The further we go from our culture it gets trickier to plan a trip. Either by language barrier, long haul flights or the reputation for being pricy. Going to Japan may seem a mirage on the horizon for some; but fear not my friend! In fact, going to Japan is easier than you think. Take note on these 20 tested and approved essencial Japan travel tips to make your stay hassle-free.

1. Rent a pocket wi-fi

Have you ever heard of pocket wi-fi? It works like a pocket router distributing signal for all your devices. I had a great experience renting one of Global Advanced Communications’ pocket devices.

Super tavel tip: if you carry a powerbank with you there is no need for renting an extra battery. Just double check whether the gadget’s usb port is the same of your usb cable.

I rented the device through their website and picked it up at the ryokan I was staying at, in Kyoto. You will receive what you ordered plus an empty prepaid return envelope. Just before leaving Japan place all rental items into the envelope and drop it in any mailbox. Simple as that!

Nowadays travelling with internet is quite handy. Book hotels, check weather, use Google maps, check train itineraries and fares.

2. Get to know the JR Rail Passes

Planning a trip to Japan? I am quite sure you might have came across someone suggesting a JR Pass. This pass allows you to commute in all JR rail lines for a fixed period of 7, 14 or 21 consecutive days. What many Japan travel tips omit about it is that you may use your JR Pass with regional passes. Together, they can be more powerful and money-wise than purchasing a standard 7/14/21 days pass.

3. Get to know Hyperdia and Jorudan 

You will ride a lot trains in Japan. They are punctual, reliable, clean and plentiful. The rail network is vast and widespread. There are two very useful and easy to use websites for consulting timetables, route planners and fares: Hyperdia and Jorudan.

You can also download apps for your cellphone.

Jorudan (Norikae)
Hyperdia  (Apple Store and Google play)

I downloaded the app for both, cellphone and iPad. Very practical and useful app to have installed.

4. Get subway maps on your mobile

Being official or not there are many apps for you to download and have a ready-to-go subway network map. I use All Subway for iOS. It is a fantastic app providing maps from subways all over the world. You can get it at Apple Store for USD 0.99 – no Android version.

Alternatively, save a jpeg or pdf map on your cloud.

Despite being extremely handy, don’t rely on them only. Take always a paper copy wth you.

5. Get Tabimori app

Tabimori means lucky charm in Japanese. Indeed, it is a great app to have and a great Japan travel tip. It provides a complete 101 on cultural aspects, teaches you how to ride public transport, money exchange converter for over 30 currencies, basic Japanese lessons, free wi-fi spots map nationwide, weather forecast, direct links to the amazing Japan Guide, suggestion on what to buy as souvenir, emergency guide, earthquake instructions on how to proceed, embassies’ number and details and a list of most common flights to and from Japan.

Available for free at Apple Store or Google play.

6. Get to know Japan Guide and JNTO websites

Definitely two of the best free websites with great content and Japan travel tips. Planning has never been easier! Japan Guide and JNTO (Japan National Tourism Organisation).

7. Get yourself a good travel guide

One of my favourite guides and essential part on these Japan travel tips is purchasing Lonely Planet’s guide to Japan.

8. Japanese 101

Japanese people are polite and willing to help you. They already expect your knowledge in Japanese is nothing but sushi and arigato.

However, they might get really surprised and happy to hear you trying to communicate with them in Japanese. Not mentioning that speaking Japanese will surely ease you time there and even take you to off the beaten places.

Learn how to greet, count up to 100, everyday verbs, a couple or quintessential nouns and adjectives and you’re done. Do you feel comfortable learning languages? Why not learn Japanese? Hone your language skills and teach yourself hiragana and katakana (the two Japanese syllabaries).

9. Get an IC Card for commuting

IC cards are rechargeable cards used to pay fares on public transportation in Japan. They can also be used in vending machines, convenience stores and restaurants.

The great thing about them is that in Japan fares are calculated in distance. It’s fare, but kind of not practical if you have to purchase separate tokens for each ride. By using the cards, the amount is automatically deducted from the card.

There are also combos with some cards. You purchase a card for a fixed price that includes a discount fare already charged on it. For example, a ride to the airport for half a cost. I arrived at Kansai International Airport, which serves Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Wakayama cities. ICOCA card has a reduced fare from/to Kansai airport using Haruka train.

Cards per region:

• Tokyo, Sendai and Niigata: Suica and Pasmo;
• Osaka, Okayama and Hiroshima: ICOCA and Pitapa;
• Nagoya and Shizuoka: Manaca and Toica;
• Fukuoka: Nimoca, Hayakaken and Sugoka;
• Sapporo: Kitaca;

10. Discount on fly tickets within Japan

ANA and Japan Airlines are the biggest airlines in Japan. Both have a good deal on tickets within Japan.

ANA offers the Star Alliance Japan Airpass enabling the traveler to buy up to five tickets for a fixed cost of 10,000 yens each leg. To get the air pass you must arrive or leave Japan through an ANA or Star Alliance member company flight.

Japan Airlines (JAL) offers the Oneworld Yokoso/Visit Japan fare enabling the traveler to buy tickets for a fixed cost of 10,800 yens each leg. Like ANA’s pass it is mandatory that you arrive or leave Japan through an JAL or Oneworld member company flight.

Passes must be purchased outside Japan on companies’ websites.

11. Japanese low-cost companies

Going to Japan and departing from any nearby country? Willing to travel within Japan by plane? Don’t forget to check these low cost companies for a great deal! I flew from Seoul to Osaka for USD 100,00 plus taxes.

Air Do, Jetstar Japan, Peach Aviation, Skymark Airlines, Solaseed Air, Spring Airlines, Japan StarFlyer and Vanilla Air.

12. Haneda or Narita Airport?

Tokyo has two international airpots: Narita (NRT) and Haneda (HND). You are more likely to arrive in Narita airport, since it’s the biggest and busiest.

However, when purchasing your tickets check wether it’s available to arrive in Haneda. It is cheaper and faster to get to Tokyo station through Haneda,  JPY 580 and 28 minutes versus JPY 2,600 and one hour commuting.

When quoting for air tickets insert the code TYO, which is the general IATA code for Tokyo airports. Searches might bring both flights coming/going to Narita and Haneda airports.

13. From Narita airport to Tokyo use train

Look at the map. You might notice two thicker lines, one red and one dark blue. no mapa acima. Both are transfer options to go to/from Narita airport.

Both lines were commissioned for this purpose, thus yielding few stops along the way.

N’EX costs JPY 3,020 each way, connecting Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Omiya and Yokohama to Narita Airport.

Keisei Skyliner costs JPY 2,470 each way, connecting Ueno and Nippori to the airport. If Skylines is your pick, note there is a discount fare costing JPY 2,200, for foreigners only.

14. Google Translator

Rent the pocket wi-fi and download Google Translator on your gadget. The translation to/from Japanese is still not perfect, but quite acceptable.

Free app at Apple Store or Google play.

15. Print your hotel’s address

That is mandatory! Even more if you are going to a country you both don’t read or speak the language.

Finding an address in Tokyo can be really time consuming. Let alone if you don’t even know where you are going to. This happens because Japanese addresses are not quite logical as you may be used to. Even taxi drivers get lost.

16. Withdrawing money

18. Get to know konbinis

Looking for something you have no idea where to find out? Try looking for it in a konbini. Konbini are actually convenience stores. They sell anything from ready-to-go food and groceries to services like Takkyubin; photocopies, ATMs and more.

There are three main chains: 7-Eleven, Lawson e FamilyMart; and some regional brands.

19. Travel hassle-free through Japan

Do you usually bring too much luggages with you? Are you worried on how to travel through Japan not carrying all your luggages with you on trains and domestic flights? This is one of my favourite Japan travel tips. There is a great courier service called Takkyubin. Widespread and available anywhere in Japan you can dispatch your baggages to your next destination.

I hired the service three times and I have to say it is extremely practical.

Read the exclusive post Takkyubin: hassle-free travel through Japan with few or no luggage and learn how to use it even if you don’t speak/read Japanese.

20. Finding a laundry

Once you get to the place you are staying at you might be surprised is has has no laundry machine. Space in Japan worths gold. Not everyone has a machine. Many wash cloths on Coin Laundries. Ok, but how to find them?

1) Ask someone – of course;
2) Or turn on your geo locator on Google maps and paste コインランドリー for suggestions on the closer laundry near you;

Book your hotel in Japan