Thanks for the info.
Wasn’t aware of that.
Gobsmacked! Day one 
(I will actually go and look this all up- thank you!)
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I got back about a week and a half ago from a 4 week trip. Got lucky with the cherry blossoms blooming earlier than usual. Hope you’ve been just as lucky. Such an amazing country and the shinkansen’s make getting around a real pleasure.
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Saw them but didn’t go out of my way to see them. My first trip here was on a tour chasing all the cherry blossoms. They are nice but when you seem them once you kind of get over it 
To me the autumn colours are best.
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My first trip to Japan so I was smitten with them. When i booked it wasn’t my intention to be there when it was full-on but glad they bloomed early for me. A pretty country that just looked even prettier.
It was also a lot warmer than it should’ve been, took a lot of warm clothing that wasn’t really needed except when i was in Yudanaka. T-shirt weather in places like Kyoto and Hiroshima.
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Maybe it’s time to have a separate Japan Travel Thread…
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Time for you to book a holiday to Japan.
Do you know where I can get some advice about that? I can’t find a dedicated Japan Travel Thread here. 
I’ll post about Hong Kong airport next week for you.
I’d fully recommend at least 1 ryokan/onsen experience.
We stayed overnight at a place in the Hakone region (in the general Fuji area) in 2018. Around 1.5 hours by train from Tokyo.
The bathing “experience” was initially quite confronting but once you realise no one is paying you the slightest bit of attention you then just get on with it. As long as you follow the rules … and there is quite a bit of etiquette involved. I’m sure you’ll be well briefed by the staff.
In the evening we had an 11 course banquet dressed in traditional kimonos which was beyond excellent in a way the Japanese seem to excel. It was a fun evening. A memorable and unique experience all round.
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Thanks. Ryokan definitely on the to do list…. Friends have tattoos so will need to do some research into where this could be possible.
‘friends’.
Cmon, we know you’re the one with the full sleeve 
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Don’t be fooled and go the western room either. Do it properly. Tatami floor is also sublime. If you are worried about sleeping on a thin mattress you can usually ask for multiples. As a foreigner they smile and know immediately why you would ask!
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Also JR passes going way up.
Geez, that’s a massive change. Prices on some lines I travel went up a little recently after staying the same for years, but that’s a harsh jump.
Cop that gajins!
So would individual east-west-east trips now be cheaper than the Pass???
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Cheaper to buy ticket Tokyo to Hiroshima then price increase.
Flying Peach or some other LCC would work out better, I’d think.
I went full service JAL from osaka to haneda and it was cheaper than Shinkansen. Much cheaper and no tourists!
Was fun hearing the flight attendant greet me in Japanese then sees my blonde partner and instantly switches to English!
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