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

Japan Vending Machines 2026: 1 per 31 People, What They Sell

Japan has 3.93 million vending machines — one per 31 people. Hot coffee, ramen, and unexpected items beyond Coke. How to pay with Suica, ¥1,000 notes, and IC cards.

2026.04.28

Travel Tips

What to Expect (and Not Expect) as a Muslim Guest at a Japanese Airbnb

Quick Answer: Most Japanese Airbnb hosts have very limited knowledge of Halal practices or Muslim prayer routines. This...

2026.04.28

Travel Tips

Trash in Japan: Why Japan Sorts So Carefully — and How Short-Stay Guests Can Help

Quick Answer Japan’s trash sorting can look intimidating from the outside — five or six categories, different day...

2026.04.27

Travel Tips

3 English Apps for Tokyo Restaurants 2026 (Foreign Cards OK)

Stop emailing in Japanese. TableCheck, OMAKASE, and Pocket Concierge book Tokyo restaurants in English with foreign cards. Michelin and walk-in tips for 2026.

2026.04.26

Travel Tips

Shinkansen 2026: Foreign Credit Card OK, Tokyo→Kyoto ¥13,320

Tokyo to Kyoto in 2h17min from ¥13,320. SmartEX accepts Visa, Mastercard, and Amex from overseas. Reserve oversized luggage seats and skip Nozomi to save in 2026.

2026.04.26

Travel Tips

Tokyo Luggage Storage 2026: ¥400 Lockers + Ecbo from ¥500/Day

Tokyo coin lockers from ¥400, reservable Ecbo Cloak spaces from ¥500/day, or Yamato delivery to your hotel by evening. Shinjuku & Shibuya routes inside.

2026.04.25

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When to Take Off Your Shoes in Japan: A Practical Guide for Short-Term Guests (2026)

A practical guide for short-term visitors to Japan: when to take off your shoes, the genkan rule, slipper traps, and what to do if you forget.

2026.04.25

Travel Tips

7-Eleven, FamilyMart, or Lawson? A Tourist’s Guide to Japan’s Konbini in 2026

Cash from foreign cards, concert tickets, document printing, IC card top-ups, and 24-hour food: a practical guide to what travelers can actually do at a Japanese convenience store, with the five services that save your trip.

2026.04.23

Travel Tips

Noise Rules in Japan: Why Your Host Keeps Warning You (Complete 2026 Guide)

By Yukihiro Hirano / Last updated: 2026-04-19 A quick note on tone. This guide is written primarily for travelers stayin...

2026.04.19

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How to Check In to Your Japanese Accommodation: Airbnb, Hotel & Minpaku Guide (2026)

A complete 2026 guide to checking in at Japanese hotels, ryokan, Airbnbs, and licensed minpaku. Self check-in steps, late-night arrivals, key box codes, and what to do if things go wrong.

2026.04.19

Travel Tips