Preface

This guide is based on my pilgrimage experience in Osaka-Kyoto-Toyohashi this year, representing my personal experience at that time and place. It does not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of all information and is for reference only.

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

Things to Prepare Before Departure

Passport

The passport should have blank pages and be valid for more than six months. For first-time visa applications, parents must be contacted regardless of age. Please communicate with your parents in advance before applying.

Visa

Currently, Japanese visas must be processed through travel agencies. The single-entry tourist visa is currently the most convenient option. I applied through a certain platform (commonly referred to as "Pig"), paying ¥(CNY)201. I submitted the required documents according to the agency's list and mailed my passport. After waiting, the agency returned my passport.

The entire process took over a week. I sent my passport on Friday and received it back on Wednesday of the third week after (12 days, 8 working days).

The single-entry tourist visa is electronic and will be sent to your email. Please save a screenshot and consider printing it out for emergencies.

Flights and Accommodation

Flights and hotels can be searched for discounted rates via various travel platforms. It is recommended to book in advance. Keep the hotel confirmation email for potential future needs.

Since I traveled during the off-season, flight and hotel prices were relatively low: round-trip flights cost ¥(CNY)1026, and four nights of accommodation cost ¥(CNY)1046.

Note that Japanese hotels may charge an additional ¥(JPY)200 tax upon check-in, even if taxes were already included when booking online. Also, unlike in China, check-in times are usually late and check-out times early. Please confirm these times in advance and plan your daily itinerary accordingly.

Backpack

Used to carry various items. Since low-cost airlines have strict baggage rules, it's recommended to use a small suitcase or hiking backpack. Although there is a 7kg weight limit, weighing is rarely enforced—just ensure the size isn't excessively large.

Given the numerous pilgrimage sites I visited, dragging a suitcase would have been very inconvenient. Therefore, I bought a 32L hiking backpack in advance for ¥(CNY)350. This size comfortably fits four sets of summer clothing and some personal items.

Japanese Cash

It is strongly recommended to carry some Japanese cash. Due to spending two and a half days in Toyohashi, a small city, I found that most places outside convenience stores require cash payments. Additionally, it was difficult to find machines that support Alipay or WeChat Pay for transit card top-ups. I carried ¥(JPY)20,000 in cash for five days but ran out of money on the last day, needing to withdraw from my UnionPay card. The minimum withdrawal amount was ¥(JPY)10,000, leaving me with ¥(JPY)8,000 in cash upon returning home.

My exchange rate comparison: Visa credit card < Alipay << UnionPay ATM withdrawal << airport currency exchange. Avoid exchanging money at airports if possible—the rates are high, plus a 5.57% markup and ¥(JPY)800 fee. In contrast, UnionPay ATM withdrawals offer normal rates, with only a 1% markup and ¥(CNY)12 fee, which seems much more reasonable.

Note: The Visa credit card mentioned here refers to one pre-loaded with yen via prior foreign exchange purchase. If you have sufficient balance, the actual exchange rate used when swiping is unclear to me.

Other Essentials

1. Extra Clothing: Most Japanese hotels have washing machines and dryers (confirm when booking). A wash typically costs around ¥(JPY)300, so you don’t need to bring too many clothes. Disposable underwear and socks are highly recommended—they’re very convenient. Shoes must be comfortable; I walked over 40,000 steps in Kyoto alone, and both feet developed blisters.
2. Electronic Devices: Phone, charger, power bank, laptop, etc. Two-prong plugs work directly without adapters. (I brought a laptop for card copying purposes; otherwise, it wasn’t used much—bring based on your own needs.)
3. Visit Japan Web: Fill out vjw in advance and save the QR code screenshot. You won’t need to fill out an entry card upon arrival, saving significant time.
4. UnionPay Card and Foreign Currency Credit Cards: Use UnionPay for cash withdrawals and credit cards for better exchange rates. If supported, prioritize using credit cards.
5. SIM Card: Purchase in advance domestically. I bought mine on JD.com and received it the next day. Generally, hotel WiFi usage doesn’t consume much data—my 5-day trip used only 4.23 GB.
6. Roaming Service: Recommended to activate roaming services before departure. If your purchased SIM card doesn’t work (a friend experienced this), you’ll still have a backup. Don’t just enable voice and SMS roaming—data roaming must also be activated (untested, but Telecom had no signal without it).
7. Google Maps: Essential for route planning.
8. Translation App: Recommend apps with photo and conversation translation features—useful if you encounter staff who don’t speak English. (Of course, in most cases, this won’t be necessary.)
9. Trash Bags: There are no public trash bins in Japan—only recycling bins for drink bottles. Carry trash bags with you to collect waste and dispose of it at your hotel later.

Transportation

Don’t consider taking taxis in Japan unless you have substantial budget—even public transport prices are slightly lower than domestic taxi fares.

Transit Card

iPhone users can directly set up Suica cards on their phones.

Other phone users need physical cards. Do not buy them domestically—they are more expensive. After arriving, you can get one at ticket machines in the airport for ¥(JPY)500, though payment is likely only in cash. You can search online (e.g., on Xiaohongshu) to see if any machines at your arrival airport accept other payment methods (cash is precious—avoid using it if possible, see above).

In Kansai, ICOCA cards are issued; in Kanto, Suica cards. But they function similarly.

Transit fees in Japan are relatively high. It’s recommended to top up generously at the airport. I spent nearly ¥(JPY)20,000 in just five days.

If you stay within one city per day, search for local one-day passes (example keyword: Toyohashi 1-day Pass). These cost around ¥(JPY)1,000 and pay for themselves after 5–6 rides, but check the coverage area and consider whether it fits your travel plan.

If your phone supports NFC, download the Japan Transit Card Balance Checker in advance.

For your final few trips, calculate the fare in advance. You can ask staff to top up with as little as ¥(JPY)30. I returned with zero balance on my card (due to insufficient cash, I had no choice but to ask staff to top up enough for my final ride to Toyohashi Station).

Shinkansen

The Shinkansen is equivalent to China’s high-speed rail. Tickets can be purchased directly at stations and cannot be used with the above transit cards. Select your destination and departure time on the machine, then receive the ticket shown below.

The ticket shown above involves transfers: board NOZOMI 80 at Kyoto Station at 9:01, car 12, seat 3-A. Arrive at Nagoya (NAGOYA) at 9:34, 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 trains are on opposite platforms at the same station—manageable.

When purchasing, you’ll be asked to choose between reserved seats (指定席) and non-reserved seats (非指定席). Non-reserved seats are slightly cheaper (though the difference is minor) and allow you to sit in designated cars, but seat availability depends on circumstances.

Trains

Japanese trains can be paid for using the above transit cards or by buying tickets at machines.

Train systems are quite complex, and the same line may have different types like local, rapid, and express (similar to China’s express bus service). However, following Google Maps’ route recommendations usually works fine. Some express trains require an additional express ticket (typically for intercity travel), which also has reserved and non-reserved options.

If planning ahead, select your departure time in Google Maps—different departure times may result in significantly different recommended routes. Refer to the diagram below for riding instructions. Note that besides platform numbers, you may also need to check the departure time to ensure you board the correct train, as different trains stop at different stations. Google Maps’ departure times are generally accurate (unless, like me, you’re unlucky enough to encounter typhoons), but always verify the platform signage.

Buses

Buses are relatively simpler. Board from the rear and tap your card (some buses lack card readers, so no action needed). If your stop is next, press a button on the handrail or window—once pressed, it lights up—and then tap your card at the front door when exiting.

Note: Japanese buses require passengers to wait until the vehicle stops completely before standing up to exit the front door, or you may be scolded by the driver (although the driver spoke in detail, I only understood the general meaning).

If paying in cash, take a small paper ticket from the back door upon boarding (not needed if no machine is present—fixed-rate lines). Then, when exiting, insert coins according to the number on the ticket.

Plan Ahead

It’s recommended to prepare daily plans in advance, especially if visiting many pilgrimage sites. Below is my one-day pilgrimage plan in Kyoto, though there are some oversights—please treat it as a reference.

Map of Pilgrimage Sites is well-known among many pilgrims, but did you know it has location-based functionality? My fellow pilgrim to Toyohashi didn’t even know this!

Commuting times can mostly be pre-checked using Google Maps, then cross-reference with others’ experiences to estimate how long each site takes to visit. The above plan still has some gaps—I share these as lessons learned:

1. Be mindful of optimal visiting times for each site—for example, I arrived too late at Higashiyama Shopping Street, and many shops had already closed, reducing the fun.
2. Allow extra time at each site. The time allocated for Kyoto Aquarium was too short—spending money on the ticket felt unjustified, so I gave up entering.
3. Check in advance if any site is under renovation. I couldn’t visit the Love Achieved Spot at Kiyomizu-dera—destined to miss it, as they say.
4. Look into events at your destinations. Toyohashi hosted a Bishoujo Girl Stamp Rally.

Dining

What to eat on pilgrimage? Usually, convenience stores suffice.

Actually, no need to pre-plan meals. Just search nearby restaurants using Google Maps when it’s mealtime.

Drinks are easy to obtain—available at convenience stores and vending machines. Insert coins and press the corresponding button; the machine will dispense your drink and change. Drink prices in Japan are similar—around ¥(JPY)100–150. Buy a 1–2L bottle of water before returning to your hotel in the evening—it costs about ¥(JPY)120 and is quite economical.

References (x)

1. Neon Travel Guide @ bubbleioa

Photos

Finally, sharing a few photos from the pilgrimage journey.