Essentials for Japan!

Preparing for a trip to Japan? Well here’s a quick guide to a few essentials that will definitely be helpful both before & during travel!

#1. YouTube - Watch and prepare! This one I would really recommend for any destination. It is really helpful to hear others tell you about the locations you’ll be traveling to, and give you visuals of what to look for when you are navigating your way around a foreign country. Also good for watching/listening to some common phrases you may need to use while you are in a foreign country. I learned about 10 phrases & used them everyday!

Also - just a note on language: Most people in Tokyo do speak (at least a little) English. You will be just fine communicating, but it never hurts to know the essentials (i.e. Where's the toilet?) The Japanese really do appreciate the effort you put into trying to speak their language, and they are some of the sweetest people I have ever met!

#2. Suica (English) App - I cannot stress this enough! If you are headed to Japan (specifically, Tokyo) download this app right now! This is how you will get around each and everyday. Tokyo is a city of rails, meaning, you will use trains to get you just about everywhere in Japan. If you are from the states, most of the time (unless you are in a major city), you do not typically travel by train. However, getting around Tokyo is easy.

Here's what the Suica card looks like in my iPhone Wallet

Suica is basically your boarding pass to all trains. There are different rail systems that dominate Tokyo, but Suica will give you access to pretty much all of them. It works similar to Apple Pay, or a gift card you may have on your phone. You simply preload money onto it, and just use your phone to scan into and out of each train station. No need to stop and get tickets, or even need to know your final destination. Train rides are very cheap in Japan, most of them costing between 2-3 USD per trip. It doesn’t even really matter how far you are going… whether you are going just 1 stop away from where you got on or 12, it will cost you nearly the same. The best part is, you can download the app and load money to in prior to leaving the US - so as soon as you arrive in Japan, you are ready to hit the rails.

#3. Google Maps - Google Maps actually works SUPER well in Japan. Use this to know what train or trains you need to get from point A to B. Just simply put in your destination like you would in the US, and it will show you exactly what routes to take. Then, simply arrive at the train station (they are everywhere... you’ll never need to walk more than 10 minutes to a station), scan your Suica app, and that’s it! It also works super well if you just need walking directions to somewhere nearby.

#4. Google Translate - Obviously this one is good if you need to translate a sentence or such to/from a foreign speaker, but what you may not know about it the newer camera feature. In the app, you can now access your phone camera, hold it up to a sign, and have it translated in real time! This is not only handy if you are trying to read a menu or a sign at the train station, but also BEFORE your trip! Let me explain.

I was trying to book some reservations before my arrival for Tokyo Disney and the teamLab Borderless Museum (BTW - please don’t leave Japan without going to this museum - it was one of the coolest experiences of my entire life), and well, the reservation part of these websites was not in English (however, I think they are now). On top of that, the “translate” option in the browser was not supported. However, with the camera feature on Google Translate, I was able to navigate my way through the Japanese website and book reservations! I had the tickets emailed to me (in Japanese), but BOOM! Problem solved.

#5. SIM Cards - Depending on your phone carrier, you may have a few options when it comes to having a working cell phone in Japan. Here's what I know:

Verizon Wireless (my carrier) was super easy - I just gave them a call about a month before I departed, and they had an international plan for just $10/day that allowed my phone to work overseas. When I got to Japan, I used my phone exactly the same as I would have here in the states. I was able to text, FaceTime, use the internet, etc. I don't think I ever made an actual phone call, but, be sure to ask what is covered before departure. Note that rates & plans change all the time, so what may have been true for me could be different now.

AT&T - Most carriers (including AT&T) will require you to get a SIM card when overseas. It was a really easy process (Joe has AT&T, so I got to see how both plans work), that probably ended up costing just about the same as my $10/day plan. When you arrive at the airport, you'll see many counters/stores that sell the SIM cards, as it is a very common need among tourists. There are 2 different types of SIM cards you can purchase:

Option 1: SIM card will give you access to iMessage/Internet, but does not give you a Japanese phone number. This means, you cannot text or call a phone that isn't an iPhone.

Option 2: SIM + Phone Number; This option is a good thing to have just as a safety measure. If you needed to make a call to your hotel before arriving, or call to make a reservation while in Japan, this would have you covered. It gives you the same access to Internet as option 1, but comes along with a Japanese phone number. That being said, if you call up your buddy or Mom, it's going to come through as a Japanese number on their phone. You may need to shoot them a text first that lets them know you have a new, temporary number!

Getting the SIM is quick and painless. It takes just a moment for them to swap out the SIM cards (be careful not to lose your original one)! This is something you will do as soon as you arrive at the airport. Once your phone is set up, you are ready to go hop on a bus into the city!

*Note/Tip: Japanese wall plugs are the same as they are in the USA. No need to worry about that!

Emily Haddad

Emily Haddad