8 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Traveled to Japan

I just got back from a trip to Japan where I spent time in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and a brief stop in Busan (Korea). If you’re thinking about planning a trip to Japan, I thought the following FAQs might be useful.

Getting around by subway
This is not intuitive. I found Japan’s entire transportation system to be a bit antiquated. On the bright side, Japan’s subway system and the subway’s infamous bullet trains are efficient, clean, and spacious.

Do I need to book a ticket to use the Bullet Train?
I highly recommend that you do so. Especially when traveling in a group. If you make a reservation in advance using the Tokaido Sanyo Kyushu Shinkansen internet reservation service, you can get two seats at the same time. We have downloaded the app where you can also get the QR code. If you can also print your ticket at your hotel, I suggest you use it as a backup as 4G or WiFi is limited even at stations. Free WiFi is available on Shinkansen trains.

There is also something called a SUICA card which I highly recommend you get from a machine at the train station. It’s like an Oyster card, but you can also use it to buy bottled water from the vending machines that are all over the place.

Does Japan have 4G or do I have to use data roaming?
I work for Vodafone and if I don’t turn off data roaming on the plane it costs me £6.50 a day for data roaming. Check with your provider before you leave. I find that I can use it in restaurants, cafes, hotels and WiFi hotspots in some train stations (but not all). If you use Google Maps, you can grab the route from your screen before you leave.

How hot is it in Tokyo in the summer?
Important Tip. 50SPF is key as the weather is not only very hot but also very humid. If you’re out in the sun in the middle of July, you’re going to be uncomfortable. I brought along my faithful Life Jacket Skin SPF 50 sunscreen and bought some umbrellas while I was out. An umbrella isn’t just for the rainy season. It will provide you with some positive shade and it’s common for both men and women to use umbrellas even when it’s not raining or sunny.

Do places accept American Express cards or is cash king?
Yes, you can easily use an American Express card. I was pleasantly surprised at what they do in some places. Although I would say you should take out as many yen as your budget allows. You can find places to withdraw yen at train stations, as they all have ATMs for withdrawing yen. This is the Japanese way of doing it with both hands when giving or receiving cards or change, just like the cupping motion.

Do I need to be naked to go to a Japanese bath?
100% you will. You will also need to sit down in the shower beforehand. This is the practice at the hotel I stayed at, other establishments may have different codes of conduct, but you definitely have to be nude. If you have a lot of tattoos, you might want to think twice about it. Tattoos are not common in Japanese culture, and they would view someone with severe tattoos as a threat. It might be a good idea to ask the staff if you can use the facilities before taking that chance.

Is the food good? What’s available for Japanese breakfast? Do I need to make a restaurant reservation?
The food was very good and you don’t need to book if you go to one of the restaurants near the fish market. We did spend one night in Ginza and we had a hard time finding a place, but it was Friday night and there were ramos everywhere. You have to consider that eating out in Japan is a big deal. People live in relatively small apartments and would rather go out than stay in. I’ve also heard that the government actively encourages eating out and socializing, so they subsidize meals for people.

I’m sorry, but Japanese breakfast is not for me. Some soup, some salmon, green tea, broccoli. It’s a bit weird and way too healthy. It’s certainly worth trying as I encourage you to embrace the culture, but if there is a western option, I’d go for it.

Best place to buy clothes in Japan?
For me, Tokyo and Ginza are like the new Bond Street. Lots of designer brands like Hugo Boss, Hermes, Gucci and more. It’s fun, but too rich for me. Kyoto has an abundance of thrift stores and American Vintage stores, which are also more fun. You can’t miss them and you can spend hours looking around for bargains and very unique items.