Advice for Traveling in Japan
TRAVEL LIGHT!
COMMUNICATIONS – Data SIM cards are available for most unlocked (SIM free) mobile devices. 1GB SIMs (1 week) ¥1,800. 3 GB SIMs (1 month) ¥3,100. You can not get a SIM for phone calls unless you live in Japan. Many GSM and CDMA Phones from other countries will work in Japan but phone calls and data usage can be very expensive. You can buy SIMs in most big cities and the airports and at big electronics stores.
You can rent phones for use in Japan at big airports of entry. (https://youtu.be/mustyGhucFk)
Apple Japan sells unlocked (SIM free) devices. Japanese carriers sell locked devices but recently some can be unlocked by the carrier.
HOTELS
Business hotels are for local business travelers but are as good as many tourist hotels, cheaper and often available when tourist hotels are fully booked. Capsule hotels are mostly clean, cheap and convenient. Language could be an issue. (https://youtu.be/Xbb4WAHGAVE)
Agoda.com is a good way to book lodging in Japan.
LOCKERS
There are lockers in many train stations to store even large suitcases. https://youtu.be/qwA4Qz5IcK0
MONEY
Cash is most prevalent. Visa and Mastercards can be used in many places.
Bank ATM/debit cards can be used to withdraw cash from 7-11 stores (have everywhere in japan). They work also at post office ATMs and some other special international ATMs. Banks do NOT offer international ATM services. Travelers checks are hard to manage and not advised except for larger redemptions only during banking hours in big cities. Recommend Bringing $300-$500 cash is advance. (https://youtu.be/D1wdwzd2Zas)
GOING FOR A DRINK – Many small specialty drinking places require an “OTOSHI” fee of up to ¥1,000 as something like a “table charge”. Some small snack comes with it. Check before you sit down to see if there is an OTOSHI fee. (https://youtu.be/oeWzqS4ci2I)
IZAKAYA – Great places to drink and eat where everyone gathers (https://youtu.be/HPT3hETHWAI). Not all are “smokey”.
Shoes Chances are you will be taking your shoes off frequently during the day so an easy slip on would be easiest though I would caution against sacrificing comfort. Lots of walking will demand a good comfortable shoe. Water Water is fine to drink out of the tap. Bottled water is available everywhere.
TRANSPORTATION Japan Rail Passes are purchased outside japan (ride as much as you want) and are about the price of one trip from Tokyo to Kyoto round trip. Prices start at about $300 for a 7 day pass. Vouchers purchased outside Japan can be exchanged at Narita Airport. The JR pass allows for travel on every JR (Japan Railways – above surface trains) except the NOZOMI super fast Shinkansen trains. All other Shinkansen (bullet trains) are available as are all other regular and special express trains. You will go in and out by the entrance/exits with an attendant who will look at your pass. (https://youtu.be/IoYC-_DflqA). You can book reserved seats at no extra charge using the pass which is best for longer distance travel. (https://youtu.be/HMxUzVNBoTU)
Flying can save some time and can be cheaper than the train in some circumstances.
Car rental requires an international drivers license. My experience renting a car in Japan is very consistent. The rental companies are pretty honest and so are not trying to make extra money by charging for things that aren’t your fault. However, taking photos of the car before driving it as well as the gauge cluster showing milage and gas amount is still advisable.
CAUTIONS
https://youtu.be/uIyIZZQnuDQ
Laundry
Expect to be able to find laundry facilities almost everywhere you stay, coin laundry included.
ADVICE
https://youtu.be/CC07YPg9yAM
Tokyo
Tsukiji – The previous Tokyo fish market is best done in the morning so could be an option for those who want to get up early. The new fish market has recently been relocated to a much more inconvenient place but when they didn’t allow tourists into the fish auction because people kept interfering with the auction business they now have a gallery from which you can watch the auction. Prepare to get up very early to see the auction. Tsukiji (a few stops from Ginza subway station) has hundreds of small, interesting shops around the market and open all day long. It has all kinds of fish foods and other food as well as things you might like to shop for. Old Area (highly recommended): http://www.tsukiji.or.jp/english/
New Fish Market: https://www.tastecooking.com/elegy-tsukiji-tour-guide/
Asakusa, not far from Tsukiji, would be a good lunch stop. The Senso Temple (SensoJi) is the place to go. All tourists go there and a great place to shop for Trad Japanese gifts.
AKIHABARA – TOKYO
https://youtu.be/L2vAhqS22Ww
OTHER MEMORABLE PLACES
The old pass to Tokyo was through the mountains, KISORO. There are several hundreds of year old towns you can visit and stay at along that route. 3 hours from Tokyo. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6075.html
Koyasan (on a mountain) is a UNESCO heritage site with over 100 temples and the biggest graveyard in Japan. It is 3 hours from Kyoto. It is possible to stay at a modernized Buddhist Temple here. http://eng.shukubo.net/
KYOTO
Geisha demonstrations, tea ceremony and kimono wearing experiences are available in Kyoto. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2158.html
Everyone visits Gion corner.
You can learn how to put on a KIMONO or you can rent for the day and tour the city. I do not advise wearing traditional Japanese footwear (geta) around the city. For a short walk (100 meters) it is ok but on a long walk you will most likely fall and break something.
Kyoto travel site – https://kyoto.travel/en