Last modified 2023-01-10 07:30:05 UTC by ubbies#1337 — All History — Edit — Raw

Japan Trip Planning

Budget

Best time to travel to Japan: Spring or Fall
Avoid traveling in Summer months and especially end of December (Dec 31st-Jan 3rd) as most businesses will be closed during this time.
Month: ???
Est Duration: 18 Days

Get the JR Pass + Pocket Wi-Fi bundle
Pocket Wi-Fi recommended over SIM card (can be used by multiple phones) (arrange pickup at airport)
Bring $200-$300 cash as backup payment for businesses that are cash-only
Rush Hour: 7:30am-9:00am & 5:00-6:30pm or 7:00pm
Buses in Tokyo stop running at 10PM and trains stop running 12AM
Upgrade for extra leg room if flight is long (e.g. 10+ hours)
Spend 2-3 days minimum in each major city
Figure out how to get from airport to hotel and back to airport
Confirm mobile carrier works in Japan before trip or purchase SIM
Interact with the locals to get recommendations, etc
Luggage slots must be reserved for bullet train and there's a limit to luggage size
Kyoto: Taxis are recommended method for traveling in the city
Stay in a Ryokan for at least one night of trip
Stay in Shibuya or Ginza

Hopper for flight alerts
Scott's Cheap Flights
Airport arrival: Haneda in Tokyo is preferred compared to Narita for distance to Tokyo

Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) for Shinkansen (buy 2-3 weeks before trip)
JR Pass Calculator
Suica and Welcome Suica for all other trains and shopping (mobile app available)
Yamato Transport for shipping luggage across Japan and to your hotel to avoid bringing luggage on trains

Cities & Places:

Shopping: