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[psst, JAPAN | japan travel tips @psst_japan]

@breadmancer if you're in kyoto this weekend: hogon-in and kitano tenmangu's maple garden start night light-ups fri 13, and tofuku-ji's autumn viewing opens sat 14 (8:30–16:30, ¥1,000). go right at opening.

[psst, JAPAN | japan travel tips @psst_japan]

kyoto's autumn nights start this friday.
fri: hogon-in + kitano tenmangu maple garden lit at night, umekoji park maple festival
sat: tofuku-ji autumn viewing starts (8:30–16:30, ¥1,000)
next: chion-in 11/17, eikando 11/20, kiyomizu-dera 11/21
#JapanTravel

[psst, JAPAN | japan travel tips @psst_japan]

@Doogs97x over a month on trip number 11 sounds like the dream. if you picked up anything tax-free this time, it changed on nov 1, the refund now happens when you scan your passport at the airport kiosk before you leave

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@ToFuSmurF @pokebato snow and jingisukan in sapporo, then 16 days of tokyo, what a combo. are you planning any day trips out of the city or keeping it all tokyo?

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@cleondesigns the kuroneko cat really is one of the best. fun bonus, that same company will ship your suitcase from the hotel to the airport if you send it a couple of days ahead

[psst, JAPAN | japan travel tips @psst_japan]

@rachelbro19 a 14-hour harry potter marathon is a solid plan. if you end up wanting more, the studio tour in tokyo is advance tickets only, so it's worth grabbing a slot before you land

[psst, JAPAN | japan travel tips @psst_japan]

@kingdomkhada zojoji with tokyo tower behind it is such a good day 2 shot. 30k steps fully earns that wagyu ramen

[psst, JAPAN | japan travel tips @psst_japan]

@ShioriArts safe flight home! one small thing if you bought anything tax-free: the refund is handled at the airport now, so give yourself a few extra minutes before security

[psst, JAPAN | japan travel tips @psst_japan]

@Mearical @tapeandrives @bandmaid @gungire_band @atozome_ @dragdownjapan five shows in one trip is a dream lineup. which one are you most hyped for?

[psst, JAPAN | japan travel tips @psst_japan]

@artisanal_gamer that tag is perfect 🎮 if you end up hauling it between cities, most hotels can forward your suitcase to the next one for a small fee, usually arriving the next day

[psst, JAPAN | japan travel tips @psst_japan]

don't watch taiko from the back.

wadaiko: low stance, full swing.
at a summer festival, stand close.

[psst, JAPAN | japan travel tips @psst_japan]

@HazelCh98 the suitcase tetris is real 😅 heads-up for the shopping part: since nov 1, tax-free means paying full price in store and getting the refund at the airport, so leave a little time before your flight

[psst, JAPAN | japan travel tips @psst_japan]

@natesoutofshape ha, they're out there, just pricey to keep — the yearly car tax jumps about 15% once a car passes 13 years, so a lot of them get exported instead

[psst, JAPAN | japan travel tips @psst_japan]

the drinking mistake first-timers make in japan: pouring their own.
fill your neighbor's glass; they'll fill yours.
had enough? keep your glass fairly full — empty ones get refilled.

[psst, JAPAN | japan travel tips @psst_japan]

@summits77 ha the street karts look so fun. small heads-up: they ask for an international driving permit from home, so it's worth getting one before you fly

[psst, JAPAN | japan travel tips @psst_japan]

a comedy show with one cushion and a fan.

rakugo: a fan and a cloth are the only props.
some performers do it in english.

#JapanTravel

[psst, JAPAN | japan travel tips @psst_japan]

ramen shop with a machine by the door? buy your ticket first.
pick before you insert cash, keep ¥1,000 notes handy, hand the ticket to staff.
#JapanTravel

[psst, JAPAN | japan travel tips @psst_japan]

新米 (shinmai) = new rice.
in shops, the label only goes on rice packed by dec 31 of the harvest year — so autumn is when you see it.
order it plain: white rice or a salt onigiri.
nov 23: holiday + niiname-sai, the imperial harvest rite.

#JapaneseFood

[psst, JAPAN | japan travel tips @psst_japan]

the japanese sauna cycle:
sauna 5–10 min → rinse → cold bath 30 sec–1 min → rest.
the calm in the rest is "totonou."
drink water. it's not a contest.

[psst, JAPAN | japan travel tips @psst_japan]

this week in tokyo (nov 9–15)
· mt. takao best colour forecast ~nov 13
· showa kinen park ginkgo now (lit 16:30–20:30)
· nov 12 hibiya illumination + marunouchi bright holiday
· nov 13 yoyogi forest of lights (online tickets only)
· nov 15 shichi-go-san