This trip was very sudden, my best friend and I have been wanting to go since forever but we just booked our plane tickets and rented airbnb places 2 weeks prior to our flight. This was our first time going to Japan and we chose not to go with a tour group, thus everything had to be planned by us (mainly me). It was stressful but manageable and we were super lucky on this trip.
Tip #1: Booking a place to stay
If you're staying in Japan for a while and want to live like a local, I recommend booking an airbnb place instead of a hotel. The hosts of these airbnb places are helpful and can answer your questions.
Because of our lack in knowledge of the area, we booked two places in Saitama prefecture instead of in Tokyo prefecture and thus transportation costed more because the further the distance, the more expensive it is.
Tip #2: Look up some places to go to beforehand and create a map
Trust me, when you're there, everyday would be exhausting and you may not have the time to plan the night before. Take advantage of your time. I looked up many places, created my own map, and pinned the locations. By doing so, you can know which places are close to one another and you can plan your day around these areas.
Tip #3: Using your Credit / Debit Overseas
Notify your bank beforehand about using your credit or debit card overseas or else when you try to purchase things or take out money in Japan without doing so, the transaction may not go through.
Tip #4: Portable Wifi Rental
I have Verizon and their global roaming plan is pretty expensive, so I decided to rent a portable wifi for the 3 weeks we were there. It's simple, easy, and can be connected to multiple devices. Some airbnb places in Japan do lend you them but mine didn't. My friends kept telling me that there is wifi everywhere but trust me that's not really true as most are locked... I rented the standard speed portable wifi from cdjapan and it did it's job just fine. You can extend the rental period when you order it. The good thing is that there is an option to have it sent to the airport you're landing at, hotel, or a residence. Although you may not call or use your company's default calling / texting, you can use apps like LINE, wechat, facebook, snapchat, etc. where you can still stay connected with your family and friends back at home.
I landed in Narita airport, terminal 1 and there was an airport post office in the shopping center of the 4th floor (if I remember correctly). They will already have your package there. The package came with the wifi itself, an adapter, cable, pouch, and a prepaid return envelope. On the return date, just simply put everything into the envelope and hand it to the airport post office or any red mailbox.
Tip #5: Have an external battery on hand
I had three with me as I had to charge my phone, the wifi (if it died), and my friend's phone. The two I mainly used were the cheero energy plus and the cheero power plus. On your flight, you can only place external batteries on your carry on and not in your check-in luggage.
Tip #6: Transportation from the airport to your destination
1) I ordered Skyliner tickets online before going to Japan. It is cheaper but it is only for people visiting Japan. This train takes you from the airport (terminal 1 or terminal 2 / 3) to either of the two train stations in Tokyo (Ueno or Nippori) where you can take other trains from there and get to your destination. You can also take the Skyliner from Ueno or Nippori to the terminals of Narita airport.
2) Another option we used was the the airport shuttle / limousine bus when we were returning to Tokyo from Osaka. You can purchase tickets at the airport or at convenience stores (7 eleven, lawson, etc) if your bus stop requires tickets to be purchased beforehand (going from bus stop to airport). Please check the airport shuttle bus time schedules beforehand because there are quite a few hours in between buses and you do not want to miss your flight as we almost did!
Of course, these two aren't the only options. Personally I would rather take the shuttle bus if the place I'm living at had an airport shuttle bus stop nearby so that I can avoid carrying my luggage around the train station and up and down the many flights of stairs (if no elevator was nearby). If you may or may not know, trains in Japan can get very packed and it might not be possible to get off at your stop with all that luggage as you might get surrounded by people.
Tip #7: PASMO or SUICA
At the airport each of us purchased a PASMO card (blank PASMO) from the machines, there is an English option so it was pretty easy to purchase (each person must purchase their own). A PASMO card is used for taking trains, buses, and even purchasing stuff in Japan. It is pretty much the same as the SUICA card. It is super useful as you just tap once when taking the train and tap another time when leaving. You do not have to buy train tickets every time as it can be quite complicated when there are so many train lines.
It is similar to the octopus card in Hong Kong, if you know what I'm talking about lol And when your trip is over, you can just return the card (at the airport) and get your 500 yen (used to purchase the card) and any remaining amount back. Or you can just use the remaining amount and keep the card, like what I did.
If your balance is low, you can reload your card at any train station with the PASMO option.
Tip #8: Google and Google maps are your friends
During the whole time we were in Japan, I would use google to look up which trains to take and google maps to get me to the places I want to go. Do not try to decipher the Tokyo metro subway map before getting to Japan because it will give you a huge headache.
For example: for our second airbnb we lived near a station called Wakoshi station, if we wanted to get to Ikebukuro (home of otome) this was what my search would look like
Type into google: (departing station) Wakoshi station to (arriving station) Ikebukuro station
The second option:
☆ Train line: Yurakucho line
☆ Direction: Shin-kiba
☆ Platform: 4 (not always written)
☆ Train arrival time at Wakoshi station: 5:45 AM
☆ Train arrival time at Kanamecho station: 6:01 AM
(train timing is usually very accurate so if you are afraid of getting at the wrong stop, just constantly check the train line stops and the time)
Because this route did not directly get you to Ikebukuro station, use google maps to guide you. Your starting point would be your current location (kanamecho station or a more precise gps location) and your destination would be Ikebukuro station, then you walk~
At first we would just jump onto any train that was currently on that certain platform but we learned to look at the digital information board above us for the train line, direction, type (express, local, semi express, etc) to find the correct train. When there are two trains for the same train line and direction but different types, find the train line map (on a huge board) and see whether that type would get you to the station you're heading towards. Don't worry, there is English here and there.
Please note that trains usually stop around midnight and run again around 5AM, you can always double check the times in the station or perhaps online.
☆☆ Another very useful site is hyperdia. Another one of my friends who traveled to Japan around the same time as us used this but being me, I was too lazy to input all that information so I stuck with google. They both work about the same though.
Tip #9: Traveling to another part of Japan
We went to Osaka for several days in the middle of our trip. Instead of taking the shinkansen (bullet train) or taking the bus which would take many many hours, I ordered cheap plane tickets online and took the plane instead. Although it is probably more troublesome, it would save you quite a lot of time and money.
Tip #10: Exchange large bills with 100 yen coins at game centers
You know how there are many tempting gacha machines conveniently located everywhere you go? Sadly, they only take coins (I can't remember if they just take 100 yen coins or if they take other amounts). The best thing to do is to have 100 yen coins on hand because you can use them for gacha machines, the machines that print images on copper pieces (?), purikura, crane machines, meals, and shopping.
Tip #11: Keep to your left in Tokyo
In New York, when we're going down or up the stairs / escalators we would always stand or walk on our right side but in Tokyo it is the opposite. On the escalators people would stand on the left and those who want to walk would do so on the right. But strangely, it also varies in Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto. If I remember correctly, it is right in Osaka and left again in Kyoto or Nara. Just watch the locals, and you'll be able to correct yourself ;)
These are the top 11 I can think of for now, if I think of more I will make a new post. (´｡• ω •｡`) And remember to just have fun!
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