This guide tries to summarize the most important information we had to check from different sources to plan our trip, so that it is easier for you to plan yours.

Before You Go

JR Pass

The Japan Rail Pass, commonly known as the JRPass, is a nationwide rail pass offered by the 6 different rail operators in Japan which allows you unlimited travel in multiple public transportation methods. In Autumn 2023 the pass price had a considerable price increase making it less attractive to those on a budget like myself, you can use this useful JRPass calculator to understand if the pass will pay off or if it’s better to buy the individual tickets.

How To Buy The JR Pass

The JR Pass can only be bought by foreigners and it must be purchased before you leave your home and can purchase it 3 months in advance.

There are many sites where you can buy the JR Pass, I always like to use the official site, but I can recommend the following:

• Official Japan Rail Pass site
• Klook which makes the process easy and convenient

Stay Connected

Navigating the metro, train and bus system is Japan might seem challenging but it’s made easier by having some internet to use Google Maps. There are different ways to have internet during your trip to Japan:

• E-SIM: This option is great as you can start navigating as soon as the plane touches land, no need to search for counters or queue. There are countless providers offering this service (Ubigi,Airalo,Holafly), make sure your device is compatible with esims, we personally used Ubigi as they were offering a 50% discount on the next top up for a successful referral. We didn’t have any service or stability problems, compare prices to make sure you get the best deal and good service throughout your trip.
• Sim cards are the traditional method to navigate the web in case your phone is not compatible with esims. These are easy to purchase as you can find counters selling them in the main airports in Tokyo, some even have vending machines!
• Pocket router or portable router gives you connection to internet, however the price is a bit steeper than a regular sim or esim, also the router needs to be charged making it a bit less convenient. We didn’t use this so cannot comment much on it but at least you know it’s an option.

Understanding The Train Types

There are different trains that you can take to get to your destination, and it can become confusing which one to take and how much you have to pay, therefore, we’ll do our best to guide you through them. There are 6 types of trains that you can take.

1. Shinkansen
2. Local
3. Express
4. Semi-Express
5. Rapid
6. Limited Express

Shinkansen

Local

The local trains have the most stops therefore are the slowest you can take, this might not be a bad thing if you want to see the city as a local, most likely you’ll be taking some of these in Tokyo, while riding the Yamanote line.

Express

Express trains stop only on certain stations, making them faster options to get to your destination. No special fare is required for these trains.

Semi-Express

Semi-Express trains skips some stations to avoid being crowded during rush hour and also are more frequent than rapid trains. No special ticket is required to board these trains

Rapid

These are often a bit faster than the semi express trains as they stop in even less stations, also they are more frequent than express trains. No special fare is required for these trains, you can just hop on with the regular ticket!

Limited Express

Limited Express trains stop at the most important (busiest) stations, they have the fewest stops of all types taking you to your destination in no time. The time difference sometimes is very considerable when taking one of these versus one of the slower types, of course this comes with a price, since the companies offering this service usually charge a special fee. These are the trains we took when visiting Hakone and Nikko as you can read in our itinerary.

Book Ahead Of Time

There are a few things you should book before your trip to Japan.

Universal Studios Japan (Osaka)

The option to buy the tickets and the Express Pass in person is available, however, we do not recommend this as they might get sold out before, so it is safest to buy them online. The tickets go on sale 2 months in advance.

How To But Universal Studios Japan Tickets?

The best and easiest option to buy a USJ ticket is through Klook, here you can buy the Studio pass as well as the Express Pass if you wish to at once. It’s important to mention even though there is a Universal Studios official site that sell tickets, for some reason they only accept Japanese cards, so I couldn’t purchase my tickets this way.

Tokyo Disneyland And DisneySea

The tickets for both Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea go on sale 2 months in advance. Take in mind that it’s not possible to buy the tickets in person the day of your visit.

How To Buy Tokyo Disneyland And DisneySea Tickets?

The best way to buy them is through Klook if you are not a Japanese resident as the official sites require a Japanese credit or debit card. Klook might offer some discounts depending on the time of the year

TeamLabs Museums

TeamLabs museums are quite a unique experience, very much worth the visit, for this same reason, it is a very popular attraction so booking the tickets in advance will guarantee you make it without problems as they tend to sell out. There are multiple locations with different names, one of the most visited ones is TeamLabs Planets in Tokyo.

How To Buy Tickets To TeamLabs

The best two ways to buy tickets are either from the official TeamLabs website or from Klook

Ghibli Studio

Ghibli Studio is very popular and tends to sell out fast, so book 2 months before your visit to secure your date.

• Some Restaurants