People love to tell you how many times they’ve been to Japan and how they discovered Niseko long before the Park Hyatt did, or how when they first went to Nozawa there were no westerners to be found. Oops, did I just out myself?
But no matter how much you think you know or don’t know about Japan, there’s always something knew to learn – or some travel hack you wish you’d had way back in 1774 when you were the first to make tracks down an untouched ski hill with nothing but a snow macaque for company.
I’ve just had a whirlwind visit to “my” beloved Japan and while I used Holafly for an e-sim, ensured I had yen on my Wise card (and also had yen in cash) and got my Suica welcome card at Narita airport, I discovered some other gems along the way including these.
VoiceTra – seriously how did I not know?
The VoiceTra app from the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology is a total godsend. How could I not have known of its existence?
Choose what you want to say in English, either type it in or use the voice control. Then hit the Japanese button and it will be translated into both text and voice, so the person you’re conversing with can hear what you are trying to say.
Yes, it does have some glitches, you have to be really specific or you’ll still find yourself lost in translation, but it’s a free app service, so there is that.
Black cat within Tokyo
Of course I’ve used Yamato’s luggage transport service (aka Black Cat) from Narita or Haneda airport to a ski resort of choice, so that while I’m swanning around Tokyo my bags are being delivered ahead of my arrival in said resort. Genius.
But this time I used it to transport a suitcase from one hotel in Tokyo to another, as I was heading away for a few days and didn’t want to lug everything on the Shinkansen. Cost me AUD$25 and saved me a whole lot of pain.
Take gifts from home
I always get business cards printed up for any trip to Japan. I don’t bother with them elsewhere in a world of digital, but Japan loves a physical card. This time I got 100 printed and also found some cool Australian themed lens/goggle cloths that didn’t cost the earth and bought 20 of them.
They had the cutest little koala and kangaroo prints with an indigenous inspired print. Then I gave them to every host I had along the way. They were thrilled, and it both showed respect in a culture that values respect and it also opened up conversation. Back in the day it was those clingy little lapel koala clips, but, hey, you do you.
Also, take your passport everywhere
It’s so old school, but seriously don’t leave your passport in the hotel safe. You’ll get tax free discounts at different stores throughout Tokyo if you have it on you and present it at the counter. You don’t need your flight details, just your passport, and you don’t have to wait until you’ve left the country to use the goods you purchase.
Vacuum packing cubes
Ok, this didn’t end well. I bought these self pump vacuum packing bags from Kmart, posted about them and how great they are and then others bought them too, then when I got to Tokyo the vacuum pack had half filled with air again. When I opened it, it split. My suggestion? Definitely get compression or vacuum pack bags, just pay extra for better ones.
Took a garbage bag out every day
Tokyo is the cleanest city ever, but you won’t find a garbage bin anywhere on the street, nor will you see people eating while walking on the street (it’s rude). People take their garbage with them, so you should too.
This time I took a day pack backpack out when traipsing the Tokyo streets, and ensured it had an extra compartment lined with a bag just for rubbish so I wasn’t left carrying my garbage in my hand. Then I took it back to my hotel and used the bin in my room.
Eucalyptus gums on the plane
I am seriously allergic to planes, which is difficult when you travel for a living. Truth is I’m most likely allergic to the air on planes, or is it residual mould or shedding skin…oh god I’m grossing myself out now.
A reader, who sat behind my sniffling self, on a plane once gave me a tip – eucalyptus drops. So I took them on this trip and they saved me, and my fellow passengers some serious grief.
