🇯🇵 My Japan Rail Pass Adventure + Travel Tips (June

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

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

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

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

🇯🇵 My Japan Rail Pass Adventure + Travel Tips (June–July 2025)