JAPAN HAS CHANGED | Your FIRST HOUR in Japan | MUST WATCH Before Arriving in Japan | 2024 Guide
If you’re planning a trip to Japan, watch this comprehensive guide for the ultimate pre-departure, in-flight, and arrival checklist. Arrive and explore Japan like a pro with these essential tips.
While I have explained in my previous videos, the situation of travel to Japan is changing day by day. For example, since 2024, there have been changes in the entry conditions for Japan, the new VISA has been launched, and the sales status of transportation IC cards, including Suica and Pasmo, has changed.
Therefore, in this video, including those updates, I’ll break it down into two categories: what to prepare before arriving in Japan and what to do immediately upon arrival.
I’ve compiled 20 latest tips to ensure a smooth entry into Japan, covering everything from immigration and customs procedures to getting cash, accessing Wi-Fi or internet, arranging transportation to the city, obtaining transportation IC cards like Suica or PASMO, and even luggage forwarding services.
By knowing these tips, you’ll be able to kick-start your Japan adventure right after touching down. Please watch this video until the end.
⭐️CHAPTERS⭐️
0:00 Opening
1:39 “Things to Do Before your entry to Japan”
1:43 1.Visa Requirements Update
3:02 2.New Visa Type
4:02 3.Update of entry conditions in Japan
5:20 4.Online Service for immigration
6:38 5.Be Careful for crowded season
7:44 6.Be Careful for Arrival Time
9:21 7.Book your Hotel in Advance
11:04 8.Book Shinkansen in Advance
12:45 9.Book Activity in Advance
13:35 10.Get Navigation App
14:53 11.Get Translation App
16:30 12.Bring Comfortable Shoes
17:29 “Things to Do After your entry to Japan”
17:34 13.Exchange Money
18:59 14.Money Withdrawal
19:39 15.Wi-Fi and SIM Card (Wifi VS SIM)
21:20 16.Train IC Card(Mobile)
22:33 17.Train IC Card(Physical)
25:06 18.No Japan Rail Pass
26:55 19.Transportation from the Airport
28:21 20.Luggage Forwarding Service
⭐️Related Videos⭐️
JAPAN HAS CHANGED | 10 New Things to Know Before Traveling to Japan 2024 | Travel Update May 2024
JAPAN HAS CHANGED | 10 New Things to Know Before Traveling to Japan | Travel Update 2024
Don’t come to Japan during these months | Best time and Bad time to visit Japan | Travel Update 2024
JAPAN TOURISM HAS CHANGED | 9 New Things to Know Before Traveling to Japan | Travel Guide for 2024
JAPAN HAS CHANGED | 10 New Things to Know Before Traveling to Japan 2024 Part1 | What’s New in Japan?
UPDATED 9 BEST APPS + 2 Websites for TRAVELING IN JAPAN | MOST USEFUL for Visit Japan | Guide 2024
JAPAN UPDATED | Tokyo’s SUICA IC Card Is *BACK*? | Suica & PASMO Updates You MUST KNOW | Travel 2024
⭐️ Apps & Websites⭐️
1.Online Ticket Reservation for Shinkansen
-Smart EX: https://smart-ex.jp/en/index.php
-Ekinet: https://www.eki-net.com/en/jreast-train-reservation/top/Index
2.Online Service for Immigration
-Visit Japan Web: https://vjw-lp.digital.go.jp/en/
3.Book Hotel
-Expedia: https://expedia.com/affiliates/expedia-home.SuUNMlf
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Hi, I’m Toshi Guide from Japan and tourist guide for foreigners.
I started this channel to share the beauty of Japan. My channel focuses on providing Travel Guides, Travel Tips, Travel Information, suggesting places to visit, food to try, hotels to stay, and so on.
Please let me know via comments what you want me to introduce in Japan.
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https://www.japan-bullettrain.com/?via=toshiyuki
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https://www.jrailpass.com/the-japan-rail-pass?utm_source=aff&utm_medium=cpa&utm_campaign=youtube&affiliate=wwwyoutubecom0903¤cy=USD
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37 Comments
I booked my hotel several months ago. I was able to get a hotel room for JPY71000 for 9 nights at APA Hotel near a Ginza Line station around Ueno / Asakusa. RIght now, that is only US$450. Checking the prices today its nearly JPY100000 for the same room for the same days
I arrive in Japan in several days. for shinkansen tickets from kyoto to tokyo is it better to wait on site to get tickets to reserve 4 to 5 days before or is it better to book on the site as early as possible or is the delay 5 days is enough, knowing that I need a specific seat because of my disability.
I just returened 3 weeks ago and I watched your video before, and followed all the tips, except for the "don't go during golden week", since I already had booked the flight.
Each and every tip here is very valuable and helped me lots!
Prepaid Sim and IC(Suica) Card are absolutely essential!
SInce I had booked my hotels and Shinkansen in advance I had no problems at all traveling even though it was golden week. Although I found out, that there are many regional trains you will also need to book tickets and seats for in advance if you dont want to stand for hours, but I learned and booked for the way back, which went flawless.
I also can't overstate the importance of comfortable shoes! Not only will you do a lot of walking and standing on trains, but I found, that in general there were way less benches or seats around than I knew from other places, especialy in crowded public spaces, to just sit down and pause for a little bit.
Google Maps was fantastic to get around!!! It will show you not only the locations and connections, but will guide you step by step showing you the neccessary signage to look for, colors of the right train line, names of the exits as on the signs, where to walk, … truely amazing!
Thank you Toshi!😃
Agree re: decent shoes. On my first trip last year my shoes insides sort of collapsed and I had to find some insoles from a random department store in Suita. I end up doing 25-30k steps daily every trip so you don't want sore feet due to bad shoes!
It’s a buryat girl from Russia at 1:00 min with a mask. 😊Olga Bulgutova
Hi, thanks for your always useful and interesting videos, on my next trip to Japan I should land in Osaka and since in my previous trips I was unable to take the Suica with ten-year validity I would like to take the Icoca at Osaka airport they told me that with the Icoca with a ten-year expiry date doesn't have the same problems as having the Suica, can you confirm that for me? Thank you
Very informative!! Thank you for your vlog!!
anyone happen to know when the public transportations starts to pick up in the morning? I land at 0630 AM in august. I haven't booked hotels yet, but will be doing that in the next few days
Very valuable advice! I learned things here I didn’t see anywhere else and I have been watching videos and reading articles about Japan for a long time. Good tips about Shinkansen app and Google translate!
Is it allowed to bring luggage onto the trains? I wanna save money on luggage service?
Toshi, you should work on pronouncing Japanese words correctly. It will help more people believe you are Japanese.
hello toshi from brunei ! we visited japan last april and used your videos as a great guide. thank you very much for all the information. we are planning to visit again in january next year and i saw in this video you said january is also considered a japanese holiday – does this extend to the 2nd week of january? thanks again toshi!
is stile requset it japan visit web?
I have downloaded the suica app, but somehow it is completely in Japanese, although I have heard from several YT videos now, that there must be an English version. Can anyone tell me how they solved that problem?
Thank you for the information. I will arrive at Narita Airport then take a flight to Sapporo on the same day, should I get physical Suica card at Narita or Kitaca at Sapporo airport?
A lot of helpful hints, thanks! Is there a video without that backgroundmusic 😂
Good video.
One thing I'd like you to cover soon is the release of the new series of bank notes in Japan. They should roll out some time this summer. I just returned from Japan and I'd like to know how long I can still use my current bank notes – how long are they still valid. Thanks!
Because of your videos, i will be visiting Japan
Just came back from my 2 week Japan trip. A tip is to bring 2 pairs of shoes so you can alternate. This will allow the soles some time to decompress after a whole day of walking 🤙🏽
😊i have a question, hopefully someone can help.
I visited Japan in 2018, and i have purchased the pasmo card, and i brought them back with me home.
Are they still available if i go to Japan next year, just to top it up and continue to use?
Many thanks 👍
airgatou its useful in future. Indian can also enter Japan tourist via E-Visa….but for showing E visa mobile internet is required as I don't understand that why we can't show E-visa through print, PDF…naze? Kindly explain I checked through Embassy site
Watched lots of videos detailing when NOT to travel to Japan (over-crowding). None of them mentioned the school trips! Easily 50%-60% of the crowd at touristy locations in Kyoto were students on school excursions in mid-late May!
Thank you very much for the video. 😃
Happy to see that we have visa free for up to 90 days 🙂 its much easier to travel to Japan now then it was a few years ago…
Your videos have been very helpful in planning for my upcoming trip to Japan. Thank you so much. A question I had is – If I reach by 1am to Haneda airport, will I be able to pick up a Welcome SUICA/PASSMO Passport at that time?
Im still confused on if we're able to get the regular suica card at haneda airport. Is it only available at the stations mentioned?
Hello and thank you for the informative video. Does the NEX from narita go directly to shibuya station? Also what advice for taking the train from shibuya to Osaka?
Buen video 👌
Very informative! I'm even more excited to travel to Japan now!
Walked 20,000 steps a day for 5 days in Tokyo, but it's worth it 💪
Hi there ! I just wonder if you can help me figure out my question, in next year I have plan travel to Japan on middle April , my son try to book the Airbnb apartment cheaper than the hotel, the problem we booked the airline tickets arrive at Narita airport, I would like to know there’s service for transportation the luggage to the airport , it’s can pick up from the apartment for us to transportation to airport , do you have any advice for us ?please reply for me if you have any ideas that will be helpful, thank you so much 🙏❤️
I am planning a trip to Japan in the future, and this type of explanatory videos are priceless!, thank you for your time and effort into making this guide for us.
Very helpful thank you
“Same day delivery might be possibility even if you miss the 11am window.”
We were staying in Kyoto, and our accumulated purchases resulted in a very difficult to carry duffle bag. Luckily, there was a Yamato Transport office right next to our small hotel. We ended up shipping it to Haneda instead of our hotel room in Tokyo. We were told that it could take 2 days to get there. It was late afternoon, early evening, so we were ok with that.
Later that night, I checked the location of the AirTag I had left in it. IT WAS ALREADY AT THE AIRPORT! It hadn’t even been a full day yet, and it was already there!
Hi Toshi – I will be travelling to Tokyo in 2 days. I didn't know that the Welcome Suica card would not be available at Narita airport. Is there any difference between this card and rhe PASMO Passport?
Also, I could only exchange JPY10,000 notes in my country. Will it be difficult for me to pay with this larger note?
Bring waterproof shoes… (not water resistant). I ended up buying a pair of Goretex on day 3 after a downpour in Osaka made water resistant shoes into completely water-logged shoes.
Could you do an update video with regional rail pass? Are they convenient or not?