JAPAN PLANNING GUIDES
Plan the practical parts of your trip.
Independent guides for decisions you make and book yourself. Some resource links are affiliate links and are clearly labelled.
If you need a Japanese phone call for any of these
If you need a Japanese phone call for any of these
Hotel, restaurant, ryokan, city office, or clinic — most Japanese businesses will only confirm by phone. MORISTACK Call places the call for you in Japanese and reports the answer back in English, from $6 for a single call.
See MORISTACK Call →JAPAN CONNECTIVITY
- Do You Need a SIM Card or eSIM in Japan?
Do you need a SIM card in Japan? Compare eSIMs, physical SIMs, pocket WiFi, and roaming before your trip.
Read guide → - How to Buy an eSIM for Japan Before You Travel
Learn how to choose, buy, install, and activate an eSIM for Japan, plus what to check before you pay.
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JAPAN TRANSPORT
- Do You Need a Japan Rail Pass? Check Before You Buy
Compare a nationwide Japan Rail Pass, regional passes, and individual tickets before you buy for your Japan trip.
Read guide → - Renting a Car in Japan: What Foreign Visitors Need to Know
The licence, pickup, navigation, and return details to check before renting a car in Japan.
Read guide → - Airport Transfer or Taxi App in Japan? What to Arrange Before You Land
How to decide between a pre-booked airport transfer and a taxi app for arrival in Japan.
Read guide → - Driving in Japan: Road Signs, Accidents, Insurance, and What to Do After You Return Home
Road signs, the accident scene, the two-tier insurance system, and post-trip paperwork every foreign driver in Japan needs to know before renting a car.
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JAPAN DAILY LOGISTICS
- Where to Store Luggage in Japan Before Check-in or After Check-out
Compare coin lockers, app-based storage networks, and luggage forwarding to travel hands-free in Japan.
Read guide → - Coin Lockers and Luggage Storage at Japan's Regional Train Stations
Coin locker sizes, prices, and staffed storage counters at Kanazawa, Odawara, Matsumoto, Takayama, Nikko, Rinku Town, and Ryōgoku stations.
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JAPAN ATTRACTIONS
- 32 Japan Attractions That Sell Out: When to Book Each One
A dated reference for Ghibli Museum, teamLab, SHIBUYA SKY, Pokemon Cafe, sumo, and 27 more Japan attractions that require advance booking.
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