Pre-Departure Checklist

Alright, so you have your flights booked, an itinerary set up, so what else is there to do before you leave? Well, quite a lot!

Step 1: Create an Account on Visit Japan Web

If you want to make your arrival into Japan as seamless as possible, make an account on Visit Japan Web. You should do this after you book your flights and your first stay.

Once your account is made and your personal details are added, you will want to register your information, and click on the “Register a new planned entry/return” button.

From here, click on the “proceed to registration without copying details”

This is what the next page will look like. here, you fill out your flight number, and where you’re arriving from. Once this is done, hit next.

The next page will ask you where you are staying. At this point it’s a good idea to have your hotel reservation email or google maps on hand.

This is what the last screen will look like. Once all of the information looks correct, you can hit submit!

Important Notes about using Visit Japan Web

Once you register a trip, a QR code will be generated. Save that QR code to your phone as a screenshot, so you can provide that at the immigration kiosks upon arrival.

Step 2a: Create Accounts on Eki-Net, Smart EX and Klook

If you want to reserve Shinkansen (aka Bullet Train tickets) ahead of your trip, you can, and up to a month in advance. Here are some tips about these websites/apps:

Eki-Net allows you to reserve tickets on Shinkansen or Limited Express Services served by JR East. Notable services JR East serves includes the Tohoku Shinkansen, The Hokuriku Shinkansen, the Akita Shinkansen, the Joetsu Shinkansen and Narita Express (N’EX).
- To make your life easier, once you register an account, you can also add an IC card (virtual for only Apple users) or a physical card, which you can tie to your reservations. This saves you having to use paper tickets.
- Since Shinkansen services are Super Express, you need to have two tickets to enter the train–a base fare and a super express fare. Remember to hold onto both if you use paper tickets!
Smart EX allows you to reserve tickets on the Tokaido and Sanyō Shinkansen. If you are going to Osaka, Hiroshima, or Fukuoka, you will want to reserve tickets using this.
- The app Klook can also be used to reserve Tokaido or Sanyō Shinkansen tickets.
If you reserve tickets on Smart EX or Klook, a QR code will be your ticket. Upon scanning into a turnstile, a paper slip will be provided which has your seat information on it. HOLD ONTO IT

Step 2b: If I Hate Technology And Making Accounts, What Do I Do to Make Train Reservations?

Fear not! Japan has old school methods of solving this problem as well.

You can purchase Shinkansen tickets in advance at select kiosks in major rail stations. These kiosks are often near an enclosed ticket office called a Midori no Madoguchi. Look for green signs if all else fails. If the kiosks still confuse you, you can speak to a human being about reserving tickets.

Step 3: Buy a plug on Amazon.

If you’re coming from the US, this is an optional step, since Japan uses the same two pronged plugs that we use. However, any appliance that uses a three pronged plug will need a converter and/or adapter, so keep that in mind.

Step 4: Get a Good Pair of Walking Shoes

This is probably the most underrated purchase prior to leaving for Japan. If you are using mass transit to get to and from places most of the time, you will be doing a LOT of walking. On average, I walked somewhere between 16,000-20,000 steps a day while was in Japan–that’s somewhere between 8.5-10 miles! Do not skimp on cheap footwear.

Step 5: Pre-Order Items in Japan BEFORE you arrive.

This applies to a very specific set of people. If your trip runs on a tight schedule, this may be worth considering.

One of the more common things to do in Japan is buy a suitcase while you are there, and fill it with souvenirs for your trip home. If you want to take the stress and the guess out of finding a bag, you can order suitcases from a number of department store chains. I used Yodobashi Camera to purchase a medium-sized suitcase and an extra camera duffel to carry the cameras I intended to buy. I made the purchase around 3 days before I left for Japan. Often times, a store can hold onto your purchases for up to 1 week. For me, it was a no brainer to do, since it saved me so much time and guess work when I arrived.

The other thing to consider buying ahead of time, especially if you have inventory anxiety like I did, are cameras. I will include a how-to in a separate guide for camera buying in Japan.

Once all of your pre-departure work is done, the next thing worth doing is brushing up on some research on etiquette. Japan is very unique in its culture and is a very rule based society, so check out this section when you have a chance!