You can continue the read when you finish with Japan Travel Tips — Part 2.
So you’re about to take a trip to Japan for the first time? Congratulations! if you’re not, then you know how Japan is. Japan is an amazing place, full of adventure, rich in culture, plastered in neon lights and hides some weird things.
It’s always good to have some planning involved before heading off, and I assume you have done as much planning as possible but sometimes there are things that only someone who has travelled and learnt the hard way can recommend.
Tips covered in this article:
- Rent a Wifi or Sim Card
- JR Rail Pass & Suica/Pasmo Cards
- Alternative Transport (Alpico Bus, Willer Express)
Rent a Wifi or Sim Card
Surprisingly Japan is extremely behind with public wifi. What seems to be the only place to get free wifi in Japan is; Starbucks & your hotel lobby. This can be very frustrating and although a toilet can automatically wipe your ass and play music to you, you can’t (as a foreigner) update your Facebook status to reflect that!
Foreigners in Japan are unable to purchase a mobile phone so this has created a market for wifi dongle and sim card rentals that are affordable and life saving. Japan has great 4g coverage and the ability to use your GPS or lookup anything you need anywhere you are helps minimise your time being lost and maximise your time drinking or adventuring (or update Facebook with the musical toilet).
Here are some recommended rental places and prices start from ¥ 2,800 for a wifi dongle or ¥ 3,000 for a sim card.
- https://www.econnectjapan.com
- http://japan-wireless.com/
- http://www.globaladvancedcomm.com/pocketwifi.html
You will need to organise this in advanced so it can be sent to your hotel or picked up from the airport on your arrival.
Hint: It pays to be well prepared and order this in advanced (3–4 days minimum), some places do last-minute service too.
The dongles have poor battery life so I always opt for the sim card.
JR Rail Pass & Suica/Pasmo
JR Rail Pass
Trains are super efficient and fast in Japan, but this has it’s downside. Some trains (Shinkansen’s for example) are expensive ($150 aud — $220+ aud).
Luckily JR (Japan Rail is a group of 6 private companies) provides a pass that allows tourists 7, 14 or 21 days of unlimited travel on all JR lines (with some exclusions). Although the JR Rail Pass seems expensive, starting at $332 aud, if you plan on doing long distances over a shorter period this will save you money. However, on multiple instances for Sarah and myself, this hasn’t been much of a savings so we generally don’t take up the offer. Most of our trips extend past the 21 day mark and unfortunately doesn’t make it viable with majority of our most expensive travel on either end of those dates.
You can use Google Maps directions to get a highly accurate price of trains through Japan (have verified the cost accuracy).
You must purchase this pass before you arrive in Japan and more information can be found here.
Hint: Check google and pre-plan all your large travel sections. Knowing the cost of paying as you go VS the JR Rail pass can save you hundreds of dollars.
Most of the time when Sarah and I visit Japan, the JR Pass has been the same or slightly more expensive. We like to stay in places and get comfy!
Pasmo/Suica
Similar to what London Underground’s Oyster Card and to what Sydney’s Opal is. Japan has a similar system called Pasmo & Suica, a simple card that can be purchased at all major train stations and pre-loaded with as much or as little money as you want. You just tap and go through the gates at each station without having to worry.
Suica Cards are more widely accepted for JR Rail across Japan, Pasmo is used mostly for the Tokyo Metro and other “Private Lines”, if unsure always ask an attendant!
I never have issues when purchasing a Pasmo card in Tokyo. Maybe you might need both cards?
Hint: I always find it hilarious to put stupid names on the cards!
You can use your card to buy food and drinks in and around stations.
Trains stop running at 12:30 am, and you will have to resort to expensive taxi’s if you miss the last train.
Alternative Transport (Alpico Bus, Willer Express)
Not everyone in Japan can afford the expensive Shinkansen, and buses are just as reliable and extremely affordable for the frugal traveller.
These busses are generally 50% cheaper than their train routes and offer overnight busses and extreme comfort (see the photo above!).
I have come across 2 main bus companies on the main island of Honshu (the largest of the 3 islands that make up Japan), Alpico & Willer Express, there are more smaller bus companies, ill keep adding them as I come across them.
- http://www.alpico.co.jp/access/english/ (Nagano → Nagano, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo)
- http://willerexpress.com/en/ (Nagano → Nagano, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo)
- http://www.nagadenbus.co.jp/ (Nagano → Nozawa Onsen)
- http://naganosnowshuttle.com/ (Tokyo → Nagano Prefecture/Hakuba)
- http://www.hiroden.co.jp/ (Hiroshima Area)
Hint: Book online to ensure you get a seat!
Series Starting In January 2016
Sarah and I will be doing a series on Japan Travel starting this January, subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more exciting tips, not just Japan but other countries too!