Japan
Japan has to be my number one travel destination.
Both in terms of how much I enjoy visiting and how many times I’ve been. Eighteen visits at the last count and, at the time of writing, three more scheduled in the calendar!
And so I often get asked for advice, particularly from people about to make their first trip to Japan. I’ve finally decided to pull those little slivers of advice and collections of tips into a single place, so it’s easier to find and easier to share.
Consider this a work-in-progress as I gather my notes and reflections. It’s also extremely subjective and the thoughts of a frequent visitor to Japan, not a resident or an actual Japanese citizen. So please excuse any generalisations, errors or subjectivity!
Japan tips and advice
Getting into Japan 🛂
It can save a lot of time to complete your customs and immigration paperwork before you even leave home. Visit the link below, complete the forms, and you'll receive a QR code on your mobile that you can use to speed up the process on arrival and avoid form-filling and large queues: https://services.digital.go.jp/en/visit-japan-web/
Every time I land in Tokyo, I marvel at all the people in the immigration hall attempting to fill in landing cards as they shuffle around the queue. Flashing your QR code on your phone and using the electronic option is a real time-saver.
In my opinion, once you’re off an epically long flight and you’ve queued to get through immigration and luggage returns, the best way to get to/from Haneda Airport in Tokyo is with the 'Airport Limousine' bus service. It's basically a coach, not a limousine. But it’s cheap, it drops off at Tokyo’s various neighbourhoods. And it’s much easier than navigating the metro with your luggage. Check out the service here: https://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/
Getting around Japan 🚅
The public transport system in Japan is nothing short of incredible. At least, compared to the transport I’m used to here in London. It’s cost-effective, resilient and puts the passenger first. But it can also be a little overwhelming to navigate at first. Whether it’s a Shinkansen hurtling between cities or a metro train flying along under Tokyo, a little research makes all the difference.
In Tokyo, I’m a huge fan of the Yamanote Line. It’s a circular line that takes in so many of Tokyo’s most famous and interesting neighbourhoods. It’s usable with your Japan Railpass and one of the most scenic ways to get around the city. We used it so much on our first couple of visits to Tokyo and it removed a lot of the anxiety from hopping on trains. After all, it’s a circle: you’ll always end up back where you started. If you wait long enough…
Getting a Suica card is a must. You can use them to hop on and off the metro, the bus, and some trains. You can tap to pay when buying stuff in combinis and from vending machines. It’s now even easier for visitors to use as there’s a new app you can install on your iPhone. It works in exactly the same way as the physical card and it’s how I navigate the metro when I’m in Tokyo. You can top it up from your phone and keep track of how much journeys are costing you (not much!).
If you come from Europe, it’s important to note that there’s not much of a late night metro service in Japan’s major cities and so it’s best to double check the time of your last train before you end up stranded!
Not a tip, but an insight into my mind: I always leave a balance on my virtual Suica card when I’m leaving Japan. It’s my way of indicating my intention to return to spend the rest!
Going to a sento or onsen ♨️
One of the most incredible experiences you can have in Japan is to visit a sento (public baths) or onsen (hot springs baths). It’s a pretty uniquely Japanese experience and needn’t cost the earth. That said, visitors can sometimes feel anxious or confused about bath houses, so it’s useful to do a little research beforehand.
Check out my guide to “Going to a sento or onsen” to learn more about how to navigate the experience and avoid some of the most common mistakes visitors seem to make.
Toilets 🚽
Look, there’s no getting around the topic: you’re going to need to go to the toilet while in Japan. And here’s the good news: unlike in Europe, it seems like free and clean public toilets are everywhere. You’ll find them in train and metro stations, department stores, parks (!!), shops, museums and basically anywhere else you’ll be interested in visiting.
They're also clearly marked with signs on the streets, or in store, or railway/metro station. They are safe and generally very well-maintained. But they very rarely have hand towels are hand dryers. This can leave you with wet hands, which nobody likes. So do what the Japanese do and bring a small hand towel in your bag. About the size of a face cloth. You can either bring a face cloth, or pick up a hand towel somewhere like Muji for about 500 yen (£2.50 or so). They also make nice (and small) gifts!