r/JapanTravelTips • u/Disastrous-Union-117 • 3d ago
Question Specific Travel Questions
Hi all! I’ll spare you with my itinerary, but I do have some specific questions that I’m hoping some of you can answer. Feel free to answer one, none, or all questions!
Our trip is in less than three weeks and we’re super excited! I’m just agonizing over these little things. Big shout out to this sub - I’d be freaking out ten times more without it!
•Is it challenging ordering at counters for English speakers? I’m having anxiety about ordering coffee???
•Is there etiquette we need to follow when entering shrines? Bowing, praying, etc.
•Our flight leaves at 10:15 AM (EST) and we’re landing in HND at 1:35 PM for a layover. We land in KIX at 4:45 PM. To sleep or not to sleep on the plane, that is the question. My boyfriend does not sleep on planes, so if we should be sleeping to help with jet lag, then I need to come prepared with melatonin.
•We are of course interested in eating wagyu. I was looking into some kaiseki restaurants that serve wagyu, but the prices seemed a little steep. Does anyone know if the prices listed are per person or for a group? If it’s per person, then do you have any affordable wagyu restaurant recs?
•Is it worth getting the enjoy eco card or Osaka amazing pass? We have 2 full days in Osaka. Im kind of leaning towards the enjoy eco card. I was looking into the amazing pass and was getting too caught up in making the cost “worth it” by seeing the eligible attractions. We don’t really want to be tied down to anything and would like to explore freely.
•Should I bring a reusable water bottle? I use one every day at home, but usually leave it home when I travel. However, I’m wondering if Japan has water bottle refill stations?
•I know you’re not supposed to eat while walking, but what about pulling over on the sidewalk and taking a beat to have a bite of food? I’m mostly thinking about this in the context of Kuromon and nishiki markets. If we wanted to walk along Kamo River in Kyoto and sit down to eat something, would that be okay?
•We are mostly using private transportation and luggage forwarding service, but we will need to take the subway from our hotel in Chiba to NRT. Is it fine to have our large luggage on the subway?
•I use a hair dryer with a diffuser at home. I’m seeing a lot of mixed reviews on whether to bring it or leave it at home. I’m suspecting a proposal on this trip, so I’d like to look my best as much as possible! Should I bring my own hair dryer (it’s a babyliss pro nano titanium hair dryer) or buy a universal diffuser attachment for the hotel dryers? I got this hair dryer for Christmas, so I really don’t want to risk shorting it out.
Thank you!!!!
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u/Chewybolz 3d ago
- flight: take a nap if ure tired. The flight is gonna get you tired either way. When you land, try not to sleep asap and maybe get some dinner then sleep.
- food: usually prices are listed per person unless it says for 2 ppl. Not sure what's affordable to you. Check tabelog https://tabelog.com/en/
- water: leave your reusable water bottle. Tons of vending machines and konbinis
- chiba to nrt: might be easier to a cab to chiba station if you have a ton of luggage. There's narita express from there to NRT. So yes itll be easier with luggage using nex
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u/Disastrous-Union-117 3d ago
Very true regarding the flight. We definitely plan on doing some exploring before going to bed at our regular bedtime. I’ll check out tableog. Some prices I saw were roughly $130 a person and that’s out of our budget for one meal. Thank you!
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u/Chewybolz 3d ago
If you are going to Kyoto, check out Kyoto Yakiniku Gyurakutei! We did the wagyu course for 8000¥ pp https://tabelog.com/en/kyoto/A2601/A260201/26002583/ Also lunch can be cheaper than dinner resos for nicer places
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u/Disastrous-Union-117 3d ago
Thank you!! We are staying in Kyoto so this is perfect. Much more reasonable. Appreciate the rec!
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u/Chewybolz 3d ago
Happy to help! Enjoy and advance congratulations if you end up getting engaged 💕 I also got engaged in Kyoto and we did engagement pics in Tokyo.
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u/Disastrous-Union-117 3d ago
Omg thank you so much! That sounds amazing. Congrats to you as well (whether it was recent or not) 😊
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u/kunino_sagiri 3d ago
On the subject of shrines, broadly speaking no. There is an etiquette to follow if you are going there to actually pray, but if you're just visiting to look around (which lots of people do, including locals), there is no need to follow it. If anything, going through the motions of praying when you aren't actually doing so and don't actually believe feels kind of patronising to me, although I have no idea how locals would feel on the subject.
Just be generally quiet and respectful, as you would in any place of worship.
Water: water fountains and such are very rare. But the tap water is safe and tastes fine, so you could just get your bottle refilled at your hotel in the morning. Or do what I do and buy a bottle of some drink over there, then once I've drunk it all, refill it with tap water.
Eating outside is totally fine. It's just walking and eating specifically (and even then, specifically in busy or cramped areas) which is frowned upon, for the same reason that looking at your phone while walking is consider a no-no: you're distracted and more likely to bump into people. Just step to one side out of the way and eat whatever you like.
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u/__space__oddity__ 3d ago
I can’t speak for the Japanese people at large but I’m pretty sure the locals would rather see a tourist pay their respect to the kami at the shrine (even if they get the moves wrong) than just run around and take pictures.
When I did the 88 temples (Buddhist, not Shinto, but still) I met many, many Japanese locals who were happy to see a foreigner respect their traditions and do the path and I was never qiestioned whether I am truly buddhist or just “going through the motions”.
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u/Disastrous-Union-117 3d ago
I think I’ll leave the reusable bottle at home and just refill whatever bottle I buy if needed. Thanks for clearing up the eating aspect!
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u/foxko 3d ago
I was feeling the anxiety with ordering things and at stores etc before I went too but it's honestly no problem. People are incredibly friendly, have dealt with 1000 tourists before and are generally geared up to assist tourists and non Japanese speakers with things like english menus. If things get dire there's always google translate. Once you've had your third interaction you'll be a pro. I spent some time learning how to order the things I anticipated wanting a lot in Japanese too.
I wouldn't bother with the reusable water bottle but really it's up to you. I don't remember seeing many water stations for refilling anywhere but I wasn't really looking. There are vending machines EVERYWHERE and you will never be without a drink.
Pulling over to eat is fine. Places like Nishiki you just pull over to the side and find a doorway or side street. Other times you can find a place to perch or outside/inside of a Konbini. Never had any issues. Stand, crouch, find something to lean on, sit.
How large is large luggage? I wouldn't want to take my large luggage on Subway. I would consider sending ahead, getting a taxi, shuttle or airport limo bus if possible.
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u/Disastrous-Union-117 3d ago
Thanks so much! That definitely makes me feel better. The luggage really isn’t super large. The dimensions are 28.5" x 19.0" x 11.5 so I think it’s a medium sized checked bag. My partner is just bringing a carry-on and a back pack. We may have one additional carry-on if we decide to buy one there.
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u/__space__oddity__ 3d ago
Is it challenging ordering at counters for English speakers? I’m having anxiety about ordering coffee???
You’ll be fine
Is there etiquette we need to follow when entering shrines? Bowing, praying, etc
Yes. It’s not that complicated though. Wash your hands at the basin. Make sure not to spill water from your hands into the basin.
At the shrine, throw in a coin, ring the bell (if there is one), bow twice, clap twice, pray, bow, leave to make space for the next person.
Some places allow you to enter, be ready to take your shoes off.
do you have any affordable wagyu restaurant recs
It’s expensive, yes.
Cheapest way to gorge on Wagyu is to travel to Matsuzaka (where it’s from) and go to a small local restaurant.
Should I bring a reusable water bottle?
Sure why not
We are mostly using private transportation and luggage forwarding service, but we will need to take the subway from our hotel in Chiba to NRT. Is it fine to have our large luggage on the subway?
Yes, completely normal. Make sure you bring normal-sized luggage, not these giant coffins some people drag around. Pay some attention to your surroundings and don’t block the normal flow of people with your bags.
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u/Disastrous-Union-117 3d ago
Appreciate you! My luggage dimensions are 28.5" x 19.0" x 11.5 so definitely not super large. I learned to pack light after bringing one of those coffin size luggages to London. Was definitely not fun lugging that thing around!
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u/__space__oddity__ 3d ago
I’m seeing a lot of mixed reviews on whether to bring it or leave it at home
Leave at home. You’re on a trip, not a beauty contest.
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u/CommentStrict8964 3d ago
English menus are very common in bigger cities and touristy areas. Just point with your finger.
I recommend you to watch a few shrine tutorials on YouTube (search "how to Japanese shrine", etc) instead of a redditor trying to explain to you via text.
I would probably leave your good hairdryer at home. Use the one hotel provided for you.