Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Shopping in Japan can be so much fun that many travelers quickly run out of luggage space! In this video, I share my experience of buying suitcases in Japan and provide valuable tips on where to find affordable options. While many people head to Don Quijote (Donki), it may surprise you that their suitcases often come with a hefty markup.
I’ll show you alternative places to find cheaper suitcases, and even better, share budget-friendly solutions like using bags instead of suitcases for packing soft items like clothes and stuffed toys at a fraction of the cost. Plus, I’ll give you essential travel tips, such as how to reserve oversized storage space on the Narita Express and Shinkansen.
If you’re planning a trip to Japan and want to save money on luggage, this video is for you!
00:00 : Everything went well with my light packing strategy
00:38 : Buying Suitcases in Japan is surprisingly expensive
01:01 : Found Cheaper Options at Night Market
01:19 : US Pricing Reference - Shopping Suitcases at Discounted Store
01:37 : Found $15 Alternative Solution
02:05 : Riding Terminal Shuttles With Luggage
02:16 : Riding Narita Express With Luggage
02:46 : Attractions and Train Station Lockers
03:14 : Riding Shinkansen Bullet Train With Luggage
04:00 : Airport Repack Area
04:10 : Luggage Delivery Service (Yamato)
Ueno Ameyoko Shopping Street
ameyoko.net
6 Chome-10 Ueno, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0005, Japan
Shopping in Japan can be so much fun that many travelers quickly run out of luggage space! In this video, I share my experience of buying suitcases in Japan and provide valuable tips on where to find affordable options. While many people head to Don Quijote (Donki), it may surprise you that their suitcases often come with a hefty markup.
I’ll show you alternative places to find cheaper suitcases, and even better, share budget-friendly solutions like using bags instead of suitcases for packing soft items like clothes and stuffed toys at a fraction of the cost. Plus, I’ll give you essential travel tips, such as how to reserve oversized storage space on the Narita Express and Shinkansen.
If you’re planning a trip to Japan and want to save money on luggage, this video is for you!
00:00 : Everything went well with my light packing strategy
00:38 : Buying Suitcases in Japan is surprisingly expensive
01:01 : Found Cheaper Options at Night Market
01:19 : US Pricing Reference - Shopping Suitcases at Discounted Store
01:37 : Found $15 Alternative Solution
02:05 : Riding Terminal Shuttles With Luggage
02:16 : Riding Narita Express With Luggage
02:46 : Attractions and Train Station Lockers
03:14 : Riding Shinkansen Bullet Train With Luggage
04:00 : Airport Repack Area
04:10 : Luggage Delivery Service (Yamato)
Ueno Ameyoko Shopping Street
ameyoko.net
6 Chome-10 Ueno, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0005, Japan
![60 Seconds at Osaka Aquarium
If you’re planning a trip to Japan, the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is probably at the top of your list! It’s famous for being one of the largest public aquariums in the world, and honestly, standing in front of that massive tank with the Whale Shark is an experience you wont forget.
I wanted to share this quick 1-minute tour to show you exactly what its like inside. We loved how the path winds around the central tank, giving you so many different views of the sea life.
In this video, Ill show you:
The incredible Whale Shark and hammerhead sharks.
A look at the unique architecture and layout.
The penguins and other local favorites.
Quick Tips for Your Visit:
Book in Advance: This place gets busy! Grab your tickets online to skip the long lines at the entrance.
The Pacific Ocean Tank: This is the main event. Spend some time at the different levels to see the fish from every angle.
Cafe with a View: Theres a spot inside where you can grab a snack and look out over the Osaka harbor.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan? A: Its one of the biggest and best aquariums in Japan—Ive heard its second only to the famous one in Okinawa. Its main attraction, which you can see in my video, is the giant whale shark! The whole aquarium is designed so you start at the 8th floor and walk down a spiral ramp around the massive central tank, seeing the animals from all different levels.
Q: How do I get there? Is it easy? A: It was pretty easy to get to! Its not in the main downtown area, but you just take the Chuo Subway Line to Osakak Station. From the station, its a really easy 5-minute walk—you cant miss it, its right by the giant Ferris wheel.
Q: Do I need to buy tickets in advance? A: Yes, I would highly recommend it. They use a timed-entry system to manage crowds. You can buy tickets at the window on the same day, but you might have to wait a long time for the next available entry slot. My advice is to save yourself the hassle and just book your timed e-ticket online in advance.
Q: How much time should I plan for the visit? A: Id plan for about two hours just for the aquarium itself. The path is really well-laid-out, so you just follow it from top to bottom. Its a great half-day activity.
Q: Is there anything else to do in that area? A: Yes! The aquarium is part of the Tempozan Harbor Village. Right next door is the Tempozan Marketplace, which has a bunch of shops and a food court. And you cant miss the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel—it gives you an amazing view over Osaka Bay. Ive also heard theres a LEGOLAND Discovery Center there, so its a great spot for a full family day.
Q: Any other pro-tips? A: One great tip I learned is that you can get a re-entry stamp on your way out. This is perfect if you want to leave, get lunch at the Marketplace, and then come back. Also, Ive heard that if you go after 5:00 PM, it becomes the Night Aquarium, and the lighting changes for a totally different, magical experience.
Summary:
Experience the beauty and wonder of Kaiyukan Aquarium [海遊館] (Osaka Aquarium) in Osaka, Japan, in stunning 4K resolution! This one-minute highlight video offers a quick and breathtaking tour of one of Japans most famous aquariums. From the majestic whale sharks to the mesmerizing jellyfish displays, immerse yourself in the vibrant marine life and captivating exhibits that make Kaiyukan a must-visit destination.
https://www.kaiyukan.com/language/eng/ 60 Seconds at Osaka Aquarium](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ujwu-zzDGYI/mqdefault.jpg)







![Family Guide To Ocean Park Hong Kong
Getting to Ocean Park is easy via the MTR South Island Line (Ocean Park Station) or Bus 629. The parks two zones, the Waterfront and Summit, are connected by a scenic cable car and the faster Ocean Express funicular.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Whats the best way to get to Ocean Park? A: I found Hong Kongs MTR (subway system) to be very efficient. I took the train, and the Ocean Park station is right there [03:44]. My ride took about 15 minutes [04:10], but if youre staying in the city center, it might only be a few stations away [04:17].
Q: Do I need to stay at a hotel near the park? A: Its an option, but I dont think its necessary [04:23]. I stayed in Tuen Mun, which is much farther away [03:53], and I still had plenty of time to visit Ocean Park and then go to The Peak in Central all in the same day [04:27].
Q: Whats the best way to get between the two parts of the park? A: The park is split into two sections, the Waterfront and the Summit [01:41]. You can use the Ocean Express train [01:48] or the cable car. I prefer taking the cable car up during the day to get the great views, and then I take the Ocean Express train back down in the evening [01:57].
Q: Whats the best plan to see the pandas? A: My main goal was to see the pandas, especially the baby cubs [00:01]. There are two different panda exhibits. The parents, Yin Yin and Le Le, are in one [00:17], and the newborn cubs are in the Giant Panda Adventure [00:07]. Be aware that the cub exhibition closes at 4:00 PM [00:38]. When I went on a weekday, the total wait time was about 45 minutes [00:32].
Q: What are the must-do attractions besides the rides? A: Im not a big fan of rides [02:51], but I definitely recommend the South Pole Spectacular [02:57]. Its an open-top penguin exhibit where you can really hear them [03:05]. You should also make time for the Grand Aquarium, which has one of the largest tanks in Asia [05:03]. If you have younger kids, Whiskers Harbour has childrens rides and a playground [04:41].
Key attractions include the Giant Panda Adventure, where you can see Lula (visit around 10 a.m. for the best activity, but note the 3 p.m. closing), and the Grand Aquarium, which features over 5,000 fish, a 13-meter viewing panel, and a Reef Tunnel. Other notable zones are the Polar Adventure, The Rainforest, and Old Hong Kong.
While the Ocean Park Marriott Hotel is convenient, it isnt necessary, as Hong Kongs efficient MTR makes traveling from other hotels simple. For a perfect visit, arrive early, prioritize the pandas and aquarium, and use the cable car for views or the Ocean Express for speed.
Video Chapter
0:00 - Planning to See the Pandas 0:07 - The Two Panda Exhibits 0:32 - Panda Cub Viewing Times & Wait 1:00 - Other Famous Pandas (An An & Jia Jia) 1:41 - Park Layout: Waterfront vs. Summit 1:57 - Cable Car vs. Ocean Express 2:51 - Summit Attraction: South Pole Spectacular (Penguins) 3:44 - How to Get There: MTR 3:53 - Do You Need to Stay at a Hotel Nearby? 4:41 - For Younger Kids: Whiskers Harbour 4:57 - The Grand Aquarium 5:33 - Final Thoughts Family Guide To Ocean Park Hong Kong](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xzA7dPDOt3M/mqdefault.jpg)

![How We Got a $4,600 Tokyo Hotel Stay for (Almost) Free!
Your Tokyo Questions, Answered!
Q: What were the main spots you visited in this video?
A: Oh, we really tried to pack it in! We started in Shibuya, mainly to visit the Pokémon Center and its Design Lab [00:52]. Then, we had to rush over to the Tokyo Sky Tree for our Kirby Cafe reservation [02:07] and visited the Pokémon Center there, too [05:52]. We also talk a lot about our hotel, the Conrad Tokyo, and how we managed to stay there [03:14].
Q: You mentioned a Pokémon Design Lab? Whats that?
A: Its a special feature at the Pokémon Center in Shibuya [00:52]. Its pretty cool—it lets you design your very own custom t-shirt using a bunch of templates they have [01:00].
Q: Sounds popular. Is it hard to get a spot at the Design Lab?
A: It really is! They can only make a limited number of t-shirts each day, so my advice is to get there early [01:13]. What we had to do was get in line to get a number, and then they call your number when its your turn to use the design machine [01:19]. Just be prepared to wait a bit—it takes about 2 to 4 hours for them to print it, and you have to pick it up on the same day before the store closes [01:00].
Q: I saw you used luggage lockers. Any tips for those?
A: Yes! We stored our bags at Tokyo Station because our hotel check-in wasnt until 3 p.m. [01:24]. They have three different sizes, but honestly, I had trouble finding any of the large-sized lockers [01:43]. I was lucky I packed light, but I still had to split our stuff into multiple small lockers. So just a heads-up, the big ones can be hard to find!
Q: Was the Kirby Cafe reservation really that hard to get?
A: Oh, for sure. Those reservations are so competitive [00:07]. I did find a little trick that might help! If youre on the booking website, try just changing the number of people in the drop-down menu instead of refreshing the whole page. I found that this updated the list of open spots more efficiently [02:39]. I have a whole separate video on it if you need more detail [02:54]!
Q: Anything I should know before I go to the Kirby Cafe?
A: The biggest thing is that youre not allowed to re-order! [02:14] Youre given 90 minutes for your meal, and you have to order everything you want (including dessert) right at the very beginning. But it was so worth it—the cafe is decorated so well and the dessert was great [02:20].
Q: How did you manage to stay at a fancy hotel like the Conrad Tokyo cheaply? A: This was probably my best planning win! Ive found the Hilton Honors program works incredibly well in Japan [00:15]. We paid for our entire 5-night stay using 380,000 Hilton points [03:49]. And the best part is, when you book 4 nights with points, the fifth night is totally free! [03:42]
Q: What kind of benefits did you get at the hotel?
A: Because I have Diamond status (which I got through the American Express Aspire card [03:58]), we got a free room upgrade to the executive floor. We also got free breakfast for all three of us every day. We could choose between the executive lounge or the full restaurant buffet, which was a huge value [04:07].
Q: That sounds amazing! How much was the stay worth?
A: It was pretty incredible. The room rates for those five nights were over $3,500 [03:49]. When I added up the room upgrade and the free breakfast for all of us, the total value was close to $4,600 [04:30]! We got all of that for our 380,000 points.
Q: Is it hard to get that many points?
A: It takes some planning, for sure! I give an example in the video, but basically, if you and your partner each got a couple of the Hilton Amex cards, you could get there in about 9 months by meeting the minimum spends [04:47]. I always try to plan it around big expenses I already have, like summer camp or prepaying insurance, so Im not spending extra money [05:01]. Plus, the cards themselves come with other credits that can bring the cost down even more [05:09].
0:00 - Tokyo Plan: Shibuya, Sky Tree & Hotel Hacks
0:38 - Rushing to Pokémon Center Shibuya
0:52 - Activity: Pokémon Design Lab (Custom T-Shirts!)
1:31 - Travel Tip: Using Luggage Lockers at Tokyo Station
2:07 - Arriving at Tokyo Sky Tree for Kirby Cafe
2:14 - Kirby Cafe: Rules & Dining Experience
2:32 - PRO TIP: How to Get a Kirby Cafe Reservation
3:14 - Our Luxury Hotel Hack: Hilton Honors Program
3:21 - Why We Chose the Conrad Tokyo
3:42 - How to Get the 5th Night Free (Point Redemption)
3:58 - Hilton Diamond Status Perks (Upgrades & Free Breakfast)
4::30 - The Total Value: Was it Worth It?
4:38 - Strategy: How to Earn Hilton Points for a Stay
5:52 - Visiting Pokémon Center Tokyo Sky Tree
7:46 - Next Time: Driving to Odawara!
SUMMARY
Join our packed Tokyo adventure! We hit the Pokémon Design Lab, share crucial luggage locker tips, and race to the Kirby Cafe (with a booking hack!). Plus, our biggest secret: how we got a 5-night, $4,600 luxury stay at the Conrad Tokyo using only Hilton points! How We Got a $4,600 Tokyo Hotel Stay for (Almost) Free!](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ypaQdfXQhys/mqdefault.jpg)