You're going to make these 12 TOKYO Travel mistakes 

POCKET WIFI: www.sakuramobile.jp/ninjamonkeyguy-top

A couple more important ones to include are: Only cross the street at intersections, and don't cross until the light is green (even if there's no traffic). Bring deodorant -- the Japanese deodorant will usually not do much for foreigners. Also, make sure it's an unscented deodorant. Many Japanese are scent sensitive, so you don't want to wear a strong smelling deodorant or perfume -- especially in restaurants where many locals will feel 'pleasant odors' interfere or mix with the smell of the food Don't take photos of individuals without permission. Although you likely won't need it; learn the location of your country's Embassy in Japan, and also memorize a legal/lawyer phone number with representation in Japan who are fluent in both English & Japanese. As said, unlikely they will be needed, but best to check ahead of time just in case... Avoid fights or getting confrontational. Even if someone else starts the fight or loud argument, as a foreigner, you may be considered either a contributing cause, or the instigator [especially if the other person is native and/or fluent in Japanese and can easily speak well enough to claim you caused the ruckus. Just avoid all physical confrontations or arguments. Do not feel insulted if some locations do not accept or serve foreigners. While some people may think it appears racist, quite often it's because they (or their customers) can't communicate well enough, or explain when customs and etiquette are being breached -- so rather than feeling uncomfortable (or having their regular patrons feeling uncomfortable), they simply avoid the situation of discomfort. The best response is to simply acknowledge it, thank them, and leave quietly without causing a fuss. Takoyaki is the best food in the world As foreigners, we tend to speak loudly regardless of where we are (especially when with a group of friends) -- always worth repeating that we need to be mindful of our volume (even when not on trains). While it may seem like quite a few Japanese people are resting (eyes closed) during early morning or late hours; many are doing long commutes to work, so the rest while they can -- they are attuned to waking at their stop when they hear their station's musical tune (so loud conversations not only makes it hard for them to rest, but also harder to hear when their station arrives) Escalators -- make sure you line up single file on the proper side of escalator stairs. Even couples line up in single file so as not to block those walking past. The same etiquette applies to groups walking on the sidewalk -- even with 4 or more people in the group, it's important to remember courtesy for others, and not spread out taking up all the walking space. It's best to walk limited to 2-3 people abreast if streets aren't too busy, and only 2 people side by side (or single file) during busier pedestrian traffic Takoyaki really is the best food in the world -- Seriously, you've got to try it if you haven't before 7/11 is one of the few places where they almost always have ATM's that accept foreign credit cards Remember that Japanese sizes are usually very different than foreign sizes. For larger people, source out possible clothing shops if needed in case you forget some items, are new replacement clothes. Uniqlo sometimes have sections with some North American size clothing If someone hands you their business card, accept it politely (with both hands), and take time to look it over carefully (with respect). DO NOT then stuff it in your wallet {that's basically saying you're pretty much wiping your ass on them) -- instead put it carefully in a little card folder. You don't have to keep the card (you can dispose of it later if needed), but DO NOT throw away the card in their presence or in their area. Be aware that some restaurants will give you a (seemingly) 'complimentary' snack or food item when you sit down or order... there's a good chance it will appear on your final bill, even though you didn't actually order or request it. And no, you can't simply say you don't want it -- that would not only be considered rude, but you would also still be billed for it anyhow. Just think of it as a cover charge, and know it helps keep the shops in business. When there's a lineup waiting to get into a restaurant, it's important not to simply relax and take your time just sitting at your table chatting. Courtesy for those waiting means finishing your meal at a reasonable pace, and finishing so that the next person has time to eat too (especially during lunch periods during workdays) Be aware of personal space. The Japanese culture isn't very touchy feely with strangers or those they aren't very close friends with. While foreigners may feel comfortable walking up to someone and shaking their hand or giving a hug greeting; that's not as welcomed in Japan as that closeness is reserved usually for very close acquaintances. If in doubt, ask first -- if the say no (they'll often wave their hand which is a respectful way of showing 'no ). If they don't say yes, simply smile, give a short bow, and acknowledge. If you watch Japanese people talking on cellphones, you'll start to notice they often bow even if the conversation is on the phone. The bow of respect is instilled in their upbringing -- and, if you're in Japan long enough, you'll probably find yourself picking up the same habit (even when you return home) Oh yeah -- and Takoyaki is the best food in the world.... (didn't want to forget to mention that) 😅

Nothing prepared me for the chaos of trying to navigate Shinjuku station by myself my first day in Tokyo. It's bigger than any shopping mall you've ever visited, has over 200 entrances and exits, 12 different train lines running through it owned by 5 different companies with 36 different platforms. Add to this the fact that over 3.5 million people use ot on a daily basis. Even with Google maps telling me what line and platform I had to be at, I got hopelessly lost in there.

Great tips! Bonus tip: Don't follow shop/bar touts. Nothing good can come from it. If I hadn't prepared myself ahead of time I might have buckled to their pressure.

I'm on my 9th trip to Japan and one thing I've learnt and can't stress enough is, get the limousine bus from Narita airport rather than the any train service including the Narita Express or Skyliner. With the raised cost now of the JR Pass there's going to be less people buying one, but if you do buy a pass, make the start day count by starting on a full day of use. A helpful driver driver and bag porter on the air-conditioned limousine bus with luxury seats that doubles as a sightseeing bus tour avoiding major station chaos is a big comfort to your arrival in Tokyo.

100% on point. I’m from Alabama and I was intimidated by the public transportation the first few days and tried to walk a lot more than I should’ve. Just use google maps and the train system is easy peasy. Except finding your way out of shinjuku station 😭😂

Preparation and research always make for a better holiday experience. Another good video Nathan, thank you ♥️

Absolutely Outstanding

From recent experience 1. some train lines run both an express and local service, keep this in mind if your stop is only on the local route so you're not going back and forth trying to work out why you missed your hotel stop twice. 2. to the opening times thing, coming from Australia where it's typical for things to be open by about 8:30am, a great deal of Tokyo opens up at 10-11am, but tends to open later. If you are going to be out late though, be mindful of the last train to get back to your accommodation. 3. offshoot of the shoes thing, you will be walking a great deal, before you depart make sure that you can walk 10km in whatever shoes you are bringing, and something not often considered, standing still in said shoes for hours. As someone who does very little exercise, the group I was with walked an average of 13km and it was only once we arrived and had to stand around for close to 4hrs in assorted lines at the airport that we realised the shoes we had were not suited to what was about to happen. 4. English while absolutely not spoken everywhere or on signs, will probably get you through most encounters alongside google translate. Stick to short phrases and uncomplicated words so "it's hot today" rather than "boy it really is a scorcher right?" for example. 5. Learn some very basic words and phrases for common situations, not to speak, but to understand. Left and right, next (next stop), numbers 1 through 10, follow me/this way, together/separately, those sorts of things. You're going to be doing any of the following a lot, and the phrases used will be pretty much the same as your native language, just learn a bit about what you're likely to hear when you are: waiting for or on a train, waiting for a food order (ticket number), buying something from the shop, having dinner. 6. For meals, unless it's explicitly a course mean at a restaurant, if you are sitting down for food with others, I found that service of meals came out when they were cooked, rather than in a course style entrees first then mains once everyone is done. It also very much looked as though the intent was to share the food, so when you order instead of everyone ordering the steak, have everyone order something different and then portion it out so you can enjoy a bit of everything.

Ive just discovered your channel. Thank you for your videos. We'll be visiting Japan in May this year and are really looking forward to the experience 🇯🇵!

Can't wait to go! Great video Nathan

Please do a video on Shinjuku station exits. Thank you.

Mistake 13: Not realising that public transport ends earlier than you would expect from a city that never seems to sleep.

Very useful video. Thanks! 🇯🇵

Thanks 👍

Going next week for the first time!! So excited!!!

Enjoying your videos, planning our 2nd trip to Japan for October 2024

I’ll be traveling to Tokyo in Feb for a week. Your videos have really been great

Thank you for the hand gestures. I can't wait to touchdown in March of next year!!!!!

For very simple cheap meals you can’t beat Gusto & Saizeriya at Saizeriya you just write down the meal number and how many on the slip provided including drinks menu I love this one and at Gusto you get a tablet that has English settings and a robot delivers your meal also remember that in Tokyo on the escalators keep left unless overtaking and in Osaka keep right unless overtaking but in some places signs say to ride 2 abreast

Thanks

🇯🇵 Going back in just over 2 weeks. Can’t wait.

My dude I’m here for my first time and loving it. I originally planned to experience Tokyo for 5 days then migrate to Kyoto for 5 and come back to Tokyo and fly back. I changed my itinerary and extended my stay in Shinjuku. Why do u think people say you can experience it all in 3-4 days, that’s freaking insane to me.

Gracias for the tips and also your video on solo traveling. Do you recommend it for women too?

Thank you for all the advice! I will be visiting Japan for the first time in a few months and will be visiting Tokyo first for the Tokyo Marathon!

Great video, dude! I definitely missed out on a sushi restaurant with a female chef, which is apparently a rarity, because I didn't realize the importance of making reservations. Just showing up was NOT a thing.

Great tips Ninja 🐒 I've only ever used cash

@ninjamonkeyguy what translation app do you recommend?

Narita to Tokyo or other way around. make sure you have purchased the correct tickets for the express train. i thought i did purchase it but got local train tickets instead. a bit longer to get to the hotel but i still got there and didnt mind the more scenic route.

Thanks!

I'm on many facebook japan travel groups and one of the most common questions and also mistakes I see is first timers always booking accommodation at either Shinjuku or Shibuya. Every second question is "How do I get from Haneda to Shinjuku" and when questioned why, they don't really have a reason for staying there other than they'd heard of it. It then gets perpetuated by others that have been once, also only stayed in Shinjuku, but will swear it was a great place and everyone should stay there while quoting that they stayed unknowingly in a business hotel for tourist prices. If you then point out the rooms are smaller and more expensive, they'll answer with that's just how hotels are in Tokyo. If you really like the night life, or have further travel plans that go from Shinjuku that's fine, but most just book without a thought as it's the one they've heard of.

🇯🇵we are going to Japan next May and I have just realised we arrive right in the middle of Golden Week!! Think we will spend the first 3 days in the hotel room!

Great list! Regarding English, I’ve found more people speak basic English in Kyoto than in Tokyo; at least, they’re more confident to speak it out loud. But it’s usually quite basic, even at 5-star hotel concierge desks, and I’ve learned some basic Japanese phrases to make everything easier. Also, don’t expect much English at theme parks like Tokyo Disney or Universal Japan; because the signage was in English, I was shocked the first time I realized I had to translate almost all the food menus, even on the apps! But everything is so user-friendly that I have never had a problem!

Went there for the first time a month ago and I'm happy to say I didn't make any of those mistakes. All the hours I spent watching videos about Japan paid off lol.

As always: many thanks for the tips! I confess: I am "worried" not for the reservation in advance for the attractions, but for the hotels.... how many months in advance should one need to book for the rooms in various places? I'd like to stay around one month, in late september/late october, and I will obviously book in advance for Tokyo and any major city/spot, but I'd also like to have a little bit of flexibility... then booking some "fine tuned" trip when already in Japan... is it adviseable?

I think you covered most all things that can catch you out. I think you might have stressed using a train or subway app. Or at the very least Google Maps. Although my favorite App doesn't exist any more using one really makes understanding the systems and their interconnectivity a lot more user friendly. I'm pretty sure you even made a whole video on this topic. 🇯🇵

Where can I find a webpage that help to calculate the total cost the individual tickets price ?

Good recomendations! btw:im in Shinjuku for the holidays. Wanna get a beer? Cheers!

I don’t understand… if you can explain? We are going to Japan in a couple of months. We are doing Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and maybe Nara. Should we get a jr pass??? How would we figure out pricing??

#9 is a big one that I always warn my students about before we go... It can be really awkward if it rains with wet socks 😢

🎌 suica cars are great - also compare cost/convenience to multi-day subway pass - can purchase before you leave for Japan and can be combined with train fare from airport (depending on where you stay!)

Thanks for this! I was just in Japan last November, spent most of my time in the countryside, and spent only a day or 2 in big cities around the Wakayama Prefecture. I am currently thinking of going back to Japan and hopefully visiting Tokyo, although I might be more overwhelmed than I was the first time I stepped in Osaka from the more laid-back countryside as I am not really a city guy. 😅

What about temperature? Sometimes humidity feels different in summer in Texas than in Tokyo

Weather extremes and rain! 🇯🇵

I live in place where there’s no public transportation, so im afraid of trains and metro, my sense of direction is horrible 🤣, hope I’ll make it! 🇯🇵

Best advice I can give anyone going to Tokyo or Japan is to become familiar with the maps of the city you're going to, the rail systems that correspond, and basically Japanese maps in general; which are kind of difficult. Don't just know where you're going, but how to get their backward and forward before you put boots on the ground. Google maps will not work, and will literally tell you to go in the opposite direction... I promise.

I’m going this fall, street food will be my diet

when I went to Sky Tree in March, I did not need a reservation, I just paid at the entrance on the day and that was it.

I am arriving Feb 8 leaving Feb 23. Haneda airport. Wanted to see Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyota and Nara. My research shows me domestic JAL ANA flights are cheaper than the JR by more than half but I wanted to ride the JR at least once so I think Nara - Tokyo would be the cheapest ride?

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If possible, use a luggage transportation service. Lugging around even just a backpack and carry on is very taxing.

Having lived in London and currently living in Milan, Italy I was shocked at how affordable taxis are in Tokyo! 🤣 It costs roughly 80 euros of a taxi from Shinjuku to Haneda Airport, however this time I had an offer from Booking and I booked for 104 euros both ways which is a bargain!

Thank you for your videos, I need to ask you, do you think it would be considered rude if I carry my own fork and knife 🍴 to restaurants? I’m afraid of making the fool out of myself not knowing how to eat everything with chopsticks 🥢. I will be in Japan 🇯🇵 soon, my first time. I’m very excited ❤❤❤ thank you 🙏

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6:44 that woman just casually walked into a taxi in the middle of the crossing, is that allowed in japan?

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Yeah, I basically would agree based on my experiences. And I think Pocket Wifi is a good service. Very convenient for travelers. You can not count on free public wifi in Japan. It's offered at some locations, but it sucks. The wifi on the shinkansen is bad, and you don't get service in the tunnels. If you're only going to be in Tokyo, the Japan Rail Pass is definitely not worth the cost (but there is a local JR East pass that might be worth it, but also might not), and taxis are indeed expensive. I've been disappointed by the food, and lack of street food. That said, sushi in Tokyo is better than sushi in Tohoku. Oh, and that thing about Shinjuku and checking about door charges and *ahem - scams*, yeah. In Shinjuku especially, there are places that will rip off tourists. Be especially suspicious of nomihodai deals. Those 'all you can drink for an hour' specials. Often it's only chuhi (citrus flavored sake), and it doesn't include beer. The drinks are so watered down that it's ridiculous. A buddy and I once joked that if the alcohol percentage they advertise were true, we'd be dead right now... had a good time anyway, but yeah, there are rip-offs and scams, especially in Shinjuku. Keep your guard up even though it's Japan. There's usually an option to up-charge for beer (why? because they can't water down beer), but it's usually at a price that makes it not worth it. My tip: avoid the nomihodai, appealing as it sounds. The regular drinks can be quite nice, albeit pricey in general. If you're on a budget, pre-game it at the 7-11. But also, I think the pandemic greatly affected my experience, and it's coming back to the way it used to be... so my impression is based on bad timing. I haven't been to Tokyo since June, but I'll probably be going back next week. The last time I went, I think international tourism was either still closed or it had just opened back up. It will be interesting to see if it's different now, and how it's different.

Would like to avail eSIM card when I go there 3/24 pls. Sakura mobile while in Tokyo fr 3/13-3/18 the cruise for 10 days until 3/28 pls. 2 retired seniors, Shinjuku area, 1 nite, Akasaka, 1 nite then Yokohama for 3 days….

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yes to number 6, sometimes i book a double bed for 2 people and find out it is too small for 2 people. 😂

Japan 🇯🇵

I'm travelling Tokyo > Nikko > Nagano > Takayama > Kanazawa > Kyoto > Osaka > Himeji > Kyoto > Hakone > Tokyo The Japan Rail Pass still isn't worth it for all of that. Such a shame they reduced the useability of the pass.

Thought it was Abroad in Japan from the thumbnail, lol

hmmm,... it is before I was born but,... Tokyo was utterly filthy and polluted (more than now) ... I wonder if the rivers here are dredged how many people will get sick ... anyway, for beautiful Western art museums in Ueno there is no reservation needed ...

My advice: avoid Tokyo on week-ends 😅

Please don't use animal cafes. Expat for shelters. It's a big abuse from animals. It's for entertaining humans. It's human atraktive. No one put natation for animal needs. Only for human needs.

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