If you want to experience an entirely new world, then taking a trip to Japan should be on your bucket list. The house to one of the biggest metro cities in the world is also one of the most advanced countries on the planet. The culture you will find here is entirely different from what you will find in Europe or the United States. If you are visiting Japan for the first time, then you will face some hurdles, the language barrier, the overwhelming crowd, and an entirely different culture.
But once you meddle with the people and get to see what the country has to offer, it will be the best trip of your life. To make things easier for travelers In this article, I have mentioned a few tips that will make your first trip to Japan easier.
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1. Book Accommodation In Advance
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Japan is one of the most popular traveling destinations in the world, and on top of that, it is a fast-moving country. So, make sure to book your accommodation in advance. You would not be able to find bookings easily, so you have to book quite a few days before your departure. In holiday seasons the demand rises even more, and if you are planning to visit in the holiday season, then you should book your accommodation as early as possible.
2. Get a JR Pass
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Having a JR pass, available at japanrail-pass.com, can make your trip even more convenient. The pass is designed for foreigners, and it allows them to move inside the country easily without having to pay any fare. The JR Pass comes in 3 packages, which include days, 14 days, and 21 days. The seven days pass costs around $250, while 14 days pass and 21 days pass costs around $400 and $510, respectively. If you want to roam around in Tokyo, then you may not need this card, but if you want to check out other cities as well, then you should not hesitate to get this pass.
3. Get Up Early
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As mentioned earlier, Japan is a bustling country and is crowded most of the time. So, if you want to enjoy what the country has to offer, then you need to wake up early in the morning. Especially if you love to do some photography early in the morning is the ideal time for it. Where you will be able to get a clear picture of a tourist destination in the morning, you would not be able to do that in the noon or evening when the city is flooded with people.
4. Keep Cash with You
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If you are thinking of relying on your credit cards in Japan, then do not make that mistake. You will need to keep cash with you all the time because Japan is a society that depends heavily on cash. You will find a lot of stores that do not accept the cards, and you will be using an ATM quite a lot. Also, it would help if you kept a coin bag with yourself as well because most of the currency (even 500 yen) is in coins. You can get coin bags here quickly as they are one of the most popular tourist items.
5. Prefer International Flight
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While there is no problem with going with a local airline, you will have a much better experience with an international airline. With domestic flight, you can board with the regular procedure, and you would not find any difference, but it will take you longer to reach the destination. With an international flight, not only will you be able to get there earlier, but you will have a much better experience as well. If you are flying with a well-reputed international airline, you will find out a clear difference in the flight services as well.
6. Convenience Stores is Where You Will Be Going Mostly
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The convenience stores in Japan are going to be your best friends when you land there. The comfort they provide to the customers is highly admirable. You will be able to get a meal there in just five-dollar and not any junky meal; it will have nutrients as well. You can also get your meal served hot inside the convenience store. They also have ATMs inside the store, so that makes it even easier for you. If you are staying near a convenience store, you will feel like you never have to cook again.
7. You Will Not Find Trash Cans
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It may sound bizarre, but the lack of trash cans in Japan will amaze you. It is not because they do not like to keep public places clean; they do it well. The reason is that in 1995 Japan faced a terrorist attack in which bombs were placed in several bins all over the country. After that, they took out all the bins and now if you are in the street you will have to carry a plastic bag with you. The only trash cans you will find in public places are the ones that are managed by the stores. So if you have something to throw, you can put in the bag and dispose of it in a store bin later.
On the other hand, you must also keep a sanitizer with you all the time. The public bathrooms in Japan do not have indispensable soap. So if you want to stay clean and healthy during your stay in Japan, it is good to keep a sanitizer in your backpack.
8. You Will Need A VPN
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If you are one of those people who are always on their phones using the internet, then you would not be able to survive in Japan without a VPN. There are a lot of sites and online services from the US that you would not be able to access in Japan. For example, if you are a fan of anime and want to catch up with your favorite one on Funimation, then you will need a VPN to access it. So make sure to purchase a VPN before you leave for the trip.
