Japan is a wide vast country made up of prefectures – each offering up their own unique natural wonders. The capital of this amazing country is the largest city, Tokyo. In true metropolitan style, Tokyo mixes the modern with the traditional – skyscrapers and neon signs with cherry blossom trees and temples.
Amidst the hustle and bustle, Tokyo is known for its food scene, cleanliness, helpful people and disciplined system. Yet, in the largest city in Japan, where the language is completely foreign to most tourists, care needs to be taken to ensure that you are not left wandering blindly. So if you’re planning to travel to Tokyo, how do you not get lost?
You can get a Tokyo Handy Guide and a Handy Map for free at most tourist offices, so make the most of them and plan your route beforehand. Tokyo has limited wifi access in the streets and restaurants, unlike other countries, so unless you rent wifi at a cost, make sure to do your planning in advance so that you don’t panic when Google Maps doesn’t work.
Different lines are run by different companies –hence needing different tickets –and with their colour coding and numbering and lettering organisation, it may all seem like too much to take at first, but they make perfect sense, and for ease in travelling, once you figure it out.
Japan doesn’t believe in street names and their numbering systems for buildings is rather complex. This makes finding where you want to go a bit of a task. With some signs in English as well as Japanese, make sure you are aware of where you are, and take note of any landmarks in the area. Get someone at the information desk to circle your hotel on your map, so that if you do get lost, avail the helpful people on the streets to point you in the right direction. Write down the exit number of the metro station that is closest to your hotel, and the line that gets you there, to save a lot of time spent aimlessly wandering.
Tokyo has one of the friendliest and helpful populations, so make the most of them and just ask. A lot of them do speak English – especially those at your hotel – and even if they don’t just use your Tokyo Handy Guide to point and ask for directions. Japanese people are very non-threatening, even if their foreign letters seem overwhelming to us!
If you think trying to always stay above ground is exhausting, and just want a break, Tokyo offers a wonderful service to foreigners called Tokyo Free Guides. The service is exactly as its name states –a free English-speaking guide, where your only charges are their metro fair and meals. It’s a fabulous offer even if you take it for just a day!
The people are very helpful, crime rates are very low in Tokyo, and whether it is night or day, there is always something to do. Besides, getting lost and wandering is all part of the travel experience!
