April 7–20, 2026 — Jeff · Jeannette · Ana · Matt
Each Morning — Two Steps
Step 1: Open Daily Rhythm - April 7-20 → find today’s date → read the Agenda. Weather, crowds, neighborhoods, and timing are already built in. That’s the plan.
Step 2: If energy is lower than expected, weather shifted, or someone wants to split off — open Daily Decision Helper for swaps and group split options.
Bookmark on your phone: jjamjapan.com — open in Chrome, no app needed.
Quick Lookup
| I need to… | Go here |
|---|---|
| Find what’s near me right now | Osaka · Kyoto · Tokyo |
| Handle cash or find an ATM | Cash Strategy · Konbini Guide |
| Figure out a train route | Transit Cheat Sheet |
| Order food or navigate a menu | JP Phrases - Bill and Kiyoko · Izakaya Guide |
| Deal with rain | Weather Routing Rules |
| Ship a bag or store luggage | Takkyubin · Coin Lockers |
| Visit a temple or shrine | Temple and Shrine Etiquette · Goshuin Guide |
| Emergency or urgent situation | Emergency Contacts and Contingency |
| Arrival — get from airport to house | First 48 Hours |
| Departure — get from house to airport | Last Day - April 20 |
By Person
| Person | Their Pages |
|---|---|
| Jeff | Photo Journey Guide · Watch Shopping - Tokyo · B.B. Garage · JDM Car Day |
| Jeannette | Itoya Ginza · Loft Shibuya · Hands Shinjuku |
| Ana | Ana - Day Options · Gundam Base Tokyo · Unicorn Gundam Statue · TeamLab Planets |
| Matt | Day Hikes - Osaka Area · Day Hikes - Tokyo Area · Watch Shopping - Tokyo · B.B. Garage |
By Phase
Outbound (Apr 7–8)
- Outbound - April 7 — TPA → ATL → HND, gap options at ATL, arrival into Osaka
Osaka (Apr 8–14)
- Osaka House — where we’re staying (Kishinosato-Tamade, Nishinari)
- Osaka Food Guide — what to eat, dietary notes
- Osaka - Sights and Options — full options list
- Kyoto Base — day trip guide; Kyoto Morning Strategy — how to do it right
- April 13 - USJ Day — full USJ strategy (Jeff/Jeannette/Ana)
- April 13 - Matt Day — Matt’s solo day (hiking or city)
Tokyo (Apr 15–19)
- Tokyo House — where we’re staying (Ikebukuro Honcho)
- Tokyo Food Guide — what to eat, sushi strategy
- Tokyo Sights and Options — full options list
Departure (Apr 20)
- Last Day - April 20 — check-out, transit to HND, flight timing
Reference
Planning & Logistics
- High-Level Timeline · Flights · Pre-Departure Checklist
- Train & Pass Strategy — IC cards, Shinkansen
- Phone Setup — apps, offline maps, eSIM, Suica (do before departure)
- Connectivity — eSIM setup
- Restaurant Booking Windows — what needs a reservation and when
- When We Split Up — group coordination
- Tax-Free Shopping — 10% off over ¥5,001, bring passport
- Health and Pharmacy — what to bring, getting sick in Japan
- Japan Etiquette Quick Reference — rules and customs
- Cherry Blossoms - April — what’s still blooming
- Fuji vs Nikko — the weather decision for the day trip