Japan Travel Tips for First time Travelers
Planning a trip to Japan? Check out my top travel tips and tricks from my 2024 adventure! From the best times to visit, essential apps, and packing advice, to navigating transportation, dining, and cultural etiquette—get all the insider knowledge you need for a smooth and unforgettable trip!
Planning Tips
Traveling to Japan can be an unforgettable experience, but it can be overwhelming to plan if you don’t know what to expect. A little preparation goes a long way. Here are the key lessons I learned and the information I found the most useful from my 2024 trip to help make your journey smoother and more enjoyable.
✈️Flight
Landing Time
Avoid late-night arrivals and rush hour times.
Public transport stops around 11:30 PM, so factor this into your arrival time.
Our flight was scheduled to land at 9:30 PM, which should have given us enough time to clear customs and take the train. However, due to a delay in Singapore, we arrived too late and had to take an expensive taxi.
Lesson Learned: Delays happen! If you have a connecting flight, give yourself extra buffer time or consider alternative transport options like an airport shuttle.
🛌Accommodation
Location Matters
Pick a stay close to a train station for easy access to key attractions.
Plan your itinerary and choose accommodation near places you’ll frequently visit.
Choosing the Right Stay:
Consider what you want out of your accommodation as each accommodation type provide different offerings.
Hotels: Offer comfort, privacy, and amenities, making them ideal for travelers seeking convenience and service, though they can be costly.
Guesthouses: Budget-friendly and social, with shared facilities and a communal atmosphere, but at the expense of privacy.
Minpaku (Airbnb-style rentals): Provide more space and a local experience, balancing privacy and affordability, though legal restrictions and extra fees may apply.
Comparison: Hotels suit short-term stays and business travelers, guesthouses are great for backpackers, and minpaku rentals work best for those seeking a home-like setting.
We opted for Airbnb because we wanted the extra room and amenities like in room laundry. However, if you plan to ship luggage within Japan, a hotel with a front desk is a better option.
📱Essential Apps
Have your apps ready before you arrive! Here’s a short list of the apps we used.
ESIM setup for mobile data. We used Ubigi and it was great.
IC Card on Phone (Suica/PASMO) for transport and shopping. Unfortunately, these are not available for android users as of yet.
Translation Apps: Google Translate, Papago.
Navigation Apps: Google Maps, Japan Travel by Navitime.
Train Timetable Apps: Hyperdia, Jorudan.
Tip: Create a folder on your phone for all Japan-related apps for easy access!
Trick: I created a My Map within Google maps to create a personalized map of all our itinerary items for easy viewing. Wanderlog is another good option for mapping your itinerary.
🧳Packing Tips
Travel light! We packed an extra suitcase but never used it—just extra weight. Our accommodations had Laundry facilities so we planned ahead and packed fewer clothes.
Toiletries are widely available and affordable and most accommodations will also provide them, so no need to bring your own.
Comfortable shoes are a must! You’ll walk upwards of 30,000 steps per day in cities like Tokyo.
Layers are key in autumn. Mornings and nights were chilly, but some days were still warm.
💰Money Matters
Cash is still widely used. Many places don’t accept credit cards. I ended up exchanging Yen in Australia for convenience, even if the rate wasn’t the best.
Consider Wise for better exchange rates when withdrawing from ATMs.
Check your bank’s international fees and inform them of your travel dates to avoid card blocks.
During Your Trip
🚆 Transportation
We used a wide variety of transportation throughout our trip and got used to transiting very quickly, but here are a few things to be aware of.
Give yourself extra time when navigating train stations, they can be confusing and if you can Avoid rush hours (7:30-9:30 AM & 5:00-7:00 PM).
In Kyoto, buses are more common than trains. To our surprise you enter from the back and exit at the front to pay. You can use most major IC cards.
Plan your sightseeing by area to minimize travel time and costs.
Look into the JR Pass. It wasn’t worth it for us due to recent price hikes—we used a mix of train lines and buses instead. However depending on your itinerary.
🎌Culture & Etiquette
Understanding Japanese etiquette will make your trip smoother and more enjoyable. Even simple gestures like bowing and polite speech go a long way. There are also some cultural differences to be aware of:
Learn Basic Japanese Phrases: While many people in major cities speak some English, knowing simple phrases helps
Trash bins are rare. Bring a little baggie around to collect trash and dispose of it at convenience stores or shopping centers..
Toilets: Western-style bidets are common and awesome, but some places still have squat toilets. We never had a problem finding a toilet when we needed one but I did have to use a squat toilet one time as there were no other options. Aim well.
Be Quite! Often us westerners are speak more loudly especially when excited. In public places, even public transportation, be aware of your speaking volume.
Best rule of thumb, go with the flow. If everyone is queuing, que. If everyone is waiting for the crosswalk light, wait. “When in Rome” right?
🏯Be Flexible with Your Plans
If you’ve seen a place on social media, it will be crowded! And sometimes facing the crowds isn’t worth it.
Consider off-the-beaten-path alternatives for a more relaxed experience. This tip applies to restaurants and food stalls as well.
If you expect that a spot will be too crowded, try going early in the morning or later at night.
👛 Managing Coins
Japan relies heavily on coins, and you’ll accumulate a lot of them.
Use them at vending machines or self-checkout kiosks in convenience stores.
Bring a coin pouch to keep them organized.
Final Thoughts
Japan is an incredible country, and small preparations can make a big difference. Whether it’s knowing the best transport options, packing smart, or understanding cultural norms, these tips will help you have an amazing trip.
Enjoy your journey! 🇯🇵✨
❔Have questions about getting around Japan or planning your first trip? Leave a comment!
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