20 MISTAKES TO AVOID! Don't do This in Japan, First-Time Traveler
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- Опубліковано 21 тра 2024
- Here are 20 mistakes to avoid when visiting Japan for the first time. We've visited Japan multiple times over the years, and we sometimes still make these mistakes. The most important thing is to be respectful. We appreciate when you buy Shinkansen train tickets through our affiliate link: geni.us/shinkansen
00:00 Flying into Narita Airport
00:39 Arriving between 11PM - 5AM
01:11 Not Pre-Ordering your JR Pass
02:04 Arriving late for your train
02:20 Thinking you cannot pay by credit card
03:24 Not knowing the conversion rate
03:53 Accepting marked up conversion rate
04:34 Showing up without pre-booking
05:18 Not knowing how to use the toilet
05:55 Assuming restaurants will provide forks & spoons
06:15 Missing breakfast
06:37 Not cleaning up after yourself
06:52 Expecting trash cans
07:30 Not taking off your shoes
07:59 Not packing waterproof shoes for summer
08:38 Talking too loudly in public
08:50 Not knowing any Japanese words
09:49 Not having internet on your phone
10:17 Packing too heavy
10:43 Not getting travel health insurance
11:35 Japan Rail Pass Live Q&A this Sunday!
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Aloha! We are a worldschooling family with three young kids. Our home base is the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii. We've been living a nomadic lifestyle for the past 15 years. We hope to inspire you to begin your own quest!
I actually quite like flying into a Narita. (Regular traveler there) It’s nice to see a bit of the countryside and the contrast of it before the big city.
@@bashdamonkey sorry I was meaning the airport train.
I arrive Haneda and depart Narita.
I Much prefer Haneda. It’s much easier, faster & cheaper to transfer into Tokyo. Also clearing customs & immigration is faster.
i save about 3-400$dollers landing in Narita, the few who does land in Haneda is more expensive, and the times for the flight are horendeus as well. By all means i dont mind Haneda, it has this really nice gimicky feel when leaving, but my hot take is Narita is actully a better airport then Haneda.
@@lewharrington1422 this might have more to do on when you land and how many others, have landed on both airports several times and i dont think there is any diffrence, even Kix (Osaka) is just as fast to get out of then Haneda and Narita
For my case, flying to Narita is probably worth it since 1. my tickets were cheaper + it's a non-stop flight 2. i should arrive around 15h30 so train and bus are available 3. for 30 minutes difference i don't mind the time of transport.
Yep, that sounds worth it!
Thank you for sharing
Thank you!
thank you so much for all this info , it is great
Thanks for your advices.
Your video contains so much helpful information. Thanks
Thanks for the great videos in Japan.👍🙏
Enjoying watching your videos, very helpful, straight to point! Thanks very much!
Thank you!!
Good advice.
Another super helpful video. Thank you.
You’re welcome!
Some helpful tips there, arigatou gozaimasu
Dōitashimashite!
Awesome channel! Thanks for all the tips :)
You’re welcome. Will you visit Japan soon?
Will be traveling for the first time. Your videos are very helpful, and succinct. And, quite polished - no superfluous stuff. Thank-you.
so informative and straight forward. thanks for sharing
You're welcome! Are you planning a Japan trip?
@@KenshoQuest yes absolutely. what if I run out of cash and shops doesn't accept cards, is there any money exchanger around the street ? or can I withdraw money ?
We withdraw money from the ATM machines, which are easy to find in 7-Eleven. Here's our video explaining how we manage our money while traveling in Japan: ua-cam.com/video/J6AziGwySZo/v-deo.html @@alvinting7423
@@KenshoQuest thank you. Hav eyou been to Seoul Korea as well ? which is more convinient for first timer ? Tokyo or Seoul ?
We still haven't been to Seoul. Hopefully soon!
Thanks!
You’re welcome! Thank you!
Very informative video. Kudos to your and your husband for bringing your young children on your travels. Kids learn so much while vacationing. 🙂
Thanks!
just subbed 😁 first time going in january and these are helpful thank you!!
Welcome!!
Thank you thank you thank you soooo much! Please keep on doing God’s work!
Thanks for all of the great videos as this one is perfect timing as we’re in Japan right now. Get wifi immediately I hesitated and we got lost in Osaka.
Thanks for the tip! Have fun in Japan.
this is so informative! Eases my anxiety for sure! Flying out tomorrow for the first time
Have a wonderful time in Japan! 🌸
I really appreciate your help and new subscriber now.
Leaving last week of May to Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, Nagoya & Tokyo.
Only place i havent visited here is Nagoya, i opted for Himeji instead (and Hiroshima) have a lovely trip, Osaka has so much to offer, if its one place you should consider cooling down the sighseeing and rather take in the ambience of the people with drinking and food culture this is the spot! for sure
Nice video, one mistake not mentioned is when paying for something do not try to directly hand money to the clerk, put the money in the small metal tray on the counter next to the cash register. If you get change the clerk will put your change into the tray for you to get. Also another mistake is trying to tip. That is a big no no in Japan. You are disgracing the person by making them feel that they are not being paid enough for their job and they will return your tip to you. The two words for please that you used, the first one means please take me (like when getting into a taxi) or please do me a favor, the second one means please bring me something like when you are ordering something. There is also another word for please which is dozo, which means I am offering you something to take or I want you to go ahead of me.
im not sure how much of a big misstake this is anymore, at this point i think a lot of them just assume we will hand them cash in hand hence they almost get confused when we do use the tray.
I've had plenty of experiences when im about to drop money in the trai they reach out their hands to collect the money from me.
Talking about reveresed shock xD
I saw “first time traveler” and thought sci fi stuff was going to happen 😂 Thanks for the video cause I’m traveling in July 2024!
So good! Thanks so much for posting all these videos! Unfortunately I had no choice of which airport I could fly into :( So I am stuck at Narita.
Totally understandable that not everyone will be able to fly into HND.
80% of the time i land at Narita, i actually kinda prefer it, jump on a limusin bus and try to sleep a bit before arriving at my destination as im never able to sleepp during my 13 hour flight.
Thank you for your very informative videos. Can you advise if you bring food into Japan? Might want to bring some snacks... Thank you
Hi, snacks are fine as long as they are packaged.
Great video and information. I would add that choosing the airport to arrive/depart from is also dependent on where you are staying in Tokyo. I stay in Ueno and accordingly choose Narita as the airport as it is a direct one train trip on the Keisei Skyliner to Ueno station. Don't wish to be changing metro trains with luggage.
Good point! Thanks for adding that.
Regarding the waterproof shoes, I had a pair of Vessi’s sneakers (advertised as waterproof) but the rain got in through where my socks peeked out a tiny bit at the edges. My daughter tried spraying Scotchguard on her sneakers but probably did not thorough coverage so her shoes got soaked too. This was when a typhoon was passing so it was pretty heavy rain. Boots were too heavy to pack and took up too much room. Oh well, at least it wasn’t cold rain in the summer and our shoes dried overnight. Thanks for this video
I've heard those Vessi shoes recommended before. I guess most shoes aren't 100% waterproof. Rain can even get in through the top of rain boots. We ran out into the typhoon rain to get umbrellas at the nearest market and got soaked. Agreed, at least it wasn't cold rain! ☔️
Thank for very helpful tips, what summer month did you go?
We were there in June and July. June had the most rain. ☔️
Thx😂
Thanks for the video. Honestly for the distance taxi price doesn't seem that bad, IF you have 3-4 people...
Hi, we totaly agree! For the comfort and door to door, it can't be beat :)
#21. DONT miss an opportunity to join a meetup. This is a rare opportunity to meet and talk to locals who enjoy speaking English and meeting foreigners.
How would I find something like this?
Questions for the Live Q&A: Some third party vendors (e.g. Klook) sell JR pass more than 90 days away from planned travel day. However, they will not issue exchange order till 70 days prior to the travel date.
Question:
1) When will be the last day of exchange if I pre-order the pass more than 90 days away? I will be travelling on Dec and I am little bit worrying about bad weather which would delay the flight and push my arrival a day or two . It become critical when the 90 days validity starting counting.
2) Not a question directly related to JR pass. What are the pros and cons to buy Shinkansen one-way ticket from third party website as compared to ticket office/vending machine?
Thanks for the video and great tips.
Narita is unfortunately on my flight back 😂😂
While I'm flying into Narita next month, I'll be staying in Chiba the first night anyway before heading to Fujisawa the next afternoon. I'm saving Tokyo itself for my last 3 days of the trip. Doing Chiba-Fujisawa (Enoshima)-Kamakura-Kanazawa-Shinjuku on this trip. Then Hokkaido next June for a motorcycle tour.
Just 21 days to go.🎉
Sounds like a wonderful trip! We hope you have a great time. And Hokkaido is one of our favorite destinations. 🌺 Heidi
Yes #13 I experienced
Thanks for the nice tips!! In regards to American medical insurance, for seniors, Medicare isn't available outside the USA. Because of that, I highly recommend getting medical coverage.
Thanks for adding that!
Good to know. I don’t have Medicare yet but am getting close to the age when I will have to get it.
Cant make it this sunday QnA, business dinner here in LA, California.
I'm going on my fifth trip to Japan this year, and depending on where in the city you stay, Narita vs Haneda isn't THAT much of a difference. Fly into whichever airport is cheaper.
Yeah, it depends upon where you will stay and whether you know how to get to your accommodations from the airport. This is just a heads up for people to be aware of the airport locations before booking plane tickets.
Woah 5th time is crazy bro! I'm barely going for the first time!
going for the 5th time in October myself, and agreed on this, there is such a small price difference from one airport to another it really doesnt matter that much, sure a little longer time from airport but its really not that bad.
i also like using the limosin busses so i can get to my district directly not having to change trains 1/2 times as well
@@deaddrunkgamer7399 Yep, if there's no price difference and you're staying in Shibuya, yeah, go for Haneda. But these videos are so much "avoid Narita at all cost", and I'm imagining tourists paying £100 more to land at Haneda when staying in Asakusa
Questions for the Live Q&A:
1. Is it easy or likely to have an English speaker when picking up passes and making reservations at the major airports?
2. Are you able to make a series of reservations when picking up the pass?
3. Is it hard to change a reservation if you miss your train? If you need a luggage reservation especially?
Thanks so much for all your helpful info! Not sure if I’ll make the Q&A due to time difference in Australia, but will definitely watch it back if you keep it up on UA-cam 👍👍
1. Yes they do have English speaker when picking up passes and making reservations at the airport.
2. Yes u can make series reservation when pickup the pass.
3. If u missed the reservation train then u can reschedule or take non reservations seat instead. If u have large luggage then u need reservations or just take the non reservations seat and they won't give u too much hard time.
I'm first time visiting Japan with my family's and I so nervous to deal with Jr pass voucher exchange but don't worry it is easy. U need Google translate and Google len to help u do the translation without any problem as first time.
para tirar basura...apenas hay problema..cerca de las maquinas de bebidas ...hay papeleras
6:45 bro i saw some foreign family at mcdonalds let their kids do a big mess on the table and ground and they didnt even bother to clean a crumb and walked away
I heard Haneda is a little bit more modern too.
We appreciate when you purchase your JR Pass through our affiliate link: kenshoquest.com/recommends/klook-jr-pass/
Love your video even though I visit many times. Singapore, it is better to change more Yen than using credit card in Japan. One trip expenditure of S$4K can save couple of hundreds S$, especially for high ticket items. Credit card and Hotels has the worst lowest ex rate. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Narita can be better and faster depending on your Tokyo destination. It's certainly faster for me.
True! It depends where you are headed.
My view on narita vs haneda is it is less of an error but mere convenience, as long as one does enough homework on transport it should be fine. For please, i would suggest using onegashimasu as kudasai doesn't work with certain situations, can sometimes end up creating a point blank moment for Japanese on other side.
Yes, it’s all preference, as long as you know what you’re getting yourself into.
Short answer, if its can you hand me that, its okay to use Kudasai.
like Nama biiru kudasai (ill have a beer thanks)
you can say Nama biiru Onegaishimasu (same as above but more formal)
things that take time would not be correct with Kudasai.
Can i have the hamburger kudasai, would be an incorrect use of Kudasai. use Onegaishimasu in that case.
Your videos have been helpful in planning our family's first time to Japan. I do have a question about footwear advise. We are going in June 2024 and I am debating between waterproof boots and waterproof sneakers. Do you know if there is enough rain while walking around to justify boots? They are more difficult to put on and off so just not sure. WE plan to hike up at least part of Miyajima but otherwise we plan to do temples, gardens, and inside activities. We are planning on going to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Hakone.
It rains a TON in June. I would choose whichever shoes you feel more comfortable walking in for a long time. It's also nice to have two pairs of shoes, so if one gets wet you can switch to the other while they dry. Being able to easily take shoes off is a plus in Japan.
1:22 yeah the new price is incredible... almost doubled.
Just want to thank you and the channel for giving top tier tips visiting Japan. Just came back from a 8 day trip to Kyoto and Osaka. Really helped navigating with travelling passes, Pocket Wifi etc
Awesome! What was your favorite thing in Japan?
I always considered Picket wihi, and always end up opting out of it, I guess it has to do i often solo travel and i am very depended on notification meaning i would have had the pocket wifi on all the time, also considering having the cheapest E-sim so i can get my notifications and the pocket wifi when i need stable net, in the end E-Sim was always enough for me and 1/3 of the price and could be setup while i was still at home and ready to launch when i landet.
Thank you, very informative.
I have 9AM fight at NRT Airport, what is best method to go from Tokyo? What is the earliest time train or bus run in the morning from Tokyo to NRT? Thank you.
Hi, glad it is helpful! The earliest trains leave around 6am which will get you to NRT around 7am. If you take the train, I recommend the Keisei skyliner as it is the fastest. If that is too late then you can look for an early bus. Note, it depends on location whether they have an early bus or not so you need to do some searching by location to find the earliest bus for your needs. Here are links to both:
airport bus: webservice.limousinebus.co.jp/web/en
skyliner: geni.us/skyliner
Keisei to Ueno is 45min. It's not another 30mins more to Tokyo.
CounterPoint - Narita has a pokemon store. Haneda dosn't ......
I pointed out that Americans are easy to spot because of their shoes (specifically running sneakers) and people flipped a lid. thank you for confirming my observation. 😆
thanks for the good info. I need to learn how to use the bidets there before going
I'm flying to Japan from Busan, so my best option was to fly in to Narita. I am used to the airport taking an hour or so to get to.
Have a wonderful time in Japan! Americans are easy to spot for multiple reasons 😉
@@KenshoQuestalso most Americans do not look Japanese. The only thing that matters is being polite and exercising good manners.
I just returned from Japan and it was a wonderful experience (lots of video watching on prepping....many thanks to your videos!). I will say, the packing too much is so true. My next time I travel there, I will definitely pack lighter. While it wasn't terrible, it did make "travel days" a workout.
Welcome back! We try to pack light, but it’s hard. Last time we left Japan with two more suitcases than we arrived with 😂.
Some airlines offer cheaper prices to/from Narita, and even we spent add cost to take Keisei to Ueno / Tokyo in total it’ll much cheaper rather than flying to Haneda. if you bringing wife + kids like me, it’s a $300 saving.
same, i just go with whatever is cheaper
Using the spray toilet is pretty easy, its the squat toilet to do number 2 that I'm afraid of.
🤣
I f’d up with on Narita 😭. The tickets were cheaper and now I know why.
As long as you plan your transportation ahead of time, of how you will get from the airport into the city, you will be fine.
i wouldnt say that :P i think a lot of japan influencers are painting Narita to be this really horrible thing which it is not.
Last time i took the Limusin bus from narita it only took 60 ish minuts to Shinjuku.
Hello again and THANK YOU for hosting the upcoming Q&A! My Question is: Can I purchase tickets for Narita Express and Book seats online ahead of arrival? If my flight Arrives at 4:40, I am thinking I would be safe to book seats for 6:45 or 7:00 PM NEX into Tokyo from Narita... (I realized I only need a 7 Day JR Pass and will not activate upon Arrival but 7 days into our 14 day trip to travel to Kyoto and Osaka and return to Tokyo). Also, can you UPGRADE to GREEN CAR for JR Pass while reserving seats?
Hi, You're welcome! We hope to see you on the live stream! Yes, you can purchase and book your reserved sets for the NEX from the jr east website here: www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/pass/nex.html
Also, from our experience there are usually plenty of seats available on the NEX.
As for upgrading your JR Pass, if you are interested in the Green Car then you might just want to buy that now. We do not know if you can upgrade at the ticketing office.
No, you can't upgrade for Green Car if you buy a basic JR Pass, you can only reserve seats in standard reserved cars.
I have a long plane layover (1.5 day) in Japan . We will be moving with a lot of luggage and wondered what we can do with all of our luggage. We come in at 6:00 p.m. and it looks like there is no service for holding luggage after 6:30. 😊 We are concerned we will not get to the luggage holding area soon enough for big bags
Hi, when you first arrive, please check with JAL ABC, they might be open. If not, ask the information desk for the location of the cloak room. If they too are not open you might try using ECBO Cloak app. More info here: ua-cam.com/video/dsUGncWTVm8/v-deo.html
Hey guys! Super informative. May I ask, how do you know Apple Pay is charged as a cash advance for IC cards? Is this because the card effectively has a balance on it?
It just depends upon your credit card. When we called Chase they said it would be treated as a cash advance. Now we use an Apple Card with Apple Wallet to charge a digital IC card, and it counts like a regular purchase. We recommend calling your credit card to ask how it will be treated.
Oh good, I show up at Haneda by 2pm on April 17 and I'll be staying for 14 days. I, so far, only booked the flight. Then, after booking all that, I kept hearing about tourists going to Narita, and I thought I screwed up. I think I'm going to pass on the JR Pass as it doesn't seem worth it anymore. Might stay half the time in Tokyo and then I'm thinking about flying to Hiroshima for the rest of the stay, but I'll have to come back to Tokyo for my flight back to the USA.
If you’re flying Delta from the US yeah you’re going to be in Haneda which is great. You can take the Tokyo monorail to Hamamatsucho station (one stop from Tokyo station) for about ¥500 and takes less than 30 min. From there you can grab a train to pretty much anywhere else in Tokyo quick.
The JR pass is only worth it if you’re going to be moving around a lot. Otherwise a standard ticket is cheaper.
I would also highly recommend checking the price on a train ticket to Hiroshima. The Shinkansen is about 3.5hrs and $130 each way. While a flight is only around 1.5 hours the train is VASTLY more comfortable and convenient. Once you factor in transit to the airport, security, and baggage the Shinkansen almost always wins out.
The train leaves directly from Tokyo station, whereas you’re going to need at least 30 min to get to Haneda airport, plus an hour or more buffer to clear security. The train is also infinitely more comfortable and you get a fantastic view of the country on the way.
@XeonAlpha Oh, I've massively changed my itinerary since I posted this, but thanks for the info. Will arrive in Tokyo on April 17. Staying until the 21st. I'm going to Osaka until the 24th (I'll dedicate a full day to Hiroshima while here). I'm going to Kyoto until the 27th. I'm going all the way up to stay in Aomori to hopefully catch some cherry blossoms at Hirosaki Park. From here, I'll catch a domestic flight back to Haneda on my departure day, where my return flight leaves at 4PM, so I should be able to make time with an early flight. I'm thinking the 7 day JR Pass from the 21st-27th might be worth it, where I'd use it to get from Tokyo - Osaka - Hiroshima (round trip) - Kyoto - Aomori (going through Tokyo). Still working everything out. Lol
@@FluffyBunny9002 JR might be worth it but do the math. Personally I don’t think flying is worth it unless you’re going really far (DEFINITELY not Kyoto/Osaka to Tokyo). I’ve done that route 3 times now and the Shinkansen is the way to go.
I’ll cross my fingers for you on the cherry blossoms but it’s been very, very warm this year. I was just in Nagano 3rd week of Feb and it was already up into the high 60’s. I actually left early because I was planning to ski and it was just rain and slush.
@XeonAlpha Oh no, the only domestic flight I'm considering is getting back to Haneda Airport from Aomori. It would be on April 30, and my plane for the States leaves that same day from Haneda at 4:00pm, so I'd probably take an early flight no later than noon to make sure I make it back in time. The forecasts I keep looking at say the cherry blossoms should start to bloom in Aomori about a week before I arrive, give or take a day or two, and I'm hoping I can see them at Hirosaki Park, even if I only manage to catch the later blooming variety. If it looks like I'll miss the blossom up there the closer that time comes I can still cancel my trip up north for a full refund, and then I'll improvise the last 4 days of my trip. The rest of my itinerary is locked in.
Hi . I’coming back to japan after 5 years . Las time I Had jrpass , but now I won’t buy it .
Unfortunatelly I will Land at Narita Aiport again ( coming back from Haneda ), and I would like to ask : should I buy train tickets from narota to Shinjuku ( narita express ) for my family online ?
Or it will be better to buy it at the Aiport ?
Thank You for replaying
Weronika
Thanks for the insight.
My Question concerns JRPass and riding Shinkansen Nozomi & Mizuho.
Until September 30th you have to buy separate tickets to ride them
From October 1st you will be able to ride both with your Pass but, you will have to pay an extra fee.
My question is, if you buy your JRPass before September 30 (at lower price) and are traveling to Japan before end of the year, will you be able to ride Nozomi & Mizuho and pay the extra fee? Or, Is it only valid on the new price hiked passes ?
I can't seem to find anything on this.
Yes you can, but the extra fee for the upgrade is not worth it imho. Hikari departing every half hour, at least, and the time difference is only 19 minutes.
@@TheDoRelian Thanks for the advice. I'll stay with Hikari.
Most airline ticket purchases have an insurance option that you can purchase but the insurance (#20) they are mentioning is different. Travel Insurance can cover a whole range of options besides health. For example, god forbid someone in your party is tragically hurt or even deceased, if you select the options that covers this, someone from your home country can fly over to the country where the injury or death occurred to coordinate assistance with local institutions and/or your nation's embassy to fly the body back. This takes a LOT of money and paperwork, you have no idea! Insurance!! People may not think about this option in advance but research and budget this into your travel plans. Make sure you have the information with you when you travel.
Thanks for adding this. Our SafetyWing travel health insurance includes other benefits we didn't mention in the video such as medical evacuation, political evacuation, trip interruption (if you need to return home for an emergency back home), and burial or repatriation of remains. I have no idea what it would entail to use that final benefit on someone's behalf.
Question about baggage transportation...
If I'd like to get my baggage delivered from Narita to Hotel in Tokyo(Ginza) in the same day. What is an hour I have to be on Yamato service desk in Narita Airport. THANKS
I don’t think it’s guaranteed to be same day delivery. It probably depends how busy they are. I’d drop it off as early in the morning as you can.
I’m arriving at HND around 5:30 am.. will stuff be running by then? I’m assuming by the time I’m actually out of the airport it’ll be 6 or later
Hi, many services are open by 6am.
Wow, good advice and introduction about traveling in Japan….. makes me want to go to Japan 👍🏼 Any women wish to travel to 🇯🇵, I would like to join you, small group is ok!
Hello. We are planning to purchase JR Pass in Klook. Do you have klook coupon code?
Sorry, we don’t have a coupon code that works for JR Passes. 🌸 Heidi
The IC card tip is huuuge. I was thinking about being able to just top up using Apple Pay, but those cash advance interest rates are crazy!
It's worth calling your credit card to ask how they will treat it. Ours said it would be a cash advance. While other cards treat it as a purchase. 🌺 Heidi
@@KenshoQuestMine did not charge as cash advance... Other YT videos have also mentioned that it does not charge it as cash advance from them.
Hi, would u know if it's possible to arrange same day delivery of luggage to my hotel in Ginza from haneda airport? Thanks!
You can definitely ship luggage from Haneda to Ginza, I’m just not sure if it will arrive the same day. Maybe if you drop it off in the morning.
We are headed to Osaka next week! Your videos have been so helpful!
If we are staying in Osaka for our trip, what would you recommend for travel passes?
Have fun! If you want to take side trips in the area, we recommend the Kansai Area Pass ( Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe ): kenshoquest.com/recommends/jr-kansai-area-pass/ *affiliate link
1. avoid flying to Narita...
me: ya.... like I have much choices😅
but the 1hr+ ride to Tokyo really doesn't matter, coz most of us only do it when we arrive and depart. total of 1hr + waste compare to Haneda airport.
Just watching your video and would like it if you could clarify something for me. In your Apple wallet, if you have a digital Suica card and you also in your Apple wallet, have your Visa ATM card, couldn’t you load your Suica card by using your visa ATM that is in the wallet instead of doing Apple Pay?
Hi, great question. We have not tried this but think it should work. If you have installed the Suica you can try it and let us know ;)
Hell I don't even know how to use the toilets in America.
Hello gd day I'll be traveling from the Philippines to Narita then going to Yokohama for 2 days what should I do first since it's my first time in Japan! Need some tips
Hi, It really depends on your interests. Can you provide more information?
I want to order jr pass from your link today!!!
We fly at Sunday 1/10. . .so we'll have the voucher untill Friday 29/9 at our address in Greece?
Thanks! Klook offers free 5-day delivery of the Exchange Order, so two weeks should be fine. 🌺 Heidi
What do you guys think would be the cost to take a taxi from NRT to Tokyo?
I received my rail pass, when I went back in march I would use it for some local trains and it would work, but wouldn’t work for others. How can I tell which local trains I can use my jr rail pass?
Hi, for taxis from NRT to Tokyo you will spend at least JPY 20,000. I recommend going for a fixed fair taxi if you think there might be traffic. Here is a chart that shows prices:
www.narita-airport.jp/en/access/taxi
Regarding the local trains. If they are JR trains then they will most likely work. For instance, the Yamanote loop line that circles Tokyo is included and a great way to get around the city. The subways in general will not work and lines such as Odakyu are not included. It's quite extensive so a bit hard to know them all. You can figure this out by using the Japan Travel app by Navitime. Highly recommended :)
It's quite a distance from NRT to Tokyo. Depending upon exactly where you are going and traffic, a taxi might cost around 20,000-30,000 Yen. We would opt for the Skyliner express train, instead.
The JR Pass only works on local JR trains. Not other company train lines or subways. We went into more detail as to exactly what is covered by the JR Pass in our Pro Tips for Using the JR Pass video: ua-cam.com/video/VyRWmVzbAjQ/v-deo.html
Hello, I have a question about the JR pass. I am going to Japan on Saturday September 23rd, and I was wondering if you think I should order my JR pass this tomorrow to be delivered to on Wednesday or Thursday on Klook or is it too late to order? Also there are 3 members in my family. I am guessing that I need to purchase JR passes, and not just 1 for all 3 of us, is that correct?
Hi. Each member of your family needs a JR Pass, unless they are under 6-years-old. It's cutting it too close to purchase from Klook. You could either purchase online from the official website japanrailpass.net/ which provides a digital email confirmation, OR you could purchase your pass at a JR office when you arrive in Japan. JR Passes are still available to purchase in Japan through September 2023.
Heres' more info about purchasing in Japan: japanrailpass.net/pdf/JR_PASS_release_EN.pdf
Does the price increase with the JR trains include just the single Shinkansen ticket from Tokyo to Osaka or is the price increase only for the JR passes for unlimited rides?
The price increase is for the Whole Japan Rail Pass and some regional passes. Not individual Shinkansen tickets.
Flying to Narita is definitely not a mistake unless you are on a really tight schedule and strapped for time.
Hello
I’ve seen UA-cam videos suggesting that visitors to Japan complete the immigration forms online, but I’m concerned about. If I complete the forms online will I still be able to get the ‘temporary visitors stamp’ that his vital for the JR Pass?
We completed immigration forms online and then showed the QR codes to the immigration officer who stamped our passports. 🌺 Heidi
@@KenshoQuest thanks so much. Was that via the Visit Japan website?
Yes, it was Visit Japan Web: vjw-lp.digital.go.jp/en/ I mentioned it in our checklist for preparing for a Japan trip: ua-cam.com/video/AF9UYFI-I38/v-deo.html Also, we flew into Haneda, which doesn't have automatic immigration lanes the way that Narita does. @@peskypossum58
Wondering if anyone in chat will know if I can cancel a reservation made online in US. Do not pick up my rail
Pass until Oct 2 and made an error in one of my reservations. I cannot figure out how to change or delete it. I need a different routing. Any insight will be appreciated🙏🏼
Hi. We haven't personally done this. Here's what we found on the website:
The purchaser must make any changes on JAPAN RAIL PASS Reservation.
- After logging in on JAPAN RAIL PASS Reservation, go to My Menu and select JAPAN RAIL PASS in which you wish change your reserved seat.
- In the itinerary list, click the “Change” button for the train you want to change.
Reserved seats can be changed on JAPAN RAIL PASS Reservation between 4:00 and 23:30 (Japan time UTC+09:00), up to the departure time of the first train on your reserved itinerary, and as late as 6 minutes before the departure time of the train after changes are made.
Click the following link for further details.
www.japanrailpass-reservation.net/PurchaseGuide
What type of accommodations does handicapped using wheelchairs have in using the bullet train or any other transportation in Japan?
I’m not certain for bullet trains. For local trains, you can request assistance when passing through the ticket gate. They will ask which station to plan to get off the train at. Then an attendant will bring a small ramp and place it at the train entrance once the train arrives. There are particular cars marked for handicapped, with space to fit a wheelchair. When you arrive at the destination station there will be another attendant waiting with a ramp for getting off the train. 🌸 Heidi
Only thing that cought me offguard here is cleaning station at food places, i've never seen one in my 4 trips. Only a station where you put you're trays back and dump the trash.
Could this be a family resturant thing?
There tends to be cleaning cloths and spray bottles at food courts in shopping malls.
@@KenshoQuest ah got ya, cant say i ever go to shopping malls / food courts, does explain things :)
I’ve been only saying, arigato this whole time 😢
You can say Domo Arigato Gozaimasu, which is an even more polite way of saying thank you
Heidi’s statement about topping up IC cards with cash only is interesting.
In Vancouver, I use a transit card called Compass that automatically tops up via ApplePay and it shows up as a charge.
I’m curious - How are IC Card top-ups treated as a cash advance when you’re not withdrawing money?
It depends upon the credit card. When we contacted our Chase card they said it would be treated as a cash advance. Others have used credit cards and it was treated as a regular charge. We will experiment more with ApplePay on our next trip. 🌸 Heidi
@@KenshoQuest thank you for the response, Heidi, and great suggestion to ask our bank how IC top-ups will be handled.
Safe travels, ya’ll!!! 🇨🇦
Is it true that in Japan some credit card machine ask for CHIP + 4-digit pin??? I've been hearing this from other travelers. But here in the US we don't set PINS for credit cards and only debit cards. Should I set a PIN to be safe?
Hi, we have never faced this issue. However, if you do have the option, it's not a bad idea to set a PIN.
How & where do I buy wifi connection when I arrive in Japan I will be there for two weeks. My US wifi cell phone international plan is too expensive. Thank you.
Here’s our video on choosing a Pocket WiFi or SIM card for your Japan trip:
ua-cam.com/video/2fhdT0Ubxmo/v-deo.htmlsi=D4cJFgrB0IbS02d6
Hi, I was wondering, if I decide to do the luggage drop off, will they just leave my luggages outside unattended?
Yamato Transport would store your luggage inside their office.
I've always fly to Haneda precovid but now the price of the airline that go to Haneda are unbearable.
That’s too bad! I guess it depends where you are flying from.
Is it possible to use English subtitles?
Hi, If I book bus or train online but accidentally omitted my middle name(as in my passport), would that be a problem? Thanks
Hi, for a bus, while I don't know for sure, I doubt this will be an issue since you will not be crossing any international borders. However, trains, like shinkansens are more strict and you may need to provide more proof as when you buy from JR it states to be sure you enter your information as it is in your passport.
I ordered pocket wifi because it came with the power bank I can use for all my other stuff too. Do still need the VPN, I mean I will be signed into the pocket wifi
Hi, VPN is for extra security. Mainly if you will be connecting to public Wifis or want to keep your connection private or want to watch netflix or Amazon. So you probably don't need one since you will be using a pocket wifi.
Is there a bus from Tokyo to Narita airport for early morning flights? Our flight is 7am but trains start at 5am 😔
Hi, there are limousine buses but most don't start until 5:00 am. You can check these sites:
www.tcat-hakozaki.co.jp/en/airport/
webservice.limousinebus.co.jp/web/en/Top.aspx
Otherwise, there are taxis where you might be able to get a flat rate.
@@KenshoQuest Thank you for this!
If your flight is 7am, you must arrive at least 2-3 hrs before, right? I would book a hotel AT the airport for the night before.
@@csgyoutubian5208 that's what we're planning to do, rather than miss our flight 😅
#5 loading Suica Card with Apple Pay is not considered a cash advance !!!
Correct, it currently is not considered a cash advance.
Trains in Tokyo do they have time as I am arriving in Tokyo after 6 pm
Hi, yes, they run until about 12am every night. As long as you are arriving before 10:30 pm you should be able to catch a train into tokyo. Otherwise, you most likely will need to hire a taxi.
I got 4 JR Pass for family for coming Japan trip, can I pickup/exchange them with my Passport or each member need to be exchange with their Passport. Also do I need to get a stamp in my Passport to exchange for JR tickets?
You do need to get a temp visitor stamp in your passport to get the JR pass. I believe each member of your family needs to be there to pick up the pass, though I'm not 100% sure on that.
Thank you for tips, I will not able to do the Visit Japan Web for fast entry and need to wait in line right. We can exchange our Pass at Airport and active the Pass later?@@florin529
U need all 4 passports to exchange the voucher and temp visit stamp
Yes, you need to get the temporary visitor sticker/stamp at immigration. Technically, each person should be present with their passport to collect their JR Pass. They will check the passports, so those plus Exchange Orders are required. 🌺 Heidi
I save $700 when I took Narita compared to Haneda so ok with me if its further aways
That’s a big difference. In that case, it is worth flying into Narita.
Thank you for all your tips especially. You inspired me to go to the other places in Japan that few people seem to know like the Gifu area, Matsumoto, Nagano, Takayama area
@@yeth6458 Awesome, you are going to love those places!