5 Things To Do Before Your Trip to Japan

It’s always helpful to research a country and culture prior to visiting. But there are also some logistics that can make your entire stay much simpler with a bit of pre-planning. Here are 5 things you should know before you go in order to have a seamless trip to Japan! (Plus, read on for some general trips when traveling.)

1. Fill out the Visit Japan form

Prior to departure, it’s recommended to register on the official Visit Japan Web form. It only takes a few minutes and will save you time getting through customs when you land, allowing you to bypass some of the longer security lines. Once you register, the site will generate a QR code that you can use at the airport. (You can also register multiple family members using the same login, but you’ll need to fill out the form for each of them and get a unique QR code for each traveler, including minors.)

Make sure to save all of the QR codes you have generated via a screenshot, or ensure that you will have cell service when you land in order to access the site. (See tip #2 below.) I saved the URL of the website to my iPhone’s homescreen in order to login easily upon landing. (Don’t forget your password!)

An added bonus of using this site is that it can help with tax-free shopping. After clearing customs, a sticker with a QR code is placed on your passport. Log in to the site and scan this to generate a tax-free shopping QR code that you can use to shop during your vacation in Japan WITHOUT having to carry your passport. Many of the larger stores will offer a tax-free line where you can use either this special QR code or your passport to avoid paying the taxes. Not all stores will accept it, but if you plan to do a lot of shopping it’s a nice thing to have!

Side note: Some posts online advise that tourists should carry passports with you at all times in order to have identification if stopped by Japanese authorities. It is however very uncommon to be asked for it, so carry it at your own risk.

2. Get an eSIM prior to departure

If you have a newer phone, it’s likely equipped with the eSIM capability which makes it much easier to access cell phone service in a foreign country. Setting this feature up prior to departure is cheap, easy, and ensures that you have cell phone access from the moment you land in Japan. (Many places in Japan offer free wifi but it can be very spotty, and not always the most secure, so I highly recommend getting an eSIM.)

We used airalo which is a data-only eSIM (no cell phone number) and was very happy with the both the price and quality of the service. I will for sure be using them in my future travels. Pricing starts at only $4.50 for 1 GB of data. For reference, I used 8 GB of data over the course of 10 days which would be about $18. However, this is likely on the high end of usage as we were using Google Maps constantly and also streaming YouTube videos for my kids for hours on end. (By comparison, Verizon charges me $25 per DAY to use data in a foreign country.) You can also get $3 off your purchase of airalo eSIMS using my promo code JAMIE3634.

3. Get a Suica card

Trains and metros are the ultimate way to get around in Japan which has one of the most efficient public transit systems in the world. A Suica card is not only a transit card that allows you tap into the train stations, but can also be used at the convenience stores and some other businesses (and convenience stores are an essential repeat stop during a stay in Japan). You can buy a physical card in the train station when you arrive, but it’s much more easy and efficient to just add the card to your phone, avoiding lines and allowing you to top up the balance whenever you need it.

There’s a mobile app you can download, or even easier if you have an iPhone is to just open your mobile wallet, hit the + sign and select “Transit Card”. Search for Suica (green with a penguin logo). The minimum to add is 1,000 yen. We traveled almost exclusively by metro and train spending anywhere from ¥140 (local metro stops in Tokyo) – ¥580 (long train rides) per trip. You won’t be able to get the money back once you add it to the card, but if you have leftover yen at the end of the trip head to the local convenience store and grab yourself some lunch and snacks. (We even used the very small balance we had left at the airport vending machines to buy water.)

The Tokyo metros, Subway, and JR Trains all use the Suica. But note that certain trains, like the Shinkansen bullet trains, won’t accept Suica cards and will require a separate ticket. (Because the network of trains all share stations, you optionally can tap into the station using a Suica but will not be charged.)

While you’re at it, you can also save this link to the Tokyo subway map.

4. Get tickets and make reservations ahead of time

Speaking of the Shinkansen, if you plan to take this bullet train it may be useful to buy your tickets ahead of time, although not required. You can get tickets the day-of at the station, but if you have particulars about the amount of luggage storage you need on the train, or where you’d like to sit (for us, a family of 4 on the Mt. Fuji side of the train) it may be worth booking these longer-journey trains ahead of time. It also saves a ton of time at the station. There can also be some language barriers so it can be a good idea to buy online. We used Klook for ease of purchase (just a few dollars extra) or you can purchase on the official site.

You’ll also want to book tickets for any of the “must-see” sites on your itinerary, as many of the ticketed attractions are likely to sell out (especially during peak tourist seasons). This includes Shibuya Sky or any of the observations decks, TeamLab Borderless, or any tours.

In addition, making dinner reservations ahead of time can be very beneficial to ensure you can get in. If you have any must-try spots, check online if they take reservations. If you’re looking for great local places, Tablelog is the best site to do your research, and some restaurants offer reservations through their platform. Note that some of the smaller (and often very popular) spots will be walk-ins only, and the famous viral ones will often have a long line.

5. Bring cash

Many businesses in Japan are still cash-only, although the country as a whole is becoming more credit card friendly post-pandemic. We found many restaurants did take credit cards. However, the smaller joints, and especially the food markets, are can’t-miss spots that will require you to pay cash. While there are ATMs if you need to grab some cash, it’s best to show up with some so you can hit the ground running without wandering looking for a bank. (We typically place a call into our local bank in the U.S. ahead of time and they will send out and order the foreign currency for us in a few days. If you aren’t in a major city, this could take longer.) It’s also recommended to bring a coin pouch to store all those smaller yen coins as you will end up with a lot of them jingling in your pocket.

A nice thing to note is that Japan is NOT a tipping culture, and in many cases it can be seen as offensive to try to tip. I find this comforting as a tourist since figuring our local tipping customs can be a source of stress for me when traveling. Other than certain tour guides which may be acceptable to tip, you won’t need to factor in cash for gratuities.

Other “good to know” tips for traveling in Japan:

• No Tips: As mentioned above, there is no tipping in Japan
• Carry cash: As stated, many businesses are still cash only, particularly the food markets.
• Pay as you leave: In sit-down restaurants, you’ll typically pay at the counter when you leave. They won’t bring a bill to the table like in American restaurants.
• Don’t eat and walk: Eating and drinking while walking in Japan is a big no-no. This is especially important in the food markets when you’re grabbing food from the various stalls. There is often a designated area off to the side of these markets where you can eat your food away from the foot traffic. If you try to eat in front of a food stall that does not have designated tables, you may get scolded.
• No trash cans: There are very few public trash cans throughout Japan. It’s common practice to carry your trash with you until you get home. You may find garbage and recycling bins in some train stations and malls. Despite this, Japan is an incredibly clean country, and you’ll see locals pickup trash and bring it with them to dispose of.
• Walk on the left: Japan drives on the left, so pedestrians walk on the left as well.
• No jaywalking: Crossing the street on a red light is significantly less common than in the U.S. Even with no oncoming traffic, the Japanese will wait for the light to change green, so tourists should follow this rule as well.
• Quiet, please: Speak quietly on public transit.
• Face coverings in changing rooms: When trying on clothes, women will often be given a face cover to put over your head to avoid getting makeup on the clothes.
• Sunglasses are touristy: Wearing sunglasses in Japan is not that common, and was at one point associated more with gangs. We did see some locals wearing them, so although it’s not super common it’s not exactly rare. However, as a tourist you should not need to change your behavior – wear the sunglasses and protect your eyes.
• Safety first: Japan is an incredibly safe country. There are reports of people losing their wallet and having it returned to them. For this reason, we felt comfortable leaving a stroller outside a business, for example, as theft is not very common (supposedly with the exception of umbrellas). However that doesn’t mean that petty crime doesn’t exist, especially in tourist areas (and often by fellow tourists).