Frequently Asked Questions

It all depends of "when" and "what".

When = are you visiting is an important factor changing how much budget you should put for your trip. If you are going during seasons (April-May) or (Oct-Dec) then you probably need to double your speding for hotels and other attractions.

What = activities are you planning to do. Some attractions can be a bit overpriced e.g. day trips, private tours to other cities, etc. But you can also enjoy many attractions free of charge or as low as a couple of $$. 

In short, this depends on how often and how far will you commute within Japan..

If you are planning to cover only one or two cities then you would probably NOT need it. 

JR Pass is recommended if you plan to go around JAPAN covering multiple cities e.g. Tokyo to Osaka (and back) then Tokyo to Hiroshima then another city.  It does also cover Narita Express line from the Airport.

So all what you have to do is a proper calculation. If you are planning to only move from one city to another then buying individual Shinkansen tickets will be more affordable. 

Tokyo is crazy busy, much more crowded than other cities in Japan. Where to stay depends on what do you want to experience? 

If you want to be in the middle of the crowd, shopping, nightlife then Shinjuku will be your place. Shibuya is another lively area packed with restaurants shopping districts and awesome n

Ginza is your spot for shopping (specially high-end brands). If you go further to away from the centre then you will probably enjoy lower room rates but you will might struggle changing stations and having extended metro trips to attractions.

Of course! I personally prefer to stay longer days in Osaka considering it a transit point where I can commute easily to other cities and places (e.g. Kyoto and Nagoya). It is also much faster to reach Nara from Osaka than from Kyoto. So you definitely need to put Osaka in your plan

Osaka is a quieter city compared to Tokyo, less shopping options but you will find just enough. Hotel rates in Osaka are always cheaper than Tokyo which is a plus point to stay longer!

You can simply buy "ICOCA" card from machines at the metro stations which costs 2000 yen and it is rechargeable. It is simply a prepaid card than you need to top up when you are out of credit.

Instead, you can add Suica to your Wallet and charge it with the desired amount. in Apple Wallet simple go to add a new transport card and search for "Suica"

To book Shinkansen (bullet train) you have to use the machine at the JR station (book a day or 2 before your trip to avoid dramas if you are sure about the trip) . Alternatively, you can buy any time through Klook App and choose your preferred time
 
If you are sure about timing of your Shinkansen, book from machine at station. If you use “klook” App it will automatically select seats (there is an option now to choose mt. fuji side but its not always guaranteed :( You cannot choose which side of train or which seat through the App. E.g for Osaka or Kyoto to Tokyo - you can book seat on left side (seats E) to see mountain Fuji. If you are going to Osaka / Kyoto from Tokyo then you have to book window on the right side of the train