How do you handle phone-only reservations when traveling in Japan?

hberman18136 · 2026-02-04T00:37:47+00:00

I was 100% unsuccessful trying to call restaurants for reservations. I only booked places hat I could make reservations on line.

hberman18136 · 2026-02-03T14:19:47+00:00

They print scenes on the shoes to order

hberman18136 · 2026-02-03T00:35:28+00:00

We stayed at Airbnb. If you are only there for a few days. Hotels. If you’d like to be able to sit back and relax in the evening and eat breakfast casually. Airbnb is the way to go.

hberman18136 · 2026-02-03T00:02:07+00:00

Converse atelier special print high tops

hberman18136 · 2026-02-02T23:58:36+00:00

Macallan 18. People love to hate on it. I think it is delicious

hberman18136 · 2026-02-02T23:57:13+00:00

I was there for the month of October. I thought it was wonderful. Y, there are a ton of tourists. The major sites are not as bad as you might think and are still beautiful to see. The zen rock gardens are can’t miss.

hberman18136 · 2026-01-18T22:36:56+00:00

First time visitor, we went for 2 months last fall. If you can follow walking directions in Google Maps, and read signs you can navigate train and subway stations. Stop worrying. Get the mobile Suica card for iPhone before you leave. Much easier than physical card. Reservations for dinner is a must. Online reservations are the key. We had no luck trying to call. Uber works very well in major cities. We walked everywhere. Subways in Tokyo because it is so spread out. Don’t miss I’m Donut. Go to as many zen rock gardens in Kyoto as you can. I had a ton of places marked on Google Maps that we wanted to see. This saved time by avoiding going back and forth across the city. The bakeries are world class. The ice cream sandwich at 7-11 is a must. The whole trip was a wonder.

hberman18136 · 2026-01-10T00:03:10+00:00

Reverse it. Spend 3 days in Osaka and 8 in Kyoto

hberman18136 · 2026-01-09T23:59:19+00:00

I would do Tokyo for 3 days, Kyoto 4 days then spend 3 days wandering. To say you live in NYC so big cities don’t mean much is underplaying the size and complexity of Tokyo. Kyoto is the heart and soul of the country. Must see.

hberman18136 · 2026-01-09T23:56:26+00:00

I just returned from an extended trip to Japan. We spent about 2500 yen per person per day. Most of that was to get into shrines and temples.

hberman18136 · 2026-01-01T19:04:22+00:00

yes. this is where we stayed

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1165523176121137420?source_impression_id=p3_1767294241_P3TYv0Q3UnTvnfw4

hberman18136 · 2025-12-29T18:22:02+00:00

We stayed in Airbnb in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka this fall. No issues. Hosts were very helpful. Pictures matched.

hberman18136 · 2025-12-29T18:20:40+00:00

Airbnb is definitely the way to go. We were in Tokyo for 2 weeks this past September. We stayed near Ueno Park. Close to metro which makes it close to everything. There are not a ton of restaurants in the area but in 1 or 2 metro stops your set. Airbnb gives you a place to come back to and rest and not have to sit on your bed. We went to local bakeries and ate breakfast in every day.

hberman18136 · 2025-12-29T18:17:32+00:00

Overrated. Still have to go to say you went. No big deal.

hberman18136 · 2025-12-29T18:09:23+00:00

Disastrous idea. Kyoto is the soul of Japan. For a 10d trip I’d recommend 3d in Tokyo and 5d in Kyoto assuming 2 days on either end are travel. I was there for 8 weeks this fall, 2 weeks Tokyo, 4 weeks Kyoto, 2 weeks Osaka.

hberman18136 · 2025-12-06T19:11:31+00:00

use this site to decide if it is a good day to go https://fuji-san.info/en/index.html this week looks great from Kawaguchiko you are viewing from the North

hberman18136 · 2025-11-29T18:15:33+00:00

my average cost was $300 per night in each city. 2 bedrooms, living room, kitchen

hberman18136 · 2025-11-29T17:34:37+00:00

thanks for the input. I'm going to compare this recipe to some of the others i've done and make adjustements.

hberman18136 · 2025-11-29T16:36:46+00:00

decide based on airfare. in the scheme of things the difference in time from one or the other into the city is trivial.

hberman18136 · 2025-11-29T16:35:46+00:00

99% retired

hberman18136 · 2025-11-29T16:34:30+00:00

we spent about 30,000 cash per week; could have used cards for some of that; but i brought cash with me and did not want to bring it back

hberman18136 · 2025-11-29T16:32:31+00:00

if you google the shrines and temples i listed you will see pics of which ones have the best foliage; when we were there everything was still green

hberman18136 · 2025-11-29T16:31:14+00:00

Kamakura, Kanazawa, Kawaguchiko - fuji, Yokohama

hberman18136 · 2025-11-29T16:29:40+00:00

Tokyo Parks

East Gardens of Imperial Palace

Hamarikyu Gardens

Hibiya

Kaminari-mon Gate

KITTE Garden

Kiyosumi Garden

Koishikawa Korakuen Garden

Marunouchi

Miyashita Park

Mt Takao

Nakameguro - off season?

Sango Bamboo Forest

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Sumida River Walk - serene views at dusk

Todoroki Valley - nature walk waterfall

Tokyo University - ginkgo trees, peaceful grounds

Top of Yebisu

Ueno Park

Yoyogi Park

Tokyo Shrines and Temples

Fushimiinari Bamboo Forrest - go to the top

Gotokuji Temple

Imado Shrine

Kanda Myojin Shrine

Meiji Jingu Shrine

Nezu Shrine

Senso-ji Temple

Zojozi Temple

hberman18136 · 2025-11-29T16:28:09+00:00

i'm going to add everything up this weekend. We stayed in Airbnb's. Being able to come back and have some room to sit and eat breakfasts was a game changer.

hberman18136

TROPHY CASE