12 Tips for Your First Trip to Japan

Hello! Are you planning a trip to Japan? Feeling overwhelmed?

I know how you feel!

My family of four spent two weeks in Japan in early June 2023. My kids were ages 16 and 19. We visited Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Kyoto. We had a wonderful time and made irreplaceable family memories together.

We crammed a lot into our trip, including TeamLab Planets, Shibuya Crossing, Harajuku, Tokyo Disneyland, DisneySea, Asakusa, Shinjuku, Ghibli Museum, SkyTree Tokyo, Hiroshima Peace Museum, A-Bomb Dome, Miyajima, Monkey Park, Bamboo Forest, Nijo Castle, karaoke, outdoor markets, modern malls, and many beautiful temples and shrines.

Planning a trip to Japan was challenging. This was our first trip to Asia. We were unfamiliar with the language, geography, culture, climate… There were a lot of practical details to figure out. 

Fortunately, there is abundant information online (including this article!), so it's easy to get answers to all your questions – including questions you didn't know to ask. We found the Japan Travel Tips and Planning group on Facebook especially helpful.

Here's an overview of key things to plan before you go to Japan. It includes answers to our biggest questions and tips to help you plan your trip faster. 

Connectivity

Access to Google Maps and the internet was ESSENTIAL throughout our trip to Japan. They helped us easily navigate the complex public transit systems, access apps and tickets for attractions, and get the information we needed when we needed it.

Make sure you have a plan to stay connected. There are several options.

• The easiest but most expensive option is probably your current phone plan. As our plane hit the ground, T-Mobile texted “welcome to Japan” and offered us connectivity for about $5 per phone per day. We used pocket Wi-Fi instead, so we turned off our roaming service. Look into your plan's options before you leave home.
• We rented a pocket Wi-Fi device from Japan Wireless for about $5 total per day. We chose this option because it covered all our family's devices for the lowest price. Sometimes service was spotty, but it mostly worked well. We booked online in advance and then picked it up and dropped it off at the airport. There are other providers, but Japan Wireless worked for us.
• Airalo is a pre-paid eSIM card that you download to your phone. We used Airalo on our Christmas trip to Austria. It worked well and was less expensive than using our phone plan. We set it up in advance and turned it on when we arrived. Your phone needs to be “unlocked” to use Airalo.
• A pre-paid SIM card replaces your regular SIM card while you are on the trip. It connects you to a local wireless service and gives you full access to your phone's features. Japan Wireless and other providers offer SIM cards.

All our hotels and some public places had free Wi-Fi, but Tokyo is the biggest city in the world. We visited new neighborhoods daily and got on the wrong train more than once. Some attractions have apps and digital passes you can only access on a phone. Constant, reliable access to the Internet made our trip so much easier! And it made my teens happy too.

Related: Our Two-Week Japan Itinerary

Money

The yen is Japan's currency. As of June 2023, the dollar was strong against the yen, and we found most things in Japan less expensive than in the United States. For example, many meals cost $7-10 per adult.

There are a few good ways to pay for things in Japan.

• Credit Card – Visa and Mastercard are accepted in most places, but not everywhere. We used our credit cards whenever we could because Visa and Mastercard always get the best available exchange rate. Look for the Visa or Mastercard logos to know where they are accepted.
• Cash – You need yen in cash. You can't recharge your Suica (public transit) card without it. Some restaurants and shops only take cash. 
• Suica – Suica works on practically all public transportation. It also works like a pre-paid debit card at vending machines, convenience stores, and other places. We occasionally used Suica instead of cash when Visa was not accepted.

During our 2-week trip, we used about 100,000 yen in cash (currently USD 700+). We mostly used it to load our Suica card, for a few meals, and other small expenses.

We exchanged $500 for yen at our bank before we left home. I was glad to have some cash ready, but the exchange rate wasn't great. 

ATMs at 7-11 convenience stores are a better option for getting cash, and they are easy to find – even at Haneda Airport (and probably Narita too). These ATMs offer a competitive exchange rate and do not charge fees. I opened a Capital One checking account before our trip because it does not charge out-of-network ATM fees either.

Search “yen to USD” online to convert yen amounts to U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate. This was a handy tool before and during our trip.

Related: Tips for Exchanging Currency for an International Trip

Transportation

We used public transportation during our two weeks in Japan, and it worked well. If your trip is based in Tokyo or another large city, buy a Welcome Suica card or a regular Suica card at an airport machine. Other cards (like Pasmo) work the same way, but Suica worked well for us in Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Kyoto.

The Welcome Suica is a 28-day card designed for visitors. It has no deposit, and you will not get a refund if there is still money on it at the end of your trip, so pay close attention to the balance. You need yen in cash to purchase a Suica card. We started with 2,000 yen per person and added 1,000 more every 2-3 days.

The Suica card can also be used at vending machines, convenience stores, and other places. We used it daily to buy water bottles and soda for 100-200 yen each. I also used it on the washing machine at our first hotel.

Consider a JR (Japan Rail) Pass if you will take multiple trips on the Shinkansen (bullet train) to other cities during your stay. The JR Pass works for unlimited trips on the Shinkansen and local JR transportation lines. Do the math to find out if the JR Pass or buying individual tickets is the better deal for your trip.

We walked 15,000-20,000+ steps most days. Walking is the best way to experience Japan, so pack at least 2 pairs of comfortable, broken-in walking shoes. 

Do you need a Suica card if you have a JR Pass? YES. 

In our experience, subway trains, buses, and streetcars did not take the JR Pass unless labeled “JR”. We used the JR Pass to travel from Tokyo to Hiroshima to Kyoto and back to Tokyo. We got a 7-day JR Pass and activated it for the last 7 days of our trip when we were traveling outside Tokyo.

Does each person need their own Suica card or JR Pass? YES.

You tap in and out with the card at the beginning and end of every trip. Two people cannot use the same card. The automatic gates will freak out if you tap in or out twice. Buy a less-expensive Child Suica for children under age 12.

Related: What Does a Trip to Japan Cost?

Hotels

I was overwhelmed by all our hotel choices in Tokyo. It's a massive city with thousands of hotels! And Japanese hotels are not always the same as U.S. hotels.

Here are a few tips for picking a good hotel.

• Consider booking more than one room. Tokyo hotel rooms are often smaller than American hotel rooms. With teens, we booked two rooms with two twin beds, and it worked well. Look for larger “family” rooms and suites if you are traveling with young children.
• Choose hotels close to train stations. We used those stations a lot, and closer was better. Use Google Maps to map the route from a potential hotel to the station and your top activities. Google Maps may direct you to bus stops and alternate stations, depending on your destination.
• Choose hotels close to your activities – It can take 30-45 minutes to get from one Tokyo neighborhood to another on public transportation. You'll want to do that sometimes, but a hotel in a fun neighborhood near some of your top activities is your best bet. Then focus your itinerary on that location.
• Consider uniquely Japanese lodging – We stayed in a capsule hotel in Hiroshima and a ryokan (traditional guesthouse) in Kyoto. We slept on futons on the floor at both, and honestly, I didn't sleep well. My teens were fine. I enjoyed the overall experience.
• Use a hotel booking site – I prefer to book hotels on official websites, but many Japanese hotel websites did not translate clearly and were hard to use. Agoda.com and Booking.com helped me find the hotels and specialty lodging we wanted, with clear descriptions, rates, and reviews.

Our capsule hotel was for adults and older teens (16+). Men and women sleep on different floors. We got “premium” capsules for about $25-30 per person for one night. Aside from the hard bed, I loved this experience. It was silent, and we all got the “alone time” we needed a week into the trip.

At our traditional ryokan in Kyoto, we slept on futons on the floor. We took off our shoes at the door. We had a private bathroom and the option of using the public onsen (bath) separated by gender. Breakfast and dinner were available and optional.

Japanese hotels typically provide pajamas (one size), slippers, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razors, and other hygiene supplies for no additional charge. Items vary by hotel. Laundry facilities were available at most of our lodgings. 

Related: Tips for Choosing a Hotel Location

Activities

Activities are the best part of any trip. Here are my top tips for planning activities in Japan…

• Do you need a reservation? Many popular activities, including the Ghibli Museum, Tokyo SkyTree, Tokyo Disney Resort, and TeamLab Planets, have limited admission and require or recommend reservations. Find out when reservations open and mark it on your calendar. The opening dates and times are on Japan Standard Time, so look up what time that is where you live.
• Try Klook. Klook.com is an Asia-based travel website like Expedia or Viator where you can book activities, hotels, and more. In 2023, the official Tokyo Disney Resort website did not accept U.S. credit cards, so we bought our Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea tickets through Klook for about the same price. We also bought our JR Passes through Klook.
• Don't overschedule – We walked 15,000-20,000+ steps every day in Japan. I was exhausted at the end of every day – and sometimes at the beginning. It's hard to say what I wish I'd skipped, but give yourself some flexibility and downtime. Make adjustments when your family is too tired to enjoy the experience.
• Mix it up – Add variety to your itinerary. On the last day of our trip, we couldn't visit another temple, no matter how spectacular it was. So, we scrapped our itinerary and made new plans. We took a scenic train trip, tried karaoke, went shopping, and ate good food. We felt relaxed, had fun, and finished our trip on a high.

It was easy to get reservations at most places. But if the Ghibli Museum is your dream, all tickets for the month will be gone within minutes. We got Ghibli Museum tickets by joining the queue early, having backup dates/times ready, and having a little luck. We were not so lucky with the Imperial Palace Garden Tour or the Kirby Cafe in Tokyo.

Related:

• Tips for Visiting Tokyo Disney Resort
• 5 Tips for Planning Vacation Activities

Food

Japanese food is delicious! We ate sushi, ramen, udon, tempura, gyoza, okonomiyaki (savory pancake), karaage (fried chicken), Wagyu beef, crepes, taiyaki (cream-filled pastry shaped like a fish), mochi, ice cream, shaved ice, and more.

My husband and daughter will eat anything, and they loved eating in Japan. I don't like seafood, but I had no problem finding good pork, beef, and chicken dishes.

My teen son is a vegetarian, and we had a hard time finding delicious meals for him. Japanese food is usually meaty, and we don't speak enough Japanese to make special requests or ask questions. 

Since his diet is a preference and not an allergy, there were times when he ordered the tofu ramen and didn't ask questions about the broth. Okonomiyaki (savory pancake) was a good regional dish for him in Hiroshima and Kyoto because it can easily be prepared without meat or fish powder. Eggs are often used in Japanese food and were a good option for him.

If you have a food allergy, sensitivity, or special diet, here's what worked for us.

• Research restaurants and dishes online in advance. We were most successful when we already knew where to find vegetarian restaurants near planned activities. The Happy Cow app was helpful sometimes, but not always.
• Carry a printed food allergy card. There are lots of resources online.
• Use convenience stores. 7-11, FamilyMart, and Lawson's are on every corner in the cities we visited. They have a variety of hot and cold foods to supplement special diets. We ate breakfast and snacks from convenience stores every day.

One more thing… Practice eating with chopsticks before your trip if you aren't comfortable with them.

What to Wear

We observed that most Japanese women wear long, loose clothing in the summer. They dress more conservatively and less casually than in the United States. Many women wear modest dresses and skirts with sneakers or dress shoes. Many women in Tokyo were elegantly styled, whether in a dress or jeans and a T-shirt. Most women do not wear shorts, tank tops, leggings, or athleisure.

Most men in Japan also dress more conservatively and less casually than in the United States. We did not see many men in shorts or hats. Long pants with T-shirts or button-down shirts were the norm.

Ultimately, wear whatever is comfortable for you. Japan is full of tourists wearing all kinds of clothes, and unless you are ethnically Japanese, you won't blend in anyway. We saw all styles and felt comfortable in the casual clothes we packed, especially in Kyoto, which felt more touristy and less fashionable than Tokyo.

Language

English speakers can get by in Japan's major cities without knowing much Japanese. However, we did not meet many fluent English speakers on our trip. We avoided special requests or asking too many questions because it usually didn't work well. 

Nearly everyone in Japan was kind and helpful. The one Japanese word we used frequently was “arigato,” which is one way to say “thank you.” 

Most signs are in Japanese and English. Most people spoke enough English to do their jobs. Many hotel, restaurant, and transportation services are automated, so you don't always need to communicate with a person.

I often used my phone's photo app to translate written Japanese signs and menus. I rarely used my Google Translate app to communicate verbally.

Electrical Outlets

Different countries use different electrical outlets and voltages. When you travel internationally, you often need a plug adapter and a voltage converter. It's easy and relatively inexpensive to buy these items on Amazon.com.

Japan uses two-prong outlets, similar to the U.S. Voltage in Japan is 100 V. It is usually 120 V in the United States. 

They are pretty close, and you might not need adaptors. I don't have a strong understanding of electricity, and I thought the advice on the internet was fuzzy on this.

However, if each person in your family needs to charge a phone, pocket Wi-Fi, iPad, earbuds, portable charger, etc. every night… You might want to buy a plug adaptor and charge them all at once.

I bought this U.S. to Japan plug adapter on Amazon, which worked well for us. The two-pack was essential in Tokyo when we had two rooms. 

Bathrooms

Japanese toilets are legendary – and for good reason. Most have seat cleaning spray, heated seats, sound effects for privacy, and 3-4 bidet buttons for cleaning yourself afterward. The only downside is that some toilet stalls are tiny for tall people.

AND… all our lodgings had separate shower/bath rooms where the tub was deep and the whole room was the shower. Americans could learn a lot from Japanese bathrooms. We are missing out.

Public bathrooms are generally easy to find in Japan. They are all marked the same way. In the cities we visited, “Western” toilets with all the buttons are the norm, but we also saw a few squat toilet stalls.

Weather

We visited Japan in early June. The rainy season starts in May, so we packed umbrellas and rain jackets. Most days were only cloudy, but we used our rain gear here and there. It was humid and warm every day. Many Japanese women use umbrellas in sunny weather.

Spring is the cherry blossom season, and fall has colorful leaves. Both those seasons are less rainy and humid than summer. So, visit in spring or fall if you have the option.

Safety

We always felt safe in Japan. If there are “bad” or unsafe neighborhoods, we never saw one. We saw no homeless people. Nobody acts strangely on the subway. Everyone speaks in low voices and minds their own business. Subways, buses, train stations, streets, and public bathrooms are clean and quiet by American standards.

Earthquakes are common in Japan. Typhoons may occur in the summer. We did not experience either of these during our visit. I understand that the locals ignore most earthquakes because they are used to them. A typhoon warning temporarily disrupted travel the week before our trip.

Use the same safety precautions in Japan as anywhere else, but Japan is one of the safest places you can visit. I recommend buying travel insurance before every big trip.

Related:

• Tips for Buying Travel Insurance
• Tips for Staying Safe When You Travel

Conclusion

Japan is an amazing place! It was a dream trip for my family, even though it was a lot of work to plan. We made a few rookie mistakes, but they were minor. Our plans mostly went pretty well.

If you are planning a trip to Japan, all your research before the trip will be helpful, even if you don't use it all. 

I hope that our experience helps you plan a great first trip to Japan! If you have a question or another tip to add, please share it in the Comments below.

Happy travels!

Allison

Hi there! I am the founder of Tips for Family Trips. I am a married mom of two children, ages 17 and 20, living near Salt Lake City, Utah. We took our first child on a two-week road trip when she was four weeks old and we have been traveling as a family ever since. We love to get out of the house to see and do fun things, both far away and in our own neighborhood.