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by Larrikin 248 days ago
If this is your first and possibly only trip, do not try to be too cool. Go to the famous places you've heard about and want to see, especially if you don't speak the language and your ability to get local recommendations will be limited.

Just don't fully pack the day and save time for randomly walking around, especially at night when a not sober Japanese person will be more likely to try out their English and give a recommendation. Your ability to get information and meet people will exponentially increase with every single Japanese word you learn. When I lived there meetup was popular and international parties set you up with people specifically there to practice in a fun environment.

I'm lucky and got to study there and live there. But definitely had regrets my first time going by taking the advice of jaded people who lived there saying things like Tokyo Tower is lame and you can get a better view from some government building. They had all gone and had the experience and I just missed out.

Also,personally I would find a week in Kyoto 6 days too long and find Osaka way more interesting. But I also have been many times and only enjoyed the first time.