Here’s a collection of tips and recommendations based on my travel experiences in Japan. I hope these tips will help!
For more context: I was a solo traveler, with a backpack and stayed for about 28 days.
Edit: Just a clarification; it’s a list based on my experience, so some of the stuff might not be accurate. But again, it’s just here to help!
# Preparation:
* **Planning:** Start planning your travel route at least 3-6 months in advance. It often takes about a month or two to finalize an itinerary, and allows plenty of time for adjustments.
* **Accommodation**:
* **Booking hotels:** You should to book your hotels around 3 months in advance, especially during public holidays to avoid last minute hassles.
* **Choosing accommodations in Tokyo:** If you split Tokyo into two, the west side offers a better experience for a longer stay imo. Althought, I found the best gift in asakusa and electric town.
* **Mix of lodgings:** I really recommend you to include include a mix of guesthouses and hotels. Guesthouses are great for socializing, while hotels provide that much-needed rest. Pro tip: opt for private rooms in guesthouses when possible.
* **Hotel choices:** APA hotels are standard business hotels. they’re fine but can be mundane. If possible, find hotels with a public bath. it’s incredibly nice after a day.
* **Accommodation safety:** Regularly check Google Maps reviews for mentions of bed bugs within the last two years and avoid those places. Bed bug infestations aren’t well handled yet in Japan.
* **Transports**
* **JR Pass:** Buy the Japan Rail Pass (JRP) in advance. Although consider skipping the JR Pass in favor of regional passes like the Hakone Free Pass, which covers not only trains but also buses and local attractions
* **Regional passes**: if you plan to get regional passes, it needs some digging, use gpt and google. You might also need to adjust your travel plan depending on what you find
* **Technology:**
* **Apps:** Sync Google Maps and Google Translate (regular AND image translation packs) and before your trip for smoother navigation and communication.
* **Internet access:** Instead of renting pocket wifi devices, you should go for a SIM or e-SIM with unlimited data, which you should get **before** your trip.
* **Attractions**
* **Booking:** Book tickets for TeamLab a month in advance as they sell out quickly. Observation towers (like Tokyo Tower or Skytree for sunset views) 10 days in advance, check the weather for the best sunset view ever!
* **Ghibli museum tickets:** Tickets are released on the 10th at 10 AM Japan time, available online and at Konbini stores. It’s easier to get them with the help of a local friend. Be online an hour early if you’re booking yourself. I was asked who was my the person who booked my ticket when I got there, so don’t buy tickets from ebay.
* **Theme park**: you should totally see one in japan if you stay longer than 1 week
* **Cash:** Carrying around $150 in yen per week per person is a good rule of thumb. Always use your card when possible to avoid running out of cash.
# Packing:
* **Essentials:**
* Pack your toothbrush and toothpaste… some hotels may not provide them (I read the opposite but this wasn’t my experience).
* Skip the towel, most places provide them or offer them at a low very cost
* Dont bring soap or shampoo as most hotels provide unless you have specific personal preferences for your hairs
* Deodorant is a must there, make sure you don’t run out because it’s not easy to get some there. Also avoid deodorant that smells good. Japanese people dislike odors.
* **Sunscreen:** it is a good thing to bring even in the spring or autumn
* **Clothes:**
* **Socks:** If you have larger feet, bring enough socks and shoes as finding your size can be difficult in Japan.
* **Shoes**: Get the most comfortable and cushioned shoes, you will walk a lot
* **Laundry:** Travel light and plan to do laundry. (I brought around 8 days of clothes) If you do laundry, you can send a message to your accomodations to know if they have a laundry machines. In some town, it’s not always available.
* **Tech**:
* Make sure you have an outlet adapter type A
* Bring a power bank
* Always carry a small plastic bag or ziplock bag for your trash.
* A long USB charging cable is handy as outlets are often inconveniently placed.
* Bring one pen or fill up the online form for when you get in the country
* **Other**:
* Sleeping mask: some rooms don’t really block the morning light
* If you’re a backpacker, compression packing cubes can be a game changer.
* Don’t pack a large umbrella. buy a compact one before your trip or simply purchase a cheap one in Japan. Japanese people love umbrellas!
* Bring a needle for your sim card!
# When you fly in
* **Transport cards:** Purchase an IC card (Pasmo or Suica) at the airport. Do not skip that part. Opt for the welcome version if you’re staying less than 29 days. The differences between cards are minor, so choose based on your arrival airport and convenience:
* Pasmo welcome at NRT airport.
* Suica welcome at HND airport
* You can get both normal version at both airport
* **Airport transportation:** From Narita Airport, I recommend to choose the cheaper transport option (1,500 yen vs. 2,500 yen). The price difference isn’t worth the slight time save.
* **Using your IC card:** Start using your IC card right from the airport. Don’t buy tickets. If you’re confused, ask staff!
* **Activating the JR Pass:** You can activate your JR Pass at the airport but due to crowds, it might be easier to activate it at a JR office in Tokyo. Always carry your passport for verification. (You can also delay the activation at the office).
* **Trains**: Try to Buy your ticket train in advance if you can.
* **If it’s your first time**: Don’t plan anything the day you arrive. You will be tired. Just walk in the city.
# Theme Parks:
Visiting a theme park in Japan is highly recommended as it provides a wonderful break from traditional sightseeing and was a highlight of my trip.
* **Tickets:** Always buy your tickets from the official website. use Google Chrome’s translate feature to navigate.
* **DisneySea:**
* **food:** Definitely try the food, especially the popcorn. The curry flavor is amazing
* **Managing long queues:** If an attraction has a very long queue (50 min+), consider visiting it at the end of the day or opt for a Premier Access pass to skip the line. it’s around 1500 yen per attraction.
* **Park hours:** Arrive 30 minutes before opening and consider staying until the park closes. it is especially beautiful at night and less crowded. The fireworks are at 8:30 and the park closes at 9. This schedule may change during the summer as the day light time is different.
* **Language tools:** Use Google Translate’s conversation feature, as many attractions do not offer English subtitles. Yes, it won’t be perfect, but it’s the best I got.
* **Travel time:** Takes about 1 hour via local bus or train.
* **Accommodation:** Staying at the Disney hotel is not necessarily the best value for your money in my opinion as it takes one hour to get there
* **Universal Studios:**
* **Single riders:** Solo visitors can often skip the Express Pass thanks to many attractions offering single rider queues.
* **Group travel:** If traveling in a group and looking to avoid long lines, get an Express Pass at least two months in advance. Be aware of prices ($60 vs $300).
* **Park hours:** Arrive early as the park often opens an hour before the stated time. For instance, if it says 9 AM on the website, it will open at 8 AM.
* **Nintendo World:** Head to Nintendo World first as it gets very crowded. Book your tickets after you enter the park with the app. You can stay once you in as long as you like. (Wifi is available at the entrance)
# Onsen
I was totally lost when I entered my first onsen, so I will share a tiny guide
* **Local spots:** Seek out onsens frequented by locals. You will have a better experience imo. Also search the best ones in town, it can cleary change your experience.
* **Locker rooms:** Once at your locker, remember that onsens require you to be completely naked. Leave your clothes in the locker. Do not bring bath suit…
* **Towel:** Bring a small towel from your hotel for use in the onsen, but remember not to immerse it in the bath. Some locals like to put it on their head while submerged.
* **Pre-bath:** Before entering the bath, wash and rinse yourself at the washing stations. Sit on the provided stool, and please, don’t stand while showering,
* **Entering the bath:** Use the bucket to pour water over yourself before entering the main bath. This helps your body adjust to the temperature.
* **Conduct:** Try to relax and blend in, appearing shy or self-conscious can draw more attention. Also, avoid staring at others. It’sworth mentioning that some locals staired at me, It’s not common for them to see us naked.
* **Post-bath:** After you’re done, rinse off quickly at the washing area before returning to the locker room.
# Food
* **Morning:**
* **Coffee:** Opt for coffee from konbini stores instead of Starbuck coffee. It’s cheaper (about 1/3 of the price) and often just as good.
* **Fast breakfast**: if you are in a hurry and you need to grab something, onigiri balls are a great choice in my opinion
* **Traditional breakfast**: You should try the traditional breakfast with grilled salmon at least once.
* **Adjust meal schedule:** Japanese meal times are typically earlier… consider skipping breakfast if you’re not an early riser, and aim for lunch around 11:00-11:30 AM, and dinner by 6:00-6:30 PM. Most places close early!
* **Choosing Restaurants:**
* **Avoid the hype:** do not go to restaurants with long queues or those that are heavily featured on Instagram or any social media. A lot of random restaurant with 3-4 stars on gmap are more authentic and delicious.
* **Searching:** When you look for a specific type of food, like ramen, use Google Maps’ filter options under ‘restaurants’ for more accurate results, rather than just searching the term directly.
* **Other:**
* **Recommendations:** Utilize GPT to ask about local specialty dishes when you’re in a new city.
* **Be adventurous:** Try new and different foods whenever possible. it can lead to discovering many amazing dishes.
* **Yakiniku:** Book yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) restaurants in advance.
* **Local:** Restaurants with vending machine ordering systems are popular among locals. You can use google’s translate to understand the buttons if it’s in japanese
* **Prices:** Remember that prices on the menu may not include taxes, which are typically around 10%.
* **Cash**: 80% of restaurants are cash only
# Shops and souvenirs:
I recommend to buy at the end of your trip, otherwise, you will carry everything. Also it’s important that, if you see something that you really like, don’t tell yourself that you will find that exact same thing at another place.
* **Kappabashi Street:** Specializes in Japanese kitchen tools
* **Hashitou:** Recommended for chopsticks (¥800 to ¥30k range). [https://maps.app.goo.gl/TUeFAgaYfZDYa2qM7](https://maps.app.goo.gl/TUeFAgaYfZDYa2qM7) Please, don’t buy chopsticks at very touristy places
* **Kamata:** Offers knives with tax-free shopping. [https://maps.app.goo.gl/JnhLpGRhMUWA12Pp7](https://maps.app.goo.gl/JnhLpGRhMUWA12Pp7)
* **Tsubaya:** Known for high-end, quality knives. (¥10K to ¥150K range) [https://maps.app.goo.gl/bNBsaSMD6vACeZLG7](https://maps.app.goo.gl/bNBsaSMD6vACeZLG7)
* **Don Quijote:** A go-to place for random and unique items. Look for the **Kai** nail clipper (¥1300-¥1800), highly recommended on another thread.
* **Super Potato:** for retro gaming and a geeky atmosphere: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/WmHQW1bwgiACY2ZN8](https://maps.app.goo.gl/WmHQW1bwgiACY2ZN8)
* **Nintendo and Pokemon Shops:** Located in Osaka and Kyoto.
# Random tips
* **Handling Trash:**
* **Shops**: Avoid leaving trash at the store where you did not purchase the items. But for the stuff you bought, merchant will be happy to take it back because you supported their business
* **In the streets:** Use trashcans in shopping malls or subway stations.
* **Passport:** Carry your passport and keep a photocopy in your hotel for backup.
* **Baggage services:** Utilize Yamato Transport for luggage delivery if you’re staying over 72 hours at your next destination. But carry 1 day of clothes with you.
* **Footwear in rooms:** Remove shoes before entering if your room has tatami mats. Japanese style!
* **Transportation:**
* **Subway vs. bus:** Favor the subway over buses outside of Tokyo. It can be really confusing sometime.
* **Don’t walk:** Use the subway rather than walking if your destination is more than a 20-minute walk. It’s not worth the time and the effort.
* **Navigation:** Rely on Google Maps for directions, costs, and subway platforms information. sometimes, you have multiple compagnies in the same station, some multiple platform 1 etc. but once you get in the right company network station, you won’t mistaken the platform to go to.
* **Interact with others:** Talk to foreigners. ask for the best travel tip they have for you as a ice breaker. I had a blast talking to people there
* **Kyoto:**
* **Fushimi Inari Taisha**: Visit popular the shrine after 7-8pm to avoid crowds and see nighttime lights.
* **Otagi Nenbutsuji**: I recommend to visit this place: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/1jBXSfmLRvRSjnvA7](https://maps.app.goo.gl/1jBXSfmLRvRSjnvA7), it’s not croweded and the path to get there form the bamboo forest is very cute. I got this tip from an other solo traveler
* **Floors**: sometime, a shop is at a specific floor, when you check google map, check the address, it will usually say which floor it’s located on.
* **Learning japanese:** Learn basic Japanese with Duolingo can help a lot. (consider skipping the alphabet to focus on sentences.)
* **Keep coins:** Keep ¥1000 in ¥100 coins handy for laundry and lockers.
* **~~Cash:~~** ~~Withdraw cash at post offices with minimal fees if needed or konbini stores if you’re lazy.~~
* **Before check-in/after check-out:** Most hotels will store your luggage outside of your stay for a few hours
* **Lockers:** Store your belongings in public lockers, the ones in gare station might be full
* **Name on a paper in you wallet:** Label your wallet and important items with your name to aid in recovery if lost. One time, I forgot my wallet in the laundry room in my hotel, but fortunatelly, I had some bills with my name on it, so staff could find me back easily.
* **Use GPT**:
* When you have a spare time in a city because you already checked everything on your list, try to ask gpt for advice on what you should do in the current district/city your are in.
* If you have any questions on something, gpt is a great way to get answers or cultural info.
* Like I said earlier, It’s also a great way to know what dishes the place you are in is known for
* If you have the JR Pass, it’s a great way to know if a subway line is included
Let me know what are your toughts!
by Goldskin