Your first day in Japan, a little easier.

Before you fly

Save your accommodation address somewhere you can open without a connection, such as a note on your phone or a screenshot. Keep a copy of your arrival instructions alongside it: your check-in time, how to get in, and a phone number for your host.

Your arrival paperwork can be done ahead of time. Visit Japan Web, run by Japan’s Digital Agency, lets you register your immigration and customs details online, and it covers tax-free shopping too. It then gives you a QR code for your arrival procedures. If you would rather use paper, customs declaration forms are available on the plane and in the airport’s customs area.

Check that your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked before choosing a plan. On an iPhone, open Settings > General > About. If the phone is unlocked, “No SIM restrictions” appears next to Carrier Lock. Only your carrier can unlock a phone, and Apple notes that it can take a few days, so ask early.

Read the plan’s activation rule carefully. Some eSIMs start when you install them, while others start when they first connect at your destination.

Two more things are worth saving before you leave:

• The Japan Visitor Hotline. JNTO runs it 24 hours a day, every day of the year, in English, Chinese and Korean, for accidents, illness, natural disasters and general travel questions. The number is +81-50-3816-2787, or 050-3816-2787 from inside Japan.
• The Safety tips app. Provided by the Japan Tourism Agency, it sends earthquake early warnings, tsunami warnings and other weather warnings, and works in 15 languages.

When you land

Give yourself a moment to get settled. Open the setup guide that came with your order and follow its instructions for mobile data and roaming.

You can install with Wi-Fi or cellular data. Scan your QR code through your phone’s eSIM settings; there is no app to download for your eSIM. Follow the activation timing shown for your purchased plan.

Keep your Visit Japan Web QR code ready as you head for immigration and customs.

Before you leave the airport, think about money. Many shops and restaurants accept the major card brands, but JNTO still describes Japan as very much a cash culture, so it helps to carry some yen for smaller places.

Your first journey

Start with the address you saved, then choose the route that suits your luggage and energy level. An ambitious first day can wait.

An IC card such as Suica or PASMO makes that first trip simpler. You tap it to move between train lines and board buses, and it also works at a number of convenience stores and vending machines. The visitor versions, Welcome Suica and TOURIST PASMO, need no deposit, and there is a Welcome Suica Mobile option too.

If your bags are heavy, Japan’s major airports offer luggage delivery to your hotel, so you can head into the city with only a day bag. For a few hours of freedom, coin lockers are available at many stations and sights.

Keep your phone charged, save the name of your destination, and leave enough room in the plan for a pause along the way. If you are landing at Narita, the journal’s airport guide compares the trains and buses into Tokyo.

A little room to explore

A good arrival day can be simple: check in, find something to eat, and take a short walk. You do not need to tick off a whole city on day one.

Keep your private order link somewhere safe. It leads back to your order and the setup steps for your plan, which is useful if you ever need them again during the trip.

When you are ready for the next day, return to the journal for neighbourhood ideas and more ways to plan your trip.