International Travel, burnt out edition
March 7, 2024 6:01 AM Subscribe
I find myself committed to an international trip despite the current state of my average daily supply of spoons. However, shouganai. Please hope me with the specifics elucidated below.
The trip will be several weeks in Japan. I spent significant time in Japan many, many years ago, so I’m quite familiar with Japan … of many, many years ago. In better days, I could easily research this stuff, but right now I’m too burnt out/stressed to manage the logistics of this travel easily on my own. The trip is not negotiable and I could really use a bit of help; yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
_____
QUESTIONS
Money: How do I pay for things? My credit cards do not have good terms for international spending. What’s up with this Wise thing – is it a good option for spending money in Japan, or is there something else you’d use/recommend? Please explain it to me like I’m 5, but have disposable income and a yen :-P for various Japanese souvenirs.
Getting around: It seems my USA iphone will just work in Japan, right? Phone plan provider says texting/data is unlimited, but all calls are about 25 cents/minute. Will I be able to rely on the phone’s map for directions? Internet connectivity to look things up? I feel like I’m missing something; why are so many Americans talking about pocket wifis and SIM cards -- is it to get a faster connection?
Tokyo lodging: My first couple nights, and then a few more nights mid-trip will be in Tokyo. How would you go about finding a decent place to stay? A buffet breakfast would be nice. Clean and quiet is essential. Would like to keep cost as little over $100 as possible. I have a list of things I might want to do in Tokyo, but haven’t got a coherent list or mapped them out. I’m trying to get to where I can create a less rudimentary itinerary (accepting words of encouragement and positive thoughts for this lift, ugh).
Devices & Electricity: I have a PowerPort mini (magical box that plugs into a wall outlet and accepts USB plugs) that someone said will just plug in to Japanese outlets and will be safe to charge my phone and smartwatch– are they right? I’m not bringing a laptop, so the phone is going to be my connection to back home, to the internet, and to all travel related activities (finding restaurants, getting directions, etc.).
Future questions: I’m asking for help here first because you folks have lots of street cred in my book, questions usually get a decent number of responses, and y'all are generally kind. What travel forum(s) for Japan do you recommend so I can search for more specific and up to date info or post additional questions as I try to get more organized around this trip?
_____
Thank you for any solid info you can share, and stay tuned for my second post when I realize all the important bits I forgot to include in this one. Stress sucks. But with your help, I will find out how much fun and relaxation I can fit into this adventure.
The trip will be several weeks in Japan. I spent significant time in Japan many, many years ago, so I’m quite familiar with Japan … of many, many years ago. In better days, I could easily research this stuff, but right now I’m too burnt out/stressed to manage the logistics of this travel easily on my own. The trip is not negotiable and I could really use a bit of help; yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
_____
QUESTIONS
Money: How do I pay for things? My credit cards do not have good terms for international spending. What’s up with this Wise thing – is it a good option for spending money in Japan, or is there something else you’d use/recommend? Please explain it to me like I’m 5, but have disposable income and a yen :-P for various Japanese souvenirs.
Getting around: It seems my USA iphone will just work in Japan, right? Phone plan provider says texting/data is unlimited, but all calls are about 25 cents/minute. Will I be able to rely on the phone’s map for directions? Internet connectivity to look things up? I feel like I’m missing something; why are so many Americans talking about pocket wifis and SIM cards -- is it to get a faster connection?
Tokyo lodging: My first couple nights, and then a few more nights mid-trip will be in Tokyo. How would you go about finding a decent place to stay? A buffet breakfast would be nice. Clean and quiet is essential. Would like to keep cost as little over $100 as possible. I have a list of things I might want to do in Tokyo, but haven’t got a coherent list or mapped them out. I’m trying to get to where I can create a less rudimentary itinerary (accepting words of encouragement and positive thoughts for this lift, ugh).
Devices & Electricity: I have a PowerPort mini (magical box that plugs into a wall outlet and accepts USB plugs) that someone said will just plug in to Japanese outlets and will be safe to charge my phone and smartwatch– are they right? I’m not bringing a laptop, so the phone is going to be my connection to back home, to the internet, and to all travel related activities (finding restaurants, getting directions, etc.).
Future questions: I’m asking for help here first because you folks have lots of street cred in my book, questions usually get a decent number of responses, and y'all are generally kind. What travel forum(s) for Japan do you recommend so I can search for more specific and up to date info or post additional questions as I try to get more organized around this trip?
_____
Thank you for any solid info you can share, and stay tuned for my second post when I realize all the important bits I forgot to include in this one. Stress sucks. But with your help, I will find out how much fun and relaxation I can fit into this adventure.
Another money tip - get a transportation card like Suica and fill it up (I think 20,000 is the max). More and more restaurants, bars and shops don't take cash, so you'll need a way to pay electronically.
I've never heard of Wise.
As for forums, I've had better luck on FlyerTalk than Reddit, but YMMV.
I will plug two of my own websites: WhereInTokyo.com for fun, slightly offbeat things to do in Tokyo, and Bento.com for restaurant recommendations in Tokyo and other major cities.
posted by Umami Dearest at 6:36 AM on March 7 [5 favorites]
I've never heard of Wise.
As for forums, I've had better luck on FlyerTalk than Reddit, but YMMV.
I will plug two of my own websites: WhereInTokyo.com for fun, slightly offbeat things to do in Tokyo, and Bento.com for restaurant recommendations in Tokyo and other major cities.
posted by Umami Dearest at 6:36 AM on March 7 [5 favorites]
We were last in Japan in 2019. The electrical outlets are the same shape as U.S. (but commonly without a slot for the grounding pin, if I remember right). Mains power is 110V AC, 50 or 60 Hz, so your USA devices will just work seamlessly.
Seconding getting a Pasmo or Suica card when you arrive and loading it up with money by feeding cash into the slot of an add-fare machine at a subway station. They make using the subway systems so much easier, and when we were there, they could even be used for payment at many convenience stores.
For "emergency" food when you're out of spoons, convenience stores are awesome.
posted by heatherlogan at 6:44 AM on March 7 [2 favorites]
Seconding getting a Pasmo or Suica card when you arrive and loading it up with money by feeding cash into the slot of an add-fare machine at a subway station. They make using the subway systems so much easier, and when we were there, they could even be used for payment at many convenience stores.
For "emergency" food when you're out of spoons, convenience stores are awesome.
posted by heatherlogan at 6:44 AM on March 7 [2 favorites]
A lot of the regular IC cards (Suica, Pasmo etc used for commuter train travel and some vending machines) are not readily available anymore. If you need one, you can get tourist ones at certain locations, including airports.
Some further info. I agree with Umami Dearest that loading the card is a good way to go, but from memory the machines at the stations only took cash.
posted by pianissimo at 6:49 AM on March 7
Some further info. I agree with Umami Dearest that loading the card is a good way to go, but from memory the machines at the stations only took cash.
posted by pianissimo at 6:49 AM on March 7
I was in Japan for two weeks a few months ago.
I got a pocket WiFi for my boyfriend and I to share so as not to use all my data and to have a reliable connection. You can reserve one and pick them up and drop them off at the airport or in the mail. But it is another device to carry which is why some people prefer SIM cards.
We used the Suica cards mostly for transportation but yes some places will accept them like credit cards. I like to have backups though so it might be worth it to bring an actual credit card that doesn’t have international fees.
We stayed at an APA branded hotel in Tokyo. We didn’t realize at the time that the owner is apparently evil. The hotel next door was the closest we came to a breakfast buffet.
The day to day moving around and meals was a lot cheaper than I expected.
If you want to go the Ghibili Museum you should book the tickets now.
posted by girlmightlive at 6:50 AM on March 7 [1 favorite]
I got a pocket WiFi for my boyfriend and I to share so as not to use all my data and to have a reliable connection. You can reserve one and pick them up and drop them off at the airport or in the mail. But it is another device to carry which is why some people prefer SIM cards.
We used the Suica cards mostly for transportation but yes some places will accept them like credit cards. I like to have backups though so it might be worth it to bring an actual credit card that doesn’t have international fees.
We stayed at an APA branded hotel in Tokyo. We didn’t realize at the time that the owner is apparently evil. The hotel next door was the closest we came to a breakfast buffet.
The day to day moving around and meals was a lot cheaper than I expected.
If you want to go the Ghibili Museum you should book the tickets now.
posted by girlmightlive at 6:50 AM on March 7 [1 favorite]
Getting cash in Japan (tldr: use your debit card in an ATM, probably tell your bank you're about to travel internationally).
King Kogi is made by a Canadian who's lived in Japan for a number of years, Martina has a ton of digital travel guides and youtube video guides for things to do, and she's big on low-key vibes in neighborhoods that are good for a wander. And it sounds like you might be in a low-key wandering vibes mood.
posted by Lyn Never at 6:58 AM on March 7 [1 favorite]
King Kogi is made by a Canadian who's lived in Japan for a number of years, Martina has a ton of digital travel guides and youtube video guides for things to do, and she's big on low-key vibes in neighborhoods that are good for a wander. And it sounds like you might be in a low-key wandering vibes mood.
posted by Lyn Never at 6:58 AM on March 7 [1 favorite]
What’s up with this Wise thing – is it a good option for spending money in Japan, or is there something else you’d use/recommend?
Wise (formerly known as Transferwise) is more for transferring money, usually to other individuals and is somewhat like Western Union if you are familiar with their money transfer services. As a tourist who just needs to get access to (your own) cash, it doesn't really make sense to use this service.
What is likely the best is to use ATMs -- in Japan, often labeled "international ATMs" since not all ATMs accept foreign cards -- and just to take out cash. There may be a nominal fee (US$3-$5) plus a percentage fee (i.e. a 3% fee of the US dollar value of what you take out).
But unless you are taking out truly large quantities of cash it's probably just worth it to suck up the fees. You can avoid them by using a credit card which doesn't charge any international transaction fees, but that obviously doesn't work if credit cards are't accepted or if your credit card doesn't waive those fees. In the long run if you are a frequent international traveler you can also find banks that waive ATM withdrawal and foreign exchange fees, but for a one-off trip I don't think it makes sense to do this.
Phone plan provider says texting/data is unlimited, but all calls are about 25 cents/minute. Will I be able to rely on the phone’s map for directions? Internet connectivity to look things up? I feel like I’m missing something; why are so many Americans talking about pocket wifis and SIM cards -- is it to get a faster connection?
Double check that the data is actually unlimited and at full speed -- in many plans it's common to offer you a certain quantity of data (say, 2 GB) at contemporary high speeds (e.g. 5G/LTE) and then throttle you back to a slower speed (e.g. 3G) once you exceed that usage level. In some other plans there are also restrictions like "only max 50% of your usage in a month can be outside of the US" -- just be absolutely sure that you understand what will be offered abroad.
YMMV, but I tend to use much more daily data abroad then at home (doing more navigation, random googling, am out and about more).
posted by andrewesque at 7:00 AM on March 7 [3 favorites]
Wise (formerly known as Transferwise) is more for transferring money, usually to other individuals and is somewhat like Western Union if you are familiar with their money transfer services. As a tourist who just needs to get access to (your own) cash, it doesn't really make sense to use this service.
What is likely the best is to use ATMs -- in Japan, often labeled "international ATMs" since not all ATMs accept foreign cards -- and just to take out cash. There may be a nominal fee (US$3-$5) plus a percentage fee (i.e. a 3% fee of the US dollar value of what you take out).
But unless you are taking out truly large quantities of cash it's probably just worth it to suck up the fees. You can avoid them by using a credit card which doesn't charge any international transaction fees, but that obviously doesn't work if credit cards are't accepted or if your credit card doesn't waive those fees. In the long run if you are a frequent international traveler you can also find banks that waive ATM withdrawal and foreign exchange fees, but for a one-off trip I don't think it makes sense to do this.
Phone plan provider says texting/data is unlimited, but all calls are about 25 cents/minute. Will I be able to rely on the phone’s map for directions? Internet connectivity to look things up? I feel like I’m missing something; why are so many Americans talking about pocket wifis and SIM cards -- is it to get a faster connection?
Double check that the data is actually unlimited and at full speed -- in many plans it's common to offer you a certain quantity of data (say, 2 GB) at contemporary high speeds (e.g. 5G/LTE) and then throttle you back to a slower speed (e.g. 3G) once you exceed that usage level. In some other plans there are also restrictions like "only max 50% of your usage in a month can be outside of the US" -- just be absolutely sure that you understand what will be offered abroad.
YMMV, but I tend to use much more daily data abroad then at home (doing more navigation, random googling, am out and about more).
posted by andrewesque at 7:00 AM on March 7 [3 favorites]
I’ve been to Japan perhaps eight times in the last twelve years.
In terms of money, I found the international ATMs inside 7-11s were the most reliable places to obtain cash using my debit card in English (I specifically remember doing this in smaller tourist towns like Kinosaki Onsen and Hirosaki). I always contacted my bank first and never had an issue.
The pocket wifi thing was appealing when I was travelling with other people but a SIM card ordered in advance and shipped to you saves you carrying an additional device you have to charge. I usually only ever had a data-only SIM, but it is worth getting a SIM with voice calls/a phone number if you’re renting a car in case you need to call for help in an accident or if you break down.
In Tokyo I almost always stayed at the Meitetsu Inn Hamamatsucho, which has the advantage of being a very short walk to Hamamatsucho station on the Yamanote Line and the Haneda Airport Monorail; it’s inexpensive enough that I just went out for breakfast every day. The whole “business hotel” category is full of chains like this near stations. The nicest breakfast buffet I’ve had in Japan was at the Gate Hotel Kaminarimon by HULIC, next to Asakusa Station; it’s well above $100 a night, though.
I used japan-guide.com to plan lots of my trips to quieter parts of the country.
posted by mdonley at 7:06 AM on March 7 [1 favorite]
In terms of money, I found the international ATMs inside 7-11s were the most reliable places to obtain cash using my debit card in English (I specifically remember doing this in smaller tourist towns like Kinosaki Onsen and Hirosaki). I always contacted my bank first and never had an issue.
The pocket wifi thing was appealing when I was travelling with other people but a SIM card ordered in advance and shipped to you saves you carrying an additional device you have to charge. I usually only ever had a data-only SIM, but it is worth getting a SIM with voice calls/a phone number if you’re renting a car in case you need to call for help in an accident or if you break down.
In Tokyo I almost always stayed at the Meitetsu Inn Hamamatsucho, which has the advantage of being a very short walk to Hamamatsucho station on the Yamanote Line and the Haneda Airport Monorail; it’s inexpensive enough that I just went out for breakfast every day. The whole “business hotel” category is full of chains like this near stations. The nicest breakfast buffet I’ve had in Japan was at the Gate Hotel Kaminarimon by HULIC, next to Asakusa Station; it’s well above $100 a night, though.
I used japan-guide.com to plan lots of my trips to quieter parts of the country.
posted by mdonley at 7:06 AM on March 7 [1 favorite]
Phone plan provider says texting/data is unlimited, but all calls are about 25 cents/minute
You're talking about your current provider where you live? Double check the terms - will you truly not be paying extra for international data on top of your usual monthly rate?
why are so many Americans talking about pocket wifis and SIM cards -- is it to get a faster connection?
In a lot of countries it's cheaper to use a local sim than to use a US company's international roaming plan, which is often very expensive. (And in some cases maybe the coverage is better.) I don't know what prices are like in Japan, though.
You're almost definitely fine, but make sure that your iPhone model would be able to use a typical Japanese sim should that turn out to be necessary.
One tip for navigation when abroad: not sure about Apple Maps, but Google Maps lets you download maps to local storage so you can use GPS even without a data connection. (You can experiment with that now by dling a local map, turning off your data, and checking out how it works in your area.)
posted by trig at 7:08 AM on March 7 [1 favorite]
You're talking about your current provider where you live? Double check the terms - will you truly not be paying extra for international data on top of your usual monthly rate?
why are so many Americans talking about pocket wifis and SIM cards -- is it to get a faster connection?
In a lot of countries it's cheaper to use a local sim than to use a US company's international roaming plan, which is often very expensive. (And in some cases maybe the coverage is better.) I don't know what prices are like in Japan, though.
You're almost definitely fine, but make sure that your iPhone model would be able to use a typical Japanese sim should that turn out to be necessary.
One tip for navigation when abroad: not sure about Apple Maps, but Google Maps lets you download maps to local storage so you can use GPS even without a data connection. (You can experiment with that now by dling a local map, turning off your data, and checking out how it works in your area.)
posted by trig at 7:08 AM on March 7 [1 favorite]
A lot of the regular IC cards (Suica, Pasmo etc used for commuter train travel and some vending machines) are not readily available anymore.
That's because you can just go to your phone's wallet and add them there. You just load as needed and use as you would any other card in your phone's wallet. I used minimal cash in Tokyo but did use my Pasmo travel card on my phone all the time.
posted by koahiatamadl at 7:09 AM on March 7 [3 favorites]
That's because you can just go to your phone's wallet and add them there. You just load as needed and use as you would any other card in your phone's wallet. I used minimal cash in Tokyo but did use my Pasmo travel card on my phone all the time.
posted by koahiatamadl at 7:09 AM on March 7 [3 favorites]
Wise (formerly known as Transferwise) is more for transferring money, usually to other individuals and is somewhat like Western Union if you are familiar with their money transfer services. As a tourist who just needs to get access to (your own) cash, it doesn't really make sense to use this service.
That's not entirely true anymore. Sure, you can still transfer money but I think the OP's friends are talking about a Wise multi-currency account and the associated Visa debit/credit card. Basically you load up your Wise account in your own currency and can transfer to/from Yen in an instant and decide which currency to pay with. As a European I used my Wise card seamlessly in the US. It worked as a contactless debit card (and can be used at at ATM), as a credit card (Visa Infinity), and I could pay in dollars or exchange Euros at will - or a hundred other currencies. I'd imagine the same is true in Japan though I have no direct experience with it in Japan.
posted by vacapinta at 7:10 AM on March 7 [6 favorites]
That's not entirely true anymore. Sure, you can still transfer money but I think the OP's friends are talking about a Wise multi-currency account and the associated Visa debit/credit card. Basically you load up your Wise account in your own currency and can transfer to/from Yen in an instant and decide which currency to pay with. As a European I used my Wise card seamlessly in the US. It worked as a contactless debit card (and can be used at at ATM), as a credit card (Visa Infinity), and I could pay in dollars or exchange Euros at will - or a hundred other currencies. I'd imagine the same is true in Japan though I have no direct experience with it in Japan.
posted by vacapinta at 7:10 AM on March 7 [6 favorites]
You can download Apple Maps offline now and I personally found it easier to use Apple than Google to navigate.
posted by girlmightlive at 7:22 AM on March 7
posted by girlmightlive at 7:22 AM on March 7
Caveat: I have not been, but have been researching the possibility of a similar trip.
If your iPhone is relatively recent (but I do mean recent--my 2020 iPhone SE didn't, the new one I just got does), it will have eSim capability. You don't need a physical SIM card at all. However, you may not even need that. A number of carriers now offer international roaming at rates that are probably tolerable. (I think Verizon is $10/day, e.g..) You're right to read the fine print carefully, though!
posted by praemunire at 7:38 AM on March 7 [3 favorites]
If your iPhone is relatively recent (but I do mean recent--my 2020 iPhone SE didn't, the new one I just got does), it will have eSim capability. You don't need a physical SIM card at all. However, you may not even need that. A number of carriers now offer international roaming at rates that are probably tolerable. (I think Verizon is $10/day, e.g..) You're right to read the fine print carefully, though!
posted by praemunire at 7:38 AM on March 7 [3 favorites]
We spent about 17 days in Japan in 2023. Here is my experience:
Money: How do I pay for things?
You will need a fair amount of cash. The amount of places that accepted cards was higher than I was led to believe. But the cash-only subset was still 35% or so. You will need to be prepared to pay for nearly any transaction at a shop or restaurant with cash. Department stores and other bigger things always took cards. We found that ATM's were fine, if you did not accept the option for them to do the currency conversion for you. (The rates the ATMs take are predatory. Let your bank handle it.)
What’s up with this Wise thing
This was heavily recommended to me as good and essential. The reality was that it was exceptionally hard to make a withdrawal. Getting it cleared/unlocked to use over there was a huge hassle that took multiple phone calls. There is a decent chance I missed something in the setup/authorization for travel, so someone else may know better. But it was not only not useful for us, it pissed me off a little.
Getting around: It seems my USA iphone will just work in Japan, right? Phone plan provider says texting/data is unlimited, but all calls are about 25 cents/minute. Will I be able to rely on the phone’s map for directions? Internet connectivity to look things up? I feel like I’m missing something; why are so many Americans talking about pocket wifis and SIM cards -- is it to get a faster connection?
We have Google Fi and it worked flawlessly (as it does everywhere, frankly), but it's set up to utilize multiple networks, negotiated regionally. But we understand that many carriers don't do so well over there. I may not be the best person to ask.
Tokyo lodging: My first couple nights, and then a few more nights mid-trip will be in Tokyo. How would you go about finding a decent place to stay? A buffet breakfast would be nice. Clean and quiet is essential. Would like to keep cost as little over $100 as possible.
This is a tall ask for Tokyo. The price point is probably doable if you are amenable to a very small option further west from the city center, but "includes breakfast" seems to be pretty Western and Western style hotels cost more. I'm not saying you'd need a capsule hotel, but you will need something marketed at Japanese people, not Westerners.
We stayed near Ikebukuro (like a smaller Akihabara in some ways) which is most of the way to the egde of the transit ring at around 10:30 on the clock. We stayed in the Sunshine City Prince Hotel, atop the (pretty large) Sunshine City Mall. Our thinking was that a Western style hotel would be easier for our first stop, and that when some of us were zonked/jetlagged, the others could go downstairs and check out the stores (they have lots of cool stores, including a Studio Ghibli store, Pokemon store, a gachapon store, etc.) This kinda worked, but it turned out nearly everything in the mall except restaurants was closed by 6 or 7 pm. We paid about $188 a night including taxes and fees at the tail end of May, beginning of June.) The room was decently sized by Western standards.
Devices & Electricity
We got buy off of a pair of those cube shaped multi-country converters and a mess of USB cords.
The YouTube channel Cakes with Faces did a better job than most of explaining practical things like using the trains and buses, currency, etc. She's a seemingly UK-born millennial who lives full-time in Japan. Her tastes on recs tend towards anime/kawai, which wasn't my jam, but she explains the mundane need-to-know so well.
One tip that I wish I'd known before going: in many areas the ride share and cab pools are the same cars, but the drivers may all reject your Uber. Seriously. you can be standing on a corner with available cars with the logos on them passing you by endlessly.
You can, however, hail a cab easily, though and they're polite, safe, and efficient. THE BIG CATCH IS, the driver probably doesn't speak English and even if they do, is quite likely unable to read the address you need in Western characters or understand a not-so-perfectly spoken pronunciation of the address. Copy the name/address of your hotel/major destinations into your notes app in Japanese characters and increase the size where it's most of the screen. Show your driver and you can get around easily.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:41 AM on March 7 [3 favorites]
Money: How do I pay for things?
You will need a fair amount of cash. The amount of places that accepted cards was higher than I was led to believe. But the cash-only subset was still 35% or so. You will need to be prepared to pay for nearly any transaction at a shop or restaurant with cash. Department stores and other bigger things always took cards. We found that ATM's were fine, if you did not accept the option for them to do the currency conversion for you. (The rates the ATMs take are predatory. Let your bank handle it.)
What’s up with this Wise thing
This was heavily recommended to me as good and essential. The reality was that it was exceptionally hard to make a withdrawal. Getting it cleared/unlocked to use over there was a huge hassle that took multiple phone calls. There is a decent chance I missed something in the setup/authorization for travel, so someone else may know better. But it was not only not useful for us, it pissed me off a little.
Getting around: It seems my USA iphone will just work in Japan, right? Phone plan provider says texting/data is unlimited, but all calls are about 25 cents/minute. Will I be able to rely on the phone’s map for directions? Internet connectivity to look things up? I feel like I’m missing something; why are so many Americans talking about pocket wifis and SIM cards -- is it to get a faster connection?
We have Google Fi and it worked flawlessly (as it does everywhere, frankly), but it's set up to utilize multiple networks, negotiated regionally. But we understand that many carriers don't do so well over there. I may not be the best person to ask.
Tokyo lodging: My first couple nights, and then a few more nights mid-trip will be in Tokyo. How would you go about finding a decent place to stay? A buffet breakfast would be nice. Clean and quiet is essential. Would like to keep cost as little over $100 as possible.
This is a tall ask for Tokyo. The price point is probably doable if you are amenable to a very small option further west from the city center, but "includes breakfast" seems to be pretty Western and Western style hotels cost more. I'm not saying you'd need a capsule hotel, but you will need something marketed at Japanese people, not Westerners.
We stayed near Ikebukuro (like a smaller Akihabara in some ways) which is most of the way to the egde of the transit ring at around 10:30 on the clock. We stayed in the Sunshine City Prince Hotel, atop the (pretty large) Sunshine City Mall. Our thinking was that a Western style hotel would be easier for our first stop, and that when some of us were zonked/jetlagged, the others could go downstairs and check out the stores (they have lots of cool stores, including a Studio Ghibli store, Pokemon store, a gachapon store, etc.) This kinda worked, but it turned out nearly everything in the mall except restaurants was closed by 6 or 7 pm. We paid about $188 a night including taxes and fees at the tail end of May, beginning of June.) The room was decently sized by Western standards.
Devices & Electricity
We got buy off of a pair of those cube shaped multi-country converters and a mess of USB cords.
The YouTube channel Cakes with Faces did a better job than most of explaining practical things like using the trains and buses, currency, etc. She's a seemingly UK-born millennial who lives full-time in Japan. Her tastes on recs tend towards anime/kawai, which wasn't my jam, but she explains the mundane need-to-know so well.
One tip that I wish I'd known before going: in many areas the ride share and cab pools are the same cars, but the drivers may all reject your Uber. Seriously. you can be standing on a corner with available cars with the logos on them passing you by endlessly.
You can, however, hail a cab easily, though and they're polite, safe, and efficient. THE BIG CATCH IS, the driver probably doesn't speak English and even if they do, is quite likely unable to read the address you need in Western characters or understand a not-so-perfectly spoken pronunciation of the address. Copy the name/address of your hotel/major destinations into your notes app in Japanese characters and increase the size where it's most of the screen. Show your driver and you can get around easily.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:41 AM on March 7 [3 favorites]
As an add on - I found last summer that travel cards (physical or on the phone) were widely accepted means of paying for small purchases where a normal credit card wasn't. I am talking about the ubiquitous vending machines, small shops, cafes, restaurants - not just the metro.
posted by koahiatamadl at 8:25 AM on March 7
posted by koahiatamadl at 8:25 AM on March 7
MONEY
Before you leave:
- Figure out a rough idea of how much money you need for the first couple of days. How much do you need for transportation to your hotel? For transportation within those days? Assume you need money for food, but are you going to restaurants and how expensive are they? Do you need to do a payment for a hotel in those first couple of days? Assume that all of those items need to be paid in cash.
- I'd recommend identifying at least two ways you could potentially take out cash, such as an affordable ATM card and a pricey cash advance off a credit card. Let the companies know you will be traveling.
Before you leave the airport:
- Find the international ATM and take out that amount you need for those first couple of days. This will save you a lot of stress to not need to look for an ATM in the city when you are tired and stressed.
- Buy a PASMO or SUICA card with a certain amount of money to start. My experience from about 5 years ago was that this needed to be done in cash when I was at Haneda. The cost of this is included in the amount you calculated in step one.
Ongoing:
- As folks have mentioned, the ATM at a 7-11 (Seven Bank) is great for taking out cash from abroad.
- You can add money to your PASMO or SUICA card at train stations, so just keep an eye on the balance as you tap in/out and add money as needed.
DEVICES
Japanese outlets are a 2-prong with a power level that is slightly below US standard. Modern cell phones are set up to work on a range of power, including what will be there. The only thing to not expect to be able to do is plug in a 3-prong plug.
(Well, and the slightly different power means that things like a plug-in wall clock won't keep time correctly. But I assume you're not planning to bring one of those.)
LODGING
If you're comfortable with communal bathing, a ryokan may offer breakfast (I'd be happy to give you a suggestion of the one I stayed at in Tokyo). Otherwise, that's not very common.
What you may want to do instead is just pick up some breakfast items at a convenience store, either the night before or morning of. There's a lot of great selection, and it's fast.
ENCOURAGEMENT
You got this! It seems so much more stressful in advance than it in practice.
posted by past unusual at 9:08 AM on March 7 [2 favorites]
Before you leave:
- Figure out a rough idea of how much money you need for the first couple of days. How much do you need for transportation to your hotel? For transportation within those days? Assume you need money for food, but are you going to restaurants and how expensive are they? Do you need to do a payment for a hotel in those first couple of days? Assume that all of those items need to be paid in cash.
- I'd recommend identifying at least two ways you could potentially take out cash, such as an affordable ATM card and a pricey cash advance off a credit card. Let the companies know you will be traveling.
Before you leave the airport:
- Find the international ATM and take out that amount you need for those first couple of days. This will save you a lot of stress to not need to look for an ATM in the city when you are tired and stressed.
- Buy a PASMO or SUICA card with a certain amount of money to start. My experience from about 5 years ago was that this needed to be done in cash when I was at Haneda. The cost of this is included in the amount you calculated in step one.
Ongoing:
- As folks have mentioned, the ATM at a 7-11 (Seven Bank) is great for taking out cash from abroad.
- You can add money to your PASMO or SUICA card at train stations, so just keep an eye on the balance as you tap in/out and add money as needed.
DEVICES
Japanese outlets are a 2-prong with a power level that is slightly below US standard. Modern cell phones are set up to work on a range of power, including what will be there. The only thing to not expect to be able to do is plug in a 3-prong plug.
(Well, and the slightly different power means that things like a plug-in wall clock won't keep time correctly. But I assume you're not planning to bring one of those.)
LODGING
If you're comfortable with communal bathing, a ryokan may offer breakfast (I'd be happy to give you a suggestion of the one I stayed at in Tokyo). Otherwise, that's not very common.
What you may want to do instead is just pick up some breakfast items at a convenience store, either the night before or morning of. There's a lot of great selection, and it's fast.
ENCOURAGEMENT
You got this! It seems so much more stressful in advance than it in practice.
posted by past unusual at 9:08 AM on March 7 [2 favorites]
Not sure if this is practical or if you have time to get this done, but Charles Schwab checking accounts will reimburse you for ATM fees (even international) and have favorable exchange rates for currency.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:08 AM on March 7
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:08 AM on March 7
I was there a few months back. I used a combo of cash, credit card, and transit card to pay for small purchases. I think my Amazon Visa credit card had the lowest fees/most favorable terms. I changed a bunch of money at the airport to ensure I had some cash in case the ATMs didn’t work (something I had trouble with last time I was there about 20 years ago), but the exchange rate was awful and I never had any problem using the ATMs in the end—the ones in convenience stores were my go-tos.
I tried to get a Pasmo/Suica transit card on my phone wallet (a newer iPhone) and was never able to get it working for some reason. Fortunately, a place at the airport had physical Pasmo cards. (There’s currently a shortage of the cards.) I would sort that out as your #1 priority when you get there.
I recommend getting a little zippered coin purse to carry. I wound up with a LOT of coins.
I rented a pocket wifi and it ended up being a lot of hassle. Next time I’d probably go with activating roaming or doing an international SIM. My husband and I were sharing it and it was slightly cheaper than the other options that way, but also meant that we couldn’t separate from each other and just text each other when we were ready to meet back up. It also would tend to run out of batteries by evening so we’d also have to carry a backup battery pack to charge it in case we needed directions etc. after 8 pm, and it was just a lot of extra stuff to carry.
One delightful thing that has happened since the last time I was there is that the Google Translate app will translate printed text instantly if you just point the camera at a menu or street sign. Spoken Japanese too! I wasn’t able to use it for conversations but there was a tour guide on a rope way who was narrating in Japanese and I was able to use it to understand what he was saying.
I used my American phone charger without a problem.
In Tokyo, we stayed at the Keio Presso Inn Akasaka and I was perfectly happy with it. Looks like rates are well under $100 right now. Rooms were small, but it had a delicious buffet breakfast with a mix of Japanese and Western items and it was close to public transit and walkable to some good restaurants while not being right in the thick of things, pretty quiet at night although there was some construction nearby during the day. (We also stayed at an APA hotel for a couple of nights and it was very comfortable and clean, but I can’t recommend the chain as it’s run by hawkish right-wing nationalists who leave really out-there revisionist history propaganda in the hotel rooms, like Gideon’s bibles but worse. I picked up a magazine I thought I was just going to flip through to look at recommended places to see fall colors or good restaurants but it turned out to be full of articles about Japan’s military prowess and how it was right to invade other Asian countries in WWII in order to protect them.)
/r/japantravel on Reddit is a helpful resource!
posted by music for skeletons at 9:14 AM on March 7 [2 favorites]
I tried to get a Pasmo/Suica transit card on my phone wallet (a newer iPhone) and was never able to get it working for some reason. Fortunately, a place at the airport had physical Pasmo cards. (There’s currently a shortage of the cards.) I would sort that out as your #1 priority when you get there.
I recommend getting a little zippered coin purse to carry. I wound up with a LOT of coins.
I rented a pocket wifi and it ended up being a lot of hassle. Next time I’d probably go with activating roaming or doing an international SIM. My husband and I were sharing it and it was slightly cheaper than the other options that way, but also meant that we couldn’t separate from each other and just text each other when we were ready to meet back up. It also would tend to run out of batteries by evening so we’d also have to carry a backup battery pack to charge it in case we needed directions etc. after 8 pm, and it was just a lot of extra stuff to carry.
One delightful thing that has happened since the last time I was there is that the Google Translate app will translate printed text instantly if you just point the camera at a menu or street sign. Spoken Japanese too! I wasn’t able to use it for conversations but there was a tour guide on a rope way who was narrating in Japanese and I was able to use it to understand what he was saying.
I used my American phone charger without a problem.
In Tokyo, we stayed at the Keio Presso Inn Akasaka and I was perfectly happy with it. Looks like rates are well under $100 right now. Rooms were small, but it had a delicious buffet breakfast with a mix of Japanese and Western items and it was close to public transit and walkable to some good restaurants while not being right in the thick of things, pretty quiet at night although there was some construction nearby during the day. (We also stayed at an APA hotel for a couple of nights and it was very comfortable and clean, but I can’t recommend the chain as it’s run by hawkish right-wing nationalists who leave really out-there revisionist history propaganda in the hotel rooms, like Gideon’s bibles but worse. I picked up a magazine I thought I was just going to flip through to look at recommended places to see fall colors or good restaurants but it turned out to be full of articles about Japan’s military prowess and how it was right to invade other Asian countries in WWII in order to protect them.)
/r/japantravel on Reddit is a helpful resource!
posted by music for skeletons at 9:14 AM on March 7 [2 favorites]
I've been six times, but not since 2019. Booking.com has always been a reliable source for hotels, it shouldn't be hard to find a business hotel with breakfast buffet around $100 USD. I like the Villa Fontaine chain, especially the Shiodome branch which is surprisingly luxurious for a budget hotel. For a short stay I'd focus on finding a hotel on the east side of the palace, like Shinbashi or Nihonbashi, for ease of getting to the airport and train station.
posted by Gortuk at 11:31 AM on March 7
posted by Gortuk at 11:31 AM on March 7
Hotels still have business cards, right? The address will be printed in Japanese and might even have a map on the back. Take a photo of both sides with your phone and you can be sure of getting back there in the evening.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 11:44 AM on March 7
posted by TWinbrook8 at 11:44 AM on March 7
We were there for 3 weeks I. December/January this year and did a lot of prep work.
Money:
Lots of places took cash. We went to a few very fancy restaurants that were cash only - be prepared! We use Schwab for checking so we get free international ATMs. Concur about the change purse.
We used 7-11 and other ATMs and didn't have a problem. DON'T let the ATM do the exchange rate for you - it's a total rip-off. Go slow, read the screens, and opt to have your bank process the exchange rate.
I recommend getting a credit card that doesn't have foreign fees if you have time. Why pay 3% extra if you can? There are some no-fee cards that offer this.
Forget about Wise. We used it to prepay for a catered dinner with a group of friends and that's it
Getting around:
We used the Suica card for transit, but didn't load it up for paying for things as I didn't want to strand value. Enough places took cards and Google pay that I didn't feel like we needed it. Essential for transit though.
Google maps was GREAT at the subways in Tokyo. Also Google translate is so clutch for showing taxi drivers where you are going, doing translation of what you speak into the phone, and scanning and translating Japanese characters.
Devices & connectivity:
We used Airlo as an esim. It was ridiculous cheap, like $12 for 14 days of plenty of data. You just download it in advance and then switch Sims in your phone's settings when you arrive.
We had no trouble plugging in our phone charging power ports right into the wall.
Where to stay/trip planning:
Trulytokyo.com was very helpful to us in giving little descriptions of hotels at various price points. It helped cut through the thousands available on booking.com or Agoda. It's written by the guy who has written the Kyoto section of lonely planet for like 20 years, who also has a Japan trip planning consultation service. We found his websites very helpful in planning activities in various neighborhoods.
Hope this helps!
posted by foodmapper at 6:59 PM on March 7 [2 favorites]
Money:
Lots of places took cash. We went to a few very fancy restaurants that were cash only - be prepared! We use Schwab for checking so we get free international ATMs. Concur about the change purse.
We used 7-11 and other ATMs and didn't have a problem. DON'T let the ATM do the exchange rate for you - it's a total rip-off. Go slow, read the screens, and opt to have your bank process the exchange rate.
I recommend getting a credit card that doesn't have foreign fees if you have time. Why pay 3% extra if you can? There are some no-fee cards that offer this.
Forget about Wise. We used it to prepay for a catered dinner with a group of friends and that's it
Getting around:
We used the Suica card for transit, but didn't load it up for paying for things as I didn't want to strand value. Enough places took cards and Google pay that I didn't feel like we needed it. Essential for transit though.
Google maps was GREAT at the subways in Tokyo. Also Google translate is so clutch for showing taxi drivers where you are going, doing translation of what you speak into the phone, and scanning and translating Japanese characters.
Devices & connectivity:
We used Airlo as an esim. It was ridiculous cheap, like $12 for 14 days of plenty of data. You just download it in advance and then switch Sims in your phone's settings when you arrive.
We had no trouble plugging in our phone charging power ports right into the wall.
Where to stay/trip planning:
Trulytokyo.com was very helpful to us in giving little descriptions of hotels at various price points. It helped cut through the thousands available on booking.com or Agoda. It's written by the guy who has written the Kyoto section of lonely planet for like 20 years, who also has a Japan trip planning consultation service. We found his websites very helpful in planning activities in various neighborhoods.
Hope this helps!
posted by foodmapper at 6:59 PM on March 7 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thank you, so very much, for the wealth of useful info, insider tips, and general encouragement! I feel like the lucky recipient of a spoon lottery :-D and will be forever grateful for your collective kindness and generosity. I don't know how long threads stay open, but if this one still is when I return, I'll post an addendum. Hontonio arigato gozaimasu!
posted by interbeing at 7:32 AM on March 14 [1 favorite]
posted by interbeing at 7:32 AM on March 14 [1 favorite]
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Other forums: I found some pretty helpful things on Reddit (R/Japan travel, but there's others). They'll have a bunch of Tokyo itineraries that you can borrow from, but it really depends on what you like to do.
Accommodation: have a look round the various booking aggregators for an idea of what you can get. You may want to sketch out an intinery first so you can base yourself closer to where you want to be.
Encouragement: planning travel is time consuming and can be overwhelming! You don't have to optimise anything, it will still work out. Even if it's not exactly what you had in mind, it'll be an adventure. You'll forget all this stress when you're there and just enjoy the trip, you really will.
posted by pianissimo at 6:25 AM on March 7 [2 favorites]