The first days in Japan, in the right order.

Margins & Maps is an independent English-language guide to the practical side of arriving in Japan: getting online, choosing a transit card, carrying a little cash, moving your luggage, and getting to your hotel. Every fact links to an official source, with the date we checked it.

Start here

Arrival day in Japan: a step-by-step order for your first hours

Land, connect, transit card, cash, luggage, hotel. Short decision tables for each step, linked to the official pages.

Coming next

Transit IC cards by device: physical cards, iPhone Wallet, and phones bought outside Japan
eSIM, SIM, or pocket Wi-Fi: choosing a day-one connection
Choosing a Tokyo base: what changes between areas on a practical level

How we work

One official source per fact, a "last checked" date on every page, no invented numbers, and a person approves every page before it goes live. Read the editorial policy.