Top 5 Things to Bring to Tokyo
Tokyo is such a fun city to visit. It’s a concrete jungle with crowds of people constantly moving. It was one of the first cities my family visited overseas for a family vacation. Not too long ago, hubby and I took a much needed vacation in January to Tokyo. These 5 things to bring to Tokyo can help you when traveling to this exciting city.
So in no particular order of preference, the 5 things to bring to Tokyo are:
Pocket WiFi/Mobile WiFi Hotspot
If you frequently travel for business and already have one of your own that can be used worldwide, then you’re already ahead of the game. But if not, you can rent these at the airport near the baggage claim at either Tokyo Haneda or Narita airport. For a 5 day/6 night stay in Tokyo, a Pocket WiFi can run you anywhere from $300-500 to rent, with a $150 deposit. That might seem steep in price, but it’s so worth it. These will make life so much easier. When you have this tiny piece of plastic electronics, the information superhighway is at your fingertips. You will have no problem getting around AT ALL. Do you need to access maps to find out where you are? Surf the net to find the nearest cafe? If you can spend the money, I highly, highly recommend this. This item was the first thing hubby went looking for as soon as we landed. Best of all, you don’t have to return it to the same place you rented it – we had the option of renting it out of Haneda Airport and dropping it off at Narita Airport on our way home. When I first came to Tokyo, my family didn’t have the luxury of Pocket WiFi, we rented cell phones and kept them for emergency use only. How times have changed…
JR East/Tokyo Metropolitan Subway Maps
This is another item that will make life so much easier. And you won’t feel as lost when getting around. The public transportation system in Tokyo is very efficient – most trains/subways leave within minutes of each other so if you miss one, you won’t have to wait long. I definitely recommend that you print them out/save the PDF on your phone and bring them with you when you go around the city. Even better if you know ahead of time where you want to visit so you can study and plan your trip. The cost of a trip is based on how far you’ll be traveling. For example, if you are in Shinjuku and you need to get to Yokohama, you can look at the map and see that you can just take the JR East Shonan-Shinjuku Line and count 7 stops. At the station, you can look at the map above the ticket machines and see the cost of fare. Once you are traveling on the subway/train, most announcements via loudspeaker will say the station name in Japanese and English, but I can guarantee you that if you’re traveling during rush hour in the evening, you will be crammed in like sardines and you may not always hear the announcement of stations over loudspeaker. One could say that traveling with these maps is like having a security blanket. Years ago, my sisters and I took a subway detour to Tokyo Tower – it was a very small station stop with no attendants and no signs in English. Our printed subway map had the big station names in English and Japanese so we were able to figure out the cost back to our hotel by comparing the maps. Imagine if I hadn’t had that!
Coin purse
You’re probably wondering who even uses this these days? Trust me, this will come in handy. Unless you plan on using a transportation card, you’ll be using yen to pay for subway/train fare. Most likely, the ticket machine will spit change out in coins. And when you go shopping or dining, you will get coins in change. Those build up after a while, and you’ll find yourself using coins more often, especially as you use the subway/train system or buy little knicknacks during your trip. The last thing you want to do is go back home with a bunch of coins in yen, so hang on to those and use as MANY of them as possible. The coin purse is also a great place to store your subway/train ticket as you’re traveling. It’s easy to access and the ticket won’t get lost among all the items in your wallet or fall out of your pocket.
Smartphone (with Google Translate)
I’m all for decompressing and detaching your phone from your hand once in a while, but these days, I almost feel that carrying a phone is necessary. Especially when traveling abroad. Besides, if you rented the Pocket WiFi, you have to use the phone, right? Not only can you access the maps function to find out where you are, but you may need a translator. In the event you aren’t around any English speakers, you can easily open Google Translate on your phone and ask a question or make a request. Hubby went to Tokyo on a business trip and he used the camera function at a ramen stand to scan the characters on the menu so he could understand what he was ordering. “Mmmm…tonkotsu ramen…that’s the one I want…”
Wipes
With the pandemic of 2020, I know it’s become a habit for some to carry anything that can sanitize. These are good in a pinch if you want to freshen up your hands while you’re enjoying food on the go. I have fond memories with my husband wandering around Akihabara with yakitori sticks and a fruit filled crepe in hand. These are also good during the hot/humid months while wandering Tokyo – you’ll feel cool and happy you brought them.
5 Things to Bring to Tokyo Bonus Items:
- A fan (summer) – even if it’s a paper foldout one or one with a handle from the 100 yen store. Remember how hot/humid I said Tokyo can get…?
- Strong quads/legs – not every restroom has a Western toilet. Or you might need to go so bad and all the Western toilet users are taking too long. Prepare to squat…
- Scarf/cap/gloves (winter) – Tokyo can get CHILLY in December/January, so having winter accessories will make life so much easier
- Heat packs (winter) – you can buy these at your local Japanese market or when you get there. Basically they’re like disposable heating pads you can put in your shoes or in your gloves when you are wandering around. They last for a few hours but can really help, especially at night. A coworker recommended them to me.
So those are the 5 things to bring to Tokyo to help make your life easier when traveling! Is there anything you like to bring with you when in Tokyo?
