*procrastinates on Japanese homework by giving advice on travelling to Japan*
First, let me link Wikivoyage's article on Japan, specifically the
Get In. The "Get around" one you may want to skim as well for the relevant bits. I don't know how often the article updates, so
caveat lector.
As stated in Get In, you need to fill in a
rujinka (entrance card) when you get in. If you don't get motion sick easily (or will take meds for the flight), bring a pen. The flight attendants pass it out toward the end of the flight but may or may not pass around enough pens. Not having a pen, of course, is not a big deal, but I've found it helpful. (On the way back, too, for filling out U.S. customs declaration forms.)
Find a way to sleep/keep awake on the plane to reduce jet lag. It's going to be hard because flights dim lights (and serve meals, I think) based on the time zone you left, not the destination's. (Which never made sense to me but okay.)
Generally what happens when you enter is you fill out the
rujinka (if you haven't already on the plane), then get in line to be fingerprinted and photographed, then line up for the border agents to staple/stick a little visa (?) to your passport. (In other countries, it is usually an ink stamp. Anyway, this doubles as a cool souveneir and haphazard travel log.) After that, you get your checked bags from the carrousel (I think? My memory leaves something to be desired, haha) and go through customs. (They just ask if you're transporting x, y, or z.) Oh! Since you're in the airport, probably people speak some English, enough to help.
Anyway, then you're in Japan! Exchange money here. You could probably also buy a data plan or portable Wifi here, but I haven't used these, so I'm not sure how they work. (You can check out Wikivoyage, probably.) Someone travelling to Europe once suggested getting a Google Voice; maybe that would help you, too?
Speaking of Europe: I find Rick Steve's general tips helpful even when not going to Europe. (He has a packing list, one general and one for women.) For example, he says to travel light, and I've found that helpful!...mainly so I don't have to wait at the carrousel for checked bags. (I have a carry-on of the max size with my essentials and my personal item.) Some people even buy more suitcases in Japam for souvenirs, hahahaha, so if you bring less, you have more room for them! Plus, you can buy what you forget (within reason...you don't want to deal with something urgent and a language barrier).
Ah, I've always been on a tour when I went to Japan, so they arranged transportation. The Wikivoyage "Get around" section should help. You might want to look up the article for the city (e.g. Tokyo) and skim that one, too. You could probably ask the information desk right at the airport exit. They would probably know English, right? (And you probably can figure out how to say "How does one go to {hotel name} [by train].") And the Japanese have a great reputation in terms of customer service.
Wikivoyage also has a Japanese language guide; you might find a way to print it out
the phrase list as a cheat sheet?
Sorry for the disorganized info dump. Have fun!
