Japan Travel Tips

Use the amenity goods at the hotel/hostel
Japan is great about providing you with not only shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, but also toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, and hair brushes. If you're lucky, sometimes you'll get face wash, cleansing foam, moisture milk, face masks, and bath salts. The difference between hotel shampoo in Japan and USA: Japanese hotel shampoo is actually pretty good quality.

Use a tap card
When traveling using public transportation, this tap card is super convenient. Load money on, tap, train. That easy. To start a card, pay $5. You can get the $5 at the end of your trip if you'd like to return your card.


Buy a JR pass
A Japan Rail pass is awesome if you want to venture outside of Tokyo. The JR pass gets you access to all of the bullet trains and JR transportation for 1 week for about $250. It's a no brainer if you plan on exploring!

Buy food from the department stores
There is so much food just waiting to be found... Take the escalator to the bottom floor and enjoy!:)

Use reserve seating on trains
If you know you're going to be taking a train somewhere, try to get a ticket in advance. When you use the reserve cars, you're guaranteed a seat. Otherwise, you might be stuck standing, cramped, with no wiggle room, for two hours. No one wants that!

Be open to trying new foods
You never know what you don't like until you try it. I was pleasantly surprised about numerous foods that I disliked when I tried them in the USA, but loved them when I tried them here!

Don't ask what you're eating until after you're done... If you're brave:)
If you are going to try free samples, don't assume that because it looks like a dessert that it won't taste like fish. But really.

Don't be afraid to eat at chain restaurants
There are some good ones! I especially love all of the patisseries.

Take a mid-afternoon break at a place with a drink bar.
Drink bars are common in Japan. All you can drink coffee, tea, juice, and soda. Pretty standard.

Dress modestly, you will be the most dressed down person in the room, always.
Unless you are wearing a suit or prepared to go to a fancy business meeting, you will be underdressed in Japan. It's inevitable. Interestingly, women rarely show their shoulders. And most men are carrying purses. Welcome to Japan.

Try other types of cuisines like Belgian waffles or French macaroons.
Everything tastes so good! The best places for these little shops are in the train stations.

Eat 3 meals a day, plus snacks
You're in Japan. The locals are doing it. You might as well too!

Go eat where there are no English signs
Who doesn't like a little adventure, right?:)

Picture menus are your best friend
Most menus have pictures. You can just point at what you want to order. No Japanese needed!

Go to a karaoke bar.
I shouldn't have to explain this one. This is the most fun you'll have all trip. And the Japanese love singing English songs, especially Disney.