Visiting any city for the first time can be an overwhelming process. When talking about Tokyo you have a whole list of unique factors to consider. It’s a smorgasbord of high-tech and traditional customs.
To help prepare for your trip, I’ve put together this first-timers guide to Tokyo full of real travel tips and things you should avoid.
Upon Arrival
1. Know some basic Japanese
When traveling to any country for the first time it’s imperative to know some of the local language. And in Japan a little Japanese goes a long way. You’ll for sure end up in situations where you have to give some type of response to a local who doesn’t speak your language.
The good news is there are tons of language learning apps available. Some of my favorites are:
- Pimsleur Japanese
- JA Sensei
- Duolingo
Just give yourself a few hours of study and you’ll be good to go!
Learning to read kanji is a whole other issue though…
2. Rent a Pocket Wifi...but beware!
When in Japan, you’ll need internet for the entire trip and you’ll be overloaded with options when you arrive. You can go for the SIM option or the Pocket Wifi option. I choose the wifi option as we have to work during our trips and need to connect multiple phones and laptops. The pocket wifi models are small so you easily carry it around with you all day and they have a long battery life. It’s a win-win.
If you are arriving at Narita, after customs you’ll walk along a long stretch of the airport with shops trying to get you to rent from them. It might seem easy just to choose one at random, but don’t! I made that mistake
On my third trip to Tokyo I arrive late and made the mistake of renting a pocket wifi from the lone shop that was still open and suffered from spotty internet the whole trip! I ended up having to go to Starbucks to get some work done.
Rent from the company SoftBank if possible. They are the #1 provider in Japan and have the most reliable network. They have unlimited data plans, low fees, 24 hour returns and more. They are the only company I use now.
Check out their page for more specific details:
3. Use the Narita Express train from the airport
Tokyo has 2 main airports and this tip is assuming you are arriving at Narita. This airport is located about 1hr 30min from central Tokyo. Getting there you have the option of bus or train (taxi too but they are waaay too expensive).
The bus is about the same price as the Narita Express but it’s super boring and not as comfortable or as fast. Plus, who wants to get stuck in traffic after a long international plane ride.
N’EX has large, comfy seats, bathrooms, and an area to store your larger suitcases.
The Narita Express stops at the major stations and it’s easy to transfer to other lines if needed
The train doesn’t wait long at each stop so be prepared to exit!
PRO TIP: Google the map of your final train station to find the locations of the elevators before you travel. You will thank me later.
4. Download the "Japan Official Travel App"
I usually try to avoid using any type of travel app. I find them more of a distraction.
But for Tokyo and Japan in general the “Japan Official Travel App” is extremely convenient.
Its most useful feature is the Route Search. This covers all means of public transportation and shows you the best route to get somewhere.
I used this feature daily when planning my day and figuring out how to get where I’m going.
It also shows you interesting tourist spots and other points of interest you might not have known about.
Here are the links for Android and Apple
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.go.jnto.jota&hl=en_US&gl=US
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/japan-official-travel-app/id1230367186
City and Culture
5. Wear your nice, big-boy city clothes
This tip is mainly for my fellow bros. It might be OK to wear a t-shirt, shorts, sneakers and baseball cap in your little town, but in other major cities put a little effort into your outfit.
Japanese dress code is relatively conservative on the whole and everyone is very fashion-conscious so I recommend planning your clothing carefully.
Jeans are fine, but match it with a nice polo or quality tee. If you need something while in Japan head over to the nearby Uniqlo store and find something. A good alternative to jeans are some travel pants. They are more dressy and easier to move around with. Check them out here.
Shorts are perfectly fine too but aren’t very common in the city. You’ll be surrounded by people going to and from work and your shorts will stand out.
Dress like you belong there and not like some clueless tourist!
6. Fall in love with Japanese toilets
One of the first Japanese things you’ll experience are the hi-tech electronic toilets.
These lovely items have a whole list of lovely features such as: spray wash, air dry, heated seats, music playing, self clean and more!
Do your business in futuristic style and feel reinvigorated and ready to continue your journey.
Sometimes the controls are only in Japanese. But don’t be afraid, just start pushing buttons and see what happens! You’ll never want to leave the bathroom.
7. Keep it simple - stay in Shinjuku or Shibuya
One of the first things I do when researching a new destination is to find out where to stay. Where you stay has a huge overall impact on your experience for your trip.
With Tokyo being such a huge city you’ll see lots of recommendations on areas of the city to stay. Such as Ginza, Roppongi, Asakusa, Ueno and Shiodome among others.
But unless you have a specific reason for being in a specific area, ignore all the online tips. No need to complicate things.
Stay in Shinjuku or Shibuya only. These are the 2 major areas of the city with all the action, shopping, food, etc. When you think of Tokyo you are thinking of these 2 places.
They have the biggest train stations too so it’s easy to go to other parts of the city.
If you are worried about hotel/AirBnB cost, fear not, Shinjuku or Shibuya have something for every budget
8. The ATMs at 7-11 have a minimum ¥ for foreign cards
Japan is a cash society so you’ll find yourself stopping at an ATM often. You’ll never have to look far for an ATM either.
One of the more reliable places to get cash is at the 7-11 stores located all over the city.
But unlike most other ATMs, 7-11 has a minimum yen amount you can withdraw for foreign cards. The minimum amount is ¥10000 or around $75 USD.
Its doubtful you’ll need less than that but certainly something to keep in mind!
9. Use the Google Translate app to communicate
This should be a no brainer, but I’m amazed at the people who assume the local they are talking to knows English.
We are living in the future where we can carry around the entire Japanese language in our pocket. So take advantage of that and download the Google Translate Japanese Pack to your phone.
You’ll most likely get into a situation where the person you need to talk too doesn’t know your language. Take like 10 seconds to open up the app and you can either type or talk into it and it will translate. It’s not complicated.
Also, the Google translate app has a camera for translating written Japanese. Super helpful for restaurant menus and road signs.
10. Save places to your Google Map
I enjoy browsing Google maps and looking for interesting places nearby. You can save places you find to your map so you can find it easily later.
I always load up my map with stars before I travel so when I’m out and about I already have the locations of the places I want to visit saved.
It’s easy to get lost in Tokyo so save your places and plan ahead!
Food
11. Eat at Yayoi-ken and eat there often
Tokyo has an unlimited amount of options for a meal and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. The majority of places are in Japanese only and can be intimidating trying to figure out what is what.
My favorite, go-to place is Yayoi. It’s a chain of teishoku set meal restaurants with locations all over the city
Teishoku is a budget-friendly meal that includes a main dish, soup, side dishes, and dessert.
Teshoku set meals are a popular lunch or dinner choice among the working locals (and me!)
At Yayoi you choose your meal and pay via a big machine as you enter. They have an English option so its easy to do. After you take your receipt and find a place to sit. You leave your receipt on the table and the waitress brings your meal.
Eating here is one of the highlights of my trip, so I highly recommend it!
12. Simplify your mornings by buying breakfast the night before
If you only listen to one tip in this first-timers guide to Tokyo, then listen to this one. This is an important tip that has served me well on my multiple trips to Tokyo.
Kat and I aren’t morning people. There’s nothing more we hate than having to wake up early and rush out to do whatever activity. We like to have our breakfast in our AirBnB and watch Japanese TV and relax before getting out. Honestly, some of my best memories from Japan are from doing just that.
Japan doesn’t really have a breakfast culture like the western world. So going out to a restaurant for breakfast probably won’t be what you are expecting.
I suggest you buy your items the night before. 7-11 sells a bento box of scrambled egg, spinach, and ground meat. Buy this along with some yogurt, fruit, bread, and coffee and you are all set!
Now you can sleep in and have your yummy breakfast waiting for you in the morning.
Getting Around
13. Learn how to use the subway system before you go!
One of the biggest mistakes I made was not learning the basics of the subway system before I traveled to Tokyo for the first time. Kat and I ended up in Shinjuku station at rush hour dragging 3 huge suitcases through the crowd of commuters walking around in circles trying to find the right exit, then any exit. We ended up on some faraway secluded stairway exit and I had to drag the luggage up to street level.
Some tips for the subway system:
14. You don't need the JR Pass if you are only staying in Tokyo
The JR Pass is a discount ticket that allows unlimited travel on JR trains, including the Shinkansen bullet train, for a certain number of days. It can be a good option for people who plan to travel long distances around Japan or make multiple trips within a short time frame, but it may not be cost-effective if you’re only staying in Tokyo and not planning to travel outside the city.
You can just purchase individual tickets or use a prepaid transportation card, such as a Suica or Pasmo card, to pay for your rides.
If you do decide to travel outside of Tokyo, you can always purchase separate tickets for those trips. It’s a good idea to do some research and compare the cost of individual tickets or a JR Pass to see which option is best for your travel plans.
15. Traveling with suitcases? Prepare to suffer
This is one tip I still haven’t figured out completely and one of the biggest headaches to deal with when visiting Japan. Please leave a comment at the bottom of this article on how you manage your suitcases in Japan!
The problem is you’ll probably have to drag your suitcases between multiple trains, stations (sometimes without elevators) and then through the streets.
The train stations are always crowded and having the move through the sea of people with your baggage is complicated and stressful. On the trains it’s usually a balancing act to hold on, keep your stuff from falling over and keeping out of the way. The other commuters are usually lost in their phones and clueless about you.
Once out on the streets you can relax a bit but they aren’t made for your wheeled stuff. There are raised grooved lines on the sidewalks for the visually impaired that you have to avoid.
So get ready for an adventure!
16. Bring a good daypack for your daily outings
Almost everyone you see in the streets of Tokyo has a backpack or some type of purse or bag. It’s a convenient and practical way to carry your belongings around the city, particularly if you plan to be out and about all day.
I usually carry my Rover shoulder sling pack for the days I’m only going to be out for a few hours and don’t need to carry many items or I’m not going to do much shopping.
I carry my full military tactical backpack when doing lots of sightseeing and walking around Tokyo.
Plus I hate carrying stuff in my hands all day so two options have plenty of room for my purchases.
Shopping
17. Don't bother with the "Japan Tax Free Program"
Sure, it sounds like a good deal on paper. But the realities and logistics of international travel make it not worth your while (at lease for me).
The Japan Tax Free Program is a program that allows foreign tourists visiting Japan to receive tax exemptions on certain purchases made in the country. Items such as souvenirs, clothing and more. But there are a whole list of rules you have to follow.
If you are planning to make a large number of purchases in Japan and you meet the eligibility requirements for the program, it could be a good way to save a few bucks on your purchases. However, if you are only making a few small purchases, it might not be worth the effort to apply for the tax exemption.
Plus who wants to deal with more lines or paperwork while on vacation.
18. Don Quijote
Don Quijote is a popular discount store chain that is everything you could want in a Japanese store. They are, known for its wide selection of items and a quirky atmosphere.
The stores can be crowded and hectic, with lots of bright lights, loud music, and colorful displays. But it’s a fun and exciting place to shop if you’re in the mood for a bit of an adventure!
They are typically open 24 hours a day, so you can go spend all your money on things you don’t need at any time that’s convenient for you!
They have a huge range of products but I go for the unique souvenirs and yummy treats.
You’ll find several locations throughout the city. They’re easy to spot, with distinctive yellow and black branding and the “Donki” penguin logo.
19. Know proper etiquette when paying
When making a purchase at a store in Japan, one thing you’ll notice is the use of the money tray. It’s just a simple plastic tray with a rubber mat. This is where your money goes.
In Japan, money is rarely passed directly from hand to hand. Put your cash, coins or cards on the tray and give it to the person.
This method solves multiple things:
- No need for strangers to touch.
- The money is visible and easy to count.
- It’s a more polite way of interacting.
Also take your time and count out the amount when paying with cash and coins. Don’t feel rushed and just dump it all on the tray. Most Japanese are very patient of things being done correctly.
Just be sure to know how much each coin is worth!
Conclusion
I hope you have found this first-timers guide to Tokyo useful and that the tips will serve you well!
Please leave a comment below if you have any additional tips or if you just disagree with what I’ve written!
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