We're back with a chat about Sam's 2023 summer trip to Japan.  



0:34 Overview: 14 days, spent as follows:




5 nights in Kyoto at Mimaru Apartment hotel. 430 square foot. Not spacious but good for a family of 4.



2 nights in Hiroshima at the Hilton Hiroshima: One bedroom suite booked with points (90k per night). Very new hotel, opened in 2022.



5 Nights Ishigaki island near Yonehara beach. Car rental



2 nights in Tokyo at another Mimaru in their pokemon room



Robert's previous trip report (required listening)




04:37 Travel:




JL from LAX nonstop to Kyoto



Pickup from the airport (Booked on Klook.com) worked really well



Used the "Visit Japan Web" site to generate QR codes before landing. Be sure to make a QR code for each person (for immigration) and one per family for customs.




08:09 Kyoto: Transit was difficult




Not easy for us. Lack of numbers and signage really chewed us up. BUSY stations with people who definitely knew what they were doing.



Helpful staff–but still difficult to execute train to train transfers



Local vs. Express was not well signed.



Got easier when we limited ourselves to busses + a single train.



Busses in general were easier and better in Kyoto (can see the city as they Drive). Would take a cab directly to the bus stop.




15:51 Universal Studios:




Brutal to get to. Issues with kids and trains.



But once there, small size and express pass made the day a complete success.



Conflicting information about swapping rides–but we were able to swap for different rides than those listed on our express passes (but not different times)



Lines are crazy long, express pass is a must.  We bought a 4 ride pass due to height restrictions limiting possible rides, but 7 ride passes were not much more.



The Mario Water party parade was fantastic and over the top. Japanese to the max and loved by my kids.



Super Mario World is incredible.







The kids had a blast, we spent about 6 hours at the park, just enough time in my opinion.



Getting home to Kyoto was equally brutal. The train line leaving Universal encountered a full stop due to a train on the loop hitting a passenger.




30:10 Cabs: We took so Many and They Saved Us




Combination of lots of walking and young kids meant we needed to use cabs.



We were 'close' to multiple train stations and bus stops. But the walking before, during and after sightseeing meant cabs were the way we extended days.



Uber app worked well in Kyoto/Hiroshima to call cabs. In Tokyo we had to be careful--there was a 300-500 yen pickup fee plus the meter -- lots of times the uber black fare was less.



Uber black cars are the nicest possible car I've ever been in. Loved these in Tokyo.




38:40 Kyoto to Hiroshima with Luggage: Train travel




Gion Matsuri in Kyoto made the train station packed.



Train runs nearly every 20 minutes. Amazing.



Kiosk did not work with CC and I couldn't get 3 seats together (with luggage access). Pivoted to a desk agent who quickly got us on the next train and split us up.



With large size suitcases it is recommended to book a luggage seat. Non-reserved seating is apparently not possible and if you do book non-reserved there’s a 1000 yen fee if your bag is big



Meant we were split up, but only for part of the ride.



Fast train ride and cell coverage even in tunnerls, but wifi was terrible and completely unusable




45:52 Hiroshima: Not enough time, kids are to young




JR Trains to Miyajima vs high speed ferrey, by taking the ferry from Hiroshima Port we saved significant time.



Miyajima was loved by the kids for the deer and by us for the hiking and national park.







Time is for sale in Japan. This is a great example



Peace park was a highlight of the trip as well.



Kids were too young for the museum, we had to skip it




Data only SIM saved the day




Got two of these from Airalo.



Esim, and phones supporting dual eSIM make this a quick way to get online in foreign countrie