Pro Travel Tips to Make Your Trip to Japan Smoother

Japan is a beautiful region of the world. It's certainly different. Depending on what you plan on doing, you need to pack accordingly and know what you're doing. According to Vogue Magazine, here are their pro travel tips to make your trip to Japan smooth as the silk used to make kimono

1. Decide whether a JR Pass is necessary

-Standing for Japan Rail, this access pass will allow you to ride the train or subway system in Japan. It would be wise to check into whether you would actually need it. Use apps like Google Maps or Japan Travel by Navitime to calculate costs and decide what would be better for you in terms of moving around

-If you do decide on getting a JR Pass, purchase it from the official site. That way, it's legitimate and nothing goes wrong. You'll pick up your pass at a JR office and can make seat reservations ahead of time on trains. This would be an especially wise thing to do, especially if you plan on going to Japan during the cherry blossom bloom season or the autumn season, where the leaves change color

2. Get a smart card

-IC cards like Suica and Pasmo are like the Japanese versions of New York City's MetroCards. They are a sort of card you load money onto to use at various places.

3. Learn a bit of the language

-This is almost obvious. It would be wise to be somewhat fluent in the language prior to going. While learning English is compulsory in Japan, you may run into situations where someone is not going to speak English, only Japanese. It would be helpful (and respectful) to learn a bit of the language. Even if you mispronounce something, the person with whom you are speaking to will be flattered and complimented that you took the time to learn their language. Translation apps like Google Translate and Duolingo (This is my personal preference; I'm actually using this app on my Amazon Kindle to learn Japanese myself), can assist you. Learn basic phrases like "hello", "goodbye", "thank you", "I'm sorry", "excuse me", "good morning", "good evening", and so on. And if you plan on going elsewhere, learn phrases that will help you there as well

4. Use Google Translate for menus

-You can use the camera and use Google Translation to translate the menus only if you don't already know some basic Japanese. It would be wise to have a base knowledge of some foods and drinks in Japanese first

5. Travel agent is a must

-Travel agents will be the ones you must contact to get the most out of your trip to the Far East. Travel agents are in the know and will help you, as much as they can, to find all of the hidden gems Japan has to offer. They can also assist with booking accommodations, train tickets and more

6. If you plan on visiting Michelin-Starred restaurants, you'll need reservations

-Japan has a lot of interesting restaurants that range in quality from street vendors to five star Michelin-starred restaurants. Some restaurants will need advance reservations to make sure they can accommodate you since they are popular and book up fast. If you have dietary restrictions, make sure to let the staff know when you are booking to let them know as well

7. Tourist airfares will be your advantage

-With everything skyrocketing in price, the last thing you need is jumped up prices in traveling between cities via the friendly skies. Take advantage of tourist airfares on JAL or ANA, both airlines working out of Asia and Japan. The two major airlines in Japan offer deeply discounted fares to tourists to more than thirty airports. Both airlines have their positives and negatives. On paper, JAL is low on rates, starting at 5,500 yen while ANA is more easily available for fares starting at 7,364 yen

8. Ship luggage between destinations

-When traveling in Japan, carrying your luggage around screams "I'm a tourist". While train stations do have escalators and elevators, some have only stair access and storage on trains is small. You might want to take advantage of an interesting delivery service called Yamato Transport. This service can ship your luggage from hotel to hotel for a relatively decent price. Estimated time of arrival is usually about one day, sometimes two for longer travel distances, so in these cases, bring an overnight bag with all of your essentials. But, considering that hotels in Japan offer top of the line toiletries and pajamas, you may not need much at all from your overnight bag

9. Stay connected for affordable prices

-High speed internet is available through a pocket Wi-Fi device. You can rent one to stay connected to high speed internet. Do this in advance to get a great price on it. The device can be delivered to your hotel as well. If you want the high speed internet on your phone, use a SIM card. There are several companies that will provide you an opportunity to order a SIM card that can be delivered or picked up at the airport