Suica, PASMO or ICOCA: which IC card to actually buy in 2026
Every card rides the same network, so the choice is really about where you buy it, whether it goes on your phone, and where you can get your money back.
JAPAN · PRACTICAL GUIDES
Guides for a trip to Japan.
Tax-free shopping, trains and IC cards, airports, food and where to stay. Plain guides to the parts of a Japan trip that cost you money or time when you get them wrong.
01What's new
Narita vs Haneda vs Kansai: which airport lands you closest to your hotel
Haneda is 11 minutes from Shinagawa; Narita is an hour and ¥3,140; Kansai is the direct line to Kyoto. Real door-to-door numbers, and which one to book.
Japan's tax-free shopping changes on 1 November 2026
From 1 Nov the refund moves to the airport, the window goes 30 → 90 days, and the sealed-bag rule disappears. Here is what you actually do at the counter and at customs.
02Discount All discount guides
Japan's tax-free shopping changes on 1 November 2026
From 1 Nov the refund moves to the airport, the window goes 30 → 90 days, and the sealed-bag rule disappears. Here is what you actually do at the counter and at customs.
03Transport All transport guides
Suica, PASMO or ICOCA: which IC card to actually buy in 2026
Every card rides the same network, so the choice is really about where you buy it, whether it goes on your phone, and where you can get your money back.
Narita vs Haneda vs Kansai: which airport lands you closest to your hotel
Haneda is 11 minutes from Shinagawa; Narita is an hour and ¥3,140; Kansai is the direct line to Kyoto. Real door-to-door numbers, and which one to book.
Experience
Food
Stays
Nothing filed under that yet.