Jimmy T Tran

July 9, 2025

🇯🇵 My First Japan Trip (June–July 2025)

The first thing you should go through is Junichi Semitsu's (June 2025 updated) Guide to Japan. He opens his manifesto with the essentials checklist.

The next doc you should read is my friend Nina's Japan recs, to see if there is any info pertinent to your itinerary (or if you need inspiration).

Even better idea: download these two documents, feed them through ChatGPT and ask questions and have GPT give you answers based on those documents.

Then, you should read my post-mortem reflection on my first trip to Japan down below.

Reminders to myself, but worth sharing.

🗺 Itinerary Recap
Route: Tokyo (Ebisu → Taito) → Kyoto → Hiroshima → Osaka → back to Tokyo

  • Huge thanks to Ryan & Aisha for organizing the master plan.
  • Pro-tip: Post on socials before trips. I got to reconnect with longtime friends — Jeff, Miranda, Nina — just because I threw it out there.
  • Remember: “You can do anything, but you can’t do everything.”
    • This trip was retail therapy + Pokémon Go + eat-eat-eat.
    • Next time? Maybe onsen-hopping… but let’s be real, Japan = food forever.

🚄 JR Pass: Worth It?

TL;DR: Yes (if you’re city-hopping)
  • The 7-day JR Pass paid off big time. I used it for every city-to-city transfer and for my final Narita Express ride (~$20 saved).
  • If just Tokyo ⇄ Osaka, you’re better off buying tickets à la carte.
  • Thinking of trying a 14-day pass next time to go on a region-hopping spree.

First-Time Setup: Kinda a Pain
  • Picking up the physical pass at Tokyo Station was rough. Google Maps failed underground, signage was vague, and I lost 2 hours just finding the right JR Pass Office.
    • Tip: Go to the information window immediately.
  • Glad I tackled it early in the trip — doing this on a travel day would’ve ruined it for everyone.

Booking with the Pass
  • I liked having seat reservations + flexibility.
  • You can use Klook to book trains, but with the JR Pass, I had peace of mind and options.

🎒 Travel Comfort + Luggage Wins
  • I would prefer paying the premium to stay near train stations. 5-10 minutes away aren't so bad, but when we get into the 15-20+ minutes territory, that's when it could get dispiriting to even want to go out, especially in that Japan summer heat.
  • Make a Don Quijote stop and buy essentials. You're gonna buy stuff you didn't know you needed too. Get cooling towels so you can wipe your face and necks with them to keep cool.
  • Yamato Shipping from Taito → Osaka (with just daypacks for Kyoto): 10/10 would do again.
  • Bounce Luggage Storage: Used it near Tsukiji Fish Market to explore freely.
  • On the last day, I couldn’t Yamato my luggage to Narita (hotel and 7-11 wouldn’t take it, and Yamato needs ~2 days).
    • Solution: Used Tokyo Station luggage storage — tons of providers, 1,000 yen for big carry-ons. Coin lockers also worked great (100 yen for backpacks).
  • Always get a luggage cart at the airport — don’t be a hero.
  • UBER in Japan works but isn’t essential. The GO app is more common, but requires a Japanese number (I’m still not smooth with SIM juggling).

🧑‍🏫 Life Lessons from Nina
  • Nina introduced me to immigration consultants in Japan — surprisingly affordable.
  • She helps families settle in by hitting Tokyo’s fun stuff first, then easing into daily life.
    • Brilliant for kids — and adults, honestly.

✈️ Zipair + Airport Notes

Departure from SFO (→ Tokyo)
  • Zipair check-in: Counter weighed both carry-on and personal item.
    • Wore extra layers to dodge weight fees.
    • One friend got dinged ~$90 for overweight — buy a home scale!
  • No Wi-Fi, no screens.
    • Download all shows/movies in advance.
    • Most games don’t work offline. Death Stranding? Needed Wi-Fi to start. RIP.

Return from Tokyo
  • Check-in was via machine — no bag checks. (Regret not impulse-buying that Ohtani jersey!)
  • Immigration & customs: Less than 30 mins.
    • No CLEAR kiosk, but didn’t need it anyway.
  • Narita Express: 1 hour from Tokyo Station → Narita.
    • Look for platform markings near the doors to make sure you’re on the right train.
Packing Notes
  • So grateful I packed anti-diarrheal medicine because the first bowl of ramen screwed me up big time, and luckily got me healed by afternoon (but still, also go get anti-diarrheal medicine at Don Quijote)
  • Packed lighter than ever for international travel.
    • Knew I could buy basics in Japan: shirts, socks, boxers, toiletries.
    • Wore same shorts the whole trip — sorry not sorry.
  • Used leftover yen to grab:
    • A matcha gift set
    • My last meal
    • Luggage storage (many spots only accept physical yen)
  • “Better to have it and not need it…” You know the rest.

💸 Charles Schwab + Mobile Data Tips

Charles Schwab
  • Took 4 days to transfer funds from Wells Fargo to Schwab.
  • WF charged me $5 for the transfer. Rude.
  • Didn’t get to use the card until the end of the trip — but now I’ve got it!
Data
  • Got a 30-day, 20GB Airalo plan — used nearly all of it in just 2 weeks.
    • Pokémon Go, Maps, Safari (??) were the biggest drains.
    • Beware games like Marvel Mystic Mayhem — 20 minutes wiped out tons of data.

✅ Key Takeaways
  • Plan train pass logistics before travel day.
  • Travel light + use luggage services (Yamato/Bounce).
  • Buy/download everything you need offline.
  • Have physical yen — still essential.
  • Use a US-based card like Charles Schwab for fee-free ATM use.
  • Track app data use — and double your data if you’re a Pokémon addict