It has deep personal and "religious" significance to the Japanese - it represents the ephemeral aspect of life - given the religious beliefs here. It is incredibly important to my wife -- and therefore me.... The quick beauty and then death -- it's symbolic to the Japanese -- and incredibly meaningful to the Japanese.... Remember that is is an Eastern culture -- not the same as Western -- attempting to view their beliefs through a western filter isn't very useful....

you seem to have neglected the part where I said significant enough to form 'one's holiday plans'. Generally speaking, this is a forum for international travellers, generally Western travellers, hence my question.

of course it has significance for Japanese people, and by extension you, as husband of a Japanese citizen.

Sorry - It has not been my experience that this is an exclusive international traveler forum -- rather it's a forum where visitors look for local input - which I thought you were looking for... For westerners / tourists -- the blooming of Sakura in Tokyo is a very popular event -- like the Kentucky Derby or the Super bowl I guess? Cherry trees are not so common in Asia -- thus the popularity with eastern tourists -- and the Japanese Sakura are also famous in the west -- thus the western tourists.... I mean come on -- they gave them to Washington DC....

Have you met any people from outside Japan who have formed their holiday plans solely around the sakura?

I haven’t. And though I have certainly geeked out over the full bloom sakura predictions and locations with other enthusiasts on this forum, I was never aware of anyone else who was going exclusively for the sakura. It just happens that sakura (as well as tending towards Easter) occurs at a time that is perfect for active touring, the other perfect time being at the year’s other equinox; Autumn/Fall.

Are you sure this is a real “thing” and not an assumption.

For me, at least, experiencing an important and meaningful local custom as best I can is one of the most meaningful benefits I can get from international travel. I wouldn't plan a trip around sakura _only_ because it is so difficult to predict the timing far enough in advance to suit my travel needs.

Yes, many. Starting with my own mother, who has planned a number of her Japan trips around the sakura timing. So, yes, it's a thing.

The tourist levels this season based on some photos I saw were... high. I might do the same, but hold off for a year or two. Keage Incline looked like a music festival.

Vitamins
 

I'm planning a 2 week trip in the fall of 2023 (usual stops Tokyo - Kyoto - Hiroshima - Tokyo) and am curious about bringing along various vitamins and supplements that I use regularly. I will arrive and depart Japan via Haneda. I will not be bringing anything illegal or any prescription medications. All the guidance I've been able to find involves prescription medications and the various cold pills and psych meds that are illegal in Japan - I am not asking about those - I'm asking about vitamins and supplements (list below), and more importantly how to pack them for a smooth customs experience.

When I travel I usually pack the various pills into individual packets for each day of the trip, and pack those into my checked suitcase with my toiletries. Can I plan to do that for Japan, or is the level of scrutiny at customs such that will I need to have each thing separate and labeled, or even in original packaging? (I am used to customs in other countries where you walk right through and there doesn't seem to be an actual inspection of incoming luggage).

My usual list includes melatonin (3 mg for sleep), vitamins E, D, magnesium, fish oil, marshmallow root powder, l-theanine.

Obviously I can leave all this stuff at home if it's going to generate a massive hassle at customs, but if it will be no big deal I would prefer to bring it as I find I do benefit from taking these.

No idea about the marshmallow root (I suggest you investigate that one) but for the others no reason why you shouldn’t take in a reasonable two week personal supply. The guidance is clear:

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/polic...ticals/01.html

Just pack them as you see fit but allow for easily retrieval in case a sniffer dog takes an interest. Print out the relevant part of the mhlw information if that makes you more comfortable so you can point out what guided your supplement selection.
You should see my Japanese Father-in-law’s bulging tray of health supplements - and there are times of the day where half the television adverts on certain channels are extolling the virtues of concentrated seaweed extracts or ginko biloba leaves or any of the hundreds if not thousands of potency aids and remedies made with herbs and vegetables, bones and bark that are processed and consumed throughout Japan. Your collection might very possibly warrant a review but it won’t raise an eyebrow.

Only aside I have is that you might need to be cautious if you have an enthusiasm for matcha tea and you’re already loading up on theanine.

Caffeine + l-theanine = ?
From what I've read, l theanine reduces the jitters that you get from excess caffeine consumption and they synergise each other to create something better.

My concern would be theanine + theanine = ?

Matcha already has both caffeine and theanine in significant amounts. When consuming it I don’t see the wisdom of adding more of either.

Traveling to Northern Japan where I have been told English isn't as common as in Tokyo. I have allergies to shellfish. What are some suggestions so I don't have issues with food? I read earlier not to expect food items to be made to request so my plan is to stay away from anything obviously made with shellfish. Suggestions for how I avoid the possibility of shellfish being in an item but not listed? Any foods that you know might contain shellfish but not be obvious to a non-local?

This requires rather more thought and attention than “hints for first time visitors”.

Perhaps the most relevant thread is this one:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japa...ergy-card.html

I personally wouldn’t be confident giving you advice as I know how many regional differences there are even in the most fundamental of ingredients. Dashi is the cornerstone of Japanese cooking but it isn’t always made with dried bonito and kombu seaweed. I honestly don’t know enough about Hokkaido kitchen traditions to guide or warn you. An example of an unexpected shellfish source would be nori seaweed. It is gathered as a mulch and then processed in a similar way to hand made paper to make dried sheets, very common for trace amounts of shellfish residues to remain in the seaweed.

Here is a way to communicate your allergies with a way for the establishment to respond
https://www.fukushihoken.metro.tokyo...ese_korean.pdf

source:
https://www.fukushihoken.metro.tokyo...y/leaflet.html

There are restaurant chains in Japan with established policies on identifying allergens. As well as McDonalds there will be home grown chains with allergy awareness, an example that comes to mind that is represented in Hokkaido is Ootoya 大戸屋 which keeps guidebooks about each of its menu items in each of its stores. Here’s a thread discussing other examples: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japa...g-opinion.html

Great tips in here. Thanks all. Cannot wait to be a first time visitor!

I'm in japan currently. Had my plans changed after I got here. Seems there is a typhoon heading near to where I wanted to visit. I had flown to Fukuoka and then trained it to Kagoshima b4 I was told about the typhoon. Wonderful thing the JR Rail Pass. Pivoted and headed to Hagi. Masuda. Matsue, and then Kanazawa. It forced me to put myself out there and ask for assistance. And although sometimes not the best help, but they really try and in the end, good fun. I have been escorted many times to where I wanted to go. I had to ask many questions to get the info I wanted. Like where locals go for certain types of food, not where tourists go. The food and people at these restaurants were amazing. You can meet people that will share the evening with you. And sake/beer. Last nite I went into an expresso cafe and I offered to take 2 of the staff to dinner at a fish restaurant- one that their friend ran. Another great evening. And I tried to pay, they wouldn't let me. They were so happy to have that evening with a foreigner.
You must find early a good place to exchange cash. Not all Post Offices do that. I went to a shack that is a Western Union office and they gave an excellent exchange rate.
If you buy a JR Rail Pass, use the app to make reservations. I bought the Green Car pass so I could get a reserved seat some times. And others, so I don't need the hassle of buying tickets last minute. Can you imagine being on a one car train going to your destination, and you are the only passenger at times. Loved all of this.
I did not research much of anything. It does help to read this site information.
Btw, school children can be an excellent source of info. Just be polite and ask. English is taught in the schools at an early age now.
If for some reason you travel like I did, you get better pricing using booking apps then pitching up at a hotel. So far, Information at train stations have not been much good. I had to spend time prying info from the staff at these places. Not always successful. And none of the information places I went to would pick up a phone to make a reservation. So you need a smartphone for that and maybe Google maps.
Wi-fi has been patchy all through the trip.
A belated thank-you to the contributors.

Next- Tokyo tomorrow. Any suggestion where to stay, part of town? It would be greatly appreciated.