A few things I want to share from my trips to Japan.
Before You Go
A few things need to be arranged before you arrive in Japan. A Japan Rail (JR) Pass gives you unlimited travel on Shinkansen and other JR trains and buses. JR Pass is for foreign visitors only and is not available for purchase in Japan so you need to get it prior to your trip. A JR Pass will save you a lot of money when travelling between cities (Tokyo to Kyoto, Tokyo to Osaka, Osaka to Hiroshima, etc) but is not very useful for inner city travel. If you are going to spend a few days in Tokyo or Osaka, plan your trip so that it is at the beginning or end of your journey.
Japan’s train system is very good but complicated. To plan your train trips and check schedules, download the HYPERDIA app on your iPhone. It is free to use for the first month.
To use HYPERDIA and other travel apps, you will need Internet access. You can either get a prepaid SIM card or a Pocket WiFi. Rent one online from rentalwifi.com and do it at least one week in advance. They will deliver it to the airport post office just in time for your arrival. Paid return envelope is included. At the end of your trip, just drop it in the mailbox at the airport before you leave.
Flights
Tokyo has two international airports, Narita and Haneda. Both are good but Haneda is newer and feels more spacious. Alternatively start your journey in Osaka and leave from Tokyo. It could work well if you plan to visit both cities as you won’t need to make a return trip.
Cathay Pacific usually has a sale around Chinese New Year. I paid around AUD750 for a roundtrip from Sydney to Tokyo in late April.
From and to the airport you can catch trains. Alternatively, to get from Narita Airport to Central Tokyo and back get Airport Limousine Bus Return Voucher. www.limousinebus.co.jp
Cherry Blossom
Those classic Japan sceneries are probably at their utmost during cherry blossom. It only lasts for about two weeks, usually late March to early April around Tokyo to Osaka region. If you arrive later during the season, Hirosaki Park further up north is a great place to see cherry blossom. If Shinkansen feels expensive, consider an overnight bus trip. It is usually cheaper and you save one night of accommodation. Check out Willer Express for trips.
Hotel
Hotels in Japan are generally good with reasonable price. Rate varies. Rooms are small.
Paying for stuffs
Cash is still the best way to pay for stuffs in Japan. However, it is often tricky to predict how much cash to bring. Some credit cards waive international transaction fees and they also offer reasonable exchange rate. Get one for your trip and use it when you can especially for paying large transactions such as hotel bills. You can also withdraw cash from many ATMs using the credit card. Cash withdrawal typically gets charged interest rate immediately so the trick is to top up your card first with positive balance.
