On most people's bucket lists, Japan holds the number one spot. Planning a trip to the land of the rising sun can be complex and taxing. Luckily I have been there. I myself have gone through the ups and downs of planning a trip to Japan. In this first chapter of this series of posts, I will let you know what you need to take into consideration when planning your trip to Japan.
1 Give yourself plenty of time to plan your trip. There are so many factors that play into planning a huge trip that time is vital. You want to at least start planning a year out from the date you want to fly out to Japan. Airfare, hotel reservations, passports, and tourist attraction tickets play a huge part in planning, but you want plenty of time to plan in case something changes.
2 Keep your options open when it comes to airfare. Don't book the first good deal you see for a flight to Japan. Check periodically with reputable travel sites that allow you to create airfare alerts if great deals come up. Also consider which airport you want to arrive in so you can plan your transportation to your hotel. Don't book too soon, yet don't book too late.
3 Keep yourself updated on TSA rules and guidelines. One of the biggest mistakes travelers make when traveling abroad is disregarding TSA guidelines when knowing what you can take in your luggage, and how much of certain items can go in your carry on luggage. The last thing you want is TSA to delay your time to get to your flight terminal. So, make sure you have knowledge of TSA's guidelines.
4 Travel insurance is a must! Alot can happen when traveling abroad. Your luggage can get lost, you can fall I'll, or one of your flights can get cancelled. Having a great travel insurance plan can keep you covered from obstacles that happen during your trip. When purchasing an insurance plan, make sure the plan covers medical, airfare, and luggage. When you book your flight, the airline might offer travel insurance at a great price.
5 Book a hotel that fits your needs. Take into consideration that Japanese hotel rooms are very compact, have shared bathrooms on some occasions, and are located in very congested areas of town. Look into what is around a hotel such as restaurants, shops, train stations, and proximity to tourist attractions. Don't fear, most Japanese hotels do have rooms with a private bathroom, so make sure you look for that feature.
6 Get yourself an IC card. IC cards are great time savers, and give you another option to help you get on trains, pay for meals, pay for a beverage from a vending machine, and purchase what you need from convenient stores and gift shops. I myself have a Suica card, which is the most popular IC card in Japan. There are ways to get an IC card before your trip. iPhone users have the liberty of downloading the Suica app that allows you to use a digital version of the IC card. You can top up your digital Suica using Apple Bank. Physical IC cards can be purchased on eBay. That is how I got my Suica card. Other IC card brands that work just as well as Suica are Passmo and Icoca.
7 Get your phone data or Wi-Fi situation for your trip sorted out. You will need an alternative way for phone and mobile devices to operate on point in Japan. Without a way of having access to international data or Wi-Fi can be extremely costly. There are two ways to solve this predicament. The first is an eSim. An eSim is a digital sim card you download into your phone that gives you an alternative phone data choice. eSims are mostly affordable, and come in various time choices such as 7, 14, and 30 days. Prebooking a WiFi hotspot is a great choice as well, especially if you are traveling in a group. The hotspots give you a daily allowance of data you choose in the booking process. The units can be linked up to five devices. The hotspots can be picked up and dropped off at your airport. Ninja WiFi is a popular hotspot rental service that is great for foreign travelers.
8 Check to see if your medication is legal in Japan. It is vital to bring your medication with you when you travel, so knowing if your meds are a banned substance in the country you are visiting can eleviate alot of stress. Japan's Ministry Of Health Labour & Welfare have a list of banned meds online. Also take into consideration that you can only take a month's worth of your meds, and must be kept in their original receptacle with label in clear view. A doctor's note is also helpful.
9 Getting a QR code from the Visit Japan website will make your immigration and customs processing run smooth. Weeks after the pandemic, the Japanese government anticipated a huge influx of foreign travelers would arrive in mass numbers. The Visit Japan QR was created to make the processing of travelers coming into Japan much smoother. The QR code is good to go through both Immigration and Customs. To get your own, Google Visit Japan QR code. Once you are on the site, you will create an account. You will then fill out all the information that is asked if you about your trip. This includes flight information, the hotel you are staying at, and if you will be participating in tax free shopping. Once you get your QR code, screen capture the code on your phone from the email containing the code. Having a paper version of the code is helpful as well. In immigration, the clerk will ask you to scan your code on a scanner on their counter. At customs, you will scan your code on a kiosk. The Visit Japan QR code is free.
10 Book your tourist attraction tickets before your departure. Unless you like waiting in long queues, it is smart to prebook your tourist attraction tickets before you leave for Japan. Many of these tickets have visitation time slots, so they may sell out quickly. I purchased my tickets and passes through an app called Klook. Klook allows you to reserve your activity passes months in advance to your trip at a discount. All the major sights are listed in Klook, so you can book all your activities all at once. Klook emails you a QR code that you present at the ticket booth of your attraction. Klook also offers great quality eSim cards. Make sure to download the Klook app today.
11 Make sure your passport is in good order. Your passport is the most important document you will have on your trip. Make sure your passport does not expire during your trip. The condition of your passport is vital, so keep it safe at all times. If you will be participating in tax free shopping in Japan, have your passport within reach. Preferably in a secured bag or crossbody wallet.
12 Learn basic Japanese phrases. You can get around Japan pretty easy speaking English, but knowing basic Japanese phrases will be helpful and much appreciated. Using phrases for hello, goodbye, excuse me, thank you, and help will go a long way with the locals. Try not to point with one finger at anyone. Use all of your fingers when pointing.
13 Do your currency exchange in your home country. In Japan cash is King, yet you want to get the best exchange rate when converting dollars to yen. Exchanging currency through your bank or online service ensures that you will get the best exchange rate. Online exchange services ensure your yen is delivered safely and in a timely manner. The absolute last place to exchange your dollars for yen at a fair rate is your arrival airport. Currency shops in Japan can sometimes have sketchy exchange rates.
14 Make copies of your important documents for your trip. There is always a danger that you can lose your phone, passport, or wallet while on your trip. Making copies of your important documents is a must. It gives you piece of mind and helps if you must report ID articles missing. Articles you should have paper copies of: passport, flight interary, hotel accommodations, health insurance plan, emergency info, and doctor's notes. Keep these copies in your carry on luggage since your main luggage could possibly get lost.
15 Read up on Japanese etiquette. Japanese people are very kind and polite. Having proper etiquette in their home country will keep you from having awkward situations in restaurants, trains, or walking about. Chopsticks have several articles of etiquette alone. Train, dining, and conversation etiquette are the three biggest aspects of manners you will want to look into.
Planning a trip to Japan can be overwhelming. If you give yourself enough time and attention to every aspect of your visit, you will have the time of your life. You are investing time and money into your dream adventure, so being prepared will ensure happiness and bliss.
