Reply To: Japan help please

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Regarding cash, it will depend where you go/shop. If you’re going to more remote places, you’ll need cash. Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka is usually fine. And weaker yen, you do need less cash anyway.

Yes, if you don’t speak/write Japanese then it’s difficult to make reservations.

All shinkasen have reserved and non-reserved seats. You can buy non-reserved tickets which are slightly cheaper, but at peak times you might have to stand.

I think I mentioned it, but all train tickets (including shinkasen) are flexible and can be changed once without a fee but it has to be done 24 hours before. Otherwise there is a small handling fee to pay for the reserved seat (200-300 yen I think).

However, for shinkansen you don’t even have to change it. If you ‘miss’ the train you can just hop on the next one or later, but you have to sit in the non-reserved section.

Going to Japan for Starbucks Reserve might seem like novelty since they offer items not available elsewhere, but at peak times there are horrendous queues as both Japanese and the tourists come because it’s been marketed to death on Instagram.

I recommend going to one of the kissaten instead. It’s more of an authentic experience.