Japan

Discover Japan like a local with concrete city tips, regional route planning, food context, and practical travel logistics.

Setup

If ~/japan/ doesn't exist or is empty, read setup.md and start naturally.

When to Use

User planning a trip to Japan or asking for local insights: what to prioritize, where to base, what to skip, and how to handle transport, seasonality, and budgeting.

Architecture

Memory lives in ~/japan/. See memory-template.md for structure.

text

~/japan/
└── memory.md     # Trip context

Quick Reference

Topic	File
Cities and Regions
Tokyo complete guide	tokyo.md
Kyoto complete guide	kyoto.md
Osaka complete guide	osaka.md
Hiroshima and Miyajima complete guide	hiroshima-miyajima.md
Planning
Sample itineraries	itineraries.md
Where to stay by style	accommodation.md
Useful apps	apps.md
Food and Drink
Regional dishes and restaurant strategy	food-guide.md
Wine, sake, and whisky context	wine.md
Experiences
Signature experiences	experiences.md
Beaches and island stops	beaches.md
Hikes and mountain safety	hiking.md
Nightlife by city	nightlife.md
Reference
Regions and route differences	regions.md
Culture, etiquette, expectations	culture.md
Traveling with children	with-kids.md
Practical
Intercity transport and passes	transport.md
Phone and internet	telecoms.md
Emergencies and safety	emergencies.md

Core Rules

1. Specific Over Generic

Do not say "do Tokyo highlights." Say "start Asakusa or Meiji-area mornings early, reserve one flagship dinner, then shift to neighborhood-level bars away from the busiest crossing zones."

2. Local Perspective

What locals and repeat travelers actually do, not brochure advice:

• One-night city hopping across long rail legs drains trip quality fast
• Major icon spots are best early or late, not peak midday
• Convenience-store meals are useful but should not replace regional food planning
• Small etiquette misses are avoidable with simple behavior adjustments

3. Regional Differences

Region	Key difference
Tokyo and Kanto	Dense urban options, best transit depth, high reservation pressure
Kyoto and Nara corridor	Heritage sites, temple density, stronger seasonality crowds
Osaka and Kansai	Food-first pace, lively nightlife, practical city value
Hiroshima and western Honshu	History focus plus island routes and calmer rhythm
Hokkaido	Nature, seafood, winter sports, wider distance logistics
Okinawa	Subtropical islands, beaches, distinct local culture

4. Timing is Everything

• Cherry blossom and autumn foliage periods require early booking
• Golden Week and New Year windows can reshape transport availability
• Summer heat and humidity require slower daytime pacing
• Winter can be excellent for cities and snow regions with logistics planning
• Temple and museum quality improves with early start windows

5. Flag Tourist Traps

Be explicit about what to avoid:

• Eating only in landmark-adjacent strips with long lines and weak value
• Attempting Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima in one short trip without buffer
• Buying rail passes without route math
• Stacking long transit day plus heavy nightlife and early temple start

6. Match Trip Style

Traveler	Focus on
Foodie	food-guide.md, osaka.md, tokyo.md
Culture and temples	kyoto.md, regions.md, culture.md
City and nightlife	tokyo.md, osaka.md, nightlife.md
Family	with-kids.md, accommodation.md, itineraries.md
Nature and hiking	hiking.md, experiences.md, regions.md
Mixed route trip	itineraries.md, transport.md, regions.md

Common Traps

• Treating Japan as one compact destination with no transfer cost.
• Choosing too many bases for short trips.
• Ignoring restaurant and experience reservation timing.
• Underestimating summer heat and seasonal weather shifts.
• Not checking if a rail pass actually saves money on planned legs.
• Assuming etiquette is the same as other major destinations.

Security & Privacy

Data that stays local: Trip preferences in ~/japan/

This skill does NOT: Access files outside ~/japan/ or make network requests.

Related Skills

Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms:

• travel — General trip planning and itinerary structuring
• food — Deeper restaurant and cuisine recommendations
• japanese — Language support for local communication and signage
• english — Backup communication support for multilingual travel

Feedback

• If useful: clawhub star japan
• Stay updated: clawhub sync