Travel Tips: Japan

Kiyomizudera Temple | Kyoto

Japan is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, yet Japanese history and culture is preserved in the peoples' way of life and all throughout the country. Whether you are in the bustling city of Tokyo or the historical district of Gion in Kyoto, you will always be able to find a temple or a shrine nearby. In addition to Japan's rich culture, the country is known for many things - great food, street fashion, and more.

However, in order to have a fun and seamless time in Japan, it's best to make sure you're prepared and informed. Below are some helpful tips that helped me prepare for my trip and navigate through Japan!

Helpful Apps

Some of the things I was extremely worried about were not being able to communicate (since I didn't know an ounce of Japanese) and their public transportation system. Japan has one of the most advanced subway and train systems in the world but it can also be very confusing trying to navigate which trains to take and where to transfer since I was going to multiple cities. Some of the apps I downloaded were:

• Google Translate

• Google Maps

• Japan Official Travel App

• City Rail Map

• Japan Travel

• JapanTaxi (Japan's version of Uber. Uber as a ride share service does not currently operate in Japan but there is Uber Eats)

• Japan Direct

The most helpful apps were definitely Google Translate and Google Maps. If you are traveling by subway or train, Google Maps will be your best friend. And if you don't know any Japanese like me, it's okay, because Japanese people are one of the nicest and most respectful people I have ever encountered while traveling and are always willing to offer a helping hand if you're lost or need help with directions. Almost all of the signs in the subway stations have English translation and if you're still lost, most of the larger stations have employees who can help you.

Purchasing a JR Rail Pass

These apps will help you while you are already in Japan but there are some things you can do to prepare ahead of time. If you are planning to travel to multiple cities, you may want to look into getting a Japan Rail Pass or JR Pass. The JR Pass covers all JR Group limited express trains, express trains, rapid and local ones. Shinkansen bullet trains are also covered, except for the Nozomi and Mizuho lines. Since I was planning to travel from Tokyo to Kawazu, Kobe, Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara, I decided to get the JR Pass for 7 days. I bought the pass online here from IACE Travel and was able to pick it up from their NYC office before my flight but they also offer the option to ship it directly to your home. It's important to note that you will only receive a receipt and must exchange that for the actual JR Pass at one of the Japan Rail Pass Exchange Offices. They will ask you what date you want to activate the pass meaning that once it is activated you have 7 or 14 days (depending on the type of JR Pass you purchase) until it expires so make sure you plan according to the dates that you will be traveling to multiple cities. The JR Pass is pretty pricy so if you are not planning to travel outside of Tokyo, it is not worth purchasing the pass.

If you are planning to visit cities like Osaka or Kyoto, make sure you check what trains you have to take. Some trains such as the Shinkansen Bullet trains have Express or Rapid lines that cost more because the travel time is shorter. There are also some trains where you can pay for a reserved seat but there are designated carts for non-reserved seating at a first-come-first-serve basis that you only have to pay basic fare for. If you are traveling on a budget, I definitely recommend you look into this and definitely ask the station employees to make sure that you are purchasing the right tickets and not spending extra on something you did not need.

Staying Connected

If you want to stay connected during your trip, you may want to consider getting a SIM card or renting a Pocket Wifi. I ordered a pocket wifi before arriving in Japan here and chose to pick it up at Narita Airport where I was arriving at. There are several different pocket wifi options and prices but I rented the Super Premium Wifi one which was great for two people to use at the same time. The rental process is pretty easy - you select the type of pocket wifi you want to rent and fill out your information including what date, time and location you want to pick it up. Once you pick up the pocket wifi, it will come with a prepaid return envelope and all you have to do is drop it off at the post office or at any red mailbox in Japan on your last day before your departure flight.

A Cheaper Option to Get From Narita Airport to Your Hotel in Tokyo

Transportation costs can add up especially if you are planning to visit multiple cities. Unlike the NYC MTA system where subway and bus fares are a fixed price, prices vary by distance and how many stops you will be on the ride for in Japan. Although you can pretty much take the subway anywhere around Japan, there are cheaper options especially going to and from the airport. Upon arriving in Narita Airport, I waited on line to purchase tickets for the Keisei Bus which are only ¥10000 ($10 USD) for a one way ride. Depending on the availability, they will let you know the earliest available time for your pick up at the bus stop and the ride is about an hour (maybe longer with traffic) to Tokyo Station). You can also choose to book tickets ahead of time here but I wasn't sure how long customs and baggage claim would take so I opted to wait on line. The bus will drop you off right across from Tokyo Station, one of the larger subway stations with several connecting subway lines. If you want to take the Keisei Bus back to Narita Airport at the end of your trip, all you have to do is return to the same bus stop across Tokyo Station and purchase a ticket there. I panicked as soon as I got into the station because I wasn't sure where to go or what subway line to take. But if you're already equipped with a pocket wifi, plug in your address using Google Maps and it will tell you what subway line to take and from there, there are plenty of people to ask if you can't locate where that line is in the station.

Pasmo and Suica Cards

Just like we have Metro Cards for NYC subways, they have Pasmo and Suica cards in Japan. The cool thing is that these cards can be used at participating convenience stores and vending machines as well which is great if you don't have cash on hand. Pasmo and Suica cards work exactly the same and can be purchased at the kiosks in train stations. You can purchase the Welcome Suica card or Pasmo Passport which are valid for 28 days, or purchase the regular Suica or Pasmo cards (there really is no difference besides the card design).

Exchanging Currency

I also recommend exchanging for Japanese Yen before your trip. Although many places within Tokyo will accept credit cards, a lot of smaller restaurants/shops and vendors at the markets accept cash only. In addition, the kiosks at the train stations will only accept cash so you will definitely need some Yen to refill your Suica/Pasmo cards or buy subway/train tickets. To give you a better idea on how much cash to bring, I brought about ¥80000 ($800 USD) for a two week trip in Japan and it was more than enough. To be honest, I probably could have gotten by on only exchanging $500 USD but I wanted to play it safe since I was traveling by myself for a bit.

Japanese Etiquette

When you are traveling to a foreign country, it's important to keep in mind the country's culture and etiquette. Especially in Japan, there are several unspoken rules of etiquette that are taken very seriously. Below are a few that I learned during my trip:

• Japanese people do not shake hands or give hugs as a greeting. Instead, they bow to each other as a sign of respect.

• There are many social hierarchies in Japan and respecting the elderly is one that is ranked highly.

• There is no rule or law forbidding eating in public, however, it is frowned upon to eat as you are walking in the street, which is why you will also not see many public trash cans around. Instead, many Japanese people will get their food and eat outside of the store or in a hidden corner away from the public.

• You will not see any live entertainment on any of Japan's subways or trains like you do in NYC subways. Talking on the phone, or doing anything that disturbs others is very disrespectful when you are on a subway or train.

• In other cultures, slurping or making loud noises when eating is seen as rude or disrespectful. However, in Japan, slurping your noodles is a sign that you are enjoying your food.

• Leaving your chopsticks in your food or resting them on top of your bowl/plate is frowned upon. Most Japanese restaurants have chopstick holders for you to rest your chopsticks on when you are not eating.

Additional Tips

It's important to look into the temperature and weather for the time of year that you will be visiting. I went early to mid-September and it was extremely humid and there was a typhoon that caused major public transportation delays across many cities in Japan. I didn't bring an umbrella but don't worry - almost every single convenience store sells umbrellas and some hotels even offer free umbrellas to use during your stay there. If you are traveling outside of Tokyo, I recommend getting insect repellant or bug spray because mosquitos are everywhere (especially in Kyoto).

Bonus Tip: Save all your coins for vending machines! Each vending machine offers a different selection of drinks (cold and hot) and sometimes even snacks!

If you are interested in reading more about my travels around Japan stay tuned!