What do you need to carry with you for a day of sightseeing in Japan?
1. A washcloth: In public bathrooms in Japan, there arenât always hand dryers, so people usually carry a small washcloth with them to dry their hands. This washcloth also comes in handy during the hot, humid summer months to wipe off sweat (gross, but good to have!). Buy one once you arrive in Japan - all department stores sell them, as do a number of smaller shops!
2. A trash bag: Japanâs response to terrorism, as there was a trash can bomb years ago, was to remove all public trash cans. While you may be able to find a recycle bin at a convenience store or train station, for other trash itâs common to carry a small plastic bag with you to collect all of your trash during the day to throw away at home.
3. Cash: Credit cards are more widely accepted than they used to be, but cash is still necessary at smaller shops and to buy train tickets or to top up your IC transit card. Itâs common (and safe) to carry „40,000-50,000 in your wallet.
4. Your IC card! With the chip shortage, physical IC transit cards are harder to find, so you can download the Suica app on your phone or add any of Japanâs IC cards (ICOCA, Suica, etc all work all over Japan). Once you have loaded your card with money, you can use it to tap in and out of subway stations, on busses, and even to buy snacks from vending machines and convenience stores.
Bonus: an umbrella! Donât bother packing one for your trip, but wait until a rainy day to buy one in Japan. Every convenience store sells basic umbrellas, or you could pop into a department store for a wider variety of options!
What do you always carry with you for a day of sightseeing?
If youâre interested in modern art, Japan has some amazing museums you shouldnât miss!
teamLab
teamLab Planets in Tokyo recently earned the Guinness World Record for most visited museum of a single art group. The art collective, which started in Tokyo in 2001, has museums and installations all around the country. They seek to navigate the confluence of art, science, and technology, and their installations are often immersive.
Advance tickets are required for all teamLab exhibits.
Naoshima
The art island of Naoshima, which has gained international recognition due to the Setouchi Triennale, a huge art show that takes place every 3 years, is basically a huge open-air museum, with installations all over the island, including Yayoi Kusamaâs iconic Yellow Pumpkin. There are also a number of indoor museums, including heavy hitters such as Benesse House and the Ando Museum, featuring architecture by the museumâs namesake, architect Tadao Ando.
To get around Naoshima, we recommend renting bikes at the ferry port and exploring on your own. As of October 2024, timed entry tickets are required for most museums on the island. Many museums are closed on Mondays.
Miho Museum
Located in the countryside about 90 minutes by public transport or 1 hour by car from Kyoto, the Miho Museum was designed by architect I.M. Pei. The museum founder, Mihoko Koyama, sought to create a place where visitors could experience peace and happiness through art. The permanent collection features around 3,000 works of ceramics, lacquerware, and other Japanese art.
Advance tickets strongly recommended. Closed Mondays.
Mori Art Museum
The Mori Art Museum, in central Tokyo, features rotating exhibitions of international contemporary art. The museum focuses on cutting edge exhibitions, with an emphasis on showcasing Asian artists.
Donât miss the observation deck, Tokyo City View, in the same building as the art museum (ticketed separately). Advance tickets are generally not required, but
Summer Festivals in Japan
Japan in summer is hot and humid, but it is the best time to see local festivals! Many locals will wear yukata (a lightweight summer kimono), and at many festivals there are food stalls with lots of unique foods to try.
The festival in this video is the Hakata Gion Yamakasa, which takes place in Fukuoka each year in July. The main event starts at dawn, and teams of men from each neighborhood in Hakata carry floats and race through the streets, while onlookers splash water on them. This festival is said to originate from a Buddhist priest 700 years ago who spread holy water in the streets to stop a plague.
Would you wake up at 5am to see this festival? Iâve only done it once, but it was absolutely worth it!
#matsuri #japanesefestival #gionyamakasa #summerfestival #explorejapan
Daruma Dolls
Daruma dolls and statues are said to have originated from legends of Bodhidarma, a monk who is said to have founded Zen Buddhism in Japan. The story goes that Bodhidarma meditated for 9 years. During this time, his limbs atrophied, which is why Daruma are depicted without arms or legs.
In Japan, Daruma Dolls are a popular way to set and stick to your goals. When you buy a Daruma, both eyes are blank. When you set your goal, paint only the left eye. Once you have achieved your goal, the right eye can then be painted in. The Daruma is helping you to remind you of your goals, and the stern face helps to keep up your determined spirit.
Daruma are generally made of paper mache, with flat, weighted bottoms. This helps them to always stay upright even when knocked over. This reminds those who have set goals to keep persevering even after setbacks.
Some Daruma are sold with both eyes already painted in. These Daruma are to watch over and protect the household.
Some temples in Japan famously hold Daruma burning festivals at the start of the new year, such as the Hatsuichi Matsuri, where Daruma whose goals have been achieved are thanked before being thrown into the fire.
#daruma #darumadoll #visitjapan
What Iâm packing for a week in Japan at the end of February:
Iâm packing light, and planning to do laundry once during my stay. Nearly every hotel in Japan has a laundry room and/or laundry service!
- 2 pairs of water resistant shoes that are comfortable to walk around in and are easy to slip on and off when entering temples and traditional restaurants
- Cute socks which will be seen at the temples and restaurants đ
- 3 wool sweaters for warmth without the weight
- 1 dress, 1 long skirt, and 1 pair of wide-leg trousers
- Comfortable airplane outfit
- Long wool coat
- Scarf (doubles as a blanket on the plane!)
- Umbrella
- Tote bag as a purse so that I donât need to carry an extra bag when I buy snacks or souvenirs
In Japan, I dress more conservatively and less casually than I would in the US!
My favorite thing to shop for in Japan is vintage and secondhand porcelain.
I stop at every antiques store I see when Iâm in Japan, and Iâve built up quite a collection of pottery, plates, and mugs over the years!
Some of my places to find secondhand and antique porcelain:
đKouraku Kiln Treasure Hunt
Arita, Saga Prefecture
Arita is famous for its porcelain, Arita-yaki.
Pay just „5,500 to fill a whole shopping basket with vintage and antique porcelain that was never sold in this huge warehouse!
đRecycle Mart
This chain of secondhand stores in Japan sells everything from refrigerators to bicycles, and usually has a pretty large selection of porcelain. It takes some digging, but Iâve found great pieces here!
What is your favorite thing to shop for?
I love making tea at home! Iâm currently drinking green tea from an area in southern Japan called Yame.
How to brew green tea at home:
- Use roughly 1 teaspoon per 6 oz cup youâd like to brew.
- Water should be hot but not boiling. The perfect temperature for Japanese green teas is 165 degrees F. Hotter water can scald your leaves, leaving them tasting bitter.
- Steep for 1-2 minutes based on your preference. Green tea has a very short steeping time compared with other teas.
-Enjoy!
I trudge up the path, feet squelching into the mud with each step. Water seeps under my collar and I shiver. But the world smells fresh and new, and everything glistens green and full of life.
There is something so magical to me about exploring the Japanese countryside. I love the narrow, winding roads completely covered by overhanging emerald branches. I love stumbling upon a new hiking route, or discovering a new cafe, or rounding a corner to see steam rising from nearby hot springs. Each discovery is all the sweeter knowing you chanced upon it.
Clear view of Mt Fuji from the window of the shinkansen! #mtfujijapan #bullettrainjapan
