Authentic Japan · Essentials
What to book before you fly to Japan
Seven things first-time visitors should sort out before they land — ranked by how much money or time they save. No filler. We earn a small commission on some links; we still tell you when an item isn't worth it for your trip.
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01
Japan Rail Pass — worth it on the right trip
The 7-day Whole Japan Rail Pass costs about ¥50,000 since the 2023 hike. It still pays off if you're doing Tokyo → Kyoto → Hiroshima (or further) in one week — a single Tokyo-Hiroshima round trip alone is over ¥40,000. For Tokyo-Kyoto only, a regional pass or pay-as-you-go usually beats it.
Pros
- + Unlimited JR trains nationwide including most Shinkansen
- + Instant e-voucher, free cancellation
- + Predictable cost — no surprise fares
Cons
- − Doesn't cover Nozomi or Mizuho Shinkansen (need the surcharge)
- − Loses to point-to-point fares for short itineraries
02
Suica IC card — non-negotiable for cities
Pre-loaded contactless card that taps you onto every train, subway and bus in Japan. Also pays at konbini, vending machines, taxis. With Suica you skip every single ticket machine. Reload at any station.
Pros
- + Works in 47 prefectures (Suica + Pasmo + Icoca all interoperable)
- + Pays at 500,000+ shops including 7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart
- + Add to Apple Wallet on iPhone for tap-with-phone
Cons
- − If you only use a physical card, you can't load with a foreign credit card at machines — buy pre-loaded
03
eSIM — skip the airport SIM kiosk (or buy a physical SIM on arrival)
An eSIM activates over Wi-Fi before you fly — no airport queue, no SIM swap, no rental return. Airalo, Ubigi and Holafly are the popular providers. We don't currently partner with any of them, so we'll just say: pick whichever has the cheapest plan for your length of stay and your phone's compatibility. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, a physical Japan tourist SIM works too — sold at airport vending machines or pre-ordered on Amazon Japan for hotel pickup.
04
Pocket Wi-Fi — for families, eSIM-allergic phones, or work
If you're travelling with multiple devices or your phone doesn't support eSIM, pocket Wi-Fi is still the right pick. Pick up at the airport, return in a prepaid envelope. Unlimited data plans run ¥600–¥1,200/day.
Klook · coming soon
Japan Pocket Wi-Fi (4G/5G)
Airport pickup, unlimited data. We're finalising the affiliate link — search 'Japan pocket wifi' on Klook for now.
05
Travel insurance — boring but real
Japanese hospitals charge full price up front to non-residents. A broken wrist plus an ambulance can hit ¥300,000+ out of pocket. Most credit-card travel insurance is too thin. SafetyWing and World Nomads both cover Japan; pick the one that matches your length of stay.
SafetyWing · coming soon
Nomad Insurance — Japan-eligible
Monthly-renewing travel medical insurance, covers Japan. We're finalising the affiliate link.
06
Regional pass (if you're not using JR Pass)
If your trip is Osaka-Kyoto-Nara-Kobe-Himeji only, the JR Kansai Wide Area Pass is much cheaper than the national JR Pass and covers Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Himeji. Many travellers buy this without realising it exists.
07
USJ Express Pass — only if you go on a busy day
USJ wait times hit 2+ hours on weekends, holidays and the entirety of Mario World. An Express Pass is genuinely worth it on those days; on a Tuesday in February it's not. Look at the calendar before booking.
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