Hi! I just came back from my first trip to Japan.
I’m so thankful for all the advice I got here and wanted to share my experience for people who might need it. My trip was rather short but I still hope that some people find it helpful.
My rough itinerary was:
|Day 1:-Arrive at Narita Airport-Hotel Wagokoro-Gyukatsu Motomura-Akihabara-Shibuya (Hachiko, Parco, Don Quijote and Shibuya Sky)|Day 2:-Teamlabs Plantes-Tsukiji Fishmarket-Ginza – A happy pancake and Atago Shrine-Tokyo Tower-Suga Shrine (Your Name Stairs)-Udon Shin-Shinjuku (3D Cat, Kabukicho Tower)|
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|Day 3:-Day Trip to Hakone!-Sushiro in Shinjuku|Day 4:-Nezu Shrine-Ikebukuro -Harajuku-Kura Sushi-Akiba-Haneda Airport|
Side Info for **Germans**: If you’re from germany like me, don’t make the same mistake as me and exchange money at your bank. Sparkasse gave me 145Yen= 1 Euro and the little stores here in Tokyo gave us at least 155Yen= 1 Euro. The highest was 160Yen= 1 Euro in Shinjuku near Omoide Yokocho.
Side Info for **Chinese**: Our Hotel Wagokoro was run by chinese people. For our first trip to Japan we wanted to stay here; in case we needed help we could ask the staff there without a language barrier. Everyone was **very** nice.
**Internet**: We used Airalo and Ubigi E-Sims. Airalo needed a restart to properly connect but definetily had the stronger connection out of the two. But overall both are fine and worked wonderful. Airalo currently seems to have better prices in my opinion.
Remember to register your Data at the Visit Japan Website to make the Immigrations process smoother.
Paymentwise I mainly used my **Visa Card** without any problems. You’d need cash to charge your IC card though. For 4 Days I had about 30k Yen in cash with me. This was mainly used for charging the IC card, shrines, Tsukiji outer fish market and Gachapon machines. Also have a coin purse with you.
**Tax-free** was possible everywhere I went. Even in small Drugstores, Weebstores or 24/7 Supermarkets like Welcia, so have your passport ready. But keep in mind that a lot of stores will pack your stuff into a transparent plastic tax-free bag. **You will not be allowed to open and use the stuff you bought until you have left Japan**. Especially Don Quijote will do that. Also keep in mind on how to fit these bags into your luggage.
Transportationwise I completely relied on **Google Maps and my Pasmo Card**. I already had my personalized map ready with “My Maps”, to always have an overview of what was close and Google Maps always tells you which Exit to use at the train station.
Be mindful that japanese people enjoy quiet train rides, so if needed only whisper.
**Google Translate** was also great in using it to communicate with people and using the camera function to tanslate text. So knowing 0 Japanese is fine. Although you should know the standard “Thanks – Arigatou Gozaimasu” and “Excuse me – Sumimasen”. I’d also recommend to have the japanese addresses ready for places you want to go or your hotel in case your internet is spotty and you want to ask someone or for the Taxi.
Japan does not have many trash bins, since eating while walking is considered rude. You will find trash bins right where you bought your food. Make sure to carry plastic bags for trash with you.
Talking about food, a lot of restaurants offer free water or tea.
Definitely bring **comfortable shoes**, since you will do a lot of walking. A lot of drugstores also have healing patches for your feet, I’d definitely recommend getting a pack. We put them on every night LMAO.
**Bring a blank notebook with you to collect stamps and have lots of fun with it!** Airports and nearly every trainstation have them. Also special places or special Collabs. I got the Wish Disney Stamp at Toranomon Hills. They make a very nice souvenir.
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**Day 1:**
You can still easily get the **Pasmo Passport at Narita Airport**. They only accept cash, so have that and your passport ready. Also everybody has to be present. We originally wanted one person to get the cards for everyone but that is not allowed. It costs 1500Yen, this will be charged into your card, so you won’t lose any money.
We took the **1300Yen/person Bus to Tokyo Station**. You can easily find it at the counter where it says “Low Cost Bus” at Narita Airport and it only takes 65min. I found that more comfortable since I did not want to deal with luggage on public transfer right after my 12h flight. They usually only accept 1 big luggage per person. When I went the Bus was practically empty and only 8 people were in it.
Going to the first “viral” Restaurant **Gyukatsu Motomura** in Akihabara I expected long lines. When we arrived at 13 o’clock we had to wait 30mins but around 14:30 the line was empty. I’d say it’s pretty much worth the hype and the staff were very friendly and very eager to teach you how to eat it in case you didn’t know.
After that we went to **Akihabara Animate**. The merch was centered around the latest anime. And if you’re a Nijisanji or Hololive Fan like me you can also find some merch there.
Later we went to Shibuya in the evening.
**Hachiko Statue** barely had a line. We queued for 5 minutes and everyone is more than willing to take a photo for you if needed. We tried to go to **Tsuru Ton Tan**, but the line was insane. **Shibuya Sky** Tickets were bought via their online site one month prior. If you want tickets for sunset timeslots you gotta be fast. They have their own elevator right outside that takes you half way up to the ticket counter at the 14th floor and from there you will be taken directly to the 47th floor. There will be coin lockers for your stuff, since you are not allowed to bring your stuff with you except your handy and purse. Have a 100Yen coin ready for that.
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**Day 2:**
We were running late and missed our **Teamlabs** Timeslot, but that was no problem. We still could enter. Tickets were bought a month prior at their website. Teamlabs was amazing and definitely worth the hype. You can stay in all rooms as long as you like except the flower room. But you can also queue for it again if you want to.I also did not notice a feet smell in there.
At **Tsukiji Outer Fish market** it was a little packed but otherwise quite pleasant since it was Friday around 12 o’cock. We tried the fluffy Tamagoyaki which was great and had a Wagyu Stick which also was amazing! Of course we also tried a few other stuff. I’d recommend having cash ready for this place. Next we went to **A Happy Pancake** in Ginza. They have an online queue system. You scan the QR Code and enter how many people your group has and it tells you when you can come back. We went there around 2:30pm and only had to wait 10mins. Fluffy pancakes were delicious.
TikTok recommended a “Secret” photo spot for the **Tokyo Tower** but to no ones surprise it is not so secret anymore. Surprisingly I found the shot from the end of the line even better.
**Atago Shrine**: A lesser known Shrine with the “stairwell to success”. Not many people there. If you don’t know how to properly pray, you don’t have to worry. Just watch the locals. It’s mostly wash your hands at the designated place, bow twice, clap twice, pray with your hands together and then bow twice. Also have coins ready to offer before that. Usually people go with 5, 50 or 500 Yen but anything is fine.
**Suga Shrine (Your name stairs)**: Very quite neighborhood, and no people were there, so we could take our time taking photos. Be respectful and do not disturb the people living there, it’s a quite neighborhood.
**Udon Shin**: The next viral restaurant. They also have an online queue system, so you don’t have to waste your time standing there. On a Friday we arrived around 6:45pm and were seated around 7:30. We went with their viral dish. My friend thought it was a bit too salty, but I quite liked it. The noodles are very chewy and delicious.
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**Day 3:**
We started at Shinjuku Station around 9am and got the **Hakone Free Pass** (to get around Hakone and enjoy a few attractions) **and Tickets for the Romancecar there.** The Romancecar is nicer, has bigger windows and you can comfortably eat your Bento there. I’d definitely recommend to get it for the ride to Hakone. You can also get very nice Bentos and drinks at vending machines at Shinjuku Station near the Ticket Office.
Arriving at Hakone after 1,5 hours we immediately took the Tram. You can get off various stations to explore. Endstation is the Cable Car and then the ropeway. Get your stamp books ready, they have a lot of stamps ready here for you to collect! The volcano eggs tasted like normal eggs, but were still worth a try. We also got lucky and were able to see **Mount Fuji**!
After that we took the **Pirate Sightseeing Ship**, this is also included in the Hakone Pass. Last week Hakone had a collab with Neon genesis evangelion, so there were a lot of Merch and a statue of it. Getting off at the last station of the Pirate Ship we wanted to visit the famous Tori Gate, but it was unfortunately closed off so we only went to the shrine.
On the way back we asked the staff there what the fastest cheapest way back to Shinjuku was. I am so glad to have asked, since Google and the internet did not show me this option. We rode the Limited Express back and then changed to the normal subway. That evening we went to Sushiro and then Souvenir and Snacks shopping at Welcia which is open 24/7. Keep in mind that the Sushiro tablets will automatically close half an hour before they close and ask you to pay. We did not know this, so we could not make a last order. Sushiro currently has a collab with cinnamoroll. You can order the set and get a cute coin purse with it.
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**Day 4:**
**Nezu Shrine** was quite empty on sunday around 9am so we could take our time taking photos. Next Animate in Ikebukuro. Nijisanji and Hololive Merch have their own Floor. If you can’t find something the staff are very friendly to show you. They have their own translate gadgets to communicate with you which is very helpful. They also have a bigger selection of Touhou merch and Nu:Carnival.
**Harajuku** was packed! Keep in mind that if you wear makeup some stores will give you a bag to put over your head, as to not get it on the clothes. Also all changing rooms require you to take off your shoes.
I did not get to try Marion Crepes due to the line but the others stores also had very delicious crepes and a wide selection. Kura Sushi here also has an QR Code queue system that tells you when to come back. They currently have a collab with Spy x Family. You can get rubbers with the characters printed on it. They also had a big crepe dessert selection.
I myself prefer Sushiro, since they have wider seafood selection but that’s only my personal opinion.
Last but not least we went to **Akiba** and went crazy with everything we could find.
Kotobukiya has lots of Niji and Holo Merch. They also have lesser known merch like “The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel”. Currently they have a big FF merch selection. Lashinbang is a treasure trove where you have to take you time. Most of their stuff is 2nd hand, but japanese 2nd hand stuff is no joke. A lot of stuff wasn’t even opened. Definitely recommend checking this store out. They all have Tax-free as well.
After that we decided to take the **Taxi to Haneda Airport**. From our Hotel Wagokoro to Haneda Airport Terminal 3 it was around 10390 Yen. Sure it is much more expensive than the subway or the limousine bus but we were so tired and did not want to bother dragging our luggage through the subway. When you get there the TV on the Headrest in front of you will light up and ask you how you want to pay. I like this uncomplicated way to pay in Taxis. They also accept VISA.
Taxis in Japan have automated doors, so please wait for the driver to open it for you.
At Haneda Airpot we now had the Problem that we still had **money left in our Pasmo Passports.** So we went into the Souvenir Shop. It was no problem to pay with the Pasmo Cards combined and go with the remaining balance and the rest in cash. So don’t worry, you won’t be left with money you can’t spend. Also the souvenir and snacks there are very cute and affordable.
Check-in was smooth and quick. We had a bit of trouble finding the security check though since we mistakenly went up to the Sky lounge LMAO. Haneda Airport is very beautiful before the security check. They have traditional alleyways with restaurants. There are also a lot of vending machines at the Gate but for whatever reason my VISA card did not work. So no last vending machine treat for me.
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All in all it was a great trip and knowing nearly 0 Japanese was no problem at all. Also vending machines and Konbinis are the goat in Japan. Last recommendation from me, if you’re hungry and looking for a quick meal, look out for Coco Ichibanya and Matsunoya. This is the best fast food you’ll get. You order at the machine in the front (which also has english and chinese) and get a Ticket after you pay. Then you take a seat and give the ticket to the worker. They have a lot of stores in Tokyo.
Coco Ichibanya has good curry and Matsunoya has great Beef Katsu and meal sets. Drinks are free as mentioned. We had our food after 5 mins ready.
Thank for reading this far. If there are any questions you can ask me anytime!
Edit: Minor Details I forgot and typos. Might update it sometimes when I remember stuff