Japanese people deeply appreciate any attempt, however broken. These go a long way.
Essentials
HelloこんにちはKonnichiwa
Thank youありがとうArigatou
Thank you very muchありがとうございますArigatou gozaimasu
Sorry / Excuse meすみませんSumimasen
YesはいHai
NoいいえIie
Please (requesting)くださいKudasai
Do you speak English?英語話せますか？Eigo hanasemasu ka?
I don't understandわかりませんWakarimasen
Where is [X]?[X]はどこですか？[X] wa doko desu ka?
Food & Restaurants
One/Two people一人/二人Hitori / Futari
This one pleaseこれをくださいKore wo kudasai
Delicious!おいしい！Oishii!
The bill pleaseお会計をくださいOkaikei wo kudasai
I can't eat [X][X]が食べられません[X] ga taberaremasen
Water pleaseお水をくださいOmizu wo kudasai
Menu pleaseメニューをくださいMenyuu wo kudasai
Transport
Ticket to [X][X]まで一枚[X] made ichimai
Which platform?何番線ですか？Nanban-sen desu ka?
Does this go to [X]?[X]に行きますか？[X] ni ikimasu ka?
Shopping
How much is this?いくらですか？Ikura desu ka?
I'll take thisこれにしますKore ni shimasu
No bag needed袋はいりませんFukuro wa irimasen
Can I pay by card?カードで払えますか？Kaado de haraemasu ka?
💴
Carry cash. Japan is largely cash-based. Many small restaurants and temples are cash-only. Keep ¥10,000–¥20,000 on you. ATMs at 7-Eleven always accept foreign cards.
🗑️
Almost no public bins. You'll carry rubbish until a convenience store. Konbini have bins and are everywhere.
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Trains are silent. No phone calls. Keep your voice low. Headphones in.
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Keep left on escalators in Tokyo. Osaka is the opposite — keep right.
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You'll walk a lot. 20,000+ steps/day is normal. Wear easy-off shoes — you remove them at temples and ryokans.
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Onsen etiquette: Shower thoroughly before the shared bath. Tattoos are banned at many onsen — La Vista may have a private option.
📱
Download offline: Google Maps (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka) + Google Translate with Japanese pack. Camera translate is invaluable for menus.
🏪
Convenience stores are brilliant. Lawson, 7-Eleven, FamilyMart — incredible food, ATMs, ticket printing, open 24hrs.
🍜
Queuing = quality. If there's a queue outside a ramen restaurant, join it. They don't queue for bad food.
🙏
Do not tip. It can be considered rude. Excellent service is the standard everywhere.
🔌
Plug type: Japan uses Type A (two flat pins). Bring a universal adaptor. 100V — most UK devices work fine.
💊
Medicines: Some UK medications contain codeine, which is controlled in Japan. Check the Japanese Embassy guidance before flying.
🚰
Tap water is safe to drink everywhere in Japan.
🛒
Tax-free shopping: Claim 10% consumption tax back on purchases over ¥5,500. Show your passport at the till.
🧳
Luggage forwarding (Takkyubin): Send your suitcase between hotels for ~¥1,500–2,500. Drop it at any konbini the day before.
📝 Shared Notes · synced across all devices
Tokyo → Kawaguchiko 29 Sep
🚌 Option A — Highway Bus (Recommended)
Basta Shinjuku (Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal) → Kawaguchiko. ~2hrs. Scenic. Book on Klook or at the terminal.
~¥1,750pp each way
🚂 Option B — Fuji Excursion Train
Limited express from Shinjuku → Kawaguchiko. ~2hrs. Reserved seating, more comfortable. Runs ~4x per day.
~¥4,130pp (reserved seat)
Kawaguchiko → Kyoto 30 Sep
⚠️ Don't go via Tokyo — it adds 3hrs and doubles the cost. Use the Mishima route instead.
✅ Best Route — Mishima via Fujikyu Bus + Shinkansen
Fujikyu Bus: Kawaguchiko → Mishima Station (~2hrs, scenic Fuji views). Then Hikari Shinkansen: Mishima → Kyoto (~50 mins). Book Shinkansen on Eki-Net or Smart EX app.
~¥2,200 (bus) + ~¥7,050 (Shinkansen) = ~¥9,250pp total
❌ Via Tokyo (avoid)
Fuji Excursion → Shinjuku, then Nozomi Shinkansen to Kyoto. ~5hrs total, 2 trains.
~¥16,960pp — not worth it
Kyoto → Osaka 3 Oct
🚄 Shinkansen (Fastest)
Kyoto Station → Shin-Osaka. 15 mins. Any Hikari or Sakura. No reservation needed for short hop.
¥1,420pp
🚇 Hankyu / Keihan (Cheapest)
Hankyu Kyoto Line → Hankyu Umeda (~45 mins) or Keihan → Yodoyabashi (~55 mins). No booking needed — just tap Suica.
~¥400pp
Osaka → Okinawa (Naha) 5 Oct
✈️ Fly from KIX or ITM
Peach Aviation (KIX → OKA), ANA, or Jetstar. ~90 min flight. Peach is cheapest if booked early. KIX = Kansai International; ITM = Osaka Itami (domestic only).
~¥5,000–15,000pp depending on timing
Naha (Okinawa) → Tokyo (Narita) 9 Oct
⚠️ Must land by evening 9 Oct to make the 17:25 Narita departure on 10 Oct. Prefer direct OKA → NRT. If HND, allow 90 min transfer to Narita.
✈️ Direct to Narita (Preferred)
OKA → NRT direct. ~3hrs. ANA and Peach operate this route. Book soon — less choice than Haneda routes.
~¥8,000–20,000pp
✈️ Via Haneda (Fallback)
OKA → HND, then Haneda → Narita by bus/train (~90 min). Only viable if arriving early afternoon or earlier.
~¥5,000–12,000pp + ¥3,000 transfer
📱
Book Shinkansen online: Create an account at Eki-Net (JR East) or the Smart EX app (JR Central/West) before you go. Lets you book reserved Shinkansen seats in advance from your phone.
🎫
JR Pass not worth it for your itinerary — inter-city rail total is ~¥18,500pp vs ¥50,000+ for a 2-week pass. Buy individual tickets.
📄 Docs & Admin — Do first▼
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💳 Money — Set up before flying▼
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📱 Tech & connectivity▼
🟡 Pre-fly
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🎟️ Urgent bookings▼
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🟡 Aug
🟡 ~Aug
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🏙️ Tokyo — 26–29 Sep▼
⏱ Book
⏱ Alarm
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🗻 Lake Kawaguchiko — 29–30 Sep▼
⛩️ Kyoto — 30 Sep – 3 Oct▼
⏱ Book
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🏟️ Osaka — 3–5 Oct▼
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🏝️ Okinawa — 5–10 Oct▼
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✈️ Itinerary
MAN → PEK → NRT
Hainan Airlines HU754 (MAN–PEK) + HU439 (PEK–NRT)
25 September ~midday departure · Land Tokyo 26 September ~midday
Laurence: MAN 64D · Tokyo 50C | Pip: MAN 64E · Tokyo 50H
Park free; museum ¥1,000. Best museum for Japanese art.
🚢 12. Sumida River Cruise
Water bus from Asakusa to Odaiba. ~¥800. Great city views.
🏡 13. Yanaka — Old Tokyo
Unchanged since Edo era. Traditional shotengai, temples. Free.
🎶 14. Shimokitazawa — Vintage + Live Music
Best neighbourhood for record shops and indie bars. Free.
🤖 15. Odaiba
Waterfront, Gundam statue, great views. Free to roam.
🪷 16. Kamakura Day Trip — Giant Buddha
1hr from Tokyo. Buddha ¥300. Seaside temple town.
Getting Around Tokyo
🚇
Use your Suica card for all trains and subway. Tap in, tap out — it works everywhere including convenience stores.
🚄
Narita → Asakusa: Keisei Skyliner to Ueno (40 min, ¥2,570) then one stop subway to Asakusa.
⛰️ La Vista Fujikawaguchiko
📍 Kawaguchi 2395, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi
💳 Payment due 19 Sep
£183 / ¥37,998 · Free cancellation before 21 Sep
Activities
♨️ La Vista Onsen at Sunrise
Set your alarm. The outdoor rotenburo with Mt Fuji at dawn is one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments.
⛩️ Chureito Pagoda
Free · ~400 steps up · Most iconic Japan photo. Go early for clear Fuji before clouds build.
🌸 Oishi Park
Free · Northern shore · Late Sep kochia turns red — stunning backdrop for Fuji views.
🚡 Mt Fuji Panorama Ropeway
~¥1,000 return · 3-min cable car to 1,075m.
🛶 Lake Boat Ride / Canoeing
Boat ~¥1,000 · Canoe hire ~¥2,500/hr · Views of Fuji from the water.
Getting There & Onward
🚌
Tokyo → Kawaguchiko: Bus from Basta Shinjuku ~2hrs, ~¥1,750. Book via Klook or at the terminal.
🚄
Kawaguchiko → Kyoto (30 Sep): Fujikyu Bus to Mishima (~2hrs, ~¥2,200) then Hikari Shinkansen to Kyoto (~50 min, ~¥7,050). Total ~¥9,250pp. Don't go via Tokyo.
🏨 Hotel Canata Kyoto
📍 Nakagyo-ku Horikawadori, Kyoto · 3 nights
📋 Check booking status
Activities — ranked, cut from the bottom
⛩️ 1. Fushimi Inari Taisha
Thousands of vermilion torii gates up a mountain. Free, open 24hrs. Dawn or dusk.
🎋 2. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove + Tenryu-ji
Iconic bamboo path; temple garden. Grove free; Tenryu-ji ~¥500. Before 8am.
🥇 3. Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
Gold-leaf temple over reflecting pond. ¥500. Arrive before 9:30am.
¥1,500 · Open-air rooftop ring with 360° views. Good at sunset.
🦈 7. Kaiyukan Aquarium
¥2,700 · One of the world's largest. Whale shark tunnel tank is extraordinary.
🦌 8. Nara Day Trip
~¥1,100 from Osaka by JR Yamatoji. Wild deer roam freely around Todai-ji (¥800).
🏯 9. Himeji Castle Day Trip
~¥2,350 from Osaka by Shinkansen. Japan's finest castle. ¥1,000 entry.
🌃 10. Namba — Night Street Food
Free · Amerika-mura, Shinsaibashi backstreets. Cheap and excellent eating after dark.
🏨 Okinawa Hotel
Not yet booked · 5–10 October · 5 nights
⚠️ Book Soon
✈️
Flights needed: Osaka → Naha (5 Oct), and Naha → Tokyo Narita (9 Oct) to make 17:25 departure on 10 Oct. Peach Aviation and ANA fly both routes.
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Getting around: Rent a car for anything outside Naha — public transport is limited. International Driving Permit required. Yui Rail monorail covers central Naha.
Free · Beautiful bridge drive to a small island. Heart Rock photo spot. Needs a car.
⛩️ 9. Seifa Utaki (Sacred Site)
¥300 · Okinawa's most sacred Ryukyu site. UNESCO. Atmospheric limestone paths.
🏕️ 10. Yanbaru Forest (North Tip)
Free · UNESCO subtropical forest. Rare Okinawa rail. Needs a car.
⚠️
Flight home: Fly 10 Oct at 17:25 from Narita. Be at airport by 14:30. Fly Naha → Narita on 9 Oct. Narita direct preferred; Haneda → Narita transfer takes ~90 min.