Japan: First Discovery! (page 4 of 5)

Thanks! For crowds, it really depended on the place. We managed to find spots that were much quieter than others. Osaka Castle was packed. Thanks to our transport pass, we could use a special ticket counter. By taking the stairs instead of the elevator, we also saved time. We went to Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park—it was peaceful there. In Kyoto, some sites are overcrowded, but you gain tranquility by going a bit further away. Same for Nara. In Tokyo, Ueno Park on a Sunday was obviously not the place to be alone. Another example: we went to Azabudai Hills Tower on a Sunday to get a view of Tokyo Tower. There was a wait for the elevator 😵. We came back the next day—hardly anyone was there! 😊 We wanted to visit teamLab Planet, which was just a few steps from our hotel. We hadn’t booked tickets in advance and couldn’t get in. So we ended up at the Small Worlds Museum. While the first museum was busy, this one was quiet.



We alternated between busy spots and quieter places throughout the trip.

Originally Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park: you feel like you're in the Netherlands!

Happy holidays and safe travels in 2025!

That’s totally normal—it’s a former site from the 1990 International Horticultural Exposition. You’ll find landscapes from all over the world there.



Happy holidays! !

Hi there. I’ll be staying in Japan this coming November. Is it true that you need to book accommodations well in advance from France (or the traveler’s home country)?

Hi there, November is the time for Japan’s Indian summer, so it’s super busy. It’s **strongly recommended** to book as early as possible.

Hi there, Well done Torpan (Chris) for this travel journal. It's always interesting to hear other travelers' experiences, and it shows that it's totally possible to travel independently in Japan.

Thanks! Yeah, you can adapt pretty quickly to get around in Japan, and you can count on the kindness of the Japanese if you run into any issues.

Hello. I’m planning to stay in Japan next November. Is it true that you have to book accommodations well in advance from France (or the traveler’s home country)?

Personally, I booked 2 months ahead, but maybe if I’d booked earlier, I would’ve gotten better prices...

It all depends on what kind of accommodations you're looking for. I booked in December and January for a trip in April at hotels.

Hello. I’m planning to stay in Japan next November. Is it true that you have to book accommodations well in advance from France (or the traveler’s home country)?

For exceptional accommodations or ryokan you really want to stay at, it’s best to book fairly early. Anyway, there’s no risk in booking in advance—reservations in Japan are very often cancelable without fees.

Last year, in January, I booked some places the same morning for that evening…

Hi Chris, I have a question about the M’s Hotel you mentioned during your stay. What did you think of it? I’m considering taking my 10- and 12-year-old daughters there, but I’d like a place that’s clean, quiet, and relatively affordable. Thanks in advance for your help! :) Arnaud

Personally, I found the M's Hotel in Kyoto clean, quiet, and very convenient with the train station so close: from the station, we took a train to Nara and also a bus to the Gion district.

There’s also a large shopping center just 200m away. The only downside was that our room faced the big wall of the center. Check-in went smoothly (though the staff speaks little English).

Don’t miss visiting To-ji Temple—it’s easy to reach on foot!

Thanks for your reply. By the way, do you have any other addresses, names of hotels or ryokan that you used during your trip and that were, like the M's in your opinion, quiet and peaceful? In other cities too—I’m still deciding on my itinerary, so I’m interested in those as well. :) Have a great day.

We really enjoyed the Asia Center of Japan hotel (90 € per night with a good breakfast), very quiet and well located (a 15-minute walk from the Ginza line). In Hiroshima, the Kuretakeso hotel was the cheapest but very nice and right in the city center—just a bit noisier, and the breakfast was expensive (we ate out). Also, we got a good deal because the rooms were non-refundable. In Osaka, we stayed at the Juso AFP Luxury Apartment Hotel: a large studio, quiet, near lots of restaurants frequented by locals, but quite far from Osaka’s attractions (no reception, so follow the instructions carefully to pick up the key). It’s close to the shinkansen station (Shin-Osaka) for heading to Tokyo afterward.

That’s all for now! If you’d like more info, just ask—no problem.

A huge thank you for these addresses and all the details—I’ll check availability and get back to you if needed. Have a great evening. Arnaud

Speaking of travel agencies, I have my own thoughts on the matter, having been both an airline representative and a travel agent myself. First observation: The vast majority of travel agents here know absolutely nothing about Japan; they therefore need assistance from the very first steps. And since they don’t know anything, they also don’t know who they could contact locally, so they have to rely on a local tour operator (via brochure or direct contact), who will then pass the request on to their counterpart in Japan. So, we’ve already lost two layers of negotiations—and thus, two layers of "commission." Second observation: Since a tour typically visits several places, this Japanese tour operator will contact various local operators, not necessarily directly with the service providers. And there goes a third layer lost. Third observation: As you rightly pointed out, for safety reasons, the services offered will generally be of a higher category than actually needed, if not outright superfluous. Fourth observation: That’s how the final price of your trip will be at least doubled. Final thoughts: Since none of these intermediaries know you, they’ll often propose solutions that don’t necessarily match your expectations. Moreover, if you have the time to do all this yourself (it’ll take *many* evenings), you’ll experience your trip four times over: the research—the preparation—the execution—and then the memories.

This info about travel agencies is really interesting! I also agree that planning a trip is already part of the journey!

Thanks for your comment. I forgot to mention something essential for preparing a trip like this: It’s the sources of information! Sure, you can find a lot online these days, especially on JNTO websites. But reading a good travel guide can also be really helpful—especially if you want to plan things at your own pace, like in the evening from your favorite armchair. I own about half a dozen guides on Japan, and I can tell you that, in my opinion, the Hachette guide is the best. It’s particularly eclectic (not just focused on the "must-sees" like so many other guides), very descriptive thanks to its many "breakdowns," and super easy to read. Worth noting that it’s also available in English (Eyewitness) and Dutch (Capitool). All three versions are identical, down to the page.

Hi,

I’ll add: - Ibis Umeda, in Osaka, near the station—an elevator takes you straight into the subway corridors. - Far East Village Ariake in Tokyo. A bit out of the main lively area, but there’s a shopping mall with restaurants right next door. Served by the Yurikamome Line.

I’ve got half a dozen guides on Japan, and I can tell you that, in my opinion, the Hachette guide is the best.

Is the Hachette guide the one from the "Guides Voir" series? Thanks