Japan Trip 23

UPDATED 6/19

Scan cards and documents

Scan our cards and IDs and have both a printed copy and digital copy in case they are lost. Cards, license, passports, rail passes, etc.

International Driver's Permit

AAA near Lincoln Center (1881 Broadway).

$20 payable by CHECK made to "AAA Northeast"

Bring driver's license, two passport-sized photos and a completed application. Usually less than an hour. No appointment necessary.

Important if need to deal with local officials, even if don't drive - official ID translation

Info: https://northeast.aaa.com/travel/plan-your-trip/international-driving-permit.html

Application: https://northeast.aaa.com/content/dam/aaa-ne-web/pdf/travel/IDPApplication2a.pdf

UPDATED 5/29 -

Be sure to have a 2-prong adapter for any 3-prong electrical cables you bring (like computer power cables). ALL Japanese electrical outlets allow ONLY 2-PRONGS!! You don't need to worry about the voltage difference going from US to Japan.

• JR Pass -  via Amnet - ORDERED on 5/15/23
  • https://jrpass.travelwithamnet.com/
  • We'll each get a two-week JR Pass from Amnet. We can take most any train as often as we like, including the Shinkensen (Bullet Train).  Only for foreign tourists. I will try to order all of our passes at the same time, which should be no problem. I will let you know if I have a problem.
  • We DO NOT need to go the office to pick up the vouchers as we needed to in the past. They will mail the them to us.
  • We will exchange the vouchers in Japan for the actual rail passes. Btw, we will not activate the passes for a couple of days after we arrive, starting on 7/13 and will expire on 7/26 just before we fly to Ishigaki. After that, we will pay as we go for the few train rides we take.
  • We need to be sure to not go through automated customs when entering Japan:

    • You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing, under the entry status of "temporary visitor."

      

      Temporary Visitor entry status, according to Japanese Immigration Law, allows a stay in Japan of 15 days or 90 days for "sight-seeing, etc. "If you apply for a "stay for sight-seeing" when you enter Japan, entry personnel will stamp your passport as "Temporary Visitor," as shown.

      In order to receive or use JAPAN RAIL PASS, your passport must bear this stamp or sticker.

      When you use an automated gate at the airport, no stamp/sticker will be stamped or put on your passport. Therefore, you need to either use a manned automated gate or ask a clerk to apply a stamp/sticker in your passport.
      However, a customer who has a "registered user card" under the Trusted Traveler Program will be required to show the card to confirm the "Temporary Visitor" status.

• Install Line App - free internet calls and texting - https://line.me/en/
• VPN if you have one. Can avoid tricky international things, allows searching as in the US, etc.
• Lodging
  • Hotels -  best for shorter stays. We'll stay in many. Beds are a bit short sometimes! Will try to stay where they include Japanese breakfast.
  • Ryokan - A must-do Japan experience, but can be expensive. Includes food and onsen. We are planning to stay at a Buddhist temple in Koyasan that offers the same type of experience. Hakone and Kyoto are famous for them.
  • Airbnb - Best for longer stays. Convenient and more relaxing. More like the Westchester cottage feel. Can do a quick load of laundry, eat from supermarket, etc. Create account if you don't already have one. We can help you with bookings and locations. We can get places close to each other as we did with Jonathan's family. In some places we may be able to get a big enough place for all of us if that works for you, especially near the beach (see the place Kyoko found in Kamakura)
• Car Rental in Ishigaki - LEANING TOWARD NOT GETTING A CAR - Can get one last minute of we decide.
  • Up Rental Car --- 769-1 Shiraho, Ishigaki, Okinawa 907-0242, Japan
    • https://www-uprentaka-com.translate.goog/?_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp&_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en
    • https://www.uprentaka.com/
    • +81 980-83-2586.... 0980-83-2586
  • Ishigakijima MAHARO Car Rental --- 2082-1 Shiraho, Ishigaki, Okinawa 907-0242, Japan
    • https://www.rental-car.jp
    • +81 980-87-0076
• Don't forget these things... you will have trouble finding them in Japan:
  • Deodorant - Not popular in Japan.
  • Sunscreen - They only sell tiny bottles and they're expensive
  • You might still try to make room for a generous bottle of sunscreen. I count at least six beach/snorkeling/pool days on the calendar. In general, we will be outdoors more often than not, especially in Ishigaki and Kamakura. When in Iriomote, there are NO STORES to speak of. In general, try to bring any of the toiletries you are used to or can't live without.
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• WiFi Hotspots
  • Small pocket device that connects to the internet via 4G. You connect you phone to it via wifi. Goes where you go.
  • Article w/ discount link - https://tokyocheapo.com/business/internet/rent-wifi-router-japan/ about $5.25 per day
  • Ninja Wifi Unlimited Plan about $5.25 per day
  • We are getting two for ourselves so we can call each other when we are separate using wifi calling or Lime. You might consider the same.
  • Free internet hotspots can found, but not reliably. Still, good to have if you want save your daily limit. Article on how to find free wifi: https://tokyocheapo.com/business/connecting-to-wifi-in-tokyo-japan/