I've been watching you Nathan since 2021 and finally I'm going to Japan for the first time tomorrow! Thank you for all the videos and news. This video is perfect timing also!
I had no idea suica could be added to apple wallet! Wow. Game changing information here. I travel to Japan for the first time in October. THANK YOU! 😎😎
I am also traveling to Japan for the first time, in October. I’m a mom traveling with my son as a gift for his 18th birthday. It’s a blend of excitement, nerves, and yes yes overwhelmed!!! Sending you a high five! We got this! 👏🫠💙
I put the Suica on my Apple watch, which you taught me how to do when we were in London! That way you don't even have to get your phone out when going through the turnstiles.
Thank you Nathan for all the helpful tips and advice! Im traveling to Okinawa via Japan in October and I just started looking for travel tips yesterday.
Hi Nathan thanks for the "live view" tip. I did not know it! I got lost a few times cos i did not know how i was oriented when using google maps. This helps!
Speaking of getting lost. There's a 29yr old woman that came to Tokyo with her bf to visit and has disappeared/hasn't contacted her family in 10 days. Kandace schipper is her name I believe. She was last seen in shibuya June 5th.
A episode that is full of great tips. Navitime app is the one I used for trains while in Japan cause it's just better than Google maps when it comes to rail. Life forced me into a cell phone and I never really could make use of the features until I was in Japan when Navitime, Google maps, and Google translate, became daily use features. Although I speak very bad Japanese, you don't really learn terms that aren't basic daily terms. When I rented a car all sorts of terms and ideas were conveyed, because the clerks limited English and my terrible Japanese weren't up to task. Google translate made thing like insurance understandable. So, I picked up some pro tips from for more expansive use on my future Japan excursions. The Ninja Monkey's tips will make being stealthy and travel easier in Japan. That in turn will make me a Happy Gaijin.
📱Thanks for the useful video Nathan. I installed the earthquake app from your link :) I use NaviTime for the Phone which is better than the version for the PC (on the PC you cannot tell the search to consider only Ltd Express trains) I miss the Hyperdia web/app as it was better than NaviTime (e.g. it would show the Narita Express between Shinagawa and Yokohama while NaviTime hides NEX unless you travel to/from Narita Airport). I hope Hitachi returns it to its full service now that Foreign travelers are back. Apps I use are Wise, Suica on ApplePay (as a backup) and I tested eSIM provider Ubigi successfully in Belgium & Japan.
📱thank you for your content… me and my spouse will be visiting Japan over Christmas break but thankfully our phone provider from the USA allow us to have easy access to roaming either free (low speed data/ messages) or with a low cost high speed and calls as well. But love the way to search for food as a tip. Thank you so much
Great stuff, thanks. In 3 weeks, we are travelling to Japan for the first time. Regarding the SIM cards, in which scenario would we need a local Japanese phone number (for example, concert tickets)? Or is the pure data SIM more than enough?
I still have my Pasmo card from my last trip back in 2018. I wonder if I can still get it personalised since hearing about they stopped giving out new Pasmo and Suica cards. I already have the card, so was wondering if I can just get it personalized with my name engraved 🤔
Aw, dang, I wish I had known about Suica being on Apple Pay when I was in Japan. I paid with cash for my subway tickets. 😂 I felt like it would have been a little less confusing for me to use a Suica card, especially when it came to having to figure out if a route was going to necessitate a transfer or not. That's cool to know!
📱Thank you for this video, it's given me some great ideas. In terms of Google Maps, when I was in Tokyo in 2019, using Google Maps turn by turn directions, the app would say the directions in English except it would pronounce the street names using the Chinese pronunciation instead of the Japanese. How do I ensure that the app uses the Japanese reading instead of the Chinese? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!
When you look at the google map, how do you know if it is train(Shinkansen) or metro(ic card) or bus? And for 3 stops on the subway, how much would I PAY IF I take the Uber?
On google maps you can tap oka trip to see exactly what each part of the trip is. There also different icons and symbols to help you too. I don’t think there is Uber for transport in japan only for delivery
One thing to keep in mind. Unregistered SUICA is suspended right now to a global shortage of semiconductors. Suica on phone does not work for me anymore. failed to load with apple pay.
Ok, I’ve run into these problems before. 1) try to change your region to japan under the general settings 2) try doing this at a different time of the day because occasionally Suica is down for maintenance and therefore you won’t be able to do it ( happened to me!) alt you can still get the visit japan welcome Suica
Nathan, if the 14-day pass is 48,000 Yen and my total trips i plan to take are between 40-44,000 yen, do you suggest it's best to just get the pass otherwise it's just a big hassle? It's £15-£30 difference. Presumably it's more worth it to just get the pass?
Have you taken into account reservation costs of seats? Also, having the pass will make it much more flexible to “just jump on a train” or simply change time or plans when travelling. If used in Tokyo you might recover money using it on the jr line. I myself would prob pay the difference if it’s just me.. but it adds up if it’s a family
I think there depends of your usage. Pocket wifi although a little more expensive can be shared with others and usually has better data restrictions. Esim works well for general usage but best check out the terms of usage. Like how much data can be used in a day, if it can be tethered and obviously read reviews
Hey. When i scan my passport on visit japan web. My first name and middle name is written as given name. Maybe its because first name and middle name is on the same line in passport. This is a bit confussion. So my question is: can i just write first and last name even if i have a middle name. Do japan require middle name if i have a middle name?
Last time I was in Japan was 2019 I brought a bunch of cash. Do you still recommend some cash. I have android phone and as you mentioned no suica app. I'll check the other apps you mentioned for payments.
I've been watching you Nathan since 2021 and finally I'm going to Japan for the first time tomorrow! Thank you for all the videos and news. This video is perfect timing also!
Perfect!! Great :)
13:37 📱 Loved the instructions on adding a digital Suica card on iPhone.
Glad it was useful
📱I learnt a few new things thanks Ninja 🐒 definitely didn't know you could find the Hikari with Google Maps😮
I know right!! so many people don't know!!!
Great tips Ninja. Thanks
Super comprehensive video. Saved it so I can refer to it later lol 📱
Hopefully you won’t get lost! Hehe
Very helpful, I’ve also downloaded Japan official app which has the warning systems in it
Is that Japan Official Travel App you refer to?
@StjepanWerft yes it is 😊
I had no idea suica could be added to apple wallet! Wow. Game changing information here. I travel to Japan for the first time in October. THANK YOU! 😎😎
Yes Suica on the iPhone is amazing! Hehe
Love your contents!😊
Thank you! 😁
Our family is visiting Tokyo for the first time in a few months. I'm excited but feeling a bit overwhelmed. Your videos are really helpful.
Im glad they are putting you at ease! you're going to have a great time!
I am also traveling to Japan for the first time, in October. I’m a mom traveling with my son as a gift for his 18th birthday. It’s a blend of excitement, nerves, and yes yes overwhelmed!!!
Sending you a high five! We got this! 👏🫠💙
Thank you 🥰 Nathan, big help of your Tip’s 🥰 watching from Toronto ❤️🇨🇦
Thanks for the comment
📱Thanks for all your good advice. Im headed to Japan in August for 3 weeks. These will come in very handy.
📱another fantastic video. I have already downloaded the Japan Travel App. Thanks again!
Awesome! Thank you!
📱 awesome great tips! I have navitime and didn’t know about JRpass option and Apple wallet for Suica. Thank you very much very helpful!
Mahalo
Glad you’ll be able to use these new found features!
Very informative and useful tips. Good job Nathan 📱
Glad it was helpful!
I put the Suica on my Apple watch, which you taught me how to do when we were in London! That way you don't even have to get your phone out when going through the turnstiles.
I have a card on my phone and on my watch cos I like to be “extra haha
Thank you Nathan for all the helpful tips and advice! Im traveling to Okinawa via Japan in October and I just started looking for travel tips yesterday.
Ooh I must admit Okinawa is an area I have yet to travel to but I hope the travel tips are still useful anyway
Hi Nathan thanks for the "live view" tip. I did not know it! I got lost a few times cos i did not know how i was oriented when using google maps. This helps!
Glad it was helpful! I use it very often too!
A lot of great apps tips there. Thank you Nathan
Thanks
Great info! Thanks!
No problem!
📱 thank you for being informative.
Good Tips
Thanks! hope they help others out too!
Speaking of getting lost. There's a 29yr old woman that came to Tokyo with her bf to visit and has disappeared/hasn't contacted her family in 10 days. Kandace schipper is her name I believe. She was last seen in shibuya June 5th.
Great news is that she seems to have made contact and found... I wonder what happened!
A episode that is full of great tips. Navitime app is the one I used for trains while in Japan cause it's just better than Google maps when it comes to rail. Life forced me into a cell phone and I never really could make use of the features until I was in Japan when Navitime, Google maps, and Google translate, became daily use features. Although I speak very bad Japanese, you don't really learn terms that aren't basic daily terms. When I rented a car all sorts of terms and ideas were conveyed, because the clerks limited English and my terrible Japanese weren't up to task. Google translate made thing like insurance understandable.
So, I picked up some pro tips from for more expansive use on my future Japan excursions. The Ninja Monkey's tips will make being stealthy and travel easier in Japan. That in turn will make me a Happy Gaijin.
I hope you aren’t too stealthy when in Japan! I hope to hear all the tips you learn on your trip when you get there!
📱Thanks for the useful video Nathan. I installed the earthquake app from your link :)
I use NaviTime for the Phone which is better than the version for the PC (on the PC you cannot tell the search to consider only Ltd Express trains)
I miss the Hyperdia web/app as it was better than NaviTime (e.g. it would show the Narita Express between Shinagawa and Yokohama while NaviTime hides NEX unless you travel to/from Narita Airport). I hope Hitachi returns it to its full service now that Foreign travelers are back.
Apps I use are Wise, Suica on ApplePay (as a backup) and I tested eSIM provider Ubigi successfully in Belgium & Japan.
I’ve heard rumours of a return of hypedia.. we can only hope!!!
📱thank you for your content… me and my spouse will be visiting Japan over Christmas break but thankfully our phone provider from the USA allow us to have easy access to roaming either free (low speed data/ messages) or with a low cost high speed and calls as well. But love the way to search for food as a tip. Thank you so much
Fantastic! Although christmas is celebrated differently its still nice
📱 great video! 👍
Thanks :)!
Great stuff, thanks. In 3 weeks, we are travelling to Japan for the first time. Regarding the SIM cards, in which scenario would we need a local Japanese phone number (for example, concert tickets)? Or is the pure data SIM more than enough?
These are pure data sim.. It's very hard or quite difficult to get a sim with data and phone although they do exist.
I still have my Pasmo card from my last trip back in 2018. I wonder if I can still get it personalised since hearing about they stopped giving out new Pasmo and Suica cards. I already have the card, so was wondering if I can just get it personalized with my name engraved 🤔
mmm no idea! I'd just write my name on it hehe (it should still be useable!)
Aw, dang, I wish I had known about Suica being on Apple Pay when I was in Japan. I paid with cash for my subway tickets. 😂 I felt like it would have been a little less confusing for me to use a Suica card, especially when it came to having to figure out if a route was going to necessitate a transfer or not. That's cool to know!
Yep it’s really convenient having it ready the moment you land too!
You can’t actually load digital suica or pasmo with foreign Visa cards though. Only AMEX and sometimes Mastercard works for some reason.
@@krisrock4589 I have no problem with my MasterCard debit cards .. sometimes the problem is that the service shuts down at night Japan time
@@NinjaMonkeyguy Ah maybe mastercard has no problems too then but Visa definitely doesn't work at any time of day unfortunately :(
😊 14:13
Okay…So LINE is a must. Several restaurants now REQUIRE LINE to order
exactly man!!
👍
Thank you very much for the advice!
I LOVE YOUR TEE SHIRT
Bought it in a random store in Takeshita street harajuku
Thank you for your content. It was VERY helpful!!
Glad it was helpful!
📱Thank you for this video, it's given me some great ideas. In terms of Google Maps, when I was in Tokyo in 2019, using Google Maps turn by turn directions, the app would say the directions in English except it would pronounce the street names using the Chinese pronunciation instead of the Japanese. How do I ensure that the app uses the Japanese reading instead of the Chinese? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!
I have no idea! I don’t normally have the volume up mmm 🤔
@@NinjaMonkeyguy Thank you for taking the time to answer.
When you look at the google map, how do you know if it is train(Shinkansen) or metro(ic card) or bus? And for 3 stops on the subway, how much would I PAY IF I take the Uber?
On google maps you can tap oka trip to see exactly what each part of the trip is. There also different icons and symbols to help you too. I don’t think there is Uber for transport in japan only for delivery
@@NinjaMonkeyguy thank you. I watched a lot of your Japan suggestion videos.
Can you use a wise or revolute card to top off a mobile suica? I have a visa credit card and they’re not compatible :(
yep!!
One thing to keep in mind. Unregistered SUICA is suspended right now to a global shortage of semiconductors. Suica on phone does not work for me anymore. failed to load with apple pay.
Ok, I’ve run into these problems before. 1) try to change your region to japan under the general settings 2) try doing this at a different time of the day because occasionally Suica is down for maintenance and therefore you won’t be able to do it ( happened to me!) alt you can still get the visit japan welcome Suica
@@NinjaMonkeyguy Okey, I still have my new suica from November so i'm good.
@@Cybertokyofilms if it’s the normal Suica then perfect. Let me know if you try the Suica on iPhone again
Nathan, if the 14-day pass is 48,000 Yen and my total trips i plan to take are between 40-44,000 yen, do you suggest it's best to just get the pass otherwise it's just a big hassle? It's £15-£30 difference. Presumably it's more worth it to just get the pass?
Have you taken into account reservation costs of seats? Also, having the pass will make it much more flexible to “just jump on a train” or simply change time or plans when travelling. If used in Tokyo you might recover money using it on the jr line. I myself would prob pay the difference if it’s just me.. but it adds up if it’s a family
When will you be leaving for your next trip to Japan? We might be there at the same time
I’ll start my trip on the 10th July!
@@NinjaMonkeyguy we will be there at the same time 👍
very helpfull infomation, but do i really need pocket wifi, than I can get esim? 📲📞
I think there depends of your usage. Pocket wifi although a little more expensive can be shared with others and usually has better data restrictions. Esim works well for general usage but best check out the terms of usage. Like how much data can be used in a day, if it can be tethered and obviously read reviews
Hey. When i scan my passport on visit japan web. My first name and middle name is written as given name. Maybe its because first name and middle name is on the same line in passport. This is a bit confussion. So my question is: can i just write first and last name even if i have a middle name. Do japan require middle name if i have a middle name?
I usually write my first and middle name as the given name
That shirt! My eyes!!!! Yeesh…
I kinda love it. Osaka-Otaku level 10/10.
HAHAHAHA I'm still laughing
can i share my suica card with my kids since they don't have apple pay ?
I’m not sure on the app but you can get them a card yes
Suica app is not in English hard to use
You don’t need the Suica app use Apple wallet directly
@@NinjaMonkeyguy I’m going to Tokyo one day then Osaka one week then Thailand October
Sounds like a great trip
Ahead
🐼
For the Suica card, how exactly do you get a refund when using the app?
you can via the app.
😊
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I like DeepL instead of Google translate
DeepL is good
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📱📱📱! 😁
errr ... if I get lost I just ask directions (^-^) .... the best was asking in Osaka, the older women were so friendly and funny !
Right?! They are so helpful! but hopefully some of the apps are still useful!
@@NinjaMonkeyguy i guess ... but asking locals gets you the info you need ...
Last time I was in Japan was 2019 I brought a bunch of cash. Do you still recommend some cash. I have android phone and as you mentioned no suica app. I'll check the other apps you mentioned for payments.
Yes cash is still king for the day to day things
If HyperDia makes it back, it would be the best, they actually use the exact schedules for all the train lines, it is the bestest! ^_^ 📱📱📱
I miss hyperdia too!
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