Japan 2019 - Travel Hints

For first-time travelers to Japan, the following notes could be helpful. If you have additional suggestions to share, email me and I'll add the information to this posting.*

 
• If you'll be traveling in Japan, before you leave check to see if a JR Rail Pass will cover your rail and/or bus needs.  The JR Pass provides a significant ticket discount compared to the cost of over-the-counter train ticket purchases. A JR exchange voucher must be purchased from your home country before you arrive in Japan. When you’re ready to use your rail pass, you need to exchange the voucher for a Rail Pass at a JR Pass Exchange Office (typically at an airport or main train station). Make sure when you arrive in Japan that your passport has a Japan entry stamp from Immigration. The JR Pass Exchange Office must see this stamp to issue your JR Pass paperwork.
• When taking a train, note that trains arrive and leave ON TIME. When departing a train, it is a good idea to gather your belongings and stand at the cabin door BEFORE the train arrives at the station. 



Ekiben
Courtesy of Jrailpass.com

• Ship your large suitcase(s) from your current hotel to your next destination hotel when you have a couple of days at the destination lodging location. Some trains are packed with travelers and/or luggage. Lugging a large suitcase into a train cabin can be cumbersome, at best. It is better to ship any large luggage to your next hotel and pack a light carry-on bag for one-night. It took about 24-30 hours for luggage transfers within Honshu Island destinations. The hotels we stayed at were very helpful in arranging luggage shipment to the next hotel (About $20 USD per piece, depending on luggage size and weight). 

• Don't talk on your cell phone while you're riding public transportation or in restaurants. Some trains have special booths for talking on a cell phone. It is better to step outside to converse on your phone.
• Pickup a lunch box at the train station if you'll be traveling over meal times. Most rail stations in Japan sell "ekiben" lunch boxes that you can take on the train. Often, the ekiben choices seem endless and it can be difficult to select just one - they all look delicious ( generally $5 to $10 USD per box). You can also find vending machines that sell beverages, even beer, at most rail stations and retail areas.
• Carry a small plastic bag for personal trash as there are few public garbage cans. It can be some distance before you find a trash can in a public location. That said, there was little or no discarded trash seen loose in the streets. People carry their trash with them until they can discard it.
• Make an advance reservation for rental of a Pocket WiFI router. Many US cellular phones will not operate in Japan. We made an advance reservation with Japan Wireless for a portable WiFi router rental and picked up the device at the Narita airport. This router allowed us to access reasonable concurrent Internet speeds through Japan for our two cell phones and two tablets. This WiFi access supported map navigation, web browsing, email and Skype calls. A pocket WiFi rental for a month ran about $5 USD per day. A backup battery and a prepaid mailer for router return were included with the rental.
• Consider pre-arranging use of a Skype Japan phone number if you want phone access in Japan. Skype will "rent" you a temporary in-country phone number ($19 for three months). If you are unable to answer an incoming Skype call, Skype will send missed call information to your email address.  Skype outbound calls are also very reasonably priced.
• ATM Locations - Besides the airport, you can often find ATMs that accept international bank cards at "Japan Post" office locations and at 7-Eleven stores. Prior to your travels, you should alert your bank about your upcoming Japan travel. Some banks, suspecting fraud, may fail an ATM transaction from a foreign country. 
• Taxi etiquette is a little different in Japan. When taking a taxi, the driver will push a button to automatically open and close the rear passenger door for you.  The doors are not to be touched unless you are prompted by the driver. Seat belt use in Japan is required by regulation. Tipping your taxi driver and/or other service staff is unnecessary.
• Bring a small hand-sized towel with you during the day. Most public bathrooms are very clean but do not have paper towel dispensers. At best, you might find a hand dryer. Many locals carry a small hand towel with them to dry their hands after using a public bathroom. We brought along small face towels to use for this purpose.
• You will typically be given a cloth towel or paper towelette "oshibori" when you sit down at a restaurant or open your ekiben. This towel is to cleanse your hands prior to starting your meal and during your meal should you need it. Often, you will not receive a paper napkin unless your are dining in a Western visitor oriented location.
• When visiting a home in Japan, it is cultural practice to give a small gift, or omiyage, to your host. This especially true when you are visiting from a distant location. The gift does not need to be excessive in cost and could be a pastry, candy, liquor or an item you think the host will enjoy. As an example, we brought small boxes of See's candy for omiyage. Also, be sure to remove your shoes when entering the residence. The host may provide slippers for you to wear in the house – do not wear these slippers outside. You many also find a set of special slippers just to use while you’re in the toilet area.

                            

• Trying on Clothes at a Department Store? Be prepared to remove your shoes before entering into a changing room. For women wearing make-up, you may be given a mask to keep the clothes you're trying on make-up free. 

* USD prices were converted from Yen.