Tokyo: Travel Tips
I’ve traveled to and from Tokyo quite a bit having lived there for 8 years. During that time, I’ve learned a few things about traveling to Tokyo, so I’ve decided to share them with you.
How to pack
Tokyo, and Japan as a whole, is not a backpacking place, so plan on using a suitcase.
You’ll want to pack as small as possible because things tend to be tight like some European cities but way way busier.
Elevators, stairways, and the overall street and walking spaces in the city are smaller than many may be used to, so bringing multiple suitcases will be challenging to manage. You’ll also be in the way of traffic, particularly in train stations as there’s often a heavy flow of people.
What to pack
You’re best off planning on layering. In spring, the weather can fluctuate quite a bit each day. For example in April, the high can be 70°F/21℃ on one day and 59°F/15℃ the next. In winter, it may be cold but inside the trains may be quite hot and stuffy.
It’s also best to check temperatures in each city you plan to visit as they may differ.
Overall, you’ll want to bring presentable clothes that aren’t raggedy or overly revealing. As mentioned before, Japan isn’t a backpacking country, and it’s one that places a high priority on looking presentable. Just think about how their food looks.
Socks are important as you may take off your shoes at some places, so make sure they look clean and are without holes.
Also worth noting is that many are repulsed by strong smells such as colognes and perfumes. If you go to higher end sushi restaurants, for example, you may likely not be allowed to have strong scents as it affects the sushi eating experience.
CompleteVisit Japan Web before arriving
Visit Japan Web is your registration for Japan entry. It includes your personal info, customs declaration and vaccine info.
You’ll need to create an account on the website and fill out your information for each time you enter Japan. For example, if you fly into Tokyo, visit Seoul, then fly back to Tokyo, that’s two entries.
This will likely save you a lot of analog paperwork and hassles once you land in Japan, especially now that everyone seems to be visiting the country again and it is pretty crowded.
What airlines to fly
The top 2 airlines I recommend when flying to Tokyo are:
JAL - Ranked 6th in the world by SKYTRAX in 2022
ANA - Ranked 4th in the world by SKYTRAX in 2022
They’re both Japanese airlines and are highly related globally. They’ll provide you with a Japanese experience from the time you board.
Furthermore, both JAL and ANA are used to catering to Japanese customers, a group that demands high quality service because they’re used to it.
If both aren’t options, other airlines I’ve flown and would be most fine with flying again are:
Korean Airlines - Ranked 9th in the world by SKYTRAX in 2022
Asiana Airlines
Singapore Airlines - Ranked 2nd in the world by SKYTRAX in 2022
Hawaiian Airlines
Which Tokyo airport to fly to
There are 2 Tokyo international airports: Narita (NRT) and Haneda (HND).
I recommend flying into Haneda if you have an option. This is because it’s actually in Tokyo whereas Narita is further away in the neighboring prefecture of Chiba.
Haneda will save you time on traveling to and from the airport and will cost less.
How to get from the airport to the city
I recommend catching the Airport Limousine bus, especially if you’re flying into Haneda.
For most people, this is a better option than catching the monorail. With the monorail, you’ll still have to transfer with your luggage at Hamamatsucho Station to the JR Yamanote Line to get to city centers like Shinjuku or Shibuya, for example.
The bus, however, will take you there while handling your luggage for you and giving you a guaranteed seat.
Getting a train card
Traveling around Tokyo means a lot of trains and transfers amongst crowds of people. Most ticket gates don’t accept paper tickets anymore, so these IC cards are the best idea.
There are 2 main train cards that are interchangeable:
Suica
Pasmo
You can get them at the automated ticket kiosks. Once you’ve registered a card to yourself, you may put them into your Wallet and use Apple or Google Pay when you go through the gates if you choose to.
While many travelers get the JR Rail Pass, the trains and subways in Tokyo are actually operated by numerous companies such as Tokyo Metro, TOEI, Seibu, Keio, Odakyu, and more. The JR Rail Pass does not work for those, so you’d have to think about which trains are JR and which aren’t, which is a hassle. Furthermore, you need to show your ticket to the gate staff each time, and that is also an avoidable burden.
Get a train card as soon as you can.
Shipping luggage with takkyubin
Takkyubin is a shipping service from Kuroneko Yamato, a delivery company, and they will ship your luggage around the country for you.
It’s especially useful if you have short trips to other cities or are staying at multiple hotels and don’t want to lug around your big suitcases. For example, if you are staying at “Hotel A”, go on a short trip to Kyoto, then come back to Tokyo and stay at “Hotel B”, you can ship your big suitcase between the hotels so that you can just bring your carry-on with you on your domestic trip.
Kuroneko Yamato has counters in arrival/departure areas at the airports and hotels will also help with shipping as well.
These are just some tips that I have and my family and I use after living and traveling in Japan for several years.
Check out some of the Japan travel guides that I have on my site. Otherwise, I hope you’ll enjoy your next trip to Tokyo!
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