Japan: What to know before you go
Osaka CastleSooo you’re going to Japan! First things first. What do you do beforehand?
Packing
Trust me when I say DO NOT over-pack. If you are planning to buy clothing in Japan (come on who isn’t) then I would pack light and plan to wear what you buy. This will save you much-needed room for other things you get there.
Air tags! I highly recommend buying a four-pack of Apple airtags and putting it in any luggage you are planning to check. This will be nice not only for flying but also if you plan to domestically ship your luggage while in Japan (which I also recommend) these will come in handy.
Bring good walking shoes. I know it’s common sense but still worth mentioning. Look for shoes that have a good balance of style and comfort so you don’t have to pack as many pairs.
Reservations
There are a lot of different services in Japan that require reservations. Popular dining, tourist attractions, cafes, etc. It is worth looking into what you absolutely want to do and see if you can get a reservation beforehand. I made sure to make reservations for the few restaurants I REALLY wanted to eat at. Also, Osaka Castle to skip the line (the ticket is good for 3-6 months after purchase) and gives you a QR code to skip the line. You can find tickets to Osaka castle here: https://ars-osakacastle.triplabo.jp/activity/ja/LINKTIVITY-VXU85
I also got tickets/reservations to Team Labs in Tokyo. If you can go to Team Labs PLEASE GO. It was a highlight of my entire trip! Worth every penny. Tickets here: https://teamlabplanets.dmm.com/en/ticket/admission_date/addc33afa6fc33152c034ba67d2daf9c
Lastly, if you decide to go to Universal Studios in Osaka make sure to look into it WELL BEFORE you go. The slowest days are Wednesdays and Thursdays. The weekends are packed because of tourists and families. BUT what you may not know (bc I didn’t) was that school trips are scheduled on Mondays and Tuesdays. I went on a Monday and it was SLAMMED with middle school and high school kids. I’m talking 120-150-minute wait times on almost EVERY ride. Avoid avoid avoid!
If you want to enjoy Super Mario World be aware that unless your ticket gives you automatic entrance you may have to enter a lottery system the day you go and you are NOT guaranteed entrance. I decided to go to Universal last minute so I had to enter the lottery and didn’t get in:( It was a very sad moment since the main reason I wanted to go to Universal was Super Mario World.
Trying to be ‘Kawaii’ and failing
ESIMS
Esims give you data no matter where you are. I prefer this over pocket wifi. Because it doesn’t have a distance requirement. I got 10-12GB of data for around $14 and this lasted my whole trip of 3 weeks. I used Airalo. You can buy different packages and top up at any time.
Either way, I promise you if you don’t have access to Google Maps or other navigation at all times you will not have a good time. There is NO WAY I could’ve navigated public transit, directions, etc without Google Maps.
International Drivers License
If you plan to drive while you’re in Japan you will need an International DL. You can get one easily through your local AAA office and you don’t need to be a member. I only needed a car in Hokkaido while I skied. If you’re traveling only to bigger cities I don’t see the need to rent a car. However, if you are traveling to more rural areas or skiing up north I would rent a car. I rented a motor home while I skied and it was great. I was able to drive wherever I wanted to chase the snow and get to onsens and restaurants that were all usually 20-30 min drive from the resorts I was at.
Travel Insurance
If you’re a hypochondriac/older like me getting travel insurance was a must haha. I liked the security of things being covered from flight delays, cancelations, lost baggage, to medical coverage while being in Japan. I got mine through Faye (app) for $41 USD and it was worth the comfort it brought for sure.
Customs/TSA
For Japan: You can fill out a customs declaration BEFORE you even get on your plane to Japan. It takes some time but I promise you will want to do this. The website is: https://www.vjw.digital.go.jp/main/#/vjwplo001 this site will guide you through making an account and you will receive two QR codes. One for immigration and one for customs. These QR codes allow you to skip the lines, and breeze through immigration and customs. It is super easy, the employees guide you where to go and after a long flight you will be happy you did this process. No need to fill out anything on the plane, or in the airport.
For USA: If you are from the US you can download the CBP MCP app and declare customs there. Then when you arrive there will be a separate line that you go to that will save you time. I flew into LAX and there was a sign that said ‘MPC line’. You will want to follow the instructions on the app a couple of hours before you land. This option unfortunately doesn’t guarantee you get accepted by customs before you land but it is worth a try!
Another worthy option is TSA pre-check and Global entry. With TSA pre-check you get through domestic security faster and with less hassle. Global entry also allows you a shorter line and no paperwork upon entering the US. If you get Global entry you will automatically get TSA pre-check. And if you have a travel credit card such as the Capitol One Venturex they may cover the application fee for these services.
You are in Japan! Now what?!
exploring alleyways in Kyotos red light district
Day of Arrival
Ah, the dilemma of getting a cab or using public transit. You’ve heard the horror stories I’m sure of people paying 70-200 USD to get to their hotel when they fly in. So what should you do? WELL, do you want to lug a carry-on and big ass suitcase up and down staircases in the subway system trying to find your train? And then proceed to have to walk a 1/2 mile to your hotel? Ehhh cause that’s what I had to do, and it was not super fun. It all depends on how comfortable you want to be. If you can easily get to your hotel within walking distance or a short train ride it may be worth it. If your hotel is a ways from the airport and you have heavy baggage maybe not. At least most hotels are great at holding your luggage before check-in time so if you arrive well before 3 pm I’d still go to your hotel first to dump most of your stuff. At least look into Uber and taxi prices when you arrive before making a decision;)
Quick aside
RUN to the nearest combini or 7-Eleven and bask in the cleanliness, fresh food, and please get a tuna and mayo nigiri for me! I miss them dearly and you will too. Okay back to the main program!!
trying to look like I’m being candid while not being candid
Public Transit
Okay, I promise it is not as confusing as you think. Google Maps is going to be your BEST FRIEND. Without it, I couldn’t have gone anywhere. It will tell you the walking, and station or bus directions. It gives you the line, platform, and all the details you need. Plus if you get lost there are conductors, officers, and workers who are always happy to help you. Just show them your phone and they can help direct you to where you need to go! Google Maps will also track you and tell you how many stops you have before getting off.
PSA: The trains run from 5am to 12am! So if you go out clubbing or bar hopping, or singing karaoke all night just know that unless you stay out until 5am YOU WILL HAVE TO get an Uber or Taxi back to your hotel. Many locals will start their night later and stay out until 5am because of this.
Suica vs ICOCA card
These are both public transit cards you can add to your Apple wallet which I would do before you leave. However, you have to have a MasterCard to add any money (annoying I know) Now I am sure there are differing opinions on this but in my experience in Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo I used my ICOCA card a lot more. I heard that they were interchangeable but that was not my experience. If I were you I would LOAD up on the ICOCA card and put less on the Suica card. If you have problems at the turnstile there is usually an officer on the side of it that can help you.
Planning day trips to smaller towns
Just a quick tip here. If you are planning to visit a smaller town for a day definitely look up train times a day ahead so you can prepare. I made the mistake of thinking the trains to Kinosaki-Onsen from Kyoto were plentiful and they WERE NOT. Put a kink in the day and caused a lot more travel time. So don’t be me and look at the train schedules ahead of time!
Domestic Shipping
Japan has a wonderful shipping service called Yamato Transport service. You can ship your luggage from hotel to hotel and not have to carry it with you in your travels. This is a great service that I would definitely utilize on your trip. I would ship my checked bag a day before checking out of my hotel and put essentials in my carry on. That way by the time I got to the next city my luggage was waiting for me at my hotel. It is affordable and easy to do. Just know that they only accept cash as payment!
Good eats & Activities!
Cooking class in Osaka
There are SO many fun things to do and amazing places to eat. I implore you to just ‘get lost’ and find your own places as you travel. The only dining I booked beforehand was a cooking class with a local Japanese grandmother (which was one of the best parts of my whole trip) and a Michelin-star restaurant in Osaka. Once I got there, if I saw a place I wanted to eat at and it was reservation only I’d just go online and make a reservation the day before. You can book ‘experiences’ on Trip Advisor and other traveling sites. There are some absolute gems on there that don’t give over touristy and are worth checking out.
PSA: Whatever your food budget is DOUBLE IT. I promise you will be spending wayyyy more money than you thought you would on food. The small things like snacks, desserts, coffee, tea etc really add up and a lot of hotels don’t include breakfast in your bookings. You will also be charged a 10 percent service fee pretty much everywhere you eat so plan for that as well. You are expected not to tip so don’t worry about that!
Kimono & Tea Ceremony in Kyoto
If you have the chance to do a Kimono and Tea Ceremony I highly recommend it! Just treat the clothing and ceremony with the respect it deserves. All the women I was around were so wonderful and loved seeing foreigners in their traditional clothing and participating in ceremonies.
Closing thoughts and Random Recs
Japan is a magical place very close to my heart. Please go if you are able to visit. If you are like me and have social anxiety Japan will definitely challenge you but in the best ways. You just need to let go and accept that you’re going to make embarrassing mistakes. It is impossible to know how things work all of the time. You just have to go with the flow and accept that you are a tourist and don’t know what the hell you are doing. And that’s ok! Japanese people are kind and will either say nothing or gently correct you. Laugh at yourself and take everything with a grain of salt.
RECS: Onsens, Plum wine, Japanese BBQ, Going to a Sumo match
If you’d like to read all about skiing in Japan check out my next blog post! Happy travels!
