NEW! Travelling to Japan? Addressing Your BIGGEST Questions for 2024

👇 FREE Written PDF Japan Guide with Language tips, best Hotels, when to visit and more 👇
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jisLU_Xcj8POcishY46twjkJEIZnpPLG/view?usp=share_link

You told me your biggest concerns about visiting Japan so this video will either give helpful solutions, or myth bust things that aren’t true about Japan, and shouldn’t be an issue.

We cover how much of a language barrier there actually is and how to best communicate. Japanese public transport and how to navigate, is Japan expensive and the costs of everyday activities, is Japan busy and when to visit to avoid crowds, and helping those with vegan or vegetarian food requirements as well as allergies, or people concerned they wont find an English menu. We also cover Japan itineraries, where to go, and how long to visit each area along with Cultural mistakes and what not to do in Japan as a tourist.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO:

All past and future Japan videos in one place: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLszSmMLISbAf_wJit1kbw1tAcwnPUZogl

TOP TOKYO HOTEL SUGGESTIONS:

👉* Budget Hotel great location for transport links. Really well reviewed:
https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/ueno-woo.en.html?aid=1864334&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=JCon

👉* Budget Hotel, near Ueno also. Cozy living, with rooftop:
https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/petit-grande-miyabi.en.html?aid=1864334&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=JCon

👉* Mid Hotel, near Shibuya. Sleek but minimal hotel in the heart of things: https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/tokyu-stay-shibuya.en.html?aid=1864334&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=JCon

👉* Luxury Hotel near Yoyogi Park: https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/trunk-yoyogi-park.en.html?aid=1864334&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=JCon

👉 For more HOTELS around the rest of Japan, along with a FREE WRITTEN version of the tips in this video, I’ve linked them all in one single PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jisLU_Xcj8POcishY46twjkJEIZnpPLG/view?usp=share_link

👉 Dietary requirements website: https://www.justhungry.com/japan-dining-out-cards

👉* To get the eSIM discount I mention visit the link below and add the coupon:
Use code SUITCASE15 & get 15% off (new customers)
Use code SUITCASE10 & get 10% off (existing customers)
https://airalo.pxf.io/c/2373656/1268485/15608

👉 Suitcase Monkey Second YouTube channel for even more light hearted travel vlogs around the world: http://youtube.com/@carryonmonkey?sub_confirmation=1

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#japantravel #japantravelguide #japan

00:00 Your Biggest Japan Concerns
00:28 Language Barrier
3:32 Is Japan Expensive?
5:56 Using Public Transport in Japan
8:30 What not to do in Japan
10:11 Japan Itinerary
13:04 When to Visit Japan
14:44 Is Japan too Busy?
16:14 Vegetarian, Vegan, Allergies in Japan

I asked what are your biggest concerns about 
a potential visit to Japan and this is how you  
responded. Some on this list are totally valid 
worries, but can be helped with solutions we’ll  
get into, Some are understandable but I’ll 
hopefully demonstrate why they’re nothing  
to worry about. And some are simply out of 
date concerns that I’m hoping to dispel and  
calm your thoughts. If this video helps just 
one person, then this will all have been a  
big waste of my time. But, I’m hoping that 
wont be the case, so, let’s talk about it.
We’ll start with 1 of the 2 biggest concerns 
people had about a potential trip to Japan.  
The language barrier. This was the most 
frequent response I got and the good news is,  
if this is the biggest thing holding you 
back from the potential trip of a lifetime,  
I promise, it shouldn’t be, and here’s why.
The first time I went to Japan was 2011, and every 
visit since, the country gets better and better  
with language barriers. Yes it’s gonna be more 
confusing than a trip to Iceland, for example,  
but there are more English signs, English menus, 
more broken English speakers than ever before.
And there’s a reason for this.
In the last few years, the Japanese have simply 
had way more experience with foreigners, compared  
to the decades prior, so they are much better 
equipped to deal with tourism. And the result is,  
more often than not, I think you’ll be pleasantly 
surprised with the amount you’ll understand.
There will of course still be a 
language barrier. Not everything  
will be in English but enough that matters, is.
The icing on the cake though, is 
how attentive and perfectionist  
Japanese customer service can be. It 
is also part of the fun when traveling,  
having those slightly confused moments so 
enjoy them. Whenever I’m solo in Japan,  
and I’m a little confused, its people 
have always been patient with me…
It should be said though that once you 
venture off the tourist beaten path,  
things will definitely get harder so it 
just depends how much this bothers you.  
I’ll be covering suggested itineraries 
later in this video and the countryside  
is a part of that but there is a difference 
between tourist countryside and countryside.  
So venturing out of the big cities is easily 
achievable, if language is a concern for you.
But, what are some solutions when things do get 
tricky. Number 1 is to download the Google or  
Apple Translate apps. These help converting your 
spoken words out loud or translating written text  
such as menus and they work surprisingly 
well. How else would you know the pride  
this restaurant has for its fluffy bread. It 
might not be perfect but it is good enough.
You will of course need data for your phone to 
use these 2 apps. For every trip we’ve taken  
over the last 3 years, we’ve used an eSim 
which works on most phones nowadays. This  
isn’t sponsored but I do have a link below 
that gives you a 15% discount as a newbie  
or 10% off as a returning customer so I’ll 
leave the one we typically use in the video  
description below. As ever, I’ve also shared 
a free written PDF version of this video with  
links to hotel suggestions around Japan, and 
other tips mentioned throughout this video.
Lastly on this topic, I wanted to 
teach you my favourite Japanese  
word that sits outside of the 
usual ones but is super useful.
“Sumimasen”
“Su-mi-ma-sen”
It basically means “excuse me” and is 
so versatile. Helpful when you bump into  
someone in a busy Tokyo. When someone’s back is 
turned and you’re politely trying to get their  
attention. When your grasp on Japanese 
isn’t good enough, because let’s face it,  
this is a 2 way situation, and you’re 
lightly apologising for any confusion.
“Su-mi-ma-sen”
Now let’s talk about the biggest 
misunderstanding with present day  
Japan and one I hope to completely remove 
from your assumptions. And that is Japan  
being expensive. Our month here followed 
10 weeks travelling around SE Asia. And,  
I kid you not, Japan was sometimes cheaper 
than Bali, sometimes cheaper than Thailand.
This Tokyo hotel per night $53 USD
This apartment in Osaka per night $45 
This Tokyo restaurant with one Ham cutlet 
at 5 Dollars, one beef yakisoba at $5.50 
This 40 minute Tokyo train 
from our hotel to Shibuya $2.70 
These lunchtime sushi boxes $2.40 
This super popular central Kyoto attraction $3.30
The greatest egg sandwich you will ever eat $1.70.  
You really need to hunt these 
down, they are life changing. 
A day ticket for Tokyo Disneyland $55. 
PS Check out this video for how that went 
The largest Cafe Latte that 
Starbucks has on offer $3.85
Japans economy has unfortunately been stagnant or  
declining for decades. There are many 
reasons for this, but the end result,  
is a country that’s generally hesitant to 
raise its prices and now, a weakened currency.
Of course, like anywhere, Japan can be cheap and 
can be expensive. This 4 course Kobe beef menu  
came in just under $100 dollars per person. But my 
point is, this country isn’t expensive by default.  
And that the key difference with Japan, is that 
the lower end restaurants and hotels have a much  
higher quality than you’d experience elsewhere. 
So if you want to keep your costs in check,  
it is certainly possible, and you don’t 
have to grit your teeth whilst doing it.
As highlighted in this recent Abroad in 
Japan video, you can spend $1000 USD for  
an entire 2 week trip here if 
you’re watching your spend.
Even back in 2019, when things 
weren’t as bad for the Yen,  
I noted down every single transaction 
during our 14 days here and that came  
out as $2,000 per person. That was eating 
out every night, staying at good hotels,  
packing in heaps of attractions and 
travelling to 3 different regions by train.
That video also covers some cost saving tips and, 
I’ll link in all the usual places to watch next.
But, unless some big economic change happens,  
in Japan currently, you don’t 
have to spend a lot, to get a lot.
The second biggest concern, after language, was 
questions around using public transport. Now,  
this one is totally understandable 
and a valid concern but does have  
a surprisingly obvious and workable solution.
It’s important to start out by saying, 
Japans transport network is clean,  
largely on time to the second, with regular 
trains and is an experience in itself.
The downside is that it is very confusing 
to fully understand what’s going on,  
but when you break it down, train by train, 
there is a pretty simple, non flashy answer.
All I do, is put 100% faith into Google 
Maps and it always works out. I have no  
idea how the network operates, or even mostly 
what is going on, but I can follow this app.
It might surprise some of you that train lines 
and platforms are sign posted in an alphabet  
you’ll understand, along with colours and numbers. 
So for this journey, for example, I see Green,  
Yamanote Line, Platform 1, and just follow 
those signs. Then, once I’m at the platform,  
I go off the live departure times shown 
on Google Maps for my specific train.
In all the big cities, departure 
signs are displayed in English also,  
but Google Maps was in sync, so 
that was always my starting point.
Admittedly, I do still have nerves whenever I 
return to Japan and use its trains on my own,  
but Google Maps always sees me through.
Here’s also 2 messages I received 
and wanted to share, so you don’t  
just think it’s me living in another 
world. And, if you have visited Japan,  
please feel free to either echo my thoughts 
in the comments or disagree where you’ve had  
a different experience, in the hope 
it’ll help others wanting to visit.
For getting the tickets themselves the easiest 
option is the Suica Card, which you can collect  
at both Haneda and Narita Airport. These can also 
be used on buses where you can tap in and out.
For the Shinkansen trains, you’ll need to buy 
a separate ticket. But I would just purchase  
these from the service counters as it can 
get unnecessarily confusing via the ticket  
machines. It’s worth noting that the 2 times we 
were looking confused at Osaka and Hiroshima,  
we had English speaking staff approach 
us and help purchase the tickets for us.
But, again, you’ll work all this out, 
like everyone else. Riding the Bullet  
trains is always one of my Japan 
highlights. Grabbing a bento box  
for the trip and watching the world go by 
at an outrageous speed, does not get old.
And one final transport tip: If you’re 
travelling from Tokyo to Kyoto, then try to sit  
on the right side of the train for a potential 
sighting of Mount Fuji on your way. Magical.
Next, let’s go through some quick etiquette 
and cultural questions that came up. Lots  
of these concerns centred around not 
wanting to do something that might  
offend the locals. There are countless videos 
on this platform around this one topic alone,  
and feel free to watch them, but I 
can summarise with just 2 suggestions.
Number 1, check if you need to take 
your shoes off when entering a new room,  
and Number 2, don’t be a dick. Honestly, 
as long as you’re considerate to others,  
it really isn’t something you should 
worry about, they’ll understand you’re  
not accustomed to Japanese rules and 99% 
of the time, wont hold it against you.
For those asking about Japans reliance on cash, 
I must say, this was this years biggest surprise.  
Cash has always been king here and you definitely 
should arrive with a bunch of notes. But,  
we were shocked how much more widely card and 
Apple Pay was accepted this year compared to  
past visits. Previously, card was taken around 20% 
of the time, and this year, maybe 70% accepted?
There are plenty of cash machines all over 
the country, again you can just search on  
Google Maps. Some times, for whatever 
reason, our cards weren’t accepted,  
so if you have ones from different 
banks, it’s worth having a backup.
You’ll be happy to hear that tipping 
in Japan is totally not a thing,  
so that’s one less thing to think about.
And tattoos in onsens are still a no-no. 
My best advice is to book a hotel that has  
a private onsen, and then it’s totally fine. 
This also reduces anxiety of parading around  
with your meat and two veg wafting 
in the wind, for everyone to witness.
OK so let’s move to some more of the fun 
stuff; some of you touched on questions  
around planning an itinerary – but also how to 
spread the trip out, where to visit, when to go.
So, this is totally subjective and to be used as 
a general guide or starting point. There is no  
one way to visit Japan and this is solely based 
off places we have visited and enjoyed. But,  
the classic 2 week first time Japan itinerary 
would have 3 or 4 bases – So Tokyo obviously,  
having the most things to do, Kyoto having 
more of a traditional vibe with things,  
and then maybe some nature and a short 
stop somewhere else. This gives you,  
the great variety of bustling city, 
traditional capital, and Japanese countryside.
If you wanted a 4th area to visit, and 
you aren’t a super fan of Nintendo,  
I personally would skip Osaka, and leave it for 
a potential return trip to Japan. It does have a  
very different vibe compared to Tokyo, and is 
a great city, but I’d personally recommend the  
variety of something different, over a second neon 
city, after you’ve spent time in Tokyo already.
But, if you wanted to keep that 4th 
stop city based and had 2 spare nights,  
I’d suggest Hiroshima. We visited for the first 
time this year, so I’ll be making a video about  
it eventually, but we really enjoyed it. The two 
unique stand outs were the incredibly powerful  
Peace Museum; obviously not a fun few hours but 
possibly the most powerful Museum you’ll visit,  
and our number 1 trip highlight, MiyaJima 
island. I cannot wait to edit this future video,  
because it was so stunning. And I’m 
not even showing you my best footage  
here. Sorry, you’ll need to wait for 
a dedicated video for the good stuff.
But, for a break from city life, the countryside 
does provide a welcome contrast. Takayama is  
a relatively easy trip from Kyoto, with 
Shirawkawago not too far from there also.
But there’s a certain mountain that probably 
ranks number 1 as an alternative. For Fuji,  
I’d suggest Hakone or Lake Kawaguchiko. 
Most of all these places I just mentioned  
are featured in our 2 14 Days in Japan travel 
vlogs, which despite being a few years old,  
still hold up in terms of the major 
sites at each location. All the best  
hotels we’ve stayed at over the years 
are linked below in that PDF I mentioned.
In terms of the best areas to stay 
in Tokyo as its such a huge city,  
I’ve also added some updated suggestions on 
there, and tried to cover different budgets.
One final wild card for you is Okinawa. I 
came here for 4 nights during that first  
trip to Japan and I loved it so much, we 
returned this year. Flights from Osaka or  
Tokyo are just 2 to 3 hours for as little as 
$50 and it’s a very different side to Japan.  
Again a video will be coming, but Okinawa 
is this country at its most laid back,  
and the warmest, so it might be 
a great option for some of you.
As for when to go, this is actually a pretty 
important question. Here is a general overview  
of what I’m about to go through, but the 
only period to really avoid is Golden  
Week. This is the end of April, beginning 
of May time. Everything will be packed,  
hotels pricer than ever, and 
likely with little availability.
Visiting over the Summer isn’t out of the question 
but does have an asterisk to it. July and August,  
especially, can get swelteringly hot and not in 
a “Pina Colada” kinda way. More like a “day at  
the coal mine”. But there are lots of great 
firework festivals taking place in August so  
it does have its upside. June is seen as 
Japans rainy season, they call it Tsuyu,  
and again it isn’t crazy to visit at 
this time, but something to keep in mind.
The end of March, beginning of April is the 
best time for Cherry Blossom and I’ve made  
a whole video about how to maximise this 
amazing time of year. Do be aware though,  
this is very much peak season, so not good 
for avoiding crowds, which we’ll get to next.
On the flip side, Japans autumn season 
is equally stunning around November but  
again can be busy. September and 
October are solid shoulder months  
where crowds will have died down but the 
winter temperatures haven’t crept in.
Speaking of winter, we visited this 
year late January into February and  
it was surprisingly nice. Outside 
of Okinawa, it was a little cold,  
but only around 10 to 15 degrees everywhere else. 
One difference we found, compared to England, say,  
is that the sun was out a lot more here. 
So unlike a grey Winters day in the UK,  
the direct sun really helped, and it often felt 
warmer than it looked on paper, or, screen.
One concern I got way more than I expected, 
was about Japan being too busy and dealing  
with crowds. Again, this is a totally valid 
concern, but does depend how much of a deal  
breaker this is for you. We live in London so 
that is admittedly our baseline, but there’s only  
really 2 places I’ve been and felt impacted by 
too many people here. The first is Tokyo Disney,  
which I’d urge you to check out this video as 
it’s literally the worst example of crowds.
And the other is Kyoto. Since its space is much 
smaller than Tokyo, but it’s equally popular,  
it feels way more packed. For me, it’s never 
been so bad that it’s unpleasant, I mean, it  
still remains popular for a reason. But I’d just 
advise seeing the busiest attractions early or  
late in the day. So the Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, 
Fushimi Inari Shrines, or the bamboo grove all  
being slightly notorious for people. And, we both 
hate queuing for food, no matter where we travel.  
And will almost always move on to somewhere 
else. But Japan has so many good food places  
that we always find somewhere else to visit, 
and aren’t looking at Tik Tok for inspiration.
For Tokyo, it is a very busy place 
obviously, but in its defence,  
that’s kind of its thing so it feels 
like part of the experience. I mean,  
what is Shibuya crossing without all those 
people crossing it? I have never seen this  
sight with my own eyes, but I’d suggest 
avoiding rush hour if you value your space.
If crowds are a real concern 
but you still want to visit,  
I’d advise visiting mid January to mid March, 
as we just did. Just, don’t go to Disneyland.
Food in Japan is one of the highlights 
for many people. But this was also one  
of your hot topics, especially for people 
with allergies, vegans or vegetarians,  
as well as general questions around finding 
English menus and food you can enjoy.
The allergies concern is the biggest one, 
especially if your reaction could be severe.  
Although not perfect, the best advice I can give 
is a really useful website I’ll link to below,  
that translates most dietary restrictions to 
the restaurant. The idea is you can print them  
out beforehand as cards, or show them from your 
phone and is a useful tool that may be sufficient.
For vegetarians and vegans, again, this 
can be a little tricky but certainly not  
impossible. Japan is a lover of fish and 
they often use fish extract in stock,  
which will then end up in various 
sauces and soup. Soups? Soup.
But the upside, Japan is also a lover 
of tofu, rice, mushrooms, edamame,  
so yes they are meat eaters but vegetables 
do also play a large part of the diet.
The app you’ll probably already 
be familiar with is Happy Cow,  
and it does cover Japan pretty well. 
I have some friends who used it,  
along with Google Maps and it worked for them, 
but it did require a bit of extra planning.
For those asking specifically about English 
menus, as mentioned, these are found in the  
big cities and tourist areas. The easiest 
phrase to ask though, is “Eigo no menyū”.
“Eigo no menyū?”
But, if all else fails, just do the 
universal symbol for menu whilst  
looking slightly confused 
and they’ll get the hint.
If they don’t have an English menu, 
you can always ask for the standard  
menu before sitting down and try the translate 
apps I mentioned earlier. You can also search  
for the word English on Google Map reviews 
and you’ll often get the general consensus.
Finally, in the big cities, there are loads of non 
Japanese food places around, again just search in  
Google Maps. But I would encourage you to try all 
the classic Japanese dishes while you’re here,  
but yes, pasta, burgers, sandwiches, again, 
trust me on the egg ones, Indian food, pizza,  
it’s all pretty easy to find. We also had 
several times where the menu was online. And  
then either our phones did the translating for 
us or they had English sections to their site.
My personal top tip for finding unique 
Japanese dining is by searching the word  
Izakaya. These are casual diners, serving 
smaller tapas style plates to share as a  
couple or group. This is a great way 
to sample lots of different items,  
usually at a good price and one of the 
main ways we find restaurants in Japan.
So, did I help at least 2 people out 
there? Do explore our other Japan videos,  
past and coming soon, and check out the 
links to hotels, food and transport,  
I’ve placed below. Let me know if 
you’ve any further questions for a  
potential follow up video and as always, 
thanks for watching Suitcase Monkey.