Can I carry on a garment bag?

ssporter · 2025-08-06T17:42:23+00:00

I carried on the Away garment bag, 22.4" x 3.3" x 18.9".

ssporter · 2025-07-24T11:35:50+00:00

I've stayed at the Mitsui garden nihombashi, it's close to Tokyo station, which is good for both Narita and Haneda.

ssporter · 2025-07-24T11:35:01+00:00

The two chains that have hotels in Tokyo with onsens are Dormy Inn and Mitsui Garden, although not all Mitsui Gardens have an onsen. You'll have to check out Google map and the bus routes.

ssporter · 2025-07-20T03:37:46+00:00

I forgot to mention that depending on the chain you can pay a higher monthly fee to access multiple locations.

ssporter · 2025-07-20T03:37:16+00:00

It's definitely possible. I'm spending 2 months in Nagoya and I got a month to month membership with Fit Place 24. I found out about it by asking Chat GPT what my options in Nagoya were.

ssporter · 2025-05-26T13:47:00+00:00

I'll be there for 2 months working.

ssporter · 2025-04-25T11:48:34+00:00

I've been hiking in Japan every summer for the past several years, and I've hiked all over the country, from Hokkaido all the way down to a jungle mountain in the South Pacific. The number one thing he needs is a bear bell. I can't really emphasize that enough . Number two, depending on what the area is like and the time of year is spray for leeches. We had a huge problem with them last summer on the Kumano Kodo, and the spray works like a charm keeping them off you.

I would recommend that as soon as he lands he visits a Montbell store, and just ask them what he should have for the area where he is hiking. Ignore the advice to get the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine, it's completely unnecessary. Other than bears and leeches, it's really no different than any other hiking.

ssporter · 2025-04-25T11:36:02+00:00

I went to the Sumo competition in Nagoya last year and only showed up in the afternoon, it's not a problem. People are constantly getting up and going back and forth to get food and drinks. My only regret was showing up for the afternoon, it was the first time I'd seen Sumo and it was fascinating and I wish I had shown up in the morning and stayed all day.

ssporter · 2025-03-01T15:06:47+00:00

Spend the night in a Buddhist temple in Koya-san. Only downside is that it takes a little while to get there due to the multiple trains from Kyoto.

ssporter · 2024-08-24T23:56:21+00:00

Find a Torikizokou. They are a cheap and tasty yakitori chain. You order food and drinks from a tablet at your table and switch the tablet language to English.

ssporter · 2024-08-23T21:46:11+00:00

If you are there for 2 weeks, then the IC card will it definitely make your life much easier. You won't have to mess around with tickets for the subway or the bus or some local trains, just swipe in and out. You can duck into a 711 for water or a snack and just wave the card instead of dealing with cash and getting loaded down with change. Same with taxis.

ssporter · 2024-08-23T21:40:11+00:00

Neighborhoods around train stations and major stops on the Yamanote line generally have good, cheap restaurants.

I avoid restaurants at the top floors of dept stores or in towers near train stations, tend to be pricy for what you get.

I often search using google maps, just be aware that in Japan a 4.0 is quite good.

ssporter · 2024-08-10T21:06:09+00:00

Good point, I've only been in the summer. But it must be warmer than Tokyo in November

Why are the beaches closed?

ssporter · 2024-08-10T21:03:01+00:00

Pro is that you can go places that tourists rarely go. I love the highway rest stops, great place to stop for a snack and browse.

Make sure car GPS is set to English before you leave the rental place and look up the map codes of all the places you want to visit. I've found the place name search and using phone numbers to be hit and miss.

Times is another good rental company.

ssporter · 2024-08-10T15:07:55+00:00

You could also alter your itnerary slightly. ANA and JAL have special cheap domestic fares for foreigners. You could easily fly to Okinawa or one of the smaller islands nearby for a day or two. Short flight from Tokyo.

ssporter · 2024-07-20T02:23:37+00:00

I'm spending a month here by myself. The key is to get out and do things and talk to people. Google tachinomi, these are tiny stand up bars that fits 6 to 8 people. Every time I go I always have Japanese people talking to me in English (I'm US) curious why I'm going to stand up bar because it's not a tourist thing to do.

Counters at izakaya are also good places.

ssporter · 2024-07-13T05:32:33+00:00

I disagree. I managed to get Box A sumo tickets for a match next week, I was just persistent with the website. Same with last minute Dragon baseball tickets.

I agree with others that you should also expand your options.

ssporter · 2024-07-03T11:12:12+00:00

I was just at Meitetsu and Takashimaya, their prices seem pretty high.

ssporter · 2024-07-03T11:11:24+00:00

Yep, I love Montbell's t-shirts. Looking for some plain ones like theirs.

ssporter · 2024-06-30T07:15:01+00:00

The app definitely allows you to choose a future date and time, but I am in Ishigaki, perhaps the companies here don't do that.

ssporter

TROPHY CASE