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Posted
18 minutes ago, Mo Horn said:

Bumping this because I didn't get an answer about getting an e-visa vs just going through regular customs at the airport. Also, any suggestions on metro tickets. I see there's a 72 hour pass, but it looks like it doesn't work on all lines. What the easiest way to pay for the metro? 

E visa makes it a bit easier on landing. I did it and others who I know who have gone have done the same. Doesn't take too long to do and for me was better than having to think about after a long flight.

 

I just bought tickets every time I needed a trip on the metro. Don't reccomend that but there is a Suico card you can buy that can pay for all the lines. It's worth looking up a video or article on how the lines work as there are different companies operating different lines, even in the same station. But the metro is worth taking. Google maps is really useful for this and tells you when the next train arrives (and they're almost all on time), which car to enter, and which exit to take. 

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Posted
20 minutes ago, Mo Horn said:

Bumping this because I didn't get an answer about getting an e-visa vs just going through regular customs at the airport. Also, any suggestions on metro tickets. I see there's a 72 hour pass, but it looks like it doesn't work on all lines. What the easiest way to pay for the metro? 

I was in Japan a couple weeks ago. Easiest way to pay for metro is to download the Suica app. You can add funds from your phone as necessary and don't need to bother with a card. We did not use the e-visa and blasted through customs, but it's kind of luck of the draw.

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Posted
2 hours ago, Sweetnsourpoke said:

Which game? I'm going to the Chunichi game on the 23rd and then down in Yokohama on the 24th. I love Japanese baseball. You'll have a blast. 

We're going on the 22nd. We're in the orange section

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Posted
10 hours ago, rage-a-holic said:

How are the 7-11 egg salad sandwiches and the gacha machines?

Delicious and umm... fun if you're into collecting tchotchkes! Let see which of the big 3 convenience stores you end up liking the most. I've now gravitated to getting them from bakeries instead.

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Posted
On 3/11/2025 at 8:59 AM, Mo Horn said:

Bumping this because I didn't get an answer about getting an e-visa vs just going through regular customs at the airport. Also, any suggestions on metro tickets. I see there's a 72 hour pass, but it looks like it doesn't work on all lines. What the easiest way to pay for the metro? 

Shit--I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier.

We did the eVisa, and it makes immigration check an absolute breeze on arrival.  I would strongly recommend it.  Just from the looks of the line, I suspect it probably saved us an hour on arrival.

On the Metro tickets, on your iPhone, go to "Wallet" and hit the + on the top right corner.  Then go to "Transit Card" and scroll down to Japan.  You should get any one of Pasmo or Suica or Icoca.  It doesn't really matter.  Suica is put out by one of the Tokyo metro companies; Pasmo by one in Osaka.  But they're both good on any Metro system nationwide.

You fill them up with some $$ on the front end.  Then you just tap your phone at the entry and exit of the Metro.  That's it--super easy.

One other nice thing is that these IC cards (e.g., Suica and Pasmo) aren't just used at the Metro.  Every vending machine takes them.  So does 7-11.  I think taxis do, too.  So you just use your IC card on your iPhone kind like you would a pre-paid Apple Pay account for a lot of stuff.

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Posted
18 minutes ago, Ghost of LL said:

Shit--I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier.

We did the eVisa, and it makes immigration check an absolute breeze on arrival.  I would strongly recommend it.  Just from the looks of the line, I suspect it probably saved us an hour on arrival.

On the Metro tickets, on your iPhone, go to "Wallet" and hit the + on the top right corner.  Then go to "Transit Card" and scroll down to Japan.  You should get any one of Pasmo or Suica or Icoca.  It doesn't really matter.  Suica is put out by one of the Tokyo metro companies; Pasmo by one in Osaka.  But they're both good on any Metro system nationwide.

You fill them up with some $$ on the front end.  Then you just tap your phone at the entry and exit of the Metro.  That's it--super easy.

One other nice thing is that these IC cards (e.g., Suica and Pasmo) aren't just used at the Metro.  Every vending machine takes them.  So does 7-11.  I think taxis do, too.  So you just use your IC card on your iPhone kind like you would a pre-paid Apple Pay account for a lot of stuff.

I did the e visa and were ready to go with that. We have androids, so I'm hoping it will work the same way. I'll see what I can figure out. 

Posted (edited)
7 minutes ago, Mo Horn said:

It looks like it's not available for android. I saw the 3 day pass that can be bought. Will that work? 

It's not as convenient as having the card virtually on the iPhone but it'll still work as far as ease of getting through the metros. Not sure about the 7-11 and vending machine. Think you need to get an actual IC card and top off with cash for that. 

Edited by YChang
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Posted

Oh and double check which railway the pass does not cover... just in case there's a JR line for example your maps tell you to take and it's not part of the pass. 

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Posted
3 hours ago, Mo Horn said:

It looks like it's not available for android. I saw the 3 day pass that can be bought. Will that work? 

Yes and no.

It won't have the convenience of the IC Card.  You can acquire a physical IC Card at the train station and at a lot of convenience stores.  And I think that is preferable to a 3-day pass both (1) because the IC Card can be used for other things as outlined above and (2) I wouldn't exactly guarantee that the 3-day pass would be good on all lines.

As YChang alludes, the Tokyo Metro system isn't a single system.  It's a series of different railroad companies.  If you're familiar with the history of the London Underground, it's akin to what that was like before TfL consolidated everything.  So for one thing, it makes the Metro map really confusing (though actually it's not that hard once you are on the ground and get used to it).  But for another thing, they all have different fare regimes.  An IC Card will work for any of the operators.  But I'm not sure about a day pass.

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Posted

The Little Texas Bar in Meguro is kitschy as one can imagine. But what a trip. Sat next to a gorgeous brunette but alas the music was loud and my game is weak. But at least we chatted and had a few laughs. 😂

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Posted

Got to Tokyo yesterday. Pretty much just navigated the metro for the first time to our hotel and then walked around for a while. Didn't want anything to heavy so hit up a 7/11 for a rice triangle and an egg salad sandwich and then crashed. Will start exploring later today. 20250420_043831.thumb.jpg.5058abdc832bca6bbb457ceebf8eff8b.jpg

 

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Posted
7 hours ago, Mo Horn said:

Got to Tokyo yesterday. Pretty much just navigated the metro for the first time to our hotel and then walked around for a while. Didn't want anything to heavy so hit up a 7/11 for a rice triangle and an egg salad sandwich and then crashed. Will start exploring later today. 20250420_043831.thumb.jpg.5058abdc832bca6bbb457ceebf8eff8b.jpg

 

I could have said hello! But leaving Tokyo today for Kanazawa. 

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Posted

Did a couple of temples and shrines today and more wandering. Found a great place for lunch bowls. Tonight we're doing a multi course dinner with unlimited sake. This is a great city. 20250421_130403.thumb.jpg.9d61151f6473d57d2e44a3565316b54c.jpg20250421_130401.thumb.jpg.43fbb1a7527fdf3e1694229775fada08.jpg20250421_130358.thumb.jpg.43bb803b0ddc2a1259c4cd8665cc6b97.jpg20250421_100208.thumb.jpg.dea3b1d50e9d004174c07d191898299e.jpg20250421_104047.thumb.jpg.0a7c833b601b9fb15aa3248249cf81bd.jpg20250421_104008.thumb.jpg.8cd0c27104b9951e5161cb04f9fbf98b.jpg20250421_110804.thumb.jpg.2648347f28963a1f43cbd7cda8a2c3dc.jpg

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Posted
On 4/20/2025 at 1:29 PM, Mo Horn said:

Got to Tokyo yesterday. Pretty much just navigated the metro for the first time to our hotel and then walked around for a while. Didn't want anything to heavy so hit up a 7/11 for a rice triangle and an egg salad sandwich and then crashed. Will start exploring later today. 20250420_043831.thumb.jpg.5058abdc832bca6bbb457ceebf8eff8b.jpg

 

Boy, when someone says Rice Triangle to me, that is not what crosses my mind. 

And I've been to Japan. Hell, BECAUSE I've been to Japan. 

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