Common mistake: skipping breakfast at your hotel in Japan.
Japanese hotel breakfasts are often incredible, especially at ryokans. Grilled fish, miso soup, pickles, rice, tamagoyaki.
It's a meal worth waking up for.
Japanese hotel breakfasts are often incredible, especially at ryokans. Grilled fish, miso soup, pickles, rice, tamagoyaki.
It's a meal worth waking up for.
February 15, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Common mistake: skipping breakfast at your hotel in Japan.
Japanese hotel breakfasts are often incredible, especially at ryokans. Grilled fish, miso soup, pickles, rice, tamagoyaki.
It's a meal worth waking up for.
Japanese hotel breakfasts are often incredible, especially at ryokans. Grilled fish, miso soup, pickles, rice, tamagoyaki.
It's a meal worth waking up for.
Fun fact: Valentine's Day in Japan is when women give chocolate to men. Men return the favor on White Day, March 14.
Department store chocolate counters go all out in February. Even if you're just visiting, the displays are incredible.
Department store chocolate counters go all out in February. Even if you're just visiting, the displays are incredible.
February 14, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Fun fact: Valentine's Day in Japan is when women give chocolate to men. Men return the favor on White Day, March 14.
Department store chocolate counters go all out in February. Even if you're just visiting, the displays are incredible.
Department store chocolate counters go all out in February. Even if you're just visiting, the displays are incredible.
February in Japan means plum blossoms before the cherry blossoms steal the show.
Kairakuen in Mito has over 3,000 plum trees and way fewer crowds than spring sakura spots.
It's a quick day trip from Tokyo and absolutely worth it.
Kairakuen in Mito has over 3,000 plum trees and way fewer crowds than spring sakura spots.
It's a quick day trip from Tokyo and absolutely worth it.
February 13, 2026 at 7:35 PM
February in Japan means plum blossoms before the cherry blossoms steal the show.
Kairakuen in Mito has over 3,000 plum trees and way fewer crowds than spring sakura spots.
It's a quick day trip from Tokyo and absolutely worth it.
Kairakuen in Mito has over 3,000 plum trees and way fewer crowds than spring sakura spots.
It's a quick day trip from Tokyo and absolutely worth it.
Early supporter deal: first 10 TabiWay purchases are 50% off.
$14.50 for a Trip Pass. $74.50 for lifetime.
Just launched and want real feedback from real travelers. Not a gimmick, just a thank you for being early.
tabiway.com
$14.50 for a Trip Pass. $74.50 for lifetime.
Just launched and want real feedback from real travelers. Not a gimmick, just a thank you for being early.
tabiway.com
TabiWay | Smart Japan Itineraries, Built for You
AI-powered Japan trip planning with real local expertise. Get personalized itineraries in minutes, not months.
tabiway.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:18 AM
Early supporter deal: first 10 TabiWay purchases are 50% off.
$14.50 for a Trip Pass. $74.50 for lifetime.
Just launched and want real feedback from real travelers. Not a gimmick, just a thank you for being early.
tabiway.com
$14.50 for a Trip Pass. $74.50 for lifetime.
Just launched and want real feedback from real travelers. Not a gimmick, just a thank you for being early.
tabiway.com
First thing to do when you land in Japan: get an IC card.
Suica or PASMO - doesn't matter which. Load it up and suddenly trains, buses, convenience stores, vending machines, and even some restaurants just work with a tap.
The 500 yen deposit pays for itself in convenience by day one.
Suica or PASMO - doesn't matter which. Load it up and suddenly trains, buses, convenience stores, vending machines, and even some restaurants just work with a tap.
The 500 yen deposit pays for itself in convenience by day one.
February 12, 2026 at 4:06 AM
First thing to do when you land in Japan: get an IC card.
Suica or PASMO - doesn't matter which. Load it up and suddenly trains, buses, convenience stores, vending machines, and even some restaurants just work with a tap.
The 500 yen deposit pays for itself in convenience by day one.
Suica or PASMO - doesn't matter which. Load it up and suddenly trains, buses, convenience stores, vending machines, and even some restaurants just work with a tap.
The 500 yen deposit pays for itself in convenience by day one.
Sunday trip planning thought:
Start with your "must-do" activities and work backwards.
Got a reservation at a specific restaurant? That dictates which neighborhood you should be in that evening. Got tickets to teamLab? Build your day around that area.
Constraints actually make planning easier.
Start with your "must-do" activities and work backwards.
Got a reservation at a specific restaurant? That dictates which neighborhood you should be in that evening. Got tickets to teamLab? Build your day around that area.
Constraints actually make planning easier.
February 12, 2026 at 4:06 AM
Sunday trip planning thought:
Start with your "must-do" activities and work backwards.
Got a reservation at a specific restaurant? That dictates which neighborhood you should be in that evening. Got tickets to teamLab? Build your day around that area.
Constraints actually make planning easier.
Start with your "must-do" activities and work backwards.
Got a reservation at a specific restaurant? That dictates which neighborhood you should be in that evening. Got tickets to teamLab? Build your day around that area.
Constraints actually make planning easier.
Question for anyone who's been to Japan:
What's something that surprised you that nobody warned you about?
For me it was the walking. I thought I was in decent shape. Japan humbled me with 25,000 step days.
What's something that surprised you that nobody warned you about?
For me it was the walking. I thought I was in decent shape. Japan humbled me with 25,000 step days.
February 12, 2026 at 4:06 AM
Question for anyone who's been to Japan:
What's something that surprised you that nobody warned you about?
For me it was the walking. I thought I was in decent shape. Japan humbled me with 25,000 step days.
What's something that surprised you that nobody warned you about?
For me it was the walking. I thought I was in decent shape. Japan humbled me with 25,000 step days.
After months of building and testing, TabiWay is live.
It's an AI Japan trip planner that builds personalized itineraries with real budget estimates and hidden gems.
Planning a Japan trip shouldn't require a spreadsheet with 15 tabs.
tabiway.com
It's an AI Japan trip planner that builds personalized itineraries with real budget estimates and hidden gems.
Planning a Japan trip shouldn't require a spreadsheet with 15 tabs.
tabiway.com
TabiWay | Smart Japan Itineraries, Built for You
AI-powered Japan trip planning with real local expertise. Get personalized itineraries in minutes, not months.
tabiway.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:15 PM
After months of building and testing, TabiWay is live.
It's an AI Japan trip planner that builds personalized itineraries with real budget estimates and hidden gems.
Planning a Japan trip shouldn't require a spreadsheet with 15 tabs.
tabiway.com
It's an AI Japan trip planner that builds personalized itineraries with real budget estimates and hidden gems.
Planning a Japan trip shouldn't require a spreadsheet with 15 tabs.
tabiway.com
The "Japan is expensive" myth needs to die.
Yes, you CAN spend a fortune there. But you can also eat incredible food for under $10, stay in clean capsule hotels for $30, and walk through stunning temples for free.
Japan has a price point for every budget. You just need to know where to look.
Yes, you CAN spend a fortune there. But you can also eat incredible food for under $10, stay in clean capsule hotels for $30, and walk through stunning temples for free.
Japan has a price point for every budget. You just need to know where to look.
February 10, 2026 at 3:00 PM
The "Japan is expensive" myth needs to die.
Yes, you CAN spend a fortune there. But you can also eat incredible food for under $10, stay in clean capsule hotels for $30, and walk through stunning temples for free.
Japan has a price point for every budget. You just need to know where to look.
Yes, you CAN spend a fortune there. But you can also eat incredible food for under $10, stay in clean capsule hotels for $30, and walk through stunning temples for free.
Japan has a price point for every budget. You just need to know where to look.
Cherry blossom season gets all the attention, but February in Japan has plum blossoms (ume) and they're genuinely beautiful.
Fewer tourists, similar vibes. Pink and white blossoms against winter skies.
Kenrokuen in Kanazawa is particularly stunning right now if you're there.
Fewer tourists, similar vibes. Pink and white blossoms against winter skies.
Kenrokuen in Kanazawa is particularly stunning right now if you're there.
February 6, 2026 at 11:13 PM
Cherry blossom season gets all the attention, but February in Japan has plum blossoms (ume) and they're genuinely beautiful.
Fewer tourists, similar vibes. Pink and white blossoms against winter skies.
Kenrokuen in Kanazawa is particularly stunning right now if you're there.
Fewer tourists, similar vibes. Pink and white blossoms against winter skies.
Kenrokuen in Kanazawa is particularly stunning right now if you're there.
JR Pass math:
Tokyo-Kyoto round trip: ~¥27,000
7-day JR Pass: ~¥50,000
Only doing that route? Skip the pass.
Adding Hiroshima or more cities? Now it makes sense.
Do the math for YOUR trip.
Tokyo-Kyoto round trip: ~¥27,000
7-day JR Pass: ~¥50,000
Only doing that route? Skip the pass.
Adding Hiroshima or more cities? Now it makes sense.
Do the math for YOUR trip.
February 5, 2026 at 4:03 PM
JR Pass math:
Tokyo-Kyoto round trip: ~¥27,000
7-day JR Pass: ~¥50,000
Only doing that route? Skip the pass.
Adding Hiroshima or more cities? Now it makes sense.
Do the math for YOUR trip.
Tokyo-Kyoto round trip: ~¥27,000
7-day JR Pass: ~¥50,000
Only doing that route? Skip the pass.
Adding Hiroshima or more cities? Now it makes sense.
Do the math for YOUR trip.