Your First Trip to Japan

A first-timer's route through the questions every visitor hits, in the order you'll hit them.

1. 1Before you fly

   Sort these out at home and the trip gets much easier.

   • eSIM for Japan: Setup Guide and Common Pitfalls Check phone support and carrier lock, install a Japan travel eSIM without starting it too early, and set the correct data and roaming lines after landing.
   • Pocket WiFi vs eSIM for Japan: Which Fits Your Trip? Pocket WiFi or eSIM for your Japan trip? Compare cost, number of devices, battery, and setup so you can pick the right data option.
   • Bringing Medicine into Japan: Customs Allowances How much medicine you can bring into Japan without a permit: OTC up to 2 months, prescription up to 1 month, plus rules for controlled drugs (as of June 2026).
   • Do You Need Travel Insurance for Japan? Real Cost Examples What visitors may pay for medical care in Japan, two official cost examples, and how to check cashless care, evacuation, and exclusions.
   • Winter Illuminations in Japan: Best Times to Avoid Crowds A practical guide to seeing Japan's winter illuminations with fewer crowds: timing, weekday strategy, warm clothing, and event-date checks.
   • Is the JR Pass Still Worth It? Price Break-Even Tables Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it after the price rise? Break-even tables for common routes and a simple decision flow.
   • A Realistic Daily Budget for Japan (Typical Costs) A realistic daily budget for traveling in Japan by category, with typical costs for food, transport, lodging, and sightseeing for tourists.
   • Climbing Mount Fuji in 2026: Fees, Registration, and Gate Rules The 2026 Mount Fuji fee, trail dates, Yoshida daily cap, Shizuoka registration, hut rules, and a route-by-route checklist before you climb.
   • Japan's Crowd Calendar: Golden Week, Obon, and New Year When to avoid travelling in Japan: the Golden Week, Obon, and New Year peak dates for 2026-27, why they're crowded, and how to plan around them.
   • Attraction Sold Out in Japan: Timed Entry, Same-Day Tickets, and Plan B A Japan attraction is sold out online. Check whether it needs advance booking, timed entry, a lottery, or a same-day ticket before changing plans.

2. 2Arrival day

   From the airport gate to your hotel.

   • Narita, Haneda, KIX to City: Airport Transfer Comparison Routes from Narita, Haneda, and Kansai airports to the city, with time and fare tables plus late-night options.
   • Haneda to Narita Airport Transfer: Time, Fares, and Missed-Connection Risk Moving from Haneda to Narita? Compare train and shuttle times, allow for immigration and terminals, and reduce missed-connection risk on separate tickets.
   • Visit Japan Web at the Airport: QR Codes, Kiosks, and Backup Plans What to prepare in Visit Japan Web, what each traveller must show, and what to do if the QR code or connection fails at a Japanese airport.
   • Bringing Food, Plants, and Animal Products into Japan: Customs Check Japan's food, plant, and animal-quarantine rules in plain English: how to check snacks, meat, fruit, seeds, and packaged gifts before you fly.
   • Checked Bag Missing at a Japanese Airport: What to Do Before You Leave Missing checked bag in Japan? Check the carousel, report it to the operating airline, save the reference number, and confirm delivery and customs steps.
   • Narita Express vs Skyliner: Which Train to Tokyo? Compare the Narita Express (N'EX) and Keisei Skyliner from Narita Airport: travel time, fare, stations, and rail-pass fit, so you pick the right train.
   • Suica & Pasmo for Tourists: How to Get and Use IC Cards How tourists get a Suica or Pasmo in Japan, how to charge it, and how to use it on trains, buses, and at shops.
   • Exchanging Money in Japan Without Bad Rates Where to exchange currency in Japan and how to avoid bad rates. ATM withdrawals, exchange counters, and airport booths compared for travelers.
   • Luggage Forwarding (Takkyubin): Send Bags Ahead in Japan How to send your suitcase ahead to your next hotel or airport in Japan, with costs, timing, and instructions.
   • Forwarded Luggage Has Not Arrived in Japan: Tracking and Same-Day Plan Forwarded suitcase late in Japan? Find the tracking number, read the carrier status, contact the right place, and make a same-day plan.
   • Coin Lockers and Luggage Storage in Japan: Sizes and Costs Choose a Japan coin locker by measured bag size, charging system, retrieval time, and IC-card rules, with a current Narita Airport example.
   • Coin Locker Expired or Key Lost in Japan: How to Retrieve Your Bag What to do when a Japan station locker expires or its key is lost: record the location, contact the operator, and prepare payment or identification.
   • Landed at 7am, Check-in at 3pm: Bags, Showers, and a First-Day Plan A practical plan for the hours before Japan hotel check-in: where to leave bags, how to freshen up, and what to do without exhausting yourself.

3. 3Getting around

   Trains do most of the work — once you know their rules.

   • Google Maps in Japan: Transit Quirks to Know Why Google Maps confuses tourists in Japan: reading transit routes, station exit numbers, transfer walks, and the gate traps that cost you time.
   • Local or Rapid? Check Stops Before You Board Japanese train labels vary by operator. Check your station, service, direction and limited-express ticket before boarding.
   • Japan Limited Express Tickets: Is an IC Card Enough? An IC card may cover the basic fare, but a limited express ticket is separate. Check the route, IC area, seat rules, and ticketless terms before boarding.
   • Shinkansen E-Ticket and IC Card: How to Link, Tap, and Fix Errors Booked a Shinkansen online? Learn how to link one IC card per person, check the fare, read the gate slip, and fix wrong-card errors.
   • Reserved Train Sold Out in Japan: Same-Day Options and Plan B What to do when Shinkansen or limited-express reserved seats are sold out in Japan: compare another time, train, day, non-reserved cars, and standing rules.
   • This Train Splits Mid-Journey: How to Choose the Correct Car in Japan Some Japanese trains split into different destinations. Learn how to read the car number, destination display, platform signs, and what to do before the split.
   • Japan Toll Roads: ETC Cards, Rental Cars, and Toll Gates How Japanese expressway toll gates work with a rental ETC card, cash, or credit card, including lane signs, tickets, and what to do if the barrier stays shut.
   • Can I Use My Suica Everywhere in Japan? Nationwide IC Card Guide Whether your Suica or Pasmo works in Osaka, Kyoto, and other cities, plus the regional exceptions where IC cards are not accepted.
   • IC Card Gate Errors in Japan: Low Balance and What to Do What to do when a Suica, ICOCA, or other IC card fails at a Japan station gate, including low balance, an unreadable tap, and an unfinished trip.
   • Shinkansen Seats: Reserved, Non-Reserved, Green Car Reserved vs non-reserved vs Green Car seats on the Shinkansen, when to book, JR Pass rules, and peak-season advice.
   • Buying Shinkansen Tickets at a Machine: Step by Step How to use an English ticket machine for Shinkansen travel: choose the route and seat, understand the two ticket parts, pay, and use the gates.
   • Shinkansen Luggage Rules by Line: 160cm Limit and Tohoku Difference The 160cm reservation rule applies on Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu, and West Kyushu Shinkansen—not Tohoku. Measure your bag and find the right storage.
   • Women-Only Train Cars in Japan: Hours, Signs, and Who Can Ride How Japan's women-only train cars work: when the rule applies, how to read platform signs, who may use the car, and what to do if you board by mistake.
   • How to Ride Local Buses in Japan (Front or Back Door?) How to pay on Japanese local buses: front or back door, flat fare or distance fare, IC cards, and the regional differences that confuse tourists.
   • Finding the Right Bus Stop in Japan: Platform Numbers, Directions, and Return Stops Find the right Japanese bus stop by matching the stop name, route, destination, direction, and platform, including large terminals and the return stop.
   • Missed the Last Bus in Rural Japan: Safe Options Before You Get Stranded Missed the last bus in rural Japan? A calm guide to safe waiting, contacting accommodation, finding the next service, and avoiding risky night walks.
   • Avoiding Rush Hour on Japanese Trains: Check the Line, Direction, and Car Avoid crowded trains in Japan by checking the exact line, direction, train, and car instead of relying on one nationwide rush-hour timetable.
   • Japanese Train Etiquette: The Rules That Actually Matter A simple guide to Japanese train etiquette for tourists: phone calls, priority seats, eating, backpacks, and the rules that actually matter (as of June 2026).
   • Eating on Trains in Japan: Shinkansen vs. Subway Find out where meals fit on the Shinkansen and long-distance trains, why they are awkward on crowded subways, and how to handle drinks and rubbish.
   • My Train Is Suspended in Japan: How to Reroute Without Guessing A train suspension in Japan: check the operator notice, read the affected section, ask about replacement transport, and preserve ticket options.
   • Lost Your Phone in Japan? Find It, Lock It, Then Report It Lost your phone in Japan? Use Find My or Find My Device, lock accounts and cards, contact the place you visited, and report a public loss at a koban.
   • Locked Out of Your Hotel in Japan at Night: What to Do Locked out of a hotel in Japan? Call the property, check your booking, use the official contact route, and find a safe fallback.
   • Rental Car Accident in Japan: 110, the Rental Desk, and Insurance Had a rental-car crash or found damage in Japan? Secure the scene, call 110 when required, contact the rental company, and keep evidence.
   • Using a Self-Service Gas Station in Japan: Fuel Colors and Payment Steps Renting a car in Japan? Match the fuel label, Japanese pump name, and nozzle color before you refuel at a self-service station.
   • Missed a Domestic Flight in Japan: What to Do Next Missed a domestic flight in Japan? Check the fare rule, contact the airline or seller, and separate voluntary no-shows from airline disruption handling.
   • Ferries in Japan: Island Hops and Overnight Routes How to book and board ferries in Japan, choose a seat or cabin, take a car, reach the port, and prepare for an overnight crossing.

4. 4Money & shopping

   Where cash still wins, and how tax-free actually works.

   • Cash or Card in Japan: Where You Still Need Yen Do you need cash in Japan? Where cards work, where only yen is accepted, and how much cash to carry as a tourist, with a scene-by-scene guide.
   • Which Credit Cards Work in Japan? Visa, Amex, JCB, and More Which credit and debit cards are accepted in Japan, where each brand works best, and what to do when your card is declined.
   • ATMs That Accept Foreign Cards in Japan (7-Eleven, Post Office) Foreign-card ATMs in Japan, with official withdrawal limits, possible local fees, currency-choice guidance, hours, and a practical decline checklist.
   • Pay in Yen or Your Home Currency in Japan? DCC Explained When a Japanese card terminal asks for yen or your home currency, compare the displayed exchange rate, fees, and who converts the payment before choosing.
   • Japan's Coins and Notes: A Quick Visual Guide A visual guide to Japan's coins and banknotes: every denomination, what each looks like, the holed and bicolor quirks, and what vending machines accept.
   • Why Two Prices? Japan's 8% and 10% Consumption Tax Explained Why Japanese receipts show two prices, when the 8% reduced tax rate applies, and how to read tax-included pricing as a tourist.
   • Getting Receipts in Japan for Your Expense Report Need a Japanese receipt for work? Learn when the register slip is enough, how to ask for a ryoshusho, and which invoice details to check.
   • Tax-Free Shopping in Japan: 2026 Rules and the November Refund Change Japan tax-free shopping rules through October 2026, plus the confirmed November 1 refund system, 90-day export deadline and airport process.
   • Returning or Exchanging a Purchase in Japan: Receipt, Packaging, and Tax-Free Rules Returns and exchanges in Japan: separate defects from changed minds, check the store policy, and keep tax-free documents.
   • Otoshi in Japan: Check the Izakaya Table Charge Why an izakaya may serve otoshi before your order, how to read the bill, and what to ask about allergies or an unexpected charge.
   • Japanese Clothing and Shoe Sizes: Conversion Tables for Shoppers Convert shoe sizes to Japanese centimetres, understand Japanese S–XL clothing labels, and check fit before buying clothes or trainers in Japan.

5. 5Staying connected

   When the data plan meets reality.

   • Free WiFi in Japan: Where It Actually Works Where to find free WiFi in Japan as a tourist: convenience stores, stations, cafes, and city networks, plus the limits and how to connect safely.
   • Do You Need a VPN in Japan? Public Wi-Fi, Work, and Streaming Japan does not require tourists to use a VPN. See when one helps on public Wi-Fi, when work access requires it, and why streaming may still fail.
   • eSIM Not Working in Japan: Diagnostic Checklist A step-by-step checklist to fix a Japan eSIM that will not connect: roaming, data line, APN, and network selection.
   • eSIM Data Ran Out in Japan: What to Do Right Now Out of eSIM data in Japan? How to add more data fast, buy a new plan, use free Wi-Fi as a stopgap, and pick the right data size next time.
   • When a Japanese Form Wants a Phone Number You Don't Have What to enter when a Japanese booking or signup form requires a local phone number, and why a data-only eSIM cannot receive verification texts.
   • Translation Apps for Japan (Including Offline Use) The best way to translate Japanese on your trip — camera, voice, and offline translation — and how to download languages before you go.
   • Will My Charger Work in Japan? Plugs and Voltage Whether you need a plug adapter or voltage converter for Japan: the Type A outlet, 100V power, and how to read your device's voltage rating.

6. 6Eating

   From konbini runs to your first izakaya.

   • Japanese Convenience Stores: What Varies by Branch Find food, cash, printing and tickets at Japanese convenience stores. Branch hours, ATM compatibility and machine availability vary.
   • Shopping at a Japanese Supermarket: Checkout, Labels, and Bagging A step-by-step guide to Japanese supermarkets: baskets, checkout, self-bagging, price stickers, use-by dates, storage labels, allergens, and payment.
   • Ordering Food in Japan with Zero Japanese: A Practical Flow No English menu? Use this step-by-step flow for ticket machines, photo menus, allergies, ordering, and paying at Japanese restaurants.
   • Heating and Eating Konbini Bento: The Unwritten Rules How to ask Japanese convenience-store staff to heat a bento, read the microwave label, use an eat-in area, and handle utensils and trash.
   • Ordering at a Japanese Ramen Shop How to order ramen in Japan: use the ticket machine, pick your style, learn topping words, and master rules like extra noodles and soup dilution.
   • Conveyor Belt Sushi (Kaiten-zushi): How It Works A simple guide to conveyor belt sushi in Japan: how to enter, take plates, order on the touch panel, read plate-color prices, and pay.
   • Eating Out in Japan: Izakaya and Sushi Basics How to order and behave at a Japanese izakaya or sushi counter, from the otoshi seating charge to chopstick rules and how to pay at the end.
   • Alcohol Rules in Japan: Drinking Age, Public Drinking, and Vending Machines Japan's drinking age, ID checks, street-drinking limits, alcohol vending machines, late-night sales, and the rules for cars and bicycles.
   • Restaurant Reservations in Japan: Booking, Lateness, and Cancellation Fees Which Japan restaurants need bookings, how to reserve in English, what to check before paying, and what to do if you are late or must cancel.
   • Can You Drink Tap Water in Japan? Yes — tap water in Japan is safe to drink almost everywhere. Here are the facts on water quality standards, taste, and the few exceptions to know.

7. 7Where you stay

   Hotels, ryokan, capsules — each with its own script.

   • Hotel Checkout in Japan: Late Checkout, Holds, and Receipts How hotel checkout works in Japan: checkout times, card pre-authorization holds explained, receipts you can ask for, and requesting late checkout (July 2026).
   • Japan Accommodation Taxes: Why Your Hotel Charges Extra Accommodation tax in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, with July 2026 rates, calculation examples, payment timing, and the difference from onsen tax.
   • Hotel Cancellation Rules in Japan: When You Get Charged Read a Japan hotel cancellation policy correctly: deadline, local time, rate plan, booking channel, no-show rule, and proof of cancellation.
   • Staying at a Ryokan: A First-Timer's Guide How a Japanese ryokan works step by step, from check-in and yukata to the shared bath, kaiseki dinner, and futon bedding, with simple do and avoid tips.
   • Onsen Etiquette: A Step-by-Step First-Timer Guide How to use a Japanese onsen correctly: wash before bathing, no swimsuits, keep the small towel out of the water, and other simple rules.
   • Day-Trip Onsen and Sento in Japan: Towels, Costs, and How It Works You do not need to stay overnight to use many Japanese baths. Learn the day-use flow, what an onsen and sento are, what to bring, and the rules to check first.
   • Capsule Hotels in Japan: Rules and What to Expect How capsule hotels in Japan work: check-in, pod privacy, shared facilities, luggage storage, gender layout, and access hours to confirm before booking.
   • Japanese Hotel Air Conditioner Controls: Cooling, Heating, and Lockouts How to read Japanese hotel air-conditioner buttons, identify cooling, heating, dry and fan modes, and tell when the building controls the season or temperature.
   • Airbnb in Japan: Why Listings Look Different (Minpaku Law) Why Airbnb and short-term rentals are limited in Japan, how the minpaku law works, and how to check a listing's registration number before booking.
   • Monthly Apartments and Share Houses in Japan: A 1–3 Month Stay Compare monthly apartments, share houses, and licensed short stays in Japan by contract, deposits, utilities, furniture, documents, and move-out terms.
   • Missed a Parcel Delivery in Japan: Reading the Slip and Booking Redelivery A practical guide to Japan delivery slips: find the carrier and tracking number, book redelivery, use a counter or hotel desk, and avoid missed deadlines.
   • Keeping a Suit Presentable on a Japan Trip Keep a business suit presentable in Japan: choose hotel pressing, a cleaner, or room care by deadline, care label, pickup time, and condition.
   • Noise Rules at Japanese Minpaku and Apartments (Airbnb Stays) There is no single national quiet hour for every Japan stay. Use your property's house rules, plus this noise and complaint guide for minpaku and apartments.
   • Love Hotels in Japan: What They Actually Are (Practical Guide) A practical guide to love hotels in Japan: rest versus stay, room selection, check-in, payment, and what visitors should confirm.

8. 8Daily life & manners

   The small stuff that keeps the day smooth.

   • Getting a Haircut in Japan as a Visitor A practical guide to choosing a Japanese barbershop or salon, booking without Japanese, showing reference photos, and checking the final price.
   • How to Find a Toilet in Japan Fast: Stations, Stores, and Konbini Need a toilet in Japan right now? Where to look in priority order, how reliable each spot is, phone tricks to find one, and what to expect inside.
   • Why No Trash Cans? Handling Garbage as a Tourist in Japan Where tourists can dispose of trash in Japan, what vending-machine collection boxes accept, and what to carry back to a hotel instead.
   • Where You Must Take Off Your Shoes in Japan A place-by-place guide to shoes in Japan: homes, ryokan, tatami, temples, fitting rooms, toilets, and the floor clues that tell you what to do.
   • Queueing in Japan: Escalators, Trains, and Taxi Stands How lining up works in Japan: train platform queues, which side to stand on an escalator, taxi stands, and cashier lines. Simple do and don't rules.
   • Shrine and Temple Manners (Without Overthinking It) Simple manners for Japanese shrines and temples: how to bow, purify your hands, pray, and tell when photos are not allowed.
   • Where You Can't Take Photos in Japan Japan photo rules by place: people, Gion, temples, shops, museums, stations, tripods, and private property, with a quick permission check before you shoot.
   • Smoking in Japan: Street Bans and Where It's Legal Where you can and cannot smoke in Japan as a tourist. Street smoking bans, designated smoking areas, indoor rules, and how heated tobacco is treated.
   • Karaoke in Japan: How the Room, Pricing, and Machine Work A first-time guide to Japanese karaoke boxes: 30-minute rates, free-time plans, drink rules, song tablets, checkout, and solo visits.
   • Tipping in Japan: The Short Answer for Travelers Do you tip in Japan? The short answer is no. How to handle restaurants, taxis, hotels, and the few exceptions where a gesture is welcome.

9. 9When something goes wrong

   Bookmark this section — you'll hopefully never need it.

   • Is #7119 Nationwide? Japan Emergency Numbers: 110, 119 and 118 When to call 110, 119, 118, #7119, or #8000 in Japan, how to check local #7119 coverage, and what to do if the advice line does not connect.
   • Lost Passport in Japan: Step-by-Step Recovery for Tourists Lost your passport in Japan? The order of steps: police report, your embassy, and the document you need to fly home.
   • Lost Something in Japan? How the Koban Lost-and-Found System Works How to recover a lost wallet, phone, or bag in Japan using the koban police box system, plus how to contact trains and taxis about lost items.
   • My Bag Was Stolen in Japan: What to Do Stolen wallet, phone, or passport in Japan: the step-by-step plan — police box (koban), the crime report you need for insurance, and who to call.
   • Missed the Last Train in Japan: Your Real Options What to do when you miss the last train in Japan: compare taxi, late-night bus, net cafe, capsule hotel, karaoke, and waiting for the first train.
   • I Missed My Reserved Shinkansen: Do I Buy a New Ticket? Missed your reserved Shinkansen? The JR rule that lets you ride a later train's non-reserved seat for free, and the fare types where it does not apply.
   • Earthquake in Japan: What Tourists Should Do Simple steps for tourists during and after an earthquake in Japan, how to read alerts, and official channels to follow.
   • After an Earthquake in Japan: What Should I Do Tonight? A calm first-night plan for travelers after an earthquake in Japan: when to leave, where to sleep, what to keep nearby, and which alerts to follow.
   • Train Stopped After an Earthquake in Japan: Should I Wait or Walk? What to do when an earthquake stops your train in Japan: follow crew instructions, check official status, avoid a risky walk, and find temporary shelter.
   • Is It Safe to Travel to Kyushu After an Earthquake? Check Your Route, Not All of Japan Decide whether to continue a Kyushu trip after an earthquake by checking your exact destination, transport legs, hotel, and official warnings.
   • How to Find an Evacuation Shelter in Japan as a Tourist A tourist guide to Japan's designated evacuation sites and shelters, local maps, disaster signs, temporary stay facilities, and key Japanese phrases.
   • Japan Weather Warning Levels: Advisory, Warning, and Emergency How to read Japan's Level 1–5 weather alerts, the new 2026 warning names, and what travelers should do at each level.
   • A Typhoon Warning Just Hit Your Phone: What to Do as a Tourist A typhoon warning in Japan explained for tourists: what each warning level means, how to check planned train suspensions, and staying safe at your hotel.
   • Medical Care in Japan: Costs, Clinics, and What Tourists Should Bring How to find a clinic in Japan, ask about costs, use insurance, and prepare the documents and payment method a visitor may need.

10. 10Before you leave

    The last-day checklist.

    • Getting Your IC Card Deposit Back Before You Leave Japan How to refund a Suica, Pasmo, or other IC card and get your 500 yen deposit and balance back before flying home from Japan.
    • Airport Duty-Free vs In-Store Tax-Free Shopping in Japan Compare airport duty-free and in-store tax-free shopping in Japan, including the refund-method change starting November 1, 2026.
    • Tax-Free Shopping Mistakes That Get You Charged at the Airport Why customs can charge tax on a tax-free purchase when you leave Japan, the mistakes that trigger it, and how to pass the departure check smoothly.
    • Shipping Souvenirs Home from Japan: Post Office Options and Customs How to mail souvenirs from Japan: compare EMS, air and surface parcels, prepare an online label, list contents for customs, and avoid prohibited goods.
    • Printing Documents at Japanese Convenience Stores Print a boarding pass or PDF at a Japanese convenience store by QR code, upload code, USB drive, or phone, with a step-by-step troubleshooting table.
    • Overweight Baggage at Japanese Airports: Fees and Fast Fixes Suitcase over the airline limit in Japan? Check the exact rule, repack safely, compare another checked bag with the overweight fee, and find airport scales.
    • Japan Domestic Flight Baggage Limits Current Japan domestic baggage limits: ANA's 2026 piece rules, JAL's 20 kg allowance, Peach's 7 kg cabin limit, bag sizes, and batteries.
    • Catching an Early Morning Flight in Japan: First Trains and Backup Plans Can the first train reach Haneda, Narita, or Kansai for a 7am flight? Test your target arrival, then compare hotels, early buses, taxis, and terminal waits.

Different kind of trip? See the other scenarios or browse all guides.