Real Japan Guide - Your Authentic Guide to Japan — Food, Culture & Hidden Gems

Tokyo Trains Complete Guide 2026: JR, Metro, Toei & Private

JR, Metro, Toei, or private rail? Tokyo's subway confuses first-timers. 2026 fares (post March hike), day passes ¥1,000/¥1,500/¥2,000, plus when contactless credit cards beat Suica.

2026.05.01

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Tokyo Airport Transfer 2026: Narita & Haneda to Your Stay

Narita Express ¥3,140, Skyliner ¥2,580, or Limousine Bus ¥3,600 — what's cheapest from Narita & Haneda to your Tokyo stay in 2026? Routes & last trains.

2026.05.01

Travel Tips

How to Book Shinkansen Online from Overseas: Foreign Credit Card Guide for SmartEX and eki-net (2026)

A practical 2026 guide to booking Shinkansen tickets online from outside Japan. Covers SmartEX, JR-EAST Train Reservation, and JR-WEST — including what to do when your foreign credit card gets rejected by 3D Secure.

2026.05.01

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Tokyo Train Manners: How to Ride Like a Local Without Annoying Anyone (2026 Guide)

A practical, culture-first guide to Tokyo train etiquette for short-stay travelers — why trains are quiet, what the priority-seat phone rule actually says in 2026, how women-only cars work, and the small habits that keep you out of the visible-tourist category.

2026.04.30

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Japan Pharmacy & Drugstore Guide: Where to Buy Medicine, Cosmetics, and Daily Essentials

For travelers to Japan, drugstores are the daily-essentials hub for cosmetics, baby supplies, sanitary items, and tax-free shopping. This 2026 guide covers chain comparison, baby supplies, the November 2026 tax-free overhaul, and 24-hour options.

2026.04.30

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Does Google Maps Work in Japan? Yes — 5 Features Tourists Miss (2026)

Updated for 2026: Google Maps in Japan now supports Ask Maps AI, Indoor Live View at major stations, and Reserve with Google. Here's what tourists need to know.

2026.04.29

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Japanese Toilets Explained: What to Expect at Hotels, Airbnbs, and Public Restrooms (2026)

A practical 2026 guide to Japan three toilet types — washlet, plain Western, and squat — with realistic expectations, button-by-button decoding, public toilet strategy, and the two rules for paper and trash.

2026.04.29

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Pocket WiFi vs eSIM vs SIM Card in Japan: How Tourists Should Stay Connected (2026)

Comparison of eSIM, Pocket WiFi and SIM card options for staying connected in Japan in 2026, with scenario-based recommendations for solo travellers, groups, and long-stay guests.

2026.04.29

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Cash in Japan 2026: A Visual Guide to Yen Banknotes & Coins for Tourists

Old vs new banknotes after the July 2024 redesign, the mystery of the 2,000-yen note, foreign-card ATMs, and where cash still beats cards in Japan.

2026.04.28

Travel Tips

Suica vs PASMO vs ICOCA 2026: What Tourists Should Actually Buy

Updated 2026: Suica sales resumed March 1, 2025. Welcome Suica Mobile activates in 2 min on iPhone. Tourist Pasmo launches May 2026. ICOCA, PASMO compared.

2026.04.28

Travel Tips