Take a portable charger! You will be on google maps a lot and taking many pictures. your phone will die really quick and it's a scary feeling when you don't know where your at, don't speak Japanese fluently, and the sun's starting to go down 😅. Thankfully we had one and it helped us a lot during a trip.
You can also get an aux battery. They are about the size of 2 cigarettes and hold a charge well. Just charge it and the phone in the capsule hotel at night.
For anyone considering getting a pocket wifi; If you're just staying in Tokyo, you definitly do not need to buy pocket wifi! There is Wifi in a lot of places now, and all JR rail station have free WiFi too! However if you're venturing outside of Tokyo, you'll need pocket wifi as there is not a lot of wifi, especially in Kyoto, the countryside or Hiroshima.
About the JR Pass - You need to get the voucher before coming to Japan. We bought the vouchers online. When you arrive in Japan you go to a JR Office to activate the JR Pass. You will need to show your passport when you activate the voucher. You will get a Touristvisitor stamp in your passport at arrival in the airport. Only Touristvisitors can use this voucher for JR Pass... Remember do not loose your JR Pass. If you loose it then it is gone forever! You will not get it replaced. Also it can be used not just on JR Trains - but also on JR busses and JR ferries!
My friend lost his on the shinkansen because they came and cleaned up the trash while he was in the bathroom and took his pass along with the trash. Luckily we asked at the station when we got off and the train people actually dug through the trash and found it, then left it at the station 2 stops away for my friend to pick up.
For navigation you can use the phone app maps.me since it has offline maps. You don't need a phone service to use it. It was very helpful to me in kyoto and osaka.
Yeah, I'd rather use Google Maps since it also has an Apple Watch app, but unfortunately the map of Japan can't be downloaded in Google Maps. But maps.me is a good alternative.
Really? I thought my friends were using it while we were there. I had unlimited data so I didn't need it. Oh yeah, I see. I just tried it for Shinjuku and it won't download.
My biggest Japan travel trip is to look into domestic flights if you are travelling around different parts of the country. My boyfriend and I recently spent 6 weeks travelling all over different parts of Japan and heavily utilised domestic flights, which worked out much cheaper than buying multiple JR Passes as we were there for an extended time (JR Pass is best for shorter trips, ie. 1-3 weeks). For example, we managed to score a flight with Spring Japan from Osaka to Tokyo that was just 700jpy before fees! Worked out to about AUD$15 each, which was a steal considering that the shinkansen would have been around $150. Additionally, both ANA and JAL offer discount domestic flights to tourists. My other tip is to use baggage forwarding! The majority of hotels provide this service, which ships your luggage from your current hotel to your next one for a fee. It's great being able to spend days at a time without all of your luggage weighing you down between cities, especially if you do a lot of shopping.
Not really a travel hack but advice... Have your pass e.g. Suica or Pasmo ready before you get to the ticket gates... I noticed many people had an extendable pass holder hanging off their bag so they could go in and out of the barriers quickly and smoothly and not hold everyone up behind them
That is a good tip, so you don't have to fumble through your pockets or bag. Same goes for the JR Pass where you have to take it out and show it to the person at the gate.
1 question. we are 3 people traveling to japan so do we have to get 3 cards or we can just use 1 card. for the train ofcourse. the vending machines and rest we can use only one. but i need to know if we have to buy 3 suica cards or 1 is enough. thank you in advance
I found it really helpful to bring my own reusable shopping bag. when you buy stuff in Japan, even the smallest, single item, they will definitely put it in a plastic bag way too big for what you bought. It's nice the first few times, especially if you forgot to bring a bag for your dirty clothes, but as someone who tries to put out less waste, it's definitely really nice to have a reusable shopping bag on hand. Google Translate is super helpful! Google Translate has the option for you to take a photo of the thing you want to read and it'll translate from the photo. It's not 100% accurate, but it gets the job done.
I'd recommend cdrental Japan for a SIM card so u can use Internet and maps to find your way. Also download a railway map. City rail map. Was great. Then you'll see a map and how they overlap :)
I opened up an account for my travel cash that has a no foreign transaction fee debit card in order to save money when I get cash at the 7-11. I used Capital One and it did save me a good chunk of money.
This is truely useful !! I've been to Japan last month and I truely agree with struggle you've mention and can really see how your tips are going to help.
Japan's transit system is AMAZING. If you're planning on traveling just within the major cities, and even some surprisingly remote locations, chances are really good there's a train that will get you where you're going. That said, we took a side trip out to Sado Island and did rent a van for those few days. Coming from the US, driving on the left was a bit stressful ("Hey honey, look at this view" / "I can't! I'm concentrating too hard on not driving on the wrong side of the road!"). If you are traveling between multiple hotels, take advantage of the Yamato Transport system. You just take your bags to the hotel desk, give them the name and address of your next hotel, and Yamato will have them at your next destination, usually before you get there (they must have transporters, I don't know how they do it otherwise). There is a fee, but it's totally worth it.
Pro-tip. You can buy almost every type of pass (like the Suica card) before your journey to Japan. Gearing up for my trip and already got mine. Can also load it online.
I'm planning on going to japan soon! I'm saving up and I'm soo excited, not only I've been learning the language but I've been learning the top things I need to know about Japan. thanks so much for this! this really helped!
Tips for first timers to Japan Dos: put the money on the tray, and not give it directly to the cashier : keep your volume to the minimum when taking public transportation Don't : talk loudly when taking public transportation, if u need to talk to the person u r with, keep your volume at the minimum. : walk and eat and/or drink along the streets
Anita Borozan cuz they see it as being rude and label these ppl as gaijin(外人) which mean foreigner/outsider, and of course we r a foreigner in Japan, but it's important to respect their culture
+greatescape_804 chervyyyyyy So I cant eat or drink like normal people or else I will be considered a foreigner which I am?That just seems like nitpicking.
Anita Borozan it seems disrespectful in the eyes of some due to the idea of not enjoying your food or taking in the appreciation for the food as well as the people who made it. It also has to do with littering or spilling said food or drinks.
Yes, those "train cards" Suica and Pasmo. The transport system in Tokyo is a wonder. And paying for it can be very complicated. These cards take hassle out of train travel in Tokyo. And I used the card at shops, kiosks, and purchases on board JR trains. No more fumbling for cash. Gotta love it.
with Jr pass you also can't ride the Mizuho bullet trains, not only Nozomi. These two trains are usually 8 car bullet trains and what you get when using the pass is 16 car bullet trains. you can also reserve sits with the pass.
We rented a WiFi Hotspot at Narita Airport so you can get it once you arrive in Japan. The shop /vendor where we fit the WiFi Hotspot is right next to the JR office and it was very convenient.
@@misaandcoart Yes would like 2 know as well would someone Answer this??As well as Any other info for traveling from the usa and How much it may cost??,By the Day,week,Month sometimes like 2 drank Beer ; ),and smoke ciggs,But eat cheap Ramen even now often Daily,live cheap other wise Etc/etc If you Reply 2 this please let us know your Replying 2 this very comment and Thanks?!! = ) : ) P.s. love Anime!!!/Manga,Video Games!!!,(Some)of the culture!!,Art,Music,the woman!!!,Marital Arts!!!,some of the History is interesting!!,Food!!,How polite and Helpful they seem!!!,and Just How Pretty some places look As well as other stuff How much $$/(Time Does it take) 2 Do a (little) traveling Around?? And buy (some) of this and take it in A bit and Also still live with internet/you tube,ebay(But very cheap Besides Hostel) Are those even safe??Also would you Get stolen from Ect/ect?? Is love Hotel Best or Regular Hotel,or Air B&b?? And why/Why Not??Please Help and Answer (All) of these Questions Do not Have very much $Money$ (Sadly) = ( Thanks?!! #Japen love!!! Please Be polite in the comments Just cause we like somethings about Japan or (even other places As well) in the world you Do not Need Name calling/Nasty comments w/USA love Which (would) still Die 4 Have Ptsd,and Bad Back as well as other stuff But anyways your just '1' country/person in A Bigger world!!!
I would recommend hostels as well! JHoppers is a great one that I did when I went to Japan. It's clean and super affordable. In some of the hostels they had a once a week get together with the people at the hostel so you can meet other people! They also had unique Japanese snacks with explanations of what it is and why they eat it and drinks
Travel tip/recommendation: Fly into a different city other than Tokyo (such as Fukuoka) and then slowly travel to other cities along the way and lastly, end in Tokyo. It will save you hours of a return trip to Tokyo if you started your trip there in the first place. Which leads to another tip: use those hours to go off the beaten path .
This is a great tutorial. Some of the tips like the rail pass are similar to what I've done in Europe. I'll get a SIM card next time I'm there. As for my own tips - I traveled with a group of six when I was there in January, and we had connections to local people that could help us out on local customs and getting around. We got some great advice from asking them what to see and do. They also gave us advice on good local spots to eat. In short, use the information available from the people where you're staying, since they know the area well. And, use the convenience stores (konbini) as much as you can. They were a lifesaver for us when we were staying in smaller towns and needed someplace to pick up breakfast. You can get a lot done there. I'm going back in the near future as I loved Japan. Keep up the good work!
What I loved about google maps in Japan is that it also tells you how much fare it is going to cost and the cost of transfers. I highly recommend the pocket wifi, huge lifesaver; although I paid about $60 for 8 days, if there is a cheaper pocket wifi company I'd sure like to know. For cash, I withdrew from the 7 eleven ATM at the airport, took out 100,000 yen, the only fee my bank charged was the 3%, nothing else.The car idea is a must in rural areas that have limited public transportation. My brother and I rented a car and drove around Fukui and then straight to Gujo Hachiman, and then to Nagoya; totally worth it.
Hey Kim, thank you so much for all the great hacks. My sister and two friends of mine are going to Tokyo in November and you've been a huge help in us deciding what we want to do. So thank you for creating so much awesome content! :D
one thing for the power board Japan uses the A/B outlet standard. if you are from america or canada its the same 2 prong or 2 prong + ground as america and canada. note that you may run into situations where you may not have a ground wire prong. also Japan's power grid runs at 100v at over 50 or 60 hertz depending if you are just north of Tokyo or Tokyo and south. North America run at 120 over 60 hertz. most of your newer devices should be able to run on japans power grid though they may charge slower then you are used to.
big tip. Shinjuku and other places have heaps of street maps on the corners, YOU ARE HERE kind of things. Our pocket wifi ran out of power, so the only way to navigate safely was to flick through my camera, looking at the map photos, and we managed to find our way back to our AurBnB easily!!
The availability of free wi-fi is often misleading or limited in Japan. Most of the time, you're expected to be connected first through your phone's data plan, sign up for the wi-fi service through email, and then you have 20 to 60 minutes to use the available wi-fi. It's a bit cumbersome, and if you're using a device with no other data connection, completely useless. :( This is precisely why we made a point to offer genuinely free wi-fi at our businesses, and to have pocket wi-fis available to use outside our range. These tips are fantastic; we'll definitely share this video with our Fb followers. Thank you for creating this!
Pocket Wifi can be rented at both Haneda and Narita airport. You can either return it back at the airport or mail it back via the package that comes with your rental.
Having a Suica card and/or a JR Pass won't help you navigate the train stations or metro subway any better if you have not been to Japan. Many stations are nearly the size of small towns on their own. You should touch on how to navigate these transportation centers as they are the best way to get around. Understanding which way to go when there are several levels and different lines to most stations would be an enormous help to anyone who has never been to Japan. Understanding the Metro Subway map should be a priority before spending any substantial time in Tokyo or Japan in general. Once you understand and travel a bit on them they are more easily navigated. But to most visitors they are intimidating and overwhelming in their perceived size and complexity. I personally wish the rest of the world had such efficient metro and train transportation.
Chemist Warehouse Australia sell heat packs and hand warmers made in Japan now and they keep you warm for 12 hours ☺️ Bought a pack of 10 heat packs for myNorway trip. it was so handy :)
I'm planning to go to Japan with my friend who has never been there before. we are both learning japanese. thank you for all your tips they are really helpful, from my own experience I would advice to learn about the culture, learn a little bit of basic japanese and set aside 1 whole day for shopping!
I was making a list with things i should be fixing before leaving to japan for the first time this mach, and your video is so clear and helpful! thank you very much for the video!
I lived there back in 2009 and remember having to take print outs of Google Maps to make sure I was going the right way! Also went there a few weeks ago and thankfully there are quite a few places with free WiFi!
I recommend learning how to read the names of the places your going to or staying at. Although there are many signs written in the latin alphabet, sometimes there aren´t.
1:00 I was lucky that T-Mobile has unlimited 3G when traveling internationally. But my friends that came to Japan with me were lucky that all of our AirBNBs offered a WiFi hotspot that we could carry around with us. 3:50 My JR Pass was $250 for a week. We only got it because were were going From Tokyo to Osaka and back, otherwise it would not be worth the money. Just remember that it won't work on all trains, just JR trains, we had to buy a lot of regular train tickets too. 6:25 We used Hyperdia a lot but Google maps was really useful too since it even has train ticket prices. 9:45 I didn't know Family Mart does foreign withdrawls. I used 7-11 every time. They have no fee but my bank back home charged $3 per transaction plus... 15% I think. So I kept my withrawls to a minimum.
Even if you're going to TOKYO / OSAKA, JR PASS is still not worth it! There are a lot of Overnight Busses available which only costs 2k yen! (20 USD) :( for traveling around the City, just buy an ICOCA/PASSMO prepaid load card! You can use it to ride busses/subway/trains. You are not Restricted to JR Trains! :) We usually just spend 300-500 YEN a day going to different spots in the city.
I'm on T-Mobile too and I'm going to Japan next year! Out of curiosity, how fast was it? I'm mainly using it for Google maps and live wait time calculators for Tokyo disney and streaming music (uploading videos will be whenever I find a hotspot). I'm just asking because apparently even though the provider says that that it's 3G, it actually is heavily throttled.
Lana Redlich Download Audify from the Apple AppStore for free offline music. You can download any songs via UA-cam and many other sources. You can save a lot of data.
Great tips. For driving around Japan, did you rely on your Google maps from your smart phone or GPS from the car rental. I will be there for 4-5 weeks and will be renting a car in several places. Thanks.
My baby just turned 1 yesterday and we are watching your video while she has her Cheerios and she was really excited to see you! It was really funny and cute.
A few days ago, I saw the news that more than the standard level of radioactivity was detected in a park in Tokyo. So it's crazy to eat and relax there. I still think Japan's radiation levels are serious. It's been 30 years since the Chernobyl incident, and there's still a lot of radiation in Chernobyl. So I wanted to go to the Olympics, but I gave up.
Stop fear-mongering. Chernobyl has radiation. Fukushima has radiation. No one is going there. Radiation is an inverse square equation- in other words, doubling distance reduces the amount to half of a half. In other words, while extremely deadly at the source, it drops down rapidly with distance. And Olympics are a shitty time to go to Japan.
If anyone is thinking about going travelling to Japan and visit several different cities. I would definitely recommend getting the JR Pass for the trains. That will cover most major cities and you end up saving a lot of money! However, you have to order it before you enter the country!
Kim, do combini ATMs accept foreign cards too now? Back in 2008 I heard that almost only the post office ATM's accept foreign cards, so I've only been using them ever since...
I'm currently planning my japan trip in a few weeks, so this video was really helpful! 😊 Still need to take care of a few things, like figuring out which trains to take between cities and so on...so much work, haha, but I think it's better to plan everything ahead 👍
I was able to travel around japan for 2 weeks for about 500€. This includes stay, food and transportation. I visited Tokyo, Osaka, Nara and Kyoto. From Tokyo to Osaka i took a domestic flight which is really cheap compared to trains. For sleeping i stayed in hostels (i know that isn't what many people want especially when travelling with someone else, but japanese hostels are super clean and not very expensive) and for food i mostly ate form konbinis. I know some people like to stay at nice hotels, and eat at restaurants everyday, but I'm just sharing my story to let people know it's not that expensive if you are willing to do some sacrifices. Also i didn't get any sim card or protable wifi. I just used maps.me app for getting around and hostels wifi at night to talk with friends and familly and all that. Personally I think JR pass is only worth it if you want to cross Japan from one end to another in a short period of time (like 1 day per city or something), otherwise just take domestic flights for long distances and local trains (not JR) for smaller ones (i went from Osaka to Nara and Nara to Kyoto and back to Osaka all by train and it's wasn't that expensive (around 20€ total!)
Domestic flights, shinkanen (pay as you go, platt kodama, JR Pass, regional passes), and night buses all have advantages and disadvantages that should be examined against your itinerary. On a Tokyo + Kyoto itinerary I'm starting to think a domestic flight and a bus or shinkansen the other way is the preferred option, which takes away the primary reason to get a 1 week pass. The 2 week pass is a lot easier to justify... but it pretty much requires a 18+ day trip, which means it's only a good option for a relatively small number of tourists. As an aside to anyone else reading this... even with a JR pass, 1 day per city is a really bad idea. Changing lodging is a big hassle, especially since check out and check in times want you to be travelling between 10 AM and 3 PM or so... which is wasted prime time. Aside for a stop off for a very particular purpose (eg, festival or concert or something), 2 nights minimum each place strongly recommended. And if you're REALLY on a budget, there really isn't THAT much of a need to see more than 1 region... you can keep busy in a single region for a couple weeks.
Exactly, the point is everyone should research what they want to do there and see what is worth buying. Each trip is different and some people just buy these passes without researching first if it is worth it.
Indeed... I forgot to say it though, but there are better options than convini. I hardly ever eat anything from them anymore. You are paying for their convenience afterall (ie, their 3AM staff wages and electricity). The Lawson100s with fresh made food are good though... 54 yen menchikatsu. Grocery stores, especially the non-24 hour type, especially if you can arrive at the time to get it 50% off... or actual bento shops tend to be best (and prevalent) to get something similar to what you'd get at a convini for bigger and/or cheaper. And really the beef/pork/katsu bowls are pretty filling for 500-700 yen if you want a sit-down experience. Which I value because it lets me drink a whole bunch of water or cold tea and hold off on buying drinks. Lastly, while not very common or convenient, university cafeterias often have fairly good food marked down a couple hundred yen below what it'd sell for other places.
Willer bus is cheapest option in my opinion, especially if your travel pace is slow. But for a short period travel and you want to cover a lot of spots in japan, imho it is better to use a JR pass
Hi, can I wabt ask something about travelling in Japan. Its about food. What should I bring back home (I live in Singapore) is there any snacks or sweets that I need to bring?
I used the JR Pass for the 10 days that we were there and I recommend getting it but they also have ones that are region based and are cheaper too and work like the full rail pass too. :) they are about 100$ for 5 days travel that you can use within 14 days and the days of travel doesn't have to be consecutive either. :)
Hey Kim, can you maybe do a video recommending places in Japan with more of a cultural aspect (rather than shopping/metropolitan areas) because I'm planning a trip this summer and I am more interested in like famous temples/beautiful scenery/parks/museums. Your videos are very informative Love you ❤️
Instead of a power board, I think that's what you called it... I take an extension cord that has multiple outlets, thus needing only one adapter and allows me to place the outlets in a convenient location such as on the night stand next to the bed. It's also handy in airports where there is a shortage of outlets and I can share with other travelers.
Before going to Japan I had already ordered a pocket wifi and I found it really convenient, especially because I went with my family so we could share it and use it as musch as we wanted to! Also the JR pass was a life saver too, you don't have to buy tickets everytime you use the train ^^
Wow just one hour to leave to the airport to go to Japan decided to whatch your video, what I great idea for the powerboard. Just add to by bag, thank you!!!
About the train card. I can use across the 3 different train companies? And if I want to travel from Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo, can I use the suica card? Or should I get the JR pass?
I'm planning my first trip to Japan in april 2024, and I'll go alone, for 1 month. I would really appreciate any tips from people in the comments who went there, whether it's better to get the JP Rail Pass or Suica, I plan on staying in Tokyo, then move to Kyoto (and if I manage to save enough money, maybe Hiroshima as well). I am watching as many video tips as possible to have a clear idea of what I'm going to experience. I' ve dreamed this moment for almost 9 years (I'm 21 now) and never travelled solo, but I'm eager to do this!
The JR pass allows you unlimited access to any JR trains within the timeframe that you chose. I would only recommend this if you are travelling outside of Tokyo as a single trip can cost upwards of ¥14,000; the JR pass will cover any JR shinkansen trips you make, thus saving you money in the long run. If you're just travelling in Tokyo, I'd recommend just getting a Suica card from any train station and just topping that up with money as you go 🙂
I am going from Hakata (near Fukuoka) to sasebo. Will the IC card work with the trains the same as the subway? I am having trouble figuring out how to reserve a seat on the train as well. Can I just buy then the same day?
Take a portable charger! You will be on google maps a lot and taking many pictures. your phone will die really quick and it's a scary feeling when you don't know where your at, don't speak Japanese fluently, and the sun's starting to go down 😅. Thankfully we had one and it helped us a lot during a trip.
V S This was one of the first things I got, before I even got a suitcase. 😊
You can buy one, if necessary
You can also get an aux battery. They are about the size of 2 cigarettes and hold a charge well. Just charge it and the phone in the capsule hotel at night.
For anyone considering getting a pocket wifi;
If you're just staying in Tokyo, you definitly do not need to buy pocket wifi! There is Wifi in a lot of places now, and all JR rail station have free WiFi too! However if you're venturing outside of Tokyo, you'll need pocket wifi as there is not a lot of wifi, especially in Kyoto, the countryside or Hiroshima.
would a cell from USA automatically connect to the wifis or would you need to manually connect everytime you moved?
About the JR Pass - You need to get the voucher before coming to Japan. We bought the vouchers online. When you arrive in Japan you go to a JR Office to activate the JR Pass. You will need to show your passport when you activate the voucher. You will get a Touristvisitor stamp in your passport at arrival in the airport. Only Touristvisitors can use this voucher for JR Pass... Remember do not loose your JR Pass. If you loose it then it is gone forever! You will not get it replaced. Also it can be used not just on JR Trains - but also on JR busses and JR ferries!
My friend lost his on the shinkansen because they came and cleaned up the trash while he was in the bathroom and took his pass along with the trash. Luckily we asked at the station when we got off and the train people actually dug through the trash and found it, then left it at the station 2 stops away for my friend to pick up.
For navigation you can use the phone app maps.me since it has offline maps. You don't need a phone service to use it. It was very helpful to me in kyoto and osaka.
Yeah, I'd rather use Google Maps since it also has an Apple Watch app, but unfortunately the map of Japan can't be downloaded in Google Maps. But maps.me is a good alternative.
Oh that's very useful!!
Google has offline maps too.
But unfortunately not for Japan.
Really? I thought my friends were using it while we were there. I had unlimited data so I didn't need it.
Oh yeah, I see. I just tried it for Shinjuku and it won't download.
My biggest Japan travel trip is to look into domestic flights if you are travelling around different parts of the country. My boyfriend and I recently spent 6 weeks travelling all over different parts of Japan and heavily utilised domestic flights, which worked out much cheaper than buying multiple JR Passes as we were there for an extended time (JR Pass is best for shorter trips, ie. 1-3 weeks). For example, we managed to score a flight with Spring Japan from Osaka to Tokyo that was just 700jpy before fees! Worked out to about AUD$15 each, which was a steal considering that the shinkansen would have been around $150. Additionally, both ANA and JAL offer discount domestic flights to tourists.
My other tip is to use baggage forwarding! The majority of hotels provide this service, which ships your luggage from your current hotel to your next one for a fee. It's great being able to spend days at a time without all of your luggage weighing you down between cities, especially if you do a lot of shopping.
Not really a travel hack but advice... Have your pass e.g. Suica or Pasmo ready before you get to the ticket gates... I noticed many people had an extendable pass holder hanging off their bag so they could go in and out of the barriers quickly and smoothly and not hold everyone up behind them
haha yeap! I have an extendable pass holder and it's the best thing ever!
I just keep my suica in my pocket.
That is a good tip, so you don't have to fumble through your pockets or bag. Same goes for the JR Pass where you have to take it out and show it to the person at the gate.
If you have a phone case, just keep it in there.
1 question. we are 3 people traveling to japan so do we have to get 3 cards or we can just use 1 card. for the train ofcourse. the vending machines and rest we can use only one. but i need to know if we have to buy 3 suica cards or 1 is enough. thank you in advance
I found it really helpful to bring my own reusable shopping bag. when you buy stuff in Japan, even the smallest, single item, they will definitely put it in a plastic bag way too big for what you bought. It's nice the first few times, especially if you forgot to bring a bag for your dirty clothes, but as someone who tries to put out less waste, it's definitely really nice to have a reusable shopping bag on hand.
Google Translate is super helpful! Google Translate has the option for you to take a photo of the thing you want to read and it'll translate from the photo. It's not 100% accurate, but it gets the job done.
Also there aren't many public bins around so I always keep a bag for rubbish
Thanks for the advice. Last time I went to Japan I was experiencing that issue where they gave me a shopping bag wayy to bug to carry.
yay! this is EXACTLY what I need! I'm going to Japan for the first time very soon and I'm incredibly excited. love you Kim ❤
Ahh! Awesome! Please tell us your experience after the trip! ^u^
Same here, when will you go ? And where ?
I'll go in July
I'm glad it was helpful! Hope you have a great trip! Love you too
I'd recommend cdrental Japan for a SIM card so u can use Internet and maps to find your way. Also download a railway map. City rail map. Was great. Then you'll see a map and how they overlap :)
This is the most perfect guide! Just went to Japan a few weeks ago and everything you mentioned is so spot on!
It is so nice that you not only tell in a video but also answering questions on the comments section!
I try my best to answer as many comments as I can!
😉👍
I opened up an account for my travel cash that has a no foreign transaction fee debit card in order to save money when I get cash at the 7-11. I used Capital One and it did save me a good chunk of money.
Perdomot oh I must go to Capitol One for a travel debit card with no foreign transaction fee, thank you
This is truely useful !!
I've been to Japan last month and I truely agree with struggle you've mention and can really see how your tips are going to help.
I started using Odigo after watching your last year videos. It is so much easier to make sure you're visiting places close to each other.
Japan's transit system is AMAZING. If you're planning on traveling just within the major cities, and even some surprisingly remote locations, chances are really good there's a train that will get you where you're going.
That said, we took a side trip out to Sado Island and did rent a van for those few days. Coming from the US, driving on the left was a bit stressful ("Hey honey, look at this view" / "I can't! I'm concentrating too hard on not driving on the wrong side of the road!").
If you are traveling between multiple hotels, take advantage of the Yamato Transport system. You just take your bags to the hotel desk, give them the name and address of your next hotel, and Yamato will have them at your next destination, usually before you get there (they must have transporters, I don't know how they do it otherwise). There is a fee, but it's totally worth it.
When seeing all these prices I can’t help but feel I’m going to be broke after my trip 😂
Pro-tip. You can buy almost every type of pass (like the Suica card) before your journey to Japan. Gearing up for my trip and already got mine. Can also load it online.
This is exactly what I needed! It makes me super excited for my trip in ten days!
I'm planning on going to japan soon! I'm saving up and I'm soo excited, not only I've been learning the language but I've been learning the top things I need to know about Japan. thanks so much for this! this really helped!
Thanks for sharing. Just timely.
Tips for first timers to Japan
Dos: put the money on the tray, and not give it directly to the cashier
: keep your volume to the minimum when taking public transportation
Don't : talk loudly when taking public transportation, if u need to talk to the person u r with, keep your volume at the minimum.
: walk and eat and/or drink along the streets
Why cant I drink or eat on the streets?
Anita Borozan cuz they see it as being rude and label these ppl as gaijin(外人) which mean foreigner/outsider, and of course we r a foreigner in Japan, but it's important to respect their culture
+greatescape_804 chervyyyyyy So I cant eat or drink like normal people or else I will be considered a foreigner which I am?That just seems like nitpicking.
What about street food?
Anita Borozan it seems disrespectful in the eyes of some due to the idea of not enjoying your food or taking in the appreciation for the food as well as the people who made it. It also has to do with littering or spilling said food or drinks.
Thank you for introducing me to odigo. Looks like a fun and memorable way to record our journey.
Yes, those "train cards" Suica and Pasmo. The transport system in Tokyo is a wonder. And paying for it can be very complicated. These cards take hassle out of train travel in Tokyo. And I used the card at shops, kiosks, and purchases on board JR trains. No more fumbling for cash. Gotta love it.
with Jr pass you also can't ride the Mizuho bullet trains, not only Nozomi. These two trains are usually 8 car bullet trains and what you get when using the pass is 16 car bullet trains. you can also reserve sits with the pass.
We rented a WiFi Hotspot at Narita Airport so you can get it once you arrive in Japan. The shop /vendor where we fit the WiFi Hotspot is right next to the JR office and it was very convenient.
hypsens88 How expensive is it? :)
@@misaandcoart Yes would like 2 know as well would someone Answer this??As well as Any other info for traveling from the usa and How much it may cost??,By the Day,week,Month sometimes like 2 drank Beer ; ),and smoke ciggs,But eat cheap Ramen even now often Daily,live cheap other wise Etc/etc If you Reply 2 this please let us know your Replying 2 this very comment and Thanks?!! = ) : ) P.s. love Anime!!!/Manga,Video Games!!!,(Some)of the culture!!,Art,Music,the woman!!!,Marital Arts!!!,some of the History is interesting!!,Food!!,How polite and Helpful they seem!!!,and Just How Pretty some places look As well as other stuff How much $$/(Time Does it take) 2 Do a (little) traveling Around?? And buy (some) of this and take it in A bit and Also still live with internet/you tube,ebay(But very cheap Besides Hostel) Are those even safe??Also would you Get stolen from Ect/ect?? Is love Hotel Best or Regular Hotel,or Air B&b?? And why/Why Not??Please Help and Answer (All) of these Questions Do not Have very much $Money$ (Sadly) = ( Thanks?!! #Japen love!!! Please Be polite in the comments Just cause we like somethings about Japan or (even other places As well) in the world you Do not Need Name calling/Nasty comments w/USA love Which (would) still Die 4 Have Ptsd,and Bad Back as well as other stuff But anyways your just '1' country/person in A Bigger world!!!
making my first solo trip there..nervous but excited
I would recommend hostels as well! JHoppers is a great one that I did when I went to Japan. It's clean and super affordable. In some of the hostels they had a once a week get together with the people at the hostel so you can meet other people! They also had unique Japanese snacks with explanations of what it is and why they eat it and drinks
Could you make a video about the things you should and shouldn't do in Japan? That would be really helpful too :3
no tentacles.
Don't honk your horn! They consider it disrespectful...and if you try to speak Japanese they will get really excited! I live in Japan right now :)
there are tons of videos showing what you should do in japan, for what u shouldn't do, just do the opposite of what logan paul did
Watch LOGAN PAUL and do the OPPOSITE of everything he did in Japan. :D you're welcome!
Nice tips!
Travel tip/recommendation: Fly into a different city other than Tokyo (such as Fukuoka) and then slowly travel to other cities along the way and lastly, end in Tokyo. It will save you hours of a return trip to Tokyo if you started your trip there in the first place. Which leads to another tip: use those hours to go off the beaten path .
you look so sweet in that outfit and fabulously radiant Kim! Thanks for being so thoughtful and came up with this video ^^
This is a great tutorial. Some of the tips like the rail pass are similar to what I've done in Europe. I'll get a SIM card next time I'm there.
As for my own tips - I traveled with a group of six when I was there in January, and we had connections to local people that could help us out on local customs and getting around. We got some great advice from asking them what to see and do. They also gave us advice on good local spots to eat. In short, use the information available from the people where you're staying, since they know the area well. And, use the convenience stores (konbini) as much as you can. They were a lifesaver for us when we were staying in smaller towns and needed someplace to pick up breakfast. You can get a lot done there. I'm going back in the near future as I loved Japan. Keep up the good work!
I'm going to Japan next year. I find your videos to be very helpful and informative. Thank you.
What I loved about google maps in Japan is that it also tells you how much fare it is going to cost and the cost of transfers. I highly recommend the pocket wifi, huge lifesaver; although I paid about $60 for 8 days, if there is a cheaper pocket wifi company I'd sure like to know. For cash, I withdrew from the 7 eleven ATM at the airport, took out 100,000 yen, the only fee my bank charged was the 3%, nothing else.The car idea is a must in rural areas that have limited public transportation. My brother and I rented a car and drove around Fukui and then straight to Gujo Hachiman, and then to Nagoya; totally worth it.
That last tip is gold! 👍👍
Hey Kim, thank you so much for all the great hacks. My sister and two friends of mine are going to Tokyo in November and you've been a huge help in us deciding what we want to do.
So thank you for creating so much awesome content! :D
one thing for the power board Japan uses the A/B outlet standard. if you are from america or canada its the same 2 prong or 2 prong + ground as america and canada. note that you may run into situations where you may not have a ground wire prong. also Japan's power grid runs at 100v at over 50 or 60 hertz depending if you are just north of Tokyo or Tokyo and south. North America run at 120 over 60 hertz. most of your newer devices should be able to run on japans power grid though they may charge slower then you are used to.
big tip. Shinjuku and other places have heaps of street maps on the corners, YOU ARE HERE kind of things. Our pocket wifi ran out of power, so the only way to navigate safely was to flick through my camera, looking at the map photos, and we managed to find our way back to our AurBnB easily!!
that's brilliant! Most helpful video in Japan you ever made! thank you!
Aww thank you so much!
This was really informational. I may go several years from now, but I am taking notes from this! ^^
Can't wait to visit Japan!
hope you have fun when you do!
Wintersglow , me too!
It's super pretty! I live there now :)
Very helpful tips of care and caution to be taken in Japan trip. Thanks
The availability of free wi-fi is often misleading or limited in Japan. Most of the time, you're expected to be connected first through your phone's data plan, sign up for the wi-fi service through email, and then you have 20 to 60 minutes to use the available wi-fi. It's a bit cumbersome, and if you're using a device with no other data connection, completely useless. :(
This is precisely why we made a point to offer genuinely free wi-fi at our businesses, and to have pocket wi-fis available to use outside our range.
These tips are fantastic; we'll definitely share this video with our Fb followers. Thank you for creating this!
Pocket Wifi can be rented at both Haneda and Narita airport. You can either return it back at the airport or mail it back via the package that comes with your rental.
Having a Suica card and/or a JR Pass won't help you navigate the train stations or metro subway any better if you have not been to Japan. Many stations are nearly the size of small towns on their own. You should touch on how to navigate these transportation centers as they are the best way to get around. Understanding which way to go when there are several levels and different lines to most stations would be an enormous help to anyone who has never been to Japan. Understanding the Metro Subway map should be a priority before spending any substantial time in Tokyo or Japan in general. Once you understand and travel a bit on them they are more easily navigated. But to most visitors they are intimidating and overwhelming in their perceived size and complexity. I personally wish the rest of the world had such efficient metro and train transportation.
Chemist Warehouse Australia sell heat packs and hand warmers made in Japan now and they keep you warm for 12 hours ☺️ Bought a pack of 10 heat packs for myNorway trip. it was so handy :)
I'm planning to go to Japan with my friend who has never been there before. we are both learning japanese. thank you for all your tips they are really helpful, from my own experience I would advice to learn about the culture, learn a little bit of basic japanese and set aside 1 whole day for shopping!
I was making a list with things i should be fixing before leaving to japan for the first time this mach, and your video is so clear and helpful! thank you very much for the video!
thanks for making video on these hacks really useful as I'm first time travelling to tokyo tomorrow .. *nervous*
Shirley Tay so, how was it..
I lived there back in 2009 and remember having to take print outs of Google Maps to make sure I was going the right way! Also went there a few weeks ago and thankfully there are quite a few places with free WiFi!
Nice video, I will travel do Japan next week! Thanks for the tips!!
Have lots of fun when you go!!
Informative and fun at the same time, as ever!!
I recommend learning how to read the names of the places your going to or staying at. Although there are many signs written in the latin alphabet, sometimes there aren´t.
I discovered the Suica card years ago and it makes everything so easy.
I'm currently in Japan staying in Shinjuku I love it and I'm going to Harajuku your video helped me
1:00 I was lucky that T-Mobile has unlimited 3G when traveling internationally. But my friends that came to Japan with me were lucky that all of our AirBNBs offered a WiFi hotspot that we could carry around with us.
3:50 My JR Pass was $250 for a week. We only got it because were were going From Tokyo to Osaka and back, otherwise it would not be worth the money. Just remember that it won't work on all trains, just JR trains, we had to buy a lot of regular train tickets too.
6:25 We used Hyperdia a lot but Google maps was really useful too since it even has train ticket prices.
9:45 I didn't know Family Mart does foreign withdrawls. I used 7-11 every time. They have no fee but my bank back home charged $3 per transaction plus... 15% I think. So I kept my withrawls to a minimum.
Even if you're going to TOKYO / OSAKA, JR PASS is still not worth it! There are a lot of Overnight Busses available which only costs 2k yen! (20 USD) :( for traveling around the City, just buy an ICOCA/PASSMO prepaid load card! You can use it to ride busses/subway/trains. You are not Restricted to JR Trains! :) We usually just spend 300-500 YEN a day going to different spots in the city.
LINTECH where can you get the prepaid card?
I'm on T-Mobile too and I'm going to Japan next year! Out of curiosity, how fast was it? I'm mainly using it for Google maps and live wait time calculators for Tokyo disney and streaming music (uploading videos will be whenever I find a hotspot). I'm just asking because apparently even though the provider says that that it's 3G, it actually is heavily throttled.
Lana Redlich Download Audify from the Apple AppStore for free offline music. You can download any songs via UA-cam and many other sources. You can save a lot of data.
Great tips. For driving around Japan, did you
rely on your Google maps from your smart phone or GPS from the car rental. I will
be there for 4-5 weeks and will be renting a car in several places. Thanks.
Thank you for tip No.10, never thought of that before.
My baby just turned 1 yesterday and we are watching your video while she has her Cheerios and she was really excited to see you! It was really funny and cute.
Thanks kim! I will be traveling to japan this coming April 18 and will try these hacks!
Apartment Tour Please
Will be getting off at haneda airport and going to shinjuku. Should i get a subway card pass from there?
They have heat packs in the uk but they are more for when you hurt you back or shoulder.
i love the background music when you were talking about heat packs. it felt warm :)
A few days ago, I saw the news that more than the standard level of radioactivity was detected in a park in Tokyo. So it's crazy to eat and relax there. I still think Japan's radiation levels are serious. It's been 30 years since the Chernobyl incident, and there's still a lot of radiation in Chernobyl. So I wanted to go to the Olympics, but I gave up.
Stop fear-mongering. Chernobyl has radiation. Fukushima has radiation. No one is going there.
Radiation is an inverse square equation- in other words, doubling distance reduces the amount to half of a half. In other words, while extremely deadly at the source, it drops down rapidly with distance.
And Olympics are a shitty time to go to Japan.
If anyone is thinking about going travelling to Japan and visit several different cities. I would definitely recommend getting the JR Pass for the trains. That will cover most major cities and you end up saving a lot of money! However, you have to order it before you enter the country!
Kim, do combini ATMs accept foreign cards too now? Back in 2008 I heard that almost only the post office ATM's accept foreign cards, so I've only been using them ever since...
I'm currently planning my japan trip in a few weeks, so this video was really helpful! 😊 Still need to take care of a few things, like figuring out which trains to take between cities and so on...so much work, haha, but I think it's better to plan everything ahead 👍
Thank you so much for that too about that website! Me and my best friend are currently in the process of planning a trip this November
I was able to travel around japan for 2 weeks for about 500€. This includes stay, food and transportation. I visited Tokyo, Osaka, Nara and Kyoto. From Tokyo to Osaka i took a domestic flight which is really cheap compared to trains. For sleeping i stayed in hostels (i know that isn't what many people want especially when travelling with someone else, but japanese hostels are super clean and not very expensive) and for food i mostly ate form konbinis. I know some people like to stay at nice hotels, and eat at restaurants everyday, but I'm just sharing my story to let people know it's not that expensive if you are willing to do some sacrifices. Also i didn't get any sim card or protable wifi. I just used maps.me app for getting around and hostels wifi at night to talk with friends and familly and all that. Personally I think JR pass is only worth it if you want to cross Japan from one end to another in a short period of time (like 1 day per city or something), otherwise just take domestic flights for long distances and local trains (not JR) for smaller ones (i went from Osaka to Nara and Nara to Kyoto and back to Osaka all by train and it's wasn't that expensive (around 20€ total!)
Domestic flights, shinkanen (pay as you go, platt kodama, JR Pass, regional passes), and night buses all have advantages and disadvantages that should be examined against your itinerary.
On a Tokyo + Kyoto itinerary I'm starting to think a domestic flight and a bus or shinkansen the other way is the preferred option, which takes away the primary reason to get a 1 week pass.
The 2 week pass is a lot easier to justify... but it pretty much requires a 18+ day trip, which means it's only a good option for a relatively small number of tourists.
As an aside to anyone else reading this... even with a JR pass, 1 day per city is a really bad idea. Changing lodging is a big hassle, especially since check out and check in times want you to be travelling between 10 AM and 3 PM or so... which is wasted prime time. Aside for a stop off for a very particular purpose (eg, festival or concert or something), 2 nights minimum each place strongly recommended.
And if you're REALLY on a budget, there really isn't THAT much of a need to see more than 1 region... you can keep busy in a single region for a couple weeks.
Exactly, the point is everyone should research what they want to do there and see what is worth buying. Each trip is different and some people just buy these passes without researching first if it is worth it.
Indeed... I forgot to say it though, but there are better options than convini. I hardly ever eat anything from them anymore. You are paying for their convenience afterall (ie, their 3AM staff wages and electricity). The Lawson100s with fresh made food are good though... 54 yen menchikatsu.
Grocery stores, especially the non-24 hour type, especially if you can arrive at the time to get it 50% off... or actual bento shops tend to be best (and prevalent) to get something similar to what you'd get at a convini for bigger and/or cheaper.
And really the beef/pork/katsu bowls are pretty filling for 500-700 yen if you want a sit-down experience. Which I value because it lets me drink a whole bunch of water or cold tea and hold off on buying drinks.
Lastly, while not very common or convenient, university cafeterias often have fairly good food marked down a couple hundred yen below what it'd sell for other places.
Willer bus is cheapest option in my opinion, especially if your travel pace is slow. But for a short period travel and you want to cover a lot of spots in japan, imho it is better to use a JR pass
For food i'd go yoshinoya matsuya etc beside onigiri and bento from konbini
thank you kim for sharing these helpful tips! xx
Hi, can I wabt ask something about travelling in Japan. Its about food. What should I bring back home (I live in Singapore) is there any snacks or sweets that I need to bring?
I used the JR Pass for the 10 days that we were there and I recommend getting it but they also have ones that are region based and are cheaper too and work like the full rail pass too. :) they are about 100$ for 5 days travel that you can use within 14 days and the days of travel doesn't have to be consecutive either. :)
Hey Kim, can you maybe do a video recommending places in Japan with more of a cultural aspect (rather than shopping/metropolitan areas) because I'm planning a trip this summer and I am more interested in like famous temples/beautiful scenery/parks/museums.
Your videos are very informative
Love you ❤️
I’m going to Japan in 3 months. This video is very useful, thank you!!!
Daiso started selling these in Australia! I missed Kairo soooo much when I came back and it didn't exist yet.
Instead of a power board, I think that's what you called it... I take an extension cord that has multiple outlets, thus needing only one adapter and allows me to place the outlets in a convenient location such as on the night stand next to the bed. It's also handy in airports where there is a shortage of outlets and I can share with other travelers.
とても詳細。ありがとうKim Dao。
Can hire a pocket wifi also at the airport (mostly near where you buy bustickets etc) with the possibility to drop off at another airport also
Wow this video was soooo helpful like omg. I'm planing a trip to Japan and after watching this video I feel a lot better now.
So many useful information, thank you so much for making this video.
i've just been in japan last week..it's so beautiful..i want to live there..
thank you! I am travelling to Japan in October so this list is incredibly handy!!!
Before going to Japan I had already ordered a pocket wifi and I found it really convenient, especially because I went with my family so we could share it and use it as musch as we wanted to! Also the JR pass was a life saver too, you don't have to buy tickets everytime you use the train ^^
And saves you from carrying so many coins ^_^
Exactly 😂
Well you still end up carrying a ton of coins. Especially 1 and 5 yen. ugh...
Hi, can I ask which company you ordered the pocket Wi-Fi from?
Sure! I got it along with the rail pass here: www.japan-rail-pass.com/
Great tips Kim! Thank you so much 😁😁😁
Thanks for your amazing detailed tips and hacks.
Wow just one hour to leave to the airport to go to Japan decided to whatch your video, what I great idea for the powerboard. Just add to by bag, thank you!!!
About the train card. I can use across the 3 different train companies?
And if I want to travel from Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo, can I use the suica card? Or should I get the JR pass?
I'm planning my first trip to Japan in april 2024, and I'll go alone, for 1 month. I would really appreciate any tips from people in the comments who went there, whether it's better to get the JP Rail Pass or Suica, I plan on staying in Tokyo, then move to Kyoto (and if I manage to save enough money, maybe Hiroshima as well). I am watching as many video tips as possible to have a clear idea of what I'm going to experience. I' ve dreamed this moment for almost 9 years (I'm 21 now) and never travelled solo, but I'm eager to do this!
Love your videos. It's always been my dream to visit Japan. Thanks for the tips
I read somewhere that JR divided the areas where you can go for certain tickets... Are the tickets for the shinkansen still available?
Thank you, we going there in three months. Can't wait.
You are so very beautiful. Have a nice day!
tokyo's yamanote line is my safety train , it does a nice loop , you can't get lost
I just came back from Tokyo and the pocket WiFi was brilliant. I went with Sakura Mobile - won't be without it in Japan again.
Can you still buy heat packs in summer? and if so where?
What's the difference between JR card and train card? Also I will be only travelling within Tokyo. What's the best mode of transport ?
The JR pass allows you unlimited access to any JR trains within the timeframe that you chose. I would only recommend this if you are travelling outside of Tokyo as a single trip can cost upwards of ¥14,000; the JR pass will cover any JR shinkansen trips you make, thus saving you money in the long run. If you're just travelling in Tokyo, I'd recommend just getting a Suica card from any train station and just topping that up with money as you go 🙂
This is exactly what I needed. Wonderful!
Omg, this is a amazing for me, i think it helps me a lot !! thanks Kim!!!!
I'm glad it helped!
I am going from Hakata (near Fukuoka) to sasebo. Will the IC card work with the trains the same as the subway? I am having trouble figuring out how to reserve a seat on the train as well. Can I just buy then the same day?
Hey Kim. Did Odigo change their website? it looks very different now and i am unable to find the planner. I was so excited to try this idea!
Good job on this Kim! I actually bought 2 packs of heat pads two weeks ago in Osaka from watching your old videos.