Tip/Hack: If your flight lands outside of Tokyo, *get the regional IC cards instead of Suica*. ICOCA (Osaka/Kansai), ToICa (Nagoya/Chubu) and SUGOCA (Fukuoka) are currently still being sold without limitations. For tourists, they're virtually the same as Suica, and just as usable on trains/subways/buses/mini-markets in Tokyo! If you are mainly in Tokyo, JR Central confirms (as of right now) that ToICa are also being sold at their ticket offices in Tokyo and Shinagawa Stations without limitations. If you want to get a physical IC card lasting >28 days, I would recommend this.
BTW, just spreading some knowledge/news that I've learn. For cash, you can use the ATMs to get cash but if you want to have cash before you arrive Japan. You can go to the bank you're banking with and request foreign currency (just let them know you want YEN) and they'll order it for you free of charge. I've already did it twice, since I'm traveling to Japan this October with my friends. Hope that helps.
Awesome video! This is the first video of yours I've seen. I'm planning for my trip this spring and I typed up everything into my notes. All in all it seems like a pretty easy time getting through and starting my Japan trip.
As someone who has been buying yen at a good price for that last little bit building up to my trip I recommend watching exchange rates and buying when it is good. It’s almost like you’re getting Japan at a discount! You never know that it will be like when you get there
Excellent video! I've been so overwhelmed with this Tokyo trip I booked on the whim. But watching your videos gave my so much understanding. Thank you!
0:41: 🛂 Important information about entering Japan as a tourist. 3:08: 🛂 After passing through Immigration and Customs, there are still essential things to know about the airport in Japan. 5:47: 💳 You can use your iPhone as a virtual IC card for transportation in Japan. 8:33: 🛄 You can have your luggage shipped from the airport to your hotel, allowing you to explore without carrying it around. 11:11: 🚌 Taking a bus from major airports like Haneda or Narita is a convenient option for avoiding crowded trains and dealing with luggage. Recap by Tammy AI
This is brilliant, thank you so much, came just in time for my solo trip end Sep! While most I’ve already known and some may seem like common sense (e.g maxing out tourist suica and paying remainder in cash), having this walkthrough calms the mind for sure. Didn’t know that the Suica can be added and created virtually via Wallet - was under the impression that I need to add it in like a credit card with the tourist pass (don’t even know if this works) and might actually consider getting the physical one as a standby.
Ahhh, your videos make me feel at ease. Thank you for always helping us visitors! :) Can you do a video specifically about Yamato/kuroneko? We'd be travelling between cities and wouldn't want to push our luggage bags all around the Shinkansen lol! Thanks as always and much love from Australia!
@@harblife seconding this, there's one part of my upcoming journey where kuroneko isn't ideal due to restrictions, so knowing alternatives would be great!
@@harblife I am a student going from Delhi to los angles. I have a layover at haneda airport and then a connecting flight from Narita airport, i want to know whether public transport like buses are efficient and readily available to move from hnd to nrt.
We are going on a trip to Thailand in November and have a 10 hour layover in Tokyo. THIS is a video. This is how it’s done. I really appreciate all the information!
Sometimes airlines refuse to keep your suitcases when you have a long layover or change airlines. I used to put my suitcase in the left luggage service. They charged a small fee. I don't know if Narita still has this service.
Thank you for pulling this all together and I appreciate the change in your pitch over time. It feels more like listening to you talk about it then trying to old tyme game show host sales pitch it.
Thanks for the positive feedback! Yea I went for more of my normal voice rather than my announcer voice haha. Glad you have been following for so long to see that change though!
As for the JR pass, yes, cheaper alternative passes exist, but the main one is still a great deal if you are using it primarily for long-distance Shinkansen rides across zones. If you Google it, there is a calculator online that tells you if it is worth it for you to purchase the pass. Just add your locations. In my experience, a pass nearly always makes sense. I like the green seats pass. I find it worth the extra money. It often means a 2x2 row of seats instead of a 3x2, which yields a bigger seat. More leg room. And most important, less people in the car. They are much more quiet. Typically just salarymen traveling without conversation. I’ve never seen kids in green. Also, I like to buy directly from JR which allows me to make my reservations online. This is ideal for anyone without a fixed travel itinerary, as otherwise you’ll be running to the station to get tickets or you’ll need to hope that availability is there when you arrive.
My friends got a 7 day pass for their 10 days, but my sister and I are there for 15 days and got the full 2 week pass. Sure it's expensive but considering its her first time in Japan and my second, I know we will be taking trains more often than not and she may want to venture another place for a day trip and can do so without worrying about costs and booking a ticket. It would be nice if you could just tap to pay per ride, and it automatically adjusts to the PASS price if you ride enough trips that week or two weeks.
@@harblife redundant? Or you just wanted to get your affiliate link and commission? Another important factor in choosing to buy directly from JR (even though more expensive), not agents, is that you don't need to wait days to get physical POST MAIL delivered to your physical address (instead more convenient and reliable email confirmation). Extremely important for people living in countries with poor mail post system. I see that this info is regularly omitted by CZcamsrs advertising their affiliate links. It's ok to have one, but please provide others full info.
Im off to Tokyo next monday, and doing Osaka, Kyoto then back to Tokyo. Those trips seem to total 30,000 yen on the Klook app (for trains). Doesnt seem worth it at all for me. Let me know if there are other apps that might be cheaper
At the time i travelled to Japan (June) i found the 7-eleven ATM's to be the most convenient with the best exchange rate. You may find a better rate from an independent place, but cant beat how easy to access 7-elevens were
I agree with this as someone who lived in Japan. Also Japan Post ATMs. Japan Post is the Post Office/Bank of Japan. However most Japan Post ATMs close at around 3-5pm where as 7/11 are 24 Hours.
Yea definitely 7-11 is the best of the three. I need to make an updated vid about it. I have an old video that talks about it, but I think it's time to make an update!
This video was like the perfect checklist for my trip to Japan, which will start in exactly three weeks. I've got the QR codes from Visit Japan Web, some cash for the first few days and a charged Suica card on my iPhone. Still need to order some eSIM. The one thing I really don't need is the JR Rail Pass, because it's not quite possible to go from Tokyo to Naha or Ishigaki by train.
I’m going back to Japan for the 8th (? - I’ve lost count lol) time this coming November. Although I’m familiar with some of the topics you’ve mentioned, I learned some new things with this video. I appreciate the effort in keeping us up to date with any changes! Subscribed!
Thanks for this video, much appreciated! I'll be visiting Japan in a few weeks and will be going to lots of the places you recommend in your other videos.
Hi Harb! Good to see you back home and hope you enjoyed your time in Hawaii! As always, amazing and informative tips for us would-be and soon-to-be tourists in Japan. Thankfully, I hail from a visa exempt country for entry to Japan, so that's one less thing to worry about, but I have just a couple of questions: 1) Regarding the Welcome Suica: is this available to pick-up in Kansai Intl. Airport in Osaka? I'd love to get the Passmo one (awesome design), but I'll only arrive at Tokyo at the mid-way point of my time in the country, so other than being a nifty souvenir to take home it would arrive too late in my hands to be of much use. 2) Though not covered in this video, perhaps you've had this experience: would you say a visit to Kamakura is better as a full-day trip, or half-day trip? From our lodgings in Tokyo it's about an hour away, so I was thinking we could make a day out of it, but I can't find enough info. on whether it's worth an entire day of time or not. Any orientation would be appreciated. Cheers!
👋 RE 1) Welcome Suica and Pasmo are not available in Osaka (as they aren't sold there), *however* you can get the ICOCA from most JR stations in Osaka, including Kansai Airport. They're usable virtually everywhere a Suica is accepted, and unlike Suica, they haven't (yet) limited the sales, so you should get your hands on an ICOCA as soon as you land at KIX!
Peso has your back on the first question! I would say Kamakura can be knocked out in half a day, but you should spend the second half of the day at Enoshima as well! You can head to the top of the lighthouse and get some magnificent views! Google it and you'll see what I mean!
Good content. My only differing opinion is on cash where I do carry quite a lot going in as exchange is quite easy from my local country and it allows me to control the rate. While one can argue ATM (convenience stores) are quite easy to locate, it is still a hassle to run around prior lunch etc as you don't always know if the restaurant accepts cards!
@@harblifeDo hotels in Tokyo tend to have safes or lockboxes in them like America does? That would make me feel a little better about bringing more cash with me if I could safely leave it in my hotel room. 😅
You can easily ans safely use the ATMs in local post offices. Alternatively, convenience store 7/11 has ATM machines inside and was told that they offer competitive exchange rate.
@@harblife That's surprising. Japanese commonly carry hundreds around with them. (or at least used to). From a safety perspective, my concern is misplacing the cash, not having it stolen.
Apparently you can also charge the electronic IC card on your iPhone with cash the same way you would charge a physical card. For those who don’t have a MC or Amex there is still a way to use the suica or pasmo card on your phone.
unless it has changed, u can charge the suica card/phone at 7-eleven recharge kiosks or jr recharge kiosks for IC card… u just have the suica card open on fone and place in the area where u normally place the card
Also to note: renting a car can cost about the same as a JR pass. I recent paid ¥120k for a month from Toyota. That is the same price as two 21-day JR passes at the pre-October 2023 low prices. Add on gas, tolls, and parking expenses, and it could be roughly the same for the month. Cars make so much sense in the countryside, especially exploring the Alps. One could do rail pass for city exploration and then break out to nature with a rental car. It is a winning combo for me. Just be aware that tolls add up, so don’t use the car for long distance-like don’t drive from Tokyo to Kagoshima. Stay within 1-4 prefectures. Rail is easier, but cars get you exactly where you want to go.
Car rental in Japan is relatively cheap. But parking fees are a tad expensive. While in Hokkaido, after zipping around in Sapporo city using the trains, we rented a car for 5 days and drove from Sapporo to the various popular places like Otaru, Niseko, Noboribetsu, Lake Toba and even the coastal town Muroran. It was the best decision we ever made as we got to see so much more of what tourists usually see, especially the beautiful scenery of the outskirts and countryside villages. Those were my most memorable ones during my Japan trip.
Just fyi, i went to Haneda Airport back in December 2022, right after Japan open to International Travel. I don’t think there has been much change between now and then, but transportation wise, it’s better to spend the $80 dollar for a taxi ride from Haneda Airport to Tokyo Station. The rate varies by distance, but i think it was worth it. It was only a 10 minute ride, and you can get a cab pretty quick once you get pass immigration. The bus is nice, but if you are heading to Nagano, iiyama, and then to Nozawa Onsen for snowboarding, the bus only leaves in the morning. When you get to the drop-off point, it is night time there. It’s better to fly in, find a hotel, and then caught a ride on the Shinkansen. The ramps are 20, 21, 22, 23 for Nagano, and it takes roughly an 1h 30 minutes to get there. Haneda Airport has a hotel in the terminal. So if you don’t want to go far after arriving, you can spend the night there. I don’t know how to get a reservation there. Haneda Airport is the closest of the two airports to Tokyo Station and Shinjuku. JR PASS is worth it but i would go with the first class 7 day or 14 days if you plan to use it a lot. Once you give your JR voucher to the person at Tokyo Station, they will give you your JR ticket, it is active on the day you give your vouchers. Don’t give it at night because that night will count as a day use. I would suggest giving your JR Voucher for the Pass early in the morning and that counts as the first day to use. Also, first class has reserved seats, economy class is first come first served seats. Typically there are 12 cars to a train, 1 car is Gran Class, 5 first class and 6 economy class cars. An even number car will have that area to store luggage. Sorry i am going off of memory.
Extra things i should add to help travelers: 1. If you are using a JR Pass, it’s tied to your passport. The Kiosk will ask for the last 4 of your passport number, but this is in error because it needs the entire Passport Number. 2. When you get your ticket, your JR Pass and ticket goes through the ticket gate. The machine will separate the tickets and if I am not mistaken, it will hole-punch the ticket. When you get to your destination, the gate-machine will take the ticket and keep it, but it will spit your JR Pass out at the other end. 3. If you have a JR Pass and you don’t want to get a ticket from the kiosk (you know what platform you are going to and you are traveling in a economy class), you can use your JR Pass as an individual ticket. The gate-barrier will open and the machine will move your JR Pass Ticket to the outlet slot. 4. There’s no sales tax except for alcohol consumption. So you won’t pay sales tax for hotel stay, train rides, non-alcohol purchases, and services. 5. When you fly to Japan, make sure you fill out the blue questionnaire card that you submit to immigration. It will have boxes. Make sure you answer all of them. I missed a question, question 5 which was in a small box. I filled my card on the flight to Japan on the plane (Hawaiian Airlines). It will ask if you are traveling with a crossbow. Make sure to answer all the question before you get to the first immigration station. 6. A sim card or pocket wifi isn’t needed if you have a phone carrier that works in Japan. I have T-Mobile, and I could use their network. The only issue is that the network wasn’t any better than 3G. When you get to a hotel or a bullet train, wifi is provided there. 7. When you get to an “Onsen or Yu,” make sure you bathe before stepping into a hot springs bath. Proper ethics are to come in, take your shoes off by the shoe-shelves before stepping on the platform, take your clothes off, bathe with soap and shampoo, and then you enter the hot springs pool. 8. Bathhouse that are locally owned and ran by a family or staff, you need to take your shoes off at the entrance. Sandals or foot-mules will be provided, and the entrance feee to bathe, use the facilities runs around 600 yen or $4.00 to $5.00. Using the equipment is covered by the cost and there is no time limit. Towels, bath soap, shampoo, and other necessities are covered. The only things that aren’t covered by the entrance fees if you want to buy gifts or drinks or food. Massage chair require money for use. Locations may vary from what i wrote depending on where you go. The town i went to has a public bathhouse with a restaurant and theater in it. You pay the entrance fee and you can use amenities there.
One minor correction - when you turn in your voucher to receive your JR Pass, the person at the counter will usually ask (and if they don't ask, you can specifically request) if you want the actual pass to start that day or on a different day - if I remember correctly, there's also a spot on the form you fill out at the JR service center before turning in your voucher asking what day you wish the pass to be activated. So if the service center is open when you arrive, even if you plan to have the pass activate on another date, you can make it a part of your after-landing routine before leaving the airport for your hotel.
great idea about the QR code screen shots for arrival. We will need a passenger arrival stamp to get our JR Passes too so I assume that contact with immigration still happens, when you get your finger print and photo taken?
@@harblife supposedly there are some automated immigration gates/booths, where you don't have contact with immigration officer. That's why people are asking..
I visited Japan late July. JR pass is essential without a doubt. I did not know about the luggage delivery but I highly recommend it because we had so many issues finding our way through all the trains especially since we did not know anything about them. I also did not use a suica card and just used cash instead which was no real issue, it also makes it easier to get refunds if you make a mistake. Also, most places did take card but it would still be good to have cash in all denominations.
Although cash is definitely useful and definitely have som with you, I'd say that for card, it's MUCH better to just pay with icoca/suica/pasmo even at card locations. There are challenges at some terminals with foreign issued cards... but IC cards always work. I just reload my IC card with Apple pay in 2 seconds on my Apple Watch, so it's basically the same thing.
@@Sarafara7 yes. I think a round trip to another city is enough to pay for it. Typical fare for trains around Tokyo was 2-6 if I remember correctly. It may not be worth it if you’re not leaving Tokyo
Can I ask how luggage delivery works? You can book these at large stations and they just deliver to an address the next day? I’ll be traveling between Osaka and Tokyo with a group of 7 and there will be plenty of luggage and concerned about the new Shinkansen limits. Thanks.
Thank god, for a second i thought theyd introduced some new covid restrictions that id have to get an extra jab for before my trip. Gonna be i. Japan in less than 3 weeks now, both anxious and excited for it, itll be here before i know it
We’re coming to Japan next week with a relatively big group of people and your videos have been insanely helpful in the trip planning and prep! Any recommendations or tips in particular for a group of 8 plus toddlers? 👀
How was your experience with the toddlers? I'm geniuenly curious because next week I'll be in Tokyo with a 2-year-old. Especially the restaurant wait times, did you book in advance? How was the subway rides with crying toddlers? Ours is too energetic, almost like running a thermonuclear power plant inside.
First, thank you @Harblife for this video. Below are from my experiences when traveling to Japan a number of times. Use your credit card whenever possible, because you will get the market rate. Make sure your credit card is a travel credit card that does NOT charge a conversion fee when used. Carry some cash. Then you're set. Get a JR pass before coming to Japan. NO need for suica or passmo. Buy the 48-hour/72-hour subway pass in Tokyo at the pass offices at major train stations. They are DIRT cheap and are UNLIMITED rides, because they are designed for tourists. They require to see your passport to sell you the pass.
The JR pass is no longer worth it for most tourists unless they’re going to take the bullet train a million times. The price has significantly increased starting October of this year.
@@tommvv you have to buy it by September 29th, basically, and the voucher will only be good until December 31st. Anything past that will be at the new rate.
Thanks for the info :) I’m visiting around Christmas and New Years…how is the situation with things being open for New Years? I know it’s an important holiday for the Japanese, and I heard things may be closed. Will it be an issue like I’m afraid it will be? :/ thanks for the advice in advance 😊
My family and I will be in Japan from December 18 to January 5. This will be our fourth trip traveling at that time of year. You will notice more Japanese nationals traveling domestically during that time. The hotels, restaurants, shopping areas, domestic flights, and trains will have more locals than you would think, with fewer tourists. Some businesses will close for a few days, but we never had any problems finding open places in Tokyo and Osaka (except for retail stores on New Year's Day). It may be more of an issue in rural areas and with small or mom-and-pop businesses. But even on New Year's Day, there are many restaurants open. They are very crowded, however, so I would recommend reservations. The major retail stores reopen on January 2 with sales galore and are very crowded. Hatsumode (the first trip of the year to the shrine or temple) is a pleasant experience.
Christmas is a normal working day, so everything around then is open as usual. New Years is a different story. The big department stores, electronics chains, malls, chain restaurants/bars, convenience stores, will be open, but that's about it. Even in major cities like Tokyo a lot of local businesses, izakayas, and even museums will be closed during that first week of Jan. Whatever is open may also have reduced hours. A lot of Japanese head out of the cities to go back to their hometowns, so domestic travel at the start and end that New Year holiday period can be hell with over-capacity trains and full airports.
31st Dec will be very busy for Japanese and many will close early i think and for Jan 1st, i didn't really go to restaurants to eat as i've only arrived that day but i was able to buy simcard from bic camera, went to uniqlo and convenience stores were open as usual. the streets were pretty busy and many were open so i don't think you'll have any hard time looking for restaurants or some shops (unless it's family owned or something) in big cities (i was living in tokyo that time) - for trains, it was fine for me nothing extremely busy - for shrines on the other hand, i think i queued for 2 hours+ at meiji jingu to pray (2nd Jan) also, have fun! i'll be visiting japan next month after 7 long years so i'm excited 😊
Thank you for your video. One question about Visit Japan Web and JR Pass: it is my knowledge that JR Pass is available only for foreign customers that have a tourist permission stamp on their passport. What about the electronic procedure at arrival? If I show my QR codes to some electronic scanner/ gate, will I be able to obtain a stamp on my passport? Will the immigration gates have some human assistance too? Hope the question is clear, thank you in advance
Was wondering the same, hopefully someone can clarify. Just purchased my JR Pass for November and filled out all information on Visit Japan. The tax-free code can't be generated without a landing stamp so it'd be counter-productive to not have one issued if using Visit Japan 🤷🏻♀️
IIRC, for the immigration portion of arrival, the electronic gates are limited to Japanese citizens, tourists usually have to go through the lines to speak to a human (thus meaning you'll get the stamp required to get the JR Pass) - the QR code basically simplifies the process for the immigration officer, as they have all the landing info you used to have to fill out on a paper form immediately populate on their computer.
I have 3 hotel address's for my trip, but it only lets me put one in for the trip... so I just put the one I'm staying at when I first arrive but I'll have print outs of all my hotels with me.
I haven't just the arrival. I feel like they can probably check your info from what you give and see you have a departure ticket. Just assuming though @@Omni0404
Great videos and insightful content! I was so close to visiting and working in Japan at one point myself. I had experience with Motion Capture and in late 2015 I was in contact with Capcom about the facial likeness role of Leon for the Resident Evil 2 Remake. I failed to mention I also have a voice acting background, in the end I lost the part and I can't forgive myself for wasting such an opportunity. That would've been a real dream come true to visit Japan.
I’m going in mid October and already filled it out a couple of weeks ago. Why wait? Just go ahead and do it and that’s one less thing to worry about. It’s not complicated and you create a password. That way if you don’t finish it you can go back later, sign-in and pickup where you left off. Just fill in the blanks with your info.
Anyone pay for their phone carriers (AT&T) international plan? It’s $9.99 a day and Japan is on the list. Does everyone prefer the pocket wifis because it is slightly cheaper and maybe gives you access in areas the phone plan might not?
Can't comment on AT&T but my wife and I have a decent/good T-Mobile plan that covers international usage that we've been using in Japan for 6-8 years. We've used pocket wifi many times and we prefer to use our own plan now.
I've been critical of your videos in the past, but this is excellent. Very good video. Very informative. Spot on on the key dot points on getting sorted for a holiday in Japan. I've always said, the next most important things to sort after flights and accommodation, are pocket wifi, JR Railpass and IC Card.
I appreciate your constructive feedback, whether it be positive OR negative! As long as you have a valid point to offer for me to improve, I will always listen! Thanks for dropping by!
Greetings from korea 🇰🇷 😊❤ It's lame we didn't see each other in Yokohama in August because you were in Hawaii 😪 I am visiting Philippines and Thailand next Before moving to Japan 😊❤
Thank you for a very clear, concise informative video, so I’m planning my trip for November and arriving 2230 if we arrive on time - so you have helped me plan for late night arrival
Thank you for this video. My husband and I are planning a trip for 2024 April and very excited. We do have money set aside for the JR pass as we are spending time in Osaka and Kyoto. Much of this info I was already aware of but I still appreciate seeing any kind of updates. Thank you again
Staying at a hotel near the airport upon arrival was a good idea. I did that the second time I went to Japan. The first time, I was planning to stay at a friends apartment which was 2 trains away from the airport. It was a nightmare. I was too jet lagged and exhausted to want to make a long train journey. Having a hotel to lie down and shower and recover a bit from the flight is way smarter and I was so glad I did that.
Someone who talk straight. Get to the point. No drama. Best video. Though it would have been more appreciated if u could have provided some prices for luggage transfer or approx prices. They help alot. Thank you
Thanks for that info. I'm currently looking at booking a room as we arrive just before midnight (barring any delays)and was not aware that there was no transport after a certain time. You've just saved my bacon!
can you do a video about solo travelling in japan from narita to hokkaido/okinawa? like what travel forms would be recommended and where to stay cheap/efficient, would be amazing to see your insight and could be a cool educational challenge :)
By far the most concrete and in-depth guide. Everyone else is basically shilling their referral codes wrapped up as video guides (it's fine to have those, y'all gotta get paid somehow after all but most of them are zero content, 99% shill)... Thank you
this information is good to know one think i have learned because of the Covid pandemic is that japan is one of the most incopetent Nations on Earth so its good to keep up with the changes in requirements when entering this country
Hey, your travel guide vlog is a goldmine for wanderers like me! Your insights are so valuable and practical. By the way, have you come across the new v4 Bento Bag from NomadLane? Seems like a great companion for your adventures!
Tip/Hack: If your flight lands outside of Tokyo, *get the regional IC cards instead of Suica*. ICOCA (Osaka/Kansai), ToICa (Nagoya/Chubu) and SUGOCA (Fukuoka) are currently still being sold without limitations. For tourists, they're virtually the same as Suica, and just as usable on trains/subways/buses/mini-markets in Tokyo!
If you are mainly in Tokyo, JR Central confirms (as of right now) that ToICa are also being sold at their ticket offices in Tokyo and Shinagawa Stations without limitations. If you want to get a physical IC card lasting >28 days, I would recommend this.
I’ve got an ICOCA card issued in Osaka, can I use it everywhere in Tokyo?
@@jasontaylor6520yep, you can use ICOCA anywhere in Japan.
Dang, thank you so much for his tip.
@@jasontaylor6520yes
@@jasontaylor6520 yes. It's the exact same function as Suica and Passmo.
BTW, just spreading some knowledge/news that I've learn. For cash, you can use the ATMs to get cash but if you want to have cash before you arrive Japan. You can go to the bank you're banking with and request foreign currency (just let them know you want YEN) and they'll order it for you free of charge. I've already did it twice, since I'm traveling to Japan this October with my friends. Hope that helps.
True thanks for sharing!
how many days in advance did that take?
Thank you always for the great updates and content. Very easy to follow and with all the key points laid out perfect 👌
Thank you for the kind words!
Awesome video! This is the first video of yours I've seen. I'm planning for my trip this spring and I typed up everything into my notes. All in all it seems like a pretty easy time getting through and starting my Japan trip.
Thanks so much for the compliment! I hope you check out my newest video dropping in a few hours. It should be an interesting watch!
Wow, this video just removed so much stress from my life as I have been planning for my trip in November. Thank you so much for your great content.
Not a problem! Glad I could help you out :)
As someone who has been buying yen at a good price for that last little bit building up to my trip I recommend watching exchange rates and buying when it is good. It’s almost like you’re getting Japan at a discount! You never know that it will be like when you get there
Where do you buy yen?
@@lbabe1996 usually just through my bank or a exchange store
At your bank, but you probably have to order it. You’ll get it in a few days.
Currently at 1 usd to 146 yen which is really good!
@@funkychicken2119 it was at 17 at Narita airport when I went in march
Excellent video! I've been so overwhelmed with this Tokyo trip I booked on the whim. But watching your videos gave my so much understanding. Thank you!
Such a helpful video. You explained things so clearly and sensibly. Much appreciated.💖
Glad to help!
This information is very comforting and helpful, thanks Alex and Matilda 🤗
Thanks so much for watching as always Followthesun!
Wow, it’s almost like this video was made for me!! Thank you for yet another informative video!!
I am glad I could help you out! I'll let you know next time I go to Hawaii ! :)
@@harblife yes let me know!! I would love to meet up.
Thanks for the update!
Thank you for the kind words!
There is so much value in this single Video! Thanks for sharing
No problem! Glad I could help you out!
0:41: 🛂 Important information about entering Japan as a tourist.
3:08: 🛂 After passing through Immigration and Customs, there are still essential things to know about the airport in Japan.
5:47: 💳 You can use your iPhone as a virtual IC card for transportation in Japan.
8:33: 🛄 You can have your luggage shipped from the airport to your hotel, allowing you to explore without carrying it around.
11:11: 🚌 Taking a bus from major airports like Haneda or Narita is a convenient option for avoiding crowded trains and dealing with luggage.
Recap by Tammy AI
MVP
This is brilliant, thank you so much, came just in time for my solo trip end Sep! While most I’ve already known and some may seem like common sense (e.g maxing out tourist suica and paying remainder in cash), having this walkthrough calms the mind for sure. Didn’t know that the Suica can be added and created virtually via Wallet - was under the impression that I need to add it in like a credit card with the tourist pass (don’t even know if this works) and might actually consider getting the physical one as a standby.
I am so glad I could help you out! I learn new things about Japan everyday even though I have been living here for a while. Can never learn enough!
Thank you! first time going in 3 weeks, and I'm excited and terrified.
Thank you, I have found your youtube channel, you have eased my fear of travelling to Japan. Your guide and explanation are really very helpful.
Great!!! I am glad I could help you out!
Ahhh, your videos make me feel at ease. Thank you for always helping us visitors! :)
Can you do a video specifically about Yamato/kuroneko? We'd be travelling between cities and wouldn't want to push our luggage bags all around the Shinkansen lol!
Thanks as always and much love from Australia!
Not a problem man! I'll see what I can do about Kuroneko like you asked!
@@harblife seconding this, there's one part of my upcoming journey where kuroneko isn't ideal due to restrictions, so knowing alternatives would be great!
@@harblife I am a student going from Delhi to los angles. I have a layover at haneda airport and then a connecting flight from Narita airport, i want to know whether public transport like buses are efficient and readily available to move from hnd to nrt.
We are going on a trip to Thailand in November and have a 10 hour layover in Tokyo. THIS is a video. This is how it’s done. I really appreciate all the information!
Thank you so much!
Sometimes airlines refuse to keep your suitcases when you have a long layover or change airlines. I used to put my suitcase in the left luggage service. They charged a small fee. I don't know if Narita still has this service.
Thank you for the advice. :) Will be going for 3 weeks in January.
Great! Have fun!
Thank you for pulling this all together and I appreciate the change in your pitch over time. It feels more like listening to you talk about it then trying to old tyme game show host sales pitch it.
Thanks for the positive feedback! Yea I went for more of my normal voice rather than my announcer voice haha. Glad you have been following for so long to see that change though!
As for the JR pass, yes, cheaper alternative passes exist, but the main one is still a great deal if you are using it primarily for long-distance Shinkansen rides across zones. If you Google it, there is a calculator online that tells you if it is worth it for you to purchase the pass. Just add your locations. In my experience, a pass nearly always makes sense. I like the green seats pass. I find it worth the extra money. It often means a 2x2 row of seats instead of a 3x2, which yields a bigger seat. More leg room. And most important, less people in the car. They are much more quiet. Typically just salarymen traveling without conversation. I’ve never seen kids in green. Also, I like to buy directly from JR which allows me to make my reservations online. This is ideal for anyone without a fixed travel itinerary, as otherwise you’ll be running to the station to get tickets or you’ll need to hope that availability is there when you arrive.
Yup I agree! I covered that in my other JR pass video and didn't want to be redundant by going over it again on this one.
My friends got a 7 day pass for their 10 days, but my sister and I are there for 15 days and got the full 2 week pass. Sure it's expensive but considering its her first time in Japan and my second, I know we will be taking trains more often than not and she may want to venture another place for a day trip and can do so without worrying about costs and booking a ticket. It would be nice if you could just tap to pay per ride, and it automatically adjusts to the PASS price if you ride enough trips that week or two weeks.
@@harblife redundant? Or you just wanted to get your affiliate link and commission? Another important factor in choosing to buy directly from JR (even though more expensive), not agents, is that you don't need to wait days to get physical POST MAIL delivered to your physical address (instead more convenient and reliable email confirmation). Extremely important for people living in countries with poor mail post system. I see that this info is regularly omitted by CZcamsrs advertising their affiliate links. It's ok to have one, but please provide others full info.
Im off to Tokyo next monday, and doing Osaka, Kyoto then back to Tokyo. Those trips seem to total 30,000 yen on the Klook app (for trains). Doesnt seem worth it at all for me. Let me know if there are other apps that might be cheaper
At the time i travelled to Japan (June) i found the 7-eleven ATM's to be the most convenient with the best exchange rate. You may find a better rate from an independent place, but cant beat how easy to access 7-elevens were
I agree with this as someone who lived in Japan. Also Japan Post ATMs. Japan Post is the Post Office/Bank of Japan. However most Japan Post ATMs close at around 3-5pm where as 7/11 are 24 Hours.
Yea definitely 7-11 is the best of the three. I need to make an updated vid about it. I have an old video that talks about it, but I think it's time to make an update!
Thank you so much for making such a concise and useful video showing all the updates for travelers! Keep up the incredible work!
Concisely lol
Thank you so much for your kind words :) . I like to get straight to the point and cram as much info as I can into one vid lol!
Precisely! haha
This answered pretty much every question I have. Thank you!! 🙏🏽
Great glad I could help you out!
This video was like the perfect checklist for my trip to Japan, which will start in exactly three weeks. I've got the QR codes from Visit Japan Web, some cash for the first few days and a charged Suica card on my iPhone. Still need to order some eSIM. The one thing I really don't need is the JR Rail Pass, because it's not quite possible to go from Tokyo to Naha or Ishigaki by train.
Great!! Sounds like you have it all sorted out! Let me know how your trip goes!
I’m going back to Japan for the 8th (? - I’ve lost count lol) time this coming November. Although I’m familiar with some of the topics you’ve mentioned, I learned some new things with this video. I appreciate the effort in keeping us up to date with any changes! Subscribed!
Wow glad I could still help out a veteran like yourself about preparing for Japan! Hope to hear from you again!
Thanks for this video, much appreciated! I'll be visiting Japan in a few weeks and will be going to lots of the places you recommend in your other videos.
Great! Glad I could be such great help for your upcoming trip in Japan 😊
Very useful video. Thanks!
Hi Harb! Good to see you back home and hope you enjoyed your time in Hawaii!
As always, amazing and informative tips for us would-be and soon-to-be tourists in Japan. Thankfully, I hail from a visa exempt country for entry to Japan, so that's one less thing to worry about, but I have just a couple of questions:
1) Regarding the Welcome Suica: is this available to pick-up in Kansai Intl. Airport in Osaka? I'd love to get the Passmo one (awesome design), but I'll only arrive at Tokyo at the mid-way point of my time in the country, so other than being a nifty souvenir to take home it would arrive too late in my hands to be of much use.
2) Though not covered in this video, perhaps you've had this experience: would you say a visit to Kamakura is better as a full-day trip, or half-day trip? From our lodgings in Tokyo it's about an hour away, so I was thinking we could make a day out of it, but I can't find enough info. on whether it's worth an entire day of time or not. Any orientation would be appreciated.
Cheers!
👋 RE 1) Welcome Suica and Pasmo are not available in Osaka (as they aren't sold there), *however* you can get the ICOCA from most JR stations in Osaka, including Kansai Airport. They're usable virtually everywhere a Suica is accepted, and unlike Suica, they haven't (yet) limited the sales, so you should get your hands on an ICOCA as soon as you land at KIX!
Peso has your back on the first question!
I would say Kamakura can be knocked out in half a day, but you should spend the second half of the day at Enoshima as well! You can head to the top of the lighthouse and get some magnificent views! Google it and you'll see what I mean!
Good content. My only differing opinion is on cash where I do carry quite a lot going in as exchange is quite easy from my local country and it allows me to control the rate. While one can argue ATM (convenience stores) are quite easy to locate, it is still a hassle to run around prior lunch etc as you don't always know if the restaurant accepts cards!
Sure! Everyone has differing ideas of what works best for them! I just personally wouldn't feel safe carrying all that cash on me.
@@harblife true, i guess Japan's added safety makes it more "ok". Definitely wouldn't feel the same way in other countries!
@@harblifeDo hotels in Tokyo tend to have safes or lockboxes in them like America does? That would make me feel a little better about bringing more cash with me if I could safely leave it in my hotel room. 😅
You can easily ans safely use the ATMs in local post offices. Alternatively, convenience store 7/11 has ATM machines inside and was told that they offer competitive exchange rate.
@@harblife That's surprising. Japanese commonly carry hundreds around with them. (or at least used to). From a safety perspective, my concern is misplacing the cash, not having it stolen.
Thank you for this updated information, still a bit apprehensive about my future trip to Japan but every bit information helps a lot.
Hey thanks again you helped me with my trip last time and now again with my upcoming trip.
Great glad I could help you out again! :)
Good to see your channel growing! Way underrated 💯
Thanks so much man!! Always happy to hear from you! Let me know if you ever stop by in Japan!
Apparently you can also charge the electronic IC card on your iPhone with cash the same way you would charge a physical card. For those who don’t have a MC or Amex there is still a way to use the suica or pasmo card on your phone.
Right that works as well. But if you charge it electronically, you must use one of those two card types I believe.
unless it has changed, u can charge the suica card/phone at 7-eleven recharge kiosks or jr recharge kiosks for IC card… u just have the suica card open on fone and place in the area where u normally place the card
Great tips Harb I went ahead and followed your steps to make my entry smoothe for November 🎉
Great! Hope you been well and still making vids +
This is very useful informations as I am going to Japan this christmas for a solo trip. Luckily I found your videos. Thank you for sharing👍🏼
So glad you found it useful! Let me know how your trip goes !
Also to note: renting a car can cost about the same as a JR pass. I recent paid ¥120k for a month from Toyota. That is the same price as two 21-day JR passes at the pre-October 2023 low prices. Add on gas, tolls, and parking expenses, and it could be roughly the same for the month. Cars make so much sense in the countryside, especially exploring the Alps.
One could do rail pass for city exploration and then break out to nature with a rental car. It is a winning combo for me. Just be aware that tolls add up, so don’t use the car for long distance-like don’t drive from Tokyo to Kagoshima. Stay within 1-4 prefectures. Rail is easier, but cars get you exactly where you want to go.
Yea it really just depends on what you plan on doing while you're in Japan!
If you do rent a car make sure you get a international permit or they will not let you pick up the car!
Car rental in Japan is relatively cheap. But parking fees are a tad expensive. While in Hokkaido, after zipping around in Sapporo city using the trains, we rented a car for 5 days and drove from Sapporo to the various popular places like Otaru, Niseko, Noboribetsu, Lake Toba and even the coastal town Muroran. It was the best decision we ever made as we got to see so much more of what tourists usually see, especially the beautiful scenery of the outskirts and countryside villages. Those were my most memorable ones during my Japan trip.
Just fyi, i went to Haneda Airport back in December 2022, right after Japan open to International Travel. I don’t think there has been much change between now and then, but transportation wise, it’s better to spend the $80 dollar for a taxi ride from Haneda Airport to Tokyo Station. The rate varies by distance, but i think it was worth it. It was only a 10 minute ride, and you can get a cab pretty quick once you get pass immigration.
The bus is nice, but if you are heading to Nagano, iiyama, and then to Nozawa Onsen for snowboarding, the bus only leaves in the morning. When you get to the drop-off point, it is night time there. It’s better to fly in, find a hotel, and then caught a ride on the Shinkansen. The ramps are 20, 21, 22, 23 for Nagano, and it takes roughly an 1h 30 minutes to get there.
Haneda Airport has a hotel in the terminal. So if you don’t want to go far after arriving, you can spend the night there. I don’t know how to get a reservation there. Haneda Airport is the closest of the two airports to Tokyo Station and Shinjuku.
JR PASS is worth it but i would go with the first class 7 day or 14 days if you plan to use it a lot. Once you give your JR voucher to the person at Tokyo Station, they will give you your JR ticket, it is active on the day you give your vouchers. Don’t give it at night because that night will count as a day use. I would suggest giving your JR Voucher for the Pass early in the morning and that counts as the first day to use. Also, first class has reserved seats, economy class is first come first served seats. Typically there are 12 cars to a train, 1 car is Gran Class, 5 first class and 6 economy class cars. An even number car will have that area to store luggage.
Sorry i am going off of memory.
Extra things i should add to help travelers:
1. If you are using a JR Pass, it’s tied to your passport. The Kiosk will ask for the last 4 of your passport number, but this is in error because it needs the entire Passport Number.
2. When you get your ticket, your JR Pass and ticket goes through the ticket gate. The machine will separate the tickets and if I am not mistaken, it will hole-punch the ticket. When you get to your destination, the gate-machine will take the ticket and keep it, but it will spit your JR Pass out at the other end.
3. If you have a JR Pass and you don’t want to get a ticket from the kiosk (you know what platform you are going to and you are traveling in a economy class), you can use your JR Pass as an individual ticket. The gate-barrier will open and the machine will move your JR Pass Ticket to the outlet slot.
4. There’s no sales tax except for alcohol consumption. So you won’t pay sales tax for hotel stay, train rides, non-alcohol purchases, and services.
5. When you fly to Japan, make sure you fill out the blue questionnaire card that you submit to immigration. It will have boxes. Make sure you answer all of them. I missed a question, question 5 which was in a small box. I filled my card on the flight to Japan on the plane (Hawaiian Airlines). It will ask if you are traveling with a crossbow. Make sure to answer all the question before you get to the first immigration station.
6. A sim card or pocket wifi isn’t needed if you have a phone carrier that works in Japan. I have T-Mobile, and I could use their network. The only issue is that the network wasn’t any better than 3G. When you get to a hotel or a bullet train, wifi is provided there.
7. When you get to an “Onsen or Yu,” make sure you bathe before stepping into a hot springs bath. Proper ethics are to come in, take your shoes off by the shoe-shelves before stepping on the platform, take your clothes off, bathe with soap and shampoo, and then you enter the hot springs pool.
8. Bathhouse that are locally owned and ran by a family or staff, you need to take your shoes off at the entrance. Sandals or foot-mules will be provided, and the entrance feee to bathe, use the facilities runs around 600 yen or $4.00 to $5.00. Using the equipment is covered by the cost and there is no time limit. Towels, bath soap, shampoo, and other necessities are covered. The only things that aren’t covered by the entrance fees if you want to buy gifts or drinks or food. Massage chair require money for use. Locations may vary from what i wrote depending on where you go. The town i went to has a public bathhouse with a restaurant and theater in it. You pay the entrance fee and you can use amenities there.
One minor correction - when you turn in your voucher to receive your JR Pass, the person at the counter will usually ask (and if they don't ask, you can specifically request) if you want the actual pass to start that day or on a different day - if I remember correctly, there's also a spot on the form you fill out at the JR service center before turning in your voucher asking what day you wish the pass to be activated. So if the service center is open when you arrive, even if you plan to have the pass activate on another date, you can make it a part of your after-landing routine before leaving the airport for your hotel.
Thanks for adding more value for everyone !
Thank you so much for this very informative video! I can surely be assured for my upcoming trip!
Love this video, very informative and helpful, thank You for sharing! ❤
great idea about the QR code screen shots for arrival.
We will need a passenger arrival stamp to get our JR Passes too so I assume that contact with immigration still happens, when you get your finger print and photo taken?
Yea you will get that on your passport when you arrive. It's what allows you to stay in the country as a tourist.
@@harblife supposedly there are some automated immigration gates/booths, where you don't have contact with immigration officer. That's why people are asking..
We arrived at Tokyo earlier to today getting though immigration and security took less than 10 minutes
Great to hear!
@@harblife using the Qr system is so quick
Amazing video, thank you!!!
Thank you! it's really useful for me as I plan for my first visit to Japan next October ❤
Glad I could help you out :)
I visited Japan late July. JR pass is essential without a doubt. I did not know about the luggage delivery but I highly recommend it because we had so many issues finding our way through all the trains especially since we did not know anything about them. I also did not use a suica card and just used cash instead which was no real issue, it also makes it easier to get refunds if you make a mistake. Also, most places did take card but it would still be good to have cash in all denominations.
Although cash is definitely useful and definitely have som with you, I'd say that for card, it's MUCH better to just pay with icoca/suica/pasmo even at card locations. There are challenges at some terminals with foreign issued cards... but IC cards always work.
I just reload my IC card with Apple pay in 2 seconds on my Apple Watch, so it's basically the same thing.
Did you find the JR pass essential because you traveled a lot between cities?
@@Sarafara7 yes. I think a round trip to another city is enough to pay for it. Typical fare for trains around Tokyo was 2-6 if I remember correctly. It may not be worth it if you’re not leaving Tokyo
Luggage delivery is super convenient and can save you alot of hassle. The luggage will usually arrive next day at the latest as well!
Can I ask how luggage delivery works? You can book these at large stations and they just deliver to an address the next day?
I’ll be traveling between Osaka and Tokyo with a group of 7 and there will be plenty of luggage and concerned about the new Shinkansen limits. Thanks.
Thank god, for a second i thought theyd introduced some new covid restrictions that id have to get an extra jab for before my trip. Gonna be i. Japan in less than 3 weeks now, both anxious and excited for it, itll be here before i know it
You really should be getting a flu and covid booster though whether they require it or not.
Hahahah no thank goodness!
Thank you for all the awesome tips! 😊 🎉
Thank you for the kind words!!
This video can't come in better timing, thanks man for this video
I am glad I could help you out!
We’re coming to Japan next week with a relatively big group of people and your videos have been insanely helpful in the trip planning and prep! Any recommendations or tips in particular for a group of 8 plus toddlers? 👀
Well, forget about getting into an onsen bath together!
How is the COVID situation? I heard it’s really bad atm and schools are closing
@@marvin8887shut up Marvin.
That'll be tough for sure! You'll definitely be needing to book restaurants in advance! Hope your trip is going well!
How was your experience with the toddlers? I'm geniuenly curious because next week I'll be in Tokyo with a 2-year-old. Especially the restaurant wait times, did you book in advance? How was the subway rides with crying toddlers? Ours is too energetic, almost like running a thermonuclear power plant inside.
First, thank you @Harblife for this video. Below are from my experiences when traveling to Japan a number of times.
Use your credit card whenever possible, because you will get the market rate. Make sure your credit card is a travel credit card that does NOT charge a conversion fee when used. Carry some cash. Then you're set. Get a JR pass before coming to Japan. NO need for suica or passmo. Buy the 48-hour/72-hour subway pass in Tokyo at the pass offices at major train stations. They are DIRT cheap and are UNLIMITED rides, because they are designed for tourists. They require to see your passport to sell you the pass.
Thanks for this! Straight to the point
The JR pass is no longer worth it for most tourists unless they’re going to take the bullet train a million times. The price has significantly increased starting October of this year.
@@ariellev9185 I thought that aslong as you bought a voucher before Oct 1, you can exchange it until January for the old rates?
@@tommvv you have to buy it by September 29th, basically, and the voucher will only be good until December 31st. Anything past that will be at the new rate.
@@ariellev9185 Guess that works for me considering im visiting from Oct 1st. Thank you!
This was so helpful thank you sir 🙏🏼
Not a problem! Thanks for your kind words!
It's my first time to travel to japan so thank you for this video! Super helpful ❤
Glad I could help you! :)
Thanks for the info :) I’m visiting around Christmas and New Years…how is the situation with things being open for New Years? I know it’s an important holiday for the Japanese, and I heard things may be closed. Will it be an issue like I’m afraid it will be? :/ thanks for the advice in advance 😊
My family and I will be in Japan from December 18 to January 5. This will be our fourth trip traveling at that time of year. You will notice more Japanese nationals traveling domestically during that time. The hotels, restaurants, shopping areas, domestic flights, and trains will have more locals than you would think, with fewer tourists. Some businesses will close for a few days, but we never had any problems finding open places in Tokyo and Osaka (except for retail stores on New Year's Day). It may be more of an issue in rural areas and with small or mom-and-pop businesses. But even on New Year's Day, there are many restaurants open. They are very crowded, however, so I would recommend reservations. The major retail stores reopen on January 2 with sales galore and are very crowded. Hatsumode (the first trip of the year to the shrine or temple) is a pleasant experience.
@@myamadadds thank you so much for the info! 😊 you helped relieve some of my worry lol
Christmas is a normal working day, so everything around then is open as usual. New Years is a different story. The big department stores, electronics chains, malls, chain restaurants/bars, convenience stores, will be open, but that's about it. Even in major cities like Tokyo a lot of local businesses, izakayas, and even museums will be closed during that first week of Jan. Whatever is open may also have reduced hours. A lot of Japanese head out of the cities to go back to their hometowns, so domestic travel at the start and end that New Year holiday period can be hell with over-capacity trains and full airports.
31st Dec will be very busy for Japanese and many will close early i think and for Jan 1st, i didn't really go to restaurants to eat as i've only arrived that day but i was able to buy simcard from bic camera, went to uniqlo and convenience stores were open as usual. the streets were pretty busy and many were open so i don't think you'll have any hard time looking for restaurants or some shops (unless it's family owned or something) in big cities (i was living in tokyo that time)
- for trains, it was fine for me nothing extremely busy
- for shrines on the other hand, i think i queued for 2 hours+ at meiji jingu to pray (2nd Jan)
also, have fun! i'll be visiting japan next month after 7 long years so i'm excited 😊
Some shops will close the first few days of January. Aside from that, you shouldn't have too many problems!
Thank you for your video. One question about Visit Japan Web and JR Pass: it is my knowledge that JR Pass is available only for foreign customers that have a tourist permission stamp on their passport. What about the electronic procedure at arrival? If I show my QR codes to some electronic scanner/ gate, will I be able to obtain a stamp on my passport? Will the immigration gates have some human assistance too?
Hope the question is clear, thank you in advance
Was wondering the same, hopefully someone can clarify. Just purchased my JR Pass for November and filled out all information on Visit Japan. The tax-free code can't be generated without a landing stamp so it'd be counter-productive to not have one issued if using Visit Japan 🤷🏻♀️
IIRC, for the immigration portion of arrival, the electronic gates are limited to Japanese citizens, tourists usually have to go through the lines to speak to a human (thus meaning you'll get the stamp required to get the JR Pass) - the QR code basically simplifies the process for the immigration officer, as they have all the landing info you used to have to fill out on a paper form immediately populate on their computer.
You will get the stamp don't worry. They just do the electronic form to speed up the process of giving you your visitor stamp.
Very useful and timely update, thanks so much. Planning a trip for November.
Thank you!!
Most useful video I've watched on traveling to Tokyo! Thank you
I have 3 hotel address's for my trip, but it only lets me put one in for the trip... so I just put the one I'm staying at when I first arrive but I'll have print outs of all my hotels with me.
That's what I did too. Did you find anywhere to put departure information, like when you're flying out? It seemed to only care about arrival details.
I haven't just the arrival. I feel like they can probably check your info from what you give and see you have a departure ticket. Just assuming though @@Omni0404
i was looking for this answer, thanks! i've printed out all of my hotel infos as well just in case
Yea sounds good! They don't need all your addresses , just one.
Great videos and insightful content! I was so close to visiting and working in Japan at one point myself. I had experience with Motion Capture and in late 2015 I was in contact with Capcom about the facial likeness role of Leon for the Resident Evil 2 Remake. I failed to mention I also have a voice acting background, in the end I lost the part and I can't forgive myself for wasting such an opportunity. That would've been a real dream come true to visit Japan.
I saw this comment before, are you a bot?
@@jasonfanclub4267 Hi, sorry about that. I like talking to ppl and sharing that painful story helped me getting that regret off my chest.
@@AnxMa You will have another chance!
All good! We live and learn. I am sure more opportunities will come up in your life and you will be able to take them!
@@harblife Thank you so much for saying that.
Great video, very informative and helpful. Can’t wait for my arrival to Japan 🇯🇵 in the coming weeks.
Great! I hope you have a good time!
Great info. Thanks for the video.
Glad I could help you out!
Hi!! How far in advance should I fill out the "Visit Japan Web" form? Thanks😃👍
I’m going in mid October and already filled it out a couple of weeks ago. Why wait? Just go ahead and do it and that’s one less thing to worry about. It’s not complicated and you create a password. That way if you don’t finish it you can go back later, sign-in and pickup where you left off. Just fill in the blanks with your info.
@@texcentric That is true! Thanks!!! 👍💥
Just a couple weeks out should be perfectly fine. There is no approval process like there was before!
Anyone pay for their phone carriers (AT&T) international plan? It’s $9.99 a day and Japan is on the list. Does everyone prefer the pocket wifis because it is slightly cheaper and maybe gives you access in areas the phone plan might not?
Can't comment on AT&T but my wife and I have a decent/good T-Mobile plan that covers international usage that we've been using in Japan for 6-8 years. We've used pocket wifi many times and we prefer to use our own plan now.
@@nateshf9303 Thank you. Overall just seems like one less thing to care about yet nobody talks about it.
I went with the AT&T $10/per day plan. I had no internet issues while I was in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Okinawa.
@@Tv71440 Hope you’ll have many more trips to Japan!
@@Tv71440 Love to hear it. Thanks for the reply.
This was very useful. Thanks, I'll be using these for when I arrive in November.
Glad I could help you out 😊
Thank you for sharing ☺
Not a problem! Happy to share !
I've been critical of your videos in the past, but this is excellent. Very good video. Very informative. Spot on on the key dot points on getting sorted for a holiday in Japan. I've always said, the next most important things to sort after flights and accommodation, are pocket wifi, JR Railpass and IC Card.
I appreciate your constructive feedback, whether it be positive OR negative! As long as you have a valid point to offer for me to improve, I will always listen! Thanks for dropping by!
Greetings from korea 🇰🇷 😊❤
It's lame we didn't see each other in Yokohama in August because you were in Hawaii 😪
I am visiting Philippines and Thailand next
Before moving to Japan 😊❤
Yea I know I am really sorry! Please let me know when you get here again!
Thanks for the video! Very useful. I'm going next week
Great! Have fun!
Great vid, useful information, thx 🙏
Thank you!
Thank you for a very clear, concise informative video, so I’m planning my trip for November and arriving 2230 if we arrive on time - so you have helped me plan for late night arrival
I am so glad I could help you out! Please check out my new video if you found this one useful!
Thank you for this
Thank you for the kind words!
Thanks good information
Thank you!!
thank you - going back a second time this year because of your videos :D
Glad I could help you out so much and make you want to return! Have a good return trip here! :)
@@harblife thank you
Very informative and helpful❤❤❤
Thank youuuu!
Nice! Useful information!
Thank you !
Thank you for your video, I think it’s helpful/ will be there in 3 weeks time for MotoGP race
Great! I hope you have a fun time and enjoy the race!
You're a good person. Thank you!
You're an even better person. Thank you !!
Dude thank you your this vid really helps a lot I'm leaving for Japan this sat and I'm a bit lost on what to do so thank you
I'll try to help you with more videos in the future!
Great video, very useful 😂
Thank you!
Thank God this is the video I was surfing for
Glad I could help you out! Check out my new video when you get a chance!
bro! thank you. 🙏🏻 I’ll be in Akihabara in July! WOOO!
Great tips , really appreciate it sir . Looking forward to my trip to 日本、ありがとうございます
No problem! I hope you check out my new video dropping in a few hours! It will be a pretty interesting one!
Great video thankyou
Thank you !
Great video!
Ty!
Thank you that was very helpful because I'm going to Tokyo for my first time nexts year
Glad I could help you out 😊
Thank you
Thank you for this video. My husband and I are planning a trip for 2024 April and very excited. We do have money set aside for the JR pass as we are spending time in Osaka and Kyoto. Much of this info I was already aware of but I still appreciate seeing any kind of updates. Thank you again
Great! Glad I could help and I hope you have a great time in Japan!
Excellent instructions!
Thanks!
thank you very helpful! it's been 5 years since my last trip!
Hope you have a good time back in Japan!
whew, glad I found this when I did...oughta save me some time after landing
I am glad I could help you out!
I'm going next month, this video is going to be so helpful
Hey,
Which dates are you travelling?
Great! I am glad I could help you!
Good information for when we arrive tomorrow
Great! Hope you have a good time!
Thanks
No problem!
Staying at a hotel near the airport upon arrival was a good idea. I did that the second time I went to Japan. The first time, I was planning to stay at a friends apartment which was 2 trains away from the airport. It was a nightmare. I was too jet lagged and exhausted to want to make a long train journey. Having a hotel to lie down and shower and recover a bit from the flight is way smarter and I was so glad I did that.
I'm glad you used that advice for your trip in Japan!
Someone who talk straight. Get to the point. No drama. Best video.
Though it would have been more appreciated if u could have provided some prices for luggage transfer or approx prices. They help alot. Thank you
Thanks for that info. I'm currently looking at booking a room as we arrive just before midnight (barring any delays)and was not aware that there was no transport after a certain time. You've just saved my bacon!
can you do a video about solo travelling in japan from narita to hokkaido/okinawa? like what travel forms would be recommended and where to stay cheap/efficient, would be amazing to see your insight and could be a cool educational challenge :)
Could think about it one day. If I ever get the time for it I'll let you know !
Thx😂🎉
No problem!
By far the most concrete and in-depth guide.
Everyone else is basically shilling their referral codes wrapped up as video guides (it's fine to have those, y'all gotta get paid somehow after all but most of them are zero content, 99% shill)...
Thank you
this information is good to know one think i have learned because of the Covid pandemic is that japan is one of the most incopetent Nations on Earth so its good to keep up with the changes in requirements when entering this country
Hey, your travel guide vlog is a goldmine for wanderers like me! Your insights are so valuable and practical. By the way, have you come across the new v4 Bento Bag from NomadLane? Seems like a great companion for your adventures!