Japan

Japan rewards a bit of planning, so start by deciding regions rather than just cities. Many first-time visitors combine Tokyo with Kyoto and Osaka, then add a day trip to places like Nara or Hakone. Give yourself at least 7–10 days to avoid rushing and leave room for serendipitous finds.

A handy rhythm is: one major sight in the morning, one in the afternoon, and flexible evenings for wandering local neighborhoods like Shimokitazawa in Tokyo or Pontocho in Kyoto. Over-scheduling leads to travel fatigue, especially with time spent transferring between trains.

Use Hello’s trip planning tools to group sights by area so you’re not crisscrossing cities all day. Pin temples into one Kyoto day (Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari), then dedicate another to markets and modern culture (Nishiki Market, Kyoto Station). In Tokyo, plan by districts: Shibuya/Harajuku one day, Asakusa/Ueno another.

Book popular experiences ahead—teamLabs Planets, Ghibli Park, sumo tournaments, and seasonal musts like cherry blossom river cruises can sell out weeks in advance. For flexibility, keep a short list of backup activities in the Hello app so if weather or crowds derail Plan A, you have a Plan B ready.

Japan’s public transport is famously efficient, but it helps to know a few tricks. In major cities, get an IC card (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA) from ticket machines; you can tap onto trains, subways, and many buses instead of buying single tickets. The Shinkansen (bullet train) makes longer journeys smooth and fast—reserve seats if you’re carrying larger luggage or travelling at peak times.

Stations can feel like small cities. Look up the exact exit number for your hotel or sight; this can save you a lot of time above ground. On platforms and escalators, follow the arrows and stand to the locally accepted side, keeping bags out of the way.

For navigation, rely on a map app and station signage rather than street names, which are often unmarked. An eSIM from Hello lets you stay connected from the moment you land, so you can check real-time train schedules and alternate routes without hunting for Wi‑Fi.

When riding, keep voices low and avoid eating on local trains; it’s fine on long-distance services if you buy an ekiben (station bento). If you plan day trips, store your main luggage in station lockers and travel light with a daypack.

One of Japan’s joys is how easy it is to eat well without a huge budget. You’ll find excellent ramen for around ¥900–¥1,200 (about US$6–8), conveyor-belt sushi, and hearty set meals at family restaurants. Convenience stores like Lawson and 7-Eleven are perfect for picnic lunches and snacks between sights.

When visiting temples and shrines such as Senso-ji or Meiji Jingu, remember they are active places of worship. Keep voices low, follow photography signs, and remove shoes where requested. At many traditional restaurants and ryokan, you’ll also be asked to take off shoes—wear socks without holes and choose shoes that are easy to slip on and off.

Public spaces are generally calm: avoid loud phone calls on trains, don’t eat while walking in busy streets, and stand neatly in queues. At restaurants, look near the entrance for ticket machines or plastic food displays; they’re surprisingly helpful.

If you’re travelling with others, use Hello’s expense splitting to divide restaurant bills and izakaya nights fairly, and budget tracking to monitor how much you’re spending on food versus attractions in yen. This makes it easier to decide when to splurge on a kaiseki dinner or wagyu and when to keep things simple with street snacks.

Japan is increasingly card-friendly, but cash still matters, especially at small shrines, local ramen shops, and rural areas. ATMs at post offices and convenience stores usually accept international cards, so it’s easy to withdraw ¥10,000–¥20,000 (roughly US$65–130) at a time and top up when needed.

Keep coins handy for lockers, vending machines, and smaller purchases. A simple coin purse goes a long way. Many travellers like to track their spending by category—Hello’s budget tracking can show how much you’ve put toward transport, food, and souvenirs in yen, which helps avoid surprises later.

Staying online is invaluable for train times, translations, and bookings. Set up a Hello eSIM before departure, then activate it on arrival to skip airport Wi‑Fi lines and avoid roaming charges. This makes it easier to use translation apps for menus, check currency conversions, and navigate backstreets.

Carry a small hand towel and hand sanitizer; public bathrooms often lack soap or paper towels. Pack lightweight layers and comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes—temple paths can be gravel, and you’ll likely be on your feet all day. Finally, save local tourism office pages in your Hello trip plan; they’re great for discovering festivals, seasonal illuminations, and lesser-known viewpoints.