What do you need in Tokyo?
- Layover duration
24 hours on the current EK schedule — Emirates does not fly 48h into Tokyo
- Currency
Japanese Yen (JPY)
- Language
Japanese. English: limited outside tourist areas. Useful phrase: "Sumimasen" (excuse me / sorry / attention please — the most useful word in Japan)
- Time vs Dubai
GST +5 hours
- Airports
NRT (Narita, 60-90 min from city) for EK318 A380 services; HND (Haneda, 15-30 min) for EK312 777 services
- Best months
March, April, October, November — cherry blossoms in early April, golden ginkgo in November
- Worst months
August (humid, 32°C+) and February (cold, occasional snow)
- Connectivity
Good · Airalo Japan 1GB/7 days $4.50, 3GB/30 days $11
- VPN
Not essential — unrestricted internet, all apps work
- Tipping
not customary anywhere. Service charge already included; leaving change can be insulting at small establishments. Round up taxis if you must.
- Tap water
drinkable everywhere — among the cleanest tap water on the catalog
- Plug type
Type A (two flat pins, US-style). Your Dubai adapter does not work; ¥500 (AED 12) at any convenience store.
- Halal anchors
Asakusa is the deep anchor — Naritaya (Senso-ji area, since 2013, halal ramen + gyudon + tempura, ¥1,200-2,500 / AED 30-60), Asakusa Sushi-Ken (Tokyo's first halal-certified sushi). Shinjuku/Ueno shortcut: Ayam-Ya Okachimachi (Indonesian-inspired halal ramen). Tokyo halal is meaningfully harder than Singapore — plan ahead.
Shinagawa / south Tokyo orientation — direct rail to both airports is the advantage: Keikyu to HND in about 15 min; N'EX to Narita in about 75 min. JR Yamanote links Shibuya, Shinjuku, Tokyo Station, and Ueno without complicated transfers.
- Narita: N'EX direct to Shinagawa is the default: about 75 minutes and dramatically cheaper than a taxi. Keisei Skyliner is fast but points you toward Ueno, not Shinagawa.
- Haneda: Keikyu to Shinagawa is the easy win: frequent, fast, and cheap. Taxi only makes sense if door-to-door luggage logistics beat the station walk.
- Rail: Add Suica/Pasmo to Apple Wallet before landing. It works across JR, Tokyo Metro, Toei, buses, conbini, vending machines, and many small payments.
- Line logic: JR Yamanote is the crew default for Shibuya, Shinjuku, Tokyo Station, Akihabara, Ueno, and Shinagawa. Hibiya/Ginza lines solve Tsukiji, Ginza, Roppongi, Asakusa, and Aoyama.
- Metro ticket: The Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket only pays off if you are doing a multi-stop metro day. Suica is simpler for most crew because it also covers JR and Toei.
- Late return: Last JR/Metro trains are around midnight, later on some Friday/Saturday routes. After that, use a reputable taxi app. Avoid last-minute decisions in nightlife areas.
- Cash + ATMs: Tokyo still needs cash for ramen ticket machines, older kissaten, small izakayas, market vendors, and some shrines. Use 7-Eleven ATMs for foreign cards.
- Taxi habits: Tokyo taxis are usually honest and metered. Doors open automatically; do not pull them. GO is the normal app, S.Ride can be useful centrally, Uber is usually the premium-price option.
eSIM strongly recommended. Japan SIM logistics are complicated (registration requirements, limited foreigner options). Airalo or Ubigi eSIM activates before landing on SoftBank or Docomo networks. Coverage is excellent. Don't waste layover time at a SIM counter.
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