5 Tips for Travelling to Japan

1. Use the Narita Express if you arrive to Narita Airport

It may be not the most cost efficient but it is certainly the fastest way to get to Tokyo. It costs around 30 USD for a one way ticket and you can easily rest from your flight as it takes around 50 minutes to get to the city station. On the plus side, you do not have to worry about traffic. Taking a Limousine Bus is probably less expensive but it might take you close to 1:30 hours to get to Tokyo Station and after a long flight, not fun at all.

Here is a link to the JR Narita Express that provides a bit more info on the train schedule as well as fares
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/nex/

Btw, purchase the Suica Card for using the Metro. You purchase and top it up to pay for fares on the Metro System (see JR Pass Tip to save some money)

(Lily, my Mom and Me on board Narita Express)

1. Pocket WiFi

Do you speak or can read japanese?? I didn't think so as most of us don't. Communication is a must in Japan as most people do not speak or do not want to speak english nor any other language so a pocket wifi will SAVE YOUR LIFE!! You can use it to get around the city, translate something in order to get directions from someone, get reservations to a restaurant or just about anything.

Also, if you don't want to buy a SIM CARD you can just turn your Cell Phone off and only use Data from the pocket wifi. My mother forgot to put her cell on Airplane Mode and got a massive bill the following next month so be sure to just use your wifi with airplane mode on with WiFi On and your good to go. Use Whatsapp to phone family or friends during the trip. It's great.

Here is a link to the company where I purchased it for 10 days and it cost me roughly 77 USD + I shared it with my wife and my mom and another friend used another pocket wifi when we got separated. Pretty good deal.
https://www.jrpass.com/mobile_wifi

(purchasing my Kimono)

1. JR Pass

If and only if you're planning to travel around japan it is definitely recommended to purchase JR Pass. It works 7, 14 and 21 days and you can use the Shinkansen Bullet Train to get anywhere in Japan.

Here is a greeaaaaat tip that worked for me with this pass during my stay in Tokyo. We purchased the pass because we wanted to go to Kyoto and also we wanted to do some site seeing outside of Tokyo and also my Aikido Congress was to be held in Takasaki (100 Kms outside of Tokyo) so it worked out great. As it turns out to be, Tokyo Metro is very expensive and well, after our second day we found out that the Yamanote Line (the green line that goes all around Tokyo) is a JR property. It turns out that different companies own different lines so as I stated, the JR Line owned the Yamanote Line. I spoke to a Metro official and held out my JR Pass and he or she gave me entrance to the line without purchasing a ticket. This was a life and huge money saver as per ticket I would have easily coughed up 2 USD per ride plus connections to any other line (another 2 USD) and only one way so that's 4 bucks per one way-destination. With the JR Pass I got close to the destination and walked or just paid the short connection to my final destination. Easily we saved 50% of the ride that day.

Another plus was that my Hotel (Sheraton Miyako) had free transportation every 15 minutes to Meguro Station (JR owned) and also to Shinagawa Station (important Train Station) so it worked out great for us.

Here is the link to the JR Pass where you can also purchase your pocket wifi when you purchase the train pass https://www.jrpass.com/

1. Food

This part I also love. If you think Tokyo or Japan is expensive, you're dead wrong. First of all, I get it, a flight to Japan might take you on the other side of where you live but think about it, i'm from Mexico, things here are pretty expensive (i'm serious) and my flight was about 800 USD per person. I spent about 10 USD per meal (healthy meal not crap) in Japan. Transportation was very cost effective thanks to our free Hotel transportation to Meguro/Shinagawa Stations + JR Pass Tip. Passes to attractions where not very expensive. And walking around the city was pretty nice.

Note: Accommodation was about 190 USD per day in a super nice Hotel. If you want a cheaper option go ahead, but beware, rooms might magically shrink when your cheap, I'm just kidding but yes, the less you pay, chances are the room will get a hell of a lot smaller. Take it from me, the Sheraton Miyako was not that large roomwise.

(FOOOOOD!)

(yes you use food kiosks to order and pay for your food)

What was expensive? Alcohol, Metro (if not used correctly), Taxis, Clothing and other stuff that's not even worth mentioning or I just don't remember. Japan can be as expensive as you want it to be just like any other country.

What was the most expensive thing that I did in Japan? Glad you asked (hahaha). I took my Wife to a Super Fancy Schhmansy Restaurant called Tapas Molecular Bar. It was budgeted and planned way before we went.
https://www.tripadvisor.com.mx/Restaurant_Review-g1066444-d2212678-Reviews-Tapas_Molecular_Bar-Chuo_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html

This is by far the most expensive and FUUUUN dinner i've paid for (800 USD for me and the Mrs). But the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, the view and the ambiance are so Romantic you forget about everything. Memorable evening I can assure you.

Here a pic with Ping and Ashley, the Master Chefs behind this crazy Restaurant)

(Lily and Me
)

1. Tips

Please don't tip, it is not a Custom and they might get offended if you do. Japanese get very well paid for doing their job and they are very friendly so my tip to you, don't tip. That easy.

(12th International Aikido Congress- Somewhere there is me)

Let me know if you liked my 5 Tips for Japan Travel and hopefully they will help you on your next trip to this incredible country.

Domo Arigato-Gozaimashita!