Traveling to Japan requires a bit more digital legwork than other destinations. To make the arrival smoother with kids and jet lag, here are the logistical steps we are taking one week before takeoff.
1. The Digital Suica Card
Physical train transit cards (Suica/Pasmo) are currently in short supply. To avoid ticket kiosks and long lines, we added a digital Suica card directly to our iPhone Apple Wallets.
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The Android Workaround: Since my husband uses an Android, he is borrowing an old iPhone specifically to use as his "tap-and-go" transit pass. It is much faster than using paper tickets at every station.
2. Digital Immigration & Customs (Visit Japan Web)
We are skipping the paper forms handed out on the plane. By registering on the Visit Japan Web portal now, we can generate a QR code for both Immigration and Customs.
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Also! Take a screenshot of the QR code once it’s generated. Airport Wi-Fi can be super annoying, and you will need to scan it immediately upon landing.
3. Luggage Forwarding
Instead of hauling suitcases on the train from the airport, we are using a luggage forwarding service. We have the hotel’s address in Japanese saved and ready. We will head to the Yamato counter at the airport, pay $15-20 per luggage, and have our bags sent directly to our hotel in Tokyo so we can travel into the city hands-free.
Click here for a full blog post on how to ship your luggage from airport to Airbnb/ Hotel.
4. No-fees ATM Cash
While more places in Japan take cards now, you still need cash for street food and temple entrance fees. Instead of buying Yen at a bank or airport kiosk, we are using a Charles Schwab checking account, which reimburses 100% of ATM fees, allowing us to withdraw cash from 7-Eleven ATMs as needed at the actual exchange rate and not come home with way too much Yen.
5. Portable Trash Bags
Public trash cans are rare in Japan. We are packing small, scent-proof bags in our day packs. This ensures we aren't stuck carrying food wrappers or coffee cups for hours while walking. (A good option is a roll of doggy bags!)
6. Intentional Underpacking
We are intentionally leaving extra room in our suitcases. With the current exchange rate and the accessibility of stores like Don Quiote, Uniqlo and Muji, it is cheaper and more convenient to buy extra layers or essentials in Japan than to pack "just in case" items from home.
7. Pre-planned First Night Dinner
Decision fatigue is high after a long flight with kids. We’ve pre-selected two dinner options within a 5-minute walk of our hotel: one sit-down restaurant and one quick-service option. This removes the need to navigate or search for food while jet-lagged on night one.
