Looks like they've put up the climbing fee/restrictions info on the English version of the Fujisan-Climb website now:
Has anyone had rings made? we were going to do Ringram in Osaka or Tokyo, but it looks like wedding rings are only available if you do their couples ring making course. Just saw Glanta in Kyoto can do them for you in 10 minutes, might opt for that. Any other good options?
Just looked up where I remembered a ring making thing and it was a Sharla video here which was at Ringram lol, not sure if this is where you saw it but maybe it'll help seeing it.
View: https://youtu.be/3eCz-nxDmn8?t=493
Traveling to Japan for the first time on Saturday :0!
Anyone have any pro tips for surviving a 14 hour flight?
The number of foreign visitors to Japan totaled over 3.04 million in April, up 56.1 percent from a year earlier and exceeding the 3 million mark for the second consecutive month, amid the weak yen, government data showed Wednesday.
It was the second-highest monthly figure on record after 3.08 million recorded in March, and the cumulative number of visitors between January and April stood at around 11.6 million, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.
If inbound tourist arrivals continue at their current pace, the figure for 2024 could surpass the annual record of 31.88 million logged in 2019, before the novel coronavirus outbreak in the country.
Notably, travelers from Southeast Asia and the Middle East increased as the month coincided with the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan this year, the organization said.
The largest number of travelers came from South Korea at 661,200, up 16.7 percent from the pre-pandemic level in 2019, followed by those from China at 533,600, down 26.5 percent, and Taiwan at 459,700, up 13.9 percent, according to the organization's preliminary data.
Visitors from Indonesia, with a sizeable Muslim population, rose 57.2 percent from 2019 to 62,500, while those from the Middle East jumped 73.8 percent to 23,200, according to the data.
Two municipalities at the foot of Mount Fuji plan to introduce an accommodation tax as early as 2026 to improve the local tourism industry and fight overtourism.
Hideyuki Watanabe, who was elected mayor of Fuji-Kawaguchiko in November, promised to introduce an accommodation tax as part of his campaign.
Town officials plan to study the tax amount and concrete measures to be taken, establish an ordinance and consult with the internal affairs ministry to introduce the tax early in 2026.
The city of Fuji-Yoshida, east of Fuji-Kawaguchiko, also plans to introduce an accommodation tax in fiscal 2026 alongside the neighboring town.
Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi instructed city officials to introduce the accommodation tax after receiving a proposal from the local chamber of commerce and industry in March.
"We want to work with officials of Fuji-Kawaguchiko toward the introduction so that there will be no difference in the amount between the two taxes," a senior city official said.
According to the internal affairs ministry, nine local governments, including Tokyo, Kyoto and Fukuoka, have introduced an accommodation tax.
The tax amounts are generally 100 to 200 yen although they differ between 50 yen and 1,000 yen depending on accommodation fees and other factors.
The hida limited express is the one from Nagoya to Toyama, right?Sure. Make sure you check the timetables for the trains to/from Takayama though, there's not a lot of them each day. You probably want to pre-book as much as possible both for the buses and the Hida limited express train you plan to take as well.
If anyone has any suggestions for either, OR any other nice spots to run in Shinjuku/Tokyo that would be appreciated!
The hida limited express is the one from Nagoya to Toyama, right?
Have you taken it before?
The loop around the outskirts of the imperial palace seems really popular in all the heatmaps I have seen of where people go running. It's definitely flat and has some nice scenery. It's pretty much exactly a 5K loop.Just a couple questions for my trip coming up.
Would someone be able to give a quick explanation for how esim works? From my understanding, I buy it before I leave but can I set it up before departure and still use my primary sim and then swap once I land? It also looks like it would be cheaper than doing ATT international service (which looks to be about $10 a day), but using an esim wouldn't allow me to do call or texting, which seems fine since I could still use iMessage/discord for all that stuff. Also for 2 weeks, what would be the recommended amount of data, is 50 gb overkill? And finally, does anyone have any recommended providers, from what I've seen, airalo or ubigi seem like they are two of the more popular ones.
Also if anyone has any recommendations for areas to stay would be great! I was initially looking at Shinjuku since that seems to be most popular online, but I also like to run everyday and wasn't sure if that was as runner friendly compared to other spots (like if it was like trying to run in Time Square). The other spot I was looking at was Asakusa since then I could run along the Sumida River, but wasn't sure if that was not as easy to get around compared to Shinjuku. If anyone has any suggestions for either, OR any other nice spots to run in Shinjuku/Tokyo that would be appreciated!
Finally have all hotels reserved. Now onto trying to find more things to do while we're in the areas we're in.
The only truly mandatory thing we have on the list of to-dos is Shirakawa-go, because that is what my partner wants to see (massive Higurashi fan). Spending a whole day doing that.
I absolutely adored Shirakawa-go when I went in February, was magical with all the snow everywhere and a real highlight of the trip.
+1 for the MikeHattsu fan club over here! Always happy to help and super knowledgable!
Just a couple questions for my trip coming up.
Would someone be able to give a quick explanation for how esim works? From my understanding, I buy it before I leave but can I set it up before departure and still use my primary sim and then swap once I land? It also looks like it would be cheaper than doing ATT international service (which looks to be about $10 a day), but using an esim wouldn't allow me to do call or texting, which seems fine since I could still use iMessage/discord for all that stuff. Also for 2 weeks, what would be the recommended amount of data, is 50 gb overkill? And finally, does anyone have any recommended providers, from what I've seen, airalo or ubigi seem like they are two of the more popular ones.
Also if anyone has any recommendations for areas to stay would be great! I was initially looking at Shinjuku since that seems to be most popular online, but I also like to run everyday and wasn't sure if that was as runner friendly compared to other spots (like if it was like trying to run in Time Square). The other spot I was looking at was Asakusa since then I could run along the Sumida River, but wasn't sure if that was not as easy to get around compared to Shinjuku. If anyone has any suggestions for either, OR any other nice spots to run in Shinjuku/Tokyo that would be appreciated!
Japan's parliament on Friday passed a bill that will permit police to fine cyclists for minor traffic violations, as authorities respond to an increase in accidents that has come in line with a boom in cycle commuting that began during the coronavirus pandemic.
When the revised Road Traffic Act comes into force, police will be able to issue people aged 16 and older so-called blue tickets for about 115 relatively minor violations like ignoring traffic lights and stop signs.
Blue ticket fines are expected to range between around 5,000 yen ($32) and 12,000 yen.
The amended law [also] expanded the range of red ticket offenses to include cycling above the established road alcohol driving limit or posing a danger to traffic by using a mobile phone while riding.
If convicted, those found cycling under the influence and issued a red ticket could be subject to imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of 500,000 yen, and those cycling while using a phone could be given a prison term of up to one year or a 300,000 yen fine.
The revised law also requires drivers to slow to a safe speed when passing a bicycle heading in the same direction, while cyclists are required to keep the left of the lane.
Is it just me or are cyclists not ringing bells anymore? I had some near accidents earlier this year since they kinda snuck up on me. I remember year past they at least rung a bell.
Yes! That was very helpful thank you! And I'll absolutely take any restaurant recs!
Running around the palace is nice but Yoyogi Park is also a great place to run, with a couple different options built into the park for shorter/longer loopsJust a couple questions for my trip coming up.
Would someone be able to give a quick explanation for how esim works? From my understanding, I buy it before I leave but can I set it up before departure and still use my primary sim and then swap once I land? It also looks like it would be cheaper than doing ATT international service (which looks to be about $10 a day), but using an esim wouldn't allow me to do call or texting, which seems fine since I could still use iMessage/discord for all that stuff. Also for 2 weeks, what would be the recommended amount of data, is 50 gb overkill? And finally, does anyone have any recommended providers, from what I've seen, airalo or ubigi seem like they are two of the more popular ones.
Also if anyone has any recommendations for areas to stay would be great! I was initially looking at Shinjuku since that seems to be most popular online, but I also like to run everyday and wasn't sure if that was as runner friendly compared to other spots (like if it was like trying to run in Time Square). The other spot I was looking at was Asakusa since then I could run along the Sumida River, but wasn't sure if that was not as easy to get around compared to Shinjuku. If anyone has any suggestions for either, OR any other nice spots to run in Shinjuku/Tokyo that would be appreciated!
I've always seen bad mannered cyclists. Are there more of them now? Maybe?
Have never encountered bad cyclists, though with new cycle laws coming in there might be an improvement
I linked an article about the new laws like 6 posts above your post, that's why we started talking about it :p
Built about 400 years ago, Marugame Castle is looking for a new feudal lord.
The new master must have deep pockets and foreigners are welcome.
It is accepting reservations for an overnight stay with two meals at the castle for two people at the princely sum of 1.265 million yen ($8,070), including tax.
The offer is primarily aimed at wealthy tourists from abroad.
The castle stay program is aimed at pairs, in principle, with officials hoping to attract 23 pairs in fiscal 2024, 36 pairs in fiscal 2025 and 38 pairs in fiscal 2026.
The overnight castle stay program will start in July.
Guests will be picked up by a rickshaw at JR Marugame Station to ride to the Ote Ichi-no-mon gate, where they will be welcomed by performers playing a traditional "taiko" drum.
They will walk or use other modes of transportation to get to the main keep and view the important cultural property situated on a 66-meter hill, which will be rented out to them.
They will be served dinner at Enjukaku Bekkan where they will stay overnight.
The meal will be prepared by famed French chef Shu Ishii, made using in-season ingredients from around the area and served on a "gozen" tray bearing the emblem of the Kyogoku clan.
At night, the guests can spend time inside the main keep enjoying drinks and the night view of Marugame Port.
Breakfast will be served in the main building at the daimyo-style Nakazu Banshoen Garden.
Oof. Well, nothing would suck more than flying sick. Have you been able to rebook your hotels and such too?I got ill just before my upcoming trip on Wednesday so I decided to push my tickets back a week since like hell am I riding a plane for 14 hours like this - hopefully I'll be better by a weeks time, I've got 10 days to get better so that should be long enough. All I'll say is if you need to rebook/move JAL tickets do so over the phone. Online I could see the flights I wanted/needed, but it would not let me combine the two I wanted for some stupid reason. I called them, waited maybe a minute if even that to get through to someone and they helped me right away get the two flights and the two seats I wanted.
Oof. Well, nothing would suck more than flying sick. Have you been able to rebook your hotels and such too?
Quick and to the point!
A Cebu Pacific flight from Manila bound for Fukuoka ended up hundreds of kilometers away in Osaka Prefecture on May 19 due to an airport curfew in the southwestern Japan city and lack of staff at an alternative destination nearby.
The low-cost carrier's flight from the Philippine capital of Manila could not make landfall at Fukuoka Airport and was rerouted to Kitakyushu Airport before making a further roughly-400-kilometer trip to Kansai International Airport (KIX) in the Osaka Prefecture city of Izumisano.
The plane touched down at KIX at around 11:40 p.m., with passengers having remained on board for about eight hours -- more than double the original flight time of about three hours.
According to the transportation ministry's Fukuoka Airport office and other sources, the plane departed Manila at just before 4 p.m. Japan Standard Time. It was scheduled to land at around 7 p.m., but around 20 minutes before that, another plane, Ibex Airlines Co.'s Flight 16, reported to traffic control that its landing wheels had possibly not deployed properly, and the runway was closed between 6:42 and 6:49 p.m.
The Cebu airline's plane, meanwhile, was diverted roughly 60 km away to Kitakyushu Airport, landing there at around 7:20 p.m. After refueling, a return to Fukuoka was considered, but the plane would not have been able to land before the curfew.
While Kitakyushu Airport has international flights, disembarking there would have been difficult because the necessary number of ground handling crew was not available at night, so it was decided to land instead at the Kansai facility, which handles international flights around the clock. The plane departed Kitakyushu Airport for KIX at around 10:50 p.m.
In September 2023, a Cebu Pacific flight diverted from Fukuoka Airport was not able to return there due to the facility's 10 p.m. curfew, and U-turned back to the Philippines with passengers having been stuck on board for around 11 hours. It's thought that this time, the airline was also forced to change destinations and landed within Japan after considering the burden on passengers.
I remember being asked at the airline counter if I had any trackers in my luggage before my flight and was told they were not allowed. I just told them that I didn't have any (like a liar) and they didn't notice my AirTag at all. Having it gave me peace of mind knowing that it was at the same airport when I arrived, so I say it's worth it.I feel like I asked this a long while ago, but is it worth getting something like this for my luggage and my personal things?
Chipolo Point finders for Google's Find My Device app - Chipolo
The Chipolo Point key & wallet finders, made exclusively for Android devices. Make your Chipolo Point play a sound or get distance hints to pinpoint the exact location when it's hiding nearby. Lost your keys or wallet somewhere? Check their location on a map in Google's Find My Device app with...chipolo.net
I feel like I asked this a long while ago, but is it worth getting something like this for my luggage and my personal things?
Chipolo Point finders for Google's Find My Device app - Chipolo
The Chipolo Point key & wallet finders, made exclusively for Android devices. Make your Chipolo Point play a sound or get distance hints to pinpoint the exact location when it's hiding nearby. Lost your keys or wallet somewhere? Check their location on a map in Google's Find My Device app with...chipolo.net
I stuck Tiles in my luggage, backpack and wallet, and set up Smart Alerts to tell me if my stuff ever got too far from me. Highly recommended, with one caveat.
I don't know if Tile is special in this regard or if this applies to all trackers like this, but Tiles do not actively update their location constantly. How it works is your phone sets up a geofence around your area and checks that your Tiles are nearby once you leave the geofenced area.
This works great if, for example, you left your wallet behind at your hotel; you'll get a notification pretty quick that your wallet isn't on you. However, the opposite case, where you leave your bag on a train and then don't leave the train station for an hour, won't trigger a notification until you leave the station. You can read more details on the Tile implementation here: https://support.thetileapp.com/hc/en-us/articles/360038376474-Set-Up-Tile-Smart-Alerts
In Tile's case, though, you can do an affirmative check by opening the app; it'll tell you which of your Tiles are nearby immediately. So I just got in the habit of doing that when leaving trains and whatnot.
Japan's weather officials say it will be hotter than usual across the country from June through August.
The Meteorological Agency announced a three-month forecast on Tuesday.
The agency predicts a hot summer due to warm and humid air flowing in Japan from the edge of a high pressure system in the Pacific. It adds that the ending of the El Nino phenomenon will strengthen the high pressure system.
Forecasters say that in June and July, temperatures will be normal or high in northern Japan. They expect high temperatures in eastern and western Japan and in the Okinawa and Amami regions. In August, temperatures will be high across the country.
Officials warn of very high temperatures in August if a La Nina pattern takes place. La Nina refers to lower-than-usual sea-surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean off Peru.
Agency official Tanaka Shotaro says there is a 50 percent chance of La Nina occurring this summer, and the degree of heat will depend on conditions in the tropical zone.
He called on people to take precautions for heatstroke and heavy rain.
International flight passengers at Tokyo's Haneda airport totaled a record high of 19.1 million in fiscal 2023, government data showed Wednesday, with an increase in inbound tourist traffic following the relaxation of COVID-19 border measures contributing to the growth.
The figure marked a 2.8-fold increase from the previous fiscal year, topping the previous record of 18.2 million set in fiscal 2018, according to the transport ministry's East Japan Civil Aviation Bureau.
It is now Japan's second busiest international airport after Narita International Airport, located near Tokyo in neighboring Chiba Prefecture. Narita saw around 26 million international passengers in fiscal 2023, more than double the previous year.
Just to make sure, if my medication is not on any banned or controlled list and it's less than a 30 day supply, I don't need to declare it any way, correct?
Drug for external use (excluding Poison, Deadly poison, Prescription drug) : Up to 24 per one item