Travel Tips for Tokyo
Tokyo is well known for its quirky themed cafes and restaurants. Some examples of these establishments are owl cafes, cat cafes and even vampire and goth cafes. Akihabara is another area in Tokyo known for offering anime and video game shops.
Tokyo residents are known to be polite and welcoming. They adhere to a stringent code of etiquette which visitors should strive to uphold during their visit. Tel Aviv to Tokyo Cathay Pacific flights are now available for those interested.
1. Take the train.
Tokyo may be one of the world’s most advanced megacities, yet its train and subway systems make navigating this megapolis relatively straightforward. Though initially challenging to use, once you understand its inner workings getting around this city becomes effortless!
Make your commute more effortless by picking up a rechargeable prepaid card (such as Pasmo or Suica) at the airport before departing, such as Pasmo or Suica. These cards work on all trains and subways in your destination city regardless of which rail company operates them, plus save you the bother of calculating costs yourself.
Another useful tip when taking the train is always standing on the right side of an escalator while walking up, to allow people in a rush to pass you without obstruction.
Set an early alarm in order to arrive at major attractions before the crowds arrive! Doing this will allow you to experience these sites in peace and tranquility, without long lines of selfie stick-wielding tourists lingering behind them – especially at popular landmarks like Tokyo Skytree or Senso Temple!
2. Get a bilingual map.
Tokyo can best be described as a city with many faces, each offering something different to visitors. One can enjoy shopping, entertainment, history and culture activities here as well as easy transit systems and local guides that speak English – making traveling in Tokyo simple.
An informative bilingual map can make life much simpler when traveling abroad; locals will more quickly understand where you’re coming from and going, reducing the chance of getting lost! Plus, having one increases your odds of staying on course!
Shinjuku Golden Gai district is an excellent location to find bilingual maps. This district is famous for its many small and cozy bars at street level that offer eclectic service – often filled with junk that could tell a story!
Japan is home to many “kawaii” cafes. Here you’ll find everything from cat and owl cafes, vampire-themed cafes and even dog cafes! Before venturing out on an expedition of this nature, research which ones are located near your hotel so that you don’t end up walking too far off course.
3. Carry a portable Wi-Fi device.
Renting a pocket WiFi device is an economical and smart solution to staying connected during travel, from using Google Maps or reading an ebook such as Japan by Rail travel companion book to learning Japanese for your journey. Plus, this option avoids unexpected bill shock!
Keep this in mind when shopping: you will likely be required to remove your shoes upon entering many stores and attractions (this applies especially to five-star ryokans and top-tier sushi restaurants), including flip flops. Instead, invest in comfortable ballet flats or loafers as you will likely be asked to remove your footwear at their entrances.
Maintaining these simple tips will make your trip to Tokyo more enjoyable. Be mindful of proper walking etiquette on busy sidewalks and escalators; most people here are eager to assist; just say, “Konnichiwa,” ask for directions, or learn some basic conversational phrases!
4. Follow walking etiquette.
Etiquette is essential when walking around Tokyo, although its cityscape may appear intimidating at first. Locals make blending in an easy process.
Talking on your cell phone while walking can be rude and intrusive for those around you, who wish to enjoy peace and serenity of a stroll. Additionally, eating food while walking annoys others who need to navigate around you or complete daily errands – it would be preferable if meals and snacks were purchased prior to starting your walk.
On escalators, it is considered courteous to stand on the left side. The right side is reserved for people walking up or down stairs. If you have large bags to transport with you when using an escalator, keep them close by holding onto them while riding it.
Finally, be careful when pointing with your finger at other people or in specific directions in Japan – this is considered extremely rude. Instead, use an open hand to indicate directions or things of interest. Lingering hugs or kisses in public are also considered rude; holding hands may even be seen as unhygienic!
5. Carry a baggie for trash.
Since Japan lacks public garbage cans, you should carry a plastic baggie with you as a safe place for trash until you can dispose of it elsewhere. Paper towels and napkins may also be rare so bring some along.
Sometimes it will be necessary to take off your shoes before entering certain buildings in Tokyo, so wearing comfortable slip-on shoes that you can quickly put on and off would be wise. Also bring socks along just in case – particularly if visiting any izakayas that do not offer English menus!
Make sure your IC card has enough money on it to cover everything in Tokyo; otherwise, taxi rides could become very costly. Furthermore, try not flying into Narita airport but Haneda instead; the train ride between them will be shorter, saving both time and money. Finally, look for accommodations near train stations such as Shibuya or Shinjuku for maximum convenience.
6. Have a QR Code reader app.
Tokyo is an extremely dense city filled with endless distractions, making comprehensive itineraries difficult. Instead, it may be more rewarding to focus on visiting one district per day instead of trying to cover multiple locations at once and immerse yourself fully into each neighborhood’s culture.
One effective way of doing so is to visit some of the city’s acclaimed museums, which boast collections spanning everything from traditional Japanese art and modern pop culture, anime and more. Here you can learn about each topic through art-related exhibits as well as classes offered.
Use the Tokyo Museum Grutto Pass as a convenient way of exploring multiple museums within one day – it includes admission tickets and discounts for 92 museums and attractions around Tokyo – click here for more details!
Experience Tokyo’s distinct cultural traditions through traditional arts such as Kabuki theater, tea ceremony and other traditional practices like woodblock painting and origami with ease by attending its many parks and gardens. Additionally, take part in iconic Japanese activities like Taiko drumming, woodblock painting origami or anime!
7. Take pictures in a purikura.
Tokyo is one of the world’s most exciting cities, offering an exotic mix of traditional culture and cutting-edge technology. However, visiting for the first time may prove overwhelming; here are some tips to ensure a pleasant and successful journey through this megalopolis.
Purikura photo booths have become immensely popular since their introduction in Japan during the 1990s. Similar to an ID photo booth, Purikura allows customers to edit and customize their picture in order to make it an original souvenir with stickers, fonts, filters, makeup effects, drawings signatures messages among other options. Many booths even provide editing stations where customers can enhance eyes adjust skin tones apply different effects or enhance eyes further than previously possible.
Purikura machines can be found in arcade game centers and places where teenagers congregate, such as Shibuya and Harajuku. But to truly experience purikura to its fullest, visit an exclusive purikura shop – these places usually have bathrooms, makeshift hair and makeup rooms and photo booths with multiple backdrops and poses; additionally they sell fake eyelashes, flower crowns and wigs – and you can turn your photos into social media avatars or make videos!