#133 A Year Forward
Helpful tips for your trip to Japan in the 2025 season.
Time flies; this is the third year-end since I started writing this newsletter. I aim to continue writing every week and have tried to cover various topics. I wrote about Japanese customs and helpful information during the year-end and New Year holidays, but this time, I want to summarize my thoughts about your holiday in Japan next year. These tips will be helpful in your future planning.
Rapid Recovery in the Number of Travelers
As of this writing, the total number of tourists visiting Japan exceeded the previous year's figure of 31.87 million, the latest figure available as of November. The number of tourists visiting Japan has been recovering rapidly since the end of the pandemic. On the other hand, the number of Chinese tourists, which had driven the number of inbound tourists before the pandemic, dropped temporarily but is now showing signs of recovery. Chinese tourists are now noticeable even when walking around the main tourist spots.
In the same way, some cities, such as Venice in Italy, have been forced to restrict admission due to over-tourism, and tourist spots in Japan, including Kyoto, have a serious over-tourism problem. While it may still be safe to visit Japan if it is not a popular tourist destination, those considering visiting Japan next year or later may have to consider this "overcrowding" issue seriously.
For example, if you want to visit popular spots such as Kiyomizu-dera or Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, In that case, you will need to take measures such as visiting them exceptionally early in the day or choosing minor spots that are not popular. When I visited Fushimi Inari last year, I arrived there before 7:00 a.m., but there were still quite a few tourists. If you are a serious photographer, excluding other tourists from your flame will be difficult.
Weather Forecast for The Next 3 Months
If you are planning an itinerary with cherry blossoms and autumn foliage in mind, it is a good idea to check the announcements of the Japanese weather authorities frequently. According to the mid-to-long-term forecast released just last week, temperatures are expected to drop in most of January but will remain warm in March. This forecast means next spring's cherry blossoms will likely bloom earlier than usual, even though changes are possible.
If you have already booked your airline tickets in anticipation of an April bloom, don't worry. Japan is a long country, 3,000 kilometers from north to south, and the timing of the cherry blossoms' full bloom is also off to a reasonable degree. Cherry blossom viewing spots are scattered throughout the country, so you can enjoy the cherry blossoms as much as you would in Tokyo. Suppose the cherry blossoms forecast are expected to be in full bloom a week earlier than in Tokyo. In that case, you can enjoy the cherry blossoms in full bloom in Fukushima or Sendai in the Tohoku region.
So, don't be more nervous than necessary about the timing. On the other hand, it is best to leave room for flexibility in your itinerary. In that case, leaving various options, such as Plan B, Plan C, etc., with the hotels ready to cancel, would be better. If I were you, I would organize another option: to go to the Tohoku region, where supposedly the full bloom might be one week earlier in Tokyo.
Climate Change and the Spring and Autumn Seasons
Due to climate change, spring and fall have become shorter and shorter in recent years. This situation may be happening in most of the mid-latitude regions of the globe. This fall, for example, the summer-like weather lasted until mid-October in Japan, and it finally began to look like fall in late October. Perhaps it is a remnant of this, but there are still many ginkgo trees in the city with leaves on them, even at the end of the year.
It will be difficult to predict when the leaves will turn red next year, in 2025. In addition, the autumn leaves directly affect the vividness of the leaves due to the temperature change just before autumn. It is necessary to be flexible enough to switch to where autumn foliage is at its best at your visit instead of limiting yourself to major destinations for next year's autumn foliage.
Effective Use of Passes
Japan Rail Pass
Until now, the Japan Rail Pass had been the only way to travel by rail within Japan. However, the situation may have changed slightly with the significant price increase in the fall of 2023. The JR Rail Pass is still the preferred option for those who wish to travel throughout Japan by Shinkansen. However, if you are planning to tour Kansai using some form of the so-called Golden Route from Tokyo, In that case, there are cheaper options, such as the Hokuriku Arch Pass, which allows you to use the Hokuriku route, including Kanazawa.
Irregular JR East Pass
In addition, JR East has launched the "KYUN PASS," which allows unlimited rides on the Shinkansen under certain conditions, although the purchase and use periods are limited. This pass allows unlimited rides on all lines in the JR East area, including the Shinkansen, at an unbeatable price of 10,000 yen for one day. It is an excellent deal for a one-day round trip between Tokyo and Aomori for less than half the price. For this particular pass, please go to my previous note.
Other Passes
There are also many other great unlimited-ride passes on private railways in Tokyo. Tobu Railway's Nikko Pass includes a round-trip ticket from Asakusa or Kita-Senju to Nikko and free buses to Oku-Nikko for 4,810 yen. A separate express fare is required for the express train. Also essential for sightseeing in Hakone is the Hakone Freepass, which Odakyu sells. Please take a look at my previous post. Hakone has many transfers, such as sightseeing boats, ropeways, and mountaineering trains, so purchasing a pass in advance will save you time.
Other Passes from My Previous Posts
I’ve shared my past information on ticket deals below. Please check it carefully, as there might be a possibility that the price or conditions have changed.
Finally
Preparing to visit a country for the first time without a tour or guide is daunting, starting with selecting hotels and transportation and creating an itinerary. But in a way, this trip-planning step is the most exciting. It means that I am already traveling in my dreams, although in a different way. It means that my mind is filled with fantasies about the information I have gathered.
Although public transportation in Japan is punctual and accurate to the minute, there are times when things don't go as planned, and even if you have to cancel some of your plans, it will be a good memory of your trip. Stay in Japan longer and be flexible when changing the itinerary during the journey. If you are planning to visit the cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, which are the highlights of your trip, please leave yourself some flexibility.
If you are coming to Japan next year and have any questions, please ask in the comments section. If you are a Paid Subscriber, I will post more itineraries that may be helpful for your planning, and I can even help you organize your itinerary.
Many thanks for reading my posts this past year. Your input and comments made my newsletter possible, and I hope to continue receiving your comments and suggestions. As 2024 approaches the end, I wish you, my readers, a wonderful year. Please stay with me!
The KYUN PASS is extraordinary!
Thank you Tanikawa san. Japan is an endless source of discovery and happiness. I do not feel like visiting anywhere else to be honest. So, please continue accepting tourists. I recall watching the morning news at NHK and seeing tourists jumping in front of traffic to take pictures of the illuminations in Tokyo. We give ourselves a bad name. Not all of us are bad though. Blame Instagram and tiktok.
Here's some observations from my December visit. Some of these may be topics of interest.
Too many foreigners compared to 10 years ago (not to my liking, but then that includes me I guess). But are these tourists or immigrants?
Too much English speaking for my liking, especially in Tokyo (people should make an effort and not have expectations).
Japanese people speaking English even at remote areas.
Osaka literally taken over by Chinese tourists !
Kyoto tourist areas overcrowded even at 07:00 AM
Surprised by night curfew of ryokans !
Japanese car drivers appear so aggressive compared to their off road personas !
ETC cards are a saver.
Parking areas vs Service Areas. Do I have to pay to use them or not?
Petrol price is so cheap but then the tolls make up for it !
Plum wine is the best. So underrated.
Do not overdo the Onsen (time per session). Build your time slowly.
Someone must tell the authorities in Kanazawa castle to place exit signs everywhere with estimated time to each exit. I almost locked in the castle at 17:00 !
Train may be preferable and quicker to travel but you cannot grasp rural Japan unless you drive a car. stopping at a random shop and engaging with surprised locals was a must for me !
Food is quite salty. However despite eating a lot (and i mean a lot) every day I did not gain a pound overall ! How's that?
Do Kyoto locals really hate matcha tea?
Do japanese people have just coffee for breakfast these days?
How do the immense number of ramen shops and small eateries survive financially? There are so many of them ! Every block seems to have one or two. I felt for them but could not eat any more !