What to Book Before Your Trip to Japan (+ FREE Japan Travel Checklist)

Planning a trip to Japan, whether it’s your first or fifth time, can be stressful. There are so many different tickets and reservations to make ahead of your trip! But this article is meant to help alleviate some of the pressure by laying out the essential things you need to book before going to Japan.

This guide will help you identify fundamental things to remember as you prepare for your Japan trip and provide tips on purchasing tickets and making reservations.

In addition to booking flights, hotels, and train passes, you may also need to purchase tickets to some of Japan’s main attractions in advance (Tokyo Disney Resort, Ghibli Park & Museum, Pokemon Cafe, etc.). At the end of the article, I cover the most popular Japan attractions you will need reserved tickets for and how to purchase tickets in advance.

PS–I know how chaotic planning a trip can be! So I created a simple “Japan Travel Checklist” to help you keep track of everything! You can sign-up to get the free checklist here.

I hope you find this article helpful!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. These are all products and services I highly recommend. Please read full disclosure here.

What Should I Book Before Going to Japan?

Itinerary

Before we really get into booking tickets, I want to stress how important laying out a travel itinerary is for Japan. Not only will it help determine how many days you will stay in one place, but it will determine what tickets you need to purchase and on what days.

Most (if not all) advance reservations require you to choose a specific date and sometimes time, so you’ll want at least a general idea of how your Japan trip will unfold.

Japan is not a place where you want to cram in back-to-back experiences. Plan your day around one main attraction/area to get the most out of your trip. Additionally, leave room in your schedule to walk around and explore neighboring areas.

IMPORTANT: You will want to look up and determine if construction, closures, or holidays affect your itinerary. It would be a shame to start booking tickets and later find out that one of the attractions is closed on the day you had designated for it.

Passport & Visa (if you’re from a country where it’s needed)

You must have a passport to enter Japan; some countries require visas. You can check whether your country needs a Visa to enter at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website.

This is also a reminder to check your passport expiration date. If it is within the next year, it’s time to renew it. Don’t wait until the last minute!

TIP: Make photocopies of your passport, IDs, and credit & debit cards–just in case!

Hotel & Airbnb Reservations

You should book your accommodations before arriving in Japan. If you are booking an Airbnb, make sure to check the requirements before reserving.

I recommend looking for places to stay that are in close proximity to a train station (and ideally central to all the things to you want to do). Trust me, rolling your luggage around is more challenging than it sounds in Japan.

Another thing to keep in mind is the size of hotel rooms in Japan.

ALWAYS CHECK THE ROOM SQUARE FOOTAGE!

Japan hotel rooms tend to be smaller, especially if you book 3-star or lower hotels. There are some amazing budget hotel options that are great for solo travelers but are not ideal for multiple people (especially if you have a lot of luggage).

Exchange Money for Yen

You don’t necessarily need to book this, but I want to point out that you will need Japanese Yen when you visit Japan. Japan still widely uses cash, and many places are cash only.

Credit and debit cards are accepted at major chains or newer stores and restaurants. But you don’t want to be caught somewhere without any money.

I like to convert my cash to Yen prior to traveling to Japan. You can convert your money at the airport, but sometimes the exchange rate isn’t the best available.

Please do your due diligence, check the exchange rate, and compare your options, as it varies widely.

Pocket Wi-Fi, e-SIM or SIM card

My phone plan includes international calling and connection. However, it has always been slow. To stay connected, you will need a pocket Wi-Fi, e-SIM, or SIM card.

SIM Card

You can shop around for options, but I’ve heard good things about Sakura Mobile’s SIM card from friends. You can reserve your SIM card from Klook and choose what airport you’d like to pick it up from.

e-Sim

An e-SIM is a cost-effective option with instant activation that requires no hardware to pick up when you arrive at the airport. Typically, you’ll get sent a QR code that you can scan immediately.

I’ve used Japan Wireless’ e-SIM before and found it very reliable.

Pocket Wi-Fi

Similarly, you can order your pocket Wi-Fi in advance and pick it up from the airport kiosk in Japan (or some providers can deliver to your hotel). I suggest picking it up from the airport in Japan because you’ll be connected from the start.

I’ve used both Japan Wireless’ pocket Wi-Fi and this popular portable WiFi option from Sakura Mobile.

IMPORTANT: Remember to return your pocket Wi-Fi at the airport BEFORE you go through security because after you pass security and customs, there are no postal facilities.

Buy JR Rail Pass (if needed)

Contrary to popular belief, you do NOT always need to purchase a JR Rail Pass if you’re traveling around Japan. Especially with the JR Pass price hike (starting October 2023), it may be even more unlikely that you need to purchase a pass for your 2-week trip to Japan.

When is the Japan Rail Pass worth it?

JR Rail Passes are great if you plan to take longer trips all around Japan because they can provide some major cost savings!

However, the pass won’t be worth it if you only plan to do one long trip (i.e., Tokyo to Osaka/Kyoto, then back to Tokyo).

It’s also worth noting that the pass does not cover all Shinkansen, like the Mizuho and Nozomi lines (and the Nozomi line is the fastest in the country, which can shave off a lot of travel time for you!). Some privately owned lines, such as the Odakyu Express, are also not covered by the JR rail pass.

You can use this calculator to see if a JR Pass is worth it for your trip.

How to purchase a Japan Rail Pass

You must purchase your Japan Rail Pass before leaving your home country and can purchase up to 3 months in advance.

There are many sites to purchase Japan Rail Passes, but I recommend buying from either:

Official Japan Railway Website
Klook – easiest and has the best deal (most of the time!)

If you choose not to purchase a JR Pass, you can buy your Shinkansen tickets in advance!

How to purchase Shinkansen Tickets

Now, you don’t have to get your Shinkansen tickets before you leave for Japan. I typically like to book my Shinkansen tickets a minimum of 1-2 days before a trip at a Shinkansen kiosk or at the Shinkansen office at the station.

➡️ Note that the more popular routes between Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto get booked up fast so don’t wait until the day of to book (especially if you have oversized luggage which requires special seats).

However, if you’d prefer to book your tickets in advance, I recommend booking through Klook or Japan Bullet Train.

PRO TIP: Purchase a Greater Tokyo Pass to save money on tickets to the city’s most popular attractions.
I always RESEARCH ATTRACTION PRICES FIRST TO SEE POTENTIAL COST SAVINGS THROUGH PASS.

Book tickets for main attractions & tours

In addition to booking flights, hotels, and train passes, you may also need to purchase tickets to some of Japan’s main attractions in advance. Below are tips on how to purchase tickets for some of Japan’s most popular attractions.

Ghibli Museum (Mitaka near Tokyo)

The Ghibli Museum in Mitaka is easily accessible if you’re staying in Tokyo. Tickets must be purchased in advance, and they sell out quickly (within 30 minutes of being on sale!).

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Japan Time every 10th of the month for the following month.

How to Purchase Ghibli Museum Tickets

The cheapest way to purchase Ghibli Museum tickets is through the Lawson’s Website; however, it does not have the best user experience. I’ve read from other reviews that it’s not great for booking big groups and can be really slow. It does have the best price point, though!

If you’re staying in a premium hotel, you can call their concierge and see if they can help book your ticket in advance.

Or you can also buy tickets from Lawson stores once you’re in Japan. But again, tickets are very popular, so tickets for the dates you want may be sold out.

In my opinion, the best and easiest option (although not the cheapest) would be to book this Ghibli Museum and Inokashira Park Walking Tour, which includes admission to the Ghibli Museum.

TIP: Holidays and weekends are very popular dates, so you have a better chance of getting tickets on weekdays.

Ghibli Park (Nagoya)

Similar to the Ghibli Museum, you must purchase Ghibli Park tickets in advance. There are no tickets available at the front gate.

Tickets are available three months prior to your visit. And you will need to buy tickets for each area separately.

How to Purchase Ghibli Park Tickets

The park has its own Ghibli Park international ticket site where you can purchase tickets.

Or a Ghibli Park tour package is available with a 1-night hotel accommodation in Nagoya that includes entry into the park (Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse).

Tokyo Disney Resort (Tokyo)

Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea tickets are sold two months in advance at 2 pm Japan time. Tickets can not be purchased at ticket booths. You must buy park tickets beforehand unless you’re a Disney hotel guest.

The Tokyo Disney Resort’s official website has a calendar that shows available tickets. Ticket prices vary depending on what day you visit the park.

How to Purchase Tokyo Disneyland & Tokyo DisneySea Tickets

You can purchase through the Tokyo Disney Resort official website or Tokyo Disney Resort App.

Guests staying at the Tokyo Disney Hotel or hotels affiliated with Tokyo Disney Resort may purchase tickets at their hotel. You are guaranteed entry with your Tokyo Disney Hotel reservations. See list of hotels below.

You can also purchase your Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea park tickets from Klook.

If you’re in Japan, you can try purchasing tickets from 7-11, LAWSON, Ministop, and Family Mart convenience stores throughout Japan. Or through JTB travel agents in Japan.

Universal Studios Japan (Osaka)

Tickets for Universal Studios Japan in Osaka go on sale two months in advance. Although the option is available, you are NOT recommended to purchase tickets in person at the ticket booth, as tickets may be sold out for the day.

How to Purchase Universal Studios Japan Tickets

You can purchase tickets through the Official USJ Web Ticket Store or Klook.

TIP: Express Pass tickets allow you to skip the line at different attractions.

Pokémon Cafe (multiple locations)

Pokémon Cafes are super popular in Japan! You can make reservations as early as 6 pm Japan Time, 31 days before your desired reservation date.

It’s recommended that you book your table in advance because you can only get seats the day of, in person, if there are last-minute cancellations.

You can select special Pokémon Cafe goods to purchase when making your reservation. You will receive the goods when you come to the store on the day of your reservation.

Note that you cannot change the number of people in your party after confirming your reservation.

For additional questions, you can check out the Pokémon Cafe FAQ page.

You can purchase Pokémon Cafe tickets through the Official Pokémon Cafe Website

TeamLab Museums (multiple locations)

There are multiple teamLab museum locations all around Japan, but the most popular one is Team Lab Planets in Tokyo.

How to book teamLab Planets TOKYO tickets

I recommend making reservations in advance because they tend to sell out. You can purchase teamLab Planets tickets up to about three months in advance. Note that the Planets exhibition is only open until the end of 2023.

You can purchase on the Official Website for teamLab Planets TOKYO or through Klook.

Additional teamLab art experiences & how to purchase

teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka

FUKUOKA teamLab Forest

teamLab: Acorn Forest Saitama (near Tokyo)

Klook

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