Practical Information

How to save on your trip

Eating at supermarkets
In most supermarkets, there exists a small corner in which you can eat the stuff you bought there.

• If there is freshly cooked rice (contained in a rice cooker), scoop the rice into a plastic container provided and buy it.
• There is a microwave to heat up food.
• Sometimes, green tea or water is available free.
• Clear the table after you finished eating.

Eating at self-serviced restaurants

This is a good way to try the local food as you can see and pick what you eat.

• They also offer some choices and set meals à la carte.
• For some, there is a ticket vending machine with all the dishes displayed. Just put in the money and pick your choice. Take the ticket from the machine and wait for your number to be called. Ha ha, must learn numbers in Japanese !
• There is an area for you to return your trays. Be gracious, return all your food trays !

Convenience Stores

What a wonderful place all the convenience stores are ! Toilet break, 24 hrs, cheap freshly brewed coffee at 150¥, sandwiches, onigiri, pastry or European desserts like crème caramel, tiramisu, you shouldn’t miss them !

1. K
2. Lawson
3. Family Mart
4. 7 Eleven

What to eat or try

• Peaches, grapes, watermelon, melon or fruits in season, vegetables
• Sashimi, sushi, snack food
• Wagyu beef, fishes, seafood
• Grilled wagyu or meat restaurant (preferably grill over charcoal "炭火焼")
• Sushi conveyor belt restaurant
• Cakes, desserts, onigiri (rice snack) 
• Sandwiches

What to buy home

• Local produce : fruits, Japanese new green tea, vegetables, rice (Roadside station)
• Seaweed sheets (for making sushi), wasabi, soya sauce, whatever else you fancy
• Travel guide book in Japanese from a bookstore to prepare for your next trip (it doesn't matter as all you need is to look at the pictures and get the phone numbers)
• electrical appliances at 220V (from Tokyo Haneda International airport duty free area)

Free WIFI

1. 7 eleven convenience stores
2. Ehime prefecture only : locations bearing Ehime_Free_WIFI (max 1 hr per day)
3. At other locations showing Free WIFI, eg Roadside Stations, shopping malls, etc.

Tax Refund 

(update wef May 2016)

1. 2 categories of items qualify for tax refund: https://tictokyo.wordpress.com/2015/10/22/how-to-get-your-gst-tax-refund-in-japan/
(a) Consumable items (foods, drinks, cosmetics,cigarettes and medicine & etc) with total purchase amount more than 5,000 yen and less than 500,000 yen (excluding tax)
(b) General Items (clothes, household electronic products, accessories & etc) with total purchase amount more than 5000 yen (excluding tax)

2. Uniqlo Shop

• Once the total amount exceeds the qualifying amount for tax refund, pay at the cashier counter with your passport.
• You will pay the items without the 8% tax.

3. AEON Mall supermarket

• Once the total amount exceeds the qualifying amount for tax refund, pay first at the cashier counter.
• Proceed to the Service Centre with your receipt, items and your passport.
• You will get your about 8% tax refund for the amount.

What to pack in your bag

1. Knife, light chopping board, your own cutlery(teaspoon, fork if you don't like using plastic ones given), for cutting up fruits or dessert if you choose to stay in a hotel
2. light cheap raincoat from DAISO (June is the rainy season in Japan)
3. Tea, tea-pot
4. (Glass) water bottle
5. Washing powder (may be provided by Airbnb host)
6. Slippers (except in Japan)
7. Fishing rod (if you like fishing)

And if you are cooking :

1. small rice cooker (except in Japan)
2. light all-in-one cookpan (wok, pot, steam pot)
3. salt, pepper, Szechuan pepper