How-to plan your 1st Japan trip like a pro**.

Updates: 
October 31, 2017- Link update.
April 19, 2017-  (More planning tips added, links are all current). 

Arashiyama, Kyoto. Cute handmade plushies by @ emicakes (Instagram).

So you've decided to go to Japan for the very first time.  
 Images of Sushi, Temples, Bullet Trains, and Hot Springs flash before your eyes... now what?   

​I commend you for wanting to see Japan on your own.   Explore everything at your own pace, and find hidden gems while getting lost.  This is why you are here right? 
You do need to allot some time for planning & researching. 
​It will be time consuming, but very rewarding in the end.
​
​Take a deep breath.
​
​You can do this!
​

This is where my extensive check-list, tips, and useful links below will save you time. ​
(My aim is to have the important links all on this page so it's easy to just click on exactly what you need). 
​

Outline of my planning guide

 ​​

• This is dedicated to all of you who love to plan so it will be an in-depth guide.  As information is always changing, there will be future updates and revisions (it's a constant work-in-progress).

 

• ​** [NOTE]:  This is intended for a 1st time visitor who wants to plan their Japan trip without a tour guide.  But I hope the information and tips here are helpful for a returning traveler as well.   While you won't instantly turn into a travel pro,  I can assure that you will be very prepared for your trip (overly in fact).**  

​​

My planning process excludes buying guide books
(you certainly can if you want, as their pictures are stunning). 
​ Personally, I find they just don't give enough information for each area.
​

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**Overview, non-comprehensive list.   Some of it may work for you, or if you have a better way, I would love to hear about it (leave me a comment at the end).  Links and information provided below are not affiliated in anyway. 

Please use them at your own will.  As I am not liable for any of the outcomes
 (since your experiences may vary from mines, though I certainly hope you have the best experience). **
​

- My Japan Planning Check-List -
- 

Feel free to print out my-check list for your trip planning
​(FREE PDF Download)
​

PDF download (~ 324 KB).

Preview of my FREE check-list that you can download + print.

Personally, I like to have these windows open on the internet browser for quick access:

• Calendar
• Matrix Airfare Search (by Google)-  Helpful tool to see by month when the cheapest flights are, although you can't make bookings through them. 
• Maps (I use Google Maps).
• Hyperdia Train Route Finder (see my quick Hyperdia tutorial walk-through)  OR  Jourdan Train Planner.  Lately, I've been loving the NaviTIME Japan Train App (free download on mobile). 
• Weather forecast ( Accuweather  |  Weather.com  |  Weather Underground ) to check historical weather and forecast to get an idea of the type of clothes to pack.
  • I also check the sunrise and sunset times if I know I will be visiting somewhere with a view.
  • Tide Charts (if you are going to someplace like Miyajima (Hiroshima) to see the famous floating Torii gates).
• Google Translate, or any translation webpage.  Download their free mobile app too. 
• Use a free Trip Planner (easy way), or start a new spreadsheet (Google Docs/ Excel/ Open Office/ PowerPoint, whatever you are comfortable with, etc).

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THE EASY WAY-- Use a (Free) Trip Planner

   Sygic Travel    

Sygic Travel (formerly known as "Tripomatic") works really well to get an overview of where certain sights are located.  After you are done, you can just print out your itinerary.  If available, there will be maps and important information that you might need to know about your destination.

• After you make your itinerary, you can download either their Apple or Android App and bring it with you on the go.
• It's now integrated with Fodor's Travel Guide (Tokyo).
• The only drawback is that it mainly includes the most popular sights so you will have to custom add in things yourself if not shown.

 Planeapple

Planapple is pretty handy for collecting trip information and compiling everything all-in-one place. 

​You can even add information from anywhere online. 
​​

• It automatically puts it into a calendar format for you.
• You can forward your hotel and flight reservation e-mails to [email protected] to have the information added to your itinerary.
• There's an integrated weather app.
• They've included an option to invite your friends and family to discuss your travel plans.

​Try out both of these free trip planners and see if one works for you!

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The hard way (I'm old school like that)

Sample at-a-glance Sapporo Itinerary I made for a family who went to Japan on their own for the 1st time. Original Calendar Template from Vertex42 (free through Open Office); with slight modifications. This is after all the details are set with transportation mapping separate. (Click for bigger view).

​

​​I am a visual person, so I like to see at-a-glance outlines on a Calendar
(by month) format. 

You can make your own Calendar if you feel inclined, but to save time, you can use pre-made templates through Open Office, or find free Calendar printable(s) online (via Image search).  Once I find a Calendar I like, I tweak them to meet my needs.

But lately all of my Japan Travel planning for me or others is done through Google Docs (so I can link everything there and never worry about saving or computer crashing). 

​But that's just me, it's YOUR trip, you can do it however you feel like it.
​

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• ​Look up the best time to visit Japan +  find a local holiday calendar to see if events coincide with your trip. 
• You can't go wrong with information found on the official tourism pages (if there is one).​

​MAKE A WISH LIST OF "MUST-SEE"

• Map out train routes, transfers, time, cost, admission and hours.
  • (Do note some restaurants + attractions have days when they are closed).
• Group all activities in proximity.
• Compare to see if getting a JR rail pass is beneficial vs. pay as you go on re-loadable IC cards (SUICA/ PASMO/ ICOCA, etc.). 
  • More information about IC cards are provided below.
• If you plan to purchase a JR pass (exchange voucher), you must do so before arriving in Japan. 
  • Are you planning on a long journey?  (Moving from one end of Japan to the other)?
  • Or do you want to stay in one central area and do day-trips nearby (and save on transportation cost)?​​​
• See my quick-walk through on using Hyperdia + getting around.
  • I've been using this newer transportation app recently (Japan Travel- Navitime); available for both Apple/ Android.  
  • I like that it seems much more user friendly than Hyperdia.  
  • For municipal subway lines, they even color code them for you with the station number and you can even follow how many stops until you need to transfer.  
  • I love that it also lists the relevant information (stops) in Kanji/Hiragana.
  • Their Taxi Estimator is also pretty spot on.  
  • There's free or paid option but I thought the free plan is already super awesome! 
• For peak season travel, you may want to consider making train reservations on JR rail (you can only book for routes on JR East)>
  • For JR East (Tohoku area-- Tokyo and nearby), you can now pre-book your seats online for Shinkansen or certain Limited Express trains via Eki-net before your arrival (See full train list).  You can pick-up your tickets at least one to two days in advance (cannot be collected for the same day departure). 

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Getting ideas for your trip
​

• ​japan-guide.com
  • ​​Check out Japan-Guide.com for quick outline of where you want to visit.
• Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
  • ​​Request free brochures & Maps from JNTO mailed to you!​ 
  • See my tutorial. 
• Look up sample itineraries online to help you plan.
  • Pick up Free Japan Tour Flyers at your local Travel agencies (or look them up online).  It's a good way to see the most popular sights and ideas.   But since you will be using public transportation, account for more travel time and schedule for less things a day. 
    • A good pace is about 2-3 major sights a day as you want time to walk around and explore without feeling rushed.
    • Don't forget that transportation and getting from points A to B will take up a lot of your time. 
    • [Examples of Tour Company Itineraries]: 
      • JTB USA (Honolulu) Japan Tour Itineraries
      • Kobayashi Escorted Japan Tours (Hawaii)
      • ​Air & Sea Hawaii Japan Tours ​​
• Often times, Transportation companies offer plenty of itinerary suggestions as well (on how to make the most out of their rail-passes). 
  • [Example]:  Short Day trips from Tokyo (via JR rail).
  • [Example]:  Model Courses in Osaka  (via Kansai Thru Pass).
• JNTO also offers their Regional Model Courses already outlined for you by days.
  • ​[Example]: ​For those traveling to Kyoto for the 1st time. (1 day by JNTO).

​

[TIP]-  Use free Travel / Food Forums for ideas (Trip Advisor, Flyer Talk, Fodors, Chowhound, etc.) to look up frequently asked questions,  see how others have planned their trips, or to post your own specific question for further help from frequent travelers or residents who have up-to-date knowledge.  Do advise these people volunteer their time so try to do research first!  ​
​

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​Find a copy of the current holiday calendar!

"Golden Week" is also not the best time to go since it's the busiest time in Japan and all of the locals have the Holiday off. [Data from]: Officeholidays.com.

Plan your trip outside of these dates if you don't like crowds. 
Or plan with if you want to partake during these busy festivities:​​
​

• Cherry Blossom  |     (March- April in most places; May in northern Japan).
  • ​​Look into Cherry Blossom reports.  
  • Kawazu Cherry Blossoms in Izu Peninsula typically blooms a month earlier than in Tokyo.
• [Note]-- Although Obon in Mid-August isn't a national holiday, many Japanese workers have it off so it's a super busy travel time.
• ​Autumn leaves  |     (Mid-September - Early December). 
  • ​​Refer to Autumn Leaves reports to plan your trip dates to see fall foilage.
• Fireworks  (New Year, Summer, and other special dates). 
  • See if your travel dates coincide and if there's a particular viewing spot you should be visiting.  Some companies offer dinner boat cruises too.
• Snow Festival (1st-2nd week of February in Sapporo, Hokkaido).

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[TIP]- If possible, try to have a copy of your destination with:  opening times, names + address in Japanese characters on-hand.

Personally I use Trip Advisor (maybe way too much).

But the option to print out names and addresses in Japanese is very handy:

[SOURCE]: Trip Advisor.com. This is a restaurant chain across Japan where you can fish your own meal.

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​

• Do you want a traditional Japanese experience?  If so, stay at a Japanese inn (Ryokan).  You can sleep on a futon on top of a Tatami (straw) mat.  Some inns may offer a hybrid room (Japanese-style rooms with regular western beds).  

• Also, opt for a Kaiseki (multi-course) Japanese dinner to get the full Japanese experience.  Some Ryokans offer rooms with a half-board option (Breakfast + Dinner), while others include only breakfast, or no meals at all. ​​ 

• With a Kaiseki option, it requires you to pick the time you want to eat (since it's prepared just for you and served in your room, or designated dining hall). 

​​

• If you plan to sight-see or arrive really late, you may want to opt out or seek alternative dining options (in remote areas your inn may be the only place that offers food).  

​

• [Note]- Ryokans that include half-board generally charge by the number of occupants in the room. 
  • So if you have a family of 4 staying in one room, you will most likely get charged per person.  It's not always 100% but it can be common. 

​​

• If you have some cash to burn, there are luxurious Ryokans with in-room hot spring (onsens) or private baths (Spring or Regular hot water) to rent in some areas. ​
• Some Ryokans may offer shuttle bus options to/from the nearest train/ bus station or airport. It can be free or paid and usually requires prior reservation. 
• The downside to Ryokans can be:
  • Some of them may impose a curfew at night.
  • May be located in an inconvenient or remote location.
  • Not so great views.
  • Not much things to do nearby after dark.

​ALTERNATIVE LODGING IDEAS

• Minshuku (B&Bs similar to Ryokans except run by families).  Often times more affordable than Ryokans.  Sometimes, the toilet or bathing area is shared--like a homestay.
• Shukubo (Temple Lodging).  Bathing facilities may be shared, but more and more are starting to provide services like Ryokans (may or may not include vegetarian meals).  You may be able to find some with onsen or private bath on-premise as well. ​ A good example are those found in Koyasan.

[TIP]- ​If you have special dietary needs or restrictions and plan to stay at a Ryokan that offers a Kaiseki, you should reach out to them prior to arrival to see if they can accommodate substitutions.  

​On the other hand, is night-life or convenience of importance to you?  

Seek out hotels on-top of, or near a train or subway station. 
​There's usually a lot of shops and eateries right in the proximity.

Even better if you can find a hotel that offers a paid or free shuttle, or Limousine Bus (large tour bus) stop that takes you directly to/from the airport, or main train stations within the city.
​

If you have time, try a combination of Hotel + Ryokan to get the best of both worlds!

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Book Lodging

Again, just a few places that comes to mind and not a complete list.

• Agoda
• Airbnb
• Booking.com
• Ctrip
• Ebookers
• Expedia
• Hotels.com
• Hostelworld
• Jalan.net

• ​JAPANICAN (Hotels or Ryokans, tours, JR passes; owned by JTB Group). 
• Japan Guest Houses​​
• Priceline
• Rakuten Travel
• Ryokan Collection
• Tablet Hotels​
• Travelocity (you can sometimes find coupon codes online).

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    ​[TIP]- Use filters to your advantage! 

​

Filter search. [SOURCE]: Japanican by JTB.

[TIP]- Some Japanese hotels or Ryokans don't accept reservations until 3 months out. 
But you can try and e-mail them to see if they will work with you if it shows there's no availability.

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Food

/
A visit to Japan is not complete without trying different Japanese cuisines.

​Do you want to eat like a local and hunt out street food?  Each region in Japan usually has their own specialty.  How's about trying the infamous Pufferfish (Fugu), or the acclaimed Kobe Beef?  

​ Are you into ​Budget, or Fine-Dining?  Or a combination of both?

​JTB offers a free restaurant booking website in English called J-DINING. 
​

• Bento.com​   |    Search restaurant by neighborhood, if it's open late; on Sundays, Notable décor.  

• Gurunavi     |   Search by area, price, cuisine, English Menu, English speaking staff, coupons, all-you-can eat/ drink, and Michelin lists etc.  (They don't allow linking so just type in "Gurunavi Michelin Japan" in your internet search bar and it should pop up.   They also offer FREE English restaurant reservation by phone (closed on Sat, Sun, holidays) which are super helpful.  You still need to call them, but they send you back an e-mail confirmation really fast and even send you reminders as the date gets closer. ​​
  • You can also search by Michelin Stars or Bib Gourmand which is super helpful to find affordable but amazing eats! 

  

• ​Happy Cow |  For Vegan or Vegetarians.  Their listings are focused towards main cities.​​

​​

• Tabelog   |    Another directory of restaurants (the biggest in Japan).  Search by Prefecture or attraction.   Most of the reviews are written by local Japanese users, but there's a one-click "translate" option to English.

 

• Tokyo Eats  |    Blog of Tokyo restaurant reviews with lovely photos.  Their main focus is on good and affordable finds from a local's view. They sometimes visit other parts of Japan too.

​

• Tokyo Cheapo |   Really funny + useful blog about doing Japan on the cheap (food and other categories). ​

​

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ALTERNATIVE IDEAS
​
Look pass the obvious restaurants and scout out the following: 

• If you are a foodie or just love food, you might want to look into setting up a Nagomi Visit where you get to meet a local resident and share a meal that they will prepare for you in their home for a flat fee.
  • You can't really beat home cooking (and you may also participate in helping them to make the meal as well).  Who knows, you might end up with new friends from Japan! 

​

• Otherwise, you can also look into taking a cooking class or two to see how the locals prepare Japanese meals.  Tripadvisor has a good listing of cooking classes and reviews for Tokyo , Kyoto , and Osaka . 

​

• Don't forget there's lots of food to be found at the local food (wet) markets.  

              Many places even offer to cook the fresh ingredients in front of you (Oysters,      
              Scallops, Crab, etc.)  Sometimes there's also Kobe Beef!
            
​
              Just to name a few-- there's:

• Nishiki Market (Kyoto)
• Kuromon Market (Osaka)
• Omi-cho Market (Kanazawa)
• Ameyoko Shopping Street (Ueno, Tokyo)
• Sapporo Central Wholesale Market (Hokkaido).
• Other not-to-be missed areas are Dotonbori (in Osaka), or Yatai (open-air food stalls in Fukuoka). 

​​

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[NOTE]:  If you plan to eat at a Sushi Restaurant or Izakaya (Japanese Pub), they may impose a mandatory but nominal seating fee of 350-500 Yen per person (Otoshi).

Think of it as a part of the Japanese experience as it will get you a surprise appetizer.  
It's really not worth trying to fight it. 

[TIP]- If you want to save some money but still want to eat
​at a fancy restaurant, go for lunch instead of dinner.

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Reservations
​

Do make reservations for tours.

• For example: some places like the Imperial Palaces (Kyoto or Tokyo), requires you to submit an application as free English tours are limited and you can't wander the grounds by yourself unless it's a special public holiday.
• Some popular restaurants or breweries may also require advance reservation. 
• Ideas:            JAPANICAN tours​          |            Viator​​

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​Phone or Wi-Fi hotspot rental

Phone, Hotspot, and Sim Card rentals can be really useful.

​Aside from hotels and lodging having Wi-Fi access,
​ once you are out there's limited places that offer you free connectivity. 

• ​You can pre-book/ pre-pay and have the mobile Wi-Fi or phone sent to your hotel, or for pick-up at the airport (if your flight is early enough; most close early in the evening so double check their closing time).

• When you are done, use the pre-paid envelope to return the unit.  You can drop it off with your concierge, or as your board your flight back home (some companies have a convenient drop-off area) or use the red mail boxes at major airports. 

A FEW MOBILE WIFI COMPANIES TO LOOK INTO

• Global Advanced Communications
  • ​One of the biggest in Japan.  We found that between their Premium and Standard mobile WIFI plans, the Standard one was actually better even though it's slightly cheaper (the speeds just slows down after you've used up the cap amount).  I have recommended several people to use them and they've all used the Standard plan successfully (especially with using apps like LINE to talk with people back home). 
• ​Softbank Global Rental
• ​JAL (Japan Airlines) Rental
• ​TelcommSquare

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Free WiFi

Some train stations and airports do offer free Wi-Fi. 
​ You just need a little pre-planning:

• JR East (Tokyo Area).
• JR West (Kansai Stations + option for 8 days free use for hotspots).
• Haneda Airport (Operated by NTT East; access to 200,000 hotspots in 14 days).

​​

• Narita Airport
• New Chitose Airport
• Kansai Airport
• ​Kobe Free-WIFI 3,000 hotspots in Kobe City for free! 

​

You can also pick up free Wi-Fi cards (I haven't tested this out yet,
but reviews on-line seem mixed as connection is not the best). 
​
Might be worth a shot if you are visiting near Tokyo
(Mt. Fuji, Yokohama, Nagano, Hokkaido, etc).

• NTT East Free Wi-Fi (for 14 days)

​​

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​Travel luggage free by forwarding your luggage

​

Consider using TA-Q-BIN (Takuhaibin) for forwarding your luggage from one destination to another.  Especially great for when you are changing hotels, or want to send your heavy suitcases to and from the airport (2 days in advance recommended).   
Personally I love this service.​

• ​See my guide on Takuhaibin.

Some TIC (Tourist Information Center) may also offer such service to send your luggage to your hotel for a small fee (by piece;  with smallest luggage costing from 600 Yen+). 
​

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Go on day-trips with buses

​
Many parts of Japan offer hop-on/ hop-off tourist loop buses that circles around popular sights. 
You can buy a day pass that often comes at a discount vs. paying individual fares.
​

A FEW EXAMPLES

• ​Aomori (Nebtan-Go).
• Hiroshima
• Kanazawa
• Kyoto (Raku Bus).
  • * May be really full at times; making it hard to get on. 
  •    How-to ride the bus in Kyoto.
  •    Kyoto Bus and Train Route Planner (Arukumachi).  ​

                               Similar to ​ Hyperdia,  ​but includes bus routes! 

• Kobe (City Loop 1-day Pass/ Bus + Subway 1-day pass). 
• Osaka (Wonder Loop Bus; now includes bus, boat, and subway).
• Tokyo

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If you prefer a guided tour for the day,  
​look up sightseeing buses that offer 1/2 or full day itineraries.
​

• For example, in Sapporo, you can use CHUO BUS (highly recommended).
  • Their english course page lists all the different options they offer along with sample itinerary + clear pricing.
  • Pick-up/ drop-off are at main train stations or hotels.  Some packages include a meal in-between.  If you don't want to do long distance train travel or transfers (for the Lavender Fields for example), this is the way to go.
  • The drawback is that not all of their routes have an English guide (some may have English audio guides to borrow), and it feels rushed since you have limited sightseeing time at each location. 

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​JAPAN TRAIN TRAVEL
​

Getting around Japan via the train or subway is one of the most popular and convenient options of sightseeing.
​

How to buy rechargeable train (IC) cards

​IC prepaid + rechargeable cards are good not only for train and transportation fares,
but some grocery stores, vending machines, lockers and certain restaurants accept them as well. 

You can buy single-ticket fares each time you hop on the train,
but using prepaid IC cards will make your travel much easier as you don't have to calculate the fare every time.  
​ If you have a balance at the end, you can always opt for a refund, or keep it as a souvenir. 

Who knows, you might be back in Japan before the 10 years expiration takes place.  
 
​For JR (Japan Rail) IC prepaid cards, each area of Japan is on a different network:

[Source]: JR East Japan Railway company. While you can use them interchangeably across the different JR Railways across Japan, you can only re-load or get a refund from the area you purchased it from.

[TIP]- The Daily rush hours for trains and subways are usually around 7:30a-9a, and 5:30p-8p. 

• Will you be traveling then, before, or after to avoid the rush? 
• Keep in mind, most major department stores and restaurants don't open until after 10 am.

​

A few handy links + videos I found
​

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​

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​
One shows you how to buy & use your first IC prepaid card (the video points to the Suica from Tokyo),
but all of the JR (or non-JR subway) machines are very similar.   ​

​Be sure to find the ENGLISH button! 

​How-to Buy + Recharge an IC Card (Suica)

​You can buy the JR branded IC cards in increments of:
​1,000 | 2,000 | 3,000 | 4,000 | 5,000 | 10,000 Yen
​(the cards all come with 500 Y deposit).

​
This official video from JR East shows you how to buy the Suica and refill it:

      [LINK]

• How-to read a JR train ticket

     (by JR East)

                   [PRINT OUT REFERENCES]

​​If you decide against getting an IC pre-paid card, here's how you can buy a Single Ticket:

• How- to buy a Single Train Ticket

​                              ​(by JR Hokkaido)

​I found this to be the best print out especially for first-timers. 
​

       [PRINT OUT REFERENCES]

• ​​​How-to buy an IC card

                        (by JR East)

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Other transportation

Japan Rail Pass​​

• Decide if getting a Japan Rail (JR) Pass is worth it or not for your trip.  Once you map out all of your sightseeing, you can compare the cost of buying one-way tickets with IC cards, or area discount cards.  See which one comes out cheaper.​
• I've dedicated another blog post on JR rail pass. 

WHERE TO BUY JR PASS (EXCHANGE VOUCHER)
​

• Personally I like to use JTB (USA)  and have it shipped to me (though you can arrange to pick-up at a JTB location near you).  
• ACPrail  is also another popular authorized seller. 
  • Do shop around and see who has the better deal! 

TRAIN RESERVATIONS

• If you plan to visit between Hokkaido to Kanazawa (and places in-between like Tokyo, Narita, Haneda, New Chitose International Airport, and etc.) you can actually pre-reserve your seats on Limited Express or Shinkansen trains before your arrival on JR East's website. 

 

• ​Train Seat Reservations  can be made regardless if you buy a JR rail pass or not. 
  • ​Please see their official link for area of coverage map. 
  • For Airport routes, do note while you can make reservations, the tickets has to be picked up in person by 9 PM (21:00) the day before departure.
    
    • This would only work for return trips back to the airport and not originating from it. 
  • Of special importance is to correctly designate a pick-up window & note their cancellation terms and frequently asked questions. 
  • JR EAST Train Reservation Tutorial (official). 

​​
​

LIMO BUSES

• Limousine buses are actually large tour buses.  
• It is a comfortable (and economical) way to travel to and from the airport without having to worry about transferring trains once you arrive.  

​

• Some hotels have designated stops making it super convenient. 

 

• Sometimes, pricing can be about the same as taking the train, but you don't have to worry about transfers, lugging your suitcase, or getting lost.   ​

​
BUS COMPANIES YOU CAN BOOK ONLINE (AND IN ENGLISH)

• ​​Japan Bus Online is one of the larger bus companies that let you pre-book certain routes of Highway Express Bus.  While they don't offer buses to all of Japan,  they are good for popular sightseeing places  such as Hokkaido, Tokyo, Mt. Fuji (Kawaguchiko), Kanazawa, Nagano, Shirakawa-go, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, and Hiroshima to name a few. 
  • Reservations open ~ 1 month out  (sometimes less; you just have to keep checking). 
  • Full list of their bus operators (which is more than 400 bus lines) you can book from. 

 

• Willer Express Bus is another that can be booked online as well.  
  • You can see all of their bus routes in Japan.
  • Booking is open 1-3 months out.
  • A lot of their routes are Overnight (One example: Tokyo --> Osaka). 

​​

• I wrote a separate post about Limo buses here!

​​

[TIP]- If you plan to take the Airport Limousine bus to and from your hotel:

• Look up the bus schedules.
• Fares.
• Baggage restrictions.  ​

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Long Distance Travel
​

Other than traveling by Shinkansen (bullet train), or long distance highway buses (day or overnight), you can also opt for domestic flights.  Most times, it is faster than taking the train; sometimes even cheaper.
For overnight bus, Willer Express is very popular. 

[TIP]- Another option to save money or time is to book Open Jaw flights (flying into Japan from one airport, and leaving from another). ​ ​

• [Example]: Landing in Osaka (Kansai International airport; KIX), take the Shinkasen to Tokyo.  Do more sightseeing then fly out of Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND; which is much closer to Tokyo).
• One benefit of this is you don't need to buy the JR pass as it won't pay off. 

 

• See my separate post about booking Open Jaw Flights + a few examples of domestic carriers and their destinations.

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Special Transportation Needs
Do you have special (mobility) needs for yourself or for an elderly?  ​

• Look into charter car (hired taxi) service like MK Taxi (English friendly, most well-known). 
  • ​I'm not going to lie, it's going to cost a pretty penny (hundreds of dollars) but worth it for long distances or if you don't want to bother with train or bus transfers. 

• Do you plan to go to the country side?  
  • How will you get there? 
• Maybe you don't mind getting an International Driving Permit in Japan and getting a rental or hired car (with GPS in English).  
  • Two big name companies that come to mind are Toyota + Nissan.
  • Another company to look into is Tabirai Rent-A-Car (which all cars are supposed to have English GPS). 

​

TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN

• Most establishments consider a "child" as one who is 6-11 years old. 
• Those who are 12 yrs + is considered an "adult" so will be charged the adult fare/ rate.   Always double check!

​​

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medications

​Read up on the Medications you can bring into Japan. 

​You may be surprised that certain over-the-counter medications
​ found in your home country may be considered illegal in Japan
(Vicks Inhalers, Adderall, Actifed, Sudafed, etc.)
​

[TIPS] -

• Keep your prescriptions in it's original containers.

• Make sure you have proper documentation:  
  • (Dr.'s prescription + explanation of medication).
• If you are currently on a prescription that is banned in Japan, you need to consult your doctor for alternatives.

​​

As a general rule, you can bring up to 1 month's supply without needing to apply for an importation certificate (Yakkan Shoumei).  A Yakkan Shoumei  is also applicable for those bringing syringes or CPAP breathing mask as well.​​

• If in doubt, consult the Ministry of Health or your nearest Japanese Embassy! 

​

• More information about bringing medication into Japan can be found here.

Click to fill out a Yakkan Shoumei! [SOURCE]: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Japan.

​Japanese Customs take this very seriously,
​you don't want to spend your first night in Japan behind bars now would you?
​

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When you Land

After you land, you will have to go through Customs Immigration. 
At this time, you will need to fill out the Disembarkation card + Custom's Declaration to give to the custom's official. 
​(This is typically given out by the flight attendants before landing). 
​​​

[TIP]- Having these items at your fingertips makes it handy to fill out this card:

• Passport Number.
• Flight information.
• Hotel address + Telephone number.​

[Note]:  You have to fill out the Embarkation portion when you return home. 
You might as well fill it out now too to save time.

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Money
​

Familiarized yourself with the local currency (Yen), and what it looks like.

• Will you exchange Yen before arriving or after?
• Or will you be using an ATM (at the airport or around town)? 
• If possible, try to exchange for a few loose coins (100 Yen coin for lockers). Though some places may offer bill changers.
• Japan is really safe, so carrying around cash is not a problem.  Although Japan is very sophisticated, cash is still the most accepted form of payment.  In fact, you may find some places (small restaurants or shops)  that still won't accept credit cards. 
• Though many high-end restaurants, department stores, hotels, and Ryokans now take credit cards (American Express as well!). 
• What is your overall budget?  After you map out all the transportation cost, admission fees, and meals, you will have a good idea of how much to bring.  But you can certainly enjoy Japan with a limited budget.

ATMs
​

There's only several branded ATMs in Japan that will let you withdraw Yen using ​US/ non-Japan issued cards. 

• ​Double check the fine print with each card company if they will charge you foreign transaction fee or ATM withdrawal charges ​before using. ​
• The most popular and available ATM is by Japan Post Bank (post office).  Max single transaction withdrawal is ~ 50,000 Yen (it used to be 100,000 Yen).  More information on the types of cards that can be used and ATM hours can be found directly from Japan Post.

​

• ​Other ATMs that accept foreign cards and is English friendly is run by Citi Bank and Seven Bank.  These may be found at the airport, train station, or convenient stores.  FamilyMart also has their own ATMs along with Japan Post. 
  • How-to USE Seven Bank's ATMs.
    • ​Of course there's an app you can download to located their ATMs. 
• Please check with each respective company for hours, daily withdraw amounts, and cards types accepted. 

​

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​Other Japan travel tips
​

• Have a hard copy of your itinerary, notes, and maps, or train schedules in case your phone/ tablet dies. 
• If planning for a group, I find Google Docs to be quite useful.

• Make copies of your important documents-- IDs, Passport, Credit Card (front and back). 
  • Keep a flash drive that you keep on person in a waterproof case (not classy, but regular good-old sandwich bags work too).  
  • For double back-up, keep another copy with family you trust.  If you lose it, you can have them e-mail it to you.
• ​Make sure your Passport is valid for the whole time you will be in Japan.  You may need to look into VISA limitations relevant to your country as well.
  • ​For US citizens, you are allowed 90 days VISA-free entry into Japan as a tourist, or for business.​​
• Download packing Apps or find ones online.
• ​If possible, pack light.  Many Japanese locals travel with a carry-on only.  There's limited luggage space on regular trains. 
  • ​​Not all subway or train stations have elevators so you may end up lugging your luggage up and down many flights of stairs.
  • ​Double check train station maps ahead of time if you have mobility issues.
  • ​Wear comfortable shoes, you will be walking a lot! ​

​​

[TIP]-  Did you know, you can request FREE planning brochure from JNTO (Japan National Tourism Organization)?

• ​List of overseas JNTO regional branches. ​ 

[TIP]-  You can request for a FREE Goodwill (Tour) Guide.

• ​These are volunteers (non-license tour guides, but recognized by JNTO).  They are local residents (students/ retirees/ housewives, etc.) giving up their free time to show you around as they want to meet people from around the world and to exercise their language skills.  While it's  free,  it is expected that you cover their expenses (admission fees, transportation, and food if they share a meal with you ~3,000Y; but check with each organization).   If you write to the local tourism board, they will try to match you up with someone if available.  
  • Tipping is not expected, but if you want, they will appreciate a small gift from you (examples: food/local items like Jelly/Honey, etc. from your hometown).
• List of JNTO Goodwill Guides (by area).
• Two popular Goodwill Guides (not listed by JNTO but some of their guides personally have certifications). 
  • Tokyo Free Guide ​   |     Kyoto Free Guide

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BRINGING BACK JAPANESE SOUVENIRS HOME

Before buying food, alcohol, or tobacco items to take back home, double-check to see if it's allowed to be imported and the associated allowance and fees:

• Australia Duty Allowance                  |        Canada Duty Allowance        ​
• New Zealand Duty Allowance         |​               UK Duty Allowance
• USA Duty Allowance:​  ​the first $800 is tax-free, while the next $1k is assessed at 3%.  Remaining value of items that is more than $1,800 will be taxed according to the tariff schedule.  Read more information from the U.S. Customs and Border control website. 
  • USA Alcohol + Tobacco Tariff Chart.​

​[TIP]-  Utilize Duty-Free Reservation options online 
         ( NRT |  HND | KIX ) to save shopping time.

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​Miscellaneous things to look into
​

• Brush up on your Hot Springs Etiquettes if you plan to visit a public onsen.
• Some places are very strict about entry if you have tattoos.  In that case, opt for places that have in-room onsen or option to reserve a time slot in the family baths (~ 45mins-1 hr. private use | free/paid).

• Prepare yourself mentally for the Toilets you may encounter in Japan.
  • You may need to use Squat Toilets in remote areas, or older train stations.
  • Without a doubt, you will experience the modern Japanese Toilets with bidet and bum cleaning action.
• ​Look up some basic and useful Japanese phrases.  Or, if you are short on time (or lack the motivation), look for translator apps to the rescue (it may not always be correct, but it helps).

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​Examples of how I plan
​

Generally I like to make myself 1-page cheat sheets on Google Docs or PowerPoint. 

• ​I like to copy and paste information that may be important at-a-glance, then just whip out those exact pages for that day.
• Screen shots of Hyperdia works wonderfully if you want a hard copy.  But it's best to download the free app so you re-confirm the routes are still correct on your actual day of travel.
• You can e-mail yourself and have a virtual copy as well, or sync it up to the cloud. Google Docs works good for this too!  I recommend you make it so its available off-line on your device even if there's no internet. 
• If you know for sure you will have access to Wi-Fi on your trip, or don't want to waste ink or paper, you can grab the URL link of the mapped out directions and paste it into your spreadsheet or document. 
• You can also directly link the routes/ timetable from Hyperdia once you pick out your preferred date & time and paste it onto a presentation slide (Google Docs/ Power Points).   When you revisit it during your trip, you are automatically taken to that page and only need to make minor adjustments (e.g. different time) to the pre-populated fields. 

Screenshots of Hyperdia + Google Maps works great. You can even plan it down to the train station exit if you wanted.

Sample walk around Higashiyama, Kyoto. [Source]: Google Maps.

[TIP]-  You can copy + paste your mapped out routes in a short link format (for spreadsheets or word document to pull up later).  
*Does not require Google log-in/ account.*
​

​GO TO:

• MENU
• Share or Embed Map
• Share Link
• Tick the "Short URL" link
• Copy + Paste!

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If you want to take it one-step further, you can draw on your map to customize it:

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Overall, you can plan in detail, or as little as you want since it's your trip! 
​ Examples provided are just the way I do it
​(maybe it's silly, or over-kill), but it works for me.
​

Have I forgotten any tips, or do you have any you would like to share?
​ Let me know below, I would love to hear from you​.

​If you found my guide useful, please share with your friends.

Thank you for reading!
​