Quick Guide to Tokyo (Japan)

February 02, 2017

Quick Guide to Tokyo (Japan)

Japan is a fascinating & Ultramodern country with lots of goods foods, popular fashion, unique culture background, stunning scenery and more! Japan is actually one of my dream country to visit when I was at my age of 16 as Japan is consider one of the leading country throughout Asia because they have the latest technology but due to its high living cost I am not so sure whether I am able to afford so when come to traveling, I will always plan to other cheaper countries instead. However, last year January (read my older post to know why it took so long to update this particular post haha), I am very excited as finally it was like a dream come true I get to visit this country. As usual, I do a lot of homework and research before hand just to get the most of this trip :) I went to Tokyo this time for a week and Tokyo itself is big enough to explore. Therefore, my post will be focus on Tokyo this time (hopefully, get to visit Hokkaido, Osaka, Kyoto soon! ;).....). Hope this post will be helpful for those who plan to visit Tokyo soon :) Their metro stations are really complicated for beginners, even after much research was done still I feel so frustrated of unable to figure out how their stations works with so many exits within one station, with so many different lines overlap above each others. I have travel much across Europe but never ever felt so challenged before. Luckily after few days of exploring, I feels so much more comfortable with finding the correct way to go. At the end of the day, I do not wish to leave this country lol! ;DDDD

What you need to know about traveling to Japan

Weather

Japan itself is a huge country with many popular tourist destinations. Therefore, the weather can be different for different spots. http://www.jnto.go.jp/weather/eng/index.php ---> this website is useful to have a glance of all :)

Temperature was between 10'c to 16'c during December/January time. I love this cooling temperature. However, if you plan to visit Lake Kawaguchiko or Mt Fuji tourist area, please keep in mind to wear more! It's very windy and much more cooler up there!

Autumn

Language

I am actually quite shock that the percentage of locals who can speak English is consider less. In most of the restaurants, their menu is in Japanese and unless there is a staff inside the shop who can speak Chinese/English, if not what you can do is only to point at the picture on the menu to order, sometimes you don't even know what you are ordering exactly. if you do not have any diet requirements of course there is no big problem of it but if you do I suggest you to note down the Japanese words of that particular items before hand to avoid misunderstanding or disappointment. Of course, at the major tourist spots like airport tourist information counter, major shopping malls, some major big station like Tokyo Station there will be staff who can speak English. I believe Japanese are nations who really loves and treasure their own culture and therefore, they are proud of speaking Japanese instead. Just make sure that you don't get disappointed of unable to communicate. They are indeed very helpful and courteous people who will be willing to help you in their way :)

Transportation + Related Tips

Okay, this is going to be tough to explain because no matter how details I explain it here, you will still find difficulties once you arrived in Tokyo as a beginners like what I experienced at first! but no worries, everyone will experience the first time for everything isn't it? I will just share some tips which I think is useful for me based on my own experiences and to at least save you those hassles which I have been through there at first!

1. Download this app name "TABIMORI" before hand! This is the app which helps me a lot throughout my stay. Without this app, I don't think I will be able to move around so easily! Oh, did I mention? this is actually an App recommended by Japan Government and I saw it when I reach the airport :) Those that you need will be included in this application, you get to understand little bit more about Japan life and culture, the weather forecast, there is also other useful function like speech translation, currency converter function, transfer guide, free WiFi guide, japan news and more! The function which I use all the time is 'transfer guide'. Basically what you need to do is just to key in your destination station name and click search! The result will show you the total time of travelling from your origin point to your destination, the total distance, total fare, different routes suggestions and if you are travelling to a destination which need to transfer, it will show you which station to transfer and all the details. This is why without this App I am not able to travel around for my first time.

2. Download another App name "Tokyo Metro". This give you a better glance of the entire Tokyo Metro Stations so it will be easier for you to travel around by looking which directions you are going towards.

3. Purchase the metro card is a MUST! The major company is PASMO and SUICA. I bought PASMO during my visit and it is definitely useful for all travelers to travel in Japan as it will bring you so much convenient by just tapping through in and out the metro station (save a lot of time). Additionally, you can also use it for convenient store! save the hassle of taking in more coins with you :) Also, I realized the price of the metro tickets are slightly cheaper than buying the paper kind of tickets all the time you take metro and you can simply just top up from the machines at the metro stations! Superb!

4. If you are planning to visit the Mt Fuji/Lake Kawaguchiko area, you must buy the "JR KANTO PASS".I have double check on the cost based on my own experience and it is definitely cheaper if compared to purchase the normal tickets on the spot all the way from city centre to Mt Fuji/Kawaguchiko area (as you will need to change at some stations, depends on your route + it took about 2 hour plus for one way journey). Even if these area is not in your planning list, you can take a look at the website

(https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/tokyowidepass/) to get more info before heading to Japan as they do offer many different kinds of passes to cater different travelers needs (different areas coverage, different days coverage). The pictures below shows how's my JR KANTO PASS looks like :) The covers areas will be shown on the pass, however please bear in mind that this pass is for 3 consecutive days only. You will need to show the officer before entering to those areas which are under coverage. The pass starts it activation when you use for the first time, you will get a stamp on it. It costs me about 8,300 YEN (= 104SGD/318MYR).

5. Everyone Knows that the cost in Japan is high so my advice is to plan well before hand. I think that transportation fees is the highest costs among all plus transportation costs is also one of the unavoidable costs so this is why doing research and planning before hand is so so so IMPORTANT for traveling in Japan!

Currency

From my experience, I don't remember seeing any currency exchange counter frequently. Therefore, change more or change according to how much you need before flying will be better. I changed my Japanese YEN in Singapore from SGD and I found the rates for YEN is actually very reasonable.

Tax Refund

I found very interesting about tax refund in Japan as it's not like other countries. Most of the shops (pharmacy, cosmetics shops) indicates if the goods they are selling are tax free, if it is tax free means you will have to show your passport upon making payment (Do take note that different shops will have different minimum of purchase to enjoy this tax free privilege). Also, once you purchase above the required amount and apply the tax free privilege, the staff will seal all the purchased products in a transparent bag, that's mean you can't use that products until you reach home because the officer at the airport might check on it. I am lucky enough to not encounter the officer to check my luggage but this is the standard procedure of the country and you might not want to pot your luck on it so if you want to use the products that you purchase during your holiday, just buy it separately (maybe a mini size or something?) from the rest of the things will do :)

WIFI

It is very important to have WIFI all the time while traveling in Japan especially for first timer as you will need it to search and gather information while traveling for a smoother journey :) I reserved mine mobile WiFi from Global advanced Communication company, it is one of the biggest company in Japan. It works very well during my trip as in the WIFI speed and coverage are both very good. All you need to do is to visit this website http://www.globaladvancedcomm.com/pocketwifi.html, choose the type of pocket WiFi which suits you most, fill up the form to request and make the payment! The company will send you a confirm email to inform you the request is done and once near to your travel date, they will send another reminder email again. Once you arrive at the airport, just head to the post office (terminal) that you previously filled in the request form to pick up and off you go! Before departure from the airport back to your home country, remember to drop it (they will provide a prepaid envelop) at any post office will do.

Shopping Tips

Compare items from different pharmacy is a must! (I encounter seeing same products but huge difference from different pharmacy at different tourist spots!).

Budget Flights to TOKYO (http://www.airasia.com/my/en)

I think most of the people will know that Airasia offers cheap flights to some of the most visited cities in Japan like Hokkaido, Tokyo & Osaka! For my case on this trip, I travel directly from Seoul to Tokyo and I took the EASTER JET (http://www.eastarjet.com/book/index.htm) which consider to be a budget flight I guess as through my research they offer the cheapest fare among all others airline. It still costs me about USD300 for just one way trip from Seoul to Tokyo! I guess it will costs much cheaper than this if you have planed earlier and book it earlier :) The only challenge I encounter while booking my flight through their website is that the website is not that user friendly plus the confirmation email that they send is in Korean haha but in the end still I do manage to check in my flight at the airport so overall is still not too bad plus the service is good and the in flight facilities also are not bad too. It took about 2 hours to reach Tokyo from Seoul.

Where to STAY

Everyone knows that the accommodation in Japan is very expensive however if you are on budget there will be still a few of budget yet awesome hostel or cabin hotel which you can consider :) Just simply take some time to search from agoda.com or booking.com. The only thing that you need to keep in mind is that normally those budget yet awesome accommodations are often filled up very quickly especially during holiday season! so book it earlier is the main point to get full satisfaction! As I plan this trip and book the accommodation totally last minutes and it left me with not much choices. End up I choose to stay in a cabin hostel (http://centurion-cabin.com/) which cater for WOMEN only! which also mean it is definitely a great secure place for solo women traveler :) My overall experiences are great except that I am not so used to the "open bathroom concept" but still overall I am satisfied with the service, the facilities (sauna, hot bath, hot stone massage), the location (just 5 minutes walk from Asakasa Mitsuke Station) and also all the bathroom supplies are provided (even toner, lotion & moisturizer) ! Additionally, there is large TV provided in each of the cabin with earphones and the surroundings of the hotel is packed with convenient stores, drugstores, eateries, restaurants, pubs, fast foods chains & more! I would say this hotel is totally rejuvenating and the atmosphere and environment are so relaxing! The staffs do speak English but quite limited. but hey what else do you still ask for with only a damage of about USD20 per day ?

What to EAT

Ohhhh.....this will be a never ending story! Hahaha :)

I simply love their passion on foods! I am amazed by their passion of making foods and serving foods. I think this is why it is rarely find any foods which is not nice in Japan itself! The standards are high even for fast foods chain or food courts! From Ramen, Udon, Sushi, pastry, desserts, don, taco balls & EVERYTHING IS JUST SO AMAZING! so I will just list out the foods which I really love but hardly find in Malaysia or Singapore:)

·  Shabu Shabu Buffet - I found it in Shinjuku area, dont remember the name (there are simply a lot of places offers same concept buffet) but it costs about 2500yen per person for one and a half hour. Ingredients are fresh, delicious and special then only I realized that the authentic Japanese Shabu Shabu are different as those we had in our country. They cooked those ingredients just with water with some herbs in it which mean they do not drink any of the soup. The so call soup in there is just for you to cook your raw meats and vege. Once cooked, they dip the meats or vege in sauces (japanese soya & sesame). I am not so used to it at first but after a few try I love it so much and now I miss it so much! I think it is a must to try if you visit to Japan :)

· Chicken Ramen in Narita International Airport- I found it at the highest floor of this airport. The ramen soup is just amazing and savory.  Hardly to find chicken ramen in Japan as most of the ramen are with pork slices so I found it unique and the taste is awesome as well! I finish every single dip of the soup!

·         All sorts of bentos and quick eats at the convenient store - When I am on hurry or if I can't think of what to eat, convenient store is always the best place to visit! You can get cheaper Bentos like DON and it taste good as well! Also, I found they have the hot foods station selling fried chicken cutlet which is also really good in taste and real tender. I matched it with a cup of coffee to complete my breakfast most of the day!

·         Strawberries Shortcakes

I know it is quite common in our country as well but what I can say is that it is totally different!!! They are really attractive and yummy! Although the damage of one slice of shortcakes are somehow equal to a proper meal but you won’t be able to say NO once you see it as they are everywhere at the supermarket haha! There are many other attractive cakes and dessert as well but I personally love this the most! Also not to forget to mention, HARBS is one of the well known places for desserts/high tea. I tried their lunch set and it is quite reasonable with a choice of a cup of tea/coffee + a salad + a choice of main course + a cake of the day! You can see that their outlets are always crowded with people and queue lines so make sure to visit earlier to avoid wasting too much time on queuing :)   Total Damage of the high tea lunch set: 2000YEN.

·         .Oyakodon (Chicken) Don - The picture speaks for itself! This is a restaurant which specializes in making awesome and authentic Oyakodon. Once you step in all the staffs great you and you can choose to sit downstairs or upstairs. With the cold weather in Tokyo, to have a bowl of hot piping Oyakodon is simply blissful <3 <3 <3

· Udon with Tempura sides - You can simply get very nice one at any of the food courts (normally at the highest floor of their shopping mall! The Udon are so fresh and the tempura is just so crunchy. Once you tried the authentic one in Japan, you will never want to eat Udon and tempura in our country anymore haha because it’s really very different!

Other areas which I personally loves to visit and also recommend includes:

Tokyo Disneyland

Most of the attractions are host in Japanese language

2. Shinjuku, Shibuya Area

Filled with tons of shopping malls and eateries + Night Life!

3.Akihabara

A right place for the "geeks". Full of shops selling gaming related stuffs, electronics supplies and entertainment facilities. Also famous for it's "maid cafe" culture over here.

4. Odaiba

Consider a port area off the city. Famous for its mini liberty statue, huge gundam statue. Full of huge shopping malls and indoor parks. Popular among tourists and locals. (If you have a late night flight, this might be a good place for you to spend your time before departure or last minute shopping as it is near to Haneda Airport and there is lockers provided at the malls).

5. Mt Fuji & Lake Kawaguchiko