Navigating Japan

Before you fly

• Check entry requirements for your passport. Complete arrival information through the official Visit Japan Web service where applicable; it is not a visa.
• Arrange roaming, an eSIM or a SIM. Download maps and save your hotel address in Japanese before leaving the airport.
• Save your camp meeting point and transfer instructions. Do not assume airport or station pickup is included — follow your booking’s travel details.

Trains and board bags

• A transport IC card such as Suica or PASMO is useful for many local trains, buses and small purchases. Acceptance is not universal. It is not a Shinkansen ticket.
• For intercity travel, check the train operator and buy the correct ticket or reservation. Do not assume a rail pass is the cheapest choice for your route.
• On the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen, ordinary luggage over 160 cm and up to 250 cm in combined length + width + height needs a seat with an oversized-baggage area. Sports equipment has separate provisions: check your snowboard bag with the operator. Reserve an oversized-baggage seat if you want to use that space. Other routes have different rules.
• For luggage forwarding, ask your hotel whether it accepts deliveries and confirm arrival time with the carrier. Send ahead early enough; keep medication, essentials and your first night’s kit with you.

Find the right exit

• Use Google Maps or Japan Travel by NAVITIME for train routes. Check the line, direction, platform and station exit — large stations have several entrances.
• Search your exact hotel, not just the resort name. Save a screenshot of its Japanese name, address and phone number for taxis.
• Keep a screenshot of the last bus timetable. Mountain buses can be infrequent; snow and traffic can delay them.

Carry some yen

• Cards are common in cities, but small restaurants, buses and mountain businesses may be cash-only. Keep yen as backup.
• Check your card’s overseas fees and ATM withdrawal limits before you travel. A shop’s foreign-currency conversion can differ from your bank’s rate.
• Check hotel cancellation terms, breakfast and room occupancy before paying. A price per person is not the same as a price per room.

The last ride to the mountain

• Check your destination’s official transport page for seasonal timetables and board-bag allowances. Reserve a seat where required; do not plan around the last possible connection.
• If you are not experienced with snow and ice, choose a bus, train or professional transfer rather than driving.
• If renting, confirm valid driving documents, winter tyres and any chain requirements with the rental company. Check weather and road closures on the day. An international permit must be valid for Japan; not every permit is accepted.

If something goes wrong

Japan Visitor Hotline: +81 50 3816 2787 · 24 hours · English, Chinese and Korean. For a mountain accident, alert ski patrol and your coach; provide the resort, lift/run and exact location. Keep your insurer’s emergency number saved.