Editing Draft:Japan

== Locations ==

=== Tokyo ===

==== Akihabara ====
Akihabara ([https://www.google.com/maps/@35.69867,139.7715574,3a,75y,278.02h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1szmoeN2rL8CvqQZhv6saqjQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DzmoeN2rL8CvqQZhv6saqjQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D279.84473%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?coh=205409&entry=ttu google street view]), nickname '''akiba''', is the capital of anime/otaku culture. Ikebekuro and den den town claim to be like Akiba but are a far cry.

==== Harajuku ====
Harajuku is an excellent place to get clothes.

==== Observatories ====
Sunshine 60 (located in Ikebukuro, tickets ¥700 weekdays, ¥900 weekends) has a "park" at the top with a very nice atmosphere, mounds of artificial grass with children playing on them, soft chairs, not very busy, reviewed [https://open.substack.com/pub/tetraspacegrouping/p/sunshine-60-observatory-tenbou-park here]. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (located in Nishishinjuku, tickets ¥0, 5-30 min line reported live [https://www.yokoso.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/tenbou/index.html here]) is located in a denser part of Tokyo and is more tourism-oriented.

=== Osaka ===

== Logistics ==

=== Getting there ===
Zipair ([https://www.zipair.net/en/ticket/fare#tokyoSanFranciscoLine pricing information]) operates a San Francisco to Tokyo Narita (SFO→NRT) flight and how far ahead a flight is booked generally does not affect its price on Zipair. Chinese air carriers (Air China, China Eastern, China Southern) operate the cheapest flights from London to Tokyo which are also not particularly variable in price, typically with layovers of a few hours in China and flight times of about 18 hours. 

=== Telecommunications ===
Get a SIM card at a local convenience store. Ask for a "SIM kado." WiFi Box and SIM cards at the airport tend to be much more expensive.

The Kesei Skyliner train and Lawson convenience stores usually have wifi.

=== Housing ===
Hotels are generally cheaper than AirBnB. Space tends to disappear than in other locales, so book ahead to save money and have more options available. 

Distance to a train station is one of the important metrics for finding housing; the two steep slopes in travel-effort are the slope in walking distance from the hotel and then the step from having to get on a train. When booking ahead it's possible to get cheap housing in the commercial area surrounding the train station. Point-to-point travel in Tokyo usually requires at most one transfer. The [[commons:File:Yamanote_Line_(April_2020).svg|Yamanote line]] contains a lot of the good places to go in Tokyo: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, Ikebukuro, Akihabara. 

Don't get APA, don't get a smoking room 

=== Food ===
Food is generally very cheap. For specific recommendations, [[Japan/Restaurants|check out the dedicated article]].

==== Fast food ====
Ramen, conveyor belt sushi, and chain restaurants like MOS Burger, Yakiniku Like, McDonald's, and KFC are your best bet for obtaining food cheaply (1000¥ or less) and quickly.

==== '''Convenience Stores meals''' ====
The major Japanese convenience stores like 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart typically mark down their prepared meals (bento boxes, side dishes etc...), in the evening hours as they approach their expiration time. These discounts, indicated by bright yellow or red stickers showing both the original and reduced prices, usually start around 8-9 PM and can range from 20-50% off. 

So if you are on a tight budget, this is a good option.

==== Lunch ====
Many fancy restaurants that typically charge 10,000-20,000¥ charge merely 1000-4000¥ during lunch due to lower demand.

==== Dinner ====
Many places are fully booked and turn away customers at night– book a reservation ahead of time.

=== Connectivity ===

==== eSIM ====
Lowest cost: Airalo, Saily (KDDI / Softbank) - Global

Fastest speed, lowest congestion: Sakura Mobile (IIJ / NTT Docomo) - Japan only

Parties of meshers should try to diversify networks to avoid congestion and stay resilient

==== Physical SIM ====
You can get one at a local konbini after arriving. The Keisei Express from Narita has Wi-Fi.

[https://esim.me/ eSIM.me] offers a physical SIM card that allows you to install eSIM profiles

==== Phone number ====
Getting a Japanese phone number usually takes significant work. Use your hotel phone number and room extension instead.

==== WiFi Box ====
Not recommended due to high cost

== References ==
[https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Tokyo?displayCurrency=USD Numbeo - Compare Cost of Living in Tokyo to your city]