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I'm planning a trip to Tokyo and I'm curious about traditional Japanese archery. As an archer myself, I bring some common interests and respect for the activity. As a white American, I bring blechhhh and acquisitiveness. Please advise. [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library around Tokyo, Japan at 5:19 PM - 4 answers

I'm moving to Kyoto next month, I don't know anyone there, and it would be useful to have IRL connections to help with the lay of the land. My Mormon colleague (I'm in Utah!) jokingly suggested I join the church, because that would totally provide those types of connections, and he's not wrong: something like that - without the religion angle - would be ideal. What other IRL groups could I consider joining to create connections in Kyoto?
posted by my log does not judge around Kyoto, Japan at 11:00 AM - 10 answers

This is a bit of a Hail Mary: I'm enrolled in a Japanese language course in Kyoto starting in July, I was intending to hand in my notice at work and for my apartment tomorrow, and last night I learned that the apartment agencies affiliated with the broker I'm using (Go Go Nihon) are all fully booked, at least until September. Staying in an airbnb for a few months seems the obvious answer, and I asked the Go Go Nihon agent about this last night but they did not reply. Could there be any issue with doing this?
posted by my log does not judge around Kyoto, Japan at 11:10 AM - 4 answers

Piggybacking on my husband's early June work trip to Imabari Japan (Ehime Prefecture) and we've got questions!! [more inside]
posted by foxhat10 around Imabari, Japan at 10:13 AM - 9 answers

I’m spending 5 nights at a hostel in Katsushika City, in Tokyo! I’ve read that this area is really quaint and quiet, with lots of temples and such, and not very much nightlife. Does anybody have some good recommendations for bars or restaurants I should go to that are somewhat close via the train? All the places I wanna go to are an hour away, so I’m gonna find a night to go to a few of them. In the mean time, what can I do at night around Katsushika?
posted by gucci mane around Tokyo, Japan at 11:50 PM - 12 answers

Are you familiar with smaller cities in Japan outside of the usual Kyoto/Osaka recommendations? I'm looking for a smaller, less hectic city in which I can focus on a personal work project for a month or two. [more inside]
posted by bluecore around Japan at 9:55 AM - 10 answers

My 18 year old nephews want to visit Japan. It's their first trip abroad and I don't want to put them on a dice roll like China Eastern Air. Looks like I just missed a deal - NY to Tokyo on Air Canada - for $491. How can I set a very specific airfare alert (ex: only these airlines, or NOT X airlines and only under X amount of money) for the future?
posted by rileyray3000 around Japan at 9:24 PM - 10 answers

Myself and my wife have been saving towards a trip to Japan in 2020. Our schedules might line up around the middle of the year, and this happens to be the time of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. We have no interest in attending the games but I'm curious to know if we can take advantage of the country's and city's investment in tourism to get a good deal either before or after the games. More details below. [more inside]
posted by McNulty around Kyoto, Japan at 12:39 AM - 4 answers

tl;dr: do I spend six weeks in Tokyo or a couple weeks in a few different cities? I am lucky to have a six week sabbatical. I am planning to spend all that time in Japan around March or April as a first time visitor. I am deciding between spending all or most of the time in Tokyo with maybe a few weekend trips or spreading it out between cities. [more inside]
posted by jennybento around Japan at 9:59 PM - 12 answers

"Travel Agent". How much does 10 days of budget travel for two in Japan cost? [more inside]
posted by j_curiouser around Japan at 3:36 PM - 10 answers

We're planning a 2-week trip to Japan in 2020. Should we avoid the Olympics period? Or embrace it? [more inside]
posted by sleepcrime around Japan at 9:55 AM - 9 answers

Three mid-to-late 20 somethings will be flying into Tokyo (HND) on November 20th and departing on November 28th. What should we do while we're there? [more inside]
posted by lucy.jakobs around Japan at 8:18 AM - 7 answers

We'll be traveling to Japan in 2 weeks time with my 5-year old. One of the things we plan to do is walk a lot; in particular we're going on a short hike through the countryside. To keep my kid from getting too bored, I was thinking of preparing a sort of scavenger hunt for him to play while we're on our feet: a list of things he'd need to spot and point out while walking around. I need help coming up with that list! [more inside]
posted by destrius around Japan at 3:02 AM - 5 answers

Just booked tickets for a family trip to Japan, flying in and out of Tokyo. Looking for recommendations on where to go (this will be our third trip there). [more inside]
posted by mogget around Japan at 6:41 PM - 11 answers

I'm taking my first trip to Japan next month and I'm looking for recommendations for memorable restaurant experiences in Tokyo (Ginza/Tsukiji area especially), Kyoto, and Osaka. I do plan to eat plenty of cheap noodles and random sushi but would like some specific nice places planned ahead as well. I don't mind spending some money but maybe not like $200 per person. [more inside]
posted by something something around Japan at 3:41 PM - 16 answers

I'm in Kobe, Japan for the next five days. Today most stores and museums were closed because of the typhoon, so I'm taking this down time to plot the rest of my stay. I'm interested in art, design, infrastructure, disaster preparedness, matcha, and sake. I am celiac and I do not speak Japanese. This is my second time in Japan and my first time in Kobe. Please help me with your local Kobe knowledge! [more inside]
posted by cnidaria around Kobe, Japan at 9:48 PM - 4 answers

My partner and I are visiting Fukuoka and Nagasaki for a couple of nights each in September, and we'd love to hear your restaurant recommendations. We're adventurous eaters but we don't speak any Japanese at all. [more inside]
posted by adrianhon around Japan at 1:22 PM - 7 answers

I would love recommendations for any of the following! Desserts, ramen/udon, or spa/massage treatments! [more inside]
posted by bookworm4125 around Tokyo, Japan at 2:19 PM - 8 answers

He took two photographs of temples when he was in Japan in 1945. I would love to know which temple(s). I don't know any more except that he was on the USS Knudson. [more inside]
posted by jefficator around Japan at 8:21 PM - 5 answers

Heading to Japan for a few weeks in July (yes, I know it's hot then). I'm spending more than a week in Tokyo and then am heading out to Kyushu/Busan. I need some advice on how to handle the return leg back into Tokyo. [more inside]
posted by yellowcandy around Japan at 11:08 AM - 4 answers