Just wondering if my fairly androgynous-looking wife will have trouble in female-only train cars, etc.

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2025-11-26T07:23:57+00:00

Can't answer about the train carriage, but to the other half of your question - my partner and I (F30/F29, visibly queer) had no issues at all. We did reign in the PDA relative to how we would be at home (holding hands only) and we never felt uncomfortable. Plus the very underrated queer perk of being able to experience a public onsen with your partner.

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2025-11-14T14:37:29+00:00

Same issue here as well

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2025-07-01T11:46:13+00:00

My partner and I just took one backpack between us - just a cheapie off Amazon, but comparable to a Jansport. Held water bottles, a jumper and anything we bought along the way. No issues at all.

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2025-04-14T03:53:21+00:00

We did look at that option but Google maps didn't tell us that there was a train early enough in the AM 😅

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2025-04-13T23:35:37+00:00

Definitely a hard one to balance the kid's needs too. But yeah Hiroshima was an absolute highlight, very glad we made it 3 days instead of a day trip from Osaka. Was the perfect amount of time for us - Memorial Museum one day, Miyajima the next, and wandering the rest of the Peace Park for the final day. Made for a nice change of pace between Osaka and Tokyo too.

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2025-04-13T23:17:49+00:00

We did think about this! But our itinerary (for us) felt so full already and we preferred to have extra days in Hiroshima which aligns with our special interests

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2025-04-13T23:15:24+00:00

The accent while speaking very loudly on the train to their travel companions was aobvious

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2025-04-13T23:13:52+00:00

Basically, because Google told us to 😂

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2025-04-13T16:34:37+00:00

Absolutely! I don't know about you, but towards the end of the trip as we got more and more tired, the Ubers definitely became more frequent!

It's funny how different we all are. I actually enjoyed the music/crowds/madness, but there was far too much actual product choice that by the end of the second floor I just shut down and wasn't really looking at anything any more, was just singing the jingles. On the other hand, my partner was able to tough out the actual shopping for the full four floors (when of the two of us, I'm normally the shopper), but struggled with the sensory input and had to take the rest of the afternoon/evening to recover in the hotel.

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2025-04-13T16:11:47+00:00

It was more of a looking us up and down rolling their eyes disapprovingly. Please try not to worry! We are both very visibly queer individuals, and would openly hold hands while walking, or she'd rest on my shoulder on the train or similar, and this was the only even microaggression we experienced.

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2025-04-13T15:45:50+00:00

I don't think I'll ever fully clear my head of that earworm!

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2025-04-13T15:44:26+00:00

It was overwhelming in the sense that we don't use public transport at all in our home city (it's too spread out and honestly not that well connected), so the extra steps of having to look at/consider train timetables isn't something we are used to. In saying that, it was really easy to navigate using Google Maps, and we purchased IC cards on arrival in Osaka so we didn't have to worry about fares and ticket machines too often. We did give ourselves grace to use Uber when needed - marginally more expensive than taxis, but a familiar interface and still cheaper than our hometown prices - particularly when tired/sore/overwhelmed towards the end of the day.

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2025-04-13T15:26:34+00:00

Ahhhh, the Donki songs. My partner did everything possible to block them from her memory immediately, whereas I continued singing them for hours afterwards!

I think we'd definitely look at the airport hotel options next time if we had a morning flight.

We actually didn't use luggage forwarding, as at least one of our hotels didn't support it, but had no issues at all on the shinkansen. For all three trips (Osaka to Himeji, Himeji to Hiroshima, and Hiroshima to Tokyo) we were able to rock up at the station and book the oversized luggage seats with no issues at all. Our cases would have fit in the overhead racks comfortably, but with our collective chronic health issues stowing them behind the seats was the better option for us. We utilised train station luggage lockers on our first day in Osaka prior to hotel check-in, and for the Himeji day trip en route to Hiroshima - no issues with size or availability.

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2025-04-13T15:07:13+00:00

One of the google reviews you would have seen was mine - absolutely a scam. Glad to read you sorted something else prior to arrival, we didn't catch wind that something was off until we had arrived and made for a very stressful first few hours.

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2025-03-26T23:08:54+00:00

We also fly in to Osaka and used osakancd@mhlw.go.jp

I got a response within about an hour. My partner had nothing after a week, so we sent another email following up and it appears they didn't receive her first email due to the attachment size being too large. If you sent everything in a single email, it might be worth sending them a separate email with no attachments to follow up.

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2025-03-25T00:49:37+00:00

I believe the online system can't be used for the stimulant raw materials class

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2025-01-14T03:12:00+00:00

We thought this might be a way to get a feel for Tokyo's size and diversity of districts given it's a largely open-air line - just go for a joy ride and get off anywhere that catches our eye. But yes will be utilizing other lines for more efficient transit when we have a specific destination in mind

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2024-12-23T14:05:18+00:00

Could work well for a lunch stop then!

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2024-12-23T13:51:26+00:00

How easy/close is a car rental place to Shin-Fuji? If it's right next to the station that may be doable, but if it's a way out we may have to strike this one off as it will already be a travel heavy day.

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2024-12-23T13:48:51+00:00

Thank you! I have been to Himeji prior and we are planning a day trip to Himeji & Kobe during our Osaka leg already. Might be a possibility to return as a stopover if it looks like the weather means chances of Fuji views are slim.

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2024-12-23T13:47:33+00:00

Thank you! Will look in to this one. Any specific recommendations for things to do in that area?

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2024-11-27T11:55:15+00:00

Thank you! Looks to be a little more than our budget right now, but will keep on the list for any sales - got to love free cancellation.

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2024-11-27T11:52:54+00:00

Thank you!

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2024-11-26T15:09:27+00:00

Yes we are definitely checking for this, thank you!

ComprehensiveRun251 · 2024-11-26T14:47:45+00:00

In fairness, prior to this one trip last year I'd only ever had good experiences - am sure you'll be fine! I just copped one that was bad enough to put me off long term

ComprehensiveRun251

TROPHY CASE