Money Exchange ATM Credit Card issues in Tokyo Japan

Cash is still the preferred travel expense payment method in Tokyo and most parts of Japan even though major hotels and department stores and some fancy restaurants do accept big bank international credit cards for payments. There are many ways to get your home country's currency exchanged into Japanese yen after arriving in Japan. I have listed some of the most convenient methods in this blog post. Very few stores will accept foreign cash money, therefore, carrying Japanese yen on you is critical when vacationing in Japan.

Most convenient way to get Japanese yen is to use the ATM cash machine inside of Seven-11 Convenience Store.

Best Sushi choices in Tokyo

One of the best part of visiting Tokyo is savoring the delicious cuisine Japan has to offer to foreign visitors. One of the best cuisine Tokyo has to offer is its Edomae sushi, Tokyo style sushi.

Tokyo Sushi set, Tama Sushi, Shinjuku.

Japan Rail Pass

Ultra modern Shinkansen Bullet train. JR pass rocks!

Imagine having Sushi breakfast in Tokyo, Takoyaki for lunch in Osaka, and dinner in Fukuoka, without worry too much the pricey cost of Shinkansen bullet train. With careful planning prior to your trip, travel with Japan Rail Pass is definitely one of the best way to budget and save money.

Best Ramen in Tokyo

Looking for Best Ramen in Tokyo?
The following selections of Ramen restaurants are based on my personal preferences as well as some general consensus from Japanese version of Yelp and local magazines.

Ramen. Shinagawa Shinatatsu Ramen Alley. Tokyo

Sushi Dai: The most popular Sushi Restaurant in Tokyo

Japan's Tsukiji 築地 Fish Market is one of the most popular must-visit spots in Tokyo, this area has been mentioned in many travel guide books in different languages.

Other than the typical tuna auction and sightseeing at the biggest fish market in the world, Tsukiji fish wholesale market area is also where some of world's best sushi restaurants are located because of the supply of fresh seafood.

Toro sushi at Sushi Dai, Tsukiji Fish Market. Melts in your mouth!

How to get from Haneda Airport to Tokyo City

Souvenir shops at Haneda Airport

Even though Haneda airport has recently opened up a new terminal for international flights, Narita airport remains the gateway of Japan from the outside world, where majority of the international flights arrive at, especially if you are coming from outside of Asia. If you are fortunate enough to have booked a flight that arrives at Haneda airport, getting into the city would be a lot faster when compared to Narita airport. Be aware of the late night and early morning flights that departs or arrives at Haneda, the flight schedule makes it more difficult to arrange rides to and from the airport. Travelers need to be aware of the public transportation schedule because the metro and bus do not run 24 hours a day.

Hotels and Accommodations in Tokyo

Where to stay in Tokyo Japan? What type of accommodation should stay at during your first trip to Japan?

Tokyo city offers different types of accommodation that will suit different budget and style of travelers. Types of accommodation were briefly mentioned in my "budget" post. In this post I will go into a details and introduce a few links on the choices that are either popular in my opinion or have decent reviews on TripAdvisor.

Typical budget hotel room in Tokyo

How to get from Narita Airport to Tokyo city.

Bus and Train information counter at Narita airport

Narita airport is located approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Tokyo city. Getting from Narita airport to the city might make first time travelers feel a bit uneasy. It is actually surprising easy to do in a area where the public transportation system is best established in the world.

Tokyo Orientaion

Tokyo Metro Map, from http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/index.html


Orientation of Tokyo city may be very challenging to first time travelers in Tokyo. I believe Tokyo has the most extensive metro system in the world, far beyond Manhattan and London in the western world. This post is to introduce a few of the simplified maps that I drew on Paint so that visiting Tokyo would be less intimidating.

Preparation for Tokyo

I often tell people that all you need is a valid passport, some cash, and hotel reservation before you fly over. As long as your passport is valid, you can plan the trip 1 day before takeoff. Apparently, it might be a bit more complicated than that for the first time travelers, but the fundamentals for world travel: Money, Time, Energy, and Interest will always apply.

Tokyo Street

Access to Tokyo from the world

Access...so how do I get to Tokyo?

About Tokyo

Tokyo, capital of Japan, with a population of more than 35 million people in the greater Tokyo area, it has become one of the must-visit destinations for world travelers.

Roppongi, Tokyo.

Do they speak English?

Certain areas in Tokyo are known to have higher number of English speakers from North America, Europe and Australia, while other areas are known to have large numbers of residents from mainland China and South Korea who speak both Japanese and their native languages.

Shinjuku, Tokyo. English

Introduction

Love to travel but I have never been to be Asia.
I have always wanted to go to Japan because of blah blah blah...

I love Japanese food, anime, karate, ninja, AV, etc.

Shinjuku, Tokyo. Kabukicho

If you answer yes to any of those questions, you are definitely reading the right blog.

First time to Japan?

I remember visiting Tokyo in 2001. I was fortunate to have a friend who went to Narita airport to guide me to the city. Years have past, I thought to myself, if I did not have any guidance on traveling in this mega city, it probably would have been very panicking.

Narita airport. First time in Tokyo. Tokyo Consult. TokyoConsult