We're back with a chat about Sam's 2023 summer trip to Japan.  

0:34 Overview: 14 days, spent as follows:

• 5 nights in Kyoto at Mimaru Apartment hotel. 430 square foot. Not spacious but good for a family of 4.
• 2 nights in Hiroshima at the Hilton Hiroshima: One bedroom suite booked with points (90k per night). Very new hotel, opened in 2022.
• 5 Nights Ishigaki island near Yonehara beach. Car rental
• 2 nights in Tokyo at another Mimaru in their pokemon room
• Robert's previous trip report (required listening)

04:37 Travel:

• JL from LAX nonstop to Kyoto
• Pickup from the airport (Booked on Klook.com) worked really well
• Used the "Visit Japan Web" site to generate QR codes before landing. Be sure to make a QR code for each person (for immigration) and one per family for customs.

08:09 Kyoto: Transit was difficult

• Not easy for us. Lack of numbers and signage really chewed us up. BUSY stations with people who definitely knew what they were doing.
• Helpful staff–but still difficult to execute train to train transfers
• Local vs. Express was not well signed.
• Got easier when we limited ourselves to busses + a single train.
• Busses in general were easier and better in Kyoto (can see the city as they Drive). Would take a cab directly to the bus stop.

15:51 Universal Studios:

• Brutal to get to. Issues with kids and trains.
• But once there, small size and express pass made the day a complete success.
• Conflicting information about swapping rides–but we were able to swap for different rides than those listed on our express passes (but not different times)
• Lines are crazy long, express pass is a must.  We bought a 4 ride pass due to height restrictions limiting possible rides, but 7 ride passes were not much more.
• The Mario Water party parade was fantastic and over the top. Japanese to the max and loved by my kids.
• Super Mario World is incredible.
• The kids had a blast, we spent about 6 hours at the park, just enough time in my opinion.
• Getting home to Kyoto was equally brutal. The train line leaving Universal encountered a full stop due to a train on the loop hitting a passenger.

30:10 Cabs: We took so Many and They Saved Us

• Combination of lots of walking and young kids meant we needed to use cabs.
• We were 'close' to multiple train stations and bus stops. But the walking before, during and after sightseeing meant cabs were the way we extended days.
• Uber app worked well in Kyoto/Hiroshima to call cabs. In Tokyo we had to be careful--there was a 300-500 yen pickup fee plus the meter -- lots of times the uber black fare was less.
• Uber black cars are the nicest possible car I've ever been in. Loved these in Tokyo.

38:40 Kyoto to Hiroshima with Luggage: Train travel

• Gion Matsuri in Kyoto made the train station packed.
• Train runs nearly every 20 minutes. Amazing.
• Kiosk did not work with CC and I couldn't get 3 seats together (with luggage access). Pivoted to a desk agent who