I’ve travelled Japan extensively and as a Japan journey specialist who loves planning Japan holidays for my purchasers, I’ve put collectively my prime 10 suggestions for travelling in Japan, overlaying transport, lodging, buying, language, meals and extra!
1. Obtain the Suica cellular app or PASMO card into your pockets earlier than you arrive in Japan (also can add to Apple Watch)
That is simply carried out in 4 steps:
- Go to the Pockets app and choose “Add”
- Choose the “Transit Card” choice
- Select both Suica or PASMO, then choose “Proceed”
- Enter in how a lot you need to cost your card through your chosen credit score or debit card, after which choose “Add” You then want to verify your buy. You possibly can add extra cash if you begin to run low.
Suggest doing this earlier than arrival in Japan. In any other case, you should buy playing cards on the important prepare stations.
2. Google Maps shall be your new greatest good friend
In addition to serving to you navigate strolling or driving round Japan, Google Maps is great for prepare/bus transport. It is not going to solely provide the prepare occasions but in addition which platform to catch your prepare from and likewise the station exit instructions, which is invaluable when you’re there, particularly at peak occasions.
3. Japan Rail Journey
Sadly, the JR Rail Move pricing elevated by over 70% final yr, so until you propose to do in depth prepare journey, chances are you’ll be higher off shopping for particular person point-to-point prepare tickets or shopping for a cross for a selected area, which is cheaper than shopping for for all of Japan, for instance the JR-EAST Rail Move. Your journey agent can assist you identify best choice.
Japan Rail has three courses of journey for the key prepare providers: Commonplace and Inexperienced Class (like top quality), and Enterprise (on some routes). I like to recommend buying Inexperienced Class when you have further baggage, as there’s extra room. You may also buy baggage area forward of time for Commonplace Class.
I extremely suggest reserving seats beforehand. This may be carried out both on the prepare station’s JR info centres counter or on the ticket machines. In case you are travelling on a JR Rail Move, it’s essential to use a separate machine for JR passes, and there’s a surcharge in case you are travelling on NOZOMI/MIZUHO trains.
You possibly can guide particular person sector tickets and reserve seats on-line and I discover one of many most cost-effective is thru this hyperlink.
When buying on-line, you’ll obtain a QR code, which you’ll be able to then change in your ticket on the ticket machine at your prepare station.
You may also buy tickets and reserve seats at prepare stations in Japan. Whether it is for the favored sectors, e.g. Osaka to Kyoto, Tokyo to Nagano, the trains run so ceaselessly you’ll be able to simply buy on the day, though in peak occasions I like to recommend doing this a day or two earlier than.
4. Google Translate App
Positively obtain this App prematurely! Very helpful for utilizing the digital camera translate choice and for dialog translating. English is extensively spoken in the principle cities of Japan, and most signage is written in English as nicely. In rural areas, English is much less frequent, however when you attempt to use a couple of frequent Japanese phrases, the individuals will exit of their manner that can assist you. Listed below are a couple of to get you began. Whats up – Konnichiha, Thanks – Arigato, Excuse me – Sumimasen, Goodbye – Sayonara, Please – Onegai.
5. Buying in Japan
There may be a variety of high quality merchandise to buy all through Japan. Totally different areas of Japan have their very own speciality merchandise, for instance, Sakai for knives, Tokoname for Ceramics or Tokyo Nippori for materials. Tokyo has a number of the largest quantity of high-end designer retailers as the style capitol of Japan, with the Ginza space having the best quantity of designer retailers. Uniqlo is less expensive in Japan and I’ve additionally discovered Zara to have very completely different vogue than in Australia, and it’s cheaper.
There are such a lot of implausible shops and small boutiques all through Japan, so I like to recommend simply go exploring. There may be a lot to see and purchase. They actually have so many distinctive and high quality merchandise so do be sure to depart time in your itinerary for buying.
One among my favorite areas is Kappabashi Kitchen City in Tokyo (close to Asakusa). A superb place for purchasing Japanese knives and ceramics as souvenirs of your journey, or presents for again dwelling.
The number of markets all through Japan is wonderful, from the Tsukiji Fish Markets in Tokyo, the Nishiki Markets of Kyoto and the Omicho Markets in Kanazawa. Right here is a good hyperlink with all the very best markets in Japan.
6. Lodging Choices in Japan
So many lodging choices! I contemplate most 3-star accommodations to be 4-star anyplace else and 4-star extra like 5-star accommodations. Japan accommodations are identified for his or her cleanliness and trendy rest room amenities, particularly the bogs with heated seats and music. A few of my favorite lodge chains for 3-star lodging are The B Motels, Resort MyStays & APA Motels. For 4-star Motels, I like to recommend the Mitsui Gardens lodge chain which is great worth. Make sure you get in contact with me for essentially the most aggressive charges.
7. Transfers and Excursions
When arriving in Tokyo and transferring to a home flight, guarantee that it’s the similar airport; there are two! Narita and Haneda. It is a frequent mistake. If you happen to’re flying into one and have a connecting flight out of the opposite, it’s essential to enable no less than 4 hours to switch between airports through both the Keisei Narita Skyaccess prepare or guide a Pleasant Airport Limousine.
For personal transfers from the airport and prepare stations, or for excursions there are dependable corporations with high quality autos which might be nicely priced, particularly for group journey. Attain out if I can help in tailoring the precise choices in your preferences and finances.
8. Baggage Transport in Japan
Black Cat is the best and greatest strategy to transport your baggage from one lodge, station or airport to the following. They’re very quick, dependable and well-priced, and this protects having to take giant instances on the prepare, which might be troublesome. One can find their counters on the airport, or your lodge can prepare for you.
9. Native Customs in Japan
You will need to pay attention to the native customs because the Japanese are very well mannered individuals. A few of the important do-nots are;
- Speaking loudly on public transport
- Consuming as you stroll
- Maintain on to your garbage
- Don’t blow your nostril in public
- Take your footwear off if you go indoors (properties and eating places)
- Place change in small dish supplied, somewhat than handing to the particular person
- Keep on the right aspect of the escalator (modifications in Tokyo to Osaka)
- Queueing in an orderly vogue
10. Discovering the very best Bars and Eating places in Japan
Japan has a number of the greatest bars and eating places, so I’ll do a separate weblog article about this with all my favourites (keep tuned)! Till then, I am going to depart you with two of my favorite bars, Bees Knees in Kyoto and Tir Na Nog in Tokyo.
As a Japan journey professional and fanatic, I’ve visited Japan a number of occasions, experiencing Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Takayam, Matsumoto, Hiroshima, Sapporo, Hakodate, Furano and ski resorts in Hakuba and Niseko. I like planning my purchasers’ journeys all through Japan and have established contacts and trusted relationships to help in organising all lodging, transfers, excursions, trains, cooking colleges and snowboarding actions. I’ve a protracted checklist of my favorite consuming locations and bars to go to, which I’m all the time completely satisfied to share with my purchasers to allow them to expertise it for themselves. If I can help you in your travels by Japan, please do not hesitate to contact me.