JAPAN TRAVEL TIPS FOR FIRST TIMERS | 50+ Must-Knows Before Visiting Japan + What NOT to Do!

Don’t visit Japan without watching this first! Here are all THE tips and must-knows for first time Japan visitors to save money, eliminate overwhelm, and have the most magical Japan vacation. _NOTE: many of the links below are affiliate links which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info on what this means, check out my website privacy policy and disclosure: https://happytowander.com/privacy/_ [Ad] Try Airalo here & use the code HAPPY for a 20% off discount (valid until the end of May): https://try.airalo.com/happytowander2026 PS: If you don’t miss out on this deal, you can actually get your eSIM now and activate it for later travel when you need it :) AIRALO SET-UP TUTORIAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CujQmwCK3dE 0:00 INTRODUCTION 0:49 JAPAN TRAVEL PLANNING TIPS 10:17 JAPAN TIPS FOR TRANSPORT AND GETTING AROUND 15:47 JAPAN FOOD & DRINK TIPS 24:06 JAPAN TIPS FOR ATTRACTIONS 28:09 JAPAN ETIQUETTE TIPS 32:55 JAPAN TIPS FOR ONCE YOU ARRIVE *WATCH NEXT* ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfD3oGZH8lM *LINKS MENTIONED* ➡️ ANA Free Domestic Flights: https://www.ana.co.jp/en/kh/plan-book/promotions/domestic-add-on-free-flights/ ➡️ JAL Explorer Pass (new program to replace their previous domestic flight promo): https://www.jal.co.jp/world/en/world/japan_explorer_pass/lp/ ➡️ Payke app for scanning barcodes: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/payke-making-shopping/id1040452788 ➡️ Travel Japan Phrase app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/travel-japan-phrase/id6739940739 ➡️ Aoniyoshi Sightseeing Limited Express: https://www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/aoniyoshi/ ➡️ Sagano Romantic Train: https://www.sagano-kanko.co.jp/en/? ➡️ Pikachu Train: https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/joyful/pokemon.html ➡️ Tabelog for reviews and reservations: https://tabelog.com/en/ ➡️ Duty free shopping pre-order for Haneda: https://duty-free-japan.jp/haneda/en/ ➡️ Duty free shopping pre-order for Narita: https://duty-free-japan.jp/narita/en/index.aspx ➡️ Official tax-free shopping guide: https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/tax-free/page01_000113.html *HOTELS WE STAYED AT* ➡️ Tokyo - Hotel Indigo Shibuya w/ epic view: https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/indigo-tokyo-shibuya-an-ihg.html?aid=1180711 ➡️ Tokyo - Cute small hotel in Ueno with a great location and decent price: https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/open-sale-ueno-lang-201-5-minutes-to-sta-dong-jing-du.html?aid=1180711 ➡️ Kyoto - Cool, modern hotel in downtown Kyoto: https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/ace-hotel-kyoto.en-gb.html?aid=1180711 ➡️ Kyoto - Great value hotel near the main tourist sights near Higashiyama - we booked the triple room and it was huge with a beautiful view: https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/ethnography-kiyomizu-gojo-kyoto.html?aid=1180711 *SEND ME A POSTCARD!!* _The uglier the better :)_ Happy to Wander Media Inc. Unit 250 - 997 Seymour St. Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 3M1 *TOP LINKS* ➡️ Full written version of this guide with more tips: https://happytowander.com/japan-travel-tips/ ➡️ Follow me on Instagram & tell me YouTube sent you: https://www.instagram.com/happytowander ➡️ My blog with MANY more written guides: https://happytowander.com/ ➡️ My YouTube channel ALL about packing: https://www.youtube.com/@HappyToPackIt ➡️ Amazon storefront w/ my fave products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/happytowander ➡️ A book I wrote for your parents!!! (or you, possibly) https://amzn.to/40MkDoh ➡️ My VIP zone w/ free packing lists, maps, etc: https://happytowander.com/vip-zone *MY TOP RECOMMENDED GEAR* ➡️ My Camera {Paid Link}: https://amzn.to/3MhZ0VQ ➡️ My Favourite Regular Packing Cubes {Paid Link}: https://amzn.to/45OdSlI ➡️ My Favourite Compression Packing Cubes {Paid Link}: https://amzn.to/3MbIiYs ➡️ My Favourite Noise Cancelling Headphones {Paid Link}: https://amzn.to/46J6cTg ➡️ My White, More Elegant Carry-On {Paid Link}: https://amzn.to/3uS6lpU ➡️ My Black, More Minimalist Carry-On {Paid Link}: https://amzn.to/478ROnf ➡️ My Pretty Re-Usable Toiletry Bottles {Paid Link}: https://amzn.to/3SeqaAJ ➡️ My Amazing E-Reader That Links to the Library for FREE Books {Paid Link}: https://amzn.to/3Mgfca2 Wondering what not to do in Japan? This Japan travel tips video summarizes all the important must-knows before visiting Japan for the first time, from how to avoid crowds and secure tickets and reservations to helpful Japan apps and etiquette to be a respectful Japan visitor.