I wish more people made travel tip videos like this. Simple, to the point, with hands on real world reference from the perspective of the actual traveler. Nice job.
That was amazing I wish there were more animations like that for other areas like getting from JR NeX to the Shinkansen or for the multiple exits of Shinjuku Station.
LIved in Japan for 20 years - this is by far the most concise and helpful one of these kinds of vids out. I'll be linking visiting friends + family to THIS everytime moving forwards!!!
Do you know how freaking awesome this is for autistic people who want some agency and autonomy as they travel (either alone or with family and friends)?! With this informative they’re able to visualise exactly where they need to be, what they have to do and help them plan what they want to do - all without feeling too alone, anxious and overwhelmed. Thank you!! I’ve been to Japan and am autistic but I will be sharing this with others in the community who are afraid of the language barrier and other obstacles.
Fellow autistic here. This info is so freaking great. My trip is only in October but I've been planning for over a month so far 😅 27 days of travel is indeed overwhelming and I'm making sure to plan days where I can drop plans (or greatly reduce) when it's necessary.
@@theknightswhosay I'm not aware of a similar video for Narita, but I've been there before when I couldn't read a single character and only knew a few phrases of Japanese and I still found it extremely easy to navigate. Just read and follow the signs.
this !!! I watched so many other vids and looked online but there was always something missing. This is the first short and concise vid that has actually soothed my anxieties about needing to know every detail and what I will run into because I cant handle any unknowns LOL. Trying to plan my first solo trip ever so I wanna get everything right
One of the best lifehacks for riding Japanese trains I found out was to just buy the cheapest ticket to get inside the train. Ride to your destination. Go to fare adjustment machine and stick in your ticket. The machine will show you the difference you owe, since you only paid for a short distance but rode a longer distance. You just pay the difference and exit the train station with that ticket. It takes out all the planning or guess work.
@@jeffholt9437 They're right next to the gates that you use to enter or exit the platform. These gates don't let you in without a valid ticket and they won't let you out without a fully paid ticket. You buy the tickets on the station side of the gates, you adjust your fare on the train platform side of the gates. If you really struggle to find them, then there's also a human station attendant in a booth right next to the gates - supposedly you can give him your ticket and pay whatever you still need paying, but I've never tried that myself.
Thats good to know if your just out riding for fun or winging it but if you know where you are going why not just enter and save the time when you arrive?
1) don't worry about wearing your fashion best especially if you plan to do a lot of walking 2) the vast majority of hotels have laundry on site 3) english displays all over most train stations, and all digital machines have the option for several languages as well 4) always take your hat off and bow when you pass through a shrine gate.
Very informative! My 2nd trip to Japan in a couple of weeks. I used to get rid of my change in the vending machines that are everywhere. Didn't realise you could dump them in 7 Elevens too. Agree with packing light - I'm taking half the clothes this time and will use the hotel washing machines...
I've been searching for this level of detail for a first time traveler to Tokyo for quite some time. This video should be a top recommend for anyone visiting. Thank you for this!
I just got back from Tokyo a few days ago. I was able to get a Welcome Suica. This was vital for easily moving around the city. You can get one at Haneda Airport.
You can also transfer your Suica to your iPhone or Apple Watch. You can recharge it there too. But you have to stop using the plastic Suica. Just leave it packed away.
@@PhirePhlame Yes. That is exactly what I was told will happen. Also moving the eSuica to your Apple Watch will deactivate it on your iPhone. I haven’t checked for myself because doubling up on usage could invalidate one or both. I know it shouldn’t, but I didn’t want to push my luck.
I've been wanting to make a trip to Japan for a few great reasons, but been scared because of my autism and not able to understand fully whats needed for such a trip, and out of all the video's I've come across, this has to be the best one yet.
My husband and I are going to Japan in April 2025 to see the Cherry blossoms among other things, and we're sharing a backpack. I've gotten a lot of tips from your videos, and as a fellow Canadian who's never left Canada before, I'm pretty nervous but excited.
@@brendacc3106 Haha, why even reply? Just a jealous bloke with nothing better to do. Japan's fantastic, whatever the season. I would strongly suggest skipping the big tourist traps (Kyoto has a fantastic botanical garden in the north, not much else worth your time unless you feel like being up to your neck in tourists). Kobe's nice though if you are in Kyoto anyway. Either way, enjoy your trip!
Visit Japan and creating the account is not that bad at all. Takes like 2mins to setup max. After that you fill in custom and immigration forms and then add in passengers that you're going with and it spits out a QR code. So easy. After that, when you arrive to japan, you don't need to manually fill those long boring cards. Just scan the qr code and go through the gate.
Alternative is to rent a pocket wifi. You can pre order online and pick it up at the airport counter or have it delivered to your hotel. They provide you a whole kit and a return envelope.
@neubro1448 I've gone this on the last 2 trips. Easy and effective, I also recommend a pocket wifi. Maybe having an Esim is a good emergency backup, but pocket wifi is fantastic for staying connected with multiple devices.
This is THE BEST video I have seen about what to do once you land in Japan. As someone who gets very anxious about new situations/not knowing where to go or what to do (even when I've done research and I know all the info on paper) the visual guides and step by step walkthrough of the process is the most amazing thing I could have asked for! Thank you for putting in the effort to make this. I am traveling to Japan next year and this helps alleviate the anxiety! :)
Your PASMO Passport info is outdated: There is no longer the 500 yen issueing fee. It used to be 2000 yen but now it costs 1500 yen and you get to spend all of it. Welcome Suica does not require the 500 yen deposit either. Visitors can just take these cards with them when they leave Japan, like souvenir.
@@sarah-janegalipo3995 He must have recorded this months ago then 😜 since the 500 yen fee was waived in June 2023 when regular Suica and Pasmo card sales were suspended.
I’m pretty sure the channel only in Japan said the welcome SUICA only lasts 28 days so if you have a remaining balance, you need to spend it before leaving Japan or lose the funds.
@@inquisitvem6723 both the welcome suica and pasmo passport cards work that way. fortunately it's really easy to keep track of your balance so you can be sure to spend it all before you go. if you're lucky enough to get your hands on a regular suica or pasmo, any balance you have will stay on your card for your next trip. one quick note.. if you're heading west from tokyo, you can also look for an icoca card at the bigger train stations (i got mine in osaka) they work the same as suica/pasmo and don't seem to be in such limited supply. i had no issues getting one when i went just this past december
Trust me-When you first get off the plane and get interviewed by customs, know all the dates of your travel and addresses where you’re staying. I was on my 20s and my mom who was with me arranged everything because I have autism, but they talked to us separately, and when the lady asked me all those questions I just shrugged. She looked like she was going to put me back on a plane home. Take those questions seriously!
10/10 for the information recieved, 5 stars for the transparency really just great video to prepare i will also edit later how accurate it actually is...but probably really percise UPDATE: this guide video is 100% accurate... Japan is also really nice, including the people👍
SERIOUSLY THANK YOU!!! As a person who always has to be the one to do everything while traveling (I hate it) this was stress free for me. I'm thinking about going solo to Japan now.
My wife and I are planning a 2026 Japan trip to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. Would love some typical cost breakdowns from someone who travels there so often! Love your vids as always.
You are going to love it. My wife and I went in 2023 and it was our favorite vacation ever. We are planning on going again in 2025. There is another youtube channel 'Abroad in Japan' that has a lot of interesting videos of Japan and some of them have cost breakdown too. Good luck.
I haven't had any fun lately, You bring me joy!I love the kind and generous heartwarming atmosphere that you create, your kind, easygoing, warm vibe. I like the essence how you live on. I need to be true to myself and find a job I am passionate about. I want to find a way to live as who I really am.
This guide is exactly what I was looking for! Your video is so well organized with the information and visually appealing. I will be traveling to Japan for the first time and this video helps me put my mind at ease as I know what to expect
Fabulous video and I have been living in Japan for 20+ years, One more tip is baggage is takkybin (baggage delivery) which is at the airport and everywhere and is the best thing EVER (ex. Sagawa, Kuronekko/Black Cat, etc-Google if you are interested and select your language). If you have an itinerary firmly planned and the time, you can send your big bag to your next longer destination (e.g. hotel) and use a smaller backpack for one or two nights short stopovers and your bag will be waiting for you when you get there. You do see those people hauling suitcases on the train but I always send my luggage to the airport one or two days before my flight to avoid this. It only costs about $15 one way. Residents in Japan use takkybin a LOT. Also, the airport buses are a great alternative to taking so much luggage on the train especially during rush our as it’s cheap, they stow your luggage under the bus and they have comfy seats, some with charging ports, you can use Suica for buses so no need to buy a ticket in advance, the signage is multilingual, and they go to destinations literally all over the Tokyo metropolitan area.
I found your video by accident and, as I am in the early stages of planning my Tokyo trip, this was BEYOND handy information! You have a new subscriber in me. Thank you for making things clear and easy to understand.
It's an easy mistake to make by buying a simcard at the airport because it's super convenient. Those prices are almost 10 times higher compared to a 'BIC Camera' store that's almost everywhere in Tokyo. Or, simply buy a simcard or e-sim in your home country before flying to Japan, it would still be (much) cheaper than at the airport.
Very handy tip about dumping coins into the machine at a konbini. Will remember that on next trip. Another way to avoid ending up with so much change is to pay with your IC card (Pasmo or Suica) wherever it's accepted. Just be sure to load up funds in your card as necessary.
For Pasmo and Suica if you happen to be an iPhone user Apple’s Wallet has Suica as a transit card option. Sadly because Japan uses a different NFC then most other countries Android phones not purchased in Japan likely won’t work.
@@theknightswhosay oh, in all the places I went if they took it at all they'd take the phone, though a few cities didn't take pasmo or suica and had their own small subset to use instead.
@@U1TR4F0RCE a lot of the local trains have old machines with no mobile card reader. Then they didn’t like our Suicas if we tried to use them at the gate even though they worked at all the conbinis etc.
Your remark at around 5:15 where you say the conversion given to you is "precisely what's being withdrawn from your account" is incorrect. That second conversion rate is that ATM's machine offer of how much they'll deduct from your bank account should you choose that second option. A reason why someone may think about doing it is because their bank charges foreign transaction fees, and they may not want to withdraw in yen and rather withdraw in CAD instead. However, that's never ever the best case scenario. You're always better off picking the local currency, and the amount that's actually withdrawn is way way less than the offer that's given by the ATM machine.
Question, first timer here. So that machine is a money exchange machine where we input our local country bank log in to withdraw YEN? Or we can use credit card to withdraw YEN?
@@nobodynobody1235 you can use either, but it's not recommended for credit cards because the cash advance rates are really high and they're effective immediately right after you withdraw it.
@@nobodynobody1235 if i understand your question correctly. No you can't put Cash Dollars in and get Yen out. You will have to use a Debit or Credit Card. And you only get Yen Cash out. the choice was 'who you let charge you the conversion rate'. either let you Bank at home charge you for conversion to Yen or the ATM company (7-eleven in this case).
Thanks so much for this explanation! I was thinking that my bank would have a better conversion rate, plus without the 3.5% fee… so glad to hear there is the option to perform the transaction in local currency, Japanese Yen.
If you are coming from New Zealand, Australia or Connect through Singapore, then I strongly recommend checking Nagoya flights. I've seen Singapore Airlines (a top tear carrier) on Skyscanner cheaper than budget options to Narita or Haneda and because of how fast the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen is, you can get to Tokyo almost as fast as Narita.
@@ajapanexplorer7417 Yes, but also if you're planning to take the Tokaido Shinkansen anyway them it makes no difference especially if you use the Hokuriku Arch pass and do Tokyo Kanazawa Kyoto and back to Nagoya to fly out
I'm super impressed with this video. If ever I were to go to Tokyo it would be this video that I would want to be my side kick. SO informative and well made. So thoughtful! Fantastic information! Also, huge kudos for the fun stick figure guy in the airport layout sections. Love it! Thank you!
I prefer a pocket wifi over sim/e-sim cards. Especially when travelling with others a pocket wifi just makes it simpler for everyone to have wifi for far less than a sim/e-sim (3 of us split the cost of renting a pocket wifi w/ unlimited data for 30 days and it was $28 CAD each). The downside to it versus a sim/e-sim is that you'll likely need to charge it during the day and you have to stick together. These two things aren't usually problems for us because we travel with power banks and Japan has so many free wifi spots that if you decided to separate from the group you can still message people when to meet up and what not. Agree about the JR Pass. It's not practical. On my first trip to Japan in 2019, we got the 14 day pass (which was about $490 CAD at the time) and rode the shinkansen four times and used the applicable JR trains as often as possible and we only "saved" about $40. Now though, with the price increase, forget about it.
Thanks for the simple step-by-step explanation! My father is traveling to Japan separately from us and this video will be very useful for him to know what the expect when he arrives and get him on the train to meet us in Tokyo.
Just passing by to thank you for leaving a bit of time at the end of the video to click the additional recommended videos instead of just rushing it's ending lol
Hello Maurice. Just letting you know that I'm in Japan with my wife for our 3rd day, and your video got us off to a strong start. I especially appreciate your tip of 10000 yen per day. As of July 2024, IC cards are still unavailable, unfortunately! The subway workers tried their best to help us in the moment. We ended up buying the visitor cards for the Tokyo Metro since we were moving hotels every night.
Another useful travel tip: If you have an iPhone you can get a mobile Suica/Pasmo card on your phone (via apple wallet), and can top it up directly from your home bank, even before you arrive in Japan (and obviously while you're there too). Anything that accepts Suica will also accept the mobile Suica, so this is useful if you can't get a physical one (or even if you can and don't want to faff or pay the deposit). Only downside is that you don't get the physical card as a nice souvenir. You can't do this on Android though, as for whatever reason mobile IC cards on Android require a special chip, which is only installed on Android phones purchased in Japan. Whereas on iPhone this chip isn't required, so any iPhone will work, wherever inn the world you bought it.
Note there is a difference between the Japan Rail Pass, which grants (unnecessary) nation wide train access, to regional JR passes which is WAY cheaper but come with restrictions and caveats. For example the North Kyusyu Pass does not grant you access to Sanyo Shinkansen between Hakata and Kokura because it is operated by JR west, and not JR Kyusyu who issued your pass. So your best option is to take the SONIC express. If you are only visiting one city then there are better(cheaper) options, but if you are visiting multiple cities, JR pass is your friend. I always plan my trip around the validity area and period of JR passes, and I think it's worthwhile to understand the rules.
If you’re spending multiple days somewhere (such as Tokyo area and Kyoto area), the national JR pass is not close to worth it. The arch pass might be, but then you can’t go directly from Tokyo to the Kyoto/Osaka area.
I just got back from Japan and when I got there I was not charged any fee for my welcome Suica card. Immigration was easy as well. Fill out the info on the app and you’ll be fine. Ninja Wi-Fi by terminal 3 worked well for me as well. Having the hot spot was pretty awesome. You’ll want it due to looking up info while in the cities.
i rarely comment on any videos but this one helped me a lot! It was very enjoyable listening you taking me through it all and showing perfect visuals along! thank you very much!
First of all, thank you very much for the excellent video. It's a complete treat to the ears to hear an Asian person pronounce all the English words correctly (I mean, not replacing the Rs with Ls and saying kaajool instead of casual). Like you, I am a Canadian who has spent 35 years in all major cities of Japan (Hakodate, Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo, and Tokyo) as an English and French teacher. Most of my time in the class was spent in teaching students how to pronounce English and French (especially French) words correctly. Anyway, Location 6:15 I have landed innumerable times at HND. In my experience, most of the people take the Monorail to Hamamatsucho and then change over to JR Hamamatsucho. The process is extremely easy and convenient. There are signs in English and Japanese everywhere and of course, the polite Mono Rail and JR staff are ubiquitous who are eager to help a lost passenger. Did you genuinely forget to mention the Mono Rail in your video? I am asking because Mono Rail is the choice of transportation for most passengers using Haneda airport. Location 9:30 Few escalators. You showed Shibuya station in your video. I can say with confidence that there are at least 4 elevators and several escalators. There are two things that you will find in almost all the stations in Japan - elevators and tourist information kiosks. Exceptions are very tiny stations like (Niigata, I think) which is spread only on one floor and thus an elevator or an escalator is not required. Surprisingly, Niigata does have an information counter for tourists. I had travelled to Niigata more than 20 years ago so I could be mistaken. Overall, a very informative video. Thanks!
One thing I'd suggest for travel to Japan is fly in to Kansai airport, pick up an Icoca card, explore Kyoto and Osaka, then take the shinkansen to Tokyo. Your Icoca card will work just like a Suica card in Tokyo. The difference is that Icoca cards are still for sale to tourists, unlike the Suica. If I was flying into Tokyo, would absolutely agree that Haneda is the better choice if possible. Good call on the 7-Eleven ATM too. Easy to use, clear, no hidden surprises, and usually has the best exchange rate too. Totally agree with you! Oh and yes! Pack light. Carrying bags up huge flights of stairs (I'm looking at you, suidobashi station!) is a nightmare.
Absolutely fantastic video for someone like me planning on going to Japan hopefully in 2025. The whole getting out of the airport and getting on transportation was so well done. I needed something like that for when I caught the subway from JFK to Manhattan. Got there in the end, but it was quite the adventure lol.
Having been to Japan, this information is super accurate and relevant! First time I went, I was a bit clueless but as I got the hang of it, the information in your video is very relatable. Great job at putting together a concise and accurate guide for first time Tokyo travelers!
Great graphics -- love the map and the walking guy -- combined with sensible and well-organized information. I wish more people made videos this informative and well-produced. Thank you!
Thank you so much for the step by step info down to which signs to look for, what the ATM breakdown looks like and what halls to walk down. This is especially helpful for those of us who will be first time visitors that are nervous about getting around and knowing what to do when we only know a few words of Japanese. Great video.
This is a super informative and concised guide for anyone visiting Japan for the first time. I’m planning my first trip this Nov and just stumbled upon this video. Thank you so much for sharing and making such an easy guide for us!! Your editing is stellar and so visually helpfully!!
About the ATM transparency, it's only showing you the Canadian figure if you accept their conversion (which of course you should never do). ATMs do that in most countries.
One other small thing I’d add, is depending on your bank, when you take cash out at the ATM it makes sense to get it in the currency you are extracting and have your bank decide the rate (in this instance, as you showed in the video, you chose Yen and not CAD). This DOES depend on your bank, but if you’re unsure it’s a good rule of thumb to opt for the currency of the country you are in.
I hope you were able to film enough to do a first day and first week too! This is awesome. I know a lot will be subjective but I would love to see what you got up to and recommended as a medium time viewer 😊
I'm Japanese. Regarding the Japan Rail Pass, even if you don't take a bullet train every day, you should check the price. Sometimes the Japan Rail Pass is cheaper than buying tickets each time, even with the recent price increase. The pass offers unlimited travel on JR trains, buses, and some ferries, which can add significant value and convenience to your trip. Always compare the total cost of individual tickets to the pass to see if it’s worth it for your travel itinerary.
@@Vlog-in1ln I reckon it's definitely worth it for people who want to travel the entire country, and who don't have a driver's license that's valid in Japan. 👍🏼
God bless you sir! You are truly doing the lords work. I was worried with traveling with a first timer to Japan and having to navigate while jet lagged. Your video is putting me at ease and giving a helpful tutorial for them. Thank you thank you!
Good stuff, but I think it's good for people to know that the Welcome Suica (and presumably the Passmo Passport) are only valid for 28 days. After that, you need to spend another 500 yen to buy another card - and you lose any money remaining on the card. Another thing people might consider is the Monorail instead of the Keikyu. The monorail has one destination: Hamamatsucho Station. If you're tired or not paying close enough attention, you could inadvertently end up on the Keikyu to Yokohama. Happened to me once and I didn't realize it fully until we got to Kawasaki!
I ❤️ed your video thoroughly. The contents incorporated are excellent for anybody traveling to Japan. You have cleared many of my apprehensions and hopefully made life much simplerwhen I happen to visit Tokyo in second week of June, 2024. An excellent work & please carry on updating. Regards
Another two tips for coins as a frequent Japan traveler: get a coin case/purse, and you can also dump them at a Sushiro as they also use automated machines
There are service in Japanese airport for a delivery service to send over large luggage item to your specific place of stay. In Haneda it is located at far end to the right after leaving the gate run by “Kuro Neko Yamato Ta-kyubin” (Black Cat Yamato Delivery Service). It is convenient service for people who would travel farther than Tokyo that wouldn’t need to worrying of carrying and storing large luggage. The luggage would usually arrive within two~three days.
This is very good info, more detailed than a lot of other videos I’ve watched; you mention things that were never mentioned in other videos, glad I watched your video 👍🏼
I wish more people made travel tip videos like this. Simple, to the point, with hands on real world reference from the perspective of the actual traveler. Nice job.
Your 3D guide with the stick figure was awesome. Thanks for putting the work into building that!
That was amazing I wish there were more animations like that for other areas like getting from JR NeX to the Shinkansen or for the multiple exits of Shinjuku Station.
Nothing can go wrong with more quality to your work then ... quantity
That encouraged me to subscribe.
LIved in Japan for 20 years - this is by far the most concise and helpful one of these kinds of vids out. I'll be linking visiting friends + family to THIS everytime moving forwards!!!
Do you know how freaking awesome this is for autistic people who want some agency and autonomy as they travel (either alone or with family and friends)?! With this informative they’re able to visualise exactly where they need to be, what they have to do and help them plan what they want to do - all without feeling too alone, anxious and overwhelmed. Thank you!!
I’ve been to Japan and am autistic but I will be sharing this with others in the community who are afraid of the language barrier and other obstacles.
Fellow autistic here. This info is so freaking great. My trip is only in October but I've been planning for over a month so far 😅 27 days of travel is indeed overwhelming and I'm making sure to plan days where I can drop plans (or greatly reduce) when it's necessary.
Less awesome if you’re at a different airport. I’m not diagnosed with any such things, but is anyone aware of a video like this for Narita?
@@theknightswhosay I'm not aware of a similar video for Narita, but I've been there before when I couldn't read a single character and only knew a few phrases of Japanese and I still found it extremely easy to navigate. Just read and follow the signs.
Thats why not just Japan but everyone to strive to Be Kind Be Nice to each other
this !!! I watched so many other vids and looked online but there was always something missing. This is the first short and concise vid that has actually soothed my anxieties about needing to know every detail and what I will run into because I cant handle any unknowns LOL. Trying to plan my first solo trip ever so I wanna get everything right
Your suggestion about consolidating your change at 7-11 is such a great tip and something I have not seen from other videos. Thank you!
I went to Japan 3 weeks ago, and I still could buy a physical Suica card. I love that card, it’s soooo convenient :3
did you bought it at the airport?
I think they still sell them at airports.
@@Jitliung yea I bought it at the airport. I arrived at Narita AirPort tho, don’t know how it is at Haneda but I presume the same.
@@haroldsthoughts3628 is it welcome suica or regular suica?
I want one too i heard alot of good things about it i really hope its still obtainable 😢
One of the best lifehacks for riding Japanese trains I found out was to just buy the cheapest ticket to get inside the train. Ride to your destination. Go to fare adjustment machine and stick in your ticket. The machine will show you the difference you owe, since you only paid for a short distance but rode a longer distance. You just pay the difference and exit the train station with that ticket.
It takes out all the planning or guess work.
@@Xaito awesome, thanks 🤓
How do you know which machine is the adjustment machine? 😳
@@jeffholt9437 They're right next to the gates that you use to enter or exit the platform. These gates don't let you in without a valid ticket and they won't let you out without a fully paid ticket. You buy the tickets on the station side of the gates, you adjust your fare on the train platform side of the gates. If you really struggle to find them, then there's also a human station attendant in a booth right next to the gates - supposedly you can give him your ticket and pay whatever you still need paying, but I've never tried that myself.
Thats good to know if your just out riding for fun or winging it but if you know where you are going why not just enter and save the time when you arrive?
@@18x9 because you'd then need to understand their zoning system to know which ticket you actually need.
1) don't worry about wearing your fashion best especially if you plan to do a lot of walking
2) the vast majority of hotels have laundry on site
3) english displays all over most train stations, and all digital machines have the option for several languages as well
4) always take your hat off and bow when you pass through a shrine gate.
Very informative! My 2nd trip to Japan in a couple of weeks. I used to get rid of my change in the vending machines that are everywhere. Didn't realise you could dump them in 7 Elevens too. Agree with packing light - I'm taking half the clothes this time and will use the hotel washing machines...
I've been searching for this level of detail for a first time traveler to Tokyo for quite some time. This video should be a top recommend for anyone visiting. Thank you for this!
I just got back from Tokyo a few days ago. I was able to get a Welcome Suica. This was vital for easily moving around the city. You can get one at Haneda Airport.
You can also transfer your Suica to your iPhone or Apple Watch. You can recharge it there too. But you have to stop using the plastic Suica. Just leave it packed away.
Are Suica's available at airports now?
@@alextechtai If you mean Narita, Haneda or any other airport w/ JR train ticket offices or multifunctional ticket machines, yes.
@@ugetsu2093 Are you saying that adding a Suica card to a digital wallet will actually _deactivate_ the physical card?
@@PhirePhlame Yes. That is exactly what I was told will happen. Also moving the eSuica to your Apple Watch will deactivate it on your iPhone. I haven’t checked for myself because doubling up on usage could invalidate one or both. I know it shouldn’t, but I didn’t want to push my luck.
I've been wanting to make a trip to Japan for a few great reasons, but been scared because of my autism and not able to understand fully whats needed for such a trip, and out of all the video's I've come across, this has to be the best one yet.
My husband and I are going to Japan in April 2025 to see the Cherry blossoms among other things, and we're sharing a backpack. I've gotten a lot of tips from your videos, and as a fellow Canadian who's never left Canada before, I'm pretty nervous but excited.
This is the best video about Japan ever!!
Traveling to Japan in 10 days 🤩
Can't believe it!!!
Dreams come true 😭
congrats ,you are going in the rainy season , its over for you foo
@alexilaiho321 thanks, don't you have a life or something? I didn't ask for your opinion.
@@brendacc3106 enjoy! im going next month, you should check jdm car meet on trip adviser really cool experience!
@@brendacc3106 Haha, why even reply? Just a jealous bloke with nothing better to do. Japan's fantastic, whatever the season. I would strongly suggest skipping the big tourist traps (Kyoto has a fantastic botanical garden in the north, not much else worth your time unless you feel like being up to your neck in tourists). Kobe's nice though if you are in Kyoto anyway. Either way, enjoy your trip!
@grootbatavia thanks!! I'd like to avoid being trapped in popular tourist stuff like popular tiktok restaurants and so. Thanks for the tip!
Visit Japan and creating the account is not that bad at all. Takes like 2mins to setup max. After that you fill in custom and immigration forms and then add in passengers that you're going with and it spits out a QR code. So easy. After that, when you arrive to japan, you don't need to manually fill those long boring cards. Just scan the qr code and go through the gate.
Alternative is to rent a pocket wifi. You can pre order online and pick it up at the airport counter or have it delivered to your hotel. They provide you a whole kit and a return envelope.
@neubro1448 I've gone this on the last 2 trips. Easy and effective, I also recommend a pocket wifi. Maybe having an Esim is a good emergency backup, but pocket wifi is fantastic for staying connected with multiple devices.
This is THE BEST video I have seen about what to do once you land in Japan. As someone who gets very anxious about new situations/not knowing where to go or what to do (even when I've done research and I know all the info on paper) the visual guides and step by step walkthrough of the process is the most amazing thing I could have asked for! Thank you for putting in the effort to make this. I am traveling to Japan next year and this helps alleviate the anxiety! :)
Your PASMO Passport info is outdated: There is no longer the 500 yen issueing fee. It used to be 2000 yen but now it costs 1500 yen and you get to spend all of it. Welcome Suica does not require the 500 yen deposit either. Visitors can just take these cards with them when they leave Japan, like souvenir.
He said at time of recording.
@@sarah-janegalipo3995 He must have recorded this months ago then 😜 since the 500 yen fee was waived in June 2023 when regular Suica and Pasmo card sales were suspended.
I’m pretty sure the channel only in Japan said the welcome SUICA only lasts 28 days so if you have a remaining balance, you need to spend it before leaving Japan or lose the funds.
@@inquisitvem6723 Yes both Welcome Suica and Pasmo Passport will expire after 28 days and become a souvenir.
@@inquisitvem6723 both the welcome suica and pasmo passport cards work that way. fortunately it's really easy to keep track of your balance so you can be sure to spend it all before you go. if you're lucky enough to get your hands on a regular suica or pasmo, any balance you have will stay on your card for your next trip.
one quick note.. if you're heading west from tokyo, you can also look for an icoca card at the bigger train stations (i got mine in osaka) they work the same as suica/pasmo and don't seem to be in such limited supply. i had no issues getting one when i went just this past december
I'm Japanese but haven't been in 7 years, super helpful for my upcoming trip!!
Trust me-When you first get off the plane and get interviewed by customs, know all the dates of your travel and addresses where you’re staying. I was on my 20s and my mom who was with me arranged everything because I have autism, but they talked to us separately, and when the lady asked me all those questions I just shrugged. She looked like she was going to put me back on a plane home. Take those questions seriously!
You can also get the welcome Suica card at Haneda. The machine that dispenses the cards is next to the monorail entrance I believe.
10/10 for the information recieved, 5 stars for the transparency
really just great video to prepare
i will also edit later how accurate it actually is...but probably really percise
UPDATE: this guide video is 100% accurate... Japan is also really nice, including the people👍
SERIOUSLY THANK YOU!!! As a person who always has to be the one to do everything while traveling (I hate it) this was stress free for me. I'm thinking about going solo to Japan now.
Only thing I wish you mentioned was the luggage delivery services offered by Yamato and other companies!
My wife and I are planning a 2026 Japan trip to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. Would love some typical cost breakdowns from someone who travels there so often! Love your vids as always.
You are going to love it. My wife and I went in 2023 and it was our favorite vacation ever. We are planning on going again in 2025. There is another youtube channel 'Abroad in Japan' that has a lot of interesting videos of Japan and some of them have cost breakdown too. Good luck.
I haven't had any fun lately, You bring me joy!I love the kind and generous heartwarming atmosphere that you create, your kind, easygoing, warm vibe. I like the essence how you live on. I need to be true to myself and find a job I am passionate about. I want to find a way to live as who I really am.
This guide is exactly what I was looking for! Your video is so well organized with the information and visually appealing. I will be traveling to Japan for the first time and this video helps me put my mind at ease as I know what to expect
Fabulous video and I have been living in Japan for 20+ years, One more tip is baggage is takkybin (baggage delivery) which is at the airport and everywhere and is the best thing EVER (ex. Sagawa, Kuronekko/Black Cat, etc-Google if you are interested and select your language). If you have an itinerary firmly planned and the time, you can send your big bag to your next longer destination (e.g. hotel) and use a smaller backpack for one or two nights short stopovers and your bag will be waiting for you when you get there. You do see those people hauling suitcases on the train but I always send my luggage to the airport one or two days before my flight to avoid this. It only costs about $15 one way. Residents in Japan use takkybin a LOT. Also, the airport buses are a great alternative to taking so much luggage on the train especially during rush our as it’s cheap, they stow your luggage under the bus and they have comfy seats, some with charging ports, you can use Suica for buses so no need to buy a ticket in advance, the signage is multilingual, and they go to destinations literally all over the Tokyo metropolitan area.
I found your video by accident and, as I am in the early stages of planning my Tokyo trip, this was BEYOND handy information! You have a new subscriber in me. Thank you for making things clear and easy to understand.
Best break down of traveling to Japan I ever saw good work bro
Commenting to help the algo for this incredibly helpful and well edited video
It's an easy mistake to make by buying a simcard at the airport because it's super convenient. Those prices are almost 10 times higher compared to a 'BIC Camera' store that's almost everywhere in Tokyo. Or, simply buy a simcard or e-sim in your home country before flying to Japan, it would still be (much) cheaper than at the airport.
Very handy tip about dumping coins into the machine at a konbini. Will remember that on next trip. Another way to avoid ending up with so much change is to pay with your IC card (Pasmo or Suica) wherever it's accepted. Just be sure to load up funds in your card as necessary.
Hi. This is a very good video. Is simple to understand and going straight to the point. 👍 1 question. May I know can we use ICOCA card in Tokyo?
@@chrisng3583 All the cards are interchangeable these days.
For Pasmo and Suica if you happen to be an iPhone user Apple’s Wallet has Suica as a transit card option. Sadly because Japan uses a different NFC then most other countries Android phones not purchased in Japan likely won’t work.
thats great to know as I use an iPhone
Some machines only take the card though. I’d also have a physical card if I were to do it again.
@@theknightswhosay oh, in all the places I went if they took it at all they'd take the phone, though a few cities didn't take pasmo or suica and had their own small subset to use instead.
@@U1TR4F0RCE a lot of the local trains have old machines with no mobile card reader. Then they didn’t like our Suicas if we tried to use them at the gate even though they worked at all the conbinis etc.
@@theknightswhosay
You use cash for other places
Your remark at around 5:15 where you say the conversion given to you is "precisely what's being withdrawn from your account" is incorrect. That second conversion rate is that ATM's machine offer of how much they'll deduct from your bank account should you choose that second option. A reason why someone may think about doing it is because their bank charges foreign transaction fees, and they may not want to withdraw in yen and rather withdraw in CAD instead. However, that's never ever the best case scenario. You're always better off picking the local currency, and the amount that's actually withdrawn is way way less than the offer that's given by the ATM machine.
Question, first timer here. So that machine is a money exchange machine where we input our local country bank log in to withdraw YEN?
Or we can use credit card to withdraw YEN?
@@nobodynobody1235 you can use either, but it's not recommended for credit cards because the cash advance rates are really high and they're effective immediately right after you withdraw it.
@@nobodynobody1235 if i understand your question correctly. No you can't put Cash Dollars in and get Yen out. You will have to use a Debit or Credit Card. And you only get Yen Cash out. the choice was 'who you let charge you the conversion rate'. either let you Bank at home charge you for conversion to Yen or the ATM company (7-eleven in this case).
Thanks so much for this explanation! I was thinking that my bank would have a better conversion rate, plus without the 3.5% fee… so glad to hear there is the option to perform the transaction in local currency, Japanese Yen.
If you are coming from New Zealand, Australia or Connect through Singapore, then I strongly recommend checking Nagoya flights. I've seen Singapore Airlines (a top tear carrier) on Skyscanner cheaper than budget options to Narita or Haneda and because of how fast the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen is, you can get to Tokyo almost as fast as Narita.
Is the difference in price cheaper than the cost of the Shinkansen ticket.?
@@ajapanexplorer7417 Yes, but also if you're planning to take the Tokaido Shinkansen anyway them it makes no difference especially if you use the Hokuriku Arch pass and do Tokyo Kanazawa Kyoto and back to Nagoya to fly out
I'm super impressed with this video. If ever I were to go to Tokyo it would be this video that I would want to be my side kick. SO informative and well made. So thoughtful! Fantastic information! Also, huge kudos for the fun stick figure guy in the airport layout sections. Love it! Thank you!
Quality video with very great details, your video really helps a first-timer. Thank you! More videos like this would be awesome!
I prefer a pocket wifi over sim/e-sim cards. Especially when travelling with others a pocket wifi just makes it simpler for everyone to have wifi for far less than a sim/e-sim (3 of us split the cost of renting a pocket wifi w/ unlimited data for 30 days and it was $28 CAD each). The downside to it versus a sim/e-sim is that you'll likely need to charge it during the day and you have to stick together. These two things aren't usually problems for us because we travel with power banks and Japan has so many free wifi spots that if you decided to separate from the group you can still message people when to meet up and what not.
Agree about the JR Pass. It's not practical. On my first trip to Japan in 2019, we got the 14 day pass (which was about $490 CAD at the time) and rode the shinkansen four times and used the applicable JR trains as often as possible and we only "saved" about $40. Now though, with the price increase, forget about it.
Thanks for the simple step-by-step explanation! My father is traveling to Japan separately from us and this video will be very useful for him to know what the expect when he arrives and get him on the train to meet us in Tokyo.
Just passing by to thank you for leaving a bit of time at the end of the video to click the additional recommended videos instead of just rushing it's ending lol
I've watched about 50 videos on this topic in the last week and this is BY FAR the best one.
I stumbled across this channel doing research for my first trip to Japan. Self Improvement, travel, EDC, this is now my favorite channel on RUclips.
Im not even planning on going to Japan anytime soon, but I put this on as background noise, very relaxing voice and sounds lol
You have no idea how satisfying this is to see a video where it's straight to the point.
This was very helpful. takes away that "am I in the right place?" feeling. thank you
Brother if I see you one day hug! Your sense of wisdom and engineering thinking brings clarity
Hello Maurice. Just letting you know that I'm in Japan with my wife for our 3rd day, and your video got us off to a strong start. I especially appreciate your tip of 10000 yen per day.
As of July 2024, IC cards are still unavailable, unfortunately! The subway workers tried their best to help us in the moment. We ended up buying the visitor cards for the Tokyo Metro since we were moving hotels every night.
Another useful travel tip: If you have an iPhone you can get a mobile Suica/Pasmo card on your phone (via apple wallet), and can top it up directly from your home bank, even before you arrive in Japan (and obviously while you're there too). Anything that accepts Suica will also accept the mobile Suica, so this is useful if you can't get a physical one (or even if you can and don't want to faff or pay the deposit). Only downside is that you don't get the physical card as a nice souvenir.
You can't do this on Android though, as for whatever reason mobile IC cards on Android require a special chip, which is only installed on Android phones purchased in Japan. Whereas on iPhone this chip isn't required, so any iPhone will work, wherever inn the world you bought it.
Note there is a difference between the Japan Rail Pass, which grants (unnecessary) nation wide train access, to regional JR passes which is WAY cheaper but come with restrictions and caveats. For example the North Kyusyu Pass does not grant you access to Sanyo Shinkansen between Hakata and Kokura because it is operated by JR west, and not JR Kyusyu who issued your pass. So your best option is to take the SONIC express.
If you are only visiting one city then there are better(cheaper) options, but if you are visiting multiple cities, JR pass is your friend.
I always plan my trip around the validity area and period of JR passes, and I think it's worthwhile to understand the rules.
If you’re spending multiple days somewhere (such as Tokyo area and Kyoto area), the national JR pass is not close to worth it. The arch pass might be, but then you can’t go directly from Tokyo to the Kyoto/Osaka area.
I just got back from Japan and when I got there I was not charged any fee for my welcome Suica card. Immigration was easy as well. Fill out the info on the app and you’ll be fine. Ninja Wi-Fi by terminal 3 worked well for me as well. Having the hot spot was pretty awesome. You’ll want it due to looking up info while in the cities.
Thank you for this!! Heading to Japan for the 1st time and this helped my mildly overwhelmed brain from all the vlogs & blogs I read. Thanks!!
Bro, you just saved my life! Thanks for this amazing video! 🎈
Watching this video makes me feel a little more comfortable about my first trip to Japan!
i rarely comment on any videos but this one helped me a lot! It was very enjoyable listening you taking me through it all and showing perfect visuals along! thank you very much!
Outstanding! I appreciate the visuals of the locations and the directions. Takes the mystery out of it
I wish I could've seen this sooner! Thank you so much for giving the step by step 😊
This guide is amazing. Thank you for sharing your expertise.
First of all, thank you very much for the excellent video. It's a complete treat to the ears to hear an Asian person pronounce all the English words correctly (I mean, not replacing the Rs with Ls and saying kaajool instead of casual). Like you, I am a Canadian who has spent 35 years in all major cities of Japan (Hakodate, Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo, and Tokyo) as an English and French teacher. Most of my time in the class was spent in teaching students how to pronounce English and French (especially French) words correctly.
Anyway, Location 6:15 I have landed innumerable times at HND. In my experience, most of the people take the Monorail to Hamamatsucho and then change over to JR Hamamatsucho. The process is extremely easy and convenient. There are signs in English and Japanese everywhere and of course, the polite Mono Rail and JR staff are ubiquitous who are eager to help a lost passenger. Did you genuinely forget to mention the Mono Rail in your video? I am asking because Mono Rail is the choice of transportation for most passengers using Haneda airport.
Location 9:30 Few escalators. You showed Shibuya station in your video. I can say with confidence that there are at least 4 elevators and several escalators. There are two things that you will find in almost all the stations in Japan - elevators and tourist information kiosks. Exceptions are very tiny stations like (Niigata, I think) which is spread only on one floor and thus an elevator or an escalator is not required. Surprisingly, Niigata does have an information counter for tourists. I had travelled to Niigata more than 20 years ago so I could be mistaken.
Overall, a very informative video. Thanks!
One thing I'd suggest for travel to Japan is fly in to Kansai airport, pick up an Icoca card, explore Kyoto and Osaka, then take the shinkansen to Tokyo. Your Icoca card will work just like a Suica card in Tokyo. The difference is that Icoca cards are still for sale to tourists, unlike the Suica.
If I was flying into Tokyo, would absolutely agree that Haneda is the better choice if possible.
Good call on the 7-Eleven ATM too. Easy to use, clear, no hidden surprises, and usually has the best exchange rate too. Totally agree with you!
Oh and yes! Pack light. Carrying bags up huge flights of stairs (I'm looking at you, suidobashi station!) is a nightmare.
Don't know if mentioned, but almost all 7 eleven have the ATM's so it's super convenient
Absolutely fantastic video for someone like me planning on going to Japan hopefully in 2025. The whole getting out of the airport and getting on transportation was so well done. I needed something like that for when I caught the subway from JFK to Manhattan. Got there in the end, but it was quite the adventure lol.
Having been to Japan, this information is super accurate and relevant! First time I went, I was a bit clueless but as I got the hang of it, the information in your video is very relatable. Great job at putting together a concise and accurate guide for first time Tokyo travelers!
Great graphics -- love the map and the walking guy -- combined with sensible and well-organized information. I wish more people made videos this informative and well-produced. Thank you!
This video is incredible! thank you for doing gods work on this!
This has to be one of the best videos I have seen of arriving in Japan ! well done ! so organized, great illustrations, easy maps !
this is such a good summary of everything you need to do. articulate with nice animations for visuals. thank you!
Thank you so much for the step by step info down to which signs to look for, what the ATM breakdown looks like and what halls to walk down. This is especially helpful for those of us who will be first time visitors that are nervous about getting around and knowing what to do when we only know a few words of Japanese. Great video.
This is super useful with visuals and step by step direction!
This is the best video I’ve seen to describe & show how to navigate the airport. Also what I need before getting there
Excellent video!!! Amazing tips. Thank you! Very helpful
As of 2024/04/28 I was able to buy two Suica cards as a US foreigner at the Narita Terminal Station. Holding onto these for dear life.
This video was incredibly helpful in navigating the stressful part of traveling to Japan.
This is a super informative and concised guide for anyone visiting Japan for the first time. I’m planning my first trip this Nov and just stumbled upon this video. Thank you so much for sharing and making such an easy guide for us!! Your editing is stellar and so visually helpfully!!
Planning to go Japan in 2 years and I am on the journey of learning and getting tips. Your video was very awesome!!!
About the ATM transparency, it's only showing you the Canadian figure if you accept their conversion (which of course you should never do). ATMs do that in most countries.
One other small thing I’d add, is depending on your bank, when you take cash out at the ATM it makes sense to get it in the currency you are extracting and have your bank decide the rate (in this instance, as you showed in the video, you chose Yen and not CAD).
This DOES depend on your bank, but if you’re unsure it’s a good rule of thumb to opt for the currency of the country you are in.
You just eliminated so much travel anxiety for my first time visit next month! Thank you!
Thank you. No nonsense , straight to the point video. Very informative
I hope you were able to film enough to do a first day and first week too! This is awesome. I know a lot will be subjective but I would love to see what you got up to and recommended as a medium time viewer 😊
I'm Japanese. Regarding the Japan Rail Pass, even if you don't take a bullet train every day, you should check the price. Sometimes the Japan Rail Pass is cheaper than buying tickets each time, even with the recent price increase. The pass offers unlimited travel on JR trains, buses, and some ferries, which can add significant value and convenience to your trip. Always compare the total cost of individual tickets to the pass to see if it’s worth it for your travel itinerary.
@@Vlog-in1ln I reckon it's definitely worth it for people who want to travel the entire country, and who don't have a driver's license that's valid in Japan. 👍🏼
Great job!! Heading there next week and I so appreciate the super practical tips!
Thank you for this informative video! it has been very helpful when planning my upcoming 2 week journey throughout Japan!!
this is a fantastic video. Very concise and well thought out. love it!
I’ve wanted to go to Japan for a long time! This such a helpful video
God bless you sir! You are truly doing the lords work.
I was worried with traveling with a first timer to Japan and having to navigate while jet lagged.
Your video is putting me at ease and giving a helpful tutorial for them. Thank you thank you!
I recently traveled to Japan in February and I plan on going back real soon.
Good stuff, but I think it's good for people to know that the Welcome Suica (and presumably the Passmo Passport) are only valid for 28 days. After that, you need to spend another 500 yen to buy another card - and you lose any money remaining on the card.
Another thing people might consider is the Monorail instead of the Keikyu. The monorail has one destination: Hamamatsucho Station. If you're tired or not paying close enough attention, you could inadvertently end up on the Keikyu to Yokohama. Happened to me once and I didn't realize it fully until we got to Kawasaki!
Yes, it connected to both lines (west and east).
Great video I’m definitely saving this for the future
Im going in October for my first time and first time going through an airport on my own. This was very helpful seeing what it will look like 10/10
Awesome, detailed and informative video. Great video to share with family traveling to Japan soon. Enjoy the graphics.
Incredible video! Thank you so much
this was very well made and i appreciate how detailed yet concise each segment was. thank you
I ❤️ed your video thoroughly. The contents incorporated are excellent for anybody traveling to Japan.
You have cleared many of my apprehensions and hopefully made life much simplerwhen I happen to visit Tokyo in second week of June, 2024.
An excellent work & please carry on updating.
Regards
Another two tips for coins as a frequent Japan traveler: get a coin case/purse, and you can also dump them at a Sushiro as they also use automated machines
Maurice, very useful information my friend!! you helped me out a lot for a trip to Japan i'm planning later this year
My man!! The graphics for the map at the airport... magnificent!! Thank you! Keep up the good work! 💪
dang man production is insane ! the 3d models help so much keep it up brother😎
There are service in Japanese airport for a delivery service to send over large luggage item to your specific place of stay. In Haneda it is located at far end to the right after leaving the gate run by “Kuro Neko Yamato Ta-kyubin” (Black Cat Yamato Delivery Service). It is convenient service for people who would travel farther than Tokyo that wouldn’t need to worrying of carrying and storing large luggage. The luggage would usually arrive within two~three days.
This is very good info, more detailed than a lot of other videos I’ve watched; you mention things that were never mentioned in other videos, glad I watched your video 👍🏼