The Land of Rising Sun, Japan

When you hear the name Japan, there are 2 things that comes to your mind - Food and Culture. Anthony Bourdain once said “Nothing will prepare you for the awesomeness and strangeness of Japan… It’s the most alien place I’ve ever been to”.The high-energy buzz of Tokyo and the serene, timeless beauty of Kyoto offer two strikingly different yet equally immersive windows into Japanese culture.

There’s one more thing you’ll often hear when Japan comes up—influencers claiming that if you only visit Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, you’re missing everything. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. No matter where you go in Japan, every place offers a unique and unforgettable experience in its own right.

My husband had the opportunity to work in Japan for three years back in the ’90s, and he completely fell in love—with both the people and the country. I’ve been fascinated by all things Japan for years, so in 2024, we finally decided it was time to experience it together.

and yes, we did do Kyoto-Osaka-Hiroshima-Tokyo and were very content with what we could do. We were in India in December and took the flight from Delhi to Tokyo which took us about 7 hours to land in Tokyo bright and early in the morning. I will cover all the logistics in this post and then have different post for the cities.

and yes, you do need to prepare to get around Japan. Its not hard or difficult, you just need to plan a bit more.

VISA for Japan

Great news for Indian passport holders with a valid U.S. Green Card: As of 2024, you are eligible to apply for a Japan eVisa online. While a detailed day-by-day itinerary is required as part of the application, the process is simple and eliminates the need to visit or mail documents to the embassy.

For U.S. passport holders: No visa is required for stays under 90 days for tourism purposes. However, it’s always recommended to check the official website of the Embassy of Japan for the most up-to-date travel guidelines and requirements.

Airports

Your Japan adventure truly begins with this key decision: choosing your arrival airport. If you’re flying into Tokyo, your two main options are Narita or Haneda.

Haneda Airport - officially Tokyo International Airport — is inside the Tokyo metropolitan area, much closer to central Tokyo than Narita. Its about 9-12 miles from the center of the city. Narita Airport is not inside Tokyo city. It is located in Narita, a city in Chiba Prefecture, about 60–70 kilometers (37–43 miles) east of central Tokyo.

We chose to arrive at Haneda Airpor t for its convenient access to the city. From there, we took the Keikyu Line to Shinagawa Station, which took about 15–20 minutes. At Shinagawa, we boarded the Hikari Shinkansen to Kyoto and reached in approximately 3 hours.

Bullet Train Pass - Buy or not

Another topic we researched thoroughly: JR Passes and bullet train passes aren’t cheap—costing around $340 per person for 7 days. Here are a few things to keep in mind whille making the decision to buy the JR pass..

JR Pass
If you are in the US, you must buy this pass from a US state. You will receive physical passes in the mail. You must travel with them and show them at the station to get original passes.
You cannot purchase this pass while in Japan; it must be bought before arrival. This restriction exists because the pass is intended for short-term visitors and is not available to local residents.
It is not transferable either.
If you’re planning to visit multiple cities across Japan beyond Tokyo and Kyoto and prefer not to fly, purchasing a rail pass is a smart choice.
JR has 9 Shinkansen lines and cover vast areas of Japan.
The pass allows free seat reservations and free access to luggage compartments. If you’re traveling with large luggage, it’s important to reserve seats accordingly. Most train cars have aisles at the ends specifically designed to accommodate oversized baggage. (MUST - Book the aisle with views of Mt. Fuji)
You can bring your food to enjoy in the car and there are restrooms available on board JR trains.
You wont be able to take any private or Nozomi trains wih JR pass. You can only take JR trains on this pass.

Airline Choice

The two major local airlines are JAL (Japan Airlines) and ANA (All Nippon Airways). We booked business class with ANA and were impressed by the hospitality and comfortable seating. Fun Fact - JAL offers 3 checked-in bags in their business class and offers free domestic flights within Japan.

From San Francisco, Alaska Airlines, United, American Airlines all offer Non-stop flights to Tokyo and takes about 10 hours to get there. Luggage Storage

We loved that we didn’t have to haul all our India luggage around. For just $110 USD, we stored everything except two large checked bags and one cabin bag for 9 days—such a convenient and affordable option! Their website said that they can store baggage for up to 2 weeks, if you plan to store it for longer, check in with the attendant.

You dont even have to leave the airport, you exit through your departure gate and the luggage storage is on the left side. You don’t need to book luggage storage in advance—we were able to walk in and secure a spot. However, I recommend arriving early during busy periods to ensure availability. (Picture Courtesy - Haneda Airport)

Luggage Forwarding Service

Luggage forwarding (takkyubin) services in Japan make traveling hassle-free by sending your bags between hotels, airports, and stations. We did not use this but there are various options:

Yamato Transport (Kuroneko Yamato) - Most widely used in Japan. Offers same-day or next-day delivery across Japan.
Sagawa Express - similar to Yamato.
JAL ABC Luggage Delivery - Offered by Japan Airlines at major airports, convenient for those flying via JAL

Suica Card

For getting around on local trains, having a Suica card on your phone is super convenient. It eliminates the need to buy tickets at every station—just top up your balance when it gets low and you’re good to go. At the ticket gate, simply tap your phone to enter and exit.

If you’re using an iPhone, you don’t need a physical card. Just open the Wallet app, tap the ”+” icon, select “Transit Card,” and choose Suica to get started. (Picture Courtesy - JR Pass)

Translation Apps and other Important Apps

My husband was pleasantly surprised to see that many places in Japan had names and descriptions written in English. However, there are still quite a few areas—especially in smaller towns or local shops—where labels or product details aren’t translated. Some stores even have handwritten signs, which can be difficult for translation apps to interpret accurately.

That said, we relied mainly on two translation apps during our trip—DeepL and Apple Translate—and both worked exceptionally well. I wandered through all of Don Quijote using the apps and had no trouble translating signs, labels, or product info. Pro Tip - I found Deepl to be more reliable. Etiquette

It’s important to be mindful of basic etiquette while traveling in Japan. The country is deeply rooted in tradition, and while you’re not expected to follow every custom perfectly, understanding a few key guidelines goes a long way in showing respect and enhancing your overall experience.

✅ Do:

Bow as a greeting — A simple bow is polite and respectful.
Take off your shoes — Remove shoes when entering homes, ryokans, some temples, and even fitting rooms.
Queue up — Always stand in line, whether waiting for trains, elevators, or food.
Be quiet on public transport — Keep phones on silent and avoid loud conversations.
Use both hands when giving or receiving money, gifts, or business cards.
Say “Itadakimasu” and “Gochisousama” before and after meals as a sign of appreciation.🚫 Don’t:
Don’t tip — Tipping is not customary and can be seen as rude.
Don’t eat while walking — It’s considered bad manners in most public places.
Don’t speak loudly in public — Quietness is highly valued.
Don’t point at people or things — It’s considered impolite.
Don’t enter “staff only” areas — Be aware of signage, especially in temples and shrines.
Avoid taking photos of Geisha in public, especially in Kyoto’s Gion district—there is now a fine in place for doing so without permission. If you’d like to see a Geisha or Maiko, consider attending a traditional show or booking a tea ceremony where you can respectfully enjoy their presence and performance.
Don’t pass food around with your chopsticks and dont keep them upright in your plates/bowls either.

🚻 Toilets & Hygiene:

Use slippers in toilet areas when provided.
Carry tissues and hand sanitizer, as some public restrooms may not have soap or paper towels.
Flush toilet sounds: Many toilets have a sound machine—use it if you’re shy about noise!

♻️ Trash Rules:

No public trash bins — Carry your trash until you find the proper disposal.
Separate waste (burnable, non-burnable, PET bottles) properly when bins are available.