While the yen’s depreciation isn’t good news for the Japanese economy, it has led to an increase in the number of travelers heading to major cities to make the most of their country’s cash by going farther afield. In fact, due to the weak yen combined with the appeal of the cherry blossom season, Japan recorded a number of visitors that exceeded 3 million in a single month. This surpasses the previous record of 3 million in 2019.
Anyway, all I have to say is that Japan is overrun with tourists right now. Facts aside, I am one of those tourists and after learning the hard way that most major attractions may simply imply status alongside other enthusiasts. travelers, I developed some tips and tricks to avoid the crowds and maximize my time in Japan.
So if you’re making plans to pass (which you should!!!), here you go.
This is a trick I learned the hard way. If you want more expensive items, you may want to reserve a ticket or seat as soon as possible. Some of those hotspots include the famous Ghibli Park, Ghibli Museum, Pokémon Cafe, TeamLab Museums, and Tokyo Skytree. But this rule does not only apply to very touristy areas.
With vlogs all over Japan bombarding Reels and TikTok, it’s getting harder and harder to get into something that even notices a trace of sought-after virality.
My biggest sadness was going to Macho Bar, a bar where muscular men not only show you to your table, but also use their biceps to squirt ketchup for your nuggies, only to find out that it was fully booked for each and every one of them. the nights at IArrayKyoto. Simply devastating. . The only thing that made it bearable was a cheeky flex and a warm “Thank you, very macho” on the way out.
Unfortunately, this also applies to hostels and hotels. Normally, when I travel, I book my hostels at the last minute. I’m a stylish woman who likes to argue about what my next action deserves to be. However, in Japan this is not entirely imaginable today. The best option is to book your hostels in advance if you need to find fairly expensive accommodation; otherwise, you could end up paying a surprising amount of money for a shared room.
Heed my warning!!
As a woman who enjoys highballs, sparkling Asahi, and 196 lemon sodas on a night out on the town, getting up early to sightsee is the hardest tip for me to follow. However, it’s still worth it, even with a hangover.
At some of the big tourist attractions, the crowds surely go crazy after 8am. m. This is especially true in Kyoto, where major sites like Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-Dera, and Yasaka Shrine are not built for large numbers of people. But even other attractions like the deer-filled Arashiyama and Nara bamboo forests become overwhelming when among hordes of people looking to take a wonderful photo.
Isn’t it me? Check out those amazing photographs of no one below, taken early and in bright light.
So my recommendation is to wake up at dawn and head into the city to get to the attractions you want to see. It can be a challenge, but when you want to get a good look at the attractions in the new morning air, I promise. value it.
Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are beautiful. They are all full of good looks and value the Array. However, those aren’t the only prefectures that appear when you walk around Japan.
There are so many clever things, I promise!!! From Miyajima to Sapporo Nagoya and Kyushu, there are so many lovely places to see!
This time, I headed to Tottori, a prefecture in western Japan 3 hours by bus from Kyoto. It’s the country’s least populated prefecture, known for its incredibly sprawling sand dunes, beautiful mountainous coastlines, nashi pears, and a sand museum that features delicately designed sand sculptures that are replaced every year.
It was wonderful to stop by a slightly less crowded place, enjoy the views and be able to stay in an empty hostel. I even had the opportunity to attend a wonderful local Wakame (seaweed) festival while I was there. Sitting outdoors in the new ocean air, it was an absolute pleasure to sunbathe, cheer on the idol organization Momokuro Obaa Z and listen to the original song from the local club Wakame about their love of seaweed.
This total enjoyment made me feel like a very lucky duck.
TikTok is a great resource for finding things to do and places to stay, but it makes it difficult to make stopovers in super-viral places and e-book hosting. During my stay between April and May, it was difficult to book affordable accommodation in the hot spots of the cities.
In Tokyo, the subway formula is so effective that you can book electronically anywhere without it affecting your travel plans too much. So, instead of staying in Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Ginza, try venturing a bit into other neighborhoods. I promise you, they’re going to be just as attractive in one way or another.
Also, a fun fact, I stayed in a hostel that lives up to its name Bedgasm Hostel. It is much larger than the name suggests.
March and April are the busiest times in Japan due to the cherry blossoms. Don’t get me wrong, they’re beautiful. An absolute atmosphere. A spectacle worth seeing, indeed.
However, if you’re like me and feel your hands sweating and your mouth getting dry as you make your way through the crowd, March and April may not be the most productive time to travel to Japan. The good news is that there are many other smart moments to be experienced!
In May the weather is pleasant and spring is approaching. If you are a fan of mild holidays, June to August is summer. From September to November is autumn, which in my opinion is the most beautiful time in any city because of the colorful colors that adorn the trees. And then there is the snowy winter from December to March. Awesome!!!
Lots of features and probably less expensive as well.
Sometimes you just can’t anticipate what will happen when you travel, even if you organize everything in detail. But honestly, that’s the good thing about it.
My most productive moments were not planned at all. It’s like being in a karoke room with a group of amazing strangers after being kicked out of the Macho Bar. Or be followed through a Japanese TV crew for a news segment via Dotonbori. Or even attend a devout festival in Tokyo while having a drink with a new friend.
Everything is incredible and, no matter how vulgar it may seem, I will cherish memories. So my recommendation to avoid crowds is not to get too stuck in what you have to do and go with the flow.
Who knows, the place where you end up will be better anyway.