st). Thank you for your greay video :)

I’m watching this right now from the CoCo Curry shop by Higashi-Shinjuku station 😂

Thank you so much for all this info! My family and I will be going to Japan for the first. We are very excited to explore for 2 weeks. Tokyo is one of the cities we will be visiting, how busy is early December? I heard with comic con going on, that could get extremely busy. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks again and keep up with the good work!

Will the old banknotes work since I have have a couple of them left over which I saved for my next visit which I might do after few years

Looking forward to my first trip! I will be there in the beginning of March. When should I buy SIM card from Sakura mobile?

How does the smoking room affect your travel on the Tokaido shinkansen? It's a tiny enclosed space and don't bother non smokers..

im going in November 2024!

Besides the shinkansen trains, does the Suica card cover ALL the train lines and subway lines in metropolitan Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto?

Hi , i am new subsciber here but already subscribed you months ago with my another account.. your video helped me so much for preparing what shoul i bring and not to Japan, thank you so much,! Just returned from Japan 2 weeks ago, i watch this video and thanks again for your info, Japan will change the bank notes next year.. i still have some JPY for my October 2024 trip, and sad it can not be used 😢 ....

Don't forget the Nintendo Museum (before known as Nintendo Gallery) that is set to open as well on march 2024

As for the reserved seating, how would that work for JR Pass users? Would we have to reserve seats and pay extra for that or would the costs be covered under the pass?

2024 will be my 3rd tour in the country. =3

If you're leaving on pretty much the first Bullet Train I'd also recommend trying to find a bento the day before as sometimes the places that sell them in the stations aren't open yet and sometimes some sell out quick so almost same idea or have a good meal prior to boarding if you're leaving on a late or last one. I had this issue at all but the Shin-Osaka station for some reason. Will the old yen coins/bills still be accepted or will you need the new yen design? I still have a lot of yen left over from my trip in Oct/Nov and didn't want to put it back into the bank as USD with plans to spend it when I return to Japan in Late 2024 or Early 2025 (edit below) I just looked up the answer to at least the yen notes on the Bank of Japan's website, currently issues BoJ notes in circulation will remain valid after the new series are issued

Well, a few of these new attractions in Tokyo sound very interesting, such as the Edo Theme Park and Immersive Fort Tokyo. I'm sure that I'll have check these attractions out. The one thing that is true everywhere in the world is that prices will rise, and now I won't be able to afford a bottle of premium Japanese whiskey to drown my sorrows. Oh well the cheaper stuff will have to do. Now to get to Nippon to celebrate just being there.

Your advice is helpful and thank you ! My problem is that your seem to scratch the surface of the depths of Tokyo and Japaneses Culture and miss so much that is amazing about the country. How about talking about the castles, temples shrines gardens the museums , People spend there lives studying its history the traditions of sword making, flower arranging .Ukiyo,-e , Koi, Bonsai, Netsuke, crafts such as pottery , calligraphy, sculpture , lacquerware, kimonos Sumo traditional theater bunraku, Noh, contempery film i.e.Kurasawa, the amazing architects, clothing designers the rich literature including noble price winners, the cuisine from sushi to French pastries with many Michelin star restaurants in Tokyo, Zen Buddhism , Shinto, Bushido, and imports such as it Jazz talents , classical orchestras , plus traditional shamisen shakuhashi, I was in Tokyo a week ago and had my mind blown by the exhibits at The National Art Center , The Mori Art Museum , and the Suntory Museum of Art and sadly missed the Ando designed Design Site as it was closed . All were within walking distance of each other in Roppongi. I also got in line for some amazing Chinese DimSum and had the most delicious pastries at bakery come coffee shop. To be completely frank I am not into Anime , cosplay, Pokemon or Disneyland when there is so much more to blow your mind about Japan! I spent 7 years in Japan around 50 years ago (long before the era of the small screen) and after 2 years of being an English teacher , I then spent 5 years as an apprentice under two master potters and it changed my life forever. I owe so much to Japan and its people! The skills they taught me allowed me to make my living as a potter in the U.S.A. for nearly 50 years not to mention my amazing wife Mieko.

Hi! I’m flying to Japan this Thursday 11/30 till 12/13 for the first time! (It has been one of my dreams since a kid) Do you know if these dates are high season in Japan or just normal? Thank you for your video and insights!

Will the old paper yen still be good after teh new bills come out? I still have some Yen from my last trip, and I won't be visiting Japan until late 2024.

If for any reason i cant get a suica card (i dont have an iphone) will the pasmo passport work the same? I have plans next year (march) to go to tokyo, osaka and kyoto

About the new Japanese Yen if I come by late 2024 (nov to dic) will I be able to have the new bills if I exchange them prior to arrival in Japan?

I leave for japan in about 3 weeks and I'll be there for about 3 and 1/2, how far would I have to book ahead since I'm going during the holidays?

Hey, nice video. Just leaving a comment to do the 'things'. Regarding the new bills/currency, they've already started issuing the new 500 yen coin, and it can be inconvenient because it doesn't work in all vending machines or POS machines in places like grocery stores. On the subject of currency, one thing I don't think I've heard you mention (sorry if you've covered this already), is that while there is a 2000 yen note, it is not used. I came here with a bunch of these, because no one told me, but in Ichinoseki, Iwate, some vendors and restaurants won't take them. They CAN be used at the train station ticket vending machines, at 7-11, and in most 'machine' POS systems. But, if you get Japanese currency in the US, I'd advise tourists to NOT get any 2000 yen notes. It's seriously weird to me, and I don't get it at all, but it's absolutely 'a thing'. US Banks WILL distribute these notes, and they provide no warning/insight. I don't know if it's just Iwate, or how it is in Tokyo, but if one is coming to say Ichinoseki, blowing in on the shinkansen, checked in to Toyoko Inn, and decided to go to an Izakaya after a long flight, if all they have are 2000 yen notes, they might upset the business owner, quite unintentionally. If you do find yourself in this position, the banks close pretty early. The grocery store near the station closes pretty early. My advice is to eat the 150 yen, buy the cheapest train ticket, or use the ATM at either 7-11 or the train station (but the ATM fee will be higher than 150 yen). The New Days konbini in the station MIGHT take it, I'm not sure, but the vending machines won't. But yeah, don't come with 2000 yen notes. All other notes are fine.

going to be there for 2 weeks days from to June thanks for the great info I did not know Super Nintendo world was expanding. and thanks for the info about the other parks more to look forward to. question do you know if being there between may 18 - June 3 is part of the busy season.

I still have yen from my trip this year, will I still be able to use the 1000yen notes I have as they will be the old ones when I go back in 2025?

This video would have been so much better with some visuals of the stated places like where they are situtated when you refered to kanazwa nagano and gifu about the train idk how to spell it.

If I have old yen bills, I’ll still be able to use them right? I got 100,000 yen earlier this year to go but it fell through. I’ll be going next year though! I assume they will still be valid? 😂

they should make the bathhouse from Spirited Away in Ghibli park

What is the price for the hokuriku pass?

What are the peak season? I’m planning to go in March/April

Hi great information...we are group of 10 (6 adults and 4 children) would you know of an approved driver /tour guide to take all of us on day tour to Kyoto, Nara etc from Osaka? Thanks

how about an JR regional pass like the JR Nagano, Niigata pass to go to gala yuzawa? is it worth it? thanks

Going in may 2024 date 5/6 is that still golden week how’s the weather in May?

How’s the crowds during August months? I’m planning a trip during that time?? TIA

We will be visiting in February can’t wait but can you recommend an affordable private onsen room in hakone?

A better year for foreign tourists? Sure more and more buildings and other tourist attractions are opening up, but JR rail passes and other 1 day bus tickets (such as the 1 day bus ticket in Kyoto City, Kyoto prefecture) have been done away with as a way for the Japanese government to try and decrease the overflowing number of foreign tourists in the country. Tourism in Japan is slowly becoming more difficult.

If you are from Mexico you can stay p to 180 days without a Visa.

it could be cos I am from Australia but I don't know why people keep saying Japan is expensive it is cheap as chips... the 3 tourist areas are expensive but thats tourist areas the rest of Japan is no where near expensive

Individual train tickets vs JR Pass vs RENTING A CAR!

It's nice to know that I can still order food while I have my green car ticket, so I can look down on all the poor people in regular class. As I drink my tea and eat a bento. #smug

news about gundam factory?

2:45 The real surprise is that this wasn't a thing sooner! Why let the salarymen and women sleep when we can squeeze a bit more work out of them?

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Inflation doesn't really hit hime till it comes for my booze😢

Tuberculosis test?

I just went to Fukui 2 weeks ago, and spoke to the locals there about the extension of Hokuriku Shinkansen. It seems that the Government is intended to build and renovate more tourist attractions in accordance to the extensions of the Shinkansen. Here’s a catch though, the area along the Hokuriku Line, due to less visit by tourist, are not so suitable for non-Japanese speaking tourist due to less support for foreign languages. You might need to be heavily relying on translating tools, unless you can speak Japanese well like me.

The influx of tourists is great for Japanese culture… been to Tokyo 15-20 times since 2010… precovid was better…Japan is losing its identity …New touristy shops opening everywhere even indoor Yokocho which just totally kills the vibe of a real Yokocho..hope Tokyo don’t evolve too much

There's a much better Starbucks inside the Modi Bldg anyway but don't tell anyone.

Not enough space for 2 Chris broads.

What is this "wow" bit? :/

As a smoker I don't see the removal of smoking rooms as a good thing or why the removal is needed. Non smokers don't go in there, staff does not work in the smoking rooms. So the only ones that sre being subjected to the smoke are smokers. I'm very much in favour of banning smoking in restaurents, bars etc. The continued removal of dedicated smoking room and outside smoking areas in Japan is very annoying.

wow! why do you have hinomaru ?! ... I usually see it flown at government offices and ultra right-wing minivans (^_^) ... anyway, Kobe Luminaria light display will be held in January, and in late Summer, Tokyo Takurazuka is staging The Rose of Versailles: Fersen.

It’s amazing how he runs a channel on Japan and can’t pronounce a single Japanese word correctly

Not to sound like a disgusting cynic, and appreciate the video and your effort making it, but why would anyone want to go to a country that doesn't want you there?

Comment 😂

Sounds like most of them are bad news honestly...