15 Things You Need To Know Before Going To Japan
Japan can be a hard place to travel without doing research because alot of locals don’t speak English, and it can be expensive, and hard to navigate. So here are 15 things I wish I knew before going to Japan so you can have the most amazing trip! From Japan tips, to how to get cash, and how to take the subway in Japan - here is everything you need to know before going to Japan.
Check out my other post here for the 3 Best Places To Stay in Tokyo, Japan
Table Of Contents
2. Internet in Japan for Travelers
6. Taxis in Japan: How Much They Cost
8. Is It Safe To Travel To Japan? (personal experience)
9. How To Take The Subway In Japan
10. Japanese Cities To Visit Besides Tokyo
11. How To Travel In Japan When You Don’t Speak Japanese
13. Things To Know About The Trains In Japan
Don’t Take a Taxi At The Airport
A huge thing you need to know before coming to Japan: When you arrive at Tokyo Airport, take the Keisei Skyliner. Taxis can cost up to $350 to Tokyo center. The Keisei Skyliner costs only $17-$30 and you can bring your suitcase on. It’s easy to take but follow this simple video below for more steps.
2. Internet in Japan for Travelers
Japan isn't fun to travel without the internet, grab an ESIM from Holafly or Airalo. Long gone are the days when you land at the airport and have to grab a SIM card. Nowadays, you can download an app and install an ESIM before you get there. Airalo and Holafly are my favorite ones to use and a japan tip: Airalo works better in Japan. It was super easy to google things, use Google Maps, and send texts.
3. How To Get Cash in Japan
I wish I knew this before going to Japan earlier! In Tokyo, you could probably get away with using just credit cards but in Osaka, Kyoto, and other places, you need to have cash on hand. A really simple way to withdraw cash is to go to and withdraw from an ATM at a convenience store. Look out for 711s, Lawson, or Family Marts.
4. Use Google Maps to get anywhere and everywhere
Google Maps works so well and is a great way to get around in Japan! Just make sure you have internet in advance and if you don’t, you can download the maps of Japan before hand so that you can use it offline! This has saved me on multiple occasions and is a must-know before visiting Japan!
Check out my post here for the Tokyo Travel Guide: The Perfect 5 Day Tokyo Itinerary
5. Tipping in Japan
There is no tipping culture in Japan, hallelujah from an American! And it can even be considered rude. It’s because the Japanese believe that great service is already a part of the price and they take pride in providing exceptional service as part of their duty.
6. Taxis in Japan: How Much They Cost
Ubers are a great way to get around without having to call a taxi, but as a warning they are quite expensive. While taxis in South Korea and even New York City are about $0.50 or $1.00 a minute, taxis in Japan are approximately $2 a minute. A great way to save money is to just take public transportation, it’s simple, clean, and easy to take.
7. Where To Stay in Japan
Tokyo is a huge city and a huge Japan tip is the importance of staying at a convenient location for the best time! My favorite cities are Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, or Asakusa for a local vibe.
Check out my video here for more information on where to stay!
8. Is It Safe To Travel To Japan?
Japan is ranked one of the safest countries to visit - but that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down. On our trip there, we went out one night and realized someone had reached into my purse and took our Airbnb key and all of our cash. It was a nightmare - don’t let your guard down even if it’s safe!
9. How To Take The Subway In Japan
Wondering how to take the Tokyo subway? Here is a quick guide below to loading and reloading your card. Similar to the OMNY system, you just load your card and scan it via Apple Wallet when entering and exiting.
Download the Suica or the PASMO app
Load your SUICA or PASMO card with your credit card Scan your SUICA ID when getting on the subway and getting off You can also buy your ticket at each subway station but this is definitely the easiest way and one of the only ways to use card instead of cash
Photo 1: Find this page on SUICA
Photo 2: Click the next button on the top right
Photo 3: Choose how much to reload (rides are $1.33-$2.50 each)
Photo 4: Pay with Apple Pay
10. Japanese Cities To Visit Besides Tokyo
We loved visiting Nara, Kyoto, and Osaka but let me tell you what to expect in each one.
Kyoto: Kyoto is often referred to as the cultural heart of Japan with its 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Here you can find ancient temples, onsens, the iconic Fushimi Inari Shrine, and the Golden Pavilion.
Nara: Home to the famous Nara Deer Park, visitors can see and feed deers that roam freely which is such a one of a kind bucketlist experience. It also has a charming little town where you can get a glimpse of traditional Japanese life.
Osaka: I truly don’t think a visit to Japan is complete without Osaka. With some of the best noodles I’ve ever had, Osaka is a mecca for fun nightlife amazing food, and shopping. It’s also home to Universal Studios which is an amazing day trip and in my opinion, is one of the most fun cities in Japan.
11. How To Travel In Japan When You Don’t Speak Japanese
A brutal and honest truth that people in Japan don’t speak English and you can’t expect them to! Make sure to learn a couple of key phrases before you go and download the Japanese language in Google Translate to access it without the internet.
However, the app Papago has the best accurate translations so download that one too!
12. Where To Eat in Japan
My top 5 restaurants in Japan I’m still dreaming about:
Best Ramen in the World: Human Being Everybody Noodle in Osaka : 1 Chome-12-15 Nishinakajima, Yodogawa Ward, Osaka, 532-0011, Japan (seafood broth noodle is SO good)
Best Udon: Udon Shin (Tokyo) Japan, 〒151-0053 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Yoyogi, 2 Chome−20−16 相馬ビル １F (I loved the shrimp tempura!)
Try 5 types of Uni here: Unitora Nakadori (Tokyo) 〒104-0045 Tokyo, Chuo City, Tsukiji, 4 Chome−10−5 カネシン水産ビル 1F (try the FIVE types of uni)
Best Casual Sushi Spot: Uogashi Nihon-Ichi (Standing Sushi Bar) Multiple locations - favorite one is in Shinjuku (I love the sweet shrimp, scallop, and clam miso soup
Casual Wagyu Beef Restaurant: 📍 Gyukatsu Motomura Shibuya (Tokyo)
〒150-0002 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Shibuya, 3 Chome−18−10 2号館地下1階 大野ビル
13. Things To Know About The Trains In Japan
trains in Japan are not 24 hours so plan accordingly or you’ll have to take a cab (usually 12AM-5AM)
its’s considered rude to be loud on the train
you must scan in and out of the bus and train
you’ll likely see drunk businessmen on the trains
buying a rail pass in Japan is worth it
14. Money in Japan: What To Know
If you’re traveling to Tokyo, you can probably get away with only having a credit card for the week, but alot of places are still very cash-based. If you’re going to smaller regions like Osaka, or Kyoto, you definitely need to grab some cash!
For credit cards, use one with no foreign transaction fees to get the best exchange rate and save the most amount of money when using the card.
15. Where to Buy Souvenirs in Tokyo
My favorite favorite place to buy the best souvenirs, everything from makeup, skincare, green tea kit kats, classic souvenirs, and jewelry is Don Quijote. They have the largest section and the Shibuya location is the best!
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And there you have it! The 15 things you need to know before going to Japan that I wish I knew before my trip. Japan is truly one of the most amazing countries to visit and after your first trip here, I know it won’t be your last!
