Home How To Travel Before Your Departure

Before Your Departure

Preparing Your Mind

How to enjoy your stay in Japan?
1.Communication in English

There are few inconveniences as there are English signs and menus at stations, trains, traffic signs, and major restaurants.

However, if you're worried, it's a good idea to get a brief conversation book and be ready.

2.Travel Without Car

Specifically in urban areas, travel by train or subway is smooth. It is also common to travel by train to tourist destinations and rural areas. There is a good bus service in many areas as well.

If you plan to rent a car, make sure you have a valid driver's license for driving in Japan.

budget
3.Money Sense in Japan

Get to know the standard prices in Japan and train your money sense.

General prices in Japan (including 10% consumption tax)

McDonald's Big Mac Set: 690 yen

Starbucks Cappuccino Tall size: 418 yen

Tobacco Marlboro 1 box: 600 yen

Average starting salary: 226,000 yen for university graduates, 255,600 yen for graduate school graduates

* Including commuting allowance

Fares from the airport to major cities

New Chitose Airport → Sapporo Station (Limousine bus 1100 yen; train JR 1990 yen)

Niigata Airport → Niigata Station (Limousine bus 420 yen)

Sendai Airport → Sendai Station (Limousine bus 660 yen; train JR 660 yen)

Narita Airport → Tokyo Station (Highway bus 1300 yen; train Narita Express 3270 yen; via Keisei Skyliner 2680 yen)

Narita Airport → Shinjuku Station (Limousine bus 3200 yen; train Narita Express 3250 yen, via Keisei Skyliner 2720 yen)

Haneda Airport → Tokyo Station (Limousine bus 950 yen; train via Keikyu 470 yen, via Tokyo Monorail 660 yen)

Haneda Airport → Shinjuku Station (Limousine bus 1250 yen; train Keikyu/JR 500 yen)

Kansai International Airport → Osaka Station (Limousine bus 1600 yen; train JR 1210 yen)

Kansai International Airport → Kyoto Station (Limousine bus 2600 yen; train JR 3630 yen, Nankai/subway/JR 1730 yen)

Chubu International Airport → Nagoya Station (Limousine bus 1500 yen; train Meitetsu μ Sky 1250 yen)

Oita Airport → Oita Station (Bus 1550 yen)

Fukuoka Airport → Hakata Station (Train Fukuoka Municipal 260 yen)

Naha Airport → Makishi Station (Train Yui Rail 300 yen)

Advance Arrangements

1.Visa Application

Foreign nationals visiting Japan generally need to obtain a Japanese visa. Please contact your local Japanese embassy, consulate general, or representative office.

Reference URL

"Visa," Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (February 28, 2022)

Japanese https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/toko/visa/index.html

English https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html

budget
2.Vaccination Certificate (new coronavirus infection)

The waiting period after entry into Japan will be partially shortened by submitting a vaccination certificate at quarantine at the time of entry and upon return to Japan.

Reference URL

"Review of Waterfront Measures after March 1, 2022," Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (February 24, 2022)

Japanese https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000903660.pdf

English https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000903661.pdf

3.Airline Tickets and Accommodations

Booking online is common. Make your reservations as early as possible, especially for the peak season.

The operation status of each flight will be affected by the weather and other factors. Make sure to check the website of the airline or airport until the boarding date.

4.Driver's License and Japan Rail Pass

A valid driver's license to rent a car in Japan is either

(1) a driver's license issued in Japan,

(2) an international driver's license, or

(3) a driver's license and its Japanese translation

(for licenses from Switzerland, Germany, France, Taiwan, Belgium, Slovenia, and Monaco).

Make arrangements before leaving Japan.

Most people who use trains in rural areas will use the Japan Rail (JR) system.

If you plan to use the train more than once, it is inexpensive to purchase a Japan Rail Pass and use it for travel within Japan.

The Japan Rail Pass can only be purchased with a "Temporary Visitor" visa, and is more economical when purchased overseas than in Japan.

Reference URL

"For Holders of Foreign Driver’s Licenses," National Police Agency

Japanese https://www.npa.go.jp/policies/application/license_renewal/have_DL_issed_another_country.html

English https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000903661.pdf

"Valid International Driving Permit in Japan," Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (August 9, 2016)

Japanese https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/menkyo/menkyo/kokugai/kokusaimenkyo.html

English https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/menkyo/menkyo/kokugai/kokusaimenkyo.files/kokusaimenkyo_english.pdf

"Japan Rail Pass," Japan Railways Group

Japanese https://japanrailpass.net/about_jrp.html

English https://japanrailpass.net/en/about_jrp.html

Check Your Belongings

Valuables, documents, luggage, daily necessities, electronic devices, conversation books, etc.

Travel Packing Checklist

Documents and valuables

Passport

Visa

Airline ticket

Vaccination certificate

Cash

Credit card

Overseas travel insurance certificate

Train tickets/Japan Rail Pas

Machinery and others

SIM Card

Smartphones

Clothes, bags, shoes

Conversation book

Guidebooks

budget
One point advice !

1.Weight Limit

Check with the airline in advance to confirm the weight of baggage that can be checked in free of charge as baggage. It depends on the flight, route, class, and airline.

It is advisable to send heavy or large baggage by courier service in advance.

Reference URL

"Weight, Size, and Number of Items Which Can Be Checked in Free of Charge (International Flights)," ANA

Japanese https://www.ana.co.jp/ja/jp/international/prepare/baggage/checked-in/baggage-free.html

English https://www.ana.co.jp/en/jp/international/prepare/baggage/checked-in/baggage-free.html

2.Luggage Difficult to Bring in

Items that cannot be carried on board: knives, liquids (restrictions apply), lighters, matches, battery-operated hair irons and hair curlers, some lithium batteries and lithium-ion batteries, dangerous goods, etc.

Restricted items that cannot be checked in: expensive items, valuables, large baggage, musical instruments, dangerous goods, etc.

Food (including vegetables and fruits), beverages and alcoholic beverages, and plants are subject to quarantine at the time of entry as well as on air flights and may require a certificate.

Reference URL

"Restricted items," JAL

Japanese https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/ja/inter/baggage/limit/

English https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/inter/baggage/limit/

Copy right by Japan Travel Guide Info