I’m actually going on a trip to Japan in less then a week. Your channel has been such a help planning and organising this trip! Thank you so much for all your videos and your perspective of things. I’m so excited to finally live my dream and visit 💕
You missed the Halloween party in Tokyo. There were millions of people on the street in their costumes. Now you have to wait until New Years Eve 2025 to party in Tokyo.
I think Japan is slowly but surely changing for the better. It's good that they're moving in the right direction at least. I'm happy for them. I'm hoping that things continue to improve. The progress they've made so far is wonderful! 😌❤🌸💕✨
Great information and very encouraging to hear Japan is moving forward and is more welcoming to tourists and immigrants 👏 Also just purchased a Saily esim for an upcoming trip and used your discount-yay!😎
I definitely noticed the greater availability of vegetarian options than i did when i first visited in 2008…i also noticed the English announcements by the train attendants on trains like the Shinkansen (and not the recorded version)…there’s also a lot more English signage than there was previously.
Just got back a few days ago and really struggled with food as a vegan. We weren't in very touristy areas, so had almost zero options. Couldn't find even cup noodles that didn't have pork, chicken, even cat on the ingredients list.
@@wintergirl8Sorry to hear you had this experience. I just went as a vegan a few months ago and I personally ate so well! I cannot recommend enough following vegan influencers in Japan, most of them have saved lists of vegan friendly places you can add to Google maps. Vegan food is often thought of as a health food or allergen friendly in Japan and many tourists are vegetarian, so lots of places now have separate vegan menus. There's also a surprising number of vegan restaurants! But I would say the big cities are definitely the easiest places to visit.
@Christismybff We didn't spend any time in the "big 3" tourist cities. I understand it's a whole different situation there. In regional Japan, it's challenging to say the least
@@wintergirl8 yeah that makes sense, I try to avoid those areas personally, since I am not a nice person when hangry lol. Hopefully it will improve over the years!
Thanks again Allison happy to hear that about them too especially with Foreigners more accepting hope that does not change and gets even more better very helpful for someone like me too who also wants to somehow stay in Japan as well where I need to be now not America anymore either nothing here for me and place where I live has changed now not always nice anymore appreciate the help again from you
Just returned from Japan 10/26 and I really liked that, after a 2 week stay, all my spendings consisted of 1% cash/credit and 99% digital IC cards (Pasmo, Icoca, Suica). The ability to choose when to reload (digital IC card) vs only reloading when in Japan (physical IC card) is great. I don't understand why the physical IC card is still necessary. It creates so many limitations. Keep the great videos coming👍🏽
I worked in Japan from ‘89 to 94. Was definitely a cash society, but had lots of English signs. No cel phones or Google maps in my day. Pay was better back then at about $75 hr. Smoking was big then, glad to hear that it has improved.
My first trip to Japan in 2018 was a shock because there were still SMOKING SECTIONS in restaurants?! It was soooo nice on the second trip to go after the smoking laws changed.
So I moved to Japan in August (finally!!! 🥳) and I actually do not have an inkan at all. My bank lets me use my signature for everything. I feel like I'll probably have to get one eventually, but right now it's totally fine. Also a friend with dietary restrictions mentioned that sometimes things that are called soy meat aren't entirely soy. He was accidentally eating pork for like 8 months because the package just said soy meat but it was like half pork! 😠
Yeah we were gonna go at the end of next year but I was hoping less tourists would go but maybe it’s not gonna stop due to the popularity of Japan now so might as well go before it starts getting unbearably crowded.
"Japan's ability to evolve while preserving its traditions is truly inspiring! 🇯🇵✨ Always leading the way with innovation, culture, and heart. 💖🌸 #JapanLove" Fyi.
I love all these little changes. I also kind of appreciate the new enforcement against drinking on some streets in Shibuya. One of my favorite things was walking around there at night, but it was a bit sad to see the streets trashed from all the public drinking. By morning, all of this disappeared, but still.
In the U.K. we used to be able to smoke in pubs/bars and some restaurants. I think they scrapped it in the 00’s. You can smoke outside but not indoors.
It's definitely good to hear that Japan is getting better on the work-life balance, cause working every day is not healthy mentally. Everyone needs a break from work.
Arigatou as always! Interesting about Japan v China & Korea as far as being welcoming to visitors. Glad Japan understands that visitors (dare we say even immigrants?) can be good for economy, so make it as welcoming and accessible as possible.
I first visited Japan in 1996. It has changed so much. I'm also vegan, and I agree, there's so many vegan options compared to only 10 years ago when it was pretty much non-existent!
@missplainjane3905 can you cook veggies in your business hotel? I couldn't. If you think I'm walking and cycling 60-80 kms per day on a $4 apple, you're dreaming. I spent HOURS trying to find a cup noodle in the supermarkets that was vegan (in Fukuoka). There was NOTHING. Horse, pig, cow, squid, octopus and even cat were in the ingredients. It was so disheartening.
My first experience of being seated at a bar in Tokyo and asked if I'd like smoking or non smoking was they just took away my ash tray while the customers on either side of me happily puffed away.
ohh interesting! as far as I'm aware, South Korea has more proficient English speakers overall and anecdotally, that would check out with my experiences in both countries. to give an example, i was for example surprised that an info desk at Ueno station in Tokyo didn't have an English speaker, but they may have declined because I asked in Japanese whether English was ok so they knew I could visibly string some words together in Japanese (and I did manage in the end :P)
@@missplainjane3905 I mean by that if you plan something it works out. For example trains are nearly always on time you can really plan your day around it. And that is just one example.
@@missplainjane3905 Went 2 times to Japan so: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima Fukuoka, Kagoshima and just returned from a trip visited Tokyo, Sendai, Aomori. Yokohama. Just only staying in Tokyo region can easily fill up weeks. There's so much to see.
@@missplainjane3905 Yes sorry I forgot. But please watch some videos on Japan and form your own idea. Everyone's experience is different. So I love Japan but you may have another opinion. Peace out
I'll be visiting Japan next summer for the first time and I'm a bit worried about food. Do you think I will be able to find some food without gluten and dairy products (I'm allergic) at kombini/supermarkets or do I need to bring things like cookies with me from home? Thank you!
I run into far more annoying foreigners lately. People like that guy that was kicked out for making a nuisance of himself are becoming more common sadly.
Miss Allison, would you be willing to tour guide? I see you have business cards made, I dont have social media but my friends do, when do you have time? I'll be going to Japan from end of November to middle of December 2024 this year. I would love to
I would say travelers cheques won't be very useful these days. However, your bank's debit or credit card will be accepted pretty much anywhere that takes non cash payments. Visa and Mastercard are definitely the most accepted, but you may have issues with Discover or even American Express. If your credit card has no international fees and you carry a bit of cash, you'll be all set!
I enjoy your videos , but very often someone else will be discussing the same thing and say "this only applies in Tokyo" could you start saying when something only applies to Tokyo , please. I am dreaming of moving to Hachinohe 5 months of the year and I am often scratching my head as to if what I see or hear applies to Hachinohe.
Honesty I think one of Japan’s biggest strengths is not being diverse. When everyone is pretty much of the same culture and ethnicity, things run very well because everyone is on the same page. I know it sounds kinda mean but I’m from California and I’ve seen what diversity does to major cities here.
New to your channel and liking it so far…. It is sad you think cashless is a good thing. History as proven things like Cashless is a really bad bad idea!
🌎 Get an exclusive 15% discount on Saily eSIM data plans! Download Saily app and use code allisonintokyo at checkout ⛵
I’m actually going on a trip to Japan in less then a week. Your channel has been such a help planning and organising this trip! Thank you so much for all your videos and your perspective of things. I’m so excited to finally live my dream and visit 💕
You missed the Halloween party in Tokyo. There were millions of people on the street in their costumes. Now you have to wait until New Years Eve 2025 to party in Tokyo.
I think Japan is slowly but surely changing for the better. It's good that they're moving in the right direction at least. I'm happy for them. I'm hoping that things continue to improve. The progress they've made so far is wonderful! 😌❤🌸💕✨
Great information and very encouraging to hear Japan is moving forward and is more welcoming to tourists and immigrants 👏 Also just purchased a Saily esim for an upcoming trip and used your discount-yay!😎
Would you do another apartment tour? I’m kinda interested to see what has changed since then.☺️
Happy to hear life is getting easier for you❤️ I will check out Saily. Thanks for the info.
what a wonderful video, thank you for sharing!
Thanks for great information 🥂🙏
Going at the end of Feb and can’t wait!! Ty for the video!!
I definitely noticed the greater availability of vegetarian options than i did when i first visited in 2008…i also noticed the English announcements by the train attendants on trains like the Shinkansen (and not the recorded version)…there’s also a lot more English signage than there was previously.
Just got back a few days ago and really struggled with food as a vegan. We weren't in very touristy areas, so had almost zero options. Couldn't find even cup noodles that didn't have pork, chicken, even cat on the ingredients list.
@@wintergirl8Sorry to hear you had this experience. I just went as a vegan a few months ago and I personally ate so well! I cannot recommend enough following vegan influencers in Japan, most of them have saved lists of vegan friendly places you can add to Google maps. Vegan food is often thought of as a health food or allergen friendly in Japan and many tourists are vegetarian, so lots of places now have separate vegan menus. There's also a surprising number of vegan restaurants! But I would say the big cities are definitely the easiest places to visit.
@Christismybff We didn't spend any time in the "big 3" tourist cities. I understand it's a whole different situation there. In regional Japan, it's challenging to say the least
@@wintergirl8 yeah that makes sense, I try to avoid those areas personally, since I am not a nice person when hangry lol. Hopefully it will improve over the years!
@Meesheru9 I definitely learned my lesson. Airbnb is the way to go next time, so I can at least cook for myself.
Great information, will be handy next year 😊👌
Great to see you back in Japan, been looking forward to seeing more content🥰❤😁🇦🇺
Thanks again Allison happy to hear that about them too especially with Foreigners more accepting hope that does not change and gets even more better very helpful for someone like me too who also wants to somehow stay in Japan as well where I need to be now not America anymore either nothing here for me and place where I live has changed now not always nice anymore appreciate the help again from you
Just returned from Japan 10/26 and I really liked that, after a 2 week stay, all my spendings consisted of 1% cash/credit and 99% digital IC cards (Pasmo, Icoca, Suica). The ability to choose when to reload (digital IC card) vs only reloading when in Japan (physical IC card) is great. I don't understand why the physical IC card is still necessary. It creates so many limitations. Keep the great videos coming👍🏽
I'm becoming a fan of your channel Allison, nice!
I worked in Japan from ‘89 to 94. Was definitely a cash society, but had lots of English signs. No cel phones or Google maps in my day. Pay was better back then at about $75 hr. Smoking was big then, glad to hear that it has improved.
My first trip to Japan in 2018 was a shock because there were still SMOKING SECTIONS in restaurants?! It was soooo nice on the second trip to go after the smoking laws changed.
So I moved to Japan in August (finally!!! 🥳) and I actually do not have an inkan at all. My bank lets me use my signature for everything. I feel like I'll probably have to get one eventually, but right now it's totally fine.
Also a friend with dietary restrictions mentioned that sometimes things that are called soy meat aren't entirely soy. He was accidentally eating pork for like 8 months because the package just said soy meat but it was like half pork! 😠
@@missplainjane3905 no
@missplainjane3905 yes
@missplainjane3905 yes
Yeah we were gonna go at the end of next year but I was hoping less tourists would go but maybe it’s not gonna stop due to the popularity of Japan now so might as well go before it starts getting unbearably crowded.
Great changes for the better 👍
Lovely video thanks for sharing.👍🥰
Tactile pavement was invented in Japan. Might be why there is more of it.
❤🗻⛩🥰 Love this Video! love your vids! keep it up! 🤗
"Japan's ability to evolve while preserving its traditions is truly inspiring! 🇯🇵✨ Always leading the way with innovation, culture, and heart. 💖🌸 #JapanLove" Fyi.
I love all these little changes. I also kind of appreciate the new enforcement against drinking on some streets in Shibuya. One of my favorite things was walking around there at night, but it was a bit sad to see the streets trashed from all the public drinking. By morning, all of this disappeared, but still.
@@missplainjane3905 Yep, you're right. The ones mentioned in the video seem reasonable though.
@@missplainjane3905 that’s completely okay
@@missplainjane3905 Right in the sense that not every change is good.
In the U.K. we used to be able to smoke in pubs/bars and some restaurants. I think they scrapped it in the 00’s. You can smoke outside but not indoors.
I went to don quijote yesterday and you were there on tv reviewing face masks 😂
It's definitely good to hear that Japan is getting better on the work-life balance, cause working every day is not healthy mentally. Everyone needs a break from work.
Arigatou as always! Interesting about Japan v China & Korea as far as being welcoming to visitors. Glad Japan understands that visitors (dare we say even immigrants?) can be good for economy, so make it as welcoming and accessible as possible.
I first visited Japan in 1996. It has changed so much. I'm also vegan, and I agree, there's so many vegan options compared to only 10 years ago when it was pretty much non-existent!
@sugoikirei maybe in Tokyo there are. Have you been to Fukuoka?
@@wintergirl8
But why vegans eat fake meat
@missplainjane3905 can you cook veggies in your business hotel? I couldn't. If you think I'm walking and cycling 60-80 kms per day on a $4 apple, you're dreaming. I spent HOURS trying to find a cup noodle in the supermarkets that was vegan (in Fukuoka). There was NOTHING. Horse, pig, cow, squid, octopus and even cat were in the ingredients. It was so disheartening.
@missplainjane3905 We translated the ingredients of EVERYTHING and yes, we found cat on the label
@missplainjane3905 sure, we found cut fruit and bought it, but you can't survive on half an apple.
My first experience of being seated at a bar in Tokyo and asked if I'd like smoking or non smoking was they just took away my ash tray while the customers on either side of me happily puffed away.
ohh interesting! as far as I'm aware, South Korea has more proficient English speakers overall and anecdotally, that would check out with my experiences in both countries. to give an example, i was for example surprised that an info desk at Ueno station in Tokyo didn't have an English speaker, but they may have declined because I asked in Japanese whether English was ok so they knew I could visibly string some words together in Japanese (and I did manage in the end :P)
Great vidieo. BTW just back from Japan. It was fantastic! I want to go now for 3rd time. After a 2 weeks I am now kinda homesick of Japan 😆🥲😃
@@missplainjane3905 The food, the transportation system and a lot of thing in Japan just work and the people and culture of course.
@@missplainjane3905 I mean by that if you plan something it works out. For example trains are nearly always on time you can really plan your day around it. And that is just one example.
@@missplainjane3905 Went 2 times to Japan so: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima Fukuoka, Kagoshima and just returned from a trip visited Tokyo, Sendai, Aomori. Yokohama. Just only staying in Tokyo region can easily fill up weeks. There's so much to see.
@@missplainjane3905 Learning a bit Japanese will help. But in general you will be fine.
@@missplainjane3905 Yes sorry I forgot. But please watch some videos on Japan and form your own idea. Everyone's experience is different. So I love Japan but you may have another opinion. Peace out
I'll be visiting Japan next summer for the first time and I'm a bit worried about food. Do you think I will be able to find some food without gluten and dairy products (I'm allergic) at kombini/supermarkets or do I need to bring things like cookies with me from home? Thank you!
Glad to hear they are more welcoming to foreigners. In my day we were called Gaigin which is an insulting version of outsider.
I run into far more annoying foreigners lately. People like that guy that was kicked out for making a nuisance of himself are becoming more common sadly.
Did you move over to Japan as Miffy? 😅
oh yes Japan has changed for the better, it has become more modern and you too, you are more charming
10:00. From 17 to 30% in just 1 year??? What has happened, does anyone knows?
Miss Allison, would you be willing to tour guide? I see you have business cards made, I dont have social media but my friends do, when do you have time? I'll be going to Japan from end of November to middle of December 2024 this year. I would love to
Japan is improving while America is unproductive
What banks in Japan allow you to use Apple Pay?
😊
1st 😃🥇🏆
Allison thanks for the tip about bringing cash,I will be going to Tokyo on a business trip I was going to bring travelers checks thanks for the info.
I would say travelers cheques won't be very useful these days. However, your bank's debit or credit card will be accepted pretty much anywhere that takes non cash payments. Visa and Mastercard are definitely the most accepted, but you may have issues with Discover or even American Express. If your credit card has no international fees and you carry a bit of cash, you'll be all set!
@Gunbu thanks for the tip.
All of these are literally the whole western world, but nice vid.
Japan isn’t the western world. It’s true they’re becoming more globalised but they weren’t until recently so it’s a noticeable change.
VERY recent news but the fact that the high court has ruled it illegal to ban same sex couples from marrying is definitely a change for the better!
Lgtetc a change for the better?? Sure libtard
@@missplainjane3905had a feeling the replies to this comment were gonna be stupid
It's very cool and important and it's good it's out the way so now they can focus on even more important stuff.
I enjoy your videos , but very often someone else will be discussing the same thing and say "this only applies in Tokyo" could you start saying when something only applies to Tokyo , please. I am dreaming of moving to Hachinohe 5 months of the year and I am often scratching my head as to if what I see or hear applies to Hachinohe.
The yellow tactile footpath is excessive, in a 3 week stay through Japan I think I only saw 5 blind people.
What I love most about Japan is their nationalism and strong sense of national identity.
Gotten worse since Kanye and them idiots from America disrespecting shrines by doing dumb dances and touching them just for videos.
Honesty I think one of Japan’s biggest strengths is not being diverse. When everyone is pretty much of the same culture and ethnicity, things run very well because everyone is on the same page. I know it sounds kinda mean but I’m from California and I’ve seen what diversity does to major cities here.
This girl says 'すごいい' a lot. Beware.
lost me at "its not perfect" re: english
New to your channel and liking it so far….
It is sad you think cashless is a good thing. History as proven things like Cashless is a really bad bad idea!