Japan is at the top of many people’s travel bucket lists, and for good reason. From the wonders of modern technology to the beauty of traditional temples and shrines, Japan has an enriching culture not to be missed.
Overview
Currency: Japanese Yen, ¥, JPY
Capital City: Tokyo
Average Summer Temperature: 26°C
Average Winter Temperature: -4°C
Plug Type: 100V Type A and B (The same as America)
Arriving
Narita is the main airport in Tokyo, from which you can get the Narita Express, which is a fast train that will take you straight into central Tokyo. Tokyo’s other airport is Haneda, which is closer to the city centre than Narita and also has excellent transport links to get there.
You can purchase SIM cards at the airport, and coverage is good across Japan. However, our hot tip is that you get a SIM with Mobal, a Japan-specific data company from which you can purchase either an e-SIM or a physical SIM to be sent to you before your trip. You can choose the date the contract starts on, so if you set it up to activate on the day of your flight, you can switch over your SIMs on the plane and get connected the second you land. It also might be worthwhile to check your current data contract to see if you can pay for an add-on that will cover you in Japan.
Money
Despite its image as a technologically advanced county, many places in Japan are still cash-only. You will be able to pay by card in most places, but many restaurants only take cash, and you may also need it for transport depending on how you choose to get around (more info to follow). We advise that you exchange some money in your home country so that you arrive with cash, but many ATMs will accept international cards to get more out while you’re there. We were able to use our Monzo card at almost every ATM and card machine without any extra fees.
Getting Around
A popular way to get around Japan is with a JR pass (add link) which you can purchase in advance of your trip. This will allow you to travel by rain across the whole country. While it is extremely convenient, it is also quite pricey. There are a few different plans to choose from, but to give you an idea, an ordinary 7-day pass for one person is ¥50,000. The might be worth it if you are planning to cover many different parts of the country, but we advise that you do some research into how much your trip might cost without a JR pass to find out if it will be saving or costing you.
If you’re on a tighter budget, a Suica or Pasmo card is a great way to get around. These are known as IC cards, and can be used to tap in and out of train stations (including the metro, which JR passes don’t give you access to) and on and off of buses. They can be bought at any train station for a deposit of ¥500 (and you can get this back at the end of your trip by returning your IC card), and you can top them up as you go along. The catch is that you can only top them up with cash, so if you choose this method to get around, make sure you have the cash to do so. Note that IC cards cannot be used for shinkansens/bullet trains, so a JR pass may be a better option if you’re likely to be taking a few of those.
If you’re from the UK like us, it will come as both a shock and a relief to hear that public transport always runs on time in Japan. Tokyo is especially simple to navigate on trains and buses. It is only if you plan on going to more rural places, e.g. the island of Shikoku, that you might consider hiring a car.
Manners
There isn’t much advise to give by way of health and safety in Japan as it is an extremely safe country. However, every country has particular things that are considered rude that you might not realise, so here is some advice about behaviours to avoid in the well-mannered and structured society of Japan:
- Don’t eat (or smoke) while walking down the street – if you buy food while out and about, eat it where you bought it or carry it back to your hotel to eat there. If you smoke, only do so in designated places.
- Don’t speak loudly on trains – it is also considered rude to talk on the phone while on a train. Note that if a train is busy and you are wearing a backpack, hold it on the front of your body so as to avoid hitting people accidentally.
- Mind your p’s and q’s – we shouldn’t have to spell this one out too much, but remember to say ‘excuse me’, ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ in any situation that calls for it. A bow or at least a small nod of the head will go a long way when you say such things.
