What to Book in Advance for Japan (And How Far Out)

#29 This week on Rewarding Routes, we're diving deep into trip planning for Japan.In this episode, we're talking about what to book in advance for your Japan trip. We'll break down the most popular experiences that require early reservations, discuss how far ahead you actually need to book each one, and share the exact activities I'm planning to book for my 2027 Kyoto and Osaka trip including the Nintendo Museum lottery, TeamLab Kyoto, and the Pokémon Cafe.Tune in to learn how to plan your Japan itinerary with confidence, avoid missing out on bucket-list experiences, and build a booking timeline that sets your trip up for success before you ever board the plane.What You'll Learn from This EpisodeWhy booking local tours and cultural experiences early sets the tone for your entire trip The exact booking windows for Japan's most competitive attractionsHow I'm building out my 2027 Kyoto and Osaka itineraryTheme parks, baseball games, and Shibuya Sky — what actually needs advance booking and what doesn't Pro tips for practice runs, JST time conversions, and using apps like KlookFeatured on the ShowKlook App — Third-party booking platform for activities, theme park tickets, and transportation across Japan: klook.comAirbnb Experiences — Great source for local guides, photo shoots, cooking classes, and cultural workshops: airbnb.com/experiencesFly Photographer — Photographers available in 350+ cities worldwide including Japan: flyphotographer.comTDR Explorer (YouTube) — Chris's channel is my go-to resource for Tokyo Disney Resort and Universal Studios Japan guides, express passes, and app tips: youtube.com/@tdrexplorerBuy Sumo Tickets — Official source for Grand Sumo Tournament tickets: buysumotickets.comPokémon Cafe Reservations — Official site for Osaka and Tokyo locations: https://www.pokemon-cafe.jp/en/cafe/reservation.htmlNintendo Museum Lottery — Check the official Nintendo Museum site starting 3 months in advance on the 1st of the month https://museum.nintendo.com/en/index.htmlRewarding Routes Stan Store  → https://stan.store/rewardingroutesInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/rewardingroutes/Email → [email protected]