Wright

Preface#

This is my third time going to Japan. The first time was after the college entrance examination, I went to Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka-Nara for sightseeing. The second time was during my undergraduate years, I explored Hokkaido in winter. The third time, which is this time, is to visit my best friend in Fukuoka.

Actually, the preparation was quite rushed. I only decided to go in early July, got the visa at the end of July, and flew to Tokyo at the beginning of August. But luckily, my best friend is there, so even if I didn't bring anything, it shouldn't be a problem. It feels really good to have this peace of mind.

Preparation for Free Travel in Japan#

Air Tickets#

The most common low-cost airlines in the past should be Spring Airlines and Hong Kong Express. I departed from Ningbo and took Spring Airlines to Narita.

On Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), you can occasionally see round-trip tickets for less than 3000 RMB. Doing some research in advance can save a lot of money (I spent nearly 4k RMB for round-trip tickets).

You can fill out the Visit Japan Web form in advance to save time on filling out the customs declaration form upon entry.

Itinerary Planning#

• For friends in Japan, reliable local experts are always the best source of information.
• If you don't have a plan, you can check the Qiongyou Jin Nang (a travel website) or Reddit to decide which cities to visit.
• If you have a clear idea of which cities to visit, you can use the following tools and websites:
  • Japan National Tourism Organization official website
  • Xiaoshi Shaonian Blog: Tokyo as an example
• Xiaohongshu has many advertising posts, so it is suitable for avoiding specific tourist spots.

Transportation#

• If you are traveling with 1-2 people like me, it is more convenient to buy a SIM card online. If you are traveling with a small team, you can rent a mobile WiFi device.
• Most transportation in Japan accepts Suica cards, which can be purchased on Taobao (an online shopping platform in China) or at JR train stations.
• The main modes of transportation in Japan are JR trains, Shinkansen (bullet trains), and some subway/railway trains operated by JR. It is recommended to check the timetable as non-JR trains may not have frequent schedules.
• Reference: Xiaoshi Shaonian Blog: Introduction to Japanese Transportation

Accommodation#

• Use Agoda and Booking.com to find accommodations, use TripAdvisor to read reviews/ratings, and use HotelsCombined to find the cheapest booking platform.
• For homestays, use Airbnb.
• *Not all Japanese hotels have electric kettles.

Itinerary#

Overview#

1. (2023/08/04) Fly in the afternoon and arrive in the evening, preparing for Mount Fuji the next day.

2. Wake up at around 5 am and take the first bus to Mount Fuji 5th Station from Shinjuku at around 6 am. Arrive at around 9 am and start climbing (details below).
   

3. Start climbing again in the middle of the night, watch the sunrise, and then descend. Take the bus back to Shinjuku around noon, return to the hotel, freshen up (no showers in mountain huts), have a meal, and rest. Trust me, after descending, you will be too tired to go anywhere else.
   

4. Depart in the morning to Kamakura Station and start exploring from north to south:
   Engakuji Temple -> Meigetsuin Temple -> Sasuke Inari Shrine -> Kenchoji Temple -> Hachimangu Shrine + Lunch -> Hasedera Temple
   

Then take the Enoden Line to Enoshima, where you can spend an afternoon. As for the return trip, you can decide on your own nightlife activities.

5. Walking route in residential areas: Tachikawa -> Mitaka (Ghibli Museum is here) -> Tama (Tama Zoo costs 30 RMB and you can spend the whole afternoon there! It's huge)

6. In the morning, visit Tokyo Bay/Odaiba and the Tokyo National Museum. In the afternoon, take the Shinkansen to Fukuoka. The Tokyo National Museum has a lot of collections and is worth a visit.

7. In the morning, we happened to encounter a typhoon, and the trains were not running. We spent the morning playing PS5 at my friend's house... In the afternoon, we strolled around and went shopping near Tenjin.
   

8. Itoshima + Kyushu University campus stroll + Shikanoshima Island; Itoshima has clear and beautiful seawater! Marine Road and Shikanoshima Island are great for cycling.
   

9. In the morning, visit Sannoji Temple + Nanzoin Temple, and in the afternoon, visit Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine.
   

10. Fly back home, over.

Mount Fuji#

Time#

• Opening period: Every year from July to September, see here.
• Choosing a date: Refer to the Mount Fuji Climbing Index, suggest climbing during Level A and not climbing during Level C (poor visibility).
• How to get there: Besides renting a car, the usual way is to take a bus from Shinjuku to Mount Fuji 5th Station (Gogome -> station) Official website
  • When you come out of the Yamanote Line at Shinjuku, go up to the 4th floor to find the bus station.
• Going to Mount Fuji from other starting points

Route#

• Mount Fuji has several climbing routes, and like most people, I chose the Yoshida Trail (this route has more mountain huts and resting points).
• Day climb: Spend a night on the mountain. I took the earliest bus from Shinjuku to start climbing at around 9 am, reached the summit around 2 pm, then descended to the 8th Station to rest (it gets dark around 7 pm), slept until after 1 am, and then climbed to the summit to watch the sunrise (adjust according to the specific sunrise time of the day); It usually takes about 3 hours to climb from the 8th Station to the summit at midnight.
• Night climb: Start climbing in the afternoon or evening, reach the summit at dawn, and then descend. This way, you can save on the accommodation fee at the mountain huts.
• Personally, I recommend day climbing for beginners who don't mind the accommodation fee. It is less tiring and allows for better appreciation of the scenery around Mount Fuji (the surrounding area of Mount Fuji is much lower, making Mount Fuji stand out).
  

Equipment#

• Recommended: A 25L backpack, shoes with good grip for walking downhill on sandy terrain, warm clothing, windproof clothing, gloves, sunscreen, some food and water (I only brought one liter), coins (200 yen for toilets), a headlamp, shoe covers for sand protection.
• Optional: Waterproof clothing (depending on the weather and whether you need more professional rain gear), 2 trekking poles, a survival blanket, medication.
• Equipment can be rented from Yamarent, and there is a branch at the bus stop at the 5th Station, such as rain gear, hiking shoes, and backpacks.
• I don't think you need top brands or very professional equipment. Generally, as long as it's not too shabby, it should be fine. Don't be fooled by posts on Xiaohongshu.
  • I have seen people climbing with Converse or regular sports shoes... so anything can work, it's just that the shoes may be worn out and your feet may hurt after descending, haha.
• Personally, I experienced altitude sickness because I climbed too fast... so pay attention to time management and pace control.
• Reference: Decathlon's gear recommendations for Mt. Fuji

Thoughts#

Shopping#

• The prices of meat, eggs, rice, and milk in Fukuoka are comparable to Guangzhou and Hangzhou in China, while seafood is cheaper and fruits and vegetables are more expensive.
• Offline shopping is obviously cheaper than online shopping, so the atmosphere of shopping in Japan is better, and there are more young people.
  • Online shopping is more expensive for takeout in China, but buying things online is cheaper.
• Due to exchange rate fluctuations, some electrical appliances may be cheaper to buy in China than in Japan with tax exemption. Before buying, remember to check Taobao in China.
• Even though it's my third time in Japan, I still enjoy finding second-hand CDs. But unlike before, I went to Disk Union in Shibuya and Nakano Broadway in Nakano this time. Highly recommended!

Streets#

• Although Japan has shared bicycles, the number is very limited.
• Although motorcycles are not banned in Japan, they do not affect pedestrians. There are no electric scooters at all.
• The highways near Tokyo are really narrow...
• Taxis in Japan seem to be less common, so when traveling to less popular tourist spots, we often have to walk a lot.
• Detached houses near Tokyo are relatively compact, with small yards, which is better than nothing. Fukuoka has luxurious land, and you can often see large yards. If I were to settle down, I would definitely choose Fukuoka...
  

Journey#

• Don't just focus on Akihabara for shopping, Shibuya and Ikebukuro are also great.
• Don't go to Enoshima too late, as some attractions close in the evening.
• There are actually many cities near Tokyo that are worth visiting, such as Saitama, Chiba, Edogawa, Yokohama, and Yokosuka, but I haven't been to them yet, unfortunately.
• Fukuoka is a great place, with convenient transportation, a relatively low population density compared to Tokyo, and it is a port city with industry, attractions, food, and culture (it has opera and a dome)!
• I couldn't go to the Wind Chime Festival in Kawagoe, Tokyo, or the Wind Chime Master Festival in Kawasaki, Kyushu! There are two types of wind chimes in Japan: Edo-style glass wind chimes and southern-style cast iron wind chimes. There are not many places where you can buy good wind chimes.
• Due to Typhoon Kanu, I couldn't go to Mount Aso. You can take a helicopter to fly over the crater here.
• I couldn't go to Yakushima and Kagoshima. The time allocated for Kyushu was too short.