Japan without secrets. Modern Japan: The Complete Guide

4. Roaming (the most expensive option)

Approximate prices:

— 1 day: 5—15 USD (sometimes more)

— 7 days: 30—100+ USD

— 30 days: may exceed USD 150—300

Problem:

— limited speed

— unstable quality

— high price per gigabyte

5. Hidden costs that are often not talked about

Here’s where tourists most often make mistakes:

1. “Unlimited” with speed limitation

After 1—3 GB per day or a certain volume, the speed drops to a level where cards and video work slowly.

2. Activation and delivery

Some eSIM services include fees for:

— activation

— QR code

— SIM card delivery (if physical)

3. Loss of Pocket Wi-Fi

This can be the most expensive risk, with fines reaching several hundred dollars.

6. How to choose the most profitable option

To put it simply:

One person, short trip (up to 10 days)

→ eSIM (15—30 USD)

One person, 10—20 days

→ eSIM or SIM (25—60 USD)

Group of 2—5 people

→ Pocket Wi-Fi (split the cost)

Budget option

→ SIM with limited data (cheaper, but less convenient)

Internet in Japan is not expensive by global standards, but it is important to understand the structure:

— You pay for the format, not the operator.

— “unlimited” is often conditional

— The cheapest option is not always the most convenient

Internet

The internet in Japan is one of the strongest elements of the country’s infrastructure. It’s fast, stable, and accessible almost everywhere, but it’s structured differently than many tourists expect. It’s not just the availability of the network that matters, but also how it’s used in everyday life.

1. The overall picture of the Internet

In Japan, there are three main connection methods:

— mobile Internet (SIM, eSIM, routers)

— free or public Wi-Fi

— home Wi-Fi in hotels and accommodations

In large cities, the internet is almost always stable, and mobile operator coverage (Docomo, au, SoftBank) is considered one of the best in the world.

2. Free Wi-Fi: Where is it really available?

Free Wi-Fi exists in Japan, but it often requires registration and doesn’t always work perfectly.

Main locations:

Airports

Wi-Fi is available immediately upon arrival at all international airports. This is the standard connection point for tourists.

Railway stations

Many major stations in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and other cities have free Wi-Fi, especially in tourist areas and transportation hubs.

Cafes and restaurants

Chains like Starbucks, McDonald’s, and some other establishments offer Wi-Fi, but often require registration via email or phone.

Shops and convenience stores

Some 24-hour stores offer Wi-Fi access, but usually with time or speed limitations.

Hotels

Most hotels offer free Wi-Fi, but quality can vary widely, from very fast in cities to weak in smaller inns or ryokans.

3. Wi-Fi systems and access operators

SoftBank Wi-Fi

One of the largest free access networks. Peculiarities: — works in many cafes, stations and tourist places — requires registration — may be congested during rush hour Wi2 300

Paid Wi-Fi network covering many public spots.

Peculiarities:

— more stable than free networks

— inexpensive subscription

— used as an additional backup Internet connection

Universal Wi-Fi apps

There are services that combine multiple access points into one login system so you don’t have to register separately for each network.

4. Limitations and problems of free Wi-Fi

Despite its availability, public Wi-Fi has its own peculiarities:

— registration required

— can automatically turn off after a while

— speed drops under high load

— Some networks only work for tourists with a foreign number.

Therefore, Wi-Fi in Japan is more of a supplementary option rather than a primary means of communication.

5. Internet speed

Mobile operators provide very high levels of speed:

— In cities, 4G and 5G work quickly and reliably.

— Brief interruptions are possible in the metro and tunnels

— Docomo has better coverage in rural areas.

— SoftBank is faster in the city center, but less stable outside it.

— au (KDDI) — a balance between speed and coverage

6. Limitations and features of the Internet

1. Confidentiality

In Japan, personal information is taken very seriously.

It is not recommended to publish:

— faces of people without permission

— children

— private houses

— situations where a person can be identified without consent

2. Public accusations and criticism

Legislation is sensitive to:

— public accusations

— insults

— dissemination of unverified information

Even posts on social media can have legal consequences.

3. Filming and publishing

Some places restrict photography:

— temples

— private territories

— individual restaurants

It is important to pay attention to the “no photography” signs.

4. Cultural norms on social media

Not accepted:

— publicly humiliate a service or people

— publish conflict situations with staff

— make people look awkward

5. Geolocation

Continuous use of geolocation may:

— reveal the route

— show place of residence

— create security issues

7. What’s best not to publish

For proper internet behavior in Japan:

— people without consent

— interior spaces of temples without permission

— conflict situations

— negative public accusations

— the exact location of the hotel in real time

Money

Money in Japan is a topic many tourists underestimate. From the outside, it seems like a developed country with cards and ATMs, but in practice, there’s a unique logic to using cash, cards, and digital payments that differs from Europe and the US.

Currency of Japan

The official currency is the Japanese yen.

is denoted as JPY or the symbol ¥

In practice, you will see prices like

¥100 ¥500 ¥1000 ¥10000

Approximate course (very important reference point)

The rate is constantly changing, but in recent years it has remained in the range

1 US dollar is approximately 140—160 yen

1 euro is approximately 150—170 yen

This is important because Japan has become significantly cheaper for many tourists in recent years due to the weakening of the yen.

What does money look like in real life?

Cash is still widely used in Japan.

especially in small towns, cafes, churches, markets and transport outside of large systems

Coins are very important here

1 5 10 50 100 500 yen

and tourists are often surprised at first that they are actually used constantly

Banknotes

1000 2000 5000 10000 yen

Cash or card

Japan has long been a cash country, but that’s changing.

You can live comfortably in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto with a card.

but outside major cities cash is still required

Where the card works almost everywhere

chain stores large hotels shopping centers transport machines in cities restaurants in city centers

Where cash is needed

small restaurants temples and donations local markets buses in small towns taxi in some regions

Inflation and price changes

Japan has enjoyed a long period of near-zero inflation.

but the situation began to change after 2022

Currently, inflation is around 2—4 percent per year, depending on the period and goods.

This may seem small, but for Japan this is a significant change because the country had previously lived for decades with virtually no price increases.

How does this affect tourists?

hotel and food prices are gradually rising

especially in tourist areas

But at the same time, the yen weakened, so for foreigners, travel sometimes even became cheaper when converted into dollars or euros.

Approximate real prices

to understand the standard of living

coffee 300—600 yen

lunch at an inexpensive restaurant 800—1500 yen

subway train 150—300 yen

Shinkansen bullet train 10,000—20,000 yen for long-distance routes

Budget hotel 6,000—12,000 yen per night

average hotel 12,000—25,000 yen

What currency should a tourist take with him?

the most correct option

take US dollars or euros with you and exchange them in Japan

Why

Exchange in Japan is very convenient and transparent

the rate is often normal

many official exchange offices and banks

Everything works quickly at airports

What NOT to do

do not change money in random places

don’t carry too much cash

don’t rely on just one card

Do not use old or damaged banknotes for exchange.

Cards and payments

they work in Japan

Visa

Mastercard

partially American Express

but there is a nuance

Sometimes the card may not work in a small store

or the terminal may not support foreign cards

Digital payments

are actively developing in Japan

PayPay

Rakuten Pay

Suica and Pasmo as transport and payment cards

But it’s not always convenient for tourists to set them up, so the basis is still a card plus cash

Japan’s Main Reality About Money

Japan looks like a very digital country.

but in practice it is a hybrid

In big cities you live as if in a modern cashless world

but in small places you go back to cash as the main system

Japan is a country where money works in two modes at the same time.

modern digital and traditional cash

and the best approach for a tourist is simple

card for large purchases

cash for everyday expenses

How much money do you need for a trip to Japan (7, 10, and 14 days)

This is one of the most important questions before traveling, because Japan can be either quite affordable or very expensive, depending on how you travel. There’s no set price, only scenarios.

I’ll break this down into actual travel styles to make it clear without any illusions.

BASIC EXPENDITURE LOGIC

In Japan, you always spend money on 4 things.

housing

food

transport

entertainment

and it is their combination that forms the budget

1. ECONOMY OPTION

This is if you live in capsule hotels or hostels.

eat at inexpensive cafes and convenience stores

you travel by metro and buses

minimum of expensive entertainment

7 days economy

approximately $600—$900 or 90,000—135,000 yen housing 250—400 dollars food $120—200 transport 80—150 dollars entertainment $100-$150

10 days economy

approximately $850—$1200

or 130,000—180,000 yen

14 days economy

approximately $1,200—$1,700

or 180,000—250,000 yen

2. INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

This is the most popular option among tourists.

3-star hotels

normal restaurants

comfortable transport, including sometimes the Shinkansen

excursions

7 days intermediate level

approximately $1,200—$1,800 or 180,000—270,000 yen housing 500—800 dollars food $250-$400 transport 150—250 dollars entertainment $200—300

10 days intermediate level

approximately $1,700—$2,500

or 250,000—380,000 yen

14 days average level

approximately $2,300—$3,500

or 350,000—500,000 yen

3. COMFORT LEVEL

these are 4—5 star hotels taxis sometimes replace the metro high-end restaurants excursions with guides domestic flights or multiple Shinkansen

7 days of comfort

approximately $2,500—$4,000

or 380,000—600,000 yen

10 days of comfort

approximately $3,500—$5,500

or 500,000—800,000 yen

14 days of comfort

approximately $5,000—$8,000

or 750,000—1,200,000 yen

HIDDEN COSTS THAT ARE FORGOTTEN ABOUT

These things are often not included in the plan, but they really affect the budget.

Shinkansen between cities

entrance tickets to temples and museums

SIM card or internet

souvenirs

nightlife

taxi at night

THE BIGGEST MISTAKE TOURISTS MAKE

People often think that Japan is only Tokyo and Kyoto.

and do not take into account transport between cities

but one trip on a high-speed train can cost as much as a whole day’s accommodation

HOW DOES THE PRICE CHANGE FOR YOU NOW?

The weak yen has made Japan more accessible to many tourists.

approximately 10—25 percent cheaper in dollar or euro terms compared to previous years

but within the country, prices are gradually rising due to inflation at around 2—4 percent per year

A SIMPLE RULE FOR PLANNING

if you don’t want to count in detail

A minimum of 7 days of comfortable travel costs about $1,500.

10 days about 2000—2500 dollars

14 days about $3,000

This is the most realistic reference point for most tourists.

Cards

Bank cards are widely accepted in Japan, but the system isn’t as universal as many people think. It’s important to distinguish between three factors: international payment systems, sanctions restrictions, and the technical limitations of Japanese terminals.

1. Which cards work reliably in Japan?

In most cases, the following work without problems:

— Visa

— Mastercard

These are the main international systems that are accepted in hotels, large stores, shopping centers and most tourist spots.

Also partially operational:

— American Express (AmEx)

— Diners Club (less common)

But they may not be accepted in smaller establishments.

2. Which cards may not work or work with limitations

1. Russian maps (key block)

After 2022:

— Visa and Mastercard issued in Russia are not accepted outside the country.

— UnionPay from Russia is unstable: sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

— Mir cards are not accepted at all in Japan.

This is not related to Japan as a country, but to the international financial system and the disconnection of Russian banks from global payment networks.

2. Cards under sanctions (in general)

In Japan and the international system, the following do not work or are limited:

— cards of banks under international sanctions (US/EU SDN lists)

— cards issued in jurisdictions with limited access to SWIFT/card networks

— prepaid cards from unknown issuers without an international license

3. Some UnionPay cards

UnionPay is officially accepted in Japan, but:

— not in all terminals

— more often in tourist areas or large chains

— sometimes requires manual selection of the payment network

3. Why a card might not work, even if it is “international”

This is an important point that tourists often don’t understand.

Reasons:

1. The terminal does not support the network

Small stores may only accept Visa or only certain chains.

2. The issuing bank blocks the transaction

Sometimes banks automatically block transactions in Asia due to suspicious activity.

3. Incompatibility with Japanese payment systems

Some Japanese POS terminals require manual network selection (Visa/Mastercard), and the cashier may not know how to do this.

4. Online authorization restrictions

Some cards require SMS confirmation, which may not be available when roaming.

4. Cash vs. Cards (Japanese Reality)

Despite the high level of technology:

— Japan is still partly a cash-based country.

— Small restaurants, temples, and markets often accept only cash.

— Even in Tokyo, it’s sometimes easier to pay in yen.

5. Which cards are best to take to Japan?

Optimal set:

— Visa (primary card)

— Mastercard (backup card)

Recommendations:

— have at least 2 cards from different banks

— enable international operations in advance

— remove limits on purchases abroad

— enable transaction notifications

6. Which cards should not be used for travel?

1. The only card from one bank

If it gets blocked, you’ll be left without access to your money.

2. Cards without international support Visa/Mastercard

local or internal banking products

3. Cards under sanctioned banks

they either don’t work or work unstable and can be blocked at any moment

7. Important Hidden Nuances of Japan

1. Pre-authorization in hotels

Many hotels block the deposit on the card (hold), sometimes for several days

2. Machines and transport

Some machines only accept cash or IC cards (Suica, Pasmo)

3. Small towns

the proportion of cash there is higher than in Tokyo

8. The main conclusion

Japan’s financial logic for tourists is very simple:

— Visa and Mastercard are the main standard

— cash — required reserve

— Alternative cards (UnionPay, etc.) — only as an additional option

A short rule of thumb for experts

You can’t travel to Japan with just a card and no cash.

Cash Cash in Japan

In Japan, cash still plays a very important role, and this is something that many tourists underestimate before their trip.

The country is technologically modern, but at the same time, yen in paper form and coins are constantly used in everyday life.

How important is it to travel with cash?

Cash in Japan is not a backup option, but a full-fledged part of the payment system.

Even if you have a card, you will still encounter situations where it is simply inconvenient or impossible to pay without cash.

these are small family restaurants