Everyone seems to have one of these - hope mine is useful to someone - I visited in November 2024.

  1. If you have backups running on your phone and a non-Japan plan, disable roaming before you get there or it'll cost you. We got an eSim (I used Sakura) for £35 for 2 weeks for unlimited data. Internet works in tunnels and on the underground lines. Wheeee!

  2. If you have an iPhone (didn't test Android) you can get a Suica IC card on your phone by just doing "add card" in Wallet. That means you can use the Tokyo metro and trains, some buses, and some vending machines too by tapping in - without needing to use cash or calculate how much a journey will be, which is massively useful.

  3. You can also top these up using Apple Pay

  4. Lots of places - including some corner shop 7-11 type places - took physical contactless UK cards. Some took virtual cards (like Apple Pay). Especially in Tokyo.

  5. Cash was sometimes the only option outside Tokyo / touristy places. But you can get cash from most 7-11 type places. And a tiny, lovely, Sushi place in Yudanaka (Isamizushi) took contactless.

  6. USB A or normal Japanese plugs (same as USA) were common on long distance trains but not USB C

  7. You have to self-certify as being old enough to drink alcohol (by clicking 'yes') on the machines (which are supervised by people) in 7-11 type shops.

  8. Navitime is great for route planning and includes Japan rail pass options

  9. Japan Rail pass doesn't work on metro lines or some rail lines, including the one you are most likely to wander into at Haneda Airport. If you've got an IC card though, it's really cheap and you don't need to worry.

  10. If you have a rail pass, the rail pass site is good for planning routes and booking reservations for Skinkansen, but you have to pick up the reservations from a physical machine in a station.

  11. Getting anywhere in Tokyo takes ages even though the transport is incredibly good and has destinations, announcements, maps etc in English, Chinese and Korean as well as Japanese. It's just very big, very busy, and stations always have multiple exits.

  12. There are loads of great public toilets everywhere

  13. Lots of art galleries and museums are closed on Mondays in Tokyo

  14. All railway stations have their own little tune that plays as the doors shut

  15. Reddit was good for questions and tips

  16. There's quite a bit of craft beer in Japan. There's a really really nice, friendly beer place in Shimbashi ("Dry Dock", try the chicken) and another in Asakusa "The Day" (with hotdogs).

  17. Quite a lot of people speak English, especially in Tokyo.

  18. There are some large supermarkets, but they are quite hard to find.

  19. OMG the plastic