Google Fi just works. You turn on your phone in the airplane and it says, “you are in a new place. Setting up. Your phone service will cost [same as at home]”. That’s by memory, and the actual words are different, but that’s what it says.
When I last visited Tokyo, a Japanese friend took us to Kamakura (the Great Buddha statue is impressive) and Enoshima, a small island that’s a real change of pace. It was an hour or so from the urban area but felt like we were in the countryside:
And if you feel like splurging on a memorable meal, you could try kaiseki. You can pay several hundred dollars or more if you go high end, but googling shows some in the $50-80 range. And it’s really a specially put together menu and combination; I still remember the one that friends took us to 25 years ago.
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/kaiseki-guide
This is interesting, I wonder if it has changed. When I was traveling fairly frequently to Japan, 10 to 20 years ago, the only ATMs that would give me cash with an American debit card were at the post offices. There are a lot more 7-11s than post offices, so this would certainly be an improvement.
When i was there ~10 years ago, the post office couldn’t process my debit card. I went to dozens of banks with no joy. My vacation was rescued by @TokyoBayer , who suggested i try 7-11, which worked every time.
We were there last year and our friend that lives in Tokyo suggested we use 7-11 as well and we did for the entire trip.
I lived in Tokyo for over 20 years but currently don’t so unfortunately I can’t give you the latest information about restaurants.
A few questions:
What kinds of things do you like to do?
Do you drink?
How fit are you? Can you walk around all day?
Are you sightseeing the whole time or is this a business trip as well?
Do you want to see nature? Historic buildings? Do like to see many things or go slower and see fewer?
Are you all set for the hotels or can you turn a day trip into an overnight one?
For outside the city, I prefer Hakone over Nikko. I would do an overnight if you could but it’s possible to do it in a day trip. I love the outdoor museum there. There is a course you can go one with a ropeway and a boat on Lake Ashinoko. It’s got really nice hot springs and Fujiya Hotel, one of my favorite hotels in Japan.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatories are free and offer a great view. It’s about 10 minutes from Shinjuku.
There is a really cool boat ride from near Senso-ji temple down the Sumida River and down to Hamarikyu gardens. Kind of a quiet place in Tokyo and close to the Tsukiji fish market. I haven’t been to that market since it was redone, but I’m sure there are lots of information online.
Kamakura is really cool and although it’s a ways out of Tokyo, it’s good.
Yokohama is good, with the Minatomirai area as well as the Yamate historical area on the bluff overlooking the bay.
I’ve always liked the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum. It’s a former residence of Prince Asaka, and was built in the 1930s, so it’s Western style rather than old Japanese.
If you find yourself near the area, there is a really cool place, Canal Cafe by the outer moat of the castle and right next to Iidabashi station. The food isn’t particularly special, but I just like the quiet location on the canal.
It’s right next to Kagurazaka (神楽坂) neighborhood. Nice place to shop a bit.
There’s Mt. Takao close to Tokyo with some good hiking.
If you can say what kinds of things you are interested in, then it’s easier to make more suggestions.
When I lived in Tokyo, I loved going around to various local coffee shops. There were a lot of them where the owner would work by themselves and be incredibly particular about the coffee. Unfortunately, the come and go so googling is the only way to find what are available now.
The Chidori-ga-fuchi area is absolutely stunning during the cherry blossom season, and although you are too late for it, it’s still a nice area. They have small row boats you can rent to go on the moat.
I like Daiba, although it’s probably not that special for most people. A little park Daiba Park, built on a tiny island that was a fort constucted to defend Edo (Tokyo). There is more shopping there, of course.
You want to go to an izakaya type of restaurant. They have many kinds of small dishes and you typically order a bunch of things with your friends.
You should try yakitori restaurants, which is various parts of chicken skewered on sticks and cooked over charcoal.
Near Meiji shrine is Takeshita doori (street), a place where them young kids hang out and buy strange fashion. Interesting peak into Japanese culture. Buy a crepe there.
Too late for cherry blossoms, but the timing is about right for hydrangeas. Kamakura is particularly beautiful this time of year.
We considered a day trip to Hakone, but Nikko was much easier to get to (and from) with our Japan Rail pass (if I recall correctly).
Note that many conveyor belt sushi places are converting to deliver my hand after ordering.
Some asshat posted a video of him licking sushi and replacing it back in the conveyor belt and it cost hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars in lost revenue to the chain.
If the OP is sticking around Tokyo, they may not need a Japan Rail pass.
A lot of people like Nikko, and it’s a nice place to visit.
I love onsen hot springs, and recommend visitors try one. Recently, there are some that are quite elaborate.
I’m a big fan of eSIMs, and always use them. But, YMMV.
There are a number of sites that list exhibitions in Tokyo. Some of them look interesting.
We combined a day trip to Chinatown and the Tin Toy Museum in Yokohama with a hike through the flower fields in Kurihama. All accessible with our rail pass. On a hill at the top of Flower World is a small playground that features a towering Godzilla. If so inclined, you can crawl through his crotch and slide down his tail.
Your juxtaposition of the Godzilla and the power lines is inspired. Congrats on a great shot!!
I found the above image with a Google search. The one I took is even more awesome.
Japan Rail Pass is not the deal it once was. It rarely pays off relative to single tickets. There are handy calculators like this one to see if it will work for you: Japan Rail Pass Calculator - find out whether a JR Pass pays off
Even back in the 80s it depended on where you were going. If you knew what you were doing and where you were going it, then it could be cheaper to just busy tickets. With the Internet it’s much easier to calculate now.
If the OP is going to mostly hang out in Tokyo then it’s likely to be cheaper to just buy tickets.
Likewise, if the day trip is to Hakone, then the most convenient train is Odakyu Line and not JR.
The one week JR pass always seems to be a bit more expensive than a round trip Shinkansen ticket Tokyo-Kyoto. So if you go at least that far, and ride some other JR trains during your drip you can do a bit better than break even.
If you go much further (say Tokyo-Hiroshima) in that week the pass will usually be cheaper.
That is, without a doubt, the most beautiful place I have ever seen.
Things may have changed but when I wanted to go by subway, I had to pay getting on and also getting off. The first was a standard fare, but the latter depended on distance and I found it convenient to offer the fare collector a handful of change in my palm and let them take what they want.
I went from Tokyo to Kyoto, and back, and on to the airport, and i found it cheaper to just buy individual tickets. That was some years ago, though.
It’s been mentioned above by someone but they now have passes that you can add money to and then just top up when needed.
In Tokyo, they are called Suica and there are some others. It used to be that JR lines were separate than other lines, but it’s all the same now. They are really convenient.
Good to know. I remember that confused and/or annoyed me when I visited Tokyo.