7 things to Know for Japan Trip in April 2024 Update

[@FromTheDeep2481]

Great video Kengo san! Thank you for mentioning me and taking the time to show some of those designs. It’s very kind of you. I finally had the time to watch this whole video all the way through 😊 Congrats again on the sponsorship and getting invited to showcase the new train (that must have been super fun for you)!

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you so much for taking your time Chris san! I can't appreciate enough for such a cute emojis and this illustration. You don't know how much it made me happy when I was losing my voice. It's too good to be just small emoji, so I will put some places time to time. 😄

[@swissfoodie3542]

Thank you very much for another video full of very valuable information ! Your channel is so great for visitors to Japan. About Kyoto: I find it disgusting how a very small minority of tourists behave, and I really hope that locals know that not all foreigners travelling to Japan are like that. When I travel to another country, I always try to be very respectful of local culture / religion / rules etc. I might make a mistake, not because out of disrespect, but because I dont know better (one of the reasons I find your channel so good).

[@swissfoodie3542]

P.S. A lot of visitors (japanese, people from other asian countries, and rarely westerners) like to dress up in a Kimono (which are for rental), and take endless amounts of time to take selfies or get pictures of themselves taken, especially in Kyoto. That is something totally different then locals and geishas walking around Gion. They are normally very happy, if you also take a picture of them. Of course, still use common curtosy !

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you for watching. Yes, you know a lot about Japan but not every visitors are like that and some are not even interested in Japan, so I think it's not a problem to make a mistake. I do a lot too. But it seems some people go further than that. :)

[@boxerblake1]

It's absolutely gorgeous. I never thought I'd see sakura in person, but for the past three days, I can go for my usual night walk & see them all over. Nothing but love & respect to Japan & its people.

[@tokyokenchan]

Oh that's great! I'm glad you could see it as past 3 days were probably the best days. It's getting warm and it's like a different world from last week. :) Hope you enjoy the rest of your stay. Thank you for your comment.

[@fristegia]

I am so happy for all your achievement Kenchan Your videos helped us last year when we were planning our first visit in Japan. We are planning again for our 2nd visit. (Hoping for our visas to be approved again) You are doing great and thank you so much for all the valuable information you are giving us. 🤩☺👍

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you so much for your kind message. I'm glad to hear my videos were useful for your previous trip. I also hope your visa get approved smoothly, and wish you the best return trip to Japan. :)

[@japanunravelled]

Great to see you doing so well! Keep it up. The new Yakumo looks fantastic. Reminds me of the Resort Shirakami up in Aomori, although there's no regular Shamisen performance on the Yakumo.

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you! Not sure the future so I try to experience opportunities that comes in while I can. : ) Oh nice! I missed the chance to be on Resort Shirakami so that is in my bucket list. Yes, lots of wood are used on Yakumo compartment so it has a warm Japanese feeling.

[@matwillis3169]

Thank you for the update Ken-San. It is disappointing to hear about a handful of tourists behaving badly and not being respectful of other people and their cultures. I am happy to say that in the week we had in Kyoto in December we did not see any of this kind of behavior! We stayed just south of Kyoto station and you are so right, the amount of building works in that area is unreal, a lot a new hotels already there and more coming

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you for watching Matt san! It seems more people are visiting Japan doesn't necessary means everyone is interested in Japan or its culture. Yes, I saw lots of new hotels around Kyoto station. I found it a great idea to stay around there after seeing all the tourist stranded with suitcases. :)

[@susanmizen9493]

Thank you for a wonderful video. I’ve just found your channel so I will be going through your other videos. Arriving Japan next week, please save some cherry blossom for me. Take care

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you for watching. There should be cherry blossom in northern part or mountain regions in Japan, and also late cherryblossom is about to bloom in Shinjuku Gyoen. I wish you the best time in Japan. :)

[@Sylviatini]

This year 2024 cherry blossom season very cold and windy. So I saw sakura drop when wind so hard, like at kiyomizudera temple, sakura blooming last week. And many times hard rain too in kyoto drop sakura.

[@justjaeisfine]

Thank you for sharing your wisdom! I am here in Japan for my first trip. 🙏 Your insights are invaluable

[@tokyokenchan]

Oh great! You are in Japan on a great sunny day. Thank you for watching and leaving a message. :) I wish you the best trip in Japan.

[@andrewnorth64]

Thanks Kenny.... I am in Fukuoka for 10 days now. My first trip to Japan for 30 years. Love it.

[@tokyokenchan]

@@andrewnorth64 Oh great! Have a great trip in Japan! Kenny

[@rizalinalagmay5574]

Hi Kenchan! Thank you so much for another informative details about your beautiful country. I can really sense your sincerity when you vlog. Thank you once again.

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you so so much for your kind message. I really appreciate your care. Thank you again for watching the video. :)

[@anni1078]

I hope the autumn foliage won’t be late as well . Already booked my flight 😊 thank you for the tips on Taxi rides. Will keep that in mind! And as a tourist I can totally understand this measurement, but it saddens me that it’s due to the fact, that so many tourists behaved so badly.. unfortunately people who did this won’t care.. and will behave like this everywhere they will go 😢

[@lillygirl7238]

Aloha Kengo-san! Love the pix and emojis. Thank you for this informative video. 😎🌺🫶🏻

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you Lilly san! I’m glad you liked the emoji and illustration! I hope you can use it someday. 😊

[@irenefornelius758]

Thanks!

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you so much for watching and your support Irene san! I really appreciate your kindness. 😊

[@Lizandra215]

Thank you Kenchan! We will be in Tokyo this weekend and we would love to meet you. 🙌🏼 please let us know if you’re available.

[@aalaptrivedi3115]

I’m in Tokyo from Thursday and hoping to see the cherry blossoms. Lucky me I guess.

[@gdz3434]

can u make a video of budget hotels near ueno, shinjuku or shibuya stations. that would be helpful for tourist

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you. I'm working on several hotel videos that should come up in one or two months. : )

[@suzthewuz]

Very helpful informaiton Ken chan! Im Planning on visiting in a few months, and appreciate all the news!

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you always. I hope you come up with a great Japan travel plan!

[@mojiaskari7045]

Great video as always ❤

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you so much. :) I really appreciate it.

[@cassiopeia4015]

Hi Kengo. Thanks for the update. Looking forward to the next video and also looking forward to seeing more of Kenny.

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you for watching! I'd like to definitely post more of Kenny soon. :)

[@KevinandDayle]

Great a lot of helpful information! We are going to fly Japan next Month and will staying in Tokyo, so we are reviewing all your videos! We actually based our overnight visit to Hakone based mostly on your Hakone video. Hope that we might come across you in Tokyo while we are there.

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you so much Kevin san Dale san for your warm support. You will be flying here soon! I hope so too. :) I’m glad the Hakone video was useful for your day trip planning. I wish it will be a great weather during your stay here. Thank you again.

[@mmaya01]

Thanks again for all the great information!

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you for watching!

[@mvccarlos]

Thank you for the updates. The illegal taxis sounds scary! I tried booking in klook but I ended up canceling. I appreciate the warning. I’m looking forward to seeing the cherry blossoms. Thank you again. You take care.

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you always. According to the news, Klook and other sites like Agoda got rid of those illegal taxis from their listing, but it seems many portal sites didn't know about it too. Hope you have a great trip. :)

[@NormanPENF]

I'm so lucky! I'm going to Tokyo this 11th.

[@rachelsplanet6282]

One more video idea is also how to read those bus signs and schedule? Thank you.

[@andyye1515]

🎉🎉

[@suec5549]

Thank you for this video! Very informative! Thank you 😊

[@tokyokenchan]

I'm glad it was informative. Thank you for watching. : )

[@Invisible_Gaijin]

I was in Tokyo for 28 days. Missed the Sakura blossoms by 8 days. (^.^) Oh well, shou ga nai, c'est la vie, etc. HOWEVER, thanks to Kenchan, I knew where to get a Gotokuji Maneki Neko. (^.-) So it was a good trip. Thank you for letting me see the 2024 blossoms!

[@tokyokenchan]

I know! I was thinking you could see the cherry blossom if you stay just a little more, but hopefully next year. As you know it was very unusual to be this late. I wish I could share the maneki neko photo with everyone. ^^ Thank you so much again for watching and your message.

[@GeenaBee1]

I am here in Japan and was blessed to see the Sakura. Hanami. Ureshii!!

[@tokyokenchan]

Very lucky! Hope you enjoy the rest of the trip. 🌸

[@MsJTSM]

Thank you so much for the video! The sakuras look lovely! I think the safety of the locals should come first, so it's a good thing that the government has closed off parts of Gion to protect those who are an important part of Japan's culture. I look forward to visiting Japan a second time in late May!

[@tokyokenchan]

Oh great! Yes, I hope visitors including me enjoy the quiet moment in Kyoto seeing the local culture from a bit distance. Thank you for watching!

[@LuisSanchez-zj8id]

Nice video. Unfortunately I stayed in Tokyo during the last days of March and no cherry blossom 😢😢 It was cold, raining and windy. But last year was wonderful

[@tokyokenchan]

Yes, I was quite disappointed in Kyoto too. It was like a different world from last year. 😢This year was too unusual. I hope you still had a good stay in Japan.

[@LuisSanchez-zj8id]

@@tokyokenchan arigatoo gozaimasu. Japan is wonderful, lovely and interesting. I have seen your videos and taken into account your suggestions. I hope to return to Japan in 2025.

[@AlanVByrnes]

Thank you for these updates Ken Chan I’ll make notes of and will keep this video in mind also!! Appreciate the help like always also from you!! 🤝🤝🤝

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you for watching Alan san! I really appreciate your kind comments! 🤝🤖

[@AlanVByrnes]

@@tokyokenchan yes always and hope the yen doesn’t get too cheap yes you want to travel to other places too just like I want travel and need to get to your country and Asia!! Good for me but not always good for you so!!? 🫡🫡🫡

[@AlanVByrnes]

@@tokyokenchanbut then again we were have a meal talking about the pilots who fly the planes with my Uncle Tim!! Mentioned about how there not enough guys now they are probably going to get so stressed out now your gonna see lots of accidents on the news for sure that bad problem happening!! Because of that and not enough of them!!

[@AlanVByrnes]

@@tokyokenchanI don’t know I think he’s right about that I don’t have a good feeling and who knows actually I might end up getting trapped in Japan but it’s fine with me where I feel I need to be now but what about some others what are they going to do!!? Again I have that sense and feel thing going on!!

[@ririeranggasari]

Insighful video as always ^^

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you! Hope you are doing well. :)

[@firefangz]

Hi Kenchan, thanks for the update. I wonder if the autumn colours will be delayed this year too. I am landing in Tokyo on November 3rd so hoping to see some Autumn colours this trip! Some very rude tourists exist and hope they are better behaved in future!

[@boxerblake1]

The one thing I miss about late-year travel are the grapes. Expensive, but amazing. Enjoy your trip!

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you for watching! Glad to hear you have the airplane ticket already! That's great! Hmmm I'm not sure. Depends on where you visit, but I'm sure you see plenty of Autumn leaves especially in mountain area. Nikko is like end of September usually, even though Tokyo is late November. :)

[@bunnypop6018]

Nice video again. I was fortunate to be in South Korea last week when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. However, I'm planning to return to Japan (Kansai) next spring, and I'm concerned about if I should come at the end of March or early April

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you! That's great you could see the cherry blossomos in Korea. That is really difficult choice. This year was 15 days later than last year which is unusual for recent years, and even forecast agency couldn't expect it. ^^;

[@annabyerly1386]

只今新幹線に乗り富山から福井に向かってます。小雨ぱらつく北陸😂明日晴天、永平寺に己龍museumを見学🎉

[@tokyokenchan]

あいにくの雨ですが、永平寺まで行かれるとは素敵ですね。良いご旅行を。^^

[@lior2538]

I want to go there today do you think the Sakura trees are still there ? 😊

[@tokyokenchan]

Yes, you still can see a lot today everywhere in Tokyo. Nice sunny day. 🌞🌸

[@lior2538]

@@tokyokenchan Thank you! 🙏🏼🌸☺️

[@rachelsplanet6282]

Hi Ken San, your videos are very useful. Thank you so much. Another video idea would be showing some mid-priced hotels or airbnbs e.g. USD70-90 within 10-15 mins walking distance from the major stations in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. We can see fr those booking sites but couldn't visualise by e kilometres and description as am not sure are they really easy to locate? Thank you so much.

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you for the video request. Price can change a lot but I'd like to work on hotel video. You are looking for a hotel for two travelers for USD90?

[@rachelsplanet6282]

Yes, indeed the prices can fluctuate, but guess there are many queries for those decent ones within walking distance to the key stations, even fr Ueno or few stops to stations that we can take to Kyoto or Osaka. Well, I am looking at single or twin bed...usually the minimum is twin bed right? Thank you.

[@dennisagbayani3327]

ARIGATO GOZAIMASHITA, KEN CHAN, FOR ALL UR VIDEOS. SO VERY USEFUL & ENTERTAINING AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATED! GANBATTE KUDASAI! ⛩️🗻🧔

[@tokyokenchan]

THANK YOU SO MUCH for the first comment on this video! I'm glad if the video was entertaining too! :)

[@mikerayis456]

If you have a Japanese resident card can you go into the Gion district if you are not from Kyoto?

[@tokyokenchan]

Anyone can enter Gion district. This is only for some small paths or isles in Gion. Only the residents/workers and customers to the restaurants along the paths can enter the path, so even Japanese from Kyoto cannot enter there. You can still walk Gion.

[@adammapps5962]

Ken-san, your videos have been my main preparation for my Japan trip, thank you for always making excellent content. I have just arrived in Tokyo and it looks like again, pasmo and suica cards are unavailable. Do you have any advice?

[@tokyokenchan]

Thank you for watching and welcome to Tokyo. I heard the current situation is, if you go to JR East travel center in major station like Tokyo, Shinjuku, they carry regular Suica only for visitors from abroad. If you have iPhone, you can install on Wallet too. This is the information on the official site. “If you would like to purchase an IC card, you can do so below. ·Station Narita Airport Terminal 1 Station, Narita Airport Terminal 2・3 Station ・ JR EAST Travel Service Center Narita Airport Terminal 1 Station, Narita Airport Terminal 2・3 Station, Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ueno “

[@adammapps5962]

Thank you for such a quick reply! I've just purchased a 72hr metro ticket for the meantime and I will go to Tokyo station tomorrow for this. Appreciate your help Kenchan!

[@MrBlef666]

Hi Ken Chan. Thank you for the video. Question - I got Hokuriku Arch Pass voucher that I will only exchange 28th April. Do you think I will have problems booking seats in Shinkansen for 2nd of May out of Toktio? (to Kanazawa) thanks

[@tokyokenchan]

Around what time are you thinking of leaving Tokyo? I checked Kagayaki 507 leaving Tokyo at 9:20 in the morning as a sample, but as of today I see lots of seats. So it might not be the busy busy day. You can ask them on 28th when you exchange the voucher and if no seats, you can consider using non-reserved seats too on Hakutaka (Kagayaki is only reserved seats).

[@MrBlef666]

@@tokyokenchan we were planning in the morning, any time. thanks for checking! i will def do book everything at the airport when we fly in

[@henrychew235]

The reality is a lot of tourists are only focused on certain areas in the key cities. Even in Kyoto, once you get out of the usual tourist spots, you will see the local side of Kyoto! Kameioka or fushimi ward (not the shrine) area can be very pleasant to explore and enjoy! I did see a news article on uber or ride shared transport, looks set to start very soon in main cities . Hopefully this will curb the illegal drivers.

[@tokyokenchan]

Yes, the ride share started on April 8. For now, its operated by taxi company and price is set the same as the regular taxi. It might open up possibility for the future. :)

[@cabojacks5106]

Ken-san, I will be in Japan in two weeks, I am not buying the JR Pass, but I want to make Shinkansen reservations. I tried SmartEx but will not accept visa, mc or amex for registration on this site. I called my credit card issuers and they all say my cards are international travel ready. Is there a Japanese web site address you can provide for reservations with JR Central?

[@tokyokenchan]

Hi. Sorry the EX site didn't work. It's happening to many visitors. The only site I know and you can make reservation for Shinkansen with Seat Map is JR West Reservation. No discount like EX, but also no fee like agencies. : e5489.jr-odekake.net/e5489/ibpc/CBTrainEntryExternalPC?LANG=en

[@cabojacks5106]

Thank you Very Very Much Ken-chan!

[@michiganwannarbor3255]

It was cheaper to eat out in Tokyo than it was in Istanbul or Mexico City.

[@tokyokenchan]

Oh wow. The best time to visit Japan from the US. :)

[@michiganwannarbor3255]

​@@tokyokenchanit really is, when I first started traveling to Japan. It was 100 yen to 1 dollar. Even at that rate food and drinks are less expensive in Japan.

[@bennychew1902]

if i book Taxi by KLOOK, it will be the legal ones?

[@tokyokenchan]

I’m not sure about the specific service, but I saw on the news Klook responded quickly and refunded for all customer who purchased illegal taxi through their site. So it should be ok by now but again, it’s better to ask Klook. en.traicy.com/posts/202312172554/

[@AlanVByrnes]

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

[@AlanVByrnes]

🤖🇯🇵