1. We should always carry a card from the hotel we are staying in
2. Please always carry a copy of our day-by-day itinerary and some form of identification; call Judith, text or WhatsApp if there is a problem; and Natalie’s number is on the itinerary
3. Please speak up if something is amiss in our hotels, Japanese customer service is excellent, help will be on its way immediately!
4. The English speaking concierge is our best friend! She/he will write the name of where we want to go on a card, in Japanese, for the taxi driver.
5. Because there are very few street names, and we are moving from city to city, look for landmarks near our hotels; maybe take a photo of the hotel entrance and your room door

Power converters: US plugs, flat 2-pin will work in Japan and are not readily available in all hotels

Currency: the Japanese unit of currency is the Yen. Japan is less a cashed based society since the pandemic, however, we still need cash for small shops and for paying shared restaurant bills. ATMs are available in 7eleven stores, at Post Offices and at the airport. Credit cards are accepted at major stores, most restaurants and at our hotels.

Mobile phones & wifi: having access to your mobile phone is useful for google maps; we will have wifi in our hotels and can contact one another on WhatsApp or via email; you may also like to investigate the Telstra International Day Pass,or, travelsim card

Tipping: is not required in Japan. There is one exception: our guides and we have three of them. Chiaki, our Tokyo guide is exceptional, so a small ‘thank you’ to her would be much appreciated. I recommend a small gift from home, eg a tea towel, a box of local sweets, something arty or Australiana, and light to carry. If you wish to add money, please place in an envelope. The culture of gift-giving is very big in Japan and the manner of presentation is also important!

Medications: please carry with you between destinations.

Weather & What to Wear: summer this year is taking its time to transition; the forecast the day we arrive is 23H/19L and similar the following day, which will be perfect for our walking tours of Ginza, Nihonbashi and Jimbocho! I suggest keeping an eye on the 14 day forecast: https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/japan/tokyo and pack layers, including a raincoat or waterproof jacket, and an umbrella.

Japanese Etiquette: the Do’s and Don’ts: How to Behave in Japan