Travel Questions

VPN
1

Good afternoon, my family and I are planning our very first international trip to Japan 5/22 - 6/9. I have several questions as I am still unsure on some items.

  1. Someone told me I need to buy a VPN, E Sim and IOCCA card. I am confused on what all that is. Can someone who has traveled from the US to Japan explain if that is really all needed and why? (Sorry if my question seems stupid but I am so nervous and want to make sure everything is correct before trusting advice from someone who has never left the country and relies on TikTok only)

  2. Should we buy rail/train tickets in advance or is it better to buy while there?

  3. Does it rain alot in May/June? Should we pack a raincoat, poncho or a umbrella?

  4. Tolierties: Should we pack any of that or get all of that there?

  5. Looks like Japan has strick rules on medication - I have many allergies. Can I pack a epi pen in case of a emergency?

Thank you so much and if you have anything to give me tips on for someone who is so nervous let me know and I know I will have more questions next month

2
  1. VPN… no, you would use this to simulate being in a different country while using internet… like you could connect to Netflix and have the US catalogue available using a VPN while not using it you would have the Japanese catalogue. It’s not as if Japan had a lot of restriction on content you can access. esim (or physical sim or pocket wifi) is a way to get internet from cell phone signal where you are traveling, highly recommended as you can access Google Maps and translate any time you need. Icoca (or Suica or Pasmo) is an IC card that you can recharge with money and use to pay for train/subway/bus/tram, it’s easier to just tap the card than buy individual tickets. If you have an iphone, you can have it on your phone. Not essential to have an IC card, but make things easier.
  2. Depend when you travel. If not during peak period (new year and golden week, that is early may) you are most likely ok buying when you get there.
  3. June is the “rainy season”, so it rain more frequently. Don’t have to bring an umbrella, buy one if you need while there.
  4. I would bring my toothbrush and toothpaste (make more sense than using single use ones), but things like soap and shampoo is usually available (only had two places, like really cheap one, that did not include it). Guess it depend what you usually need in your toiletries bag.
  5. I think you can bring one, yes.
3

Good advice here.

Buy a decent guidebook (go to a local bookstore and browse through a few) about Japan, and take a look at the various itineraries for 2+ weeks. Highlight the places and things that interest you, only you can answer that.

4
  1. Disregard the VPN advice. Unless you have a specific reason for it, it’s not necessary.

eSIM is for your phone so it can work in Japan, assuming your phone can use esims and it’s unlocked. If your US provider includes international coverage, you won’t need an eSIM. If your provider charges for international coverage, an eSIM is going to be much cheaper. If you need people to get in touch with you on your US phone number, then it might make sense to get international coverage through your US provider. Who is your cell phone provider?

ICOCA card is a transit card that you load up with money and use it to pay for fares. Suica and Pasmo are other alternatives. You can even use an iPhone for this. Which airport are you flying into? Sharing this will help people tell you what the best option is.

You can probably get much more reliable info from YouTube or various websites than on TikTok. Google ‘Japan Cheapo’ or ‘Japan-Guide’. Both of these websites have comprehensive information on your questions.

  1. As long as you have some flexibility in your itinerary, you can buy tickets there.

  2. It rains a lot on June. You can pack rain gear and/or umbrellas. Or you can submit buy then there. Cheap umbrellas are readily available everywhere.

  3. Toiletries are readily available in Japan. Most hotels provide the basics. You can easily buy what you need but if you have specific products you like, then bring them.

Most of your questions are basic enough that they can easily be answered if you simply search for them online. Doing the work will help you get a much better understanding of what to expect and how to prepare than reading responses to general questions on Reddit.

5
  1. VPN is not needed. Sim card let’s you connect with internet while abroad. The cards can be “virtual” (eSim) or physical that you put into your phone. Which one you choose depends on your phone and/or preferences. One card per phone. Other option is pocket-wifi that allows more phones to access the internet. Depending on the size of the group, the composition and plans it may be better to take sim cards only, pocket-wifi only or both. ICOCA cards are a city transportation card. You can load money on it and use it by tapping when entering and exiting public transportation. It works mostly in the cities, for intercity trains you need “normal” ticket.
  2. Most of the times you can buy train tickets there, even right before the travel on the station. Only during biggest holidays you may need to buy it few days prior.
  3. It’s rain season so generally yes, tho you may be lucky.
  4. Not much, as in most places basic toilerties will be avaliable for you, their number/variety depending on the hotel standard. So are toothbrushes and cotton swabs. So if you want to take something maybe travel sizes bottle or something unusual you use.
  5. Check the links if your medicaments cointain one of the substances on the lists:
    https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/policy/health-medical/pharmaceuticals/dl/Ingredients\_name.pdf
    https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/dl\_data/keitai/list.pdf
    If no then you should be safe. If yes then consult this place for instructions how to apply for permit: https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/wiki/advice/health/prescriptions/
6

Question: why would you need an esim if you can get phone service and data through your provider? Is this more for places where you might not get a signal?

7

10$ a day from US provider, can get an esim for the whole trip for the cost of 2-3 days.

At the end they all use signal from a Japanese company anyway.

8

Depends how many phones you want connected to the internet. One esim per phone, assuming the phone supports esim first off

9

As you were told, depend how many phones you want to have connected to internet while you travel. You could well just get one and the person with the connection would take care of searching anything while you move, the other would be able to freely use internet while back at the hotel. It could be an idea to have more than one if you want to be able to split and still be able to contact each other to meet back after.

Also you need phones that accept esim and need to make sure it’s unlocked.