Before you go: the practical stuff
The questions that cause the most stress for first-time visitors are not about sights. They are about paying, cash, staying online and getting help when something goes wrong. Everything below comes from an official source, linked, and checked on October 12, 2026.
Paying for trains and buses
- Visitor IC cards with no deposit. JNTO lists Welcome Suica and TOURIST PASMO as visitor cards available without a deposit; regular IC cards need a 500 yen deposit. JNTO: IC cards
- TOURIST PASMO is sold at Haneda and Narita airports, is valid for 28 days from purchase, has no deposit and no refunds, and cannot be reissued if lost. PASMO official
- Tap your credit card in Tokyo. Tokyo Metro's Tap to Ride works on all Tokyo Metro lines with Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners, Discover and UnionPay cards (adult fares only; use the same card to enter and exit). It does not cover JR East trains, which need an IC card. Tokyo Metro: Tap to Ride
- Unlimited subway rides in Tokyo: see the Tokyo Subway Ticket on our Tokyo page.
Cash
Many places take cards, but small shops, shrines and some restaurants may be cash only.
- 7-Eleven (Seven Bank ATMs) accept Visa, Plus, Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus, UnionPay, Amex, JCB, Discover and Diners cards, at more than 28,000 ATMs in 7-Eleven stores; the bank notes that some cards with these marks may not work. Seven Bank
- Japan Post Bank ATMs (post offices) accept Visa, Plus, Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus, JCB, UnionPay and Discover (Amex is not listed), up to 50,000 yen per withdrawal, with a 220 yen fee for some foreign cards. Japan Post Bank
Staying online
JNTO says major airports offer data plans, SIM cards are also sold at large electronics stores such as Bic Camera and Yodobashi (your phone must be unlocked), and pocket Wi-Fi can be rented at airport kiosks or delivered to your hotel. Narita, Haneda, Kansai, New Chitose, Chubu and Fukuoka airports have free Wi-Fi. JNTO: Wi-Fi and connectivity
Luggage
- Send your suitcase ahead. JNTO explains Hands-Free Travel counters, which send luggage to your hotel or the airport; coin lockers usually cost 300 to 600 yen and many accept IC cards. JNTO: luggage storage
- Yamato Transport (the "black cat" courier) delivers from the airport with no reservation for bags up to 200 cm (three sides) and 30 kg; it does not deliver to private rentals or unstaffed hotels. Yamato: airport delivery
Help in English
- Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO): 050-3816-2787 (from overseas +81-50-3816-2787), 24 hours a day, every day, in English, Chinese and Korean, for accidents, illness, disasters and general tourist information. JNTO hotline
- Emergencies: 119 for an ambulance or fire, 110 for the police.
- Alerts: Japan Safe Travel Information (earthquakes, tsunamis, heavy weather).
Can't say it in Japanese? Use our free point-and-show cards.
<p class="chk">Checked on October 12, 2026 against the official pages linked above. Fees, card brands and hours can change: please check the official page before you rely on it.</p>
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