Japan

Japan rewards both careful planning and spontaneous detours. For a first trip, many travellers follow the classic "Golden Route": Tokyo – Hakone or Kawaguchiko (for Mount Fuji views) – Kyoto – Osaka – Hiroshima. This gives you a mix of neon skylines, hot springs, temples, and poignant history.

In Tokyo, base yourself near Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Tokyo Station for easy transport. Spend days exploring neighborhoods rather than ticking off sights: Asakusa for Senso-ji, Akihabara for electronics and anime, Daikanyama and Shimokitazawa for cafés and boutiques.

Add a night in Hakone or Kawaguchiko for onsen and Fuji views, then move on to Kyoto for Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, and quieter temples like Nanzen-ji or Daitoku-ji. Osaka is ideal for nightlife and street food in Dotonbori, and Hiroshima pairs well with a day trip to Miyajima.

Use Hello’s trip planning to map your route and keep train times, hotel bookings, and key spots in one place. Japan’s rail system is punctual, but connections can be tight, so having everything organized in the app helps. Aim for 7–10 days for the Golden Route, 14+ if you want to add places like Kanazawa, Takayama, or Hokkaido.

Japan’s public transport is famously efficient, but it can feel overwhelming at first. The backbone of long-distance travel is the shinkansen (bullet train), linking cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima in comfort and speed. Reserve seats on busy routes and holidays; non-reserved cars are fine on quieter weekdays.

In cities, you’ll mainly use IC cards (like Suica or ICOCA) on trains, subways, and buses. You can buy one at major stations and simply tap in and out. Keep your luggage small; trains often lack large suitcase space, and stations involve lots of stairs. For bulkier bags, consider using luggage forwarding services between hotels.

To stay oriented, maps and translation apps are essential. Download them over Wi‑Fi before you go, then stay connected on the move with a Hello eSIM, which you can buy and activate before landing to avoid roaming surprises.

A few on-the-ground tips:

• Avoid rush hour (around 7:30–9:30 and 17:30–19:30) in big cities.
• Queue markings on platforms show where doors will open—line up neatly.
• Quiet voice, no calls in train cars; messaging is preferred.

Use Hello’s trip planning to store train numbers, platform screenshots, and hotel directions so you’re not fumbling for information in busy stations.

Japan is one of the easiest places to eat wonderfully, even without reservations or language skills. You’ll find excellent ramen shops on side streets, sushi counters in department store basements, and late-night izakaya (gastropubs) under the train tracks in places like Yurakucho or Shinbashi.

Try to sample a few must-eats:

• Ramen: tonkotsu in Fukuoka, shoyu in Tokyo, miso in Sapporo.
• Okonomiyaki in Osaka or Hiroshima.
• Kaiseki (seasonal multi-course cuisine) at a ryokan in Kyoto.
• Conveyor-belt sushi, great for solo diners.

Many smaller places use vending-machine ticket systems: insert cash, choose your dish, hand the ticket to staff. If you’re sharing lots of small plates at an izakaya, use Hello’s expense splitting to divide the bill fairly at the end of the night.

Prices vary: a casual ramen bowl might be ¥900–¥1,200 (about US$6–8), while a midrange sushi lunch set could be ¥2,000–¥3,000 (about US$13–20). Track how these meals add up with Hello’s budget tracking, which lets you see your spending in yen and adjust in real time.

Don’t stress about finding “the best” place; in Japan, even station soba or a konbini sandwich can be surprisingly good.

Japan blends high-tech convenience with a lingering preference for cash, especially in older neighborhoods, small restaurants, and rural areas. ATMs at convenience stores like 7‑Eleven and Lawson usually accept international cards. Carry some smaller notes and coins for vending machines, lockers, and temple donations.

To keep on top of costs like transport passes, entrance fees, and daily snacks, use Hello’s budget tracking to log expenses in yen and monitor trends over your trip. When you’re traveling with others, the expense splitting feature is helpful for shared taxis, izakaya dinners, or ryokan stays.

Staying connected makes everything easier—navigating backstreets in Kyoto, checking train platforms, or translating menus. Activate a Hello eSIM before you fly so your phone connects as soon as you land, without hunting for airport counters or dealing with physical SIM cards.

A few etiquette basics go a long way:

• Quiet voices on public transport; avoid phone calls in train cars.
• No eating on local trains and subways; shinkansen are fine.
• Shoes off where indicated (homes, some restaurants, temples); wear socks without holes.
• Trash bins are rare—carry a small bag for your rubbish.

Observing these small customs not only shows respect but also makes your time in Japan smoother and more enjoyable.