Preface

This guide is based on my pilgrimage experience in Osaka-Kyoto-Toyohashi this year. It only represents my personal experience at that time and place. I cannot guarantee the accuracy and timeliness of all information. Please use it for reference only.

In the following text, amounts are denoted as ￥(CNY) for Chinese Yuan and ¥(JPY) for Japanese Yen.

Things to Prepare Before Departure

Passport

The requirement should be having blank pages and validity of more than six months. For first-time visa applications, it seems you need to contact your parents regardless of your age, so please communicate with them in advance before applying.

Visa

Japanese visas currently must be processed through travel agencies. Applying for a single-entry tourist visa should be the most convenient option at present. I found one on a certain platform, costing ￥(CNY)201. Submit the required materials to the travel agency according to their list and mail your passport, then wait for the travel agency to mail it back.

The whole process took about a week and a bit. I mailed it on Friday and received my passport on Wednesday of the third week after (12 days, 8 working days).

The single-entry tourist visa is an electronic visa that will be sent to your email. Please save the screenshot, and I recommend printing it out just in case.

Flights and Hotels

You can use various travel platforms to find special deals on flights and hotels. I recommend booking in advance. It's also recommended to save hotel email confirmations for backup.

Since I traveled during the off-season, the prices were quite reasonable. Round-trip flights ￥(CNY)1026, hotel for four nights ￥(CNY)1046.

Note that Japanese hotels may charge around ¥(JPY)200 in taxes at check-in, even if you've already paid taxes on domestic platforms. Also unlike in China, hotel check-in times are later and check-out times are earlier. I recommend confirming these times in advance and planning your daily itinerary accordingly.

Backpack

Used to carry various items. Since budget airlines have strict luggage requirements, I recommend using a small suitcase or hiking backpack. Although there's a 7kg limit, they generally don't require weighing as long as the size isn't too outrageous.

Considering I had many pilgrimage locations planned, dragging a suitcase would be very inconvenient, so I bought a 32L hiking backpack in advance for ￥(CNY)350. This size can easily fit four sets of summer clothes and some personal items.

Japanese Yen Cash

I strongly recommend carrying an appropriate amount of Japanese yen in cash. Perhaps because I spent two and a half days in the small city of Toyohashi, my experience was that most places except convenience stores require cash payment. It's also difficult to find machines that support Alipay and WeChat Pay for transit card top-ups. I carried ¥(JPY)20000 in cash for five days but still didn't have money for the train ticket to the airport on the last day. I had to withdraw cash using my UnionPay card on the spot, and the minimum withdrawal was ¥(JPY)10000, resulting in bringing ¥(JPY)8000 cash back home.

My exchange rate comparison is as follows: Visa credit card < Alipay << UnionPay card withdrawal << Airport yen exchange. Unless absolutely necessary, never exchange currency at the airport - the rates are high, with a 5.57% rate + ¥(JPY)800 handling fee. In comparison, UnionPay card ATM withdrawals have normal rates, and the 1% rate + ￥(CNY)12 handling fee seems quite reasonable.

Note: The Visa credit card mentioned here is one with pre-purchased yen stored on it. I'm not sure about the exchange rate if you swipe directly with available credit limit.

Others

1. Clothes for changing: Japanese hotels generally have washing machines and dryers (you can confirm this when booking), costing around ¥(JPY)300 per use, so you don't necessarily need to bring too many clothes. I recommend buying disposable underwear and socks - it's much more convenient. Shoes must be comfortable - I walked 40,000+ steps in Kyoto in one day and got blisters on both soles.
2. Electronic devices: Phone, charger, power bank, computer, etc. Two-prong plugs can be used directly without an adapter. (I brought a computer because I needed to copy memory cards, but barely used it otherwise - bring according to your needs)
3. Visit Japan Web: Fill out vjw in advance while in China and save a screenshot of the QR code. You won't need to fill out an additional entry card when entering the country, saving a lot of time.
4. UnionPay card and credit cards supporting foreign currency payments: UnionPay cards are for cash withdrawals. Credit cards have favorable exchange rates - use them preferentially if supported.
5. Data SIM card: Purchase in advance in China. I bought one on a certain platform and it arrived the next day. Normally, if you use WiFi at hotels, you won't use much data - I only used 4.23 GB in 5 days.
6. Roaming service: I recommend setting up roaming service for your personal phone card before leaving the country, in case the data card you bought doesn't work (this happened to a friend who went on pilgrimage with me). Also, don't just enable voice and SMS roaming - data roaming must also be enabled (tested: China Telecom has no signal without data roaming enabled).
7. Google Maps: Essential for route searching.
8. Translation app: I recommend a translation app with photo translation and conversation translation features, in case you encounter staff who don't speak English. (Of course, in most cases...)
9. Trash bags: There are no trash cans on Japanese streets, only recycling bins for beverage bottles. I recommend carrying trash bags to collect garbage as you go, then dispose of it all at the hotel.

Transportation

Unless you have some financial means, do not take taxis in Japan. Even public transportation in Japan is only slightly cheaper than taking a taxi in China.

Transit Card

If you're an iPhone user, you can get a Suica card directly on your phone in advance.

Other phone users need to buy a physical card. Don't buy it in China as it will be more expensive. You can get one at the train ticket machines at the airport after entering Japan, with a ¥(JPY)500 issuance fee. It seems to only accept cash payment, but you can search in advance on a certain platform to see if your arrival airport has machines supporting other payment methods (cash is precious, use it sparingly - see above).

In Kansai, it seems you get an ICOCA card, while in Kanto it's a Suica card, but they're essentially the same.

Transportation costs in Japan are quite expensive. I recommend topping up more at the airport - I spent nearly ¥(JPY)20000 in 5 days.

If you're only playing in one city for a day, you can search for that city's one-day pass (example keyword: 豊橋 1日 乗車券), around ¥(JPY)1000, and you'll break even after 5-6 rides. But pay attention to the usage area and consider whether to buy based on your travel plans.

If your phone supports NFC, you can download Japan Transit Card Balance Reader in advance.

For the last few rides before leaving, you can calculate the fare in advance and ask staff to help top up - you can even add just ¥(JPY)30. I came back with zero balance on my card (actually, I really didn't have enough cash and had to ask staff to help top up just enough for the last ride to Toyohashi Station).

Shinkansen

The Shinkansen is equivalent to high-speed rail in China. You can buy tickets directly on-site, but cannot use the transit cards mentioned above. Select your destination station and time on the machine, and you'll get a ticket as shown below.

The ticket above involves a transfer. Board NOZOMI 80 at Kyoto Station at 9:01, car 12, seat 3-A. Arrive at Nagoya Station at 9:34 and transfer to KODAMA 710, car 12, seat 6-A, departing at 9:38 and arriving at Toyohashi at 10:04. The transfer time is short, but the train in the image above is on the opposite side of the same platform, so it works out.

Also, when purchasing tickets, you'll be asked to choose between reserved or non-reserved seats. Non-reserved seats are cheaper (but not by much), and you can only sit in specific cars - whether there's a seat available depends on the situation.

Trains

Japanese trains can use the transit cards mentioned above, or you can buy tickets on-site at machines.

Trains are quite complex, and the same line may have local, rapid, limited express, etc. (similar to express buses in China that skip smaller stops), but generally just follow the route provided by Google Maps. Also, some limited express trains require an additional limited express ticket (usually for inter-city travel), and also distinguish between reserved and non-reserved seats.

If you're planning ahead, you need to select the departure time on Google Maps - different departure times may result in very different recommended routes. Refer to the image below for boarding instructions. Note that in addition to the platform, you may also need to choose the correct train based on departure time, otherwise it may stop at different stations. The departure times provided by Google Maps are generally accurate (unless you're unlucky like me and encounter a typhoon), but I still recommend confirming the information on the platform signs.

Bus

Buses are relatively simpler. Generally, you board from the back and tap your card (some buses may not have a card reader at the entrance, so you don't need to). If the next stop is your destination, you need to press a button on the handrail or near the window - it will light up after pressing. Then tap your card and exit through the front door. Note that Japanese buses require you to wait until the bus has completely stopped before standing up to exit through the front door, otherwise the driver may scold you (although the driver said a lot, I only understood this general meaning).

If paying with cash, you need to take a small paper slip from the back door when boarding (if there's no machine, you don't need to either - these are fixed-fare routes), then drop coins according to the number on the slip when exiting.

Make a Plan

I recommend planning each day in advance, especially if you have many pilgrimage locations. Below is my one-day pilgrimage plan in Kyoto, though there were some oversights - for reference only.

Pilgrimage Map should be known by many who are going on pilgrimage, but it actually has a location feature! The friend who went to Toyohashi with me didn't even know about it.

The commute times in between can basically be checked in advance using Google Maps, and then search for others' experiences to estimate how long to stay at each point. Actually, the plan above also has some oversights, which I'll share here as experience.

1. Pay attention to the best time for each location. For example, I went to Demachi Shopping Street too late, and many shops were already closed, which made it less enjoyable.
2. Leave as much time as possible for each location. In the plan above, I left too little time for Kyoto Aquarium - it didn't feel worth buying a ticket so I gave up on entering.
3. Check in advance for renovations or similar situations. I couldn't visit the love success spot at Kiyomizu-dera, guess it wasn't meant to be.
4. You can check in advance if there are any events at your destinations. For example, Toyohashi has a Makeine heroine stamp rally.

Food

What's good to eat on pilgrimage? Usually convenience stores are fine.

Actually, you don't need to plan meals in advance. Just use Google Maps to search for nearby restaurants when it's mealtime.

Drinks are more convenient - you can buy them at convenience stores, and there are many vending machines. Insert coins and press the corresponding button, and the drink and change will come out from the bottom of the machine. Water and drinks in Japan are similarly priced, around ¥(JPY)100-150. Before returning to the hotel at night, you can buy 1-2L of water at a convenience store for around ¥(JPY)120, which is more economical.

References

1. Japan Travel Guide @bubbleioa

Photos

Finally, let me share a few pilgrimage photos.