5 Tips for the First-Time Traveler

Posted on 02/07/2023 Last updated on 01/11/2024

Are you up all night planning your trip or journey to Japan? Being one of the wealthiest and most prosperous countries in the world, it is not a shock that so many people want to come and explore Japan. Before leaving your homeland and becoming a wanderer in this wonderful place, there are some things that you should prepare ahead of time to avoid stress. Ensure the smooth sailing trip that you’ve always dreamed of! What are these things? Here are my Top 5!

1. Get a Suica or a Pasmo IC card

What are IC cards? These are electronic money cards that are mostly used for train stations or cashless shopping experiences. All you have to do is tap this magic card and you’re good to go! You don’t need to purchase a separate ticket when going on the train lines. Sounds like you can save a lot of time and energy, right? Just don’t forget to reload it before boarding in (easily done at almost any ticket machine in majors stations). Suica and Pasmo are the most popular in east Japan, but be aware that west Japan uses Icoca (which usually won’t present a problem, except with certain local trains of buses that only take one specific kind). There are also mobile app versions you can download direct to your phone.

2. Purchase an internet or data SIM card

This is a must! If you don’t want to find yourself all night looking for your accommodation or suddenly lost on the many train lines, you must buy this one before starting your journey. You can find SIM cards like this in airports, or even online. This is also very helpful when you can’t speak the language and in sudden need of Google Translate to communicate with the locals. If you’re planning a more long-term stay in Japan (as in, to live and work!) changing over the SIM card of your current phone or purchasing a new phone in Japan are absolutely things you should be doing.

3. Try capsule hotels

Photo by MEB

If you are on a budget, this hotel unit might be for you! Instead of renting a full hotel room or an Airbnb, a budget-friendly capsule room is a top pick for solo travelers. A spacious single bed, sometimes with your own television inside. It also comes with a pretty decent shared shower room and lockers to keep your stuff safe and secure. Though depending on the location, it usually ranges from ¥1,800 ~ ¥3,000. A great deal, huh!

4. Learn the basic Japanese expressions

Speaking of communication, even though Japan has some of the most advanced technology in the world, many locals cannot speak more than the bare minimum of English. It will be very helpful if you can speak some basic expressions like “Arigatou gozaimasu”, “Konnichiwa”, “suimasen”, or the most important one of all: “toire wa doko desu ka?” (Where is the toilet?)

5. Don’t tip!

Photo by webbiz

You might have gone through many foreign countries where tipping is loved by the majority of the staff, but Japan is not of them. Japanese people have “omotenashi culture” where customers are always given great service. It is normal in Japan to give this kind of service to their customers; that is why a simple “thank you” is considered enough. You might be a little worried that things may not come up as what you expect them to be, but just like Seth Godin said, “if it scares you, it might be a good thing to try”. (Also, the lack of a tip is offset by a higher minimum wage, and overall prices for goods and services. You don’t need tip for a pizza delivery when the pizza is almost 4,000 yen!)

Photo Credits:

Top photo: けいごkeigoさん on PhotoAC

Additional photos by MEB and webbiz