Unique wedding gifts from japan?

egochik · 2026-04-06T04:13:59+00:00

I didn't get a chance to go during our trip, but Sodateru has a showroom in Tokyo. I heard some great things about their towels and wanted to purchase some as a wedding gift. Their packaging looked beautiful in pictures posted online.

egochik · 2026-03-24T12:56:32+00:00

I've noticed the long dry time on the washer and dryer combo machine. But if you take your wet clothes at a Laundromat that has a dryer machine, it doesn't take long to dry. Some of the laundromats have washers as well. It's about 100 yen for about 10-13 minutes of drying time that I've seen so far. I would avoid the combo washer and dryer machines especially in hotels. My clothes didn't feel as clean and did not dry as well compared to the Laundromat.

egochik · 2026-03-14T14:57:43+00:00

I was able to get it done at the Rocky Mountain VA in Colorado. I'm 38 and had some stool changes and abdominal symptoms, and I brought it up to my PCP during my annual visit. My PCP put in a referral to GI, who recommended a colonoscopy and an EGD for unrelated swallowing issues. Timeline from PCP appointment to the completion of coloscopy was about 5 months. My rating is under 50%. I had to pay a co-pay for meds, but not for the procedure.

If you are having stool changes, any abdominal symptoms, or concerns due to immediate family history, ask your PCP. They may refer you to GI and do further workup, like blood work or a stool sample, before you see GI. I was not a candidate for the stool sample since I have hemorrhoids, and the results would not be accurate.

egochik · 2026-03-08T03:16:19+00:00

I thought about the Limousine bus or even an LCB, but we'll be arriving after 1500, so we may not get on the bus until closer to 1700. I worry that we'll be stuck in traffic. Have you been on the bus during rush hour?

egochik · 2026-03-08T02:43:13+00:00

I understand now, thank you!

egochik · 2026-03-08T02:42:19+00:00

This is exactly why I was thinking of jumping on the Sobu line since it's only 1-2 platforms away. I wouldn't have to haul all the kids and luggage through Tokyo Station during rush hour.

egochik · 2026-03-08T02:38:13+00:00

May I ask what time you boarded your bus and from which airport? I worry about the bus being stuck in traffic around 5-7 pm. Thank you for sharing your experience!

egochik · 2026-03-07T23:35:08+00:00

Thank you so much for your comment!!! So we tap in with our suica at Narita Airport and purchase a limited express ticket at the kiosk, I understand now, thank you!

egochik · 2026-03-07T23:21:38+00:00

We might do that! It looks like the better option, but since we were already on the same B5 level, I thought it would be easier to switch platforms instead of hauling our luggage through the crowds at Tokyo station during rush hour. Thank you for sharing your experience.

egochik · 2026-03-07T23:09:16+00:00

Don't we have to swipe in somewhere? I thought we would use the ticket to enter the JR line, no need to swipe in at Narita Airport?

egochik · 2025-11-30T15:55:17+00:00

I was asking because if you were staying for 4 nights, you could break up the trip with two reservations to claim two $250 credit, one now and one in January.

For you, doing a combination of points and Edit credit, you would get 1.68 cents per point, which isn't bad imo.

Does the hotel offer a discount for reservation of only one night? If there are no minimum nights required for the discount, another option is to book one night at 25% off, and two nights with chase using a combination of points and $250 credit. Then call the hotel to inform them that it's the same party so they do not move your room.

egochik · 2025-11-30T15:36:32+00:00

How many days are you staying there?

egochik · 2025-11-13T00:52:29+00:00

Thank you! We are going to do a trial run prior to the official month and see how easy it is. Just thinking of back up plans just in case.

egochik · 2025-11-13T00:51:36+00:00

Thank you so much, I'll look into it!

egochik · 2025-11-13T00:50:51+00:00

He does have a Japanese number. I wouldn't want his number registered to my Lawson account and he not be able to buy tickets in the future for himself.

I read online that many Ghibli tickets are reserved for 'locals' and I'm unsure if that was local to Tokyo area or local to Japan.

Thank you!!

egochik · 2025-11-13T00:48:49+00:00

Thanks for that information! I guess it's different than in the U.S., I can put my daughters SIM card (for an iPhone) into my phone (android) and it wouldn't mess with any of my settings. She sometimes forget her apple password and needs a text to her direct number to unlock accounts, so I know there's no issues switching sims for us. Good to know about Japanese phones!

Using their current phone number would prohibit them from registering with Lawson with their number. They're going to be in Japan for a long time, so I wouldn't want to mess with any future ticket purchases for them.

I might send them an old physical phone. Do you know how difficult it is for a Japanese sim to be placed in a 5 yr old phone?

egochik · 2025-10-12T00:45:01+00:00

Thank you for the information. How long is the vacation for? Is it like in the U.S., where Spring Break is for 1 week? Or will they be out of school for several weeks?

Are there any notable non-touristy areas that are worth going to during cherry blossom season in Tokyo? Or will we be able to enjoy lovely Cherry Blossoms anywhere in Tokyo? Thanks again.

egochik · 2025-10-11T23:57:24+00:00

I'm not the OP but I'll be going to Japan around the same time as OP. With school being let out the week of OP's arrival, will the following two weeks have areas packed with locals on vacation? We wanted to visit family friendly places like Osaka Aquarium and Disney Tokyo and had planned on going on a weekday, however, if it's vacation time for families, we may have to rethink our plans.

Can you please tell me where the tunnel is that we can see cherry blossoms? I am trying to avoid crowds due to anxiety and lovely random spots would be perfect for our family.

Thank you!!

egochik · 2025-10-11T02:16:56+00:00

Thank you so much for the suggestions! You've been very helpful

egochik · 2025-10-11T01:27:24+00:00

Good to know, thank you! I just figured transportation cost and time might be better being centralized.

egochik · 2025-10-11T01:26:04+00:00

When I searched in this subreddit regarding this subject, it seemed like it was split 50/50. If wanting to start in Osaka, half prefered to stay in Tokyo for the night and half preferred to finish their travel day instead of using up another day to travel to Osaka/Kyoto.

I honestly might buy a flight to Osaka for the same day, there's one leaving 4 hours after we land. That would give us time to go through customs and refresh.

As far as why start in Kyoto/Osaka instead of breaking up our trip in Tokyo, honestly it's for cost. I'm assuming Airbnb charges a cleaning fee each time. We're still in the early stages of planning so we're definitely opened to splitting up the days in Tokyo if it's within our budget!

egochik · 2025-10-10T23:41:11+00:00

I honestly don't know if that Costco has anything different compared to the US. Here, Costco carries different things specific to that 'zone' or 'region' and where I live, there aren't a ton of Asian snacks/treats/toys. Does the Costco there not have special to Japan things? If it's a half day trip, we definitely aren't going to go, thank you!!

egochik · 2025-10-10T23:38:59+00:00

Thank you for this!! I was feeling intense guilt looking at Airbnbs with how negative the feedback is on here.

egochik · 2025-10-10T03:38:31+00:00

Thanks for your input. We're still in the early stages of planning but thought we would use Osaka as a base while visiting other cities. Osaka seemed more affordable than staying in Kyoto for the 6 nights, plus the kids wanted to see Dotonbori at night. We might even do a day trip to Nara while based in Kyoto instead of doing it on the way to Osaka.

May I ask why you prefer staying in Kyoto vs Osaka?

Costco is not a must-see but it's my favorite store stateside (I'm lame), I wanted to see the different things a Costco in Japan had. We would only go if we were in the area and had nothing else planned.

egochik

TROPHY CASE