After spending months researching for our April 2024 trip, I hope this post helps simplify your planning process. What are the things you need to know before your next Japan trip? Start by considering your budget for Japan. A general guideline is to allocate $100 AUD per person per day for expenses beyond flight and accomodation. However, your actual costs may vary depending on your preferences and comfort level.

IC Cards

• Suica is the prepaid IC card by JR East for JR trains in the Greater Tokyo, Niigata and Sendai regions. A special version of Suica, called Welcome Suica, is available to foreign tourists.
• Pasmo is the prepaid IC card of Tokyo‘s railway, subway and bus operators other than JR. A special version of Pasmo for foreign tourists, called Pasmo Passport, was discontinued in August 2024.
• Icoca is the prepaid IC card of JR West for JR trains in the Kansai (incl. Osaka and Kyoto), Chugoku and Hokuriku regions. The Kansai One Pass is a special version of Icoca exclusively for foreign tourists that additionally qualifies for discounts at various attractions in the Kansai Region.

Each card offers the convenience of using public transportation and making small purchases at various establishments. While their functionalities are similar, they are each linked to specific regions and companies.

For added convenience, you can install an IC card on your smartphone by adding it to your digital wallet. During our recent trip in April, we used Suica. It was incredibly convenient to load the balance, similar to making a purchase using your wallet app. You can specify which account to top up from, and if you’re familiar with the Wise account, it’s particularly useful.

For those who aren’t, Wise is an international account that allows you to store money in various currencies, offering competitive exchange rates. I budgeted my expenses and converted a lump sum into Japanese yen when the exchange rate was favorable. This way, I could top up my Suica card directly in yen, avoiding additional exchange fees with each transaction.

Due to the ongoing chip shortage, obtaining physical Suica and Pasmo cards can be challenging. If you need one, try to purchase a Welcome Suica card at Haneda or Narita airport upon arrival. If you’re unable to get a physical card, don’t worry you can still use cash or a bank card to buy tickets at the machines for public transportation. Alternatively, you can purchase through this Welcome Suica through Klook.

Bank Card

If you need cash, ATMs are widely available in convenience stores and train stations. I successfully withdrew cash using my Wise account, which was already in Japanese yen. Note that ATMs usually have a fixed transaction fee, which varies. From my experience the fee was JPY 110 for withdrawal of JPY 5000 (with some ATMs having a minimum withdrawal of JPY 10,000) and JPY 220 for amount above JPY 20,000. Additionally, Wise charges a fee for withdrawals of JPY 30,000 and above, so it’s a good idea to check the latest fees on their website, as they may change. Plan your withdrawals accordingly to minimize additional costs.

ATMs in Japan generally accept most international cards, so even if you don’t have a Wise account, you should have no trouble accessing cash. However, using Wise can be particularly convenient for avoiding exchange rate fees, which is also useful when traveling to other countries.

Shinkansen SmartEx App

Planning to travel between cities? The Shinkansen SmartEx App is a great tool for reserving Shinkansen (bullet train) tickets. Reservations open one month in advance, and booking early allows you to choose seats with space for oversized luggage, typically located at the end of each car. These seats are limited, so early booking is advisable.

Alternatively, you can purchase tickets directly at the station. For those visiting multiple city JR Pass might offer better value. However, for our trip covering Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, buying individual tickets was more cost-effective. To determine the most cost-effective option for your trip, use the JR Pass Fare Calculator: JR Pass Fare Calculator. This tool helps compare the costs of individual tickets versus a JR Pass based on your travel plans. If you decide to purchase a JR Pass, you can do so here.

The SmartEx App is user-friendly, making it easy to navigate and secure your tickets. Occasionally, there are special deals for early reservations, offering additional savings. When you reserve a seat, you can link it to your unique Suica ID number, allowing you to simply tap your IC card at the station to board the train. Here’s how:

• Get the Suica app installed, then open the app and click on i icon. It will show your full Suica number.
• Entering IC Card number on SmartEx App: Tap the “Register new IC card” button on the designated IC card screen and enter the IC card number. If you check “Register above information to My List,” you’ll be able to select the registered IC card from a list in the future. When adding to My List, you can register a name for the IC card (up to 14 characters).
• Selecting IC Card from My List: Tap the pulldown menu, and a list of registered IC cards will be displayed for you to select from.

Alternatively, you can skip this step and add your ticket directly to your digital wallet.

Here’s a useful tip for getting the best view of Mount Fuji:

• Traveling from Tokyo (to Kyoto): Mount Fuji will be on the right side.
• Traveling (from Osaka) to Tokyo: Mount Fuji will be on the left side.

To enjoy the best view of Mount Fuji in both directions, reserve a D/E seat in the Ordinary Car or a C/D seat in the Green Car. The Green Car is the first-class cabin, offering extra comfort and space.

Be sure to grab an ekiben (a Japanese bento box) to enjoy on the train. It’s a fantastic way to taste local specialties and enhance your journey.

Luggage Delivery Service

We used a luggage delivery service to transport our bags from one city to another and were thoroughly impressed with its reliability. Whether opting for next-day delivery or a few days’ delivery, our luggage always arrived on time. We used Yamato Transport, recognisable by its black cat logo. Most accommodations can assist with this service, handling the paperwork and logistics. However, when staying at a ryokan (Japanese Traditional Inn), we had to drop off our luggage at a nearby Yamato office ourselves, as there was no dedicated receptionist like in hotels. Fortunately, the office was conveniently close. The cost was approximately $25-27 AUD per large piece of luggage.

eSim or Pocket WiFi

It’s important to decide on your internet access options before your trip. Some travelers prefer either an eSIM or Pocket WiFi, while others opt for both. For our trip, we managed just fine using eSIMs that we pre-purchased through Klook. We chose Ubigi and Airalo, which worked well together—if one had connection issues, the other still provided coverage.

If you’re traveling solo, you can choose based on your preference. I purchased 10GB of data, which was sufficient for our 14-day trip. Just make sure to buy your eSIM closer to your departure date, as there’s a time limit on when you can activate and use it before it expires.

Laundromat

People often suggest bringing an empty suitcase to accommodate the items you’ll likely purchase, which sometimes means buying extra luggage for your new belongings. This is definitely feasible in Japan, as we were impressed by how easy it was to find laundromats wherever we traveled. Additionally, most accommodations offer laundry facilities. Many hotels even provide in-room washers and dryers free of charge, while others have coin-operated machines in a dedicated laundry area. Planning ahead to use these facilities can help you pack light and travel more efficiently.

I hope you found this post helpful! For the complete itinerary from our trip, check it out here: Japan 14-Day Itinerary. Remember, the journey is just as important as the destination. Until next time!

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