FYI & Tips

Japan, you're one of a kind. It was the first time ever for me to go to a country, not know the language and know very little about the culture, to embrace a 4 day trip, taking in everything.

1. What I love about Japan is that in their culture, they bow to people, they patiently wait for the traffic lights...and the city is very clean.
2. I definitely recommend staying at ANY of the Super Hotels in Japan. Why? It offers decent rates and it's very clean! What's different about Japan hotels? The toilet seat are temperature controlled! The rooms are tiny, like really tiny.
3. If you're in Ueno, there's a ton of food places. My personal favorites are Lotteria and the udon noodle place, Sanuki Udon Hanamaru. Both are chains.
4. The JR station information agents were most helpful when getting from place to place. I found it hard to read the train map. Anytime you get lost, go to an information booth as they are more likely to speak English or at least provide you with a map. Throughout, my whole experience in Japan, they got us to where we needed to go.
5. Yamashiroya toy store: across the street from the Ueno JR station, or across from Uniqlo.
6. Using a phone in Japan; get a SIM card for your phone (iPhone unlock via your carrier may be necessary prior to your trip) or use free wifi throughout various places, by putting your phone in airplane mode, cellular data turned off.
7. Use the PASMO for train rides, the 7-Eleven's, the Family Marts...
8. You do not need to tip in Japan for any services rendered.
9. Japan has 7-Eleven, McDonald's, Denny's, Tully's Coffee, Starbucks, Yoshinoya and other US chains if you ever feel homesick.
10. Exchange your US cash either at the airport, a Travelex or a bank.
11. The weather is very similar to NYC weather. When I was near Mt. Fuji, there was snow and icy patches on the floor and I thought to myself, didn't I get away from all the snow? Apparently not. lol.
12. When it comes to paying for something, try using your yen coins first because you'll realize that you'll have a lot more change at the end of your trip instead of bills...
13. Although on my trip I did not go into a restaurant and take off my shoes nor did I go into someone's home...it is customary to take off your shoes at times.
14. We found that at some food places, you order your food through a vending machine.
15. If you need to put your luggage somewhere, there are coin lockers located at most train stations. But keep in mind that if you need to keep it overnight, the price is per day, so in order to open your locker the next day, you need to pay the fare for the next day to open the locker. Also, keep the key to your locker in a safe place and remember where your locker is at the station.
16. If you stay more than a week in Japan, I think it's best to purchase a JR rail pass if you plan to travel on the JR line trains a lot.
17. I think it's helpful if you know basic Japanese. Not knowing was quite a challenge but we got through it.
18. There are picture menus at food places and rarely are there English menus, at least in Ueno.
19. In early March, there were no signs but ONE of cherry blossoms, near the SkyTree tower.
20. If your PASMO card has money on it, go to the closest 7-Eleven and stock up on the green tea kit kats! LOL.

Helpful links:

Transportation:

http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/index.html

http://www.pasmo.co.jp/en/

http://www.jrpass.com/blogs/utilising-station-lockers

Hotel:

http://www.superhoteljapan.com/en/

Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour:

http://skybus.jp/hop_asa.php?lang=en

Highway bus to Mt. Fuji:

https://www.highwaybus.com/html/gp/foreign/en/access/

This site shows a lot of the Mt. Fuji pictures I didn't get to capture:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1035237&page=6