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@@littlebitsworld5038 Oh it’s pretty special! If you’re from the States and you’ve seen the cherry blossoms, it’s pretty nice. But the cherry blossoms in Japan are on another level!! I truly do hope you’ll get to see them!!

@@peterjenkins7386 That’s awesome to hear, Peter!! If you’re headed to Japan, be sure to watch the main video as well. It’s super helpful for planning your trip from start to finish. I placed the link below. Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to let me know the video came in handy! :) th-cam.com/video/--fEEZm-N2Y/w-d-xo.htmlsi=E8hlW1gAZEh58KEE

@@irenefornelius758 Irene that is so incredibly generous of you!! You made my day with this gift. I’m so glad the video was helpful and I’m truly grateful that you took the time out of your day to show an extra level of appreciation. Thank you thank you 🙏

@@philippoxenius7366 Hi Phillip, is the keyboard not showing up in the app? Or is there no way for you to enter your birthday? Just trying to understand the issue a little bit better so that I can do my best to help.

Hallo, changed my vpn to Japan, and I could do it.. please tell me, can I take a Shinkansen from Shibuya station to Koyto?

@ Hi there, I’m glad the VPN switch worked. You can’t take a Shinkansen directly from Shibuya to Kyoto. Instead, you need to travel to either Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station first. You can take the JR Yamanote Line from Shibuya to either of those stations and then take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Kyoto.

Thank,you for all your help.

One more question, can I send 2 large suitcases directly from Tokyo to Osaka and store it there for 2…weeks

@@sanmartin9673 Thank you so much for taking the time to watch and to leave a comment! ✨

That's the ramen shop called Tsujihan Zeitaku Don. The wait time outside can be up to 2 hours so they have water cups for people in line. This was also shortly after COVID restrictions were lifted so there is also a hand sanitizer station set up by the door.

@@Fijiispsradise You’re very welcome!! I hope the video tips come in handy for your trip!

@@davidmbonu Hi David! Yes, there are Marriott and IHG chains in Tokyo. Chain hotels in Tokyo are quite nice and very similar to the chains in the States.

@@sandwichman008 Cash back??! That’s AWESOME!! I won’t ask you the specifics of what card you have, in order to protect your privacy, but I’ll definitely be looking that card up. I’ve never thought about searching for a cash back card for travel!! Thank you for sharing

@@Mandriletta I’m so glad the video was helpful! I’m not 100% sure of the answer, but I found these Reddit threads where someone else was asking the same exact question. I think the first link has a solid answer: www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravelTips/s/ttLWuWK2ve www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravelTips/s/8o69VzwzzH Given that once you have a SmartEx ticket, you can connect it to a physical Suica card, I wouldn’t think it would be an issue to connect it to a digital Suica card. But it might be worth contacting SmartEx customer service before you go, just to make sure. This is the contact link and they have English language service… smart-ex.jp/en/information/ I hope this helps, even just a little bit.

@@sw-ns1yi Thank you for watching!

@@mvicavanagh ✨Yessss!! Thank you for that update! I’m so glad they fixed that.

@@VoyagesJapanI went to the Apple wallet and selected to add the Suica card. When I went to pay with Apple Pay, despite my VISA card being my “default” card, the only payment method showing was my VISA card”Wise” card. Saw an arrow and touched it and my other payment cards appeared. Selected my VISA credit card and got immediately notification from my bank that the transaction had been processed. 2 seconds later, the Suica card appeared with the correct balance.

@@SallyHapi Hi Sally, please clarify for me. What isn’t working for you?

@@williamgloor1174 Hi William! Thank you for watching the video. I’m sorry to hear that you feel it might be too overwhelming for you, but it’s definitely worth the experience. Very very cool that you were in the Air Force. Thank you so much for serving our country.

@@roderickburns5151 ✨💛 Thank you so much, Roderick. Blessings to you and your family as well. I really appreciate you taking the time to send that.

I just realized I left it out of the Survival Guide download. Sorry about that! Here's a link to multiple choices so that you can select the one that's best for you. I hope this helps! www.amazon.com/s?k=travel+medicine+cooler&crid=2FOH29ANR9YBH&sprefix=travel+medicine+cooler%2Caps%2C97&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

@@kumaranl330 ❤️❤️❤️❤️ That’s very kind of you to say, @kumamaranl330. Thank you for watching!

@@julissataveras5091 You’re very welcome, Julissa. Here’s the free 3-day itinerary I created for a Kyoto trip. It’s one of my favorite guides that I’ve made because of the restaurant and attraction suggestions. I hope it’s helpful for your trip! www.voyagesjapan.com/kyoto-travel-guide

Amazing!! You'll get to see the beautiful snow. It will be an added bonus if you have a chance to make it up to Hokkaido! Thank you for watching and letting me know you liked the video. Be sure to watch my other video about creating an itinerary with Google My Maps. It's a super helpful app that very few people know about. Here's the video. Hope it helps! th-cam.com/video/gUWB9DQb4XA/w-d-xo.html

@@thiriaung6850 Thank you Thiri. I’m really glad it was useful for you. I appreciate you watching and taking the time to leave a comment! ☺️

@@mohsin2397 Exactly! I totally agree. After the price hike, it totally turned things upside down. Much better to buy single trips and save your money for memorable experiences.

@@heavenluvsrain Thank you for watching! I’m really glad the detail was helpful.

@@Tee-19 Great question. Not quite sure about that but I know I usually have to adjust the brightness on my phone these days for most readers. If I’m able to find the answer for you I’ll come back to post it.

@@SSS92934 I’m definitely planning on doing more of these! I’m fascinating by Japan train travel and how much care and dedication goes into creating a memorable experience. Funny you should mention this video. I don’t know if you’re a general luxury train travel lover like I am, but I saw this in my TH-cam feed this morning. Switzerland is AMAZING and I can’t wait to go back and ride this train…. th-cam.com/video/5JK7vjVaIvo/w-d-xo.html Thank you for watching! Glad to hear from another train enthusiast.

Thank you!

Do you know where I can get virtual tours (360 degrees) of these 3 lovely trains?

Hmmm...This was the only solid result I could find. Just a TH-cam search. But I don't see any full 360º tours listed. th-cam.com/users/results?search_query=japan+train+virtual+tour+

@@VoyagesJapan OK

@@smileymonkey10 What a fantastic comment!! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know you appreciate the guides. Osaka is definitely next and I also want to touch on Hokkaido and some other fun little “pockets” in Tokyo, like Daikanyama. I hope the cherry blossoms are at their very peak when you visit in March. It’s an absolutely delightful experience that you’ll never forget! Again, thank you so much for the comment. Made my morning! 🌸

@valeriebudhwa6834 THAT IS SO EXCITING!! You're going during one of my favorite months, where the weather is impeccable, the crowds aren't too large, and the scenery is outstanding! I hope you'll have a chance to visit Kyoto while you're there. Even if won't have a chance to see it, you'll love this video. It shows a lot of shots of what Kyoto is like in Autumn/Fall. It'll get you even more excited for your trip!!! 😁 th-cam.com/video/W1NO44Zs2UA/w-d-xo.html

Great question about IC cards! Let me break this down: Using one card for 2 people: Each person needs their own IC card. This is because you need to tap individually through the ticket gates. Station staff will stop you if you try to pass two people with one card. But About refunds: Yes! You can get both your remaining balance AND the ¥500 deposit back, but that's ONLY if you have a regular IC card, and not a Welcome (Visitor's card). I created this other video with specifics about IC cards. This should definitely help. It gives details on discounts for kids, information about how to get a refund, loading a digital card on your phone, and lots more. Let me know if it helps. th-cam.com/video/21EEU-9L8AM/w-d-xo.html

I 100% agree with you on that!!! So pretty and mild. You can't beat it!

Hi @Yael97149, congratulations on taking your little loved ones to Japan!! That's so exciting (for you and for them). I did a little research for you because I want to give you the right answer. When booking, look for the terms 'barrier-free' (バリアフリー) or 'universal design' (ユニバーサルデザイン) - These Japanese terms indicate good accessibility features. These hotels are especially recommended for families with children and older adults: - The Prince Park Tower Tokyo - Shinagawa Prince Hotel They're close to transit, have multiple restaurants, and excellent accessibility features. Shinagawa Prince even has an in-house entertainment complex with aquarium and cinema. - Imperial Hotel Tokyo Though luxury-priced, they're known for exceptional service and can arrange special assistance for elderly guests. Prince Hotels and Imperial Hotels are other chain hotels that are known for their accessibility and catering to mobility needs. Here are some specific names: Prince Hotels: - The Prince Park Tower Tokyo (Near Tokyo Tower, excellent accessibility) - Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa (Spacious rooms, garden views) - Shinagawa Prince Hotel (Directly connected to station, has aquarium) - Tokyo Prince Hotel (Great Tokyo Tower views, recently renovated) Imperial Hotels: - Imperial Hotel Tokyo (Historic luxury hotel in Chiyoda) - Imperial Hotel Osaka (Along the river, spacious rooms) Large chain hotels like Hilton, Marriott, and ANA are usually good for the same accessibility reasons, and there are a lot of locations around Japan. But even if the hotels aren't explicit about accessibility, calling ahead of time is the best thing to do. Book directly through their English website or call their English reservation line and they can give you accurate accessibility information. You can also request specific accommodations. Let me know if this is helpful. I hope it's not too much information!

@@rafaelvillar6274 Thanks for watching!

Noted! I'm definitely working on less (or no) music for future videos. But either way, it should definitely be quieter so that it doesn't distract from the information. Thank you for watching and for sending your feedback in a helpful way.

@@VoyagesJapan The music volume is fine. Great video. Thanks.

@@W82 Thank you for the feedback. It’s one of my earliest videos but I’ve definitely taken note for future videos. Thank you for watching!

@ ✨🙌

Thank you for leaving your kind comment, Melanie! I appreciate you watching.

@@JustinDiazJokes Thanks for watching!

@@RondaLaxton-ht7xf Kyoto is very hilly and there are extremely steep trails. Near the attractions/temples it’s primarily a walking town, versus a commuter traveler town. But since I don’t want to make assumptions about your mom’s abilities or tolerance for steep hills, here’s what I would recommend… On Google Maps, there’s a feature where you can do 360° immersive views of a location, called Street View. If you google, “Google Maps 360 View”, you’ll see what I mean. That way you can search Kyoto and view the terrains of some of the areas. As a starting point you can put in Higashiyama, which is one of the main parts of Kyoto. Another option that I definitely recommend is to search for a Kyoto walking tour on TH-cam. There are excellent walking tour videos of most of the cities in Japan and they should give you a great sense of what your mom might be able to handle during your trip. Let me know if either of these suggestions are helpful.

@@angiejas1579 I’m not quite sure if locations in Japan accept Apple Pay, but the digital Suica card is the best alternative, since it gets rid of the need to choose between Visa/MC/AmEx enabled cards. Once you load money on it, you can use it anywhere that accepts IC Cards.

Hi @yoonchun, for something like this I want to make sure I give you the 100% correct information just to make sure you're safe on all accounts. This is the best website to refer to for information about medicine declarations. It's from the US Embassy and it tells you everything you need to know, including the forms you might need for certain declarations: jp.usembassy.gov/services/importing-medication/ I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any additional questions at all.

Amazing, Michael!! You guys will be there right in time for the Cherry Blossoms and there are sooooo many festivals in both Tokyo and Osaka that you'll be able to enjoy. I'm excited for you!! 😁

As far as I have ever known, there is no fee for loading money from your credit card to the Japanese Suica. It's done in the same way as you use your Apple Wallet, so you should be fine! Can you explain a little more what you mean about withdrawing cask from the Suica Card at 7-Eleven? You can withdraw money from the ATM with your debit card, but as far as I know you cannot use your Suica card to withdraw money. Is that what you mean?

@@VoyagesJapanthanks!

Hi Caroline, the option between getting an eSIM for your phone or renting a portable wifi will depend on your travel situation in Japan. Let me explain... If you'll be traveling alone or if you don't think you'll need a lot of data on your trip (for surfing the web, connecting to Google Maps, etc.) an eSIM might be the preferable option. That way you won't have to carry around a portable wifi device, or worry about the hassle of renting, picking up, returning the device, etc. eSIMs also come in handy in situations like the TeamLab Borderless attraction in Tokyo, where you have to store your bag in your locker. With an eSIM you can still have access to the web without needing to carry the pocket device with you. The other benefit of an eSIM is that you won't have to worry about carrying around an additional charger (one for your phone and one for the portable wifi). The eSIM will only rely on the phone's battery. But there are situations where a portable wifi might be more convenient. If you're traveling in a larger group of people or with your family, having a pocket Wifi will allow multiple people/devices to connect to wifi at the same time. If you tried doing the same with an eSIM, you'd have to set up a hotspot on your phone and that will drain your battery faster. The other benefit of having a pocket wiFI is that if you're staying for a longer period of time, it might be more cost-effective. Especially if you think you'll be using it a lot. Some pocket wifi plans have unlimited data or high data caps, while you're usually more limited with eSIM data. Just like in the States, relying on wifi for streaming, video calls, etc, instead of using your data, is always a more stable and [usually] cheaper option. So apologies for the long answer, but I hope this helps you to sort out what will be best for your travel situation. I personally always go with a Pocket wifi, and the reason is because I prefer to have "unlimited" access to the web, and I don't really make too many data calls from Japan. Let me know if this helps.

@@Janocte88 Hi there, was there a message in Japanese next to the penguin? Feel free to email me at kelly@voyagesjapan.com with a screenshot and I can try to help troubleshoot.

@@tarajadebrown Awesome!! I’m really glad this was useful. I have a few more helpful and practical videos coming up soon, so be sure to check back in before your trip! ☺️

@@findstr.s-hi-c._w Great tip! I know it might seem like common sense, but it’s really not. I know it totally confused me the first time I went. I’m really glad you brought that up.

Hi Denise, I would recommend getting there by 6 or 7am to avoid the crowds as much as possible. If you’re a photography fan, you’ll enjoy getting some photos of the surroundings at sunrise-ish time. The bus tours usually start getting in at around 8:00/8:30 and they’re usually super packed, so I’m glad you’re planning to get there early!

Thank u! This really helps!!

@@Enigma-ew5oh You’ve made a great point. The most unfortunate part of Google My Maps is that for some reason, all of the transportation modes aren’t showing. However, once you load your map in Google Maps, you’ll be able to find directions/options between locations just as you normally would in Google Maps. To load your Google My Maps into Google Maps, open the Google Maps app on your phone and at the bottom of your screen you should see 3 icons on the navigation menu. Press the bookmark icon that says “You”. Near the bottom of that screen you should see a small circular icon that says “Maps” underneath it. You can load your Google My Maps itinerary from there, and when you click on one of your itinerary icons you will have access to the normal directions function. I’m basing those instructions on an iPhone layout so it might differ slightly on the Android layout of Google Maps. But let me know if this helps to solve the issue you’re having.

@@Money_Man_Meech OMG!!! That comment made my day!! My whole year! 🤩 I’m so so glad the tips helped out on your trip. You have no clue how much that means to me. It’s so important that we all share our experiences to help others enjoy theirs even more. Thank you thank you for sharing and for being a part of this community. AWESOME note!!