Tag: coin public laundry in Japan how to use it where to find

Where to start and what to see?

Japan: How do I organise a trip on my own? We have been planning our trip to Japan for a long time. It’s an expedition that requires careful planning of the entire A to Z journey, finding price opportunities, studying maps and guides, and having an adequate budget. That is why it took us almost two years to plan it.

We started by choosing a date. Japan is a “blooming cherry country”, so we immediately knew we wanted to go there in the spring season. Regarding spring, April should be the best month to go, as we would like to see if Japan is fully covered with blooming cherry flowers.

After booking our days off and informing co-workers and supervisors about our six-month forward plans, we could work out the exact route planning.

Go with a travel agency or plan everything yourself

Initially, we thought going there on a guided tour was better. We imagined that a speaking tour guide might be a good idea to travel with. We wanted someone who knows Japan well and can show us the most interesting places and explain what we see. I started to search for offers from local travel agencies and found two interesting trips.

I contacted both offices and asked for more detailed trip descriptions and prices. It turned out that booking a few months in advance does not give us the guarantee that our chosen trip will take place. In addition, it turned out that we were not allowed to book aeroplane tickets by ourselves and meet with a group on the spot, which was already in Japan. The flight rates offered by those offices were much more expensive than I could find on my own. In addition, I read in the forums that there is always the need to wait for someone during organised tours, and people always spoil the atmosphere by lingering and complaining. The organized trip offer has started to disturb us.

I also learned that there is an office that can prepare “tailor-made” trips to various locations. When I explained my expectations to them, they told me they could organize such trips to many places worldwide—except Japan. In this situation, we have decided to organize this trip by ourselves.

How to look up the best aeroplane connection

When looking for aeroplane connections from Poland, I used Skyscaner.pl to check all available air connections, transfers, dates, and prices. I have been looking for tickets for several weeks. I wanted to find a convenient connection, a short stopover (there are not many direct flights from Warsaw), and an attractive price. After several weeks of searching and sending inquiries to many air agencies, we found an interesting offer.

Where to go, what to see

First, we had to decide what we would like to see. Of course, there are many sources where you can find descriptions of all the fantastic places. How do we choose what is most important to see or decide what to give up (we can’t see everything at once)? We also wanted to figure out how to combine all those places in a 2-week trip schedule and travel through Japan quickly and innovatively. We have decided to choose those cities, UNESCO heritage places or beautiful landscapes, which are “must-see”. All the “must-see” places were marked when we bought a map of Japan. After that, we checked their connections,  journey time and prices.

Local holidays and festivals

The following planning element was to check what would happen in Japan when we wanted to visit it. We were interested in checking whether there are any unique festivals, parades or celebrations so we can be in these places at the right time. For example, at the end of our trip, there will be an annual holiday called Shōwa Day (29^th of April). It is also the day which starts “Golden Week”, a long weekend in which several consecutive days are free. Many Japanese take paid time off this week, and some companies are closed entirely and give their employees time off.

Golden Week is the most extended vacation period of the year for many Japanese workers. That means increased traffic on trains and airports, as they travel a lot during that time. Therefore, we had to adjust our trip accordingly and not travel that day. Japanese people like to celebrate Showa Day outside of the city centres.  They often spend this day in the parks and gardens, having picnics with family and friends. We want to spend that day just like the local citizens – we will organize a picnic!

Early bookings

Our plan began to take shape: all the places on the list of “must-sees” were already included in our schedule. Having that chosen, we could start to look for hotel bookings.  Knowing that April is popular among tourists visiting Japan, we wanted to make hotel reservations in advance. Early booking means we can search for convenient hotels in terms of location, standard, and price. When making reservations, I used the Booking.com service, where (from my point of view) the key element for the final decision is the opinions of other customers. Making a reservation without paying “in advance is also possible.  You can cancel your reservation even a few days before departure without penalty.

Japan Tourist Visa

If you are a citizen of a country that requires a visa to enter Japan, you can get your Japan Tourist Visa step-by-step with the iVisa service in the comfort of your home.

What is the Japan Tourist Visa?
The Japan Tourist Visa is an official document required if you want to visit Japan for tourism purposes. This visa is excellent if you only plan tourist and recreational activities. You can apply for this visa online here: Japan Tourist Visa with iVisa*.

Start writing your tourist guide

After deciding when, where, which cities we wanted to visit, and what we couldn’t miss, I began to look for more accurate information about our trip’s details, because I wanted everything in one place, I started to write a personal tourist guide—a kind of trip manual for our journey.

Trains

The key element of our trip will be travelling through Japan by rail. We will use super-speed trains like the Shinkansen and local city trains. Japan offers excellent travel services for foreign tourists who want to travel by train. Japan Rail Pass is a special ticket for foreigners staying in Japan on tourist visas. You can buy it only before going to Japan. It is available in selected travel agencies in most countries around the world.

Tickets purchased before departure are vouchers. They can be bought 3 months before the departure date for 7, 14, or 21 days. Vouchers are available in economy class (Ordinary Class) and 1st Class (Green Class). Thanks to them, we will be exempt from any booking fees and able to reserve free seats.

Vouchers are exchanged for a kind of ticket in the Exchange office. You can exchange them right after arrival in Japan, after showing your passport with a tourist visa. We are going to exchange our vouchers at the Narita Airport office. This will allow us to start using them right away. As a result, we plan to get to our hotel from the airport by Narita Express Train, where the Japan Rail Pass is entirely valid.

In addition to the trains, using them on selected buses and ferries is possible. Any train connection can also be checked and planned. I used the Hyperdia site where, after excluding “Nozomi” and “Mizuho” trains (the only exceptions for which JRP tickets can’t be used), I was able to plan all connections and transfers and compare travel times. As

Edit. 09.2022: On the japan-guide.com/news page, we can find the below announcement:

As of April 1, 2022, the popular timetable search service Hyperdia has ceased offering timetable details on its route search service. It is a big shock to the many people who have relied on the free web service to plan their train journeys since the early 2000s. Hyperdia has been particularly liked by overseas tourists for its option to exclude Nozomi trains from its search results, allowing them to look up connections that are fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass (which does not cover Nozomi trains).

Now, train timetables can be checked  on a few websites

• 12Go* – You can check the connections here as well as buy the tickets
• Japan Travel by Navitime
• Jorudan.co.jp

Below is the current Japan Rail Pass price list (2022) in Japanese yen.

Here: japanrailpss is a link to the site where all authorised travel agencies offering JRP vouchers worldwide are shown.

You can also purchase it with 12Go* with Global Mail Delivery service. The Japan Rail Pass (“JR Pass”) allows unlimited travel across JR lines, including local buses, the Miyajima Ferry, and more! JR Pass will enable you to explore the country for up to 7, 14, or 21 days on Ordinary or Green Cars.

Japan pocket Wi-Fi and SIM card rental

In today’s digital age, access to GPS, online translation services, Instagram posting, or searching for descriptions of visited places often requires an internet connection. This can be a challenge, particularly when travelling in a foreign country. However, Japan offers a simple solution through various companies providing “Pocket Wi-Fi” services.

A Pocket Wi-Fi is a compact, portable modem that connects multiple devices, typically ranging from 6 to 10. These modems can be easily rented online for a specified number of days. During the booking process, users can select their preferred delivery location, whether their accommodation place or one of the many tourist information offices conveniently situated at train stations across Japan.

For our trip, we opted to have our Pocket Wi-Fi delivered directly to our first hotel, streamlining our connectivity from the get-go. However, travellers have the flexibility to choose from multiple delivery points, ensuring accessibility throughout their journey.

With Pocket Wi-Fi, navigating Japan’s bustling streets, translating signs, sharing experiences on social media, and accessing vital information about visited attractions becomes hassle-free. It’s a modern convenience that enhances the travel experience, making exploring Japan’s rich culture and vibrant landscapes all the more enjoyable.

Below, you’ll find a link to reputable companies offering Pocket Wi-Fi and SIM card rental services. Having personally experienced the convenience of these services during my travels in Japan, I can wholeheartedly recommend them for ensuring seamless connectivity throughout your journey.

Pocket Wi-Fi and SIM card rental companies

• Ninja Wifi* – Get a 10% discount here

• Sakura Mobile
• Pocket-Wifi-Japan.com
• FoxWifi
• Japan Rail Pass

Whether you’re exploring the bustling streets of Tokyo, immersing yourself in Kyoto’s rich history, or marvelling at the natural beauty of Hokkaido, having reliable internet access is indispensable. Utilizing a Pocket Wi-Fi or SIM card rental service will unlock a world of possibilities, making your Japanese adventure all the more memorable.

Before you rent, it’s Good to know:

• You can pick it up at the airport when you arrive in Japan and return it at the airport when you leave.
• LTE area is expanding massively & covers over 99% of the population!
• Just turn on the WiFi router and enter a password.

What is a Mobile WiFi Router?

Step-by-step how to place the order

• Reservations are accepted up to one day before your desired pickup date. Payments are accepted by credit card.
• Pick up your device at Shinjuku, at the airport, or via delivery.
• You can return to Shinjuku at the airport or via delivery. You can mix and match pick-up and return locations to suit your travel plans.

Local transport in Japan

In Japan, most residents and visitors use prepaid cards. IC cards can be purchased at ticket machines and ticket counters at the main railway stations. The initial cost consists of a refundable deposit of 500 yen; the maximum amount the card can be charged is 20,000 yen. In Japan, there are 10 types of prepaid cards, but the most popular ones are Suica, Pasmo and Icoca.  Different cities in Japan have different “brands” of IC Cards, but as of 2013, they are all compatible. As a result, it is possible to travel on almost all trains (except the Shinkansen), subways and buses in most of Japan’s largest cities with just a single of these cards. All cards are valid in Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Fukuoka and several other areas. Cards can be recharged multiple times.

Rechargeable IC cards can also be used to buy food, drinks, and other goods at convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, Lawson, and Ministop. They can also pay for coin lockers and goods at vending machines or parking lots. If you want to use this card to pay for your shopping, charge it with more money.

When leaving Japan, you can bring your IC card to a station attendant, who can return your ¥500 deposit and the remaining balance. Worth remembering that if you wish to have the balance refunded, there is a ¥220 processing fee.

More info can be found on Japan Rail Pass.

Japan tailor-made travel plan

What to see, what are the admission hours, what are the prices, how to get there and what to see? Of course, there is plenty of information on this subject: you can choose from guides, local websites (although not always available in English), blogs, vlogs and many other sources. First of all, you can start by reading my post about Japan tailor-made travel plan.

Also, I can recommend japan-guide.com. This is an excellent website with maps, guides and descriptions of places worth visiting. You can find their current opening times, ticket prices, descriptions of monuments, photos and maps of public transport connections. On their website, you can see the following description: “Our goal is to provide comprehensive, up-to-date information on travel and living in Japan, first-hand from Japan”.

For me, it is primarily a source of inspiration, an incentive to visit many places I have not known until now. This site also has a discussion forum that contains valuable information and a popularity ranking. This makes it easier to choose what to see if you can’t see everything. I sincerely recommend using this portal because the information appears to be comprehensive. However, I will not use any resources from this website on my blog, as it is prohibited. I can only advise you to visit it when planning to visit Japan.

Edit after returning from Japan:

Where to stay, what conditions can you expect? Is it possible to do laundry in Japan, and if so, how do you do it, and how much does it cost? Answers to the above questions are worth knowing even before you go, so I’ve included additional information in this post.

Hotels in Japan

Below is a summary of all the hotels we stayed in while travelling through Japan. Each hotel description is linked to Booking.com, where you can get more detailed information.

Kyoto

We stayed at the “Ibis Styles Kyoto Station“ hotel in Kyoto. We have chosen it due to its convenient location (opposite the central train station), many cafes and restaurants around the hotel, positive visitor reviews (average 8.4 out of 10), and price appropriate to the standard.

The hotel’s reception staff is very professional and always smiling. There are English-speaking receptionists at the front desk.

The room was small but had a double bed. An electric kettle with tea bags (replenished daily) is also provided. The bathroom is small and very compact but in line with expectations for Japan. The room has a nice city view, and the windows are soundproof. Wi-Fi is available for free and works well without any obstacles. The front desk is open 24/7. You can leave your luggage there if you arrive too early or want to go later.

The only downside of this place is its tiny dining area. In the morning, we had to stand in line to get in, then wait for a table and the food. The food is spread out in a very small space, so there is a crowd in the morning. We also enjoyed our stay in this hotel, and the food was tasty.

Nagano

We stopped at the hotel “Chinsun Grand Nagano“, which is about a 10-minute walk from the central station in Nagano. We had a very nice large room (even by European standards) with a nice view of the city and the surrounding mountains. The room was clean, and the bed was comfortable. A kettle, fridge, slippers and bathrobes are available in the room. Free coffee and tea are available in the hotel lobby. Japanese-style hotel restaurant with tatami on the floor. In the morning, a tasty breakfast was served there.

I highly rate my stay in this hotel. The Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and works without problems.

A robot named Pepper stood in the hotel reception. He answered some questions in English. It was an amusing meeting.

The hotel offered a very professional service. The good value for money.

Tokyo

Super Hotel Lohas Tokyo Station Yaesu-Chuoguchi

We chose this hotel because it is close to the JR Tokyo Shinkansen station (a 5-minute walk). By Japanese standards, we were expecting a small room, but our room was so “compact” that it was impossible to spread the suitcases on the floor.

Except for the bed, there was only a tiny desk in the room. Our room was equipped with an electric kettle, dryer and slippers. The bathroom was also small, with minimal space for spreading cosmetics or lack of space. In the bathroom, a free set of disposable cosmetics was provided. Besides shampoo and hair conditioner, there was also a body lotion, hand cream, and face wash foam, which was replenished daily by the cleaning service. For unused cosmetics (sachets, which we returned at check out), we received a bag of candy bars and cookies on the day of departure.

Pillows of various degrees of hardness and shape could be rented in the hotel, which was an exciting proposition.

The hotel also has two types of city baths (two for men and one for women), open daily from 15.00 to 10.00 am the following day.

Generally, staying at this hotel is an exciting experience. A small room is not a minus of this hotel, but it is interesting to meet Japanese standards. It is possible to get used to it. Due to the hotel’s location in the city centre, the prices were high (in my opinion, too high for the standard).

Shinagawa Prince Hotel

This is the second hotel in Tokyo where we stayed at the end of our stay in Japan. The hotel is next to Shinagawa train station, where JR Higashi Nihon and JR Tokai trains stop, super-fast Shinkansen trains, city lines, and a private railway – Keihin Kyuko. From Shinagawa Station, you can get to two international airports in Tokyo: Narita and Haneda.

The Shinagawa Prince Hotel is a large hotel, entertainment, and commercial complex with several skyscrapers. We had a room reservation in the “Main Tower,” on a high floor with a view of the city, so we were expecting beautiful views.

When we arrived at the hotel, there was a long queue for check-in at the reception (about 50 people), but at the reception counter, there were 10 windows where guests could be served, so we waited for about 15 minutes.

The entire complex has shopping malls, restaurants, an aquarium, a cinema, and a swimming pool. A network of dense corridors connects everything. Fortunately, when you check in, you get a map of the object, making it easier to get to your room.

Our room, or rather, the view from the window, was one of the nicest surprises we had in Japan. The view from the 35th floor was breathtaking and unforgettable.

Our room had slippers and an electric kettle. The Wi-Fi was stable, and there were no problems connecting to several devices simultaneously.

We ate our breakfasts outside the hotel, but the restaurants where you could eat them were within a 5-10 minute walk from the hotel.

I highly recommend this hotel! There is a super professional service and good value for money.

Public Laundry in Japan

Public laundry is quite popular in Japan, and there is usually no problem finding it using the Internet. We used a laundry twice: the first time, it was in a public laundry, and the second time, it was in the hotel.

A public laundry, or “coin laundry,” is where clothes can be washed and dried in machines operated by coins.

After entering the laundry room, you must first know what a washing machine and a dryer are. At first glance, you do not know, as all subtitles and numerous instructions are only available in the Japanese language. In our case, the washing machines were painted red and the dryers yellow. If this dependence takes place, the rest will go smoothly 😊.

40 minutes of washing costs about 800 yen ($7). Washing machines can only work with coins, so picking them up a little before you go to the laundry is worth doing. Banknotes are changed in some places, but this is not a rule, so it’s better to prepare yourself well.

Washing machines also vary in size – you should choose an appropriate machine for the amount (weight) of things you want to wash. This information is written on each washing machine – you can read the number, so it is easy to see which weight limit is there. Add your own washing powder or laundry capsules to the washing machine. After 40 minutes, the clothing is slightly dry, but if you do not want to take wet clothes with you, put them in the dryer and dry them. 10 minutes of drying costs 100 yen (1 $), and we dried one wash for 2 x 10 minutes.

Hotel Laundry

A hotel laundry works similarly to a public laundry, so there is no problem with using it. If there is only one washing machine in the hotel, you must hit the moment when someone else does not occupy it. We paid 300 yen ($2) for 40 minutes of washing and 100 yen ($0,7) for 30 minutes of drying. In addition, there was an instruction in English with the information that the powder was automatically added to the washing machine, so we did not throw it into our washing capsule.

Whether a hotel laundry or a public one, this is an excellent solution for people travelling through Japan. There is no need to take large suitcases or kilograms of clothes with you. Just pack yourself for a few days and plan to do laundry and dry during your stay. It is quite a cheap solution and very convenient to use.

Airport transfers

You can book a voucher from the airport to the Tokyo city centre. You can choose between Express Limousine Bus, train or taxi. Bookings are available on the following routes

• Narita Airport <> Tokyo*
• Haneda Airport <> Tokyo*

Booking specifics:

• The booking period is just 3 days.
• Voucher tickets must be exchanged for the ticket at the departure station.
• No refunds are available.

So far, my other posts about Japan:

• Japan – how to organise a trip on your own
• Japan – tailor-made travel plan
• gallery of my photos from Japan

TRIPS:

• Himeji – White Egret Castle
• Kamakura – the seat of the first Shogun
• Kanazawa – Kenrokuen Garden and Castle
• Kyoto and Kansai region
• Matsumoto – city overshadowed by the Castle
• Mount Fuji – the most popular icon in Japan
• Nagano Prefecture – The Roof of Japan
• Nara -Japan’s first permanent capital
• Nikko – the light of the sun
• Tokyo – Western capital

*Links to the offer from Klook, 12Go, NinjaWiFi and iVisa are affiliate