Guiding Tourists Through Japan’s Busiest Destinations
I’m a full-time guide, mostly up in Tohoku (northeast Japan) but I also guide groups up Mt. Fuji in the pre and post season as well as lead normal tours in places like Kyoto, Nara, and Tokyo when contracted.
If you’re interested in hiring me to guide you either on a hike or around town, send me an email through this channel or message me on Instagram or Twitter. Some additional info is available here: https://gonorth.jp/services/local-guidance/
Edited by https://twitter.com/HernieEdits
Kyoto bus pass:
https://www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp/kotsu/webguide/en/ticket/regular_1day_card_comm.html
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Music used in video was licensed from Artlist and Epidemic Sound.
#Kyoto #JapanTravel #Japanguide
25 Comments
My best tip in sakura season look into the canals in Omihachiman I stayed there in the machia inn and bathed in a sake barrel. You can rent a bike and ride around biwa lake. Next to right of the omihachiman station is a ramen show with mishandling good tonkotsu ramen with kimch I as topping. The area is great and you can get to Kyoto station in under 40 minutes.
Fushimi inari has another weird route where nobody almost goes, so it can be done without crowds. Hard but beautiful!
Kyoto is a madhouse at present. I have to brace myself for a walk to the shops! Getting early morning (pre 7am) shinkansen rides to your next destination is my tip to avoid chaos at the larger stations.
Thanks!
Last year I was able to get train tickets from a wending machine with the JR Pass.
How about in the morning? Like 4am-6am?
Fushimi Inari at night is amazing. First heard of doing it on the Tokyo Lens channel years ago so I had to do it. Practically no one else there and with the lamps lighting up certain spots it makes for some really cool pictures.
Nice info! <3
We climbed Fushimi Inari-taisha after 6 when it started to get dark. And that was an amazing climb to the top! And almost no people were there, it was the best!
We just cycled Japan for 3 weeks, without doubt the best way to experience it and discovering those hidden locations!
You do not need to stand in line for Shinkansen tickets with rail pass. There are kiosks that will take them. Just need your passport number handy.
Quinlan, it'll ne great if you could do a few days itenerary of kyoto based on your recent experiences. You alluded to some of that here but it'll be great to have a dedicated video! Thank you! ❤
I misspoke about the JR Pass! You can get tickets through the machines if you have your passport number with you! I didn't realize that this was possible now, sorry for the error! (I can't get the JR Rail pass as a resident, so my only contact with it is via this tour…) Thanks to the people that pointed this out in the comments!
おかえりなさい!
30年前京都で大学に通ってました。海外ゲストが今ほど多くはなかったですがそれでも春秋は混雑がひどく通学のバスに乗れなかった!本当にお疲れ様でした。
This is good advice (noted your correction about the JR Pass :)) – the golden route is nice, sure, but Japan is so much more than that! You hit the nail on the head with northern Japan – much nicer interactions with the locals and some stunningly beautiful areas. And added bonus, the further you get from the bigger cities, the cheaper everything seems to get without a discernable drop in quality.
Glad I visited Kyoto in the sakura season in 2019 (before this madness). Walking the Philosopher's Path in the early morning was bliss. This trip I'm heading to Aizuwakamatsu. You are definitely right, Quinlan, about visiting somewhere other than the main cities. But of course, as a tourist you must see these major spots and get that out of your system first. This is my 4th trip, so I'm going to just chill and enjoy. No shinkansens this time, just express trains through the countryside. Always find your videos refreshing and builds my anticipation, thanks!
My favourite Inari Shrine is the Yutoku Inari Shrine in Kashima City, Saga. It’s beautiful and only around 5 people when we were there. Must feel good to be back in Morioka away from the hustle and bustle! I personally can’t wait to explore Tohoku.
@TokyoLens mentioned the Welcome Suica isn't recommended due to the lines to get one and it expires in 28 days. From: "You're Traveling Japan WRONG – I Can Fix That" at 3:02 First time I heard about these negatives. Would definitely pick up a full Suica when out of the airport. I recall another creator mentioning a long time ago that you should get the Suica card then register it on the phone app so you have a physical card as a backup.
Thank you for this information. Very helpful.
I have a question though. If you're travelling with a big suitcase on a shinkansen, would it be better to reserve a second seat, or is there a place to put your suitcase? (I assume that space is limited?)
Quinlan, we saw Perfect Days and loved its wistfulness and a solid look into Japanese behavior and dedication. Also, the Lou Reed song is just perfect for the movie (and vice versa). Of the visitors you saw, do you have a rough idea of their distribution by nationality?
Kyoto is stuffed full of beautiful sights but I think I would really struggle with the huge crowds, so any trip to Kyoto I would make now would have to be in the winter or something. Great tip about visiting Fushimi Inari and similar places at night! I do think it's sad that many people visit Japan and never leave its cities when there is all that spectacular natural beauty all over the country. Here in parts of Europe there is a growing anger by some locals towards overtourism, is there a similar sentiment developing in highly visited locations like Kyoto?
You truly look in your element up there on Mount Iwate by the way – like a man who is well and truly in his happy place.
Thanks for the update. Were you not cold in only a tee and shirt?:D
@GoNorth Japan I needed some information about Yamagata and I found your video about Yamagata Yamabushi and when I saw your face on the video I am pretty sure I met you today in Hachinohe in Same station with tourists. The world is so tiny…
I love the more overlooked spots in Japan like in Shonan!
I went to the fushimi inari in the eve for sunset. It was pretty empty too and lovely with the shadows through the gates as the sun went down. You have to be careful at night as there are wild boars.
getting around to watching a few vids of you again today yay 🙂 anyhow, I couldn't agree more with getting off that golden route although i don't really want to have those masses walz through all of japan's backyard >.< too much of anything is just toxic 🙁 I'm glad it wasn't that buzy when I visited kyoto. It's a nice town but there are so many other wonderful areas in Japan with as good as no tourism <3