Get the Tools You Need for Japan
Make your trip smoother by grabbing the essentials travelers rely on every day in Japan.
Pocket Wi-Fi
Pocket Wifi gives you truly unlimited high speed data that feels just like your home plan. It stays fast even when you’re posting videos, streaming, jumping on video calls, or sharing the connection with multiple people at once. It works across Japan, including underground on the subway, so you stay online everywhere you go. The device is small enough to slip into any bag, and pickup and return take just a few minutes. If you want nonstop, reliable connectivity while you explore, this is the strongest choice.
eSIM
An eSIM gets you connected the moment you land with no extra device to carry. It installs in a few taps, feels just like having a local data plan, and keeps speeds fast and reliable across Japan. It works on trains, in stations, and almost everywhere you go. Since it lives inside your phone, there’s nothing to charge and nothing to return. It’s the simplest way to stay online, message friends, check maps, and upload your best moments without waiting for hotel WiFi.
JR Rail Pass
The JR Rail Pass is a smart pick for anyone visiting more than two cities. It works not just on Shinkansen, but also on many JR local trains and even certain ferries, so most of your travel ends up covered on one pass. You can reserve seats for free, which is clutch during busy seasons when trains fill fast. The pass keeps your whole trip streamlined and takes the stress out of figuring out tickets when you're in a rush to get to the next town.
Our Go-To Gear
A curated selection of travel essentials we love.
Learn the Tips Every Traveler Should Know
A quick guide to the things first timers always wish they knew earlier.
Dress Accordingly
Japan involves more walking than most people expect (stations, transfers, long platforms, stairs for days). Bring shoes you can actually survive in, plus a lightweight layer for unpredictable indoor AC.
Convenience Stores Are Your Allies
Lawson, 7-Eleven, and FamilyMart can save any trip. Great food, cheap drinks, ATMs that accept foreign cards, and emergency items you didn’t realize you needed. They’re basically traveler cheat codes.
Master IC Cards
Suica and Pasmo make trains, buses, vending machines, and even convenience stores painless. Load one on your phone or get a physical card and you’ll skip half the stress new travelers deal with.
Cash Still Matters
Japan isn’t fully cashless. Smaller restaurants, temples, local markets, and rural shops often prefer cash. Have a bit on hand so you don’t end up apologizing to a confused ramen shop owner.
Learn the Train Etiquette
Keep your voice low, handle your luggage tight in crowded cars, and don’t eat on local trains. Japan’s transit culture is smooth because everyone follows tiny rules that make a big difference.
Reserve When You Can
From museum tickets to popular restaurants to Shinkansen seats, reservations save you headaches. Japan rewards planners. A little scheduling ahead turns a chaotic trip into a smooth one.