Japan
// Discover Japan like a local with concrete city tips, regional route planning, food context, and practical travel logistics.
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updated:March 4, 2026
SKILL.mdreadonly
SKILL.md Frontmatter
nameJapan
slugjapan
version1.0.0
homepagehttps://clawic.com/skills/japan
changelogInitial release with city guides, route planning, and practical Japan travel playbooks.
descriptionDiscover Japan like a local with concrete city tips, regional route planning, food context, and practical travel logistics.
metadata[object Object]
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.
~/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 structuringfood— Deeper restaurant and cuisine recommendationsjapanese— Language support for local communication and signageenglish— Backup communication support for multilingual travel
Feedback
- If useful:
clawhub star japan - Stay updated:
clawhub sync