Japan is a country that is really worth seeing. I have visited Japan three times already and always on my own (without a travel agency). I can definitely recommend this option. The trip was always exciting and full of experiences. My main advice before such an expedition is: plan everything in detail. Even though I can imagine that I would fly to Japan and decide on the place where I would stay and where I would see everything, I was glad that I did not hesitate to sacrifice enough time for the itinerary before the trip and prepared everything in detail.

Tokyo Airport

Tokyo, where most flights from Europe go, can be reached either by flying to Haneda or Narita Airport. Haneda is about 30 minutes from the center, Narita about an hour by subway/train. The difference may also be in the price, as the journey from Narita costs about 500 CZK, from Haneda it is around 100 CZK, however, the price difference may also be in the lines leading to Narita Airport. The metro is certainly the best and cheapest option for traveling in Tokyo.

Traveling around Tokyo

For transportation, it is ideal to buy a Pasmo Card recharge card immediately upon arrival.
The credit can be added to the card at each metro stop, every time you enter the metro you can see how much credit is left on the card. The card can also be used to pay in various vending machines or shops. Before leaving Japan, you can ask the metro station to terminate the card and return the remaining credit + a deposit of 500 JP¥. You must ask the staff at the station to return the credit, as you must fill out a small form with your name. I used the card in all the cities I was in, it was not possible to pay with it only in Okinawa. An alternative to the Pasmo card is Suica, I had it on my phone during my last trip to Japan, which seems like the best option to me. You can read how to set up the card on your phone here: https://japan.sycha.cz/blog/jak-si-nastavit-jizdenkovou-kartu-do-telefonu-pro-cestovani-v-japonsku/

Wondering how to get around Japan? Try the JR Pass! Read more…

Even though the metro runs every now and then, it is usually very full. In certain places you can actually see “crambling”, i.e. staff pushing various parts of passengers’ bodies into a full carriage so that the doors can be closed. Despite this considerable discomfort of such a journey, no one has a problem with it, no one curses anyone or complains in any way. I can’t imagine how such a crush would turn out here in the Czech Republic…

Overall, a journey by metro is different at first glance and even to the ear. There were three of us in Japan and we were constantly having fun and showing each other various interesting things we saw from the carriage (the subway is more like a train here, because a large part of the journey is above ground). After a while, however, I noticed that we were the only ones having fun on the train. It was like this on all other journeys. When riding the subway, about 90% of Japanese people look at their mobile phones – they read, play games or text someone, and the rest are sleeping. They really have a great time with each other. When boarding the carriage, passengers automatically form two lines to enter each door of the train – those getting off walk through the corridor and only then those two lines get on. There is automatic order and respect for others.

English in Japan

Don’t count on speaking English fluently everywhere in Japan. Don’t forget to download some Japanese dictionaries, or Google Translator, which you can use to instantly translate signs or names of dishes in restaurants (although the food is usually pictured) using your phone’s camera.
At every train station, there are signs in both Japanese and English. There are also displays in subway cars that show stops in English. At every station, there is staff who can give advice. Although the staff doesn’t speak perfect English, with a phone in hand and the destination station displayed, we always managed to communicate. At larger transport hubs, there is information where English is no longer a problem.

Internet connection in Japan

It is ideal to always have a phone with a map and navigation on hand when traveling. However, the problem can be the internet connection. Although the internet is free in many places in Japan, you certainly can’t rely on it, especially if you plan to visit several places in the country. I recommend buying an unlimited (or possibly time or data limited) card, which you can get directly at the airport. If you are traveling with more people, you can use an older mobile phone and buy a prepaid card for unlimited internet. You create a hotspot on this phone and everyone has internet access at all times. The price for 15 days of unlimited internet in Japan was 1000 CZK. The new alternative is eSIM.

Maps

There are a large number of applications for travelers. I used Google Maps most often. After entering the place of departure and destination, it creates an exact route with essential information about which train to take and what time, which stop to get off or change at, and also the price of a specific trip. You can also read other people’s reviews about the places you want to visit and also create reviews.

Accommodation

There are a huge number of options for where to stay in Japan.
Hotels – probably the best option. There are a lot of hotels here and there is therefore plenty to choose from. If you are choosing accommodation in If you have enough time, you can find very good hotels that don’t have to be expensive. I have used APA hotels very often.
Hostels – if you don’t mind this type of accommodation, there is plenty to choose from here too. However, some hostels can be more expensive than a hotel.
AirBnb – an interesting option, but look for offers where you can verify that the owner speaks English.
Camping – In Japan, camping in public places is generally prohibited, especially in cities and populated areas. Japanese culture places great emphasis on public order and cleanliness, and camping could be perceived as a violation of this order. In the case of traveling and camping, people in Japan should look for special places designated for camping and camping, such as camping sites, camping resorts or officially designated camping sites. In larger cities and densely populated areas, people should avoid camping in public spaces without permission in order to respect local customs and rules.