Getting Connected 📱

Okay, first things first - get yourself an eSIM before you leave! We paid £10 for 10GB and honestly? Best value for money we've spent! We only used about 3GB even with constant Google Maps usage (which you'll need!), posting on social media, and staying connected with home.

Money Stuff 💳

Here's something that surprised us - Japan isn't as card-friendly as you might think! Do yourself a favour and get an IC card (we went with Suica). If you've got an iPhone, it's really easy - just download it to your wallet and top up as needed. No iPhone? No worries! Grab a physical card at the airport.

You can use it for:

• All your train and bus rides
• Grabbing snacks at convenience stores
• Lots of shops and restaurants

Pro tip: Keep some cash on you! Many places (even some restaurants you wouldn't expect) are cash-only. You can either bring Japanese yen from home or use ATMs there.

Getting Around 🚃

Can we talk about how amazing Japanese public transport is? It's like a beautiful, perfectly choreographed dance! We spent about £160 each on our Suica card for all our local transport (including airport transfers) - such great value! Just remember to book your bullet train separately if you're planning to zip between cities like we did.

Google Maps will be your best friend - it tells you exactly which platform to go to and even which train car to board. How cool is that?

Quick heads up on train etiquette (because no one wants to be that tourist!):

• Save your snacks for later (unless you're on the bullet train)
• Indoor voices only (actually, whisper voices!)
• Phone calls are a no-no
• Keep your phone on silent

Packing Smart 🎒

Let me save you some stress - travel light! We each took just a carry-on suitcase and a backpack, and it was the best decision ever. Some subway stations have more stairs than a StairMaster workout, and not all of them have lifts. Your arms will thank me later! If you’re concerned about running out of clothes most hotels have laundry areas where you can wash your clothes so no need to pack those ‘just in case’ extras. We made sure to have our rain coats and an umbrella as you can get a few rainy days and of course good comfortable shoes for all the walking

Language Tips 🗣️

Download Google Translate before you go - it's an absolute lifesaver! We used it for everything from decoding menus to having lovely chats with locals. There's even this cool feature where you can have a whole conversation through it!

Food Talk 🍜

Oh boy, where do I start? The food scene is incredible, but it can be a bit tricky to navigate at first. Here's what we learned:

• Early bird gets the dinner table! Restaurants fill up fast after 7:30pm
• Breakfast hack: Local coffee shops do amazing deals - we're talking £2.50 for a coffee and sandwich
• Heads up - fruit is pretty expensive and harder to find than you might expect
• Plot twist: Japan has more amazing coffee shops than tea houses!
• Sweet tooth? You're in for a treat! The pastries and sweets are literally works of art. Head to the basement of the department stores to feast your eyes 

Day 1: Hello, Osaka!

Landed jet-lagged but excited! First mission: authentic Yakitori and Yakitori Gappo delighted our palates. Let me tell you - airport food will never be the same after this!

Day 2: Osaka Exploration

Found the cutest traditional coffee house (Kissaten) where the sweetest owners spent ages showing us their guidebooks and marking their favourite spots. Then hit all the Osaka highlights:

• Osaka Castle (those golden details though! 😍)
• The Korean quarter's Tsuruhashi Market
• The absolute sensory overload that is Dotonbori

Special shoutout to the craft beer scene - Stephen was in heaven!

Day 3: Kobe Calling! 🚃

Hopped on a quick 30-minute train to Kobe and guess what? We completely ignored the famous beef (I know, shocking!) because we found something even better - the magical Nunobiki Herb Gardens!

Picture this: gliding up Mount Maya in a cable car, watching the city shrink beneath you, then stepping into what feels like a secret paradise. We spent hours wandering through 12 different garden areas (the paths and cable cars are wheelchair accessible - genius design!), explored a gorgeous glasshouse full of tropical plants, and had the most perfect afternoon tea at The Veranda with views that'll make your jaw drop!

Headed back to Osaka for dinner and found this hidden gem called Scales - if you're a poke bowl fan like me, you NEED to go here!

Day 4: Kyoto Bound! 🏯

Started our day with the loveliest breakfast by the river in Osaka (perfect way to say goodbye to the city!) before jumping on the train to Kyoto. Talk about a vibe shift - you can feel the history in the air here!

Spent the afternoon getting lost in Nishiki Market (aka Kyoto's Kitchen) - the covered arcade is just endless food heaven! Then had the most interesting dinner experience - Japanese-Italian fusion at To. Trust me, it works! Who knew soy sauce and parmesan were meant to be best friends?

Day 5: Culture Overload! 🎎

Oh. My. Goodness. What a day! Joined a small group walking tour that was perfect. Got to explore:

• Gion Shirakawa (spot the geishas rushing between appointments!)
• The massive Chion-in Temple (those entrance gates are HUGE)
• Hisashi-yama (all the samurai and emperor stories!)
• Kiyomizu-dera temple (those views though!)

But the absolute highlight? Learning the art of the traditional tea ceremony! Every single movement has meaning - it's like a beautiful, meditative dance with tea.

And then we accidentally overordered in a local sushi restaurant. No regrets though - every piece was perfection!

Day 6: Bamboo Forest Adventures! 🎋

Pro tip: Early bird catches the peaceful bamboo forest! Got to Arashiyama by 8:30am and even then people were starting to pour in. But those morning light rays filtering through the bamboo... pure magic!

The gardens at Tenryu-ji Temple were like something from a dream - watching koi fish glide around while taking in those spectacular views. Then we found the secret viewpoints above the bamboo forest (a bit of a climb but SO worth it!). So peaceful away from the crowds.

Evening brought us to this tiny 16-seat restaurant called La Boucle where one incredibly talented chef created the most amazing French-inspired dishes while simultaneously serving and cleaning. It was like watching a perfectly choreographed one-man show!

Day 7: Tokyo Time! 🗼

Treated ourselves to the Green Car on the bullet train (fancy first class vibes!) and seriously, best decision ever. Lovely comfy seats and watching Japan zip by at 320km/h is pretty cool!

Explored our new neighbourhood around Asakusa:

• Wandered down the famous Hoppy Street
• Marvelled at the massive red lanterns of Senso-ji Temple
• Caught the most incredible traditional dance performance at Tokyo Tower - the energy was electric!

Day 8: Shibuya Scramble! 🚶‍♂️

Finally saw the famous Shibuya Crossing in person! You know those videos you've seen of thousands of people crossing from all directions? It's even more impressive in real life! And somehow nobody bumps into each other - it's like a perfectly choreographed urban dance!

Spent hours just soaking in the atmosphere, people-watching (Tokyo street fashion is NEXT LEVEL), and eventually found this cozy little wine bar called Okachimachi Wine bar Hachijuro to watch the city transform as night fell.

Day 9: Nature's Grand Finale! 🌿

Here's a funny story - we planned a quick 2-hour train ride to Nikko... that turned into 4 hours because we didn't realize we needed to book the express train! 🤦‍♀️ (Don't worry, we learned our lesson and booked the return trip!)

But you know what? That slower journey through the Japanese countryside was actually kind of magical. And Nikko? Worth every minute of that train ride! While everyone else was hitting up the famous temples, we found this incredible botanical garden that felt like our own private paradise. What a perfect way to end our Japanese adventure!

This is where I come in! As a travel consultant who's just experienced all of this firsthand, I'd love to help you plan your own Japanese adventure. Whether you're a foodie, culture buff, or just want to experience this incredible country, I can help make it happen!

Got questions? Want to start planning? Drop me a message! 

I'm a WhatsApp away 07917 607 510

Alternatively book a video call with me https://calendly.com/chatwithsandra/holiday-consultation

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