Japan Travel Advice - Manaca IC card, Japan Rail Pass and Breakfast

- August 01, 2019

As the title suggests, I would like to share with you some valuable lessons that we learned during our recent trip to Japan. Our itinerary included visits to three different regions, including the central regions of Nagoya, Nara, Osaka, and Kyoto, followed by the southern region of Hiroshima, and concluding in the northern region of Tokyo. Here are some practical insights and useful tips that we collected during our journey.

IC travel card
One helpful piece of advice we received during our trip to Japan was to acquire an IC travel card. Similar to London's Oyster card, this card functions on most public transport systems and in numerous shops. While the name may differ across various regions, the IC card is linked across the country, allowing it to be used interchangeably. In Nagoya specifically, the card was called the MANACA card, but it can be used in other regions as well. A thorough list of IC cards and their corresponding regions can be found here: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_003.html.

Japan Rail Pass

If you plan to travel to different regions in Japan, the best way to do it is by taking the Shinkansen, or bullet train. However, purchasing individual journeys can be quite expensive. To save money, it's a good idea to buy the Japan Rail Pass before your trip, which can be obtained through the website https://www.jrailpass.com/. We opted for the 1 week pass, which cost around £200 and provided us with unlimited travel on the bullet trains. Simply purchasing individual tickets to our travel destinations from Tokyo to Osaka and back to Hiroshima would have already cost us almost as much. What's more, the JR pass can be used on any JR trains in different cities, making it particularly useful during our time in Tokyo.

Japan Travel SIM

For tourists visiting Japan for a short period of time, the SIM card offered by https://t.iijmio.jp/en/index.html is a convenient option. We purchased one each at the airport, offering 1.5 GB for 30 days. This was incredibly helpful for us as we needed to access maps and local information frequently. The process was seamless, and having the SIM card made our travels much smoother and worry-free.

Lockers at train stations

When traveling from one city to another in Japan, most large train stations provide lockers for luggage, which can be quite useful. However, it's important to remember that the majority of these lockers only accept coins or notes, and very few machines take card payments. It's wise to have sufficient coins or notes on hand, as you may need them to place your belongings in a safe and secure location. Additionally, some machines may accept IC travel cards for payment, so it's always worth checking to see if this is an option.

Don Quijote

If you're looking for a place to buy anything and everything, look no further than this discount store, which is undoubtedly the best option available. From cosmetics to food and more, this shop is truly full of surprises. You'll immediately notice the giant penguins on display throughout the store in most big cities. Some of the larger stores even offer substantial bento boxes for lunch which are available for only about £4-5 each. For more information about this amazing shopping experience, take a look at this video:

Breakfast

If you're looking for a place to grab breakfast in Japan, consider visiting a coffee shop. Many coffee shops offer free breakfast to customers who order a coffee in the morning. Do a quick online search to find coffee places near your location that offer breakfast sets. With a little bit of planning, you can enjoy a hearty breakfast for free in addition to your morning caffeine fix.

Ichiran Ramen

We absolutely adored this Ramen restaurant. In fact, we were tempted to eat there every day! With numerous branches now open across Japan, it shouldn't be difficult to locate. It's an excellent spot to begin exploring the world of delicious Ramen and to try some authentic and flavorful dishes.