What to Expect When Planning a Short Trip to Tokyo
I read so many Tokyo travel tips before I left for my trip and it was pretty overwhelming! From train advice to walking advice to where to find bathrooms and trashcans, there was a lot of info to read and absorb. Here’s what worked for me and may work for you!
I can’t believe I posted so much about my Tokyo trip when it was so incredibly short. I crammed a lot into a short period of time, and I will say—it was kind of difficult. I never shy away from particularly active trips, especially city walking. Even though I posted a lot of food, I didn’t actually eat enough (crazy that this is my biggest regret from the trip).
Prepare to Walk More Than You Expect
It was a lot of walking. I averaged about 26k steps a day, with some being considerably more than that. Prepare to walk a lot more than you expect—while Google Maps is great at telling you how to get around the train stations, the reality of what you see on signage can be different and difficult, and sometimes exiting above ground and figuring it out from the streets can be easier.
How to Navigate Tokyo Train Stations with Luggage
That said, if you are bringing your luggage through the train stations with you (like I did), make sure to set your map settings to wheelchair accessible. This will allow you to find stations with elevators, so you don’t have to drag your bags up and down the stairs. I didn’t use luggage forwarding since my trip was quite short, but I really didn’t need to do it at all.
Tips for Visiting Tokyo: Saving Money vs. Time
Decide early on if your goal is to save money or time. This is a big consideration when doing any souvenir shopping. You’ll see plenty of arguments on forums about shopping at spots like Don Quixote and why it’s not the cheapest option. It isn’t. But it often can be the most convenient option that will save you a lot of time.
I didn’t anticipate shopping there quite as much, so I didn’t take advantage of the tax discount—make sure to group your shopping and use that discount! And check on their site for additional discounts. You can save so much this way! I probably only missed out on under $30 in savings, but that could have bought so many snacks.
Group Your Tokyo Itinerary by Neighborhood
For me, it’s fun to plan trips down to the most minute detail, but I know that’s not the case for a lot of people. If you’re even planning loosely, group everything geographically. Even though Tokyo isn’t quite as spread out as some other cities, transportation can take a while, and sometimes trains do get delayed. Grouping your meals and activities to specific areas will cut down on all the extra time and walking you need to spend to get around.
Best Time to Visit Tokyo Temples and Shrines
If you want to hit up the temples and shrines, early morning is a great time to do it. They are so peaceful and beautiful, and catching sunrise at the shrines is such a treat. Make sure to check opening hours—particularly if you wake up super early.
If you’re planning to visit museums, check the days and opening times along with holidays. Tokyo has some holidays that will shut down certain attractions, so check ahead.
Planning Morning vs. Evening Activities in Tokyo
If you know you won’t wake up early, don’t plan for morning activities, or you’ll make yourself miserable. If you’re hoping to catch morning spots, try to regulate your hours in advance. If you know you’re prone to staying up late on vacation, plan more evening activities. The night lights in Tokyo are amazing and should not be missed!
Medication Restrictions When Traveling to Japan
Be careful with whatever medications you bring into Japan. The country is very strict, and many over-the-counter medications that are easily accessible in America are outlawed in Japan. Check with the Japan Health Ministry site to see what medications are restricted.
I am on quite a few, so I played it safe with a letter from my doctor, and all medications in their original bottles with the prescription labels on (it took up a lot of space, but I wasn’t stopped). Better safe than sorry!
One thing I definitely packed was a cordless Tens System (I got this one on Amazon and this is an affiliate link!). It helped so much when used in conjunction with the pain patches you can find at the Japanese pharmacies. Those patches were great for the bottoms of my feet (don’t use on open wounds like blisters), the tops of my ankles, and my shoulders where my backpack straps sat all day.
Why You Should Install an eSIM Before Arriving in Tokyo
Get an eSim in advance and install it prior to your trip! I got mine from JetPac Global, and there were some great discounts. It worked beautifully throughout the trip; I had zero roaming charges and was constantly able to update family and friends.
Seriously, though, make sure to install before your trip—I forgot and had to get a cell signal at Haneda (which cost $12 with my Verizon Travel Pass) just to get it hooked up cuz I panicked. Don’t do this! Save the $12 for snacks!
Trash Cans and Public Bathrooms in Tokyo
What they say about trash cans is true—they’re really hard to find. You often can’t really find them in bathrooms either. Bring a trash bag in your backpack to hold any empty bottles and whatnot, because you might be carrying them all day.
Public bathrooms aren’t super easy to find; however, I never had issues finding one at the train stations!
Keep Your Tokyo Itinerary Flexible
My last recommendation would be to keep your itinerary flexible. I changed mine every single day, depending on when I woke up and when I went to sleep. This helped me to understand just how much I could actually cram into the day comfortably. I still managed a couple of naps, some trips to the hotel to change shoes, etc.
Check out the rest of my Tokyo travel posts here!