^ I can't compare to bcrdukes.

lol! Anyways I forgot to add more to my post.

Sunroute is one of those places that won't reserve restaurants for you AT ALL. If you want to hit any nice restaurant you're going need to book in advance asap. That kind of leads to the main problem because most restaurants will only take reservations from your hotel. This was 2 years ago, their policy may have changed. I would double check.

Tsukiji is Sushi Dai or bust. Everything else won't taste much better than what you can get at a quality sushi joint in Vancouver. Get there at 4-4:30am to get the first seating or be prepared to wait 2 hours plus.

Forget about Jiro...it's not even rated that high on Tabelog (aka Japan version of urbanspoon). The end all be all is Saito right now. Yasuda was enjoyable, affordable and he speaks english and likes to talk if you engage him. Makes for a nicer dining experience vs. some of the other sushi-yas where they can barely tell you what you are eating. I used these links to help with my dining itinerary:
http://www.luxeat.com/blog/50-tokyo-...g-com-users-2/
http://www.luxeat.com/blog/50-tokyo-...belog-users-3/

I think you really have to search for craft beer to find it. 90% of places only stock Suntory/Kirin/Sapporo etc...

For a quick Ryokan experience, maybe try Hakone. It's closer to Tokyo, but their mainly known for their onsens.

As for shopping, specifically for Japanese denim/leather go to Ueno and hit up Ameyoko. Raw denim heaven and yes it's cheaper. Free chain stitch hemming if you have the time as well.

sushi saito is super hard to book from my experience. yasuda is the easiest to book since you can make an email reservation.

Don't waste your time at L'aterlier. You can just go to another l'atelier in another part of the world... oh and also, it is no damn good. I had the full tasting and walked out of there so angry.

Skip sushi dai.. either go lower end or higher end for no line-ups. Lining up for 2 hrs - never again. Sawada is easier to book than Saito. Mizutani is also relatively easy to book. Daisan harumi is also easy to book. The guy is funny because he claims to have learned english in vancouver... he lived in vancouver... he most certainly did not learn english.

Walk around Tsukiji for the experience and then go somewhere else.

Edit: Tabelog.com is your friend. Put through google translate if you don't know japanese.

Hakone is somewhere you should stay away from at this time, unless you like liquid hot magma.:heckno:

Planning a trip to Japan. It's likely going to be Osaka for a 3 days then Tokyo for 4 days. What's the best way travelling from Osaka to Tokyo?

Bullet train.

Going to Japan in april next year with the GF. Does anybody have any Ryokans they can recommend around Kyoto or Tokyo? Hopefully something with reserveable baths or places that allow tattoos.

I'm going to Japan end of September,
So far I got the following restaurants booked, let me know if there is any other must try restaurants that I should do.

In Tokyo,
Esakai
Sushi Yoshitake
Sukiyabashi Jiro - Roppongi
(I couldn't get sushi Saito or Jiro in Ginza)

Osaka
Fujiya 1935
Shunsaiten Tsuchiya

Kyoto
Chihana
Kichisen

Kobe
Setsugekka

I am travelling solo, so a lot of restaurants that I want to try don't take solo reservations, I'm still looking to book an authentic Japanese Sukiyaki restaurant.

Let me know if there are some must try spots that I missed. Thanks!

i went to one in mount hakone resort had private ones that can be rented as well as an insuite one on the balcony for a single person.

stayed over night. was expensive

Is the JR pass worth it?

Its worth it if you do your research...

Without knowing about your itinerary, how would we know?

my gf and i are heading from toyko to osaka, just the one trip alone round trip is already more than the jr pass

Now is the difference in price between the green class and the regular Jr pass worth it?
I was hoping to ride the granclass, but apparently there is no trains with granclass between Osaka and Tokyo

I don't really think green car is worth it personally. The regular car is nice enough! Lots of legroom, big windows and power outlets at most seats and on most trains.

And another thing is I noticed not very many people pay for the green car (usually just a few of older japanese businessmen) that you may actually enjoy more riding in the regular car for the people watching and small chance of meeting someone since you are solo.

Hakone Ginyu. highly recommended. a bit on the expensive side but worth it.

Which company do you guys recommend for pocket wifi rental?

Rent iPhone, Cell / Mobile Phone & Mobile Data Card in Japan:: Global Advanced Communications
with their standard model. Good battery life and area coverage.

Heh my bad..Flying into Tokyo on 26th, staying until 30th and leaving for Osaka then on Oct 3rd gotta go back to Tokyo to catch the flight home.

Been debating if JR pass is worth it or just fly with peach airlines from Tokyo to Osaka.

Might be heading to Japan with 4 other homies for a skate trip after spring semester. Staying at a friends house, not sure where it is. How cheap can one live in Japan for 2 weeks? Not caring about high key sushi or tourist attractions.

Are you flying home same day?

Check out Sushi Sho, and Kushiwakamaru.

You know if you just did a bit of research yourself, you could figure this out easily.

Peach Airlines return fare between Narita and Kansai is 10,530 yen

Bullet Train each way between Tokyo and Osaka is around 13,000 yen

JR pass for 7 days is $325 CAD

Factor in the cost of the train between Narita and Tokyo and from Kansai to Osaka and the time spent, vs taking the train from downtown to downtown.

You can also use the JR pass on JR trains within Tokyo and Osaka.

You and I have a very similar itinerary, and I bought a JR pass, the return trip from Osaka to Tokyo is worth the pass alone, plus I want to train to Kyoto and Kobe as well.

Yea Saito was basically impossible for me, I had both the westin and four seasons concierge try, they don't take reso from Amex concierge.

I ended up "settling" with Yoshitake and sukiyabashi jiro roppongi (Ginza supposedly doesn't even take reso unless the diner goes with someone that speaks fluent Japanese, and as a solo traveller that was not possible)