59 articles
T R A N S P O R T
Complete Airport Access Guide for Tokyo
Every option for getting from Narita and Haneda airports to central Tokyo. Compare time, cost, and difficulty at a glance.
How to Buy Shinkansen Tickets: 3 Methods Compared
Ticket counter, ticket machine, and SmartEX app compared step by step with current prices.
How to Use Coin Lockers in Tokyo
Find, use, and retrieve luggage from coin lockers — plus what to do when they're all full.
Tokyo Airport to City Center: Every Option from Narita & Haneda Compared
N'EX, Skyliner, Keikyu, Monorail, Limousine Bus, taxi — fares, travel times, and which to pick. Updated for 2026.
Haneda Airport to Tokyo Station (Including Late Night)
Monorail, Keikyu, bus, and taxi options. What to do if you arrive after the last train.
Fare Evasion in Japan: Why You Can't Just Pay a Fine
Jumping a fare gate in Japan isn't a fine — it's a criminal offense. How detection works, real penalties, and what to do when your IC card has insufficient balance.
Narita Airport to Shibuya: All Options Compared
N'EX, Limousine Bus, Skyliner + transfer. Step-by-step for each route to Shibuya with prices and times.
Narita Airport to Shinjuku: All Options Compared
N'EX, Limousine Bus, Skyliner + transfer. Step-by-step instructions, prices, and which to choose.
Reserved vs Unreserved Shinkansen Seats: How to Choose
What each seat type means, price differences, peak travel risks, Green Car, and how to find unreserved cars.
Complete Shinkansen Guide
How to book, board, and ride Japan's bullet train. Routes, fares, seating classes, and practical tips.
How to Navigate Shinjuku Station Without Getting Lost
Key exits, transfer routes between JR, Metro, Odakyu, and Keio lines, and landmarks to follow.
How to Get and Use a Suica Card in Tokyo (2026)
Mobile Suica setup, Welcome Suica at the airport, where to charge, where it works, and what to do when the gate beeps at you.
Suica and PASMO in 2026: How to Buy and Use IC Cards
Mobile Suica, Welcome Suica, physical card status, step-by-step setup, charging, troubleshooting. The definitive 2026 guide.
How to Take a Taxi in Japan
Complete guide to Japanese taxis: fares, auto-opening doors, payment methods, ride-hailing apps, and essential phrases.
How to Transfer Between Tokyo Metro Lines
Navigate Tokyo's subway system with confidence — understanding transfers, gates, and fare discounts.
Tokyo Metro & Subway Guide: 13 Lines, Passes, Transfers, and Survival Tips
9 Tokyo Metro lines + 4 Toei lines. Color codes, fares, tourist passes, transfer rules, rush hour tips. Everything to ride Tokyo's subway.
Tokyo Transit and IC Card Guide
Suica, PASMO, metro lines, JR, and private railways. Everything you need to navigate Tokyo's train system.
The Yamanote Line: Tokyo's Most Important Train, Explained
30 stations, 60-minute loop, 2-minute intervals. How to ride JR's green circle line — direction, key stations, rush hours, and Suica.
F O O D
How to Order at a Conveyor Belt Sushi Restaurant
Touch-screen ordering, plate pricing, and etiquette at Sushiro, Kura Sushi, and Hamazushi.
How to Eat Sushi in Tokyo: Conveyor Belt to Omakase (2026)
Conveyor belt sushi from ¥115/plate, counter omakase for ¥10,000+. What to order, what to say, soy sauce etiquette, and the mistakes that mark you as a tourist.
How to Eat Out in Japan
Navigate ramen shops, sushi counters, izakaya, and more. Ordering systems, etiquette, and what to expect.
Late-Night Eating in Tokyo: Where to Find Food After Midnight
24-hour gyudon chains, konbini hot food, 3 AM ramen — exactly where and how to eat when Tokyo's kitchens close. Chains, areas, phrases, and the mistakes tourists make.
How to Order at a Ramen Shop in Tokyo: Ticket Machine, Customs & Best Shops (2026)
Step-by-step ticket machine guide, the 4 broth types, how to customize noodle firmness, and Tokyo's must-visit ramen shops from ¥800–¥1,500.
How to Order at an Izakaya in Tokyo: Otoshi, Nomihoudai & the Unwritten Rules (2026)
Izakaya ordering from entry to bill. The otoshi charge explained, all-you-can-drink deals from ¥1,500, what to order, what to say, and how to pay.
How to Use a Ticket Machine at a Ramen Shop
Step-by-step guide to ordering ramen from a ticket vending machine, even when everything is in Japanese.
C U L T U R E
How to Enjoy a Japanese Festival (Matsuri): Food, Yukata & Fireworks
Everything you need for Tokyo summer festivals — yukata rental, must-eat street food, bon-odori dancing, fireworks spots, and the 2026 festival calendar.
How to Visit a Japanese Onsen or Sento
Complete guide to bathing etiquette, tattoo policies, and what to expect at Japanese hot springs and public baths.
Onsen vs Sento: What's the Difference and How to Use Both
Onsen uses natural hot spring water (¥1,000–¥3,000). Sento is a neighborhood bathhouse (¥520). Different vibes, same bathing rules. Here's how to pick the right one and avoid every beginner mistake.
How to Shop in Akihabara: Electronics, Anime & Tax-Free in 2026
Which buildings sell what, the tax-free process step by step, haggling rules, electronics vs anime vs figures — and the traps that waste your money in Electric Town.
How to Visit a Japanese Shrine
Step-by-step guide to shrine etiquette, purification rituals, prayer procedures, and what to do with omikuji and omamori.
Shrines vs Temples in Japan: How to Tell Them Apart and Visit Both Correctly
Torii gate = shrine, sanmon gate = temple. Different gods, different prayer rules. A quick guide to telling them apart, proper etiquette for each, and the souvenirs worth collecting.
M O N E Y
How to Withdraw Cash at a 7-Eleven ATM in Japan
Step-by-step ATM operation, supported foreign cards, fees, and what to do when your card is rejected.
How Payments Work in Japan: PayPay, Credit Cards & Apple Pay
PayPay, credit cards, Apple Pay, Suica — what works, what doesn't, and what foreigners should carry.
S I G H T S E E I N G
How to Visit Asakusa & Senso-ji: Prayer Etiquette, Omikuji & Best Times
Walk from Kaminarimon to the main hall the right way. Prayer steps, omikuji fortunes, Nakamise food, the incense ritual, and when to go to avoid 30 million other visitors.
How to Explore Shibuya & Harajuku: Walking Route, Food & Shopping
The complete Shibuya-Harajuku walking guide — Scramble Crossing, Shibuya Sky, Takeshita Street, Cat Street, Omotesando, Meiji Jingu, plus where to eat and shop.
H O U S I N G
Tokyo Garbage & Recycling Rules: Sorting, Collection Days, and the Mistakes That Anger Your Neighbors
Burnable vs non-burnable, PET bottle rules, designated bags, oversized waste booking, and the collection schedule that changes by ward. Complete guide for foreign residents.
Japanese Lease Contracts: Key Money, Deposits & the Fees Nobody Warns You About
Renting in Tokyo costs 4–6 months' rent upfront. Key money, deposits, guarantor fees, renewal costs — what each means and how to protect your money.
How to Rent an Apartment in Tokyo as a Foreigner (2026)
Find apartments on Suumo or GaijinPot, understand shikikin/reikin costs, pass screening, and sign your lease. Step-by-step for foreigners.
How to Set Up Utilities in Tokyo: Electricity, Gas, Water & Internet (2026)
Set up TEPCO electricity, Tokyo Gas, water, and fiber internet after moving in. Phone numbers, timelines, costs, and what to say in Japanese.
F I N A N C E
How to Open a Bank Account in Japan as a Foreigner: The 6-Month Rule and How to Beat It
Japan Post Bank, Shinsei, Sony Bank — which one opens accounts for new arrivals, what documents to bring, and the 6-month residency trap explained.
How to File Taxes in Japan as a Foreigner: Kakutei Shinkoku, e-Tax & Deductions You're Missing
Tax filing guide for foreign residents. Who must file, Feb 16–Mar 15 deadline, e-Tax setup, deductions most foreigners miss, and what happens when you leave Japan.
How to Pay Bills in Japan — Convenience Store, Auto-Debit & Credit Card
Pay utility bills at 7-Eleven in 30 seconds, set up auto-debit for ¥55/month discount, or earn credit card points. Step-by-step for electricity, gas, water, phone, and NHK. 2026 guide.
How to Send Money from Japan Internationally (2026)
Compare Wise, bank transfers, SBI Remit, and Revolut. Real fees, exchange rates, speed, and step-by-step setup for sending money home from Japan.
H E A L T H C A R E
How to Find an English-Speaking Hospital or Clinic in Tokyo
AMDA hotline, Himawari service, Google Maps tricks, and the exact steps to find a doctor who speaks English — with costs, phone numbers, and what to say.
Health Insurance in Japan: NHI Enrollment, Costs & the 70% Rule
National Health Insurance covers 70% of medical costs. Enroll at your ward office within 14 days, pay ¥15,000–40,000/month, and never skip a payment — your visa depends on it.
How to Handle Emergencies in Tokyo: Numbers, Scripts & What to Say
119 for ambulance, 110 for police, #7119 for advice — exact Japanese phrases to say, earthquake basics, and the JNTO hotline that works 24/7.
How to Use Japanese Pharmacies & Drugstores: OTC Medicine, Prescriptions & Tax-Free
Drugstore vs prescription pharmacy, OTC medicine categories, what you can't buy without a prescription, tax-free shopping at Matsumoto Kiyoshi, and the 4-day prescription rule.
A D M I N
Mail & Packages in Japan: Redelivery, Convenience Store Pickup & Sending Abroad
Missed a delivery? Scan the QR code on the slip to reschedule. How to use Japan Post, Yamato, Sagawa, convenience store pickup, and send packages internationally.
How to Get a My Number Card in Japan — Application, Pickup & What It Unlocks
Apply online in 5 minutes, pick up at your ward office in 1–2 months. My Number Card is now your health insurance card, tax filing tool, and convenience store certificate printer. 2026 guide for foreign residents.
How to Register at City Hall in Japan — Moving-In, Documents & Everything to Do in One Trip
File your moving-in notification within 14 days. Bring residence card, passport, My Number card. Get health insurance, pension, and jūminhyō — all in one ward office visit. Step-by-step for foreign residents.
How to Renew Your Visa in Japan: Step-by-Step (2026)
Renew your Japanese visa (status of residence) at Shinagawa Immigration or online. Documents, fees, processing time, and common rejection reasons.
A C C O M M O D A T I O N
E S S E N T I A L
Your First 30 Minutes After Landing in Japan
Step-by-step arrival guide: immigration, customs, SIM card, cash, IC card, Wi-Fi rental, and choosing transport to the city.
Tokyo Emergency and Trouble Guide
What to do when things go wrong: lost passport, hospital visits, natural disasters, lost items, and police reports.
E M E R G E N C Y
How to Visit a Hospital as a Tourist in Japan
Complete guide: when to go to hospital vs clinic, finding English-speaking doctors, costs without insurance, what to bring, and emergency numbers.
What to Do If You Lose Your Passport in Tokyo
Emergency guide: file police report, contact embassy, get replacement passport or emergency travel document. Step-by-step for major nationalities.