✈️ Don't take a direct flight just to skip a layover — many tourists pay $1,200 round trip for that. A flight with a layover in China or Korea gets you the same destination for half the price. 🛬 Don't land at Narita either. It sounds cheap but it's far from Tokyo — 1h30 train, $15-20 in transport, rough start to the trip. Land at Haneda instead. 25 minutes to Tokyo, faster, way less travel stress. 🍣 Don't eat at the tourist chains — Kura Sushi, the Instagram cafés, McDonald's. That's not what Japan actually tastes like. Eat at a local izakaya instead: small restaurants, real atmosphere, better food, cheaper, and an experience that's actually authentic. 🏨 Don't stay in the typical tourist hotels — $100/night for a room you can barely move in. Rent an apartment instead in neighborhoods like Ikebukuro, Nippori, or Kinshicho. Roughly half the price and several times the space. 🚄 Don't auto-buy the JR Pass. It used to be worth it, but prices have changed and a lot of travelers lose money on it now. A Suica card works just as well for Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka — simpler, more flexible, and cheaper. 🌸 Don't assume cherry blossom season is the move. Yes it's beautiful, but prices spike and tourists are everywhere. I'm not fully certain on this, but going in November or February might actually get you fewer crowds, cheaper flights, and a quieter atmosphere — worth looking into before you commit to peak season. 📶 Don't rely on pocket WiFi — extra device, battery issues, expensive deposits, feels outdated at this point. Use a Japan-specific eSIM instead: instant internet, nothing to carry, faster and cheaper. Follow for more 🦌 #JapanTravel #JapanTips #TravelHacks #esimjapan #Tokyo - @rileyjotravels