Before you go
The list to finish in New York. Everything else can be fixed in Japan.
The flights confirmed
| Leg | Flight | Depart | Arrive | Seat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out, Sunday night Nov 1 | ANA NH159 | JFK Terminal 7, 12:55 AM Mon Nov 2 | Haneda 5:25 AM Tue Nov 3 | 31A |
| Home, Thu Nov 19 | ANA NH110 | Haneda Terminal 3, 11:35 AM | JFK Terminal 7, 10:30 AM same day | 31H |
Be at JFK by 10:00 PM on Sunday, Nov 1. Reservation code D79KKA. Confirm the Haneda arrival terminal at check-in. Be at Haneda by 9:00 AM on the 19th.
Documents
- Passports for both of you. Renew any that expire before mid-2027. Carry it at all times in Japan.
- Travel insurance. Hospitals make visitors pay up front. At least $50,000 medical and $100,000 evacuation.
- Visit Japan Web: fill it in the week before and screenshot each QR code.
Medicine read this
- Banned, people get arrested: Adderall, Vyvanse, Dexedrine.
- Also banned: Sudafed and any allergy pill ending in "-D" (Claritin-D, Zyrtec-D, Allegra-D), Advil Cold and Sinus.
- Regular prescriptions: up to a 1-month supply is fine, in the original bottles, with a copy of the prescription.
- EpiPens or insulin need a permit from Japan. Apply about 4 weeks ahead.
Phones, plugs, power banks
- T-Mobile international plan on both phones, set up before Sunday. Keep the US numbers on; texts and the apps keep working in Japan.
- Suica in Apple Wallet on each iPhone. It pays for trains, subways, convenience stores and vending machines.
- No converters needed. Japan uses the same two flat prongs. A three-prong plug needs an $8 adapter. Leave hair tools home, they run weak.
- Bring one USB brick with 3 or 4 ports, about $25. Rooms have few outlets.
- Power bank rules on ANA: carry-on only, max 2 each, keep it at your seat and not in the overhead bin, and you can't use it during the flight.
Apps, money, clothes
- Apps: Google Maps, Google Translate (download offline Japanese), the official Universal Studios Japan app, GO for taxis, Uber, Klook, GetYourGuide.
- A card with no foreign transaction fees. Tell the bank. Carry $65 to $130 (¥10,000 to ¥20,000) cash each, from 7-Eleven ATMs. A coin purse each.
- November: days 63 to 66°F, nights 46 to 50°F. Light jacket, layers, shoes that slip off easily, socks without holes, sneakers for the karts.
- Suitcases: length plus width plus height under 160 cm (63 in). Bigger needs an extra bullet train reservation.
- Tax-free changed Nov 1: pay full price, get the tax back at Haneda before checking bags. Keep receipts and keep the items in carry-on.