A Japan trip that didn’t go according to plan. How a September typhoon, snow monkeys, and an unforgettable udon restaurant became the highlights of our vacation.
Everyone warned us that Japan would be hot in September. Nobody warned us that our entire itinerary could disappear overnight because of a typhoon.
Instead of following months of careful planning, we canceled hotels, rerouted trains, stumbled upon the famous Snow Monkey Park, and accidentally ordered enough udon to feed a small village.
Looking back, I’m glad everything went wrong.
The Typhoon That Completely Changed Our Japan Trip
Everyone warned us about Japan in September.
“It’s still going to be hot.”
“Stay hydrated.”
“Bring comfortable shoes.”
All excellent advice.
What nobody mentioned was that September also happens to fall during Japan’s typhoon season.
The morning we were supposed to leave Tokyo, our carefully planned itinerary simply… stopped working. We had planned to head south toward Hiroshima, making our way through several cities before eventually returning to Tokyo.
Instead, train after train was canceled. Routes disappeared from the departure board. Suddenly our hotel reservations no longer made sense.
Months of planning became completely useless before we’d even left the station. I don’t think we’d ever changed an entire vacation while standing inside a train station before.
Cancel hotels.
Find somewhere the trains were still running.
Book another hotel.
Repeat.
Instead of following our itinerary… we simply followed whatever transportation was still available.
Looking back, it sounds stressful.
At the time… it absolutely was.
The Destination We Never Planned to Visit
Somehow, all those detours led us to Snow Monkey Park. Ironically, it had never been on our itinerary.
If the typhoon hadn’t happened, we probably never would have gone. Only later did I realize it’s actually one of Japan’s most famous attractions. I do wish we’d visited in winter.
Seeing monkeys soaking in steaming hot springs surrounded by snow looks absolutely magical. But after hiking the trail in late summer, I also wondered if climbing those same paths covered in snow would’ve been a very different adventure.
Sometimes you don’t get the postcard version of a place. You get your version instead. And honestly, I wouldn’t trade ours.
The Tiny Udon Shop With No English Menu
After our hike, we were starving. Then we noticed a tiny udon restaurant. There couldn’t have been more than eight or ten seats lined up along a counter.
Everyone else waited patiently outside. There were no servers taking orders. The cooks were working nonstop behind the counter. The place felt busy in the most wonderfully organized Japanese way.
That alone made us curious. This had to be good. Then we noticed something else.
No Photos.
The sign was outside. Another sign was inside. We never questioned it.
If that’s the house rule, that’s the house rule. Not everything needs to end up on social media.
When Even Sign Language Failed
Normally, traveling isn’t too difficult. Between pointing, smiling, and a little creative sign language, we usually figure things out. This was the very first time… none of it worked.
The staff didn’t speak English. We didn’t speak Japanese. Normally we’d point at the menu.
Except… there wasn’t an English menu.
The cooks were incredibly busy, so there wasn’t really time for long conversations either. Eventually we found ourselves standing in front of the ticket machine making what can only be described as a highly educated guess.
Our logic was beautifully simple.
“The expensive one must be the specialty.”
Technically… we were right.
Nobody Warned Us About the Portion Size
A giant bowl arrived.
Then another.
One for me. One for my husband.
Apparently, “special” also meant double-sized.
Was it delicious? Absolutely.
Did we finish it? Mostly.
Did we immediately regret eating what felt like several pounds of freshly made udon?Also yes.
You know that feeling when dough expands in your stomach? Imagine becoming your own Michelin mascot. We spent the next couple of blocks walking around simply because moving felt easier than sitting down.
It was one of those meals that was completely worth it…right up until the moment we tried standing.
Now I Understand the “No Photos” Rule
Later, I learned the restaurant had even been featured on Netflix. Suddenly everything made sense. The no-photo policy wasn’t about being unfriendly. It was about protecting a place that locals still enjoy. No influencers climbing over each other for the perfect bowl shot. No people holding up the lunch rush while photographing noodles from twelve different angles.
Just good food. And people enjoying it.
Honestly… I respect that.
Sometimes the Best Trips Aren’t the Ones You Planned
When I think back on Japan, I don’t immediately remember the itinerary I’d spent months planning.
I remember standing in a train station realizing none of it mattered anymore.
I remember discovering Snow Monkey Park by accident.
I remember failing spectacularly at ordering lunch.
I remember laughing while waddling down the street after eating enough udon to feed what felt like an entire hiking group.
It’s funny how travel works. Sometimes the memories you treasure most begin with the words…
“Well… I guess that’s not happening.”
Travel Tips from This Adventure
If you’re visiting Japan in September:
- Leave a little flexibility in your itinerary. Typhoons can disrupt train schedules, especially on longer routes.
- Don’t panic if plans change. Some of our favorite memories came from places we’d never intended to visit.
- Respect local restaurant rules, even if it means putting your camera away.
- If you can’t read the menu… maybe don’t automatically choose the most expensive bowl.
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