Practical guides
Short pages for the things that go wrong on a first trip. Each page names its sources and the day it was checked.
Your first day in JapanLuggage forwarding, what to buy and the way to the hotel.Typhoons and disruptionsDates, status pages and the refund rules that we could read on official pages.Entering Japan and Visit Japan WebPassport, visa, Visit Japan Web, medicine, driving and power.Money, IC cards and tax-free shoppingTax-free shopping from November 2026, IC cards and cash.Rail pass guidePrices of the passes in our data and the Nozomi special ticket.Mistakes of a first tripSeven mistakes of a first trip, with links to the pages that help.What to book aheadThe places that need a booking, by city.