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Travel Japan

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IAMDASH said:
Is VISA widely accepted in Japan? Cash?
Click to expand...
Heaps of places take it, but I found most places I was going to eat especially if they weren't chains like Yoshinoya etc were cash only.
And you can get cash out at the 7/11 which are everywhere so no reason not to take some cash with you.
 
IAMDASH said:
Has anyone here had experience buying tickets to the baseball and J-League in Tokyo?
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I bought j-league tickets on the website and had no problem. There’s some good YouTube videos explaining the process and how to figure out what section, row and seat you are in 👍
 
Just got back from Japan

  • Took 2-3k cash converted into Yen. Came in handy and got a better rate than my no fee card. I got 90 yen / dollar with no booking and paying by card I got 89 yen per dollar.
  • Get Suica card - it’s free and on Apple wallet / Google Pay. Touch and go on public transport. Also can pay at certain places like a cash card. Just watch the balance as it is non refundable.
  • Teamlabs Tokyo is a MUST. Don’t skip it. Buy tickets early as days can get sold out. 2-3 hours plus the Ramen place outside is great.
  • Stayed at Shinsaibashi in Osaka. Highly recommend that area if you want to go for shopping. Daiso stores are like a 2-20 dollar shop. Shopping really good here. Other places to consider in Tokyo are Ginza and Harajuku. The airport duty free shops are overpriced.
  • When booking hotels, look at room sizes. I would recommend getting minimum 20 m2 room size. Don’t fall in the hype of “capsule” rooms.
  • Get google translate app. It has a feature to use the camera to translate menus / signs.
  • JR rail pass seemed too expensive. Klook metro passes and bullet train tickets are great.
  • Also check out the Headout app. I couldn’t get USJ express passes on Klook but Headout let me buy.
  • Some of the small towns have a lot of knick knacks worth trying.
  • Recommend not cramming too much. I wasted a full day in transfer from Tokyo to Osaka but had wanted to slow down. It was as welcome break as the total trip was 4+ hours.
…. Lots of other but my mind is still buzzing.
 
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wannabewinner said:
Just got back from Japan

  • Took 2-3k cash converted into Yen. Came in handy and got a better rate than my no fee card. I got 90 yen / dollar with no booking and paying by card I got 89 yen per dollar.
  • Get Suica card - it’s free and on Apple wallet / Google Pay. Touch and go on public transport. Also can pay at certain places like a cash card. Just watch the balance as it is non refundable.
  • Teamlabs Tokyo is a MUST. Don’t skip it. Buy tickets early as days can get sold out. 2-3 hours plus the Ramen place outside is great.
  • Stayed at Shinsaibashi in Osaka. Highly recommend that area if you want to go for shopping. Daiso stores are like a 2-20 dollar shop. Shopping really good here. Other places to consider in Tokyo are Ginza and Harajuku. The airport duty free shops are overpriced.
  • When booking hotels, look at room sizes. I would recommend getting minimum 20 m2 room size. Don’t fall in the hype of “capsule” rooms.
  • Get google translate app. It has a feature to use the camera to translate menus / signs.
  • JR rail pass seemed too expensive. Klook metro passes and bullet train tickets are great.
  • Also check out the Headout app. I couldn’t get USJ express passes on Klook but Headout let me buy.
  • Some of the small towns have a lot of knick knacks worth trying.
  • Recommend not cramming too much. I wasted a full day in transfer from Tokyo to Osaka but had wanted to slow down. It was as welcome break as the total trip was 4+ hours.
…. Lots of other but my mind is still buzzing.
Click to expand...
Good share. I’m leaving Friday and have managed to snag tickets to the baseball, soccer. I was considering Teamlabs too, so will definitely give it a look.

How does Suica in Apple Wallet work? I’m not great with cards and adding them.

Did you get an eSIM or just rely on Wifi?
 
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IAMDASH said:
Good share. I’m leaving Friday and have managed to snag tickets to the baseball, soccer. I was considering Teamlabs too, so will definitely give it a look.

How does Suica in Apple Wallet work? I’m not great with cards and adding them.

Did you get an eSIM or just rely on Wifi?
Click to expand...
Suica in iPhone



You might be too late in booking Teamlabs? It usually sells out 20-30 days in advance. Try your luck with combo deals, eg combo with a foot spa or something.

Most things in Japan require advance booking.

I used eSIM. Just bought them off Klook - I got unlimited ones but even 1-2 GB per day might be enough?. You can get cheaper esims over there, eg Edon shops. However, I couldn’t risk it as I was tr
Please take power banks with you. Japan requires significantly more phone use than Australia.
 
IAMDASH said:
Good share. I’m leaving Friday and have managed to snag tickets to the baseball, soccer. I was considering Teamlabs too, so will definitely give it a look.

How does Suica in Apple Wallet work? I’m not great with cards and adding them.

Did you get an eSIM or just rely on Wifi?
Click to expand...
If you can get an eSIM get it because they are usually good value for money, heaps of deals for them through ozbargain, or if your phone can't use it you can get travel sims (they are data only typically) from places like BIC Camera (3gig for 2480yen/6gig for 2980yen/15gig for 3480yen/25gig for 4580yen).

There is a fair bit of Wi-Fi around, mcdonalds and other fast food places, and also the malls/department stores like Daimaru and Starbucks as well, but if you can get an eSIM or travel sim even just to use maps rather then depending on finding WiFi its a godsend.

I had a travel sim I bought in Aus, and used the accommodation WiFi but being able to access maps etc when out and about was very useful, also helps using google translate images.
 
wannabewinner said:
Suica in iPhone



You might be too late in booking Teamlabs? It usually sells out 20-30 days in advance. Try your luck with combo deals, eg combo with a foot spa or something.

Most things in Japan require advance booking.

I used eSIM. Just bought them off Klook - I got unlimited ones but even 1-2 GB per day might be enough?. You can get cheaper esims over there, eg Edon shops. However, I couldn’t risk it as I was tr
Please take power banks with you. Japan requires significantly more phone use than Australia.
Click to expand...

Thanks, it's not the cost that's the issue, it's the idiot on trying to set it up which will be the problem
 
IAMDASH said:
Thanks, it's not the cost that's the issue, it's the idiot on trying to set it up which will be the problem
Click to expand...
Google / YouTube make it easy. Klook sent a detailed list or any shop assistant at Apple can help you.
 
IAMDASH said:
Good share. I’m leaving Friday and have managed to snag tickets to the baseball, soccer. I was considering Teamlabs too, so will definitely give it a look.

How does Suica in Apple Wallet work? I’m not great with cards and adding them.

Did you get an eSIM or just rely on Wifi?
Click to expand...
Which baseball team?
 
IAMDASH said:
I went to two games in Tokyo. One at each stadium. Two incredible experiences. Both very different.
Click to expand...
I am a member of the club based at the outdoor stadium. Its great in spring and autumn but in the peak of summer it can be really tough on the humid evenings.
 
wannabewinner said:
Just got back from Japan

  • Took 2-3k cash converted into Yen. Came in handy and got a better rate than my no fee card. I got 90 yen / dollar with no booking and paying by card I got 89 yen per dollar.
  • Get Suica card - it’s free and on Apple wallet / Google Pay. Touch and go on public transport. Also can pay at certain places like a cash card. Just watch the balance as it is non refundable.
  • Teamlabs Tokyo is a MUST. Don’t skip it. Buy tickets early as days can get sold out. 2-3 hours plus the Ramen place outside is great.
  • Stayed at Shinsaibashi in Osaka. Highly recommend that area if you want to go for shopping. Daiso stores are like a 2-20 dollar shop. Shopping really good here. Other places to consider in Tokyo are Ginza and Harajuku. The airport duty free shops are overpriced.
  • When booking hotels, look at room sizes. I would recommend getting minimum 20 m2 room size. Don’t fall in the hype of “capsule” rooms.
  • Get google translate app. It has a feature to use the camera to translate menus / signs.
  • JR rail pass seemed too expensive. Klook metro passes and bullet train tickets are great.
  • Also check out the Headout app. I couldn’t get USJ express passes on Klook but Headout let me buy.
  • Some of the small towns have a lot of knick knacks worth trying.
  • Recommend not cramming too much. I wasted a full day in transfer from Tokyo to Osaka but had wanted to slow down. It was as welcome break as the total trip was 4+ hours.
…. Lots of other but my mind is still buzzing.
Click to expand...
Appreciate the share. Just got my ticket for Teamlab when I go in November/December. In Osaka I'm staying in Dotonbori just on the other side of the canal, preparing for culture shock to hit me in the face, but I figure it's a bandage you're best pulling off in one go.

I may be cramming too much (Kanazawa - Shirakawa-go - Takayama - Toyama - Niigata in two days) but I'm punctuating those parts with a couple of days in the one city before and after.
 

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I still remember my first time to Japan landing in Tokyo then stepping onto Shinjuku station from Narita. Just the amount of people zipping through around 7pm. My head literally felt like this:

4k-footage-time-lapse-of-crowded-business-people-and-passenger-walking-in-rush-hour-morning.jpg
 
Johnny Bananas said:
Appreciate the share. Just got my ticket for Teamlab when I go in November/December. In Osaka I'm staying in Dotonbori just on the other side of the canal, preparing for culture shock to hit me in the face, but I figure it's a bandage you're best pulling off in one go.

I may be cramming too much (Kanazawa - Shirakawa-go - Takayama - Toyama - Niigata in two days) but I'm punctuating those parts with a couple of days in the one city before and after.
Click to expand...

Man that is cramming way too much, you'll barely get a taste - a lot of ground to cover in two days. Better off spending more time in one place and hitting up other areas on a return visit. I live in Tokyo around 1/3rd of the year and still find new things to do.
 
mickelboy182 said:
Man that is cramming way too much, you'll barely get a taste - a lot of ground to cover in two days. Better off spending more time in one place and hitting up other areas on a return visit. I live in Tokyo around 1/3rd of the year and still find new things to do.
Click to expand...
Perhaps so. Though I have two nights in each of Kanazawa and Niigata, and Toyama is just for an afternoon. I'm doing four nights in Tokyo and three nights in Osaka around this.
 
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Johnny Bananas said:
Perhaps so. Though I have two nights in each of Kanazawa and Niigata, and Toyama is just for an afternoon. I'm doing four nights in Tokyo and three nights in Osaka around this.
Click to expand...

I get it if you're short on time, I used to travel like that in my early 20's. It's better than no travel at all, but you will wish you had more time at every place. I try to make minimum 3 night stays these days, many Japan cities are dense.

4 and 3 nights in Tokyo and Osaka you're not even scratching the surface! Regardless, I'm sure you'll have a great time and can start compiling a list of things to revisit.
 
Johnny Bananas said:
Perhaps so. Though I have two nights in each of Kanazawa and Niigata, and Toyama is just for an afternoon. I'm doing four nights in Tokyo and three nights in Osaka around this.
Click to expand...
Not going to Kyoto? My favourite city in Japan
 

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wannabewinner said:
Just got back from Japan

  • Took 2-3k cash converted into Yen. Came in handy and got a better rate than my no fee card. I got 90 yen / dollar with no booking and paying by card I got 89 yen per dollar.
  • Get Suica card - it’s free and on Apple wallet / Google Pay. Touch and go on public transport. Also can pay at certain places like a cash card. Just watch the balance as it is non refundable.
  • Teamlabs Tokyo is a MUST. Don’t skip it. Buy tickets early as days can get sold out. 2-3 hours plus the Ramen place outside is great.
  • Stayed at Shinsaibashi in Osaka. Highly recommend that area if you want to go for shopping. Daiso stores are like a 2-20 dollar shop. Shopping really good here. Other places to consider in Tokyo are Ginza and Harajuku. The airport duty free shops are overpriced.
  • When booking hotels, look at room sizes. I would recommend getting minimum 20 m2 room size. Don’t fall in the hype of “capsule” rooms.
  • Get google translate app. It has a feature to use the camera to translate menus / signs.
  • JR rail pass seemed too expensive. Klook metro passes and bullet train tickets are great.
  • Also check out the Headout app. I couldn’t get USJ express passes on Klook but Headout let me buy.
  • Some of the small towns have a lot of knick knacks worth trying.
  • Recommend not cramming too much. I wasted a full day in transfer from Tokyo to Osaka but had wanted to slow down. It was as welcome break as the total trip was 4+ hours.
…. Lots of other but my mind is still buzzing.
Click to expand...

Spot on! Good post.

One point. I just got back from 3 weeks in Japan and found the JR rail pass a must. But it does depend how much travel you do whilst there. We went Tokyo - Nozawa Onsen - Kyoto - Osaka - Tokyo.
 
There are plenty of JR passes that cover other areas that are amazing value for money, I got one when I was in Osaka that let me use the shinkansen from Osaka down to Hiroshima, it was about $170aud for 7 days, included the Miyajima ferry, and used it for JR trains and busses as well.

The all Japan JR rail pass just doesn't really seem to be worth it anymore.

Wonder which Suica card that poster had, because while I didn't do it when I got my physical suica it gave me details on how if I wanted to refund the card cost plus remaining balance minus a handling fee I could do it.

But if you have a suica on iphone it needs to be registered etc etc for a refund.

Meanwhile if you get the Welcome Suica then it has a 30-odd day expiration and is non refundable.
 

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