3 Weeks in Japan – My Top 10 Tips (From Someone Who Still Wishes She Had More Time!)
Our adventure took us across the country: • 5 nights in Tokyo • 2 nights in Hakone • 2 nights at Universal Studios in Osaka • 2 nights in Hiroshima • 5 nights in Kyoto • 5 nights in Osaka
It was an unforgettable whirlwind of neon lights, peaceful shrines, bullet trains, street food, and immersive culture. And while I’ll be breaking down the full itinerary in my upcoming posts, I wanted to start with something that I know will help future travellers the most:
My Top 10 Tips for Travelling Japan
1. Download an eSIM (I used Ubigi)
This was my first time using an eSIM and honestly—it was a total game changer. Japan’s transport system is world-class but can be incredibly complex, especially in cities like Tokyo. We stayed next to shinjuku station - one of the largest and busiest railways in the world and with over 200 exits and a labyrinth of underground corridors, I was able to navigate like a local with Google Maps in my pocket (with live access to timings, platforms, and exits). You can download offline maps, but having real-time updates saved me endless confusion—especially with the amount of trains, subways, and buses we took!
2. Get a Suica Card (Especially for Kids!)
Think of Suica like Japan’s version of the Oyster card—but better. It can be used on trains, buses, vending machines, and even in shops like 7-Eleven. For the adults, you can now load Suica onto your phone. For kids under 12, you’ll need to visit a JR East service counter with their passports to get a physical “Welcome Suica (Child)” card. It was a bit of a mission to find the right desk in some of these enormous stations—but totally worth it. It saved us so much time (and stress) at ticket machines.
3. Use the Luggage Forwarding Service
This was brilliant. We travelled fairly light, but still had 3 suitcases. For around £75 in total, we had our luggage magically forwarded from hotel to hotel. It meant we could hop between cities without dragging bags up and down stairs—or shouting at the kids to stop riding them like go-karts! We’d arrive at the next hotel and our luggage was already waiting in the room. Seamless, stress-free, and totally worth it.
4. There Are No Bins (Really!)
You’ll quickly notice there are no public rubbish bins in Japan—this dates back to safety concerns after past terror attacks. So be prepared to carry your rubbish with you and maybe stash a small plastic bag in your backpack. It’s all part of the experience.
5. Wear Comfy Shoes
We averaged 16,000 steps a day. There is just so much to see, do, and explore that you’ll rarely sit down. My husband genuinely said he’s never walked so much in his life. Trust me—comfy shoes are a must.
6. Learn Escalator Etiquette
In Tokyo, stand on the left. In Osaka, stand on the right. It sounds like a small thing, but it’s a cultural quirk that confused me at first. Locals are very orderly, and you’ll feel out of place if you’re standing on the wrong side!
7. Tipping Isn’t Expected
While we chose to tip our tour guides as a personal thank-you, tipping is not part of the culture. Exceptional service is the standard in Japan—it’s built into everything they do.
8. Pre-book, Pre-book, Pre-book!
This is where working with a travel agent (like me!) really pays off. Japan is a very popular destination, and attractions like the Pokémon Café and even tour guides book out as soon as slots are released. I had everything mapped out and pre-reserved, which meant we maximised every single day without wasting time queuing or panicking over sold-out activities.
9. Don’t Touch the Taxi Doors!
Yes—taxi doors open and close automatically in Japan. If the mechanism isn’t working, your driver will get out and do it for you. Also, Uber was brilliant - the uber drivers are used to international visitors and spoke a little English, which made things so much easier when navigating unfamiliar cities.
10. Can’t Decide Where to Eat? Join the Queue!
There are thousands of restaurants and it’s hard to know which ones are good. Here’s the tip: if you see a queue, join it! Locals know where the best food is, especially at ramen shops with limited seating. If people are lining up, it’s almost always worth the wait.
Japan was extraordinary. And I can’t wait to share more about what we got up to in each destination—starting with Tokyo in my next post.
Have questions or want help planning your own trip to Japan? Feel free to reach out—I’d love to help you discover the magic of this incredible country.
Rebecca x
Your Travel Specialist
