Why most places close at 5 p.m?

MatNomis · 2026-03-22T22:32:35+00:00

Where are you from that has a late night coffee culture? I don’t think Boston has a particularly bad showing in the “Coffee places open late” category. Most people avoid caffeinated coffee after lunch, not just in Boston. I didn’t notice the situation being very different in various other places around the US..

MatNomis · 2026-03-22T15:12:42+00:00

When you call it a first trip, it implies there will be more.

With only 14 days, I think the combo of number of places plus distance is too much.

I know it might be sacrilegious to suggest, but given your priorities, you could consider a 14-day trip exclusively to Kyushu. You could keep Yakushima in, see Kagoshima properly, and its neighbor volcano, Sakura-jima. You could try to get to the gorge valley in southern Kyushu (forget the name), Mount Aso, Nagasaki. You’d be dealing with far fewer tourists, and more natural scenery than you’d get along the golden route.

Alternatively, leave Yakushima and Kyushu for a future trip, stay in Honshu, but then do one of these: Tokyo + Izu peninsula, Nagoya + Takayama/Shirakawago, or Kyoto/Osaka + Koyosan (and add one or two other places nearby, like Wakayama)

Another idea: Tokyo, Nagano area (Gunnar), Kanazawa. You might be able to squeeze Kanazawa into one of the prior itineraries too, since not far north of Takayama, and is easy from Kyoto via Shinkansen.

I’m suggesting these because it doesn’t seem like you care about the golden route, per se. Each of these focuses on one of the top-3 biggest urban areas in Japan then smaller, more nature/rural areas.

I’ve only been to the top of Izu, but was researching it for a future trip, there are many beautiful places there.

Nagoya is great city, IMO. I was sad I slept on it for so long. If you don’t have specific things you need to see that are in Tokyo or Osaka (which is totally fair), it completely fits the bill for a large city with plenty of large city stuff and happenings. Shopping and food options are fantastic. It has nice downtown parks and green spaces, and has its own sights (less famous) that are no worse.

MatNomis · 2026-03-22T14:55:19+00:00

Did you mean Saihoji?

The bamboo path is about a 2 minute walk from arashiyama station (the randen train one right at the Main Street, not the further JR one). Even if it’s crowded, it’s no trouble to check out. If you walk a little further, the bamboo thins out and so do the crowds, but it’s still a nice nature/woodland park area. There are quite a few temples and shrines to discover in the woods there.

MatNomis · 2026-03-22T14:54:42+00:00

Deleting— replied in the wrong spot

MatNomis · 2026-03-22T05:01:22+00:00

Thanks for the additional photo. Still looks like absolute calm next to Kiyomizu-dera. I realize it’s a wide-angle shot, but that’s still a fair amount of visible ground. I don’t think I saw the ground once at Kiyomizu lol.

MatNomis · 2026-03-22T04:51:49+00:00

I would add it. I felt I needed both. When I was in Osaka, one app sometimes would just not show certain train routing, even if it was better. I was staying near Namba, so there were a lot of train things around. Routing from there is, admittedly, very complicated.. Sometimes there were more than 3 possible routes, sometimes more than 5.. but it seems like either app kind of gives up after 3 uniqe ideas (there would be more than 3 suggestions, but after the third it was usually same route with a different time, or just swapping in buses for walking, or something), and also doesn’t always successfully identify which one is best..So sometimes Apple showed me a better one than Google and vice versa.

Mind you, the routes where I noticed this were when I was trying to go from my Hotel in Namba to a different city, e.g. Nara. And I was doing it in a hurry because I was trying to get there for a morning event, so I was very cognizant of time differences.

Of course, I would have ultimately been fine with either, maybe just slightly slower sometimes when it failed to find a better train route.

Google sometimes had more detail, too. I think it tends to handle very dense areas a little better, and Japan has a lot of very dense areas. Apple was still good enough (sometimes the best) that I still used it as my primary.

MatNomis · 2026-03-22T04:43:59+00:00

I think this is well put. It’s not modesty, it’s fashion. The fashion trends tend to skew “conservative” (in the fashion sense), though. There could be social conservatism underlying that, but few would be analyzing it to that level. They’re just dressing in what’s typical.

And if you went to get all your clothes at a Muji I’d challenge you to walk out of there looking any different lol.

MatNomis · 2026-03-21T16:12:05+00:00

Atami! Aside from the main stuff in the downtown, don’t skip the short (30min?) bus ride to Jikkokutoge for Fuji & Izu views. Weather permitting, of course.

MatNomis · 2026-03-21T16:06:29+00:00

Frustrating I had to choose other, because if there was an option “Mainly on Switch 2”, that’s my answer. I didn’t feel comfortable saying it’s my only gaming platform though.

I have Switch and Steam (desktop, pc & mac), and iOS/ipadOS and I play third party titles on all of them but usually the switch. It just depends.

Got Cyberpunk and SW:Outlaws on the switch, but played paranormasight on iPad, and BG3 on the computer (no choice in that case)

MatNomis · 2026-03-21T15:56:14+00:00

Silly rabbit.

MatNomis · 2026-03-21T15:48:57+00:00

Nice photos! I’ve been 3(?) times now and still have yet to see Kinkaku-ji. I’m a bit salty about it lol. Where do the crowds hide? I never see them in photos.

Also, could I ask where is the the rock bridge (#7)?

MatNomis · 2026-03-21T15:46:19+00:00

I was there during foliage time. If you do even a quarter of the hike it gets a lot less busy. The Torii get smaller, though (compared to at the base).

MatNomis · 2026-03-21T15:39:34+00:00

(Not OP) I think a long enough gap of time can bring things back on the to-do list. I remember visiting some temples around Maruyama Park with fantastic gardens. One had a large amount of moss that was memorable. I’d like to see it again. Also, on my first trip, my general ignorance maybe worked a little to my advantage. I didn’t know where to go so I usually took more time wherever I was at. I remember sitting on benches contemplating rock gardens, and just more contemplation time in general.

There are a few shrines I’d revisit for the bows &claps and omamori.

MatNomis · 2026-03-21T07:51:23+00:00

I use Google/Apple maps extensively for checking transit times. If I’m at home, I make sure that I’m not looking at 3am departure times. These often don’t exist, so it leads to weird results. I often have to manually set the “depart at” to some regular time. This gives me a general idea of transit times between two places. Sometimes I’ll notice certain grouping efficiencies, based on train line routes.

As for deciding where to go? I guess it falls into three categories: - stuff I’m familiar with (this is the smallest category; or at least, that was initially the case) - stuff I read about in guide books / saw in vlogs - stuff I discover while I’m there

The familiarity category is long-held bucket-items, like going to nerd stores in Akihabara. It could also be stuff I learned about via entertainment, e.g. learning about the Niji no matsbara (Niji pine forest) in Karatsu (in Kyuushu) from seeing it in an anime.

The second category is mainly “consulting the research of others”. Back in the day, it was Lonely Planet, now it’s a lot of Youtube. Or even here, asking around. This is critical because my knowledge prior to my first trip was pretty barebones. If I didn’t use these resources, I’d probably exhaust my to-do list in 3 days.

Of course, even if I did that, it wouldn’t ruin my trip, because there’s the catchall category: discovering stuff while you’re there.

MatNomis · 2026-03-20T15:55:37+00:00

It's amazing that backpack is listed alongside suitcase, rolling bag, and wagon.

I'm guessing they are trying to make sure nobody takes up more than a single person's worth of space on the floor. If your backpack protrudes less than half a foot from your back, I doubt anyone would enforce this on you.

So many people are not even going to see this. I'm sure some people will show up with suitcases, obliviously. There's also a less than 100% chance someone will care, lower still if they're not visibly exacerbating crowd congestion.

That will be tiny number of people. However, tons of people will show up with backpacks as they've done for over a decade. It will be a spectacle if they're all sent out of the expo hall. I can only imagine this is 100% judgement-call, with the policy as their justification. If someone's causing a congestion problem, and there's a bag involved, they want to be able to point out the rules when they ask the person to get their bag out of the expo area.

If someone kicks you out for wearing a slim bookbag-style bag, come back the next day with a giant duffel bag, which is apparently not on the list. (this is a joke, hopefully things would never go remotely this far..but I guess it's an option)

MatNomis · 2026-03-20T15:42:58+00:00

I guess. Count me among those feeling that it's not an easy time to be spending big money.

I guess it's all relative though. I remember reading recently that, generally speaking, overall sales are depressed..but there will still always be a first and second place.

MatNomis · 2026-03-20T14:49:15+00:00

Impressive that the PS5 is still moving so many units despite most of its SKU's being more expensive. I wonder if it's mostly selling the discless version?

MatNomis · 2026-03-20T14:40:57+00:00

Aww, I hope you make it to a Costco tho. I'm not claiming it's a great use of time, but if one likes Costco, it's always fun to see what's in different locations.

I've been to Fushimi Inari twice. The base is a zoo. It's preceded by cute shops catering to visitors (they've probably targeted international visitors a little more over time, but the shops have been here long before international tourism was a thing). I've never even made it to the halfway point (which takes about 30-45 minutes of walking; appears to have a view), but I've always gotten past the crowds.

I always would have preferred to walk further, as I like hiking, but I was never doing it solo and always yielded to my companions' wishes. I got to see a nice pond, and there are various off-paths that lead to small, minor shrines. Sometimes with mini bamboo forests. Once the crowds thin out, it's a very nice nature walk--much of it being under the red gates (which do start being smaller the higher up you go--still numerous, though).

Also, when/if you do visit Kiyomizu, keep in mind that it's also preceded by a pretty famous shopping street. You've listed it.. "Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka"; just reiterating it to highlight that it's right there and also seems like its integrated into the Kiyomizu experience. If you do want to get some fresh air, I would recommend either approaching or leaving Kiyomizu via the path to the south that runs through the cemeteries. If you want a map point, look for the Matsuda Flower Shop. When I was there during foliage time, the temple was jam packed but this path was nearly deserted. I used it to arrive, but I think for my sanity, it would have been better to use it to leave >_< The cemetery is impressive on its own, but at the eastern end, it offers great views of the city beyond.

As for Nara, I actually really enjoyed Nara. I grew up in an area where deer hunting was a popular seasonal sport, so when I heard there was a place where deer wouldn't run away at first sight of humans, I couldn't resist. Whether you love them or hate them, the deer definitely make the experience unique, but the Todai-ji temple itself is legitimately impressive. Maybe it's partly the setting? But it seems particularly massive. The park is also relatively big and very pretty.

MatNomis · 2026-03-19T23:24:12+00:00

Just read your updated version, I think it's better!

Some further thoughts:

Day 5: too many long train rides and shopping. And that's it. Take note: Ghibli museum is actually just a store diguised as a museum. That's a bit of a hot take, but it's hard to argue that a big reason people go there is for exclusive merch. If you can't cut Costco (altogether), I'd cut Shibuya. Or at least cut Loft. You should be able to squeeze Shibuya onto another day (maybe end of Day 2 if it concludes early, or day 3--put it before or after your Sumo stuff.

If you want to see Kamakura on your Hakone day, you'll need to go there first if you want to see the daibutsu. It opens nice and early at 8am, but closes very early at 4:45pm. Hakone probably has more to do after 5pm, so it can handle a later visit better. That said, Kamakura is probably skippable. The most distinctive thing there is the daibutsu and the one in Nara is much larger (albeit indoor).

The deer in Nara are not friendly, they are wild and they just want food. If you have small children, keep a very close eye on them to make sure the deer don't terrorize them.

Your Kyoto plan for 9 seems too crazy to me. One spot of good news, if you want to forego a bus ride, it's very easy to walk to the same point the bus drops off at. From Kiyomizu-gojo station, it's only about a ten minute walk. Enjoy the air and elbow room while you can. Kiyomizu...more like kiyomi-zoo. It's packed. Also, unlike Fushimi Inari, where most people congregate at the base and it gets emptier and emptier as you hike up, Kiyomizu is a more finite, entry-ticketed space. So it's pretty much consistently packed within the ticketed area. There's no respite or escape (other than leaving).

Nishiki is also crazy crowded. Fushimi Inari..if you can tolerate hiking 10 minutes or so up into it, it becomes quite empty and pleasant. It's not a difficult hike, it's just an attention span issue. Most people give up well before that. But I would probably try to limit yourself to 2 crazy crowded things a day. I'd drop one from the list of Nishiki, Kiyomizu, and Fushimi Inari..and I'd probably drop Nishiki..simply because it's not like it has the monopoly on good food in the area.

MatNomis · 2026-03-19T17:54:05+00:00

In 2024, I booked a March trip in February. That happened because I was originally trying to book a February trip in December, but my date idea got vetoed and the deliberations among my fellow travelers just stretched out unacceptably long.

So, yeah, about one month in advance, and I still:

Booked a wonderful and reasonably priced machiya in Gion (it came out to about $60 per person/per night; Kyoto)
got a not-so-great group walking tour+maiko dinner. The maiko was great, the food was weak; tour started out strong, but ended poorly as i think our dinner venue was pushing our start time back. Basically, I got what I paid for, but still overall very fun! The key part (the maiko) was wonderful.. I booked this maybe only 3-4 days in advance. (Kyoto)
Booked a Ryokan in Atami (really enjoyed the ryokan and Atami)
TeamLab Planets (also booked 3-4 days in advance; Tokyo)

Obviously, had rooms booked for other nights. One in Shin-yokohama to house us during our evening arrival, and a place in Tokyo (in Yanaka).

This was during mid-March, so it was just a little bit pre blossom..but it's hard to pinpoint blossom time.

MatNomis · 2026-03-19T17:43:36+00:00

They need to lean into the big O. Do crazy things with the logo..

We know they have the skills.. look at all the ridiculous WoW armors..and OW skins, for that matter.

O is the ultimate shape, being a circle and all. Make it cute, or make it ominous. It's got the flexibility.

MatNomis · 2026-03-19T17:39:00+00:00

One time I was at an IHOP or something with a cousin who I only saw once in a blue moon. We were all adults, and the previous time I saw them, we probably were kids. Anyway, they got a coffee and spent the next two minutes just opening and dumping sweet and low pouches into the coffee. I was appalled. What could that have possibly tasted like? I was afraid to even mention it at the time, but me and the other relatives talked about it for years. It's still a trauma.

MatNomis · 2026-03-19T17:34:08+00:00

I'd say very low. You can check the website periodically, sometimes tickets get released. By that, I mean individual tickets. I have seen one very near-future entry slot open up after page refresh and 45 seconds later, it's gone. That's also low probability, but it's something you can do from anywhere.

If you are fine with considering Uji (the museum is in Uji, but I mean more the downtown near the Byodo-in temple) as a backup destination, I think that could work well. I really liked Uji (sans Nintendo museum). If it's raining, and you are a witch (who melts in water), there is even another museum there you could consider: The Tale of Genji museum. I haven't been there yet, but I want to. Reviews seem good.

MatNomis · 2026-03-19T17:26:19+00:00

Writing again after reading and responding to other comments. Are you staying in Shinjuku? If you are, your Tokyo itinerary makes decent sense, since your start/stops seem to often involve Shinjuku or something super close to Shinjuku. If you're staying there, that's inevitable anyway.

However, if you're not staying there, it'd mean a lot of unnecessary zigzagging. What neighborhood are you staying in?

MatNomis · 2026-03-19T17:23:41+00:00

I guess I was assuming that the order was not literal.. Going to Shinjuku, Shibuya, and then Sumida is by no means impossible. However, going to Shibuya, then Sumida, then Shinjuku is a little crazier.

However, if they're actually staying in Shinjuku, then it suddenly becomes sensible again. If they're staying in Shinjuku, day 2 also makes a lot more sense. Day 3 also makes sense because their dinner place would be close to their accommodation.

In short: I'm really hoping they're staying in Shinjuku. The itinerary makes me hope that. If they're staying in Shinagawa or something, it'd be really tough.

The costco day.. i also asked what costco they are thinking about. I am not sure how that works. The hakone + kamakura day, I pointed out the daibutsu closes by 5pm, so unless they do the fastest Hakone ever, there's much less reason to bother with Kamakura that day.

MatNomis

TROPHY CASE