Hi everyone! I've just booked my next trip to Japan
For the first time I'm going to be going outside Tokyo
I'm going to Kyoto and visiting Hiroshima and Miyajima
I'm really looking forward to it!
I'm going to be filming, so if you've got any recommendations
Or if there's anything you'd like to see
Put them in the comments
Lots of people ask me about planning a trip to Japan
So I'm making this video to help you out
Based on my own experiences
And the sorts of things I wanted to know before I first went
When's the best time to go?
Spring and Autumn are both good times
I've been at the start of June and it was really warm and sunny
But that is a bit of a risky time
Because it's just before the start of the rainy season
Which is mid June to July
Summer can get really hot and humid
And can be uncomfortable
And you'll also want to avoid Golden Week
Which is at the end of April / start of May
Because there's several bank holidays
And it can get pretty busy in touristy areas
Unfortunately there isn't a time of year when it doesn't rain
So you just need to be prepared for that
However, in all the time I've spent there
There's only been a couple of rainy days
And it definitely won't stop you having a good time
How long should I go for?
Even if you're just going to Tokyo there's loads to do!
On my next trip I'm going to Kyoto as well
So I'm going for 2 weeks
And I'm going to do some day trips to other areas
Previously I've spent 7-10 days in Tokyo
And not run out of things to do
Do I need to know Japanese?
In Tokyo lots of signs are in English
A lot more than I expected when I first went
And some people speak English
So you can get by if you don't know Japanese
However it helps to learn a few basic phrases
Like please and thank you
Like anywhere, people appreciate it if you at least attempt to speak the language
But if you are interested in learning Japanese
A trip is the best motivation
Learn some practical phrases
Like how to order food and drink
And how to buy things
Do you need to go on a tour or can you go independently?
On a tour you might have experiences that would be difficult to organise yourself
And it's a lot easier
But you are on their timetable
And you might miss out on particular things that interest you
I always go independently
And book everything myself
Because I like to do my own thing
Travel agents don't tend to have a lot to offer
So I just book the flights
Then find a hotel I like the look of
Places like Expedia are really good
Remember that Japanese hotels aren't always available to book
more than a few months in advance
If you're going independently you just have to do a bit more research
But it's totally possible
And it's really easy to get around
Lots of signs are in English
There's English menus
All the signs on the subway are in English too
So it's totally possible
And you can survive!
How long's the flight?
Direct flights from the UK are 12 hours
Which is pretty long
But it's not that bad
I like flying with ANA
Because the service is really good
And it's pretty comfortable
They were also the lowest cost direct flight
Which might not always be the case
So shop around
You can save money by changing flights
I chose not to do that
Because I worry about missing a connection
Or the bags getting lost
And I think 12 hours is long enough as it is
There's 2 airports in Tokyo
Narita and Haneda
If you get the choice, Haneda is closer to the city
But travel to and from both is pretty easy
Where's the best area to stay?
The metro's really good so anywhere central is ok
I like staying in Shinjuku
Because there's lots of shops and restaurants nearby
And you're right on a major station
So it's really easy to get to everywhere else
I've also stayed in Shiodome
And Shibuya and Ikebukuro would be good places to stay too
Personally I'd avoid staying out on the edges
Like in Odaiba or near the SkyTree
Because it'll take you longer to get to everywhere else
But wherever you choose, just make sure you're near a metro station and you're good
What's the food like?
I love Japanese food
There's lots of kinds you'll recognise
And a few things you might not have seen before
And in general, the standard of food is really good everywhere
People often ask me if it's all fish
And it's not
There is plenty of fish
But there's lots of other things as well
I'm vegetarian
And I'll be making a separate video just about that
If Japanese food's not your thing
there's lots of other choices:
Italian
Burgers
Curry
It's all there
For snacks and lunch
Convenience stores do really good, cheap food
And overall I found the prices to be pretty reasonable everywhere
Certainly no more than you'd pay in any big city
How much cash should I take?
How much money you take is up to you
But in general, I found prices in Tokyo aren't as high as they're perceived to be
However, you're probably going to want cash to buy things!
Not everywhere takes cards
I found a lot of places do
But I take most of my money in cash anyway
UK cards should work in cash machines in 7-Eleven
Citibank and the Post Office
But I'd advise taking cash with you, so you don't have to rely on that
Get yourself a credit card that's commission free abroad
And keep an eye on the exchange rate on xe.com
If there's a good rate, get yourself some Yen!
Planning what to do
There's so much to do!
Watch my videos to get some ideas
And if you've got any questions about anything, just put them in the comments
Have some ideas in reserve in case there's a rainy day
And if there's anything particular you want to go to
Check the opening times and days
Just in case they're not what you expect
If there's any particular shops and restaurants you want to go to
Print out a map or pin them on your maps app
A really good one is Ulmon City Maps 2 Go
It's free and it works offline
I'll put the link in the description
Addresses don't work the same
And not all the streets have road names
So it can be difficult to find places
If you want to go to Studio Ghibli
Book it online as soon as possible
Because it sells out pretty much every day
How do you get around?
The Tokyo Metro looks really confusing
There's so many lines
Run by different companies
But it's really not as bad as it looks
For travel within Tokyo
I'd recommend getting a Suica or Passmo card
They're pretty much the same thing
It's like an Oyster card in London
You can go on all the trains and the underground
You buy it when you're there
Top it up, then swipe in and out
It's really easy
And all the ticket machines have English options
You can also buy individual tickets
Agin, the machines are in English
It's quite common to buy the cheapest ticket
Then when you get to your destination,
Use a top up machine to pay the correct fare
Some of the stations are huge
With so many exits
But there are maps and signs in English to help you
There's also taxis and buses
But the Metro can get you everywhere you need to go
And that's it!
If you've got any questions just put them in the comments
And there's lots more videos about Japan on my channel
So remember to subscribe
Have a look at my website www.cakeswithfaces.co.uk
Where you can get all my designs
Like this one: All the Best Stuff is from Japan
Thanks for watching
And I'll see you next time! Bye bye!