What's New in Japan, May 2024 - Exhibitions, events & what's coming up

[@helenhardy8723]

Thank you Amy! Perfect timing! We get married Sunday and are off on our Honeymoon to Japan on Wednesday 💕

[@jan-ovepedersen5764]

Congrats in advance, and have a great honeymoon in Japan. Me and my wife got married in Tokyo on March 18th, and we're going to Japan this weekend on our honeymoon 🙂

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ah how exciting!! Congratulations! Have the best time!! 💖💖💖

[@gn1225]

Congratulations!! Enjoy Japan 😊

[@Verchiele]

This is hands down the best resources on whats new in Japan. Keep up the awesome work 🎉

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thanks so much, that's very kind! There'll be more Japan News soon!

[@PipkinsUK]

It's good to hear that the old Harajuku wooden station building is coming back. It wouldn't surprise me that came about due to popular demand from the public.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Everyone was so upset about it being demolished! Power to the people! 💪

[@hoomanpowered]

I was there for the past 2 weeks and absolutely loved it! Kyoto, Mt Fuji, teamlab borderless and eki stamp collecting was a blast!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Aww so glad you enjoyed it! Hope you found lots of stamps!

[@jodielouise9208]

I go to Japan in 4 days this video is perfect! I bought your travel guide and its had me hooked for the past 3 months

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yay, thanks so much! Have an amazing time - and send me a pic if you take my book with you!

[@jodielouise9208]

@@cakeswithfaces Will do! Thank you!!

[@MissiBoo]

Wow 😮, so much new stuff ❤ Thanks Amy 🫶

[@cakeswithfaces]

Every time I'm surprised at how much there is!

[@melodiemeldrum3918]

Awww I love the mini versions of you in the diorama! That's so cool! Also thanks so much for mentioning the Kawaii exhibition at Japan House in LA; I live in the area and will definitely check it out! It looks like unfortunately we missed the Pokemon x Kogei exhibition which was there last year.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Enjoy the exhibition, I wish I could go! There's a Japan House in London too so fingers crossed the exhibition might come over here too! 🤞

[@saphirak]

I can recommend your book! ❤thank you for all the work ❤

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thanks so much, that means a lot!

[@AlanVByrnes]

Thanks much for this new bit of news I’ll make notes and even go to this video when I need help of everything you mentioned here 🤝🤝🤝

[@cakeswithfaces]

There's always so much new stuff in Japan!

[@Omni0404]

Next year you should do a video on the Nemophila flowers in the Hitachi Seaside Park! The pictures look surreal.

[@cakeswithfaces]

They're beautiful! It's not just the cherry blossoms that are a big deal :-)

[@solrun9524]

theres also a stamp rally around kichijoji parco rn, you can get a moomin mug and a parco shopping voucher from collecting the stamps!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ooh sounds fun!!

[@NJohnson-tn4mu]

Thank you Amy, so informative. We have booked a trip in June/July (the only time we could go!) and I’m really looking forward to learning what you recommend for booking Platt Kodama and the EX website

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ooh exciting!! My train tickets video will be coming up later this month!

[@soitsmelaura]

How exciting to have a mini version of you all in the museum … congrats! Um ya I wouldn’t want an eye mask of that either hahahah

[@cakeswithfaces]

I can't believe it! Can't wait to go there again and visit the mini versions of us! ✨

[@londoncreative]

We have just booked our Teamlab Borderless ticket, this afternoon 😁 Just need to work out EVERYTHING else!!! Your book is smothered in post-it tags!!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Woohoo! Good you've got your priorities right! Post-its are the way to go 🤘

[@psprog]

I went to that Ghibli exhibition on my last trip the other week, as couldn't get a ticket for the main museum at Mitaka. 3 trains and a sunny 40min walk from Yokohama. Great stuff, but be aware it's all in Japanese (I was the only Westerner there) and you can't take any photos in the first half (history of Ghibli).

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thanks for the tips! It's always an adventure going somewhere off the beaten track!

[@194DAG]

Thanks for lots of useful information. I'm excited for my Japan trip in 2 weeks 😊

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ooh not long to go! The countdown is on!

[@Mimpfen]

So much great news! The video was such good timing because I just ordered my plane tickets to Japan yesterday! I will definitely look up your tips for tickets to Universal! I will be going for two weeks oct/nov, and I'm definitely gonna keep up with your videos to come as always for more tips!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ooh exciting! There are lots of videos in my Japlanning playlist about booking hotels and planning everything that might be useful! :-)

[@Malkaras]

I cant wait for your Updates before my Month long trip to Japan this October!!

[@cakeswithfaces]

I need to do Japan News more regularly as there's always so much, every time!

[@Tokyo_Fan]

Wow, I learn about Japan a lot. Thank you for sharing.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thanks so much!

[@Cbethanie96822]

How fun. Will be looking for the Kit Kat.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Hope you find it! Okashi no Machioka is a good shop to find fun sweets!

[@ktao7624]

terrific information in Japan! Thanks a lot.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thanks so much!!

[@loopyfrog]

The Silent Cafe sounds lovely and looks disabled friendly too - in fact, I rarely see anyone talk about disabled access in Japan so this is wonderful to see! And by disabled friendly, I mean for neurodivergents aswell as physically disabled. Way to go Osaka!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Absolutely, it's perfect if you don't do loud noises or noisy places! It must be a very calm place.

[@leijen208]

Hi Amy, will you be attending Star Wars Celebration in Japan next year? I will be and look forward to your videos to get ready. They came in handy for trip last time

[@cakeswithfaces]

Have an amazing time! I'm not sure when my trip next year will be yet!

[@spankohyayo]

脱帽です。完璧な最新ジャパン情報でした！！

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thank you!! ☺️

[@jan-ovepedersen5764]

Count me and my wife in, we visited Japan in March 🙂

[@cakeswithfaces]

Woop woop! 🙌🙌

[@teekaytwo]

great video. looking forward to your next topics.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thanks so much! ✨

[@sambo6266]

I can't believe they are retiring Kirimichan

[@cakeswithfaces]

It doesn't seem like long since they were introduced. I thought they were quite popular too!

[@rgx4306]

I’m interested in planning for June/July ❤🙏🏻

[@cakeswithfaces]

Enjoy planning your trip! Watch out for rainy season. I've been several times at the start of June and it's lovely and warm!

[@christopherhightower7308]

wow, you look colorful even as a tiny person... and there's Phil too. :D

[@cakeswithfaces]

The tiny figures are so cute! It's an honour to be part of the diorama!

[@sambo6266]

Thanks for this video! So helpful! Even with Japan's huge popularity amongst tourists and even as a subject for yt content, it is hard to find information like this that goes beyond the tip of the iceberg. Does anyone have any good references or videos for luxury trains on the tourist trail or near tokyo?

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thanks so much! I just remember how many questions I had when I first went to Japan! Here are some trains that spring to mind: Spacia X (Tokyo to Nikko): www.tobu.co.jp/spaciax/en/ Seibu LaView (Tokyo to Chichibu): www.seiburailway.jp/en/railway/limitedexpress/laview/ Saphir Odoriko (Izu Peninsula): www.jreast.co.jp/saphir/en/ Hinotori (Osaka to Nagoya): www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/hinotori/ Aoniyoshi (Osaka/Nara/Kyoto): www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/aoniyoshi/ Kyo-train Garaku (Osaka/Kyoto): www.hankyu.co.jp/kyotrain-garaku/en/

[@edjones5216]

So much information 😊 I'm excited to hear about super mario world 😮 I need that in my life. Great video as always 😊😊 thank you

[@cakeswithfaces]

Super Mario World looks just as good in real life as it does in all the pics - they've got the theming perfectly!

[@janedavenport]

The Takashi Murakami exhibition at Kyocera Museum in Kyoto was next level. It finishes in Sept.

[@cakeswithfaces]

I'd love to see it!

[@janedavenport]

@@cakeswithfaces if you go… the gift shop on the way out is rather wonderful too … watch out for the strawberry 🍓 snacks in a gold tin with Murakami artwork on it… delish and a lovely souvenir.

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@janedavenport Ooh sounds good!

[@TheScratchingKiwi]

The Silent Café is an amazing idea! Japan has other cafes staffed by disabled people and I think it is great. As a disabled person who cannot get work, this model needs to be no just for Japan. The old model of 'disability workshops' seems so out of date.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yes it could work anywhere! And good for the language barrier too.

[@towada1066]

hmmm,... in June in Osaka's Nakanoshima Museum is an exhibit on the 1150th anniversary of Daigoji. Also, the original Harajuku Station will be reconstructed as part of a new station complex development project (but this won't be finished until 2026).

[@betaraybob]

The Space Cats exhibit looks cool. Hopefully it will either get extended or last until late Autumn 2025.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Fingers crossed for you! There are a couple of space cats dotted around other places too. There's a permanent one outside an art museum in Osaka.

[@betaraybob]

@cakeswithfaces thank you, I'll have check around and see what I can find. I did get a couple of Space Cat gashapons last time I was there.

[@aussiefirestorm]

Space Cats!!!!

[@cakeswithfaces]

🤘🤘🤘

[@zoeb6778]

I know you said you would have a video soon on Smart EX. I have been trying to create an account with the app, but it won't accept any of my US credit cards. I tried a debit one as well, visa & MC. I will keep trying!

[@cakeswithfaces]

It's very particular about which cards are accepted. They have to have the exact type of 3D security it requires. I did a little survey on Instagram recently to find out which cards work: instagram.com/p/C51VPlnhst0/ It seems that Amex is usually accepted, and cards that use an app to approve payments seem to work.

[@zoeb6778]

@@cakeswithfaces Thank you. I don't have an Amex, but maybe I can change some kind of security setting on one of my other Credit cards. If that does not work maybe I'll use Klook or just buy at the station. Do you know if you can buy in advance at a station in Japan?

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@zoeb6778 Yes, you can buy them in advance once you get to Japan, either at the ticket machine (in English) or at the counter. The disadvantage of Klook is you can't choose your seat, so you can't book the seats with extra space for luggage.

[@zoeb6778]

@@cakeswithfaces Thank you so much!

[@cstpa1]

are you possibly doing a whats new in july ?

[@cakeswithfaces]

There will be more Japan News, not sure exactly when yet!

[@davidwolstenholme4676]

MORNING AMY ,I SHALL WATCH YOU MAYBE THIS AFTERNOON OR TOMORROW AS MY DAUGHTER AND HER BHUSBAND VISIITING ME MIGHT GO INTO TIWN THIS AFTERNOON THEN TOMORROW THERE OFF TO THE FIRST DAY OF THE GREEN MAN CARNIVAL OR PARADE WHATEVER.I HAVE NOT BEEN SAYING MANY PRAYERS EITHER.TAKE CARE AND STAY SAFE AMY.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Enjoy!!

[@davidwolstenholme4676]

@@cakeswithfaces When my youngest grandson aged about 34 visited japan he and his friends walked up mount fuji ,i couldnt i would collapse my legs ache walking up about 25 concrete steps in this flat

[@melissadenomy6816]

I always liked chococat

[@cakeswithfaces]

So cute! 😺

[@noronhawarren]

Is there any link to a high resolution map of the blocked streets in Gion? I coulnd't find it on your insta

[@cakeswithfaces]

It's the second pic in this post: instagram.com/p/C5gu39KCrL6/?img_index=2

[@MagicGreenSquid]

Congrats on becoming miniature figs!

[@cakeswithfaces]

It's an honour! I can't wait to visit them in real life!

[@dutchmangoesjapan]

Any idea when the pokemon art exhibition will be in tokyo?

[@cakeswithfaces]

It's in Tokyo from 1st November until 2nd February, at Azabudai Hills. Before that, it's in Atami which is do-able as a day trip from Tokyo - here's the schedule: kogei.pokemon.co.jp/en/info/schedule.html

[@Malkaras]

😥 I just Checked out the N700 upcycled page and It looks like they only Ship to japan

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ah that's not surprising tbh. Maybe you could use a shipping service if there's something you really want?

[@yuiao4048]

Isn't she charming? I'd like to call her "Iyashikei-British(癒し系英国人)".

[@cakeswithfaces]

ありがとうございます! ✨✨✨

[@ButterflyBandit88]

❤

[@cakeswithfaces]

🙌🙌

[@Ivan-os4st]

please say how much the pokemon room cost its about $1789 thats crazy no thanks

[@cakeswithfaces]

The suite isn't cheap - it's a large suite with room service and Pokemon gifts included, plus club lounge access. The regular Pokemon rooms are $463.

[@mcblend5236]

🥹🥹🥹⚡️⚡️💫💫💫

[@cakeswithfaces]

🙌🙌🙌

[@AlanVByrnes]

🇯🇵✈️

[@cakeswithfaces]

🙌🙌

[@aleksandrakezika3586]

nooo, not the rilurilu fairilu characters T^T why it's not popular among japanese kids? i think it's sanrios fault! should promote better! >

[@cakeswithfaces]

It's a shame they don't all get the same exposure as Hello Kitty & co! I always thought it's funny how Aggretsuko seems much more popular abroad than in Japan too.

[@AlanVByrnes]

🤖🇯🇵

[@cakeswithfaces]

👍

[@josephinee.7008]

Hi Amy! ☺️ I’m visiting Japan with a friend this month, so this video is really helpful, thanks a lot! 🫶 Regarding the tourist ban, do you have any sources or information on how the businesses in the streets that have been banned for tourists are affected? I can see on the map that the entire length of Nishi-Hanamikoji street is now banned which has a lot of bars and restaurants. Do you know if it’s still possible for tourists to enter and dine at these establishments or are they no longer allowed to accept foreign guests? Some hotels and guesthouses appear to be affected as well. It’s so sad that a lot of people just couldn’t behave themselves & now everyone has to suffer the consequences…😢

[@cakeswithfaces]

Actually I don't know about that - it's quite tricky to find out the details about this story (especially among all the clickbait!). It could be that they have enough domestic customers... or it'd seem reasonable to have a situation where you're allowed on those streets if you're a customer or have a reason to be there eg frequenting a hotel or restaurant. Although they'd still be losing passing trade from tourists.