If you grew up playing video games, chances are you feel some kind of connection to Japan. So many of the iconic games we all played – and the consoles we played them on - came from this densely-populated island nation. Perhaps you’re even planning a trip over there this September to hit up Tokyo Game Show and experience Japan and its gaming culture firsthand. This feature should be useful if that’s what you have in mind and you’ve never travelled to Japan before. As would my feature on 5 Essential Things Every Gamer Needs to do in Tokyo. Some of these tips are broad and apply to Japan in general, and some are more specific to Tokyo. The first thing you should do when you arrive in Japan is get a Suica card. This pre-paid travel card makes public transport a breeze. Getting around Tokyo, for instance, sees you swapping between the subway system and JR trains and this works across everything, including buses. It’s not just Tokyo, either, but most regions of Japan. Recharging it is simple, too.

Suica is also a virtual wallet, so you can use the credit to buy drinks or snacks at vending machines, or pay for purchases at convenience stores and in quite a few other retailers. Suica can’t be used for express trains, bullet trains and long distance buses, but some game arcades take Suica as do some cabs. Look, just get one. Convenience stores, AKA konbinis, are plentiful in Japan. Very very plentiful, and they’re actually a great resource. Your average konbini is open 24 hours a day seven days a week, so whether you’re on the go and want a snack, or you’re heading back to your hotel at the end of the night and craving something hot… or delicious and cold, the local konbini is the place to go. There are onigiri (rice balls) with a wide variety of fillings, sandwiches, salads, fruit and a few different hot food options, from instant noodles and fried chicken to oden (things like daikon radish, fish cakes, tofu and hard boiled eggs in a light soy broth). And as mentioned, you can pay for everything with your Suica card.

Many offer other services like purchasing tickets for events and ATMs, but the former will be next to impossible to navigate without help, while the latter brings us to our next tip… Your average ATM in Japan won’t accept foreign cards. You need to find a 7-Eleven, Citibank ATM or post office to get money out. Some Family Mart convenience stores have compatible machines too. Using a 7-Eleven is probably the most straightforward, and they’re quite widespread, so it’s just a matter of finding one close to your hotel/nearest station and having enough cash that you don’t get caught in need of an ATM at the wrong time. In fact, while cards are widely accepted, Japan is still something of a cash society, so make sure you have plenty on you at all times. It’s also a very safe place, so you really don’t have to worry about carrying around cash. Japan’s public transport system is superb, and it has to be. The Greater Tokyo Area has something like 38 million people living in and around it, and a hub like Shinjuku station has a million people passing through it each day.

You can get almost anywhere in Tokyo using a combination of the subway systems and JR lines, and trains typically come every few minutes. Not sure how to get somewhere? Want to check when express trains run? There are several good apps you can use, such as Hyperdia. Traveling between cities is typically simple too, thanks to the shinkansen (bullet train) network. Tickets aren’t cheap, but the trains are fast, regular and punctual. solar backpack mcgillYou can book them as early as you like and there's always someone who speaks English in the ticket offices. backpack journalism syllabusIf you’re planning on travelling within Japan a bit (such as staying in Osaka or Kyoto, or perhaps travelling down to Hiroshima) it’s worth looking into getting a Japan Rail Pass for unlimited travel on the shinkansen. swissgear pegasus laptop backpack

It must be purchased before you get to Japan, however. So yeah, the fast, efficient machine that is Japan’s public transport system stops dead around midnight, and doesn’t start up again until about 5am. This is something to keep in mind if you’re planning on being out late. Either make sure you’re within walking distance of your accommodation, are prepared to pay for a taxi (which isn’t that expensive if you’re travelling in and around the centre of Tokyo) or have some other kind of contingency plan. yugioh 5ds backpackYou can try and pull through, for instance, at a club or a karaoke joint (in a private room). tumi knox leather backpack priceOr you could crash at an internet café, many of which are open 24 hours and have individual cubicles with reclining chairs. fbu backpack

Some even have showers, which brings us to our next point… You don’t have to stay in a Western-style hotel in Japan. If you’re planning well ahead, staying at a ryokan (or ryokan hotel) is worth looking into, as they offer very traditional accommodation – tatami mat rooms, rice paper walls, futons on the floor, common bathing areas etc. – which is a nice way to get a taste of Japanese culture. Air Bnb is worth investigating too (although it’s technically illegal in much of the country), and then there’s that quintessentially Japanese option, the capsule hotel. Yes, these are relatively common in major metropolitan areas and certainly more affordable than a typical hotel. It’s worth reading up a bit before you commit, however, as there are some rules and pieces of information to be aware of. Some are for men only, for instance, while others have separate floors for men and women. Exposed tattoos are a no no so be sure to keep them covered if you have them, or risk being ejected.

Capsule hotels typically don’t have secure storage for large bags either. You should be able to get by relatively easily in Japan’s biggest cities without much Japanese, but making an effort is definitely appreciated, and also fun. Learn to say yes (hai), hello (konnichiwa), thank you (arigatou gozaimasu), excuse me/sorry (sumimasen), I don’t understand/I don’t know (wakarimasen) and delicious (oishii). You might as well learn cute (kawaii) and amazing (sugoi) for good measure too – you’ll be hearing those words a lot. Japanese people will go out of their way to help you if you ask. Hell, sometimes they’ll offer to help if you’re just standing around looking lost. Many Japanese people – particularly in big cities - also have at least a little English (although they may not feel confident using it), as it’s long been part of the school curriculum. It’s easy to get lost in Japan – particularly given the way addresses work, which we’ll get to in a bit, so try asking for help.

Not only does Japan still have video game arcades, but they come in all shapes and sizes. Unsurprisingly, there are several in Tokyo’s main geek district Akihabara, including Taito Hey – a classic arcade that’s often a test site for new games and is an awesome place to play bullet hell shoot ‘em ups (aka schmups) and fighting games both modern and classic. This isn’t just a great place to play – it’s a great place to watch, as this is home for plenty of incredibly skilled players. There are arcades all over though, and one of the reasons they’re still popular is that they’ve diversified. Your average Club SEGA, for instance, has a bunch of different floors, all catering to specific audiences and demographics. There may be UFO Catchers on the ground floor, then a floor for rhythm games, one for fighting games, one for medal games and card games, and one for purikura (photo booths). Because each of those floors appeals to different types of people, it means that the arcade as a whole can’t fail if one aspect of the arcade scene loses popularity.

It’s definitely worth going to one of the big mainstream arcades (such as Club Sega in Akihabara, Taito Station Big Box in Takadanobaba or the arcade in DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba), as well as some of the more specialist options. If you’re heading to Odaiba (for the arcade, the shops or the giant Gundam statue) you could also think about going to Sega Joypolis, which is more of an arcade-centric theme park, with games on mechanical rigs etc. And then there’s pachinko. Good luck with that! Akihabara is famous for being the otaku hub of Tokyo, and if you’ve never been there you should definitely check it out, as it’s packed with games and manga shops, electronics stores large and small, arcades, themed cafes (it’s maid café central) and, well, anything an otaku might obsess over. There are, however, plenty of other options. In Tokyo, for instance, you could head to Nakano Broadway, a five floor indoor mall that’s packed with stores selling geeky figurines and collectables.