5 Tips for Traveling in Japan!

Traveling to Japan might seem intimidating at first - you have to navigate through a foreign country, and you might also need to handle a language barrier. How do you even begin to plan? Here are some tips that my partner and I learned from our recent trip to Japan. 


1. Japan Rail Pass: This handy pass is worth it if you're planning on traveling long distances by train, and it allows for free seat reservation for the trains as well as the Shinkansen. Just visit the JR ticket booth at the train station, and an agent will help you make a reservation. It even works for same day reservations! Additionally, if you're planning on visiting Miyajima, the JR pass will let you ride the JR ferry out to Miyajima for free.

2. Train Station Lockers: Trains stations generally have a set of coin lockers available for storing your luggage. These lockers come in different sizes and are priced accordingly. Rather than carting your luggage around all day, put it in one of these lockers and head off for the day! Just don't lose your receipt with the passcode.

3. Google Maps isn't always accurate: We found that generally in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, we had no trouble navigating using Google Maps. However, we noticed that Google Maps became increasingly unreliable as we traveled through Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Particularly many bus routes wouldn't even be listed, and we had to resort to asking people. Train station staff, information desk agents, and hotel staff are the best people to talk to if you're not sure how to get somewhere.

4. Konbini: Convenience stores, commonly known as konbini, are everywhere, and they are certainly aptly named. Whether you are in a hurry and just need to buy something quickly, or you want to buy some cheap snacks, konbini are the answer. Not to mention, many have ATMs in case you need to withdraw some more cash (and buy more fun snacks). My favorite options are onigiri, melon bread, or curry bread. :)

5. Carry Cash: It's pretty rare for stores to accept credit or debit cards in Japan. I recommend having a fair amount of cash on hand.

Hope all of this helps, and bon voyage!