Japan travel guide

Japan has recently become a tourist hotspot in recent years since it reopened to tourists after the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’re on social media, chances are you’ve seen plenty of posts about Japan on Instagram or TikTok. And in case you missed it, Japan is currently experiencing a record number of visitors from all over the world due to a weakening Yen against other major currencies. At the time of writing this post, the Yen is at a 30-year historic low against the U.S Dollar ($1 USD = 154.12 JPY), making traveling to Japan historically cheap. For this reason, if you’re traveling to Japan do expect massive droves of tourists in popular places, but don’t let the flocks take away the magic of the fantastic locations you will visit.

This post is here to help you with that.

The Language Barrier

Japan is a very particular country for various reasons. First, most people in Japan only speak Japanese and assuming that just English would do it would be naive. Most Japanese people will speak bare minimum English and generally it’s kind of a hit-or-miss finding someone that speaks a language other than Japanese. Regardless, people in Japan are arguably some of the nicest people you will ever meet, and their reputation for being kind, non-conflictive, respectful, and friendly lives up to their reputation. Using a translation app (Google Translate, Apple Translate) and learning a few key words and phrases should be enough to navigate this marvelous country like a fish in a pond.

What to Expect from This Post

This post is intended to share all the information collected from my recent trip to Japan, which includes a 3-week itinerary with lots of detail about all the places we visited, tips on how to use public transportation, how to plan your trip like a pro and other relevant travel tips to keep in mind. Feedback is more than welcome, and you may also reach me at contact@axelcureno.com for questions.

Why Share This Info?

It’s true that here is a lot of information about traveling to Japan out there, specially on social media as well as other outlets like websites and the usual word of mouth. Although most information is rather spread out or broken into bits. I’m writing in this post as a consolidated guide based on our personal experience so you can bookmark it and refer back to on your trip if you need to. My wife and I had the best time of our lives in Japan and everything from our trip went absolutely smoothly, so we thought it was a good idea to put it down in writing for others to enjoy Japan the same way.

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Preparing for Your Trip

Planning is Key

Assuming you’ve already made the decision to visit Japan (congratulations!), the first thing I recommend doing is define your itinerary. Planning things in advance in Japan is a natural thing to do. For example, many attractions should be booked months in advance due to high demand. Securing your seats in the Shinkansen (bullet train) will guarantee you a comfortable, assigned seat (there are tickets with non-assigned seats that could leave you standing for the whole trip). Lastly, planning the trip makes the whole experience smoother, since you don’t have to waste time thinking about what to do next only to then realize the attraction or public transportation you wanted to book is sold out.

I recommend first doing research on the attractions you plan on visiting (the more in advance, the better) and then start the booking part. For example, we sadly weren’t able to visit the Ghibli Museum because the tickets sold out in a matter of minutes after the sale went live, even though we were waiting in line on the website on the specified date; this was on a particular day of the month when all the tickets for the upcoming month went on sale. All the tickets for the month of May sold out in less than 10 minutes. Crazy. Do research on popular attractions since each have their own criteria for ticket sale.

We found that 1-2 months in advance is kind of the sweet spot for booking attractions, especially the popular ones.

I will later explain in more detail our itinerary along with the attractions we visited, but just to illustrate, here’s the example of the rough itinerary we first defined:

• Tokyo (6 nights)
• Mt. Fuji (1/2 day – day trip)
• Nikko (1/2 day – day trip)
• Takayama (1 night)
• Shirakawa-Go (1/2 day)
• Kanazawa (1 night)
• Kyoto (4 nights)
• Osaka (4 nights)
• Nara (1/2 day – day trip)
• Miyajima (1 night)
• Hiroshima (1/2 day)
• Tokyo (3 nights)
• Hakone (1 night)

From there, we then started adding things to do each day and then booked the attractions we wanted to visit.

The Cash Situation

Another very important thing to do is to bring enough cash with you for the whole trip. In our case, we made the big mistake of exchanging all our US Dollars to Japanese Yen at the airport for a terrible exchange rate. We did this because that was the recommendation we got from social media. Instead, I recommend you exchange some at the airport (enough to get by 1-2 days) and then look for currency exchange vending machines around the city or try an ATM in any convenience store. You may also ask in your hotel for a good place to exchange some currency, perhaps they may be able to exchange it.

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Transportation

Once you know the destinations you will visit, it’s time to book the tickets to get there. Luckily, public transportation in Japan is a marvel to experience, although at first, it could be a bit intimidating specially in big cities like Tokyo between the humongous big stations, the fast pace and the crowds. The good news is that it’s actually not that difficult to understand, and once you get a grasp of it (1-2 days) it will become very easy to navigate. Trust me, you can do it. You can also watch a few YouTube videos before the trip to get somewhat familiarized, here’s one I watched that really help me. Once you become familiar with the Tokyo subway, you are good to go everywhere else in the country.

As a note, in Japan it is basically standard practice to look for signs everywhere. Look down on the floor and around you and you will likely see a sign to guide you. It’s very easy to navigate with signs, some even include the exact distance to a point B (in meters). So stay alert and look closely around you.

We used Google Maps to navigate and downloaded the maps on our phones before the trip. The cool thing about Google Maps to use public transit is that it will include a lot of detail in most cases, such as platform numbers, icon of the train, the exit number, and even the car that will be easier to exit for your transfer or destination. Most transit lines use colors, numbers or letters to distinguish between stations and lines, do not try to remember the name of the stations, not only because its confusion (unless you are fluent in Japanese) but because it would be a waste of time and energy.

Pro tip: To download maps in Google Maps, simply zoom in to the area you want to download, then type “ok maps” in the search bar, then hit enter to confirm the area to download.

In the event of not finding the place you are looking for, don’t be shy to ask people or clerks from stores inside the station (most stations have at least convenience stores). Simply ask nicely, and someone will help.

Perhaps the first thing to understand about public transit is that there are different types of it. Most likely, you will use the following:

– Shinkansen (Bullet train) operated by JR (Japan Rail): Inter-city train.

– City Metro (operated by city agencies, i.e., Tokyo Metro, Osaka Metro, Kyoto Metro, etc.): Inner-city rail train.

– Inter-city trains: Operated by private companies.

– Buses: Most cities and towns offer buses. If you’re planning to go somewhere remote, this might be the only option to get there.

There are different types of trains for traveling between cities, operated by either JR (a state-owned company) or private companies. Google Maps will show you which train to take, so it’s important to understand the differences. For example, if you have a JR ticket, you can’t use it on the metro because they are separate companies. Some train stations have JR and metro stations connected, but their entrances might be separate. Make sure to check the information in the app and follow the signs to find your way.

The fantastic IC Cards of Japan

IC cards in Japan are digital wallets for transactions. You can download the Suica or Pasmo app and reload it with your preferred payment method.

There are several types of IC (Integrated Circuit) cards used primarily for transportation and electronic payments, but the most popular are Suica and Pasmo. In our case, we used Suica, which was very easy to set up on the iPhone or Apple Watch.

What is Suica?

Suica is a rechargeable transportation card that can be used on almost all public transport in Japan, including trains, buses, and even some taxis. Additionally, it can be used in many stores to pay for your purchases. The good news is that you no longer need the physical card; you can download the Suica app on your smartphone and have all the advantages directly on your device.

How to Download and Set Up the Suica App

First, download the Suica app, which is available on both the App Store for iPhone users and Google Play for Android users. Then, open the app and follow the instructions to set up your account. You will need a valid credit card to recharge your Suica. Once set up, you can recharge your Suica directly from the app using your credit card. It’s quick and easy, and you’ll be ready to use it in minutes.

How to set a Suica wallet on your iPhone or Apple Watch

Alternatively to using the Suica app, you can simply create a Suica wallet inside the Apple Wallet app of your iPhone or Apple Watch. Doing this is very simple.

Using Suica on Public Transport

With your Suica loaded and ready on your smartphone, simply hold your phone up to the readers at the entrances and exits of train and bus stations. It’s super convenient and saves a lot of time, especially during peak hours.

As a side note, IC cards are largely interoperable in Japan, meaning a Suica card can be used in areas covered by other cards like Pasmo or Icoca. This interoperability makes traveling across different regions of Japan quite convenient with a single card. For tourists, there are also special versions such as the Welcome Suica and Pasmo Passport, which are available for short-term use and come with various benefits. They do not require a deposit and are non-refundable.

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Accommodation

We booked all our accommodation through Booking.com, and to be honest, it worked out quite well. We had a good experience with all the places, and they were reasonably priced ($80-150/night). A few things worth mentioning: Hotels in Japan are generally very clean, meaning even a 2 or 3-star hotel room is expected to be pristine. As a tip, I would focus more importantly on the location. Try searching for what’s closest to metro or bus stations, as well as JR train stations, since you’ll likely be using trains to move between cities. Keep in mind you will be walking the distance from the station to your stay daily at least twice.

Regardless, if you don’t want to do any search, here is the list of places where we stayed during our trip, all of which we recommend:

– Tokyo: APA Hotel Pride Akasaka Kokkaigijidomae, Henn na Hotel Tokyo Asakusa Tawaramachi

– Takayama: HOTEL WOOD TAKAYAMA

– Kanazawa: SOKI Kanazawa

– Kyoto: ASAI Kyoto Shijo

– Osaka: Hotel Forza Osaka Kitahama

– Miyajima: Oyado Tsukiusagi

– Hakone: Hakone Onsen Yuyado Yamanoshou

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Food and Drink

Japan is a gastronomic paradise, renowned for its rich and diverse culinary heritage. The nation’s food culture is a reflection of its history, geography, and traditional craftsmanship, offering a blend of flavors, textures, and experiences that delight the senses.

This post won’t mention specific places to go. Instead, I think it’s more useful to give advice on how to pick places as well as a few dish recommendations based on our personal experience while we were there. Regardless, I still recommend doing some research if you maybe want to visit popular spots and, if possible, try making a reservation in advance.

Japan’s Culture of Doing Long Lines

Most chances are you will see many places with people waiting in line for a table. Personally, I’m not a big fan of spending several minutes in line, and I don’t recommend doing this unless the place is a must. Nine out of ten places in Japan offer great food, and I would say probably around three out of ten (guesstimating) will have a wait line. I recommend searching on Google Maps for the options and basing your search on the dishes rather than the actual review score. Almost all places will have a 4.x review score, so it’s hard to miss a good place. I honestly can’t remember having a bad experience with the food in Japan. Life is too short to wait in line for a table.

Japan’s Amazing Convenience Stores

Another thing Japan is very famous for is its convenience stores. These are everywhere. Whether it’s 7-Eleven, Lawson, or Family Mart, these stores offer a great selection of fresh and tasty food at a very affordable price.

It has become a viral trend on social media to post about how good the food tastes in these convenience stores. From the Onigiris to the sushi rolls, the egg sandwiches, the famous “Fami Chicken cutlets,” the smoothies, etc., almost all the non-frozen options are very tasty and fresh. This is a great option for time-constrained schedules where you can just grab-and-go something, saving money and time, and I recommend considering it at least for the experience.

BTW, if you happen to live in the U.S., the great news is that 7-Eleven is bringing their Japan food to stores here in the U.S., you know, in case you want to try those egg sandwiches before your trip.

Street Food

Japanese street food is an adventure in itself. Takoyaki, octopus-filled batter balls topped with bonito flakes and sauces, and Okonomiyaki, a savory pancake mixed with various ingredients like cabbage, pork, and seafood, are popular street snacks. Festivals and food markets are the best places to explore these treats. Try searching online for events of this kind; if you’re lucky, you might have a chance to catch one.

Japanese Sweets

Traditional Japanese sweets, or wagashi, are as beautiful as they are delicious. Made from ingredients like rice flour, red bean paste, and seasonal fruits, wagashi are often enjoyed with tea. Mochi, daifuku, and dorayaki are just a few examples of these delightful confections.

Sake and Japanese Drinks

Sake, a traditional Japanese rice wine, is a staple of the nation’s drink culture. Sake breweries across Japan produce varieties that range from light and fragrant to rich and robust. Sampling sake at a local brewery or izakaya (Japanese pub) is a must. Additionally, Japan offers a wide array of other beverages, including green tea, matcha (powdered green tea), and umeshu (plum wine). Green tea, particularly, is integral to Japanese culture, enjoyed both hot and cold, and often accompanied by tea ceremonies that emphasize harmony and tranquility.

Cultural Etiquette in Japan: Trains, Restaurants, and Hotels

Japan is renowned for its rich culture and high standards of etiquette, which play a vital role in everyday life. Understanding and respecting these customs will not only enrich your experience but also show your appreciation for the local culture. Here are some key points to keep in mind while using public transport, dining out, and staying in hotels:

On the Train

Using public transportation in Japan, particularly the train system, is an integral part of the travel experience. Here’s what to remember:

– Silence is Golden: Japanese trains are often quiet, as talking loudly on the phone or in person is considered impolite. If you need to take a call, use text messages or step off the train at the next stop.

– Queue Up: When waiting to board a train, stand in line where indicated on the platform. Allow passengers to exit before you enter.

– Respect Reserved Seating: Certain seats are reserved for the elderly, disabled, pregnant women, and people with small children. Avoid using these seats if you don’t fall into these categories.

– Keep It Clean: Avoid eating or drinking on local trains. On long-distance trains like the Shinkansen, eating is acceptable, but be sure to clean up after yourself.

At Restaurants

Dining out in Japan can be a delightful experience, and following local dining etiquette will ensure you leave a positive impression:

– Greeting and Seating: Upon entering a restaurant, wait to be seated by the staff. A polite greeting like “irasshaimase” (welcome) will often be given.

– Ordering and Eating: Use the phrase “sumimasen” (excuse me) to get a waiter’s attention. It’s customary to use chopsticks, but if you’re uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to ask for a fork or spoon.

– No Tipping: Tipping is not practiced in Japan and can be considered rude. Excellent service is expected and included in the price.

– Payment: Typically, you will pay at the register near the exit rather than at the table. Use cash or a credit card, as some smaller establishments may not accept cards.

At Hotels

Staying in Japanese hotels, whether Western-style or traditional ryokan, involves a few unique customs:

– Shoes Off: In many hotels, especially ryokan, you will need to remove your shoes before entering. Slippers are usually provided, and there may be different pairs for use in the room and the bathroom.

– Room Etiquette: If staying in a ryokan, avoid stepping on the tatami mats with slippers. When sleeping on a futon, it’s polite to fold it and store it away in the morning.

– Onsen (Hot Springs) Etiquette: If your hotel has an onsen, make sure to rinse off thoroughly before entering the communal bath. Enter the bath clean and avoid bringing towels or other items into the water.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading through the entire article. I hope this information is useful for your upcoming trip to Japan and you enjoy every second of it.

Enjoy your journey and the warm hospitality Japan has to offer!

Disclaimer: This article may contain inaccurate or outdated information, the information described here its of the best of the author’s knowledge. Always do more research on your own to verify

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