5 Things to do Before Your Trip to Japan
Planning a Trip to Japan? Start here.
Here are the top 5 things to plan for your next trip!
Planning or looking to plan your next trip to Japan? There are actually many things that you should prepare for that you might not have thought about. Use the guide below to help you get started on your next trip to Japan!
1. Passport
This may be an obvious point, but it’s something that should never be overlooked, as passports can take 6-8 weeks to process. There is, however, an option to expedite the passport processing time, but it would cost $60 for the expediting fee as well as a $17 delivery service fee. Who would want that when you could spend that $77 on food and snacks! Click here to get started on your passport application!
For you Costco lovers out there, you can get your passport photos taken at Costco’s Photo department locally for ultra-cheap at $4.99 and you get it right then there!
The passport will also come in handy when you make purchases in Japan over $50 at select duty free locations. The participating vendors will have a clearly marked sign that states “DUTY FREE” - you can take your purchases and be tax-exempt for that transaction!
2. Japan Rail Pass
Public transportation is going to be the most efficient way to travel when you get to Japan. One of those will be the rail service.
Unless you plan on staying in one region for the entirety of your trip, the best way to travel between cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, your best bet will be the bullet train (or the “shinkansen”). Being a foreign citizen, you will have access to the JR Pass (Japan Rail Pass) which will allow for 7, 14, or 21 days of unlimited use or rails operated by JR, with a few minor exceptions. When purchasing the passes, you will have the option for the Green or the Ordinary pass, with the difference being that the Green pass will allow access to the green cars. The green cars are generally less crowded, have larger seats, and wet towelettes (or “oshibori”) - generally a more pleasant ride if you wish to pay extra for it. Below are the steps to take when purchasing your JR Pass:
You can use this link for JRPass’ direct purchase - this is our affiliate link and will help support this site as well as our YT channel
Once the passes are purchased, Amnet will send you a voucher that you must exchange at your destination; we’ve exchanged our passes at Narita and Kansai airports
When the vouchers are exchanged for the JR Passes, you are required to specify the desired first day of use
Maximize the usage of your pass as you will have to pick the starting date per #3. For example, on our most recent 2-week trip to Japan, we stayed in Tokyo for the first 4 days, then stayed in Osaka for the next 5 days, then returned to Tokyo for the rest of the trip. We chose our first day of use to be on the day that we left for Osaka because we knew that we had to use the bullet train to get back to Tokyo. A single round trip from Tokyo <> Osaka pretty much covers the cost of the 7-day pass, so it’s kind of a no-brainer! Plus, with the JR Pass, you are able to use all local trains operated by Japan Rail - be sure to check to see which rail lines are operated by JR!
Editor’s Note: Be sure to pick up your passes at the station prior to them closing - the one in Tokyo Station closed at 6pm!
3. Currency Exchange
While some businesses take credit cards, most small vendors in Japan operate on a cash-only basis. For that, make sure to bring some cash with you. Cash can be exchanged locally prior to departure or at your destination in Japan - however, the exchange rate varies quite a bit from location to location, so we would recommend that the currency is exchange at your local bank before leaving for Japan. It’ll prevent you from wasting time looking at vendor to vendor for the best exchange rates, when you could be using that time to find your next food adventure. Give yourself plenty of time, around 2-4 weeks, for your local bank to exchange your currency to Japanese Yen (JPY).
Coin purses will aid you in handling your cash in Japan since coins are used for up to $5 increments. These can be purchased in Japan in shops where general goods are sold such as Tokyu Hands or Daiso.
4. Flights
There are many ways to go about finding flights to Japan, but here’s our take on it. We personally like to look at flights about 6 months in advance for the best prices. We start by looking at sites like Kayak to get a general idea of prices for flights around our desired trip dates. When we find a good rate, we will go directly to the airline’s website and book directly from there - not sure if that makes a real difference, but we’ve never had any issues. You can also subscribe to the airlines’ newsletters and they will notify you of any on-going sales, as well as specials throughout the year.
Whatever airline you decide to take, be sure to check the baggage allowance - size, weight, and quantity.
Pro tip: Pack light! Bring an empty bag to bring back all of your Japanese goodies. You’ll thank us.
5. Wifi Services
While cell services are optional, Wifi services are a must during your trip to Japan. Although there are many free access points throughout Japan, there will be plenty of times when you will need your Wifi access. Wifi access will be used for maps, looking at train schedules - basically your main source for navigating through Japan.
We highly recommend renting a pocket Wifi; using companies such as KKDay and Pupuru. Our personal favorite unlimited 4G pocket Wifi rental is KKDay - the services are reliable and prices are the most reasonable for our needs.
We hope this guide has given you a starting point in planning your next trip (or first trip!) to Japan. Now get yourself some comfortable walking shoes and the willingness to try new foods! Check out our future articles to come for more Japan trip tips!
