What to sort out before your first day
Japan is easy to travel in once you know a handful of habits. None of this is hard, but each one saves a small moment of confusion at a ticket gate, a register or a station late at night.
How do I pay for trains?
Get an IC card. Suica and PASMO work the same way: tap in and out at the ticket gate, and the fare comes off the card. They also work on buses, in vending machines and at convenience stores.
Welcome Suica is the version made for visitors, sold as a card or used through the Welcome Suica Mobile app on iPhone.
Do I need cash?
Yes, some. Cards are accepted in most shops, restaurants and taxis in the big cities, but smaller shops and restaurants may take cash only. For withdrawals, the Seven Bank ATMs inside 7-Eleven stores accept many foreign cards and have English screens.
Should I tip?
No. Tipping isn't customary in restaurants, cafes, bars, taxis or hotels.
How do people behave on trains?
Quietly. Keep your phone on silent, don't take calls, and keep conversations low.
When do the trains stop?
In Tokyo, between about midnight and 1am, depending on the line and the station. Two things catch first-timers out. Late trains often stop short of the end of the line, so check where your train is going as well as when it leaves. And weekend and holiday timetables differ from weekday ones.
Look up your last train home in a route app before a late dinner. If you miss it, the options are a taxi, with a late-night surcharge from 10pm, or waiting for the first trains around 5am. Other places finish earlier: Kyoto's subway runs until about 11pm, and rural lines can stop much earlier still.
How do I stay online?
An eSIM is the simplest way to get data in Japan: see our Japan eSIM guide for how it works, or browse Japan plans.
Where to next
Plan the days with Part 1's relaxed Tokyo itinerary and the meals with Part 2's things to eat. Landing soon? Part 4 covers getting from the airport to Tokyo. More destinations start from the Wakamo home page.
Sources
- Seven Bank, international cards. Cash withdrawal with overseas-issued cards.
- Japan National Tourism Organization, tipping. Tipping customs and exceptions in Japan.