Japan can feel like a lot to prepare for — the trains, the cash, the etiquette, the sheer amount of stuff people tell you to know. So here's a clean, practical checklist that covers what actually matters before and during your first trip, without the overwhelm. Work through it and you'll arrive relaxed.
Before you fly
- [ ] Sort mobile data. Get an eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi. You'll use maps and translation constantly, and free Wi-Fi is patchy. Set it up before departure or at the airport.
- [ ] Plan for cash and card. Japan is more cashless every year, but small restaurants, shrines, and rural spots are still cash-only. Plan to withdraw yen at convenience-store ATMs (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart), which accept foreign cards.
- [ ] Decide on rail passes early. If you're covering long distances, price out a regional or nationwide rail pass before you go — some must be bought in advance.
- [ ] Book the unmissables. Popular spots (certain museums, art installations, famous restaurants) sell out weeks ahead. Reserve what you can't miss — teamLab, Ghibli and popular Tokyo experiences especially.
- [ ] Pack light. Japanese hotel rooms, trains, and streets are tight. A smaller bag makes everything easier — and you'll want room for what you buy.
- [ ] Check tattoo plans if you want to onsen (tattoo-friendly baths, patches, or private baths).
The day you arrive
- [ ] Get an IC card immediately. Suica, PASMO, ICOCA, or the mobile/Welcome versions. Tap in and out of trains, and pay at convenience stores and vending machines. This one card removes a huge amount of friction.
- [ ] Grab some cash at an airport convenience-store ATM.
- [ ] Sort your airport transfer if you land late or with big bags — a pre-booked Narita or Haneda transfer removes the first-hour stress. Otherwise the train is excellent.
- [ ] Consider luggage forwarding (takkyubin) if you're changing cities — send big bags hotel-to-hotel and travel hands-free.
The etiquette that actually matters
You don't need to memorize a hundred rules. The mindset that generates almost all of them: be aware of not being a burden to the people around you. A few specifics that trip first-timers up:
- Trains are quiet — phone on silent, no calls, keep your suitcase in front of you, let people off before you board.
- Don't eat while walking through crowds — stop by the stall or a bench.
- Carry your own trash until you find a bin (they're by vending machines and in convenience stores).
- Don't tip — it causes confusion. Say "gochisōsama deshita" after a meal instead.
- Wash completely before an onsen, and keep your towel out of the water.
- At a shrine: bow at the torii, walk to the side, purify at the water basin, then bow twice / clap twice / bow once.
- Reservations are promises — honor them or cancel early.
- Ask before photographing people, and never step onto private property for a shot.
Three phrases that carry you through almost anything
- Sumimasen — excuse me / sorry / thank you (the do-everything word)
- Arigatō gozaimasu — thank you
- Gochisōsama deshita — thank you for the meal
Perfect Japanese isn't expected. The effort is what melts people here. (A one-hour tea ceremony in Shibuya is a gentle first place to use all three.)
The mindset that makes it all easy
If you take one thing from this checklist, take this: the travelers Japan loves aren't the ones who know the most trivia — they're the ones who move through the country with a little awareness. Do that, and Japan opens up to you: warmer service, real smiles, the good table, the local tip you'd never have found. Consideration isn't the price of visiting Japan; it's the key to the good version of the trip.
You're going to have an amazing time. Be a good guest — Japan will love you back.
Want the pocket version? Download the free 10 Things Japan Quietly Wishes Every Visitor Knew — the complete pre-trip briefing on two pages.
