Things to Always Carry With You in Japan
Japan is a great place to visit, especially for those traveling abroad for the first time. It feels completely different than in Western countries, but still completely familiar. I recently returned from a trip there, and although this was not my first visit, I still learned a lot. Basically, I figured out which items are best to keep with me.
If you’ve never been (or felt lost and confused the last time you were there), here’s what you need:
- Handkerchief : Paper towels in Japan are almost impossible to find even in bathrooms. In fact, many restaurants won’t even give you real napkins – they’re just napkins, so be sure to take a washable handkerchief with you. Fortunately, all tourist areas have shops dedicated to beautiful handkerchiefs.
- Cash : Your credit card will likely work in many large malls, especially brand stores (and 7-11), but wherever there is money, cash is the key. If you want some delicious street food, stop by the tiny ramen shop tucked away in the alley, buy handmade goods at the kiosk, or you can eat at any restaurant, take a lot of money with you. Don’t worry, Japan is incredibly safe.
- Coin Purse : Speaking of money … All those bills you carry quickly disintegrate into coins that cannot be used. I mean, you end up with a lot of little things and it’s actually good to carry them around (imagine if here in the US there were $ 1 and $ 5 coins instead of bills and you get the idea). Buy yourself a coin purse! It doesn’t have to be big, but even if you’re a dude with a thousand pockets, keeping all that little stuff in one place is much less annoying. Bonus: you can regularly throw a bag of coins onto the tables as if you are in a fantasy world.
- Plastic bag : There are exactly 10 trash cans on the streets of Tokyo. Good luck finding them. Okay, I’m exaggerating, but they are still rare. This means you will have to carry your trash with you most of the time until you can throw it away somewhere (such as a hotel or convenience store), so keep an airtight plastic bag with you so you have somewhere to put it. where he will win. ” • Stink, spill, or crush clothing. However, if most of your trash comes from snack wrappers or drink bottles, you are doing it wrong! Eat or drink what you have right in front of where you bought it and then throw your trash there. Eating and drinking while walking is frowned upon.
- Pasmo or Suica card : There are tons of different rail companies operating different railways all over Japan, but the Pasmo and Suica reloadable rail cards work with almost all of them. Download the map and always keep it close at hand. Plus, you can often use them to buy snacks from the vending machine . Or, if you are a fool like me, you can use them to pay for silly arcades.
- Smartphone : It should be easy, but just in case you thought you didn’t need it … well, yes. You will be using it quite a bit. This is useful for directions, train and metro routes, and for translating important conversations when you know simple phrases that don’t work for you.
- Pocket Wi-Fi : You can probably pay extra to keep your smartphone working in Japan, but it’s expensive. Better to rent a pocket-sized Wi-Fi device ( like this one ) that will work anywhere. And if you’re in a group, everyone can access Wi-Fi on just one device. You can rent them for anywhere from five to nearly 150 days, they’ll take it to your hotel to be there when you arrive, and when you’re done with it, you just put it in a pre-sent envelope and toss it. mailbox. I cannot recommend this.
- Battery : Your phone and pocket Wi-Fi need to work all day (or you might get lost), so bring one with you.
- Pocket Phrasebook : I’m a big believer in learning at least a little of the country’s primary language before visiting . This means you don’t have to rely on your phone (for example, in the event of a low battery), and it shows a genuine interest and respect for culture as a tourist. I am well aware that people in many places will reject you and speak English to you, but it’s still a good idea to try. If the phrasebook is too cumbersome, just write down some important things on the card.
- Passport : I usually do not carry my passport with me when exploring the city (just a copy), but in Japan it is recommended to keep it with me, especially if you want to shop. Japan offers tax-free purchases over $ 50 to foreigners, but you must have a valid passport with you. The copy will not work.
If you have any suggestions of your own, feel free to mention them in the comments below! Happy travel.