Everyone knows that if you want to travel to a foreign country, it will be better to know a foreign language. It is best to speak the language of the country where you are traveling. If not, it will be much easier to be proficient in English. But if you go to Tokyo, What should I do if I don’t speak English? Visa & Customs Clearance
Japan’s visa has gone from requiring complicated matters such as proof of assets and bank statements to now requiring nothing but a passport and 2 photos. That’s it.
So if you just leave, you can still have it.
Coordinates: Guangzhou
Travel date: May 2018
After buying the air tickets half a year in advance, you can start preparations, but there are only 3 visas for Japan The validity period is 7 months, and the visa application process usually takes 7 working days.
So you can apply 2-3 weeks in advance according to your travel date.
After applying for the visa, you have to start looking for a hotel or B&B, because the immigration card you need to fill out when crossing the border must write down your check-in address.
So even if you want to book while playing, you must at least confirm a hotel for one night and get a hotel reservation to prevent random inspections.
The flight attendant will distribute the immigration card on the plane. It is recommended that you bring a pen and fill it out on the plane to avoid spending time waiting to fill it out when you arrive.
The entry card is also very simple to fill in. There is a Chinese version, which you can read clearly.
When filling it out, you can basically fill it out in English. Unless you are very good at Japanese, then fill it out separately. Don't talk about it.
As for the residential address, we were most worried about it at the time, because there were many rumors on the Internet that if you fill in the address of a B&B, you will be questioned by the immigration officer, or even refused entry.
We happened to stay in the same B&B for 8 days, so we were always very nervous.
However, the entry process went smoothly, and the immigration officer didn’t ask any questions and just let me go.
Here it is recommended to choose children’s shoes staying in B&Bs. Do not fill in the address of a hotel casually. If you happen to encounter a random inspection and you do not have an itinerary, it will be even more troublesome.
If you really choose a B&B, just fill in the address and phone number of the B&B truthfully. Don’t worry, keep the reservation information well. If you encounter a random inspection, just tell the truth.
Airbnb is also quite popular in the local area. If you encounter any questions, just answer them simply in English.
In addition to the immigration card, you also need to fill in a declaration form
The filling is basically the same as the immigration card. If you are a professional, you can also fill in the clerk. Since we are filling in English, we also need to fill it out here. Synchronize.
After arriving at the local airport, we followed the instructions and went to the foreign immigration area to queue up to have our fingerprints taken. There were quite a lot of people there this time and we waited in line for more than an hour.
If you have subsequent travel arrangements, please allow sufficient time. Tokyo Transportation
After successfully entering the country, it is of course time to start having fun, but before that you must get the local transportation card.
Firstly, it is convenient, and secondly, it is to save money. After all, transportation in Japan is still very expensive
We mainly visited Tokyo this time, so we only focused on Tokyo. The problem with JRPASS will not be tested until next time.
There are basically two cards that can cover Tokyo’s transportation, one is the Watermelon Card (similar to the Yangcheng Pass), and the other is the Limited Time Pass (can enter and exit unlimited times)
Both cards can be used I bought it on Taobao. It is recommended that you buy it in advance so that you can use it immediately.
Tokyo’s transportation is very convenient. In addition to the JR Yamanote Line surrounding major scenic spots, various subway lines are also located near the scenic spots.
You can use the limited-time pass to visit attractions that are accessible by subway. As for attractions that cannot be reached by subway, use the Xigua Card to enter and exit the station directly, saving you the trouble of researching and purchasing tickets.
A 72-hour pass costs about 90 yuan, so remember to pay attention to the time when using it.
Xigua Card can be recharged. Ticket vending machines in subway stations with the Xigua Card logo can be recharged. The interface is in Chinese, so don’t worry about not understanding it.
In addition to taking subways and trains, Xigua Card can also be used to take buses, pay at convenience stores, pay in lockers, etc.
In order not to beg for help, this card is very necessary.
Xigua Card: 120 yuan (including 500 yen deposit + 1500 transportation fee)
72-hour pass: 90 yuan About the airport to Tokyo
We arrived It is Narita Airport which is quite far away from downtown Tokyo. From there to Shinjuku, you need to take the express train first and then transfer to the JR line.
Now SKYLINE has a package for foreigners that can be purchased. Just buy the JR and express tickets together.
The fare is: about 2,900 yen
Where to buy tickets, you can look at shops with the SKYLINE logo. There is one as soon as you come out of the airport, but there are too many people, so we went directly to the B1 floor to find it. , but the disadvantage is that the clerk here does not understand Chinese.
But don’t worry, hand her your address, and she will let you choose which express line to buy. The more expensive one is faster, so we will just choose the more expensive one.
Many places in Tokyo change lines at Nippori.
You can just use Google Maps to check which station you are going to.
I must use Google Maps here. It is very easy to use. In addition to routes, there are also food recommendations. You can also download their translations. If you encounter a menu you don’t understand, you can directly take a photo to solve it.
It is a magical tool when going to experience an izakaya. Shopping guide
Going to Japan is indispensable for shopping. When choosing a hotel, you can choose to stay near a subway station. I recommend staying near Okubo Station or in the Kabukicho area.
There are many drugstores here, but they are not as out-of-stock as those near Shinjuku Station. You can basically buy them all at once.
In Japan, you can get tax-free for purchases over 5,000 yuan. If the amount is not enough, tax will be calculated on everything, including when we go to a convenience store to buy a bottle of water or eat in a store, we have to pay tax. Not cheap yet.
So when shopping, it is better to try to collect 5,000.
Most stores accept UnionPay cards, and some offer discounts. Alipay and WeChat are not very popular yet. Many food stores only accept VISA or MasterCard.
So bring enough cash and it is best to prepare a dual-channel card. Phone Cards
After talking about credit cards, of course the network that we most cannot live without is indispensable. In order to be able to smoothly browse Moments in Japan, you must buy a phone card before departure.
Dharmaka and Yidian Card are recommended here.
The whole process is 4G, which is smooth to use, but it is recommended that you do not use it to watch videos. It is said that excessive traffic will be limited.
Dharma Card is suitable for IPhone. For Android, use Yidian Card. Both are about 50 yuan and have 8 days of traffic.
Dharma Card needs to install a plug-in, but Yidian Card does not need to be used. You can use it by directly inserting the card.
With traffic, it will be much easier to run around Tokyo.