Latest guides
- Haneda Airport to Tokyo in 2026: Monorail, Keikyu, Bus, or Taxi?
The four ways from Haneda Airport to central Tokyo — Keikyu, Tokyo Monorail, Airport Limousine Bus, and taxi — and which to choose for where you are staying. With photos from a Tokyo local. - Tokyo Station Guide for First-Timers: Shinkansen Platforms, Transfers, and the Best Free View
Which Shinkansen leaves from which platform, how to transfer without getting lost, and the best free view of the red-brick station — a Tokyo Station guide with photos from someone who lives in Tokyo. - Japan Travel Costs in 2026: Every New Tax and Price Change, Explained
Japan changed several costs for visitors in 2026: a ¥3,000 departure tax, Kyoto hotel tax up to ¥10,000 a night, higher JR Pass prices at agencies, and a new tax-free refund system. What each one means for your budget. - Best eSIM for Japan in 2026: How to Choose Without Overpaying
eSIM, pocket Wi-Fi, or roaming? How to choose mobile data for a trip to Japan in 2026, what “unlimited” really means, and how to set up an eSIM before you fly. - Japan’s New Tax-Free Shopping Rules from November 1, 2026: How the Refund Works
From November 1, 2026, tax-free shopping in Japan switches to a refund system: you pay full price and get the tax back after a customs check at the airport. How it works, and six mistakes that cost you the refund. - JR Pass Prices After October 1, 2026: Why the Official Website Is Now Cheaper
The Japan Rail Pass went up on October 1, 2026 — but only at agencies. The official website still sells the 7-day pass for ¥50,000. Where to buy now, and what to get if the pass does not pay off.
What you will find here
- Getting around — rail passes, Shinkansen tickets, and airport transfers, with prices checked against JR and airport websites.
- Shopping and tax-free — how Japan’s tax refund works, including the new system that starts on November 1, 2026.
- Staying connected — eSIMs, pocket Wi-Fi, and what actually works in Japan.
- Trip costs — the fees and taxes that change your budget.
Why trust these guides
I live in Tokyo. Prices and rules in Japan change often, so every guide links to its official sources and shows the date the facts were checked. When an official or non-affiliate option is cheaper, I say so. How this site makes money.
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