Should you visit Japan now in 2024? 🇯🇵🤔
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- Опубліковано 26 вер 2024
- Should you visit Japan now in 2024 or wait until next year or even later...? Let's discuss in this video 🤧
I came up with a few reasons why I think you SHOULD and SHOULDN'T visit Japan this year or in the upcoming future. It's impossible to give a hard yes or no without knowing someone personally of course, and even then it's a bit of a mixed bag, but overall I would say that this year is a huge year for tourism in Japan...in both a good and bad way!
What do you think? Are you thinking of visiting soon? Let me know your reasons why or why not down below in the comments 🤗
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Should you visit Japan now in 2024?
Are you planning an upcoming trip to Japan? Let me know down below what you think 😋
Don’t feel like you’re super poor just because the Yen doesn’t have as good of an exchange rate as before. Someone is always poorer than someone else. You will go down the rabbit hole fast if you think the way you do. Rather, look how safe you are, what incredible environment you are in, and many more things that you have to be grateful for and that made you decide to make Japan your home. A person can have money to spend to last several lifetimes but it doesn’t mean that they have time or the ability to enjoy it.
Could you please talk about the STSS outbreak and weather its safe to visit in june this year?? Please
@@rhea6151 what is STSS?
It's high on my bucket list since my kid is a big pokemon and anime fan but life keeps getting in the way. One day we'll make that trip over for the experience.
Its a bacterial infection thats spreading in japan at a concerningly high rate
I’m moving to Japan in a few weeks for JET, I prayed to not get Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto because the overtourism is just so insane 😭 I lived in Nagoya when I studied abroad & it was perfect!! I got lucky and got placed in Nagasaki, I’m so excited
Incoming osaka JET🤣(I'm scared)
Hey, please don't be afraid to come to Osaka!😂
@@squidwithboots
Welcome to Osaka!
@@squidwithbootsdon’t be frightened!! My son has been teaching at ECC and l has lived in Osaka for the last 4 years. Not as many people speak English as Tokyo. You’ll do great! Enjoy.
Japanese here :) That depends on the place. Osaka, Kyoto, and also Tokyo has lots of places where almost no tourist goes.
We just got back a few days ago. We only did Tokyo, Kamakura and Osaka because our teen wanted to hit the theme parks. It was his first trip there, but my husband and I went in 2009. Glad we went to Kyoto and Himeji back then when everything was empty. It was SO CROWDED this time. We had an amazing time, but it was way different. Lots of tourists were rude and disrespectful to the Japanese culture. We were disgusted by some of the behavior we saw. We did bring an entire suitcase of stuff home. Shopping was so fun! You are right that the good stuff was still the same. We fell in love with Japan all over again and we're already planning a trip back as soon as we can save some $$! We'll visit Tokyo plus smaller towns to get a break from the huge crowds.
Hi, Thanks for that . We are planning on going next week and wanted to check if people concerned with the spread of STSS in Japan? did you feel as though it was safe and there were more safety precautions at tourist locations?
@@milankarajakaruna1012 We were not concerned at all. I didn't see any additional safety precautions. Lots of people still wearing masks. We carried hand sanitizer and made sure to wash well and/or sanitize, especially after being on a train or using a public restroom. I don't think STSS is a huge concern unless you have a compromised immune system. If you're relatively healthy, go, be careful, have fun!
@@magicsheepmom7790 Thank you so much !
Agree it made for us most places in Kyoto not enjoyable and so many overcrowding issues in temples, transport. when someone on UA-cam shows you Sensoju Asakusa temple it is after they walked agonisingly slow for 2 hours in the sun to get to it. 2 people actually fained there.
Hello Allison,
I visited Japan in November of 2023 thanks to you and your videos warning us of the JR Pass increase.
So I got to visit Japan for 14 days taking advantage of the now-old JR Pass price.
I did not go to Mount Fuji, and I did not go to Kyoto.
I arrived by plane to Korea first in Seoul, then I went to Pusan by bus and I took the Ferry to Fukuoka.
I bought the Fukuoka IC card so I did not get to confront the shortage of SUICA or PASMO cards they have in Tokyo.
From Fukuoka where I exchanged my JR voucher for the JR Pass and went to Hiroshima.
From there to Onomichi I stayed in the Guesthouse "Onomichi Mochilero " which belongs to a Peruvian of Japanese descent.
Of course, I followed your advice of not coming in the summer or during the golden week. November of 2023 was just great I had superb weather.
Thanks again for all the advice you provide us.
"Lonely Planet" watch out.
Regards
Sounds like an amazing trip!!
Nagano, Gifu, and Tochigi were amazing places to visit. Beautiful nature, traditional Japanese cities, and just a friendly great vibe everywhere. Just renting a bike and riding through the rice fields among the mountains to feel like a character in a Ghibli movie is my number one recommendation. Additionally there are a ton of cool hobbies you can pursue like bouldering in Ibaraki, fishing in traditional Japanese styles, or rafting in the mountains are all great things to do off the track in Japan. Not to say we didn't like Kyoto or Tokyo, but all of us that traveled to Japan together have our favorite place somewhere else.
I plan on visiting Japan in around October-November in 2025. Can’t wait hopefully things get better.
Yeah same!!!
Do you already have you Itinerary? I’m going for 3 weeks and I’m already planning how long to stay where
Tbh it’s just certain areas that are overcrowded, walk a block away and it’s usually empty.
I have just come back from Japan, and the trip was just amazing, Japan is very authentic, and at the same time living in 2050.
When I was there with my partner in May, we drove by car from Tokyo --> fukuoka and stopped in smaller regional cities, much nicer. I loved the drive up Chuugoku, we visited Matsue and Tottori which were lovely.
We spent time in both Kyoto and Tokyo this spring, and although I was stunned at how many tourists there were in central Kyoto, if you go to lesser known shrines, temples, parks, gardens, etc, and other places on the edges of Kyoto, there are few people, and these sights are just as wonderful. Same with Tokyo, it is such a huge city, we have visited a different area each time, and always find interesting things to see and do, that again have very few tourists.
I highly agree with your comments of getting off "the golden route". After spending some time in Tokyo (and staying in Shinjuku) I went to Kanazawa and it almost felt like a ghost town but was a wonderful change of pace. At Kenroku-en Garden I was able to get pictures without other people in them (with some occasional waiting for people to move on but not too much).
One warning about Kanazawa though, where I was staying all the restaurants closed around 4:30 - 5:00 local time. Thankfully a combini was close by when I first found this out.
omg same, i went to Kanazawa and barely saw tourists...like 2 or 3 dutch and that's all, i was like "so where're the tourists" i admit i felt a bit alone because i was going solo but in some way i enjoy it because i could take the time of the world to see things
I personally didn't like Kanazawa much compared to most other towns I visited. Kenroku-en was a nice garden but honestly there are Japanese gardens everywhere, and when I went it was still pretty crowded there. Won't be going back to Kanazawa when I go to Japan again. The towns in Gifu though... definitely would revisit
in sakura season Kanazawa was overcrowded too (esp. the park and the art museum)
I did the Golden Route back in February and it was great. There were plenty of tourists, but I live in NYC and there are always lots of tourists. So it wasn't a problem. :)
Agreed with the golden route. Tourists are like sheep, plus follow whatever the algorithm will make what becomes popular. Even venture off the stations in between, take the local trains outwards. Explore Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka City, Nagoya, Hamamatsu.
The Tohoku region does deserve more tourists. Barely 1% of tourists head this far north. Chris Broad always promotes this area. Probably one thing he's beloved by Japanese citizens according to The Japan Reporter.
We visited Japan for thr first time in Oct 2023. Loved it all but our favorite area was Nikko /Kinnagawa Onsen. Highly recommend and beautiful on the fall. Some other tourist but not over crowded.
When visiting Japan, you don't have to stick to the famous tourist spots. There are countless amazing places in the countryside that aren't as well-known, and they stretch from the north to the south of Japan. I realized this during my fifth trip to Japan. The key is to always stay at an onsen ryokan. Almost every tourist spot in Japan has one, and each place also offers incredibly delicious local cuisine!
I’m glad I got most of my travelling out of my system twenty years ago, everywhere is like this now. That said I did the golden route and that made me want to see the more rural Japan as well, so good to know my business will be welcome!
What I would give to experience Kyoto and such 20 years ago 🥹
@@AllisoninTokyoI rarely saw another foreigner in 95 when I was a uni student in Itami. Kyoto was beautiful!
So spot on in many ways except 1, Asakusa is an amazing area. Yes, the station and tourist area is insane but just a few blocks away in any direction is a beautiful neighborhood filled with friendly people and shops near the sumida river and sky tree. Don’t be afraid to come to Asakusa. Thank you for all your advice over the years, it led us here at this time because it’s a unique time to see this beautiful country!
I am 53, solo travelling next feb. not to Tokyo, Osaka but a ramen pilgrimage lol to fukuoka. Train travel and not to the usual hotspots. Keeping it simple, stress free and to appreciate the culture.
I'm 53 too went solo, did Fukuoka as part of my trip in April and loved it...Toto Toilet Museum sorta nearby was a random interesting gem!
@@psprog thats awesome!!!! It looks fun and more my speed than Tokyo lol. Did you go to kyoto?
@@pinksugarcookies71 Yeah did Kyoto on my first trip last year. Walked for ages to the Nintendo buildings I had no idea they were based there until a barman told me!
I lived in Japan for 14 years. I saw the summer growth become horrific. They are way too many tourists to enjoy anywhere. It is way too humid from June 1 until early September. I refer to it as 100 days of hell! If you’re smart, you will figure out a way to visit Japan either in the spring or the fall, those are the best. The best time for tourists is late March/early April. They can see the cherry blossoms. Also, avoid the end of April/early May. It’s golden week in Japan. The entire country is on vacation. Hotel room rates quadruple. Good advice!
I visited Japan in Nov 2023 after previously visiting in 2015, and everything you said was true. No regrets though, we had a great trip and plan on going back in Nov 2025. I hope for your sake the yen is doing better by then, but doing things like staying at a ryokan for "garbage money" prices was great :)
Great video Allison and super relevant info. Was in Japan in may and agree - so busy in the main areas. We went to Hokkaido and absolutely loved it. A bit slower paced, excellent food and beautiful scenery. Btw tax free minimum spending is now 5500 yen. Thanks!
I visited in April 24 for 3 weeks! Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya! AMAZING! I can not wait to return. I stayed in Ota city and never saw any tourists ( other than in the mirror ).
Hahaha 😂😂 The beauty of getting off the path!
I was over in April and went to Asakusa at about 10pm. Near empty and lit up lovely - a definite contrast to during the day! Heading over again next week but Hokkaido first then Tokyo can't wait...
in 2023 i stayed in japan for around 7 weeks, most i paid for a hotel was around 25-30e a night. we stayed in many hotels around the entire country.
in my opinion you shouldnt get a expensive hotel as you wont spend time there unless you get sick and need to lay down.
stayed in business hotels, capsule hotels and some weird hotels (henna)
yen was 150-1 eur when i was there and im planning a trip for next summer. it was an unforgettable trip and i plan on visiting many more times and maybe even moving there (if i could find a job that pays well as currently yen is so weak.)
I've just come back from visiting Japan, and I can really see what Allison is saying. When I compare it to my last trips pre-covid, the tourists are strangling the main attractions. What I did though, was use Tokyo as a base and do day trips out of the city (admittedly Lake Kawaguchiko was very very crowded, so I did Lake Saiko instead). And I went to Fukushima Precture to Aizuwakamatsu - that was the best part of my trip. Onsen, beautiful nature, homely hospitality and no crowds. Ah bliss!
which onset in Aizuwakamatsu, please?
@@meghanschwanke1133 There are a few in Higashiyama area. I stayed at Shousuke no Yado Takinoyu.
Really good update about visiting Japan this time of year.👍🥰
I’ve been telling everyone I know that it could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel to Japan with the exchange rates. Family loved it so much last July that they wanted to come again this summer.
Yes!! Nothing will ever be this cheap again (I hope 😅)
I had visited Japan this year and last year.
I went to Nagano, Gifu and Hokkaido so no problem with overtourism.
We are going, period, dot, end-of-story in early December. Expecting cool/cold weather and we'll be dressed appropriately. Hopefully it won't be as crowded and the excitement to visit Japan will be a little less. :)
I just love your videos. I had hesitated visiting because so many people are going but I finally am later in this year and I will be off the golden route. I feel much better going now after hearing your thoughts. You rock!
Hey Allison!
Thank you for taking us somewhere new 🙏🏻. Loved the dress you got at Uniqlo and totally agree on those collab anime shirts there. I get them and wear them to the gym since they’re baggy 😅
Give AOT another chance 😁
Great video! Thanx for sharing! You need a “don’t get me wrong meter”! LOL 😘👍❤😜✌
Wow your channel has really grown well done! I remember seeing your channel a while back
I'm really really over the super tourist places as I get over. I will hopefully plan my trip to Japan in the Fall this year, (or of not, Spring 2025 and summer 2025) but as I get older I'm more interested in countryside and hiking and hiking trails of Japan.
the countryside of Japan is really great 🤗 nature, culture, everything you could want!
I came to Tokyo towards the end of 2023 and it was the absolutely best time to visit! There was hardly any tourists, most probably because many other countries was still in lockdown, hotels were halla cheap! I can't imagine what it'll be like when I relocate to sometime next year. I'm from the UK, back in 2008-9 it was the UK pound was strong for a while, 1 GBP to 256 JPY, currently the yen for us brits isn't as low as it was, but having said that the GBP is weak. UK economy has so many problems.
Funny cause I'm planning to Morioka. My reasons are probably more on the unusual side though:
- Riding the Hayabusa since it's the fastest Shinkansen service (I'm a railfan/train enthusiast)
- The Bakery store which I saw in a video that sells very unique and apparently super delicious sandwiches.
Was in Roppongi a week ago. Hardly any tourists. Big secret - Okinawa. Hotel staff had not met Australians before.
I was in Japan in May and June. It was perfect weather: 25-30c all the time with only a few raining days. The Yen is so low now that Japan is cheap for Europeans. I went to all the usually spots (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Nagasaki). Kyoto was amazing but so crowded with tourists. But I also went to places like Kagoshima, Kinosakionsen, Izumo and Toyama. At those places there were almost no people. So the take away: by all means: gooooo but also go off the ‘Golden route’.
i went to the okutama trail that you only mentioned in passing and it was really nice. i got off at hatonotsu and there was nobody out there. also overcast days in july are not that bad if you are from east coast america.
There’s even a term for it, inbound-don, meaning charging inbound tourists exhorbitant prices for a bowl of rice. To be fair I don’t think most places are charging different prices based on whether you’re a tourist or not, it’s just the more touristed places charge more for the same thing kind of like you should expect to pay more for food if you go to Disneyworld in Orlando. Ironically Disney Tokyo has some really good reasonably priced food so you may just want to go spend the day eating there. 😊
we are rich but we need to fork out lots of air ticket money to keep going back to japan
As someone who frequents Japan because of work (20 or so years now), i've noticed that over the years it's been getting worse, it's ruining the awe that Japan has. Most tourists thesedays don't respect the culture of the country they're visiting and it's terrible. Noise and extra rubbish are the most noticeable.
My wife and I are planning on coming next year but during October and November. I've been to Japan several times. My wife, no. She's never left the states.
We more than likely will stay away from Tokyo and travel to see smaller towns and look for the best places to eat along the way. Food > Her experiencing the food and culture > Video Games (Since we both love video games) > Anime (For me, but my Anime taste is old school, Golgo 13, Crying Freeman, and anything Studio Ghibli). In that order of importance.
I wish more thought like you (in avoiding Tokyo).
@@georgeinjapan6583 we live in a major tourist city and can’t do anything here during the summer months. So we understand if it’s a place tourist frequent during certain times just seek out other places.
I hate crowds, but I went to Tokyo last year and earlier this year and it wasn't too bad. Especially the second trip where we avoided the more touristy spots that we got out of the way on the first trip and only travelled on public transport when it wasn't the peak times.
Aiming to get Osaka and Kyoto off the list next year, and although I know it will be crowded, it feels like a race at this point. I think it's only going to get worse, at least for the major cities, so I'm trying to get ahead of that. I'm already kicking myself for waiting too long and having the pandemic ruin my first trip when I finally made plans to visit, I don't want to repeat that mistake.
After that though, I'll have visited the big three and I'll plan future visits to less popular regions.
personally i do agree with the pokemon generation having adult money now correlates to the increase of tourist in japan 😂
because A LOTT of my friends have been visiting japan this year, including me for later in autumn.
we just graduated last year and is on our first year into the workforce, and obviously the first thing we do was to save up for a japan trip, duh. it's our childhood dream!!! 🤤✨
Pokémon, sailormoon, dbz and card captors gen :)
Yes it was overwhelming crowded. Came there for spring break. I Would love to visit less crowded town next time
I visited the golden route as a single in early 2000s in Feb then in 2017 I visited Hokkaido for my honeymoon in July.
Last Nov I brought my 2 kids to the Golden Route again and this Dec I will be visiting again! Tokyo + Hokkaido 🎉🎉🎉
Sorry but we just cannot get enough of Japan , we want to experience every month of Japan, except summer 😂 cos i come from tropical country 😅
Thanks for the super honest insights! I have a trip planned for October, Tokyo will be the base but def looking for “off the beaten path” neighborhoods or day trips. I was considering Kawagoe and Shibamata but I’d love to hear your recommendations!
Thank you very much for your posting!
Summer season in Japan is very hot & humidity, so please be careful the heat stroke.(June, July, August, September🌞)
You can buy cold drink or frozen drink convenience stores & vending machines to avoid the heat stroke.🥤
I visited in 2022 right as it was opening back up and I regret not doing more of the bigger touristy things when it was still really empty, since I think if we were to try again soon the places would be super packed. But I do want to try some non-golden route places next time!
Sister, you’re a blast!🎉❤
Thanks for the tips Allison! I wish the public transport infrastructure was better in places like Tohoku, but it seems that without a car, you will have a hard time reaching nice spots to visit there
Great information! Gero sounds really interesting. I will have to check it out 👍
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I’ve wanted to visit for years (was supposed to go in March 2022) and I’m finally going late October. I’ll be staying in the Tokyo area and don’t really care much for the super touristy things, but my brother has other ideas so that could be fun 😅
We tried to go to Tokyo, cause its funny to fly into tokyo and not see the place but an hour in shinjuku and akihabara was enough to turn us off. We both moved out from larger cities in the US, no need to travel accross the world to vacation in one lol. Sapporo off season was great and went to random towns between kobe and yokohama. Lovely people all around, great food and wished we did more thrift shopping
I’ve lived in Japan for 35 years. I can’t tell you how bizarre this ‘tourist situation’ is….
I think these tourist got too much money especially after the pandemic so now it’s overcrowded…
I am Japanese. You should not visit Japan in July, August, or the first half of September. Summer is so harsh that some people die from the heat.
I was from January till March in Tokio,so travel arround.Hotels so Air b&b for two wasn't cheap at all.Transportation so Internet: Also. Did I save much?I didn't feel it,really
My favorite part of my trip to Japan last year was visiting my language tutor in Isahaya, It was beautiful, and rural Japan is absolutely beautiful.
My wife and I are leaving for Japan on Friday… two week tour… Tokyo, Harkone, Kanazawa, Kyoto, and some other areas. We will be there during rainy season, so maybe the numbers will be down.
Touching on the golden route, I went in August/September 2023 and the golden route was "nice" but it was far too crowded. I loved Hokkaido region and Okinawa way more than the golden route. Sure Okinawa was 30+'c at night but it was so much more pleasant to be around than being in Mount Fuji which felt more like Sydney Australia than Japan. Personally, I am quiet so seeing loud people whether tourists or not is a lot for me.
EDIT: When in Kyoto I kinda felt sorry for the locals, I was on a bus and there were school kids BUT IT WAS RAMMED WITH PEOPLE, and the queues were cooked. Not what I'd want when going home from work or school.
I visited for a month this year in winter and it was awesome! Everything was so affordable. Not too many tourists.
tourism is picking up here in Fukuoka, never seen it this crowded in my 22 years living here.
I went in May and it was packed with tourists, especially Kyoto. Gion area was a madhouse
I was in japan last month from mid may to end of the month. Took the golden route, it's not as bad as one expected, yes it's bit crowded in asakusa afternoon, and sannenzaka i kyoto. But most of time it's quite chill. If people avoid travel during peak of sakura and golden week, it's totally fine.
Interesting. I like to venture off the beaten path. Love Japan ❤️
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The issue with overtourism is the Japanese government pushed for more without considering the infrastructure.
Statistically, many European countries/cities, even snaller ones, have more tourists than Japan yet don't seem to have the crowding issue.
Holy cats! That's a lot of tourists. I will definitely not be coming in summer. I missed an opportunity to visit in '84 and it's been on my list ever since. Thanks for the insightful video.
Im in Japan right now. I love it so far. Im here visiting my brother who lives here.
We can only go in summer due to our school holidays. Last time was 2018 and already very crowded in the touristy spots. But to put things into perspective: The bigger European countries have way way more annual tourists and Singapore as a single small city state has about half as many annual tourists. So the numbers per se aren't that high. One problem is people concentrating on Tokyo and Kansai. Maybe the rest of Japan should be promoted more!
I live in America and I still think is crazy how we were enemies in ww2 but allies today is crazy but cool
Just got back from Japan last week. Tokyo and Kyoto were as busy as expected. People want to go now as it's so affordable right now
I loved Gero Onsen and would also highly recommend a visit.
I’m planning on coming next summer to visit my son. Coming from South Florida I think I can handle the heat 🤞
Visit Japan, don't worry about negative comments and decide for your self. With this exchange rate, great time to try different types of experiences pretty cheap. Japan will always have tourists there is no perfect time to visit.
That moment when your own currency is weak and plane costs have trippled since my first trip in 2016. It is just absurd how much a flight is now compared to what it used to be. That said since I will visit Nagasaki, Okinawa, Fukuyama and Fukuoka I hope for less tourists than I usually see. Considering it is my 6th trip I will stay in the Asakusa area because I know my way around. The pro tip would be to go to Sensoji at around 10pm. Few people and since the buildings are lit up it looks very pretty.
Flights are so expensive now! I last went to Japan 2018 and it was about $400 - $500 cheaper then, without any sales 😭 and accommodation.. also tripled 😬
@@frangipanisandgirl As a Japanese person, my personal opinion is: have airline tickets really increased that much? Japan's inflation rate is more moderate compared to Western countries, and with the yen's depreciation, prices are relatively affordable. In conclusion, isn't it the foreign airlines that are profiting the most from the current Japan boom? Even with JAL and ANA's price hikes, the increase seems to be around 30%.
@@gotakazawa408 sorry, I didn’t mean specifically Japanese airlines flight prices had increased, flights all over the world have increased (I don’t want to even look at Europe prices!), but that flight to Japan was my last trip, and now that I’m wanting to visit Japan again, the prices are very different post pandemic. In my mind I was actually thinking of Singapore airlines, as that is my preferred airline with the best connections coming from Australia and who I travelled with last time. They’re definitely profiting right now 😅
@@gotakazawa408 My first place tickets to Japan for a round trip were around 300€ if I convert my currency to €. I knew back then I had already scored a good price. In 2017 it had gone up to around 500€. Still very reasonable. For my trip this year I am paying 1240€ for my flights to Japan. That is a very steep increase. The domestic flight to Okinawa and Nagasaki are a lot cheaper than I am used to compared to domestic flights in Europe.
@@frangipanisandgirl Acommodation might have increased but considering how expensive a hotel night is in my country I think those are quite cheap in Japan. My co-workers laughed about the hostel in Okinawa because that kind of a deal is impossible in my country. For me it is mostly the plane ticket to Japan and from Japan where I feel the increase. It is more than half of my salary for just the plane ticket. 🙁There were a few cheaper options but then it was impossible to get to the airport at those times, so in the end a night near the airport would have amounted to the same cost anyways.
I am visiting end of September to beginning of October. Hope it’s not as hot and not as crowded (marginally)
Allison, your vid was great - just back home last night after 10 days in Tokyo (I live in Australia) and also had a couple of wks in April in Tokyo + Kyoto. Used to visit a few times per yr and really noticed the affordability shift this year. Agree that hotels are expensive and sell out relative to past years, but transport is inexpensive (digital-wallet Suica worked fine) & Tokyo especially is best when walking (all the lovely surprises). This past week or so though was HOT! phew! so later in summer will need some planning if you are visiting. Food is super affordable - and like you, didn't strike the "tourist-premium". Highly recommend "decentralising" your location in Tokyo etc - you can train where you need then chill in "local" spots near your accommodation and actually chat/ engage with people (why I love Japan)... and as many have said, the regional areas are wonderful. Stay cool this summer!!
Ill wait another year or 2, hopefully the yen recovers enough that at least a lot of the more financially motivated tourists lose interest. But the more rural areas are more interesting to me anyway
Went to Japan a year ago for the first time, and this year in March for the second time, and lowkey I want to go again this autumn. The flight tickets are so expensive though 😭😭 but weak yen in Japan is so tempting!
hahaha almost feel personally attacked booked my flights and hotels for Tokyo and Osaka couple of weeks ago for later this year and I was planning on popping over to Nara and Kyoto🤣🤣Is there anywhere you would recommendations for day trips out or lesser known must see spots?
I'm so glad I went last year in April for a month. Wasnt crowded at all. A 15 Year dream came true. I'm just sad i didnt visit the more rural parts. Next trip in a few years then maybe. But i would definetely visit in one of the least crowded months. Tokyo was packed enough, even without many tourists.
i am coming to japan in the september 16th and yeah at almost 200 yen to the pound its a good time at the moment.
I was just there for 15 days 3 weeks ago my best advice is to plan all major sites on the weekdays. I went from may 19 till June 3 and any major tourist areas I went from Disney, to universal and everything else wasn't super crowded there were still people there but not like the chaos you see. but I did go to Kyoto on a Sunday nd that was crowded especially the bamboo forest. it may of helped that I went right after the golden week holiday ended t. but if you go on weekends not only are you dealing with tourist but locals that aren't at work to.
I stayed at the ANA Crowne Hotel's top-floor super rooms two weeks ago. Cost money but I have money. ¥50,000 a night. 50 meters squared.
Unfortunately, as a teacher, the most reliable time for us to travel is the summer. I've done a lot of research -- many of it coming from your videos (thank you, btw!), so hopefully we can make it work. Two weeks starting in mid July. (Eek!). Super excited to be visiting my first country in Asia . One of my life goals is to visit all Disney parks -- here we go! Thanks for your videos and frankness!
You're not lying about the hotels. I was in Japan this past May. I didn't have all of my hotels booked in advance.
Foreign tourists visiting Japan know that the country's famous tourist sites are already crowded. Visiting the Samurai Road offers a unique opportunity to directly experience Japan's history. This includes the Five Highways, such as the Tokaido and Nakasendo, as well as historic castle towns and battlefields scattered throughout the country. Experiencing Japan's history also means engaging with its traditions, and visitors should show the same respect and consideration as they would when visiting temples and shrines.
70% of Japan's land area is mountainous, so it's a good idea to go to a summer resort. Of course, it's hot in the city, so if you're going to spend time there, we recommend air-conditioned places such as commercial facilities in buildings or underground shopping malls. It's okay inside the train, but it gets very hot outside. Also, since the sea is nearby, swimming in the sea is also an option.
one year ago I was in Japan for the first time in my life. We tried to add more out of paths destinations while also doing the golden route. Kyoto was VERY VERY VERY PACKED. LIKE, VERY! But only the main attractions! So while we decided to skip some places because it was too overwhelming, we visited other temples where it was super quite. And yes, for you to get that picture you have to wake up SUPER early. Also, we decided to do a day trip to Onomichi, a cute small town and it was very nice, and we also went to some places that are part from the "Kumano Kodo", which I totally recommend! it was also very nice!!! We could enjoy a good onsen bath, eat good food without doing queues... etc... I still dream about that tuna we ate in Kii Katsuura :'))) so yeah
I feel like pricing has kind of evened out for tourists to Japan. Even though the Yen is very low compared to USD, the hotel and plane flight to Tokyo pricing is through the roof. Money you would've saved is being blown on flights and accommodations.
And.. I will come in october, this year.... I hope I will be able to come, get back and enjoy it!
And.. IF everything will come out more or less as nicely as thought, I will have plans for me, Japan and the future.... 😁😁😁
BTW "out of the way locations" are still harder to reach and to "navigate" without renting a vehicle... and not everyone want to do this thing.... I will NOT rent a car/bike, but I will NOT stay in Kyoto overnight, for example, I plan no more than two day-trips there, for starter... I will make base in Osaka and travel the surroundings.
I converted $ but not going until next year!
can you do a video showing off your japanese level. I am a computer science major with two minors in asian studies and tesol. so im basically taking all japanese courses for my asian studies minor. I would like to see your progress :)
We rushed and planned a trip in March 2023 (so fun!) mostly because we knew it would get crazy with tourists the following year, plus when the country opened up tourism from China!! It already felt so crowded at the time but I cannot imagine what it’s like now!
From what I am experiencing, super crowded with Chinese tourists…only based on languages I am hearing.
@@ronica2623 That makes sense! I think I read that 30% of all tourists in Japan come from China alone, which is a huge chunk. So for them to be held off on coming to Japan makes sense folks from China are FLOODING in now!!
Does this mean we should all move back to Florida to escape the tourists?? Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!! OK, no chance. I took a trip to Kyoto a couple of years ago....loved the temples, but the crowds were depressing. Don't think I would ever go back again. Spent a week in Hokkaido last month and would highly recommend that trip to anyone. Weather was a little cool.....but NO crowds anywhere.
we just returned yesterday fr 2 wks of Osaka Tokyo and the weather was near perfect w a slight drizzle and mostly cloudy days
While there are great points for why one should also visit the lesser known regions of Japan, unfortunately there are also some reasons why most don't check too many of them out, especially on a first trip:
1. The country may be cheap right now, but getting there is far from it, especially if you live someplace in Europe and have to avoid the entire Russian airspace. If you're a bigger group, this issue gets way worse. This makes it so that for a lot of people, unless you earn pretty good money, it really is a once in a lifetime trip.
2. Limited time. Even if they had the budget for it, a lot of tourists are also on time constraints. (A week or two)
3. There needs to be way more advertising for some lesser known regions than there is currently. That with the increasing number of ghost towns is also not helping too much, when even occasionally locals from those regions are moving to the bigger cities.
Again, it doesn't mean the lesser known regions aren't worth visiting, but there's also usually a reason why tourists don't always visit them as much. ^^; (Money and time restraints, as well as the proper amount of advertising.)
Been to Japan ~35 trips from here in Bangkok and been to most of the touristy places already.
Avoid places like Kyoto or Nara overloaded with tourist buses and temple crowd's.
My favourite hotel/resort is SpaWorld ♨️ Osaka, Restaurants, Onsens, next door to Tsūtenkaku, Don Quixote, Shin-Imamiya Station, direct access to airport, lots of hotels in area to choose on any budget. All I need is my Suica card and my small backpack with a 5 days of clothes. Japan stress-free 😊
Went for the first time last year in late October, early November - a combination of 'Golden Route' and lesser known areas, simply marvellous...Doing the same this year, but really focussing on the non-touristy places. TBH, even those crowded areas have their sanctuaries...Kiyomizudera and Fushimi Inari...most foreigners want the tik tok shot and move on, leaving 90% of the iconic sites empty if you just look. I could rave about the adventure I went on after scaling Fushimi Inari and I spied a narrow path between the trees on my way down...oh, the things I saw, hauntingly beautiful, shrines, waterfalls, perilous descents where the path disappeared, bamboo forests, hidden amid the dense trees. I eventually emerged miles out of my way at a derelict shrine area, I was lost and I didn't care...and the entire trip was devoid of people (there were a few wild boars and monkeys tho), let alone tourists. I'm going back this year, and I'm taking my nephew with me....he'll probably never speak to me again 😂
I just went to Japan and it was CRAZY busy 😆😆