Optional Preparation Videos for Japan

Some guests enjoy watching a few short videos before arriving in Japan. This is entirely optional! You will be well guided during the tour, but if you like to prepare and learn ahead of time, these videos are a great way to start.

Please don't feel like this is homework. Watch what interests you and leave the rest.

Start Here (Essential Viewing)

If you only watch a few videos, start with these. They cover the most common practical questions for first-time visitors.

Japan Travel Basics (Kensho Quest)

• Why watch it: A calm, well-researched overview of essential FAQs for first-time travelers.

How to use IC Cards (Suica/Pasmo) (Japan-Guide.com)

• Why watch it: IC cards are the key to seamless travel in Japan. This video clearly explains how to get and use them for trains, buses, and convenience stores.

Haneda and Narita Airport Survival Guides (Tokyo Cheapo)

• Why watch it: Knowing what to expect when you land at either airport will help make arrival smooth and stress-free.

Dine like a Pro: Japanese Table Manners You Need to Know (Japan by Food)

• Why watch it: A reassuring guide on dining etiquette, covering everything from chopsticks to tipping (or the lack thereof).

Japanese Supermarket Phrases and Conversation Beginner Travel (Ninjapanese)

• Why watch it: You will likely visit a konbini (convenience store) or grocer. These simple phrases make checking out smooth and polite

How to Use Trains in Japan (Japan-Guide.com)

• Why watch it: While the guides will lead the way during the tour, knowing the basics of the train system is empowering for free time.

Optional Deep Dive Sections

For those who want to explore further, here is a curated selection of videos organized by topic.

Travel Basics

• Must have Japan Travel Apps (Kensho Quest) — Helpful apps to download before you depart (like Google Maps and translation tools).

• 55 Tips to Know BEFORE you go to Japan (Japan Unravelled) — A rapid-fire list of helpful practical tips and cultural nuances.

Trains and Transit

• Tips for Riding Trains (Japan and More) — Focuses on the unwritten rules of train etiquette.

• Tokyo's Map Explained (Daniel Steiner) — A great way to visualize the layout of Tokyo and understand the major neighborhoods before you arrive.

Food and Dining

• Top 25 foods to try at 7 Eleven (TabiEats) — A fun introduction to the surprisingly high-quality food found in Japanese convenience stores.

• Japanese Department Store Food Halls (Depachika) (Taiji’s Kitchen) — An overwhelming but beautiful visual guide to the basement food halls found in major department stores.

• Dining Out in Japan (Japan-guide.com) — A straightforward primer on ordering, eating, and paying at local restaurants.

Etiquette

• Japan’s Unspoken Rules (Allison in Tokyo) — Covers the subtle daily manners that make you a polite guest.

• Bathing at a Japanese Hot Spring / Onsen Etiquette (Japan-Guide.com) — If you plan to visit a traditional bathhouse or stay at a ryokan, this is essential viewing.

• 12 Unspoken Rules NOT to Break in Japan (Abroad in Japan) — A humorous but practical look at cultural faux pas.

Useful Japanese Phrases

• Top Japanese Phrases You Need Before Travelling to Japan (Tokyo Cheapo) — The absolute basics.

• Asking and Giving Directions - Survival Travel (Ninjapanese) — Extremely helpful if you are exploring during your free time.

• Easy Japanese Phrases for Ordering at a Restaurant (TabiEats) — Focuses specifically on food-related vocabulary.

Recommended YouTube Channels

If you enjoy learning via YouTube and want to browse more content at your own pace, here are the channels we highly recommend for deep dives into Japanese culture, food, and daily life:

• Kensho Quest — Well-researched, personal travel tips with excellent practical advice for packing and logistics.

• Tokyo Cheapo — Great basics combined with smart, niche culture topics and off-the-beaten-path suggestions.

• Japan by Food — High-quality videos covering etiquette, chef spotlights, and incredible food deep-dives.

• TabiEats — A dynamic duo passionate about food-centric travel, from konbini snacks to high-end sushi.

• Taiji’s Kitchen — Authentic, alternative looks at Japanese home cooking, department store food halls, and manners.

• Paolo From Tokyo — An enthusiastic expat who gets under the surface of daily Japanese life and work routines.

• Japan-guide.com — The gold standard for straightforward, beautifully shot instructional videos on transit, ryokans, and onsens.

• Japan Unravelled — Fast-paced, sensible travel tips, cultural background info, and specific destination guides.