Japan Travel Tips – What to Know When You Land at the Airport March 23, 2021

Posted by Maniac in Japan Travel Tips, Uncategorized.
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Its Tuesday and that means we’re coming at you with some new Japan Travel Tips. If you’re unfamiliar with this series, we’re going share with you some of the best independently produced documentaries designed to help international tourists who wish to visit Japan. After surviving 2020, you can be sure I REALLY want to travel, and why not travel to a country that is the birthplace of some of my favorite games of all time? Well, you already know all the important things about the country before you land. Today, we’re going to tell you what should you know when your plane lands at the airport.

I want to highlight a video produced by japan-guide.com which I think is so well produced it should be put on international airplane in-flight entertainment just before landing. This is a list of tips which include a rundown of how things in Japan work, and how you can get around the country.

Before we start the next video here’s a list of things you should pack with you (other than weather appropriate clothing):

• Personal Identification (your passport should suffice)
• A cellular smart device with the ability to translate Japanese language and navigate via GPS (Google and Apple phones have integrated translator and maps apps. Probably a good idea to download the language to your device).
• Traveler’s Checks or a Bank Card that can easily be converted to local currency
• Reusable Napkin/handkerchief
• A major credit card (for hotels and emergencies)

You can also pack a camera and a laptop computer if you’re like me and plan to document your trip as you are taking it.

So what do you do once you’ve landed, gotten your luggage, and cleared customs? Well, I’m going to highlight a great video from Life Where I’m From, which did a really detailed video about “Your First Hour in Japan” which should help a non-Japanese speaking tourist navigate their way from the airport to their hotel.

And here’s what you should obtain immediately once you land:

• Local currency (exchange enough you think you’ll be able to eat with)
• An IC Card or other train pass
• A Cellular/WiFi hotspot for your smart device and computer or a local SIM card if you just have a smartphone.
• Some food to go

Regardless of how long you plan to stay in Japan, you’re going to need a place to sleep, and Japan has plenty of Hotel options available which may not seem familiar to international travelers. Stay tuned for next Tuesday as we’ll be talking about Hotel accommodations next time!

Japan Travel Tips – What To Know Before You Leave March 16, 2021

Posted by Maniac in Japan Travel Tips, Uncategorized.
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As we promised, it’s time for us to kick off our new series Japan Travel Tips! In this series, we’re going share with you some of the best independently produced documentaries designed to help international tourists who wish to visit Japan. After surviving 2020, you can be sure I REALLY want to travel, and why not travel to a country that is the birthplace of some of my favorite games of all time?

Our intention with this series is for each one to tackle a specific theme, in as chronologically an order as we can get. Follow-up articles that can go deeper into a specific theme are certainly a possibility. For our first article we decided to share some of the first things anyone who wishes to travel will need to know.

You’ve booked a trip with a major airline to travel to Japan. Before you take the first step of your trip there are some things you’re going to want to know before you get on the plane. People who don’t live in Japan may not be aware of some of the nation’s customs or “quirks” if you will. So what should people know before they leave for Japan? Well, I’ve got two great videos to share with you today that answer exactly that. Sit down, relax, and get ready to watch.

First off, we’re going to highlight Greg Lam, host of the series Life Where I’m From. One of the first videos of his that I’ve ever watched was this one. to explain some of the most important things to know about the country in what he called “The Rules that Rule Japan”. Enjoy, it’s in glorious 4K.

If you’re wondering about how politeness and etiquette work in Japan, there’s another must watch video you need to be aware of. The series Abroad in Japan, hosted by Chris Broad, has a nearly encyclopedic knowledge of what NOT to do when you’re in Japan.

Let’s review. Here’s a rundown of things I think you should know before leaving for Japan.

• Its a good idea to stay on the left when walking unless you see signs marked otherwise or crowds doing otherwise. Follow crowd traffic and you should be fine.
• It is probably a good idea to practice using chopsticks since it is a common utensil for eating in Japan.
• Don’t pass things with chopsticks.
• Don’t eat, drink or smoke while walking.
• Be respectful at shrines and temples.
• Don’t tip.

So this was our very first article on our new series! What did you think of the videos? Post a comment below and tell us what you thought about it, or if there are any topics you think we should discuss in future videos. However next time we will be talking about traveling, and what you should know when you arrive at the airport.