💡 Tips & Essentials

🌤️ July Weather Strategy

Hot and humid (30-35°C / 86-95°F). Strategy: heavy indoor activities midday, outdoor stuff early morning or evening. Rainy season typically ends early-mid July.

🎒 Packing Essentials

Portable fan + cooling towels — lifesaver in July heat

Refillable water bottle

Comfortable walking shoes — 15,000-25,000 steps on big days

Small backpack or crossbody — for daily merch purchases

Extra foldable duffel bag — for getting all that merch home

Portable charger — phone is your map, camera, translator

Rain jacket / compact umbrella

Light layers — AC is FREEZING inside, scorching outside

💴 Money

Cash still important for small shops, temples, vending machines. Withdraw yen at 7-Eleven ATMs (Visa/MC accepted, low fees). Credit cards accepted at major stores/hotels/restaurants.

📶 Internet

Rent Pocket WiFi at Haneda (¥500-1,000/day / ~$3-7 for family) or get eSIM before departure (Ubigi, Airalo).

📱 Apps to Download

Google Maps — Download offline Japan maps

NAVITIME — Train/bus schedules

Google Translate — Download Japanese for offline camera

Suica app — If using Mobile Suica on iPhone

Klook / KKday — Last-minute tickets