Article by Guest Author Peter Broker

I've just come back from a Japan trip where I spent time in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto with a short stop off in Busan (South Korea). Here are some FAQ's that I think you might find useful if you're thinking of planning a trip to Japan.

Getting Around on the Subway

It's not intuitive. I found the whole transportation system in Japan a little archaic. On the plus side, the Japanese underground system & the infamous bullet trains are efficient, clean and spacious.

Do I need to book tickets to use the Bullet Train?

I would strongly suggest you do. Especially if travelling as a pair. You can get two seats together and if you book ahead of time using the Tokaido Sanyo Kyushu Shinkansen Internet Reservation Service. We downloaded the APP also where you can get the QR codes. If you are able to print off the tickets at the hotels too I would recommend that as back up as there is limited 4G or WiFi even at the stations. There is free WiFi on the Bullet Trains.

There is also something called a SUICA card which I highly advise you get from machines situated at the train stations. It's like an OYSTER CARD but you can also use it to purchase bottles of water from vending machines that are scattered all over.

Is there 4G in Japan or do I have to use my data roaming?

I am with Vodafone, and if I hadn't turned off my data roaming on the plane I would have spent £6.50 a day on data roaming. Check with your provider before you leave. I found that I could jump on WiFi hotspots in restaurants, cafes, hotels of course and some train stations though not all. If you're using google maps maybe screen grab the directions before heading out.

How hot does it get in Tokyo during the Summer?

BIG TIP. Sun factor with 50SPF is key as it gets not only hot but very humid. If you're out in the sun mid-July it will get uncomfortable. I packed my faithful Life Jacket Skin sun cream that has 50SPF, and bought some umbrellas also when out there. The umbrellas are not just for rainy season. It will provide you with some positive shade from the sun and it's very common to see both men and women use umbrellas even when it's not rainy or sunny.

Do places take American Express or is cash king?

Yes you can use American Express quite readily. I was quite surprised in some places that they did. Although I would say that you should take out as much YEN as you can budget for. You can find places to get YEN at trains stations as they all have ATM's that dispense YEN. When giving or receiving your card or loose change it's the Japanese way to do this with both hands, like a cupping motion.

Do I need to get naked in Japanese baths?

100% you do. And you will also need to shower sitting down before doing so. This was the practice in the hotel I stayed in, other venues may have different codes of conduct but you certainly do have to get naked. If you have a multitude of tattoos you might want to think twice about doing this. Tattoos are not common place in Japanese culture and they will see someone heavily tattooed as a threat. Perhaps ask a member of staff if it's ok to use the facilities before taking that chance.

Is the food any good? What is in a Japanese breakfast? Will I need to book restaurants?

The food is uniformly good, and if you're visiting the restaurants near to the fish markets, you won't have to book. We did have one night in Ginza where we struggled to find a place, but it was a Friday night and everywhere was rammo. You have to consider that eating out in Japan is a huge event. People live in relatively small apartments and would rather be out than in. Also I heard the government actively incentivises dining out and socialising so they give people an allowance to expense their meals.

The Japanese breakfast was not for me, sorry. Some soup, some salmon, green tea, broccoli. It was a bit bizarre and far too healthy. It's certainly worth trying as I encourage you to embrace the culture, but if there is a western option I would go for that.

Best place to shop for clothes in Japan?

For me Tokyo and the Ginza strip was like New Bond Street. Lots of designer houses like Hugo Boss, Hermes, Gucci etc. Which is fun but too rich for my blood. The second hand stores and American Vintage stores in Kyoto were abundant and much more fun. You can't miss them and you can spend hours rifling around for bargains and very unique items.

Photo by Tianshu Liu on Unsplash