Welcome to the Land of the Rising Sun, a place where modernity blends with tradition in a symphony of culture, technology and courtesy. If you are planning a trip to Japan, prepare to immerse yourself in a unique and fascinating experience. However, before leaving for this adventure, it may be useful to consider some aspects that will make organizing your trip easier.
In this article, we will explore a series of practical tips, on some things to do and know before leaving, fondamentali per aiutarti a organizzare al meglio il tuo viaggio.
Visa and Visit Japan Web
To enter Japan as an Italian citizen for tourism purposes, a visa is not required for up to 90 days of stay.
To enter you need to fill in two sheets, which ask for your personal data, your passport data, information on what you are bringing with you, the address of where you will be staying in Japan (so remember to have marked it somewhere along with the telephone number; if you plan to travel, put the first place where you will stay), various declarations regarding any criminal convictions and, finally, your signature. The first sheet must be delivered to passport control as soon as you get off the plane, while the second must be handed in after having retrieved your luggage, before leaving the internal area of the airport.
Our advice is to use the Visit Japan Web platform to carry out the procedure calmly and before arriving in Japan. Compilation is NOT mandatory but recommended. Visit Japan Web is the platform created by the Japanese government to speed up and streamline arrival procedures in Japan. This service allows you to pre-register the documents necessary for entry into Japan.
Just connect to the site Visit Japan Web and register. After entering your personal data and travel data you can proceed with the following procedures:
- Disembarkation Card Procedure: In this procedure you must enter your travel data (most of them you have already entered in the previous procedures) and answer 3 simple questions (have you ever been removed from Japan with an expulsion order or have you been denied entry in the past, if you have ever been charged in Japan or abroad, if you are carrying prohibited items such as drugs or weapons). Once registration is complete you can download a QR code. The color above the QR code is only used to distinguish it from that of the "custom declaration".
- Declaration of personal effects procedure: This procedure allows you to enter all those objects that need to be declared upon entry into Japan. Read carefully all the cards that are proposed to you and answer whether or not you bring the items listed. Here too, at the end of the procedure you will be provided with a QR code. The color above the QR code is only used to distinguish it from that of the "immigration declaration".
- Health insurance declaration procedure: This procedure is not necessary, but recommended. Allows you to enter whether or not you have health insurance for your trip.
Currency and payments
In Japan the currency is lo yen (円).
In general, cash payment is preferred over electronic payment. Furthermore Credit cards and debit cards are not always accepted, especially in small restaurants and small shops where it often happens that the only means of payment is cash. The entrances to temples and the souvenirs purchased there are all in demand cash, while in the nearby shops it is often possible to pay by card.
The best way to withdraw money in Japan is at a Japanese automatic teller machine (ATM). The best ATMs where you can withdraw cash are the 7-Eleven, easy to use, scattered everywhere in Japan and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If the card is part of the international circuits (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus , American Express) there should be no problems. We withdrew some cash at an ATM already at the airport.
Remember to check that your credit cards are enabled for Japan and that there are no daily withdrawal limits.
How to move
Japan has one of the best public transport networks in the world, with clean, safe, efficient and punctual transport that includes trains of various types (local, express, bullet trains, etc.), subways, coaches and buses.
Railway networks
There are various companies that manage transport. The largest and best known is Japan Railways which includes six regional companies with a varied and widespread service that includes subways, local trains and the famous "bullet trains" or the Shinkansen, very useful for moving comfortably and quickly between cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Other private companies such as Odakyu, Tokyu or Keio connect Tokyo to the more peripheral areas. In the Kansai area, Hankyu, Hanshin and Keihan connect the three largest cities in the region: Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. However, apart from slight variations in price and coverage of different routes, they all offer excellent services.
Our advice is to check the routes that interest you and the most convenient possible solutions for your itinerary, before purchasing a pass. The most well-known JR routes are combined with those of lesser-known companies, often cheaper and more convenient in terms of timetables and number of changes. Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it for your itinerary? In the travel tips, there is advice to discover it quickly and easily!
As regards local trains, it is important to be able to distinguish the various categories, so as to be able to avoid the slower ones, which would make you waste a lot of time if your destination could be reached by faster means. Here is a small detail of the various types:
- Local: they stop at every station and are by far the slowest;
- Rapid: despite the name they are not the fastest but they allow you to skip a few stations at the same price as local ones;
- Express: they offer a faster service than rapids, skipping a good part of the stations, but may be slightly more expensive;
- Limited Express: they are by far the fastest as they only stop at the main stations and usually require a higher fare.
Trains
Trains are by far the most used method of transport for tourists to travel within Japan as they allow you to move quickly and at the same time, although not cheap, offer the possibility of saving thanks to a series of passes available , including the best-known Japan Rail Pass (not always convenient. Check the tips at the end of the article to check if the purchase is convenient for your itinerary!).
To juggle routes, changes and timetables, the advice is to use an app that allows you to plan and personalize a trip to Japan, both to move within a city and between various locations, as in addition to the updated timetables you need to consider the many options between the various rail or bus networks. We used the Japan Travel app but another highly recommended app is Hyperdia.
Most trains do not operate 24 hours a day, even in large cities. However, there are special long-distance night lines that travel between major Japanese cities.
Bus
Japan has an efficient bus network, with local lines serving the various cities and long-distance buses that allow daytime and nighttime routes between the major tourist locations. The network is rather widespread, thus allowing it to cover all those areas where trains and other transport are not present.
There are buses that connect the major cities at a cheap price but the journey times are much longer. Some of these are night-time so it could be a good alternative to travel at night and save the hotel cost.
As for local buses, you will hardly use them in big cities (like Tokyo), but they are certainly convenient in small cities or tourist locations where the local metro network is not so extensive (for example Kyoto or in the Mount Fuji or Nikko area ). Buses have a fairly simple ticket system: you usually enter through the rear door and take a ticket from the special machine. Then simply insert the ticket into the machine next to the driver and check the price on the electronic display. In some locations and on some vehicles, rechargeable IC cards such as Pasmo and Suica are accepted.
Subway
Tokyo. The Tokyo Metro has a vast subway network managed by two companies, Tokyo Metoro and Toei. Attention should be paid to the fact that special services are operated on some metro lines with continuation of trips on private railways. Trains often continue well beyond the subway terminus. Five railway stations are as many fundamental hubs of the Tokyo subway network: Tokyo, Ueno, Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya. To these must be added Shinagawa, a station on the conventional and high-speed rail network, reachable on foot from Takanawa Station (subway).
Kyoto. Kyoto is a very dispersed city and the various things to see are far from each other. Even though there is a subway in Kyoto, it is not the most used way to get around. In this city, the use of buses prevails, which cover the entire urban area, unlike the metro which does not reach certain areas, even near the most well-known attractions.
Osaka. Osaka has an efficient and widespread metro network integrated with numerous railway lines serving urban, suburban and regional traffic (JR West, Keihan, Kintetsu, Hankyu, Hanshin and Nankai). There is also a circular line (Osaka Kanjo-sen, JR national network). This turns out to be very useful as it allows easy connections between the numerous subway lines and stations.
Prepaid IC cards: PASMO, SUICA and ICOCA
One of the most convenient payment methods in Japan is through prepaid IC cards. The most used are Pasmo, Suica and ICOCA, which have few differences between them both in costs and use. With these you can pay for urban transport, for products from konbini, some cafes and vending machines, and coin lockers inside stations.
We opted for PASMO and bought it at the vending machines at the metro station. It costs ¥1000, of which 500 will go as available credit and 500 as a deposit, which will be returned to you once you return the card. If you are unable to return it (or don't want to because you want to keep it as a souvenir), know that the PASMO is valid for 10 years. To recharge it, simply insert it into the machines in the station (there are so many and in any station) and pay in cash or by card.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the global shortage of electronic chips, the sale of physical IC cards is limited in both quantity and places to purchase them.
- IC PASMO PASSPORT cards (https://www.pasmo.co.jp/visitors/en/) and WELCOME SUICA (https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/welcomesuica/welcomesuica.html ) for tourists are available at Narita and Haneda airports, as well as at the main stations of the Tokyo metropolis.
- Smartphone apps such as Mobile Suica and Mobile PASMO can still be used via Apple Pay with iPhone 8 and later, or Google Pay with some Android smartphones.
- Other IC cards sold outside the Tokyo area, such as ICOCA and TOICA, will continue to be available in each region.
Internet connection
Surviving in Japan without the internet is complicated, it is essential mainly for road directions, train, metro and bus timetables, to try to understand something about Japanese ideograms (Google translate saves your life!).
Therefore, there are two solutions for having internet:
- purchasing a Japanese SIM card from one of the vending machines that you can find in international airports, where you can choose the type of SIM and the tariff plan;
- the rental of a pocket wi-fi, a small portable modem, the rental of which is offered by various sites and companies; we opted for this.
At the time of purchase you can choose the address where to collect the modem or where it must be delivered, which can be at the airport upon arrival or directly at your hotel (we collected it at Tokyo airport to have internet right from right away). They will also ask you where you want to return the modem once the period of use has ended, which can be at the airport before departure or directly at the hotel (we returned it to Osaka airport shortly before departure). Another option is to ship the modem after use. Inside the envelope containing your device, you will also find a pre-stamped envelope with the address of the company where you rented it. At the end of the trip, insert the Pocket Wifi and everything else inside the envelope and post it in a mailbox. Be very careful because at the airport there are no boxes after security checks, so if you accidentally forget to post it, you will have to ship it from Italy, paying for international shipping.
Our pocket wi-fi worked very well in all cities visited even with two devices connected. The battery tended to last until the evening but the advice is to always carry a power bank with you (also useful for cell phones).
Power sockets and voltage
In Italy various sockets are used: the Schuko (Type F and hybrid Type F+E), the one with two poles (Type C) and the one with three narrow and wide poles (Type L). In Japan, however, a socket with two rectangular prongs (Type A) is used, and more rarely one with three prongs (Type B). Bring a universal adapter so you don't have any problems. Our advice is to bring a multi-socket power strip with you so you can connect all your devices with just one adapter!
In Japan, however, you also have to pay attention to the voltage! In Italy, 230 V current is used at a frequency of 50 Hz. In Japan, however, 100 V is used at a frequency of 50 Hz for the eastern part of the country (Tokyo, Sapporo, Sendai) and 60 Hz for the west (Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima). Nowadays, most electronic devices have a power supply that works with a voltage between 100 and 240 V and a frequency of 50/60 Hz. To check that your battery chargers and hairdryers also work in Japan, just look at the label: if you find the words “input 100V-240V 50/60 Hz” rest assured that they will work in Japan. Also be careful when buying electronic devices in Japan, check that they are compatible with a voltage of 230V.
Jet lag
Japan is in the UTC +9 time zone while Italy is in the UTC +1. In winter, when we have solar time, in Japan they are 8 hours ahead, while in summer, with summer time there is a 7 hour difference.
Fortunately, however, all of Japan uses the same time zone: Tokyo time is the same as that of Osaka, Kyoto and even the Okinawa islands.
How to behave in Japan
Going to a country also means taking into consideration the rules that society has; it's a question of respect, and following them will allow you to experience the journey without running into unpleasant situations. In Japan, a country that is very sensitive to social dynamics, it is good to have certain precautions:
- it is better to avoid drinking and eating on the streets and on means of transport; if you have to do so, stop next to a vending machine or in the areas with designated tables; on trains like the shinkansen it is possible to eat;
- do not smoke in the street except in designated areas, which are usually in corners next to ashtrays; some venues also have separate smoking and non-smoking areas;
- respect the queues, especially in front of the metro doors; just follow the example of the people around you to understand where to stand and how to behave;
- do not speak loudly on public transport, turn off the ringtones and, if you have backpacks or suitcases, during rush hour remove them from your shoulders and try to take up as little space as possible (there are also storage boxes above the seats to store bags);
- if you have a cold or some other contagious virus, go around with a mask over your nose and mouth, so as not to infect the people nearby; the Japanese care a lot about hygiene and miss very few days of school/work even if they are sick.
- inside temples and sanctuaries it is polite to speak in a low voice or not to speak, take off your shoes at the entrance and not take photos unless permitted;
- do not plant chopsticks vertically in the rice bowl and do not pass food from one pair of chopsticks to another; both gestures are part of Buddhist funeral rituals, and therefore considered a bad omen, as well as rude;
- wash before entering a onsen (thermal baths) and, if you have tattoos, ask if it is possible to enter (tattoos in Japan are not yet welcomed).
Travel Tips
Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it?
The Japan Rail Pass is a type of rail pass intended for tourists visiting Japan. This pass allows you to travel on all JR lines, including those within Tokyo, with the exception of two shinkansen, the Nozomi and the Mizuho. The price and duration of the pass varies: there are options for 7, 14 and 21 days [costs may vary from year to year and also depending on the season].
Purchasing a JR Pass is only beneficial if you plan to travel a lot during your stay in Japan. Luckily there is a quick and easy way to check if the purchase is convenient: just visit this this site and by entering the stages of your itinerary you will be shown whether it is worth it or not!
If so, to purchase the JRP, simply visit the official site (available in English) or that of Japan Experience and select the option that best suits your needs. The pass can only be purchased by non-Japanese citizens and from abroad, before departure. After placing your order online, a voucher will be delivered to your home which must be exchanged for the actual pass once in Japan, at one of the JR offices, within 3 months of purchase. It is also possible to purchase it directly on site, but to save time it is advisable to do so online before departure.
It is possible to ship luggage from one city to another
One of the most ingenious services that the Japanese people have produced is undoubtedly the one that allows you to send luggage from one destination to another avoiding the effort of having to carry suitcases up the stairs of the stations or on and off the trains. Given and considering that this is a trip that requires a fair amount of travel and changes, being free from excessive weights and having free hands radically changes the quality of the trips.
Many hotels offer this service, just ask at reception for the "takkyubin" service paying directly based on the size of the suitcase: the shipping cost is in the order of 1500-2000 yen. Some hotels may charge a small fee for the service.
In the unlikely event that your hotel does not provide this service you can go to a conbini. You can also book this service at the airport as soon as you arrive in Japan, by going to the "Luggage Delivery" desk.
Bags are typically delivered within one day. For transfers within the same city, delivery could even be the same day, while for very distant locations such as Hokkaido or Okinawa it could take 2 days.
Our advice is to send your luggage the day before departure for the next stop and prepare a backpack with the necessary toiletries and change for the following day (you can store it in a convenient coin locker - read below - while you tour the city) . This way you will find your suitcases ready and waiting for you at the hotel upon your arrival.
Coin lockers are convenient and safe
Coin Lockers or luggage storage lockers in Japan are everywhere, and they are widely used. They are found mainly in stations and in some places with major tourist influx, but sometimes they are also found in secondary streets, look around and you will definitely see one.
Our advice is to use them to store backpacks or hand luggage while waiting for trains while traveling between cities. We found them very useful to avoid walking around the city with heavy backpacks while waiting for the Shinkansen in the late afternoon.
Coin Lockers work quite simply: there is usually a key near the locker which is released after inserting coins and closing the locker door. In other cases there is a totem incorporated or adjacent to the structure which also works with ICs (such as Pasmo, Suica, ICOCA, Suica etc...).
In the latter case, a PIN is issued for opening. Generally the instructions are also in English and if there is a touch screen that also involves changing the language. Be very careful because every time you open the coin locker, to close it you will have to pay the fee again.
Different sizes of lockers are available depending on the need: Small (25/30 cm in height, 35/40 cm in width and 55/60 cm in depth), Medium (55/60 cm in height, 35/40 cm wide and 55/60 cm deep), Large (85/95 cm high, 35/40 cm wide and 55/60 cm deep) and Extra Large (100/120 cm high, 35/40 cm wide and 55/60 cm deep).
Especially in the larger stations and with many Coin Lockers (all the same) I recommend taking a photo of the place, or sending the location via Whatsapp to be sure of finding your suitcase.
There are no rubbish bins
You underestimate the importance of a trash can when you can't find one. In Japan you won't find rubbish bins lying around on the streets, so if you don't want to be forced to wander around with oily papers in your hand or pocket our advice is Always carry a small plastic bag with you where to put the waste that you can throw away in the hotel at the end of the day.
If you take a can from a vending machine or stop to eat in one of the many stalls selling food on the street you will almost always find a place to throw it but if you find yourself out and about and want to empty your pockets or want to enjoy a snack that you have in your backpack could be very complicated find a bin to throw the waste paper in!
Now you are ready to organize your trip to Japan! Also read our article Classic Japan itinerary for advice on what to visit, where to sleep and how to get around Japan's main cities.
Last Updated on 1 September 2024