일본 여행만 30번 다니면서 생긴 꿀팁🩷✈️ 여행준비편 #1 트래블카드, 이심, 교통카드, 여행자보험

Japan Trip Preparation Tips

Cindy of Cindy Shop shares practical tips based on traveling to Japan about 30 times in three years. She emphasizes that these are personal preferences, not one-size-fits-all advice.

Travel Cards

• Travel cards can help avoid currency-conversion and overseas-payment fees, and may offer fee-free ATM withdrawals.
• Cindy recommends Hana Money Travel Log, which can be linked to a non-Hana bank account and offers a favorable yen exchange rate. She finds it useful for cash withdrawals at 7-Bank ATMs, commonly found in 7-Eleven stores.
• She recommends choosing the Mastercard version for Japan. The UnionPay version she used did not work reliably and incurred an ATM fee.
• The Shinhan SOL Travel Card may suit travelers who want airport-lounge access. Cindy mentions that lounge access is available after meeting a spending requirement.
• As a backup or for quick payments, she often uses the barcode feature in Kakao Pay’s Alipay+. Exchange fees may apply, but promotions and coupons can make it worthwhile. Look for stores that accept Alipay+ or PayPay.

eSIM

• Check device compatibility before buying, especially for Galaxy phones. An eSIM lets you keep your regular SIM while adding a travel data plan.
• Cindy prefers an unlimited 5G plan because navigation and other apps can use more data than expected. Small daily allowances can be stressful when you’re trying to find your way.
• She usually uses MalTalk and says its SoftBank 5G plan has worked well for her in Japan. She recommends comparing providers and plans.

Travel Insurance

• Compare coverage before purchasing. Cindy uses Toggle Insurance when arranging insurance at the airport shortly before departure, saying its coverage starts sooner than Kakao Pay’s.
• When planning ahead, she often chooses Kakao Pay Non-life Insurance for its discounts. Renewal and group discounts may stack, and she mentions an additional refund for returning safely without making a claim.
• These are her personal choices; coverage and terms can vary.

Transportation Cards

• In Fukuoka, Cindy was able to get around using a contactless travel card without a separate transit card.
• For Osaka and Tokyo, she recommends having a transit card for convenience, particularly where ticket gates or payment options may differ.
• iPhone users can add Japanese transit cards to Apple Wallet. Cindy mentions ICOCA, PASMO, and Suica, which can be used in many parts of Japan. Some card names may be spelled differently in the original transcript.

Places and Services Mentioned

Fukuoka, Hakata, Tenjin, Canal City, Osaka, Tokyo, Travel Log, Shinhan SOL Travel, Kakao Pay/Alipay+, MalTalk, SoftBank, Toggle Insurance, Kakao Pay Non-life Insurance, 7-Bank, ICOCA, PASMO, and Suica.