Rexby

Things we Wish we Knew Beforehand...

Important things you'll need to know to have your best Japan adventure. This is a long list. Let me know if I missed anything.

Where The Kids Roam

Japan

Go to Guide

Pre-flight: Japanese customs

Go online to Visit Japan Web (https://www.vjw.digital.go.jp/). There, you can (and must) get QR codes for each family member. The code is incredibly useful - not for immigration per se, i.e. stamping your passport, you could just handwrite the paper form and stand in line like everyone else, we saved no time there - but for declarations we got to skip a long-ish line. As a family, just remember to stay in strict, tight formation. The staff were very serious when it came to this. I may have gotten barked at...twice.

Narita Airport: Cash, WiFi, Cell, Train Tickets

There are about 10 ATMs near the Nintendo Welcome Center. Cash is king in Japan (even better are Suica, Pasmo, and Icoca cards but we'll get to that). Always carry at least ¥10,000 in cash. However, convenience stores almost always take cards and have reliable ATMs for international cards (7-11 is your best friend having THE MOST adorable ATMs with pleasant, hypnotic sounds).
We opted for portable, pocket WiFi. Two units. Delivered directly to our hotel. With those, each adult had one (be sure to charge each night). If you're looking for a SIM card (real or virtual) the offices/desks are directly across from the Nintendo Welcome Center (you can't miss this, Mario, video games, etc.). Most people opt for the SIM because of concern for the battery lives of the pocket WiFi. But we didn't have a problem with battery as long as we remembered to plug in the night before.
We pre-bought our train tickets from Klook. Super smart. Stood in the wrong line to redeem our voucher at first, but it was easy enough to figure out. Keisei Skyliner is the name of the train we took from Narita into the city. Takes you straight into two spots in Tokyo, both on the east side of the city. Ueno was our stop, which was the last stop (though, FYI, the loudspeaker voice, in English, made it seem like the first stop was the last).

Credit Cards

Of course Japan accepts credit cards. But I once tried to use my credit card for a subway ticket and it went very, very poorly. The train ticket kiosk had a logo for tons of credit cards. I thought, great, so used my internationally-accepted Visa credit card. Unfortunately, the machine ate it and shut itself down, much to the chagrin of the seven(!) people lined up behind me (all late for work I'm sure). 15 seconds later a head of a worker popped out from the wall next to the machine ... and then a short (this is sarcasm) three minutes later the floating head returned with it's body from a door along with my card. Nightmare. And then the machine wouldn’t let us do one transaction for the five of us. Very stressful. We had to do three transactions with cash. Don't be us.

Use Prepaid "IC" Cards

Everyone uses these, and for good reason. They make all the transactions easier. You can refill them at train stations, 7-11s, etc. This Japan's IC card system.

The main IC cards you'll encounter are Suica (JR East - Tokyo area), PASMO (Tokyo Metro), ICOCA (JR West - Kyoto/Osaka), and TOICA (JR Central). Here's what you really need to know: despite being from different companies, they all work interchangeably across Japan. The only catch is getting your deposit back - if you buy an ICOCA in Osaka but try to return it in Tokyo, you'll forfeit your ¥500 deposit. Not a big deal. This is what we had - ICOCA.

Getting cards for kids is a bit tricky, just a long long line and you'll need to bring your passport! We got our ICOCA cards in the Kyoto train station. The kids' cards make a chirping sound when kids use them at the train/subway gates. Kids pay discounted prices on just about everything.

To reiterate why these cards are absolutely essential: Japanese subway stations are hectic (same with Kyoto buses), and the ticket machines can be overwhelming. Nothing's worse than holding up a line of commuters while you try to calculate fare prices and fumble with cash. With an IC card, you just tap and go. Plus, you can use them at convenience stores, vending machines (which are everywhere), and even some restaurants. They're generally ¥2,000 to start (¥500 deposit + ¥1,500 credit), and you can reload them at any station or convenience store. Even if you don't have enough credit on the card for a train ride you just took, you can top the card off before you can exit. This is standard practice.

Coins

Keep your coins! Unlike most countries where coins are a nuisance, Japanese coins go up to ¥500, and you'll need them for temples, lockers, and some of the best food from vending machines. Those coin lockers at stations are lifesavers for day trips - but they fill up fast near major stations after 9am. I used coins all the time because I compulsively stopped at vending machines every day.

Train Reserved Seating

We thought all long-ish train rides needed to be reserved. Honestly, it's a bit of a daunting system, especially since there are so many different train companies. But basically all trains we could just scan our ICOCA cards and walk on. We reserved our Shinkansen online (which wasn't as simple as I'd like), had to pay onboard for certain rides (not a big deal, but you'll always need cash for this) and any specialty trains, like the SPACIA X, we had to reserve at a kiosk, with an attendant, or onboard. But what about Rail Passes you say?

Should I Get a Rail Pass?

These worked splendidly for some people we knew who were only in Japan briefly and without kids. Meaning, they were very mobile in a short period of time. We were not changing cities every other day so this didn't work for us. So, those fancy Japan Rail Passes? They're not always worth it. Do the math first. If you're staying mostly in one city with just a single round trip to another major city, buying individual tickets might be cheaper. Also, the pass doesn't cover the fastest Nozomi or Mizuho shinkansen trains, which can actually add hours to your journey over a week.

But, again, do the math. It was just under twice the price to get a 7-day Japan Rail pass as it was to get a roundtrip bullet train ticket between Tokyo and Osaka.

Rail Planner

We have family that live in Japan. They all use Jorudan - a train-route planner. I'm linking to the English version so you can look at what certain routes cost. There is a phone app as well.

Maps

We used Google (not Apple!) Maps for everything. It was very precise, even showing when trains were late. It even gives you the best subway exits to get to your next destination. But download Google Maps data for offline use while you're there. Japanese addresses confuse even the best mapping apps, but having station names saved offline is invaluable. And remember - the last train really is the last train. Missing it means a very expensive taxi ride or a long night at a manga cafe.

Translate

We used Google Translate. Not my favorite but it worked well. You'll notice some locals have these cool pocket translators that they can speak into and you can just read, in English, what they said. I looked into buying one of these but really it wasn't necessary.

Which Side?

This blew our minds. We were very aware to be culturally sensitive and stand on the correct side of everything - sidewalks, escalators, etc. So, once we got it all down in Tokyo (left side) we felt great. Only, the standing side switches between Tokyo (left) and Osaka (right)! Like, what?? Ugh. Just watch the locals and copy them.

Bathroom Intelligence

Here's something nobody talks about: while public restrooms are plentiful, paper towels and hand dryers often aren't. Carry a small hand towel (tenugui) like locals do. Also, some older restaurants have traditional squat toilets only - learn to spot the characters for western-style toilets (洋式) if this matters to you.

The high-tech toilets in hotels are amazing, but no one tells you that the seat-warming function might be on by default. That first surprised sit-down can be quite shocking (in a good way)!

Taking Photos

I honestly had no idea that taking photos was forbidden in so many places. Places where you'd think taking photos would be totally normal (I'm looking at you Ghibli amusement park, where there was no rhyme or reason where you could and could not take photos). That "X" gesture with arms doesn't mean "no" - it means "forbidden" or "not allowed." For "no," Japanese people wave their hand in front of their face like a small fan. I got that "X" gesture so many times, unexpectedly, like at Universal Studios. Anyhow, there are usually signs telling you where you can't photo or video. And, as Murphy's law proves, you will see someone ignoring that rule and getting away with it, so you will try it and totally get caught every single time. Trust me.

Don Quijote

Don Quijote (nickname: Donki) stores are amazing for souvenirs, but go to the ones outside tourist areas - they have better prices and selection. We did full supermarket shops in some of them. Also, they're often open late when everything else is closed.

Get their points card even for a short trip - some locations give immediate 5% off rather than points. And they do duty-free shopping so keep you passport with you if this is what you want.

Water

So, we had this cool app called mymizu (just means my water; mizu = water) before we got to Japan. My wife gets parched very easily. We felt really good about ourselves being so prepared. But, honestly, we never used it. We found plenty of water stations and, in a pinch, you could literally just ask someone behind a counter at, say, a bakery or Starbucks and they WOULD FILL UP OUR ENTIRE WATER BOTTLE. Like, amazing. Who does this? How nice are they?

Depachikas (department store basement food halls)

These are a perfect solution for family dining in Japan, especially when everyone wants something different. Basically, fancy food courts mixed with a gourmet market - rows of perfectly presented food ranging from high-end sushi to $200 melons, but also plenty of affordable options.

What makes them ideal for families:

Different price points: You can grab an affordable bento box or splurge on premium sashimi
Variety is endless: Traditional Japanese dishes sit next to Western pastries and Chinese dumplings
Ready-to-eat options: Most items can be eaten immediately
Quality is consistently high: Even the simplest onigiri is meticulously prepared
Easy to navigate: Food plastic models and picture menus make ordering simple
Seating areas: Many have eating spaces nearby
Timing flexibility: Perfect for jet-lagged kids who are hungry at odd hours

Miscellaneous Restaurant Tips

If you use Tabelog, they have the 子供可 checkmark for kid-friendly spots.
Google maps has a family-friendly tag as well.

Emergency Preparedness

Japan gets earthquakes - lots of them. We experienced one in Tokyo. Most are small, but know your hotel's evacuation route. If you're really worried about this, download the Japan Meteorological Agency app - it gives earthquake warnings seconds before they hit.

Luggage Delivery

Know as Takuhaibin/宅配便, with Yamato being the most famous service - they're the ones with the black cat logo.

Let me tell you why this service is a game-changer: imagine stepping off a train in Kyoto, strolling straight to your hotel with just a daypack, while your massive suitcase magically appears in your room the next day. That's takuhaibin, and it's ridiculously reliable. I was always so shocked to see our luggage just waiting there in the room for us. Here's everything you need to know:

Booking Options:

Through Your Hotel

Easiest method: Just tell the front desk you want to send bags to your next hotel
They handle all paperwork
Usually can do it until around 11am for next-day delivery
Slightly more expensive than other methods but worth the convenience
Pro tip: High-end hotels like the Hyatt often have dedicated shipping counters

Yamato Offices

Cheapest option
Look for the black cat logo (Kuroneko/黒猫)
Staff usually speaks some English
They have all hotel addresses in their system (Booking.com will give you the Japanese language address too)
Can schedule specific delivery dates

Convenience Stores (Yes, really!)

7-11, Lawson, and FamilyMart all offer this
Slightly more complicated if you don't speak Japanese and they will not want to handle this during rush hour (trust us, this happened to us in Takayama)
Look for the black cat logo corner
Fill out form (usually available in English)
Leave your luggage right there at the counter
Pro tip: Have your destination address written in Japanese

Costs and Timing:

Around ¥2,000-3,000 per bag depending on size and distance (yes, a bit expensive)
Next-day delivery is standard
Same-day available in some cities (morning drop-off only)
Can schedule delivery up to a week in advance
We had them stretch out the delivery so they, in essence, acted as a luggage storage for us too (a think a week was the longest they could hold it)
Pro tip: Send bags from Tokyo to Kyoto while you stop at Hakone or Mt. Fuji

Important Details:

Keep the tracking receipt! It has a phone number if there are issues
Most hotels will hold delivered luggage even before check-in
Service available anywhere in Japan, even remote ryokans
Can't ship overnight to airports (plan ahead!)
Some items (like laptops) aren't allowed - check restrictions

Airport-Specific Services:

Available at major airports (Narita, Haneda, KIX)
Can send directly to your hotel from airport counter
Slightly more expensive than regular service
Worth it to avoid train station stairs
Pro tip: Book at least 2 days in advance during peak seasons

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Don't assume all hotels accept luggage delivery (most do, but check)
Don't forget to keep a change of clothes in your carry-on
Don't schedule delivery for Sunday/holiday arrival (limited service)
Don't wait until late afternoon to send bags (might miss next-day cutoff)

Extra Tips:

Take photos of your bags before sending
Keep valuables with you
If staying at a ryokan, they often prefer bags arrive after 3pm
Some machines at stations can print English shipping labels
Ask hotel to help you fill out forms for your next shipping
Services like Yamato have apps, but they're usually Japanese-only

This system is incredibly reliable - lost bags are almost unheard of. I've used it dozens of times and never had an issue. It's one of those things that makes traveling in Japan so much more enjoyable. Nothing beats exploring Kyoto's narrow streets or navigating Tokyo's subway without dragging a suitcase around!

Miscellaneous

The best ramen shops often have ticket machines. Big tip: if you see a button with 少なめ (sukuname), that means "less noodles" - useful if you want more broth and toppings.
Department store basement food halls (depachika) and most supermarkets mark down fresh food 30-50% after 7pm. The good stuff goes fast - look for yellow discount stickers.
Many ramen shops have hooks under the counter for bags/jackets. Look down if you don't see obvious storage.
Many ATMs shut down after hours, but the ones in 7-11 and post offices work 24/7 with foreign cards. Many, many local bank ATMs will NOT accept your ATM.
Rural train stations often have unmanned platform exits. You need to pay at a fare adjustment machine before exiting, but many tourists don't realize this and get stuck.
Want to use onsen but have tattoos? Some ryokans offer private bath reservations - ask for 貸切風呂 (kashikiri-buro).
At convenience stores, they'll often ask if you want things heated. Learn "atatamete kudasai" (warm it up please) - works for drinks too in winter.
Lost something on a train? Fill out a lost item form at any major station. They have an amazing lost-and-found network.

Useful Links

Tokyo

Tokyo - General

https://www.gotokyo.org/en/index.html

Shibuya, Omotesando, Harajuku area

https://tokyotouristinfo.com/en/area/9

Sensoji Temple

https://www.senso-ji.jp/english/

Nakamise-Dori

https://www.asakusastation.com/nakamise-shopping-street-asakusa/

Tsukiji Fish Market (There are many food stalls and shops)

https://www.tsukiji.or.jp/english/