Slight disagreement. The dome’s a dome. Go catch the Swallows instead if either/both teams are in town at home.
Not an omurice? That’s sort of the classic stereotypical omelet thing that isn’t really an omelet as we would think of it.
Actually, I think the biggest surprise etiquette thing that isn’t just being a generally polite person like you would anywhere is to have a trash bag on you. While vending machines are everywhere and drinking on the go is generally okay, eating on the go isn’t and there are very few trash cans if any. Places to recycle bottles and cans, sure, especially by vending machines, but not general trash. So eat your food sitting down and be ready to carry your trash for a while.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but I found this kind of “Tokyo is an amazing wonderland” advice misleading when I visited Japan. Personally, I didn’t find subway stations, restaurants, or department stores to be incredibly different from what I’m used to at home, for instance. (I admit I did enjoy visiting Tokyu Hands, but it didn’t blow my mind.)
No. It was something cooked at our table, with a base of eggs but all sorts of other ingredients.
I don’t have any experience visiting Japan but to get you in the mood I recommend the highly entertaining Amazon Prime series James May: Our Man In Japan.
No, he was correct, taxi drivers open the passenger door from the inside using some kind of device. It’s just one of those extra bits of courtesy to customers that Japan is noted for.
Yes, it is. It is a worthwhile trip, if you have plenty of time, but it is not very high on my list of day trips for a short trip.
Probably okonomiyaki. Yum. Or possibly omurice as suggested above, which is a skin of omelet around a big wodge of flavored rice. Also good, but not as good as okonomiyaki, which (as I remember it) has a base of chopped cabbage, then fried noodles, then an egg batter and other stuff, cooked on a teppanyaki griddle often in front of you. They are very, very filling.
There are a number of shrines and temples along the JNR line, including the aforementioned Kamakura. It’s been many years since I visited, but I recall a marriage temple with a lot of cherry trees and some others. You can see all of these in a day, most likely. By most accounts, Kyoto is a better visit than Tokyo. You can also take the train to Hiroshima and visit the museum; definitely not a place for a westerner to be taking photos.
Yes, that’s what it was. Yum! And I’ve never seen it anywhere else. A cheap and delicious meal.
There were three of us sharing. It was a great experience, and delicious. And yes, filling.
Certainly if you’re interested in historical buildings. For me, it took a while to sink in that the vast majority of buildings in Tokyo were built after WW2.
The best thing about Kyoto is the conveyor belt sushi place (Sushi no Musashi) under the train station.
Hello, all.
Thank you very much to everyone who has generously taken the time to reply. I have read all the posts. I am working right now, but I will provide a lengthier reply when I am done working.
A few of you asked me questions. I don’t want to seem rude: I will reply to your specific questions when I have the time.
In the meantime, please keep the suggestions coming!
Thank you.
To anyone wanting humourous entertainment liberally sprinkled with actual factual information about Japan, I recommend Dave Barry Does Japan! Perhaps a little dated now, but probably still substantially accurate, and still very funny! 
Definitely not any sort of tour guide, but something amusing to read on the long plane ride and with a few actual facts thrown in.
I go to Japan about 3-4 times a year. My favorite ramen restaurant:
Ramen Fujin
4 Chome-10-25 Takanawa, Minato City, Tokyo 108-0074, Japan
Very near Shinigawa station. When I go, I am normally the only gajin in the place besides those with me. Almost all bar seating. While they do not have an english menu, they have a couple with photograph menus of the items. Best ramen I’ve ever had and always make time to go when I’m there. And bonus day if they’re playing 1970’s funk music on the speakers.
We went to Japan last year and had a great time. We started in Tokyo, then Kyoto, Hiroshima, then up to the mountains where we did some hut to hut hiking in the Japanese Alps (went from the Takayama side and came out on the Matsumoto side.
This! Tokyo can be overwhelming. When they say “train stations”, they mean entire indoor cities with massive amounts of stores, restaurants and PEOPLE! We did love Toyko, but I was happy to move to slightly less dense locations.
I carried trash the first day we were there because garbage cans don’t exist. And despite that, Japan is CLEAN!
Yum! We loved the okonomiyaki restaurant we found in Hiroshima. So good we went back a second night.
As others said, let the taxi driver open the door. I forgot a couple of times and was scolded by our friend.
Edit to add: Convenience stores are everywhere and we used them a lot. I have to get my morning coffee fix and I believe Family Mart had the best coffee machines.
I saw this recommended as a way to book a table at restaurants in Japan. They claim they are #1 but…who knows (marketing)?
For those really nice restaurants you might want to go to and need to book a table this might help:
Of course, many, many places you just walk into (same as anywhere).
ETA: Note that a rating over 3.5 on there is very good (the way they do their ratings).
I took my son to Tokyo in 2007, when he was a senior in high school. He liked anime and similar memes, and seeing Harajuku girls out just having fun on a Sunday afternoon was unexpected. Sunday was a good day to just walk through the parks, since we saw several wedding parties, in both traditional Japanese outfits and in Western wedding clothes. We did many of the activities in and near Tokyo, like Mt. Fuji and the Great Buddha statue. But the thing that really surprised was going to the Tokyo zoo and seeing giant pandas all by ourselves, without any crowds or time pressure. Maybe add that to your list if interested.
Look into a Suica card for public transit. If you have an iPhone you can just get one loaded into your Wallet, but if Android you need a physical card. A Welcome Suica card is available for tourists. Either way, you load it with money and tap the entry gates when you want to take the subway.
Train stations are overwhelming, but signage is available in English.
Google Translate is your friend if you get stuck. We didn’t use it much in Tokyo - you can get a long way with hand gestures.
Agree about the convenience stores: 7-11, Family Mart, and Lawson. Best place to pull cash is at the 7-eleven. Their ATMs in the store are western-ATM card friendly. And at convenience stores they’ll always ask if you want to pay for a bag. Just say yes (Hai). It costs next to nothing but there was some deal with a westerner getting all huffy about the 5 yen charge or something so they Will ask. Premade sandwiches there are cheap and sometimes quite tasty.
Cash is still somewhat king. Have a supply just in case.
Narita Express is one way to get into town, but I found it surprisingly stressful getting tix from the vending machines. If you miss the first train they give you, don’t stress too much. Just get on the next train in the non-reserved section and find a seat.
Food was surprisingly affordable by American standards when we were there. Yen is currently 145 to the US Dollar and was just a little better when we were there Mar - April.
Japanese style pasta is surprisingly yummy. It has roe or seafood or other Japanesey type things.
If you want to shop for electronics, go to Yodobashi Camera, the flagship store, it is a trip and a half. They sell electronics and wine and luggage and everything you can imagine. And we had yummy Japanese pasta at one of the many restaurants near the top floor of the building.
Get the Go Taxi app for Japan. It’s sort of Uber-like in that you can hail the taxi and pay for it with the app - you may even be able to get translations within the app. You’ll have to set up your account when you’re in Japan, not at home, but if I recall it just involves connecting your credit card info.
I do recommend getting cellular service, but it’s as easy as an eSim if you have a phone that allows for eSims. I’ve used Airalo for eSims. My husband needed a physical sim and got it at a camera/electronics store near Tokyo Station. Data is reasonable cost. You can rely on Wifi but why? Especially given all the above things that you can do with your phone.
I 100% agree with getting cell/internet (data) service while there. It just helps so much when traveling in a new city.
I will say it is worthwhile to check with your cell carrier. I use Verizon and they make it super easy. So easy I do nothing at all. If I am in a different country I pay $10/day for the service (on top of the usual bill). Not exactly cheap and you might do better with a new e-sim but those are a bit of a hassle and you need to read the fine print of what you just bought. $10/day and no fuss seems worth it (not to mention your phone has the same number and works as if you were where you live).
Of course, be SURE to check with your cell provider to see what is on offer and that you do it right. A mistake can be very expensive (monetarily).
I’ve never been to Japan, but I have a trustworthy source that suggests you should go big