Great practical Japan travel advice as usual Andrew, keep it coming 👍 Definitely stay close to the area you'll be spending most time during your stay. One of our early trips we made the mistake of going for accommodation-cost over location, even though we were only in Koto next to Tokyo-center we had a 20min walk to a station and the room was so small we were uncomfortable the entire stay. The extra travel/walk time and extra train connections cost us $'s and hours each day, and left us ridiculously fatigued at day's end. When staying in Tokyo it's super important to stay as close as you can to a station on the Tokyo Yamanote Loop Line. This has you on track quickly to your destinations without having to connect from a line outside the city centre to the Yamanote line. On my 8th trip I found the quiet northern area of Sugamo/Otsuka which is the best area I've stayed in out of eight different spots. It's regarded as a seniors' local area with its cheaper prices all around in restaurants and supermarkets, etc. Sugamo is only 2 stations from Ikebukuro a major hub and busy city center. It's also centred on the Yamanote line between Shinjuku/Shibuya and Akihabara/Tokyo so you're doing less travelling time either direction between the busy tourist areas. Sugamo also has 2 railway lines and a tram line ! The Toei subway station, is right next to the JR railway station, so it's super convenient. In addition there is the Arakawa Toden Tram line as well, the last remaining tram line in Tokyo. Now re-named as the 'Sakura Tram' (cherry blossom tram) it's a wonderful area to explore overlooked by most tourists. It's a big advantage to be able to enjoy your mornings having breakfast in the quiet area of Otsuka/Sugamo at the start of your day, then able to retreat from the bustling crowds at the end of each day. When it comes to luggage 🧳 stick to carry-on luggage only. Most airlines include 7kg with your flight and an additional 7kg is usually an option, offering 14kg which is more than enough for any traveller. If you can carry 14kg in a backpack all the better than wheeling a suitcase, or split the 14kg between a backpack and a frontpack so you're not towing/wheeling anything. On my last trip I met a couple of fellow regular Japan travellers staying for a month, both had only 7kg carry-on backpacks ! Admittedly it's generally harder for women (my wife 😉) to pack lighter but it can be done in a 14kg carry-on luggage allowance. The trick is to purchase 20+kg luggage allowance for the return flight and pack all the shopping haul stuff in a cheap bag or cardboard box. As a general rule plan on arriving at the departure airport six hours before your flight to allow for unexpected commuter delays. Better to be early and relaxed, always plenty to do/eat at the airport.
While I don't travel with one bag, I have done 2 x 6 week Japan trips in the past 2 years and I have a small suitcase (carry on size) which I check in on flights and a 15L backpack which has a baggage strap so it fits onto the suitcase. This way on trains and stations my baggage takes up a minimal space and not wearing the backpack avoids hitting anyone with it. I just have clothing in the suitcase and it keeps it light enough for easy getting in and out of shinkansen luggage rack.
Many of these pieces of advice are fantastic for travel in general, but there are some that are definitely underrated considerations when traveling to Japan. 1) The hotel selection trap is very real and it can take some experience to understand how your hotel selection fits with your particular style of travel. For example, if you are planning to visit a specific cluster of sights, booking a hotel near that area will save you commuting time and money. Alternatively, if you are using a city as a base of exploration for sites further away, booking near a major train station will save time. The key is to understand what the purpose of your stay is and planning accordingly. 2) Coin lockers are often overlooked by Western (American) travelers because we simply don’t have any trustworthy equivalent here. They can be used in all sorts of ways to help free up your hands of excess luggage. Most medium to large accommodations will hold your luggage before check-in, but it is still important to confirm this. 3) If you enjoy traveling and plan to travel frequently, it is a good idea to develop a general packing strategy to help streamline your process. One-bag travel is a common style among those who want to minimize the amount they carry, but this philosophy can be scaled to whatever degree you are comfortable with. The general idea is to eliminate the number of unnecessary “what if” items you pack and instead focus on the essentials. Understanding how you like to travel will help set up your ideal packing strategy. 4) A little bit of planning will go a long way, especially in Japan. As mentioned, many experiences now require advanced reservations and it would be a shame to miss out due to something like that. I have also found that planning increases my sense of connection with the trip as you will naturally learn more about your destination as you plan. 5) While trip planning is key, Min/Maxing your travel itinerary is a huge trap inexperienced travelers can fall into. Traveling is inherently stressful and can drain a lot of energy even when things are running smoothly. Adding buffer time into your itinerary will help to avoid feeling burnt out during your trip. 6) Do not be afraid to talk to help staff. I know this advice can get mixed results in the US, but help staff in Japan are truly helpful and can help eliminate the stress of trying to figure things out on your own. Swallowing your pride and seeking assistance can go a long way towards improving your experience.
Hey, I take advantage of this unrelated video to thank you for your "Kyoto without crowds" serie. We were in Japan this summer and your suggestions were absolutly excellent and brought even more joy to our trip. Team Icoca by the way. Thank you so much!
Even for luggage problem when waiting for the check-in time the very first day: (since it seems you would already have booked a "decently located" one) it is simpler to just go to the hotel, check-in (even when physically not allowed to enter your booked room) and leave the luggage to them: they will take it to your room when ready... whatever few minutes you could be able to "save" by depositing the luggage in a coin locker or into other storage will be wasted because you will have to return to the storage location to get the luggage back and then go to the hotel to do the check-in by scrap...
I was forced to travel back to the airport during rush hour, because my brother had booked an earlier flight back than me. Honestly, don’t do it. It was hell. My brother did genuinely think that it wasn’t going to be a problem, but he quickly changed his mind about that. It was an experience though! But not a good one 😂
That said, it’s nice to see that many attractions have luggage lockers. I haven’t seen a single luggage locker here in Toronto since the turn of the millenium.
I plan to go to Japan in Fall this year for 5-6 weeks. I plan on washing my cloth every 5 days or so and try to travel with a small or medium sized back. Then when leaving I'm gonna buy a cheap suitcase from a Donkey store and fill it with all the souvenirs and snacks I can get.
The only caveat for the mega-whopper luggage that I'll say is if you are staying exclusively at American brand hotels which will be much bigger, and fully utilizing the Yamato luggage transport system. We only pack as many clothes as fit in a carry on, but bring huge suitcases because we fill them up completely by the end of the trip 😂 Our trips are about 60% shopping, especially with Donki, Pokemon Centers, and Japanese department stores.
@@chandlerredhead27 ideally pack light and go with just carry-on luggage on your arrival flight. The trick is to purchase 20+kg luggage allowance for the return flight and pack all the shopping haul stuff in a large cheap 100-200Y bag/s from Daiso, or a discarded firm cardboard box. No need for ANY large suitcase ... providing arrival comfort and minimising your luggage cost when booking, simple 🤗
The cheap bag from Daiso works well, as does the cardboard box trick. Most supermarkets have them around the checkouts to pick up. Daiso also has cheap packing supplies. No suitcases required at all.
I get free checked bags with the airlines we use, so luggage costs haven't been a problem. It's more the cost of using the luggage transport systems, which are about $50 each time we change location. So maybe $150-200 per trip. If I were buying new bags and luggage every time we went, I'd have way too many lol We just split pack two separate carry ons (half mine/half his in case either is lost) and then put them each in separate large suitcases to check. Then we each have a backpack (for moving between cities while luggage is transferred) and a cross body bag (for lighter days out). But like I said we go to Japan to SHOP haha
When it comes to the fact you're bringing just a backpack for your trips - I'm jealous, and good for you, but I do need a big suitcase, because Japan is the perfect country for me to do shopping (all the cat stuff, all the Pokemon stuff, cute plushies, nice homeware, stationery stuff etc) and I need something to bring the shopping home, so me and my partner opt for one big suitcase, one small suitcase, and two backpacks. Even if I didn't do any shopping for myself (which is pretty much impossible) I would still need a small suitcase for my clothes, cosmetics, and to buy some little souvenirs/gifts for my friends and family. :) So I think the advice of just bringing one backpack would not work for most people who do want to buy things in Japan. :)
@@xXNekou admittedly it's harder for women (my wife 😉) to pack lighter but it can be done in a 14kg carry-on luggage allowance. The trick is to purchase 20+kg luggage allowance for the return flight and pack all the shopping haul stuff in a cheap bag or cardboard box.
For Ghibli Museum, Pokemon Cafe and Ghibli Park you need to book a month in advance. With some very popular Cafes/cat cafes and attraction parks (like teamLabplanets) you also need to book sometimes a week or so in advance.
Hotels: Generally agree, though sometimes at cities where the main sights are a busride away from the station or when they are more spread out, it can be more practical to stay near the station instead. Lockers: I do often use lockers for stopovers along the route, but as for getting rid of my luggage before check-in.....just drop it at the hotel. Never been at even a single hotel in Japan that wouldn't keep my luggage before check-in or after checkout. And considering point 1, if that's not practical you picked the wrong hotel ;-). Buffers: Absolutely! Should be common sense, but for many people it clearly isn't. No big luggage: difficult....I have gotten much better at travelling light, at least when it comes to what I bring from home. But despite my best efforts, even after 20 trips to Japan I always find enough stuff to triple the weight of my bag at the end of the trip 😅 That said, after a few travels with a suitcase, I'm back at a wheeled duffel again. So much more convenient in small Japanese hotel rooms, since you can simply zip open the top instead of having to fold it open and thereby doubling its footprint. Also, soft bag can be adjusted with compression straps, so it's never bigger than it needs to be.
I don't do a whole lot of shopping on trips anymore, but Ueno offers hard suitcases for a very good price. I've seen some for under 3000 yen. Probably better than lugging around a suitcase everywhere you go.
Just a small thought about accomodation and subway distance: especially in larger cities (such as Tokyo) it is virtually impossible to be "less than twenty minutes closer" to every "major" spot.... so, unless a traveller could change hotel two/three times just when visiting Tokyo, it is better to say that one needs to choose an accomodation "closer" to an important station and in a somewhat "central" position...😅
@@japanunravelled already found some pretty decent spots around, especially in Tokyo, and it did work out very well... maybe because I already planned in advance to "take it easy" the very first days... but, really, when one just arrives in such a big city like Tokyo, after a long flight and maybe for the first time, IMHO it is far better to take your time and initially do things at a slower pace... this "strategy" really pays after a while...😁 Same reasoning for storing the luggage when just arrived in Japan or in a "new" city: it really pays off when one could be a little bit more relaxed.... the gains are visible shortly after: maybe at the very beginning it seems one is wasting precious time, but, after a short while, being less tired and more "organized" allows to do more things and more easily
@@japanunravelled "Don't visit Tokyo" is pretty unrealistic though for the first-time traveller. I get what you mean however...there's SO much more to see than the city. If I am in Tokyo, being on the Yamanote Line (other than at Shibuya or Shinjuku) really pays off.
Not off-hand. Lockers generally run to a week, but longer you'll likely need to go to a store of some sort. You might try asking one of the more Tokyo-obsessed creators, or tourist information on Tweeter.
Thanks for this tips! I am heading to Japan late February to run the marathon and then to visit so I really need to register a suitcase as I am bringing racing shoes, and other things that I will use during the marathon but my suitcase is medium size so hopefully it won't be too complicated to move around 👼
I greatly appreciate your insights. I will be in Tokyo in April 1st - 15th I don't have an itinerary, I like to go with the flow of things, in addition I am traveling solo. Do you have any recommendations for a great location to look for accommodations, no 5☆ hotels unless it's a great deal, 3- 4 ☆ that serve a free breakfast, oh and my Japanese is so basic.😢 Thank you for all that you do & HAPPY New Year!!
In Tokyo? If I absolutely have to stay in Tokyo, I like the Comfort Hotel Kanda, and the APA Ueno Ekimae. Ueno is well-located for exiting the city for day trips, which is what I recommend you to do.
Great video. I'm also a 20 year Japan traveler, but just for the sake of leaving a comment I would disagree a bit on the staying close over cost. Granted, major tourist sites are kind of just a minor note for me these days, but i don't think i've ever stayed anywhere relevant in the Tokyo area pretty much ever. On my 2005 trip for example i think we lodged in Saitama at my then Fiance's "Mansion" (condo) and had about an hour trip into Tokyo every day. On our most recent trip we stayed in Shinagawa which was great, but we were only in Tokyo for 4 days of our 2 month trip. Anyways, making my argument, i find that by staying "away" from tourist sites you generally get a more laid back experience, you're going to find quiet restaurants, staff that is excited to interact with you, and more than likely quiet, even tiny train stations that are empty before the busier stations fill up with "rush hour". Allowing you the luxury of not even considering that in your schedule. The only downside i have found to being a bit away is trains may end service early in the night. We once stayed an hour out of Kochi on our last trip, magnificent Ryokan, very authentic experience, but the trains would stop at 7pm and we'd end up getting a taxi to drive us an hour away... and taxi cabs really don't like driving an hour away 🤣
Yeah, Kochi and most other cities is hardly an apples-to-apples comparison, but I do take your point! But then you're not a typical traveller either. I flout my own advice when I stay in Kyoto for example by staying near Gojo Station. But that's because I'm fine avoiding the subway or I'm using my folding bicycle. It's lovely getting away from the busy, noisy spots.
Hello, hope you can help. do you know of a luggage delivery company that will transport my luggage from tokyo to osaka, but will then store my bags for a few days
@@japanunravelled They told me they'll store stuff for a week when I was in Japan a month and a half ago. So unless they just changed something here in 2025, I think it's still the case
5:48 LOL this is hilarious to me. A month ago I got home from my first ever Japan trip and I, too, took that train to get back to Tokyo, albeit the Sunrize Izumo. Thankfully there were no delays, and I had an entire final day in Tokyo, but I made up for it by making a bunch of other stupid avoidable mistakes. xD (Note to people out there: The hayabiko leaving 40 minutes earlier than the hayabusa WILL NOT beat the literal hayabusa to sendai LOL, not even close)
@@japanunravelled Thanks a lot! I've also only just discovered this new and annoying feature. I'd much rather listen to your voice than that of an AI delivering a questionable translation. And thanks for the interesting content!
WORK WITH ME: japanunravelled.com/get-my-help/
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Great practical Japan travel advice as usual Andrew, keep it coming 👍
Definitely stay close to the area you'll be spending most time during your stay. One of our early trips we made the mistake of going for accommodation-cost over location, even though we were only in Koto next to Tokyo-center we had a 20min walk to a station and the room was so small we were uncomfortable the entire stay. The extra travel/walk time and extra train connections cost us $'s and hours each day, and left us ridiculously fatigued at day's end.
When staying in Tokyo it's super important to stay as close as you can to a station on the Tokyo Yamanote Loop Line. This has you on track quickly to your destinations without having to connect from a line outside the city centre to the Yamanote line. On my 8th trip I found the quiet northern area of Sugamo/Otsuka which is the best area I've stayed in out of eight different spots. It's regarded as a seniors' local area with its cheaper prices all around in restaurants and supermarkets, etc. Sugamo is only 2 stations from Ikebukuro a major hub and busy city center. It's also centred on the Yamanote line between Shinjuku/Shibuya and Akihabara/Tokyo so you're doing less travelling time either direction between the busy tourist areas. Sugamo also has 2 railway lines and a tram line ! The Toei subway station, is right next to the JR railway station, so it's super convenient. In addition there is the Arakawa Toden Tram line as well, the last remaining tram line in Tokyo. Now re-named as the 'Sakura Tram' (cherry blossom tram) it's a wonderful area to explore overlooked by most tourists. It's a big advantage to be able to enjoy your mornings having breakfast in the quiet area of Otsuka/Sugamo at the start of your day, then able to retreat from the bustling crowds at the end of each day.
When it comes to luggage 🧳 stick to carry-on luggage only. Most airlines include 7kg with your flight and an additional 7kg is usually an option, offering 14kg which is more than enough for any traveller. If you can carry 14kg in a backpack all the better than wheeling a suitcase, or split the 14kg between a backpack and a frontpack so you're not towing/wheeling anything. On my last trip I met a couple of fellow regular Japan travellers staying for a month, both had only 7kg carry-on backpacks !
Admittedly it's generally harder for women (my wife 😉) to pack lighter but it can be done in a 14kg carry-on luggage allowance. The trick is to purchase 20+kg luggage allowance for the return flight and pack all the shopping haul stuff in a cheap bag or cardboard box.
As a general rule plan on arriving at the departure airport six hours before your flight to allow for unexpected commuter delays. Better to be early and relaxed, always plenty to do/eat at the airport.
Incredible insight and advice, thank you!
While I don't travel with one bag, I have done 2 x 6 week Japan trips in the past 2 years and I have a small suitcase (carry on size) which I check in on flights and a 15L backpack which has a baggage strap so it fits onto the suitcase. This way on trains and stations my baggage takes up a minimal space and not wearing the backpack avoids hitting anyone with it. I just have clothing in the suitcase and it keeps it light enough for easy getting in and out of shinkansen luggage rack.
That's what I did before going all in on one-bagging - lovely method!
Great tips!! I’ll definitely implement them on my trip to Kyoto, thanks !! 😊
Super - have fun!
Many of these pieces of advice are fantastic for travel in general, but there are some that are definitely underrated considerations when traveling to Japan.
1) The hotel selection trap is very real and it can take some experience to understand how your hotel selection fits with your particular style of travel. For example, if you are planning to visit a specific cluster of sights, booking a hotel near that area will save you commuting time and money. Alternatively, if you are using a city as a base of exploration for sites further away, booking near a major train station will save time. The key is to understand what the purpose of your stay is and planning accordingly.
2) Coin lockers are often overlooked by Western (American) travelers because we simply don’t have any trustworthy equivalent here. They can be used in all sorts of ways to help free up your hands of excess luggage. Most medium to large accommodations will hold your luggage before check-in, but it is still important to confirm this.
3) If you enjoy traveling and plan to travel frequently, it is a good idea to develop a general packing strategy to help streamline your process. One-bag travel is a common style among those who want to minimize the amount they carry, but this philosophy can be scaled to whatever degree you are comfortable with. The general idea is to eliminate the number of unnecessary “what if” items you pack and instead focus on the essentials. Understanding how you like to travel will help set up your ideal packing strategy.
4) A little bit of planning will go a long way, especially in Japan. As mentioned, many experiences now require advanced reservations and it would be a shame to miss out due to something like that. I have also found that planning increases my sense of connection with the trip as you will naturally learn more about your destination as you plan.
5) While trip planning is key, Min/Maxing your travel itinerary is a huge trap inexperienced travelers can fall into. Traveling is inherently stressful and can drain a lot of energy even when things are running smoothly. Adding buffer time into your itinerary will help to avoid feeling burnt out during your trip.
6) Do not be afraid to talk to help staff. I know this advice can get mixed results in the US, but help staff in Japan are truly helpful and can help eliminate the stress of trying to figure things out on your own. Swallowing your pride and seeking assistance can go a long way towards improving your experience.
In case you need a what-if item, that's what Daiso is for. Almost everywhere too. No need to overpack!
Hey, I take advantage of this unrelated video to thank you for your "Kyoto without crowds" serie. We were in Japan this summer and your suggestions were absolutly excellent and brought even more joy to our trip. Team Icoca by the way. Thank you so much!
Team Icoca, I love it! Thanks for sharing, that's excellent!
Even for luggage problem when waiting for the check-in time the very first day: (since it seems you would already have booked a "decently located" one) it is simpler to just go to the hotel, check-in (even when physically not allowed to enter your booked room) and leave the luggage to them: they will take it to your room when ready... whatever few minutes you could be able to "save" by depositing the luggage in a coin locker or into other storage will be wasted because you will have to return to the storage location to get the luggage back and then go to the hotel to do the check-in by scrap...
Really depends on the person's schedule though doesn't it?
I was forced to travel back to the airport during rush hour, because my brother had booked an earlier flight back than me. Honestly, don’t do it. It was hell. My brother did genuinely think that it wasn’t going to be a problem, but he quickly changed his mind about that. It was an experience though! But not a good one 😂
I'm in Japan right now and I can't believe how many people are lugging luggage all over the place, even at attractions.
You'll also see many people with carry on cases waiting for elevators...
That said, it’s nice to see that many attractions have luggage lockers. I haven’t seen a single luggage locker here in Toronto since the turn of the millenium.
I plan to go to Japan in Fall this year for 5-6 weeks. I plan on washing my cloth every 5 days or so and try to travel with a small or medium sized back. Then when leaving I'm gonna buy a cheap suitcase from a Donkey store and fill it with all the souvenirs and snacks I can get.
Cardboard boxes, free at most supermarkets, when packed well, will suffice.
The only caveat for the mega-whopper luggage that I'll say is if you are staying exclusively at American brand hotels which will be much bigger, and fully utilizing the Yamato luggage transport system. We only pack as many clothes as fit in a carry on, but bring huge suitcases because we fill them up completely by the end of the trip 😂 Our trips are about 60% shopping, especially with Donki, Pokemon Centers, and Japanese department stores.
@@chandlerredhead27 ideally pack light and go with just carry-on luggage on your arrival flight. The trick is to purchase 20+kg luggage allowance for the return flight and pack all the shopping haul stuff in a large cheap 100-200Y bag/s from Daiso, or a discarded firm cardboard box. No need for ANY large suitcase ... providing arrival comfort and minimising your luggage cost when booking, simple 🤗
The cheap bag from Daiso works well, as does the cardboard box trick. Most supermarkets have them around the checkouts to pick up. Daiso also has cheap packing supplies. No suitcases required at all.
I get free checked bags with the airlines we use, so luggage costs haven't been a problem. It's more the cost of using the luggage transport systems, which are about $50 each time we change location. So maybe $150-200 per trip.
If I were buying new bags and luggage every time we went, I'd have way too many lol
We just split pack two separate carry ons (half mine/half his in case either is lost) and then put them each in separate large suitcases to check. Then we each have a backpack (for moving between cities while luggage is transferred) and a cross body bag (for lighter days out).
But like I said we go to Japan to SHOP haha
When it comes to the fact you're bringing just a backpack for your trips - I'm jealous, and good for you, but I do need a big suitcase, because Japan is the perfect country for me to do shopping (all the cat stuff, all the Pokemon stuff, cute plushies, nice homeware, stationery stuff etc) and I need something to bring the shopping home, so me and my partner opt for one big suitcase, one small suitcase, and two backpacks. Even if I didn't do any shopping for myself (which is pretty much impossible) I would still need a small suitcase for my clothes, cosmetics, and to buy some little souvenirs/gifts for my friends and family. :) So I think the advice of just bringing one backpack would not work for most people who do want to buy things in Japan. :)
My advice was to bring a reasonably-sized case...
@@japanunravelled yes, I agree, 2+ big suitcases is an overkill
@@xXNekou admittedly it's harder for women (my wife 😉) to pack lighter but it can be done in a 14kg carry-on luggage allowance. The trick is to purchase 20+kg luggage allowance for the return flight and pack all the shopping haul stuff in a cheap bag or cardboard box.
For Ghibli Museum, Pokemon Cafe and Ghibli Park you need to book a month in advance. With some very popular Cafes/cat cafes and attraction parks (like teamLabplanets) you also need to book sometimes a week or so in advance.
Thankyou!
Hotels: Generally agree, though sometimes at cities where the main sights are a busride away from the station or when they are more spread out, it can be more practical to stay near the station instead.
Lockers: I do often use lockers for stopovers along the route, but as for getting rid of my luggage before check-in.....just drop it at the hotel. Never been at even a single hotel in Japan that wouldn't keep my luggage before check-in or after checkout. And considering point 1, if that's not practical you picked the wrong hotel ;-).
Buffers: Absolutely! Should be common sense, but for many people it clearly isn't.
No big luggage: difficult....I have gotten much better at travelling light, at least when it comes to what I bring from home. But despite my best efforts, even after 20 trips to Japan I always find enough stuff to triple the weight of my bag at the end of the trip 😅
That said, after a few travels with a suitcase, I'm back at a wheeled duffel again. So much more convenient in small Japanese hotel rooms, since you can simply zip open the top instead of having to fold it open and thereby doubling its footprint. Also, soft bag can be adjusted with compression straps, so it's never bigger than it needs to be.
Duffel bag is a great tip!
Another great guide to kick off 2025 for everyone heading to Japan this year Andrew.
Thank you! Enjoy!
I don't do a whole lot of shopping on trips anymore, but Ueno offers hard suitcases for a very good price. I've seen some for under 3000 yen. Probably better than lugging around a suitcase everywhere you go.
Certain hotel can accomodate you and keep your luggage until check in
Thankyou!
Just a small thought about accomodation and subway distance: especially in larger cities (such as Tokyo) it is virtually impossible to be "less than twenty minutes closer" to every "major" spot.... so, unless a traveller could change hotel two/three times just when visiting Tokyo, it is better to say that one needs to choose an accomodation "closer" to an important station and in a somewhat "central" position...😅
1. Rather depends on which spots you care about.
2. Don't visit Tokyo.
@@japanunravelled already found some pretty decent spots around, especially in Tokyo, and it did work out very well... maybe because I already planned in advance to "take it easy" the very first days... but, really, when one just arrives in such a big city like Tokyo, after a long flight and maybe for the first time, IMHO it is far better to take your time and initially do things at a slower pace... this "strategy" really pays after a while...😁 Same reasoning for storing the luggage when just arrived in Japan or in a "new" city: it really pays off when one could be a little bit more relaxed.... the gains are visible shortly after: maybe at the very beginning it seems one is wasting precious time, but, after a short while, being less tired and more "organized" allows to do more things and more easily
@@japanunravelled "Don't visit Tokyo" is pretty unrealistic though for the first-time traveller. I get what you mean however...there's SO much more to see than the city. If I am in Tokyo, being on the Yamanote Line (other than at Shibuya or Shinjuku) really pays off.
Love the video, very helpful :). Do you know a trustworthy way where we could store our large suitcases for 1 - 2 weeks in Tokyo?
Not off-hand. Lockers generally run to a week, but longer you'll likely need to go to a store of some sort. You might try asking one of the more Tokyo-obsessed creators, or tourist information on Tweeter.
Thanks for this tips! I am heading to Japan late February to run the marathon and then to visit so I really need to register a suitcase as I am bringing racing shoes, and other things that I will use during the marathon but my suitcase is medium size so hopefully it won't be too complicated to move around 👼
I greatly appreciate your insights. I will be in Tokyo in April 1st - 15th I don't have an itinerary, I like to go with the flow of things, in addition I am traveling solo. Do you have any recommendations for a great location to look for accommodations, no 5☆ hotels unless it's a great deal, 3- 4 ☆ that serve a free breakfast, oh and my Japanese is so basic.😢 Thank you for all that you do & HAPPY New Year!!
In Tokyo? If I absolutely have to stay in Tokyo, I like the Comfort Hotel Kanda, and the APA Ueno Ekimae. Ueno is well-located for exiting the city for day trips, which is what I recommend you to do.
@japanunravelled Thanks astack bruv! 1luv!
If you'll be around I'll buy u a pint or two. :`}
Great video. I'm also a 20 year Japan traveler, but just for the sake of leaving a comment I would disagree a bit on the staying close over cost. Granted, major tourist sites are kind of just a minor note for me these days, but i don't think i've ever stayed anywhere relevant in the Tokyo area pretty much ever. On my 2005 trip for example i think we lodged in Saitama at my then Fiance's "Mansion" (condo) and had about an hour trip into Tokyo every day. On our most recent trip we stayed in Shinagawa which was great, but we were only in Tokyo for 4 days of our 2 month trip. Anyways, making my argument, i find that by staying "away" from tourist sites you generally get a more laid back experience, you're going to find quiet restaurants, staff that is excited to interact with you, and more than likely quiet, even tiny train stations that are empty before the busier stations fill up with "rush hour". Allowing you the luxury of not even considering that in your schedule. The only downside i have found to being a bit away is trains may end service early in the night. We once stayed an hour out of Kochi on our last trip, magnificent Ryokan, very authentic experience, but the trains would stop at 7pm and we'd end up getting a taxi to drive us an hour away... and taxi cabs really don't like driving an hour away 🤣
Yeah, Kochi and most other cities is hardly an apples-to-apples comparison, but I do take your point! But then you're not a typical traveller either. I flout my own advice when I stay in Kyoto for example by staying near Gojo Station. But that's because I'm fine avoiding the subway or I'm using my folding bicycle. It's lovely getting away from the busy, noisy spots.
Hello, hope you can help. do you know of a luggage delivery company that will transport my luggage from tokyo to osaka, but will then store my bags for a few days
Yamato will do this. If I remember correctly, they can keep your bags for about a week before delivery.
@@japanunravelled They told me they'll store stuff for a week when I was in Japan a month and a half ago.
So unless they just changed something here in 2025, I think it's still the case
5:48 LOL this is hilarious to me. A month ago I got home from my first ever Japan trip and I, too, took that train to get back to Tokyo, albeit the Sunrize Izumo. Thankfully there were no delays, and I had an entire final day in Tokyo, but I made up for it by making a bunch of other stupid avoidable mistakes. xD
(Note to people out there: The hayabiko leaving 40 minutes earlier than the hayabusa WILL NOT beat the literal hayabusa to sendai LOL, not even close)
Deutsche Vermögensverwaltung 😅👍 da kann ja nix mehr schiefgehen!
It pays to expect the unexpected...
Can you please remove the sh**** auto dubbing feature, please? Thanks!
Disabled on the channel, thanks for the feedback. I wish TH-cam would do less of these "features".
@@japanunravelled Thanks a lot! I've also only just discovered this new and annoying feature. I'd much rather listen to your voice than that of an AI delivering a questionable translation. And thanks for the interesting content!
The icoca' peluche T_T