Tokyo rewards preparation more than almost any city on earth — not because it's hard, but because the systems are so good that knowing three of them makes you feel local by day two. Here's what actually matters in your first 48 hours.
01Get an IC card before you do anything else
Suica or Pasmo — it doesn't matter which. Add one to your phone's wallet before you even land, or grab a physical card at the airport. It works on nearly every train, subway, bus, vending machine, and convenience store in the country. Tap in, tap out, never queue for a paper ticket again. Top it up in cash at any station machine.
02The konbini is a real restaurant. Treat it like one
7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson in Japan have nothing in common with their western cousins. Onigiri, egg-salad sandos, fresh karaage, seasonal bentos — a genuinely good lunch costs a few hundred yen, and the staff will heat it for you. One rule: don't eat while walking. Stand to the side, finish, then move. Locals notice.
03Trains are silent. Be silent on them
Phones on mute (the announcements literally call it "manner mode"), no calls, conversations at a murmur. Rush hour is a contact sport played in absolute silence — let people off first, move to the middle, backpack on your front. It sounds strict; it's actually the most relaxing commute of your life.
Do this when you land: set your hotel as your home base in Proxima and pull up every konbini, ramen counter, and pharmacy within a 1-mile radius — with walking distance on each — before you've finished checking in.
04Carry more cash than you think you need
Japan has modernized fast, but plenty of izakayas, shrines, small ramen shops, and old-school markets are still cash-only. ATMs inside 7-Eleven accept foreign cards reliably and have English menus. Pull out a comfortable amount; coins matter here — get a habit of using them or you'll end the trip rattling.
05Watch the floor, not the signs
Shoes off where there's a step up and a rack of slippers — ryokans, temples, fitting rooms, some restaurants. If you see a genkan (a recessed entryway), that's your cue. Slip-on shoes will save you a hundred small fumbles. Your socks are about to become public; pack accordingly.
Carry-on essentials for this trip
TESSAN Universal Travel Adapter 28W
Japan runs type-A plugs at 100V. One adapter with USB-C and USB-A ports charges your phone, IC-card wallet, and camera from a single hotel outlet.
View on Amazon →Anker PowerCore 10K Power Bank
Transit-heavy days drain a phone fast — and your phone is your train pass here. A pocket 10,000mAh bank means your Suica never dies mid-gate.
View on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate, Proxima earns from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you.