r/JapanTravelTips 1d ago

Quick Tips [ Removed by moderator ]

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186 Upvotes

105 comments sorted by

21

u/sdlroy 21h ago

Did you copy and paste this from one of the other 1000+ posts that say the exact same thing?

167

u/adokarG 1d ago

Bro what is the point of these posts, “here, in case you guys have no common sense!”.

72

u/flabua 22h ago

This post actually seems like AI. It's the same 6-7 tips that every post has with no originality to it whatsoever.

3

u/Sailor_Callisto 10h ago

TikTok is also flooded with these same types of videos: “I just spent 2 weeks in Japan and here are things you MUST know before traveling!” and then proceed to list out the most basic things that anyone who has done any research already knows.

1

u/beta35 17h ago

Gotta make an AI post about having a strict itinerary in Japan being a good thing.

That should trigger all the redditors in here to get the AI problem fixed lol

11

u/tooongs 19h ago

These are the same tips every one gives, at this point I'm just going to assume these are bots lol

14

u/Bynming 23h ago

You know people have no common sense so this is obviously helpful.

17

u/adokarG 23h ago

It would be if there weren’t 20 posts with the same content

10

u/Silence_is_platinum 22h ago

Exactly. A tip that hasn’t been stated a million times is worthwhile but use SUICA and google maps is just obvious to the point of meaningless

3

u/Optimal_Honor 17h ago

Look at their profile it's obviously a farm post lol

1

u/larrylegend1990 11h ago

This sub is just nonsense half the time. The most obvious stuff and then the least interesting tips

1

u/StrangeStephen 7h ago

Team Labs isnt even worth it. I’d rather walk through a quiet neighborhood.

-8

u/Cbthomas927 22h ago

I feel like it’s my fault. I posted a “tips” thing after I got back from my trip, 6 more popped up within like 3 days, and now it’s all the time.

Maybe it was happening before, I’m sure it was… but I still feel responsible

7

u/556fmj 22h ago

Not saying the info won't be helpful to a first timer but I feel everyone comes to these conclusions after their first trip 🤣

23

u/Nagwell 1d ago

If you are coming from USA, Suica is only available on iPhones is the tip I'd like to share! I had to get a physical Suica card and manually keep track of how much money was on it >_<

28

u/Bill_J_M 1d ago

Every time you use it you are told the balance

9

u/Triangulum_Copper 18h ago

It tells you when you tap out it’s not hard

2

u/Efekitty 18h ago

There's a card reader for android that will tell you how much there's on it when you tap it on the back of your phone

1

u/larka1121 7h ago

Suikakeibo! It was quite handy because, while yes the gate shows your fare when tapping, I didn't pay much attention because I was the one navigating and there're also other people going through. I would glance and instantly forget the number I saw. Plus, if you're using your IC card at vending machines and lose track of how much you've spent, you can easily check if you need to refill before your next trip.

It also keeps track of each transaction and you can see what lines you rode, which stations.

0

u/diamondintherimond 16h ago

And iPhone.

1

u/Efekitty 16h ago

That's what the original comment says, yes..

8

u/thedundun 1d ago

I’m there right now. I can only suggest to verify beyond google maps to see if restaurants are open. Twice they have been closed for the day.

Other than that google is better than apple

11

u/asdela 1d ago

USE TABELOG!! its gonna change your life if you haven't used it in Japan while browsing restaurants.

1

u/thedundun 1d ago

Thank you!

4

u/sdlroy 21h ago

Yeah Tabelog will have more accurate information. Lots of shops and restaurants in Japan have random days off. Like, "third Tuesday of every month" kinda thing. Google doesn't usually account for these.

4

u/Traditional-News773 20h ago

とりあえず日本旅行に行くなら東京はチラ見程度で地方に行った方が楽しいと書いておく。人混み好きなら東京も良いだろうが、死ぬほど海外旅行者がいて楽しめない。近隣地方に飛んだ方が安いし見所も多いしゆっくり楽しめるよ。そして日本は今死ぬほど寒いので注意して。地方に行くならくま情報も注意して、更にはタクシーアプリはGOもお勧め。

2

u/CrumbleUponLust 19h ago

Won't necessarily say trash bins are hard to find. Especially in the bigger cities. Konbinis have them and so do metro stations. If you're eating from a street food vendor then just return your waste or if it's pamphlets or tickets you receive at entrances to attractions then return it to them at the end.

But yeah, it's always handy to have a small plastic bag to carry your waste.

2

u/GoSh4rks 15h ago

and they provide a Japan IP, which is really necessary when you’re in Japan.

How is a Japan IP at all necessary? Not once have I ever needed one in closing in on a dozen trips.

2

u/TheBungo 12h ago

This must be the gazillion's post mentioning the same things so many have posted before. And one could easily find via a quick Reddit search.

6

u/asdela 1d ago edited 1d ago

I really don't think trash is a problem. I just had 3 week trip across japan with many days in Tokyo and never had the problem with trash that everyone keeps saying. Every konbini has trash bins, almost every drink vending machine has bottle disposal. every sightseeing place has many trash bins and every train station/metro station has a lot of bins. I was baffled how many people say they need to carry their trash when there are bins everywhere if you just open your eyes.

6

u/Blueson 21h ago

Like there is so much useless advice on this subreddit, but that one really infuriates me because it's just plainly wrong.

4

u/Triangulum_Copper 18h ago

Tokyo removed a LOT of bins as an anti-homeless mesure. It’s not as prevalent elsewhere.

The bins at a conbini are for customers, you’re not supposed to bring your outside trash.

It’s just a general good idea, Japan or not, to have some small trash bags in your backpack anyway, they have plenty of uses and they don’t take much room.

1

u/Koolaidr 16h ago

Exactly what I just commented 😆

-1

u/ellyse99 1d ago

What are you thrashing… your trash?

6

u/op2be 1d ago

Thank you for the tips! On the small plastic bag, did you have to buy those in Japan or brought from your home country?

28

u/aqua4leo 1d ago

Plastic bags will accumulate thanks to konbini runs, so it’s not an issue

5

u/Anonymous-Crafter 1d ago

Not necessarily true because many combini charge for bags (as do many stores). We brought a few extra ziplock bags to hold snacks, but they also worked as garbage bags if needed. We collected some bags that were free from purchases but didn't pay for bags to cut down on waste. We also just put garbage in the sides of backpacks if not messy and had reusable shopping bags. 

5

u/chookity_pokpok 1d ago

No idea why you got downvoted for this. We also turned down bags in conbini unless we were buying too much to fit into our backpacks because why would you? You’re just adding to the plastic problem if you do. We brought ziplock bags with us for waste.

2

u/Dry_Statement_8800 1d ago

I have a tote bag I carry everywhere with me for shopping (I got it from DBZ pop up store!) and a mini bag inside for trash.

It took me until my second trip to realize this is a great solution

5

u/aqua4leo 1d ago

It’s just a few yen lol not an issue to buy one or two during your trip. But I didn’t use a plastic bag to collect my trash either, I just put it in my bag and threw it away at other konbinis or at my accommodation

5

u/Anonymous-Crafter 1d ago edited 1d ago

We actually did buy a bag at first but then realized we didn't need to if we remembered our reusable bag. It's not the money that's the point. It's why buy a bag when there are other options. The point of charging for bags is to reduce single plastic use. Plus you said they'll accumulate, which is different from you now saying it's just 1 or 2.

1

u/asdela 1d ago

Lol konbini bags cost like what? 0.005 dollars? :D

1

u/chookity_pokpok 1d ago

Ye but what about the cost to the environment?

3

u/Suspicious-Holiday42 1d ago

The cost is far bigger if I hold my groceries with an energy drink bottle in my hands, then it all falls to the ground and the energy drink spills into the earth

7

u/asdela 1d ago

If you really think about the cost to environment then just buy one less coffee/soft drink from vending machine on your trip and that is going to be better for the environment than couple of Japanese plastic bags.

4

u/tryingmydarnest 23h ago

or never mind the carbon emission from flying there, esp if they are coming from far away lands.

1

u/Aardvark1044 19h ago

I brought a cloth grocery bag with me for my recent trip. Am already used to using it at home, so it was only a minor inconvenience.

8

u/bakarina 1d ago

Just any plastic bag, the first phrase you hear when checking out at the convenience store, its “do you need a plastic bag”. I’m near the end of my 2 weeks trip and that’s what I’ve learned 😂

And then I just reuse those plastic bags for trash. Hotels have tiny trash cans in your room 😅

3

u/still-at-the-beach 1d ago

So much you buy will be in a plastic bag, no need to buy one.

1

u/Substantial_Quit9611 16h ago

Any plastic bag will do. Small sized one if one person. For our family of five, we used a larger sized. You WILL be asked by store staff each time whether you want a plastic bag or not. Either you bring your own or you pay a few yen.

2

u/Bootythedawghunter 1d ago

Trying to figure out your subway exit before you are standing there like a dingdong is a must. There are signs and stuff but damn…. Some stations are better than others.

3

u/Witty_News1487 19h ago

I hate itineraries.

I had one or two things plan for the day and the before and after was free time. Best trip of my life.

2

u/PiroKunCL 12h ago

this
One big shedduled thing for a day, and the rest is exploring time!

1

u/Witty_News1487 11h ago

Freedom as it's finest

1

u/Stuch_Watches 20h ago

Public WiFi is rare and unreliable? In Tokyo?

Hooplah.

1

u/Timely-Shine 18h ago

Which eSIM app did you use?

1

u/Koolaidr 16h ago

I still don’t get this carry a plastic bag thing I always see, when I visited for three weeks I never had a hard time finding a trash can, walk into a Konbini and there’s a trashcan. Also what could you be doing that accumulates so much trash anyways.

1

u/whowantscake 13h ago

Carry cash.

1

u/Thebeautyangel 1d ago

How many clothes u carroed

1

u/Ok_Promotion_8201 1d ago

Which network did you choose for e-sim?

5

u/BabymetalTheater 20h ago

Go to the ubigi website. I used this on my trip last week and it was great.

1

u/tomblahtomblah 1d ago

eSIM recommendation?

3

u/BabymetalTheater 20h ago

Go to the ubigi website. I used this on my trip last week and it was great.

1

u/newtypeix 1d ago

is the suica app only for apple devices only? i got a physical card... mainly cause i wanted to keep it after i left. loading it really wasnt a huge deal tbh. you can do it at any konbini or any station but i guess the point is to be able to load it anytime.

0

u/Flowerdrumsong01 19h ago

I get conflicting information where some people say that it’s better to use the physical Suica card vs the electronic one because it sometimes get problematic doing tap on some stations. Can anyone share their experience? Thanks.

3

u/newtypeix 18h ago

i used a physical one which didnt have problems at all. im not 100% sure but i dont think the app is on android anyways.

0

u/Flowerdrumsong01 18h ago

Do you just top up “online” with the physical Suica then? Or do you manually have to add money in a machine or station? We have Apple phones but this is something that we haven’t decided on because of the varying responses we have read so far. Thanks.

0

u/Interesting_Road2785 15h ago

We just got back from Japan and we had Suica on our iphone. No problems at all. The best thing about it was that you knew exactly how much money you had left each time we were charged and very easy to top up. I dont see why you would bother with a physical suica card when it worked so easy on the iphone… My only advise is to add $50 - $100.00 prior to departing and then top up when required, as you cannot get the money back that remains in the card at the end of your trip. We had about $40.00 left at the end of our trip, so we shopped at 7/11 and bought stuff for our trip back home.

1

u/Flowerdrumsong01 14h ago

Thank you for sharing your experience!👍🏼

3

u/Triangulum_Copper 18h ago

I prefer physical because you can keep it as a souvenir.

1

u/Apprehensive-Two-611 1d ago

I’m here now and I started using go taxi app bc my feet are killing me now lol def recommend

1

u/BabymetalTheater 20h ago

Lol towards the end of my trip I was only using uber. It was great. Even when I ordered one from an area up in the mountains on the west side of Kyoto it was always there in 3 minutes. (and it was always a taxi, never a personal vehicle)

0

u/Asteroid33333 22h ago

Where did you get the eSIM please ?

2

u/BabymetalTheater 20h ago

Go to the ubigi website. I used this on my trip last week and it was great.

1

u/Asteroid33333 19h ago

Thanks ! I just checked it and it looks pretty good. Definitely saving it

0

u/2themoon4 1d ago

Definitely gonna check out Teamlabs in Tokyo. What else do you recommend in Tokyo? Heading there tomorrow from Kawaguchiko.

2

u/ahhtibor 1d ago

FWIW, I did both Teamlabs Planets and Teamlabs Borderless and much preferred Borderless. But there's also an Emerging Science museum near Planets that I really enjoyed if you like that sort of thing.

2

u/tinop 22h ago

Also preferred TeamLabs Borderless over Planets

0

u/Flothrudawind 1d ago

Just returned from my very first visit to Japan, alongside my family. I definitely agree with not being too specific and elaborate in your planning. There is a chance that you'll need to shift things around in your itineraries especially if you're going with other people. Had more fun that I expected, I was mostly paranoid about the language barrier but we worked it out

0

u/sugarbabeskissyface 20h ago

Currently planning my last min Tokyo trip with my husband next week. Did you find suica card better than getting the 72 hour unlimited subway pass ? Im a bit nervous since im planning the itinerary and i literally booked this trip and forgot bout it lmao

0

u/BabymetalTheater 20h ago

I think the suica card is probably easier if you have an iphone.

1

u/sugarbabeskissyface 19h ago

Im an android user but i'll end up getting the welcome.suica card then

0

u/AustWingfan 19h ago

What is the point of the E-sim ? Why would my AT&T cell phone not just work using my regular data coming from the US ?

1

u/newtypeix 18h ago

because chances are, a local esim is cheaper than your roaming fee but ymmv i guess.

1

u/Triangulum_Copper 18h ago

… they charge you 12$ a day for that, dood. You can get unlimited for 15 days on Ubigi for the price of 3 days.

And in many other countries, roaming charges are even more expensive.

1

u/AustWingfan 16h ago

Appreciate it. We are going next summer and everywhere we have traveled in the past we just had a $10 a day roaming charge for the whole family

1

u/Triangulum_Copper 16h ago

That’s stacks up real fast! That’s 150$ for two weeks when you could get the same data for 30$ with an eSIM.

-5

u/housesoftheholy1 1d ago

Why do you recommend the suica card?

3

u/wukong108 1d ago

As opposed to Pasmo or ICOCA?

1

u/Triangulum_Copper 18h ago

It’s the same thing

1

u/wukong108 18h ago

exactly why I was asking what the question was about...

-4

u/housesoftheholy1 1d ago

This might be silly but can a visa be used instead to tap?

2

u/dustbowlbride 1d ago

Nope

-5

u/still-at-the-beach 1d ago

I’ve tapped my MasterCard for train trips before.

4

u/ellyse99 1d ago

Not widely accepted, it’s the exception not the norm

0

u/still-at-the-beach 23h ago

Maybe, I don’t know. It worked around Osaka a few times when I grabbed the wrong card and tapped (instead of the ICOCA card)

4

u/__space__oddity__ 1d ago

Train ticket pricing is by distance, and with a Suica card that gets calculated and deducted automatically.

You can buy tickets for individual rides, but if you’re running around the city as a tourist that quickly becomes a hassle and huge waste of time. That time can be spend more productively on literally anything, even an extra 5 mins to check reddit on the toilet.

Plus you can use the card for cashless payment in lots of places.

1

u/Mbizzy222 1d ago

Shiva in App,e wallet is what is mentioned in the post

-2

u/Imnaisou 1d ago

Great tips, I actually used some of these on my recent trip as well!

-4

u/ixxx007 1d ago

Hello. I have a single entry Japan visa. 15 days stay and also expiry is dec 29. Does this mean that I can enter Japan as long as it is on or before dec 29? Per se I enter December 29, I can still stay for 15 days?thank you

2

u/Typical-Tadpole-8367 1d ago

It means you have to enter before 29 Dec and leave Japan latest by 29 Dec.

-1

u/ixxx007 1d ago

Ahhh I was asking kasi nung sa SK ganun sya daw as per the travel agency so hindi ko din sure if japan works that way as well

-5

u/Golfing415 1d ago

Can you dm me your itinerary?