Traveling to Japan? Here Are Some Tips!

Are you looking to travel to Japan anytime soon? If so, you’re at the right place.

Planning a trip to Japan can be both exciting and overwhelming – believe me, I’ve done it three times within the last two years!

With the country’s unique culture, incredible food, and fascinating attractions, there’s no shortage of reasons why Japan is a top destination for travelers. But, when a country is so different than what you’re used to, it’s normal to feel confused, not know where to start, and even get a little bit antsy with what to expect when your plane lands.

That’s why I’ve put together a bit of a guide to help you make the most of your trip, and ease the planning phase a little.

Before You Leave

1. Ensure to reserve a pocket WiFi or eSIM – often times, your home phone carrier will charge massive fees for international travel usage. That’s why it becomes way more advantageous to book either a pocket WiFi or eSIM for use in Japan. I have tried both and they each have their pros/cons. The pocket WiFi has to be charged every night and is an extra thing for you to carry around every day, plus, all users need to be in close proximity to it to get connection. On the other hand, the eSIM is (easily) installed on your phone and works as your current cellular data would, but, beware – you won’t receive any texts or phone calls from those reaching out to you on your usual line.
   • You can use KLOOK or KKDAY to book yours
2. Travel light
   • Pack items you can leave behind, like old running shoes and clothing, so you have more room to bring back souvenirs (trust me, you’ll want TONS of room for this)
   • Start your trip with just a carry-on & backpack – there are lots of stairs & coblestone paths in Japan so this will make it easier for you to navigate from city to city. Near the end of your trip, you can buy a large suitcase to check in if you plan on bringing a lot of things back (you will)! Most international flights allow one checked bag for free
3. Book hotels near subway stations for easy access to public transport. The subway system in Japan is FABULOUS and you can get everywhere with it – you’ll be grateful your hotel is just a few steps away from the station after a long day of siteseeing

Essential Apps to Download (Ideally Before You Go)

1. SmartEx – for booking Shinkansen (bullet train) tickets
2. Zoom Earth – to monitor the weather, especially during typhoon season
3. Google Translate – a MUST to adequately communicate with locals. Make sure to download the Japanese language so you can use it offline & leverage the very cool ‘Lens’ functionality
4. Google Maps – the best of the best. Pin places before you go if you’d like. The app will literally tell you what exit to come out of the subway station from. It is AWESOME
5. Your Airline’s App – to stay up to date on all relevant flight information

Upon Arrival in Japan (WHILE at the Airport)

1. Pick up your IC Card – go pick up a Welcome Suica or Pasmo Card. You will be able to continuously reload this card, which will give you access to all public transportation across Japan. You can also use it to pay for vending machine purchases and at select stores (ex: 7-11)
   • Note: If you have an iPhone, you can also add your card to your Apple Wallet
2. Pick Up Pocket WiFi – if you’ve gone the pocket WiFi route, ensure you pick it up before you leave the airport. Also, ensure you test it out before you leave – I had issues with the set up and thankfully was still in the airport so I could get support from the vendor

Tokyo Highlights

1. Senso-Ji Temple – so stunning at night when it’s all lit up!!
2. Ueno Zoo – it’s a cheap $4 to enter and there are PANDAS!!! Yes, real pandas!! Start with the pandas to avoid lines
3. Imperial Palace – nice to see but not accessible up close, skip if short on time
4. Takeshita Street – located in Harajuku, this is an awesome street to stroll, filled with shops
5. Shibuya – obviously! The largest crosswalk in the world

Kyoto Hightlights

1. Matcha everywhere – and good quality at that. Highly recommend you try all the matcha treats you come across, especially the tiramisu at Maccha House – it is quite simply devine
2. Gion District – it is the best place to see geishas, primarily on Friday and Saturday evenings. The Maikoya Experience is highly recommended
3. Arashiyama Monkey Forest – beware as it is a 20-30 mins uphill walk, but it is SO worth it. Make sure to bring water with you!
4. Fushimi Inari – famous for its thousands of tori gates. A hike to the top takes about 3 hours (I’ve never done it and don’t feel like I’ve missed out)
5. Kiyomizu-Dera – absolutely stunning views from the top of this temple/pagoda. Visiting the inside may not be worth it if the lines are long but the walk there is just amazing, lined with a bunch of small shops (most are food and offer samples!!)

Osaka Highlights

1. Dotonbori – a very mini New York City. Lots of lights and by the water, a must-see area filled with action and good food
2. Osaka Castle – simply beautiful, iconic, and filled with so much history
3. Nobeha No Yu: Great experience for a private onsen rented by the hour at a reasonable price, recommend renting for 1-2 hours

Nara Highlights

1. Nara Park – a unique experience where you can feed hundreds of free-roaming deer and they will actually bow down to you (yes, that is a real thing). Highly recommend

Ad Hoc Tips

1. Ichiran Ramen Restaurant: cool experience but check the wait time *prior* to ordering
2. Restaurant Reviews: don’t solely rely on Google Reviews – some low-rated places in our opinion were some of our favourite meals
3. Bullet Train (Shinkansen) Seats: For a view of Mt Fuji, sit in seats D or E. The Nozomi is the fastest of the types of Shinkansen trains
4. Convenience Stores: 7-11/Lawson/Family Mart…all of them basically, have really good on the go breakfast and fresh latte options. Highly recommend!
5. Don Quijote: these are everywhere. They are stores of multiple floors & are filled with msc. items (including alcohol)
6. Bakeries: Breakfast at a Japanese bakery is a treat. The food is PHENOMENAL
7. Conveyor Belt Sushi: really fun & cool experience
8. Karaoke: walk into one of the spots and just do it. Rent yourself a room for an hour and belt your heart out singing all your favourite songs. So fun.
9. Fluffy Pancakes: Beware of the spot and make sure they are REAL Japanese fluffy pancakes before you go. Note: there may be a lineup depending on the location & time/weekday. My favourite place is a chain called Happy Pancake — get there early so you can grab a number to wait in line.
10. Bento Boxes: These are super cheap and awesome, especially to enjoy while on the bullet train
11. Late Openings: Beware early birds – most places in Japan don’t open before 10AM-11AM
12. Laundry: There are coin laundries everywhere. PLEASE use these instead of the machines in the hotel. Unless industrial sized, you’ll be waiting HOURS for your clothes to dry at the hotel
13. Ryokan: If you can, book a night in a ryokan. This a traditional Japanese-style room and it’s quite simply amazing. You can get dinner & breakfast served in your room (what a show!) and pro tip: try to get a room with a private open air bath…you’ll thank me later!

Must-Try Foods

1. Ramen (obvi!!)
2. Gyozas (their take on dumplings)
3. Takoyaki – an Osaka specialty (octopus filled dough ball)
4. Okonomiyaki – Japanese style pancake
5. Katsu – fried cutlet
6. Sushi
7. Shabu Shabu – hot pot meal
8. Yakiniku – grilled meats (similar to K-BBQ but better in my opinion)
9. Udon/Soba Noodles
10. Omurice – rice with omelet and sauce (SO good)
11. Matcha/Hojicha Ice Cream
12. Custard
13. Japanese Curry – phenomenal
14. Ten Yen – melted cheese in a sweet dough

I hope this has been helpful. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Happy planning & wishing you an amazing trip! Japan is a country like none other…it’s magical!!!