John Walton
@thatjohn.bsky.social
Editor in chief of @theupfront.media: in-depth independent aviation journalism for the digital age. Subscribe today!
Journo, Japan travel expert, bon vivant, lover of gardens, fan of 22°C, crocheter, Champagne enthusiast.
Big 🏳️🌈 w/the 🏳️⚧️, 🇪🇺 in 🇫🇷, he/him.
Journo, Japan travel expert, bon vivant, lover of gardens, fan of 22°C, crocheter, Champagne enthusiast.
Big 🏳️🌈 w/the 🏳️⚧️, 🇪🇺 in 🇫🇷, he/him.
Nearly 60 years, friend!
October 25, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Nearly 60 years, friend!
I mean you do get the 0.5 bonus of Ukraine adopting the western calendar plus the bells ‘n’ smells high CofE from the chrism and whatnot, so I reckon adding in Zelenskyy is useful for the advantages the combos give against Orthodox
October 24, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I mean you do get the 0.5 bonus of Ukraine adopting the western calendar plus the bells ‘n’ smells high CofE from the chrism and whatnot, so I reckon adding in Zelenskyy is useful for the advantages the combos give against Orthodox
I am not! But it does sound like me, right?
October 24, 2025 at 9:30 AM
I am not! But it does sound like me, right?
Reposted by John Walton
all this omg if you use these words ppl will think you use chatgpt! Omg stop using emdashes. Excuse, I will use whatever the hell I want. Writers wrote whatever they wanted and this machine gobbled it all up and now we can't use words and punctuation because the machine spits it out? Absurd.
October 23, 2025 at 10:12 PM
all this omg if you use these words ppl will think you use chatgpt! Omg stop using emdashes. Excuse, I will use whatever the hell I want. Writers wrote whatever they wanted and this machine gobbled it all up and now we can't use words and punctuation because the machine spits it out? Absurd.
yes well you also name all the dashes based on which number key on an AZERTY keyboard you shift/alt with to type them, which is COMPLETELY useless for those of us who do not think that the letter ù, which appears in ONE word in the ENTIRE language, needs its own key
« tiret du 6 » mon arse
« tiret du 6 » mon arse
October 23, 2025 at 1:08 PM
yes well you also name all the dashes based on which number key on an AZERTY keyboard you shift/alt with to type them, which is COMPLETELY useless for those of us who do not think that the letter ù, which appears in ONE word in the ENTIRE language, needs its own key
« tiret du 6 » mon arse
« tiret du 6 » mon arse
*raises hand* Me — I do, but I'm coming from the journalistic end rather than the authorial end, but also from the digital native end when we used to use double hyphens. I also just prefer how it looks, but I don't know how much of that is "always done it that way, looks right".
October 23, 2025 at 12:49 PM
*raises hand* Me — I do, but I'm coming from the journalistic end rather than the authorial end, but also from the digital native end when we used to use double hyphens. I also just prefer how it looks, but I don't know how much of that is "always done it that way, looks right".
And I think those questions are reasonable — thankfully less so with Bluesky than with TikTok or Reels or Shorts, but the dopamine poisoning is real.
October 23, 2025 at 7:55 AM
And I think those questions are reasonable — thankfully less so with Bluesky than with TikTok or Reels or Shorts, but the dopamine poisoning is real.
« c’est du blabla » is a very common phrase here, encompassing everything from “he’s talking shite” to “it’s just chitter-chatter”.
October 23, 2025 at 7:41 AM
« c’est du blabla » is a very common phrase here, encompassing everything from “he’s talking shite” to “it’s just chitter-chatter”.
*involuntary knee creaking, bottle of Advil rattles inexplicably in background*
October 23, 2025 at 7:14 AM
*involuntary knee creaking, bottle of Advil rattles inexplicably in background*
Now if you make the gravy with beer, that’s a whole nother ballgame.
October 23, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Now if you make the gravy with beer, that’s a whole nother ballgame.
Sure! Hikone is very close, just to the northeast by train, and is one of the few remaining original castles of Japan! Well worth a visit.
October 23, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Sure! Hikone is very close, just to the northeast by train, and is one of the few remaining original castles of Japan! Well worth a visit.
That's XXL in Japanese/European sizes — you will definitely see Japanese people with rollaboards literally half that size! The point I'm making is that Japanese people don't really travel with larger bags. A US-sized rollaboard should fit in the overhead but you will likely need to put it up.
October 22, 2025 at 8:38 AM
That's XXL in Japanese/European sizes — you will definitely see Japanese people with rollaboards literally half that size! The point I'm making is that Japanese people don't really travel with larger bags. A US-sized rollaboard should fit in the overhead but you will likely need to put it up.
Sleep well! So yeah, honestly Kyoto Museum + temples temples temples would be my recommendation for two days in Kyoto. This time of year I would definitely avoid the big name temples at any time other than the hour that they open — they will be *rammed* with bus tours. I'd point you to my list :)
October 22, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Sleep well! So yeah, honestly Kyoto Museum + temples temples temples would be my recommendation for two days in Kyoto. This time of year I would definitely avoid the big name temples at any time other than the hour that they open — they will be *rammed* with bus tours. I'd point you to my list :)
No, I meant checking a bag on the plane.
I *think* you should be okay even with an XXL (US "regular") rollaboard, but be aware you'll likely have to put it up on the overhead rack.
I *think* you should be okay even with an XXL (US "regular") rollaboard, but be aware you'll likely have to put it up on the overhead rack.
October 22, 2025 at 8:24 AM
No, I meant checking a bag on the plane.
I *think* you should be okay even with an XXL (US "regular") rollaboard, but be aware you'll likely have to put it up on the overhead rack.
I *think* you should be okay even with an XXL (US "regular") rollaboard, but be aware you'll likely have to put it up on the overhead rack.
OK! How many days in Kyoto total?
October 22, 2025 at 8:22 AM
OK! How many days in Kyoto total?
OK. You'll literally fall over about five 7-11s on your way through NRT arrivals and train station, in case you want to grab some while you're fresher.
Practically: are you checking a bag? If so, be aware you need to reserve a specific seat on the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto.
Practically: are you checking a bag? If so, be aware you need to reserve a specific seat on the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto.
October 22, 2025 at 8:20 AM
OK. You'll literally fall over about five 7-11s on your way through NRT arrivals and train station, in case you want to grab some while you're fresher.
Practically: are you checking a bag? If so, be aware you need to reserve a specific seat on the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto.
Practically: are you checking a bag? If so, be aware you need to reserve a specific seat on the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto.
Great! I'd certainly encourage you to visit temples to see a lot of the art (screens, ceiling murals, furniture, calligraphy etc) in its original context, as well as art you can't get in museums (karesansui, borrowed landscape gardens, architecture).
Where else are you visiting in Japan?
Where else are you visiting in Japan?
October 22, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Great! I'd certainly encourage you to visit temples to see a lot of the art (screens, ceiling murals, furniture, calligraphy etc) in its original context, as well as art you can't get in museums (karesansui, borrowed landscape gardens, architecture).
Where else are you visiting in Japan?
Where else are you visiting in Japan?
OK. Most restaurants accessible to visitors (i.e., not a tiny neighbourhood JP-speaking-only izakaya/pub) should accept cards.
Best place to get cash is a 7-11 or Japan Post ATM — not all ATMs accept foreign debit cards. Those have English options too.
Best place to get cash is a 7-11 or Japan Post ATM — not all ATMs accept foreign debit cards. Those have English options too.
October 22, 2025 at 8:13 AM
OK. Most restaurants accessible to visitors (i.e., not a tiny neighbourhood JP-speaking-only izakaya/pub) should accept cards.
Best place to get cash is a 7-11 or Japan Post ATM — not all ATMs accept foreign debit cards. Those have English options too.
Best place to get cash is a 7-11 or Japan Post ATM — not all ATMs accept foreign debit cards. Those have English options too.
Honestly, I don't — my Kyoto museum experience is limited to the Railway Museum (the one in Nagoya is better) and the Byodo-in museum in Uji (which I wouldn't put on your list as a first-time visitor). I'd trust Japan-Guide's recs, though:
www.japan-guide.com/e/e3962.html
www.japan-guide.com/e/e3962.html
Kyoto Museum Guide
An introduction to Kyoto's museums.
www.japan-guide.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Honestly, I don't — my Kyoto museum experience is limited to the Railway Museum (the one in Nagoya is better) and the Byodo-in museum in Uji (which I wouldn't put on your list as a first-time visitor). I'd trust Japan-Guide's recs, though:
www.japan-guide.com/e/e3962.html
www.japan-guide.com/e/e3962.html
That's right: if you don't have the Apple Wallet version of Suica, you can only load money via cash.
Things *have* changed, but not enough that you don't need cash. I take cash *and* Apple Wallet Suica *and* my CSR.
Things *have* changed, but not enough that you don't need cash. I take cash *and* Apple Wallet Suica *and* my CSR.
October 22, 2025 at 8:08 AM
That's right: if you don't have the Apple Wallet version of Suica, you can only load money via cash.
Things *have* changed, but not enough that you don't need cash. I take cash *and* Apple Wallet Suica *and* my CSR.
Things *have* changed, but not enough that you don't need cash. I take cash *and* Apple Wallet Suica *and* my CSR.
Most taxis take cards in Kyoto these days. But real talk, friend: Japan is not a country you can visit without using cash.
I hear you — I don't use it day-to-day either — but you will want a wallet with a coin purse for everything from entry fees for museums/temples to vending machine drinks.
I hear you — I don't use it day-to-day either — but you will want a wallet with a coin purse for everything from entry fees for museums/temples to vending machine drinks.
October 22, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Most taxis take cards in Kyoto these days. But real talk, friend: Japan is not a country you can visit without using cash.
I hear you — I don't use it day-to-day either — but you will want a wallet with a coin purse for everything from entry fees for museums/temples to vending machine drinks.
I hear you — I don't use it day-to-day either — but you will want a wallet with a coin purse for everything from entry fees for museums/temples to vending machine drinks.
Genuine answer for someone at our phase of life: get a taxi from the station. The lines are on the north side. The $3-5 you’ll save by taking the subway is not worth losing a moment of sleep over 💜
October 22, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Genuine answer for someone at our phase of life: get a taxi from the station. The lines are on the north side. The $3-5 you’ll save by taking the subway is not worth losing a moment of sleep over 💜
Ah, then you’ll probably want to pick one up when you arrive — you can get a Suica at NRT train station. Your old one has probably expired by now.
October 22, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Ah, then you’ll probably want to pick one up when you arrive — you can get a Suica at NRT train station. Your old one has probably expired by now.
Here's a screenshot of the Kyoto part of a braindump email I did for @stevenomadic.bsky.social earlier in the year, in case it helps!
October 22, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Here's a screenshot of the Kyoto part of a braindump email I did for @stevenomadic.bsky.social earlier in the year, in case it helps!