Few notes from our two week trip (Osaka, Kyoto, Hakone, Tokyo)

Hello! My wife (USA) and I (JPN) just got back from our two-week trip. We took advantage of the open borders to visit family. After reading through some of the posts, I wanted to add in some tips/insights.

1) Do what the airport is asking you to do, and your entry will be very simple. They only care about your vaccination cards and passport (in that order imo). We did what we needed to do through the MySOS app and our process went twice as fast for those who didn’t. I don’t think MySOS app is being used anymore though. Oh, having your vaccination cards on hand will also be very helpful.

2) Please take into consideration walking/exploring time because, if you’re not renting a car, then you’ll be walking a lot and taking the train. I see a lot of itineraries that are jam packed and ours was somewhat similar. There were times where we had to drop destinations (or even add new ones) and adapt. Shopping takes time as well due to language/communication issues and crowds.

3) Google Maps was my best friend. It helped a lot with directions and train stations. BUT, it’s up to you on finding where the specific lines and platforms are.

4) We got the prepaid/debit IC cards for local trains (ICOCA specifically since we started in Osaka first). You can use any of them really but they do cost \~500Y to get one but it beats the heck out of figuring out the ticket booths for individual train tickets. Tap in, Tap out. You can use the ticket stations (in English) to reload the IC cards whenever needed.

5) Convenient stores were incredibly convenient. They’ll always ask two things: do you have their point card and if you need a bag. Always. You’ll get used to a script/pattern that shopkeepers will tend to use and know when to say yes/no.

6) For most clothing stores, do take your shoes off before you go into a fitting room. Don’t fret if you forget (I did) though, you won’t be scolded or put on the spot. Store employees/owners will sometimes follow you around. Don’t be scared, they just want to help you and tell you how great you look in their products.

7) To those that are going to TEAMLAB Tokyo, it is FUN but it’s a short experience so do take time in each one of the exhibits.

8) To those that are going to the Nintendo Stores, they do require tickets to get in since the stores get really busy. You can ask for them at the front of the store and it’ll tell you what time/group you’re allowed to go in.

9) Loosely said, there are shrines everywhere so don’t worry about missing out on shrines.

10) There are lines for everything, especially escalators. Predominantly, lines are made on one side of the escalator while the other side is “reserved” for those that are in a hurry.

11) Eating/drinking while walking seems to be frowned upon. There have been times at certain outdoor settings like Nishiki Market (Osaka), we were told to eat our food in front of their stalls/booths. Also worth mentioning that there aren’t a lot of public trash cans so be prepared to hold onto your own trash.

12) Be open minded to the food and try everything if you can/want. I was glad that my wife pushed me at times cause I can be picky.

13) We also took ZipAir, a discount airline under Japan Airlines. Pros: seats are amazing and does not feel discount. Cons: snacks/liquids/entertainment are not served unless purchased from their online menu. But you can always get snacks/food from the airport. It’s worth looking into imo.