Preface#
This is my third time visiting Japan. The first time was after the college entrance examination, I went to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara. The second time was during my undergraduate years, I explored Hokkaido in winter. The third time, which is this time, I visited my best friend in Fukuoka.
Actually, the preparation was quite rushed. I only made up my mind to go in early July, got my visa at the end of July, and flew to Tokyo at the beginning of August. But luckily, my best friend was there, so even if I didn't bring anything, it shouldn't be a problem. It feels 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 HK Express from Hong Kong.
I departed from Ningbo and took Spring Airlines to Narita.
On 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 for round-trip tickets).
You can fill out the Visit Japan Web in advance to save the trouble of writing 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 out travel guides on Qyer 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:
- Little Red Book has many advertisements, so it is suitable for avoiding certain tourist attractions.
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 or at JR train stations in China.
- The main modes of transportation in Japan are JR trains, Shinkansen, and some subway/railway trains operated by JR. It is recommended to check the timetable as some non-JR trains have low frequencies.
- Reference: Nick Lee's 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#
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(2023/08/04) Fly in the afternoon and arrive in the evening, preparing for Mount Fuji the next day.
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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).
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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.
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Depart early in the morning to Kamakura Station and start exploring from north to south:
Engaku-ji Temple -> Meigetsu-in Temple -> Sasuke Inari Shrine -> Kencho-ji Temple -> Hachimangu Shrine + Lunch -> Hase-dera Temple
Then take the Enoshima Electric Railway to Enoshima, where you can spend the afternoon. As for the return journey, you can decide on your own nightlife.
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Walking route in residential areas: Chofu -> Mitaka (Ghibli Museum is located here) -> Tama (Tama Zoo costs 30 RMB and you can spend the whole afternoon there! It's huge)
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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 large collection and is worth a visit.
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In the morning, we happened to encounter a typhoon, and the trains were suspended. We spent the morning playing PS5 at my friend's house... In the afternoon, we strolled around and went shopping near Tenjin.
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Itoshima + Kyushu University campus stroll + Shikanoshima Island; The seawater in Itoshima is clear and beautiful! Marine Road and Shikanoshima Island are great for cycling.
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In the morning, visit Sanno-ji Temple + Nanzoin Temple, and in the afternoon, visit Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine.
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Fly back home, over.
Mount Fuji#
Time#
- Climbing season: from July to September every year, see here
- Choosing the date: refer to the Mount Fuji Climbing Index, it is recommended to climb during Class A and not climb during Class C (poor visibility)
- How to get there: except for 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 and you will 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 at around 2 pm, then descended to the 8th Station to rest (it gets dark at 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 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 before dawn, and then descend; this way, you can save the cost of staying in a mountain hut.
- Personally, I recommend day climbing for beginners who don't mind the accommodation cost. It is less tiring and allows for better appreciation of the scenery around Mount Fuji (the surrounding area of Mount Fuji is much lower in elevation, 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), headlamp, shoe covers for sand protection
- Optional: waterproof clothing (depending on the weather and whether you need more professional rain gear), 2 trekking poles, emergency blanket, medication
- Equipment can be rented from yamarent. There is a branch at the bus stop at the 5th Station where you can pick up equipment 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 Little Red Book when choosing equipment.
- I have seen people climbing with Converse or regular sports shoes... so anything works, it's just that the shoes will be more worn out and your feet might hurt more 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 those in 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 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 was my third time in Japan, I still bought 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 prohibited in Japan, they do not affect pedestrians. There are no electric scooters at all.
- The highways around Tokyo are really narrow...
- Taxis in Japan seem to be less common, so when visiting less popular attractions, we often had to walk a lot.
- Detached houses near Tokyo are relatively compact, with small yards, which is better than nothing. Land in Fukuoka is more luxurious, 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 around 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 a certain level of 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, and 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.