Steal This Idea: Robot Restaurant

 I recently got suckered into a tourist trap in Tokyo (which honestly doesn't happen much in Japan) called Robot Restaurant, and needless to say was quite disappointed. To be fair, I was going on a whim, and failed to research exactly what it was. It was hardly a restaurant and utilized zero robots. In fact, it was much more like a Japanese anime version of Medieval Times. Actors were dressed as robots, and parade float-like vehicles were driven by an RC car mechanism. The drivers didn't even try to hide, they stood right next to us at the end of the audience seating and used their RC controllers to steer the vehicles around. It was quite cheesy, but entertaining if your expectations are set low enough.

All that said, it got me thinking about a real Robot Restaurant. I think its fair to say that (1) we're at a point where AI, robotics and communication technology could feasibly run an entire restaurant, and (2) the general public doesn't quite know the extent of how technology could replace some of the most common jobs in the country. Thus, I think it would be interesting to launch an actual Robot Restaurant to showcase these amazing technologies, and could even be used as an operational experimental platform for new technologies. So the following is how I would envision it, and I would love for someone to steal the idea and create. All I'd ask in return is maybe a seat at the literal table to eat one day. You'll notice that I refer to existing technologies a lot here, and I do that for two reasons: to show that this is feasible today, and also to limit the amount of explaining I have to do.

Entrance

I think the Robot Restaurant experience merits a cover charge and a reservation system to make sure there are sufficient seats.  This is easily handled with a phone app and automated ticket system outside the building, much like a movie theater system. You could pick your time, select your seats and pay without talking to a human. Accessibility needs could be addressed as well. It could even have upgrade options, including extended time, or options on using the experimental technologies or the standard (well-tested) technologies.
Before entering, guests are provided RFID bracelets tied to their accounts, much like those guests wear at Disney World. RFID gates throughout the restaurant will allow the technology to provide a customized experience and track guests' movements to ensure things are working as planned.
Upon entering, the floor will light up with directions to the guests' seats based on their seat selections and tied to their RFID bracelets. This replaces the traditional host/hostess seating activity. However, a friendly robot host may be at the entrance to help guests understand how to follow the floor if they get stuck.

Once seated, the Robot Server should come to them, greet them and explain how to order, and provide water which it pours on the spot with a tap.

Ordering

I'm sure you can imagine the simplest ordering mechanism would be for a tablet or table-top device, like what you'd see at Chili's, Applebee's, Buffalo Wild Wings or Olive Garden. The menus on those device would have to be much more enhanced, more like the large touch-screen ordering stations at McDonald's, where you can choose all the different menu items, customize them, and them to the cart, etc. The ordering could be integrated with the phone app as well for those who have downloaded it. Of course, at any

time, guests will have a way to add to their service if they need something immediately.

Another option is to have a robot server come and take the order, to give that traditional restaurant feeling, and to work on the AI of listening to people and conversing. This could be an upgrade or experimental element. Ultimately, I'd still suggest that guests verify their orders on a screen before it hits the kitchen, at a minimum.

Some elements to consider would be a "timed" experience, where guests are prompted first to order their drinks, then to consider appetizers, then order their main course, then later, as they wrap up the main course, be prompted to order desserts. If guests are lingering too long, perhaps they get a timer indicating when they have to order by.

Service

So far, I've covered merely some of the basics of what a restaurant would need to do to function. Where I think the unique experience comes in is how the food and drinks are prepared and served. First, for drinks, I think it would be kind of entertaining for the robot servers to "load" various drinks, such as Diet Coke, regular Coke, orange soda, sweet tea, etc., and then pour from their tap for the refills. So maybe the first round is served traditionally all at once, a robot on the side fills the glasses with the new table's order, puts it on the Service Conveyor Belt for the Robot Server to pick it up, and bring it to the table. But when someone either orders a refill of, let's say, Diet Coke, or if a robot's AI notices the Diet Coke cup is low, it goes the Refill Station, loads the Diet Coke keg with its own tap. I'm picturing a robotic version of the "Ghostbusters" or "beer girls" at Japanese baseball games that carry kegs on their backs and pour beer fresh from the tap on order. Meanwhile, all customers who ordered Diet Coke would be prompted with a message on their screen asking if they need a refill. The robot then goes to the person who ordered the refill to refill the glass, and then to each additional customer, either in the order that they requested, or in an optimized fashion. The customers who ordered refills could actually see their place in line to know when to expect their refill to come, like they might be 5th, and when that #1 was served, then they're 4th in the queue, and so on. When all Diet Cokes are serviced, the robot server goes to the next drink (unless food is ready to be served), and loads the next drink needed, and the process repeats. Actually, there is technology already available with water bottles that indicate the level of liquid as well as the temperature, both being read from inside the bottle; something like that could be applied to the glasses used so that if a drink gets too warm or too low, the Robot Server initiates a refill.
There may be legal hurdles to selling alcohol, but if alcohol service is an option, guests could scan their IDs with the tablets or some device at the table, or perhaps before entering.
Once a food order is entered, guests have the option to track their food's progress through the kitchen by either a pictorial representation, an actual video of the food preparation in the kitchen, or both. The robots in the kitchen would wear silly chef hats just because, and maybe they would do silly things from time to time like a teppanyaki chef, like flip a shrimp into their hat. There could be lots of "Easter eggs" or surprises that only a very keen observer would notice.
The patrons at the bar would have an even more interesting option. The wall behind the Robot Bartender would actually be a glass window that can change from an opaque scene to a transparent window and back on command. It would reset to the opaque scene after 2 minutes, and hold for 30 seconds minimum before anyone can change it to transparent again. The opaque scene can vary from day to day, maybe it's an old Western bar one day, and full of Hollywood glitz the next day. The customers at the bar could choose to switch to the glass window to watch their food live, maybe even with overlays on the screen to highlight where their food was in the kitchen.

When guests stand up prior to their departure time, the assumption would be that they need to use the restroom. The floor would once again illuminate to guide them to the bathrooms, even with a decision point of which gender bathroom to go in, or a gender-neutral bathroom. We could take it a step further and have multiple individual bathrooms, and the floor would know which ones were occupied and guide guests to the unoccupied bathrooms. The trip to the bathroom would pass by the kitchen, which, once you're passed the transitional glass between the bar and the kitchen, is all transparent windows so you can see the robots working live on the various orders. Based on your RFID, maybe the windows also highlight where your food is for you.

It's an experience to go to the bathroom too, including the toilet lid opening as you enter and closing as you leave and the lights coming on as the door opens. Maybe the toilet seat protector changes, etc. There is a Toto washlet with bidet, seat warmer and dryer on the toilet. The soap, sink and hand dryer are all automatic. The door can be pushed/pulled open, but if you swipe your RFID bracelet next to the reader, it will open and close the door for you as well. The mirror compliments you, and asks if you'd like any fashion advice or tips. If requested, it will analyze either your clothes or your hair style or makeup, etc., and provide an actual useful piece of advice based on what an expert would tell you. Maybe the bathroom plays your own personal soundtrack that you've pre-selected.
When food is delivered while a guest is away from their table, their wristband would vibrate, light up and/or ring a little chime so they know to return to their table.

The food is placed on the Service Conveyor Belt by the kitchen robots, and rolled out to the proper row, and the Robot Server would go to pick up and bring it to the proper table and proper seat. Guests could attempt to "trick" the server by changing seats, but it would track based on the order tied to the RFID bracelet. 




Desserts could be 3D printed at the table; the Robot Server would bring the

3D printer over and the ingredients, and guests would get to watch their desserts printed in front of them.

Reservation times would be staggered so that there are people coming and going while others are eating. This would allows guests to witness the Robot Busboy dropping in from the ceiling above to pick up all the dishes and wipe the table down. The point of this is to demonstrate that by employing robots, we're not limited to humanoid activities like having people run around to each table to clean up.

From time to time, a Robot Sweeper would come by to clean the Pedestrian Walkways. It would primarily look like a Roomba, but it would choose a guest at random, stop by their seat and pop a flower out of its top and hand it to the guest. It could be a toy or other little trinket.

The focus would be on not having to talk to a human throughout the entire experience, but at any point in time if a guest wants to talk to a human, there's an option, and either a video chat would open on their screen, or the Robot Server would come over and display a person on a video chat on its head. A few people would be on hand in real life if something needed to handled physically, but that should be only in absolute critical situations.

Entertainment

There would be a stage for the artists of the Robot Community to paint, ride bikes, tell jokes, and play music. The acts would rotate regularly. Requests for songs, paintings, joke topics, etc., could be made by using the tablets on the tables. One act could be an "improv" based on suggestions from the guests, or a "Mad Lib" style where different tables get to pick the words. I think a robot striptease would be funny once in a while, but that should be another "Easter egg" so it's a rarity. You could play with audience interaction and be really creative here, like perhaps hold an auction for Robot Restaurant merchandise or junk food like astronaut ice cream. If a guest wins a hat, the Robot Busboy actually brings the hat to their seat from the ceiling above, and places it on their head, then provides a mirror for them to look into which actually captures a picture. Drones could do the same, delivering other items and taking a picture of the guests as they receive it. Maybe a guest is selected at random, and their portrait is painted by the robot on stage, and they get to take it home after a fake auction. Guests' names and occupations could be mentioned in an "improved" song or rap. Styles could vary with the style of the bar for the day, like country one night, European the next, Las Vegas the following, etc. It is important that we're not just looking at animatronics, but that the robots are showing cognition of what's going on around them, tailoring what they're doing, etc.

Upgrades for celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions could have different entertainment packages to go along with them. Maybe a "Kiss Cam" is rolled out for the couple celebrating an anniversary or newly engaged. For birthdays, the robots in the kitchen, the servers, and the busboys could light up and "sing" a funny robotic rendition of the birthday song. Unlike with human waiters and waitresses, the robots could sing in any language and even learn variations of birthday songs (a punk metal version, a rap version, a country version) to change it up. Maybe they'll throw in a birthday gong, birthday dance, or a joke about being over the hill, etc.

The walls around the dining area would be screens that would follow the themes of the rest of the activities going on. For example, for a birthday song, the screens could show confetti and balloons falling on repeat. When not in use for a specific event, they would function to inform and entertain. Tweets with #RobotRestaurant from this geographical area could show up on one section

live, maybe intertwined with select tweets from innovators like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and the like. The Robot Servers could also tweet at random intervals, welcoming guests in, thanking them for great reviews, sharing selfies and interesting factoids, etc. Another screen would show the entertainment lineup for the immediate day, as well as upcoming theme days, etc. One screen could show robot bloopers, whether real or intentionally faked.

The seats could have butt warmers that guests could control, height adjustments or slight recline functionality, and maybe the color or design of the table can be customized.

Guests could choose to use headphones and utilize the tablets to learn about the various technologies featured and being experimented with, and browse robotics and technologies they could buy to bring home. Or, they could learn about the supply chain of the food sources for their specific meal, or a number of other more educational offerings. If multiple Robot Restaurants are opened, they could tap into the other locations to watch the entertainment, browse the menus at those locations, etc.

As the meal raps up, the Robot Server would offer to take a selfie with the table, and then extend an Inspector Gadget-style selfie stick out of its arm to take the perfect selfie. As surprises and Easter eggs are discovered, guests will have their pictures and/or videos taken automatically, and those will be available online and on their apps after the visit.

Before paying, guests are shown a quick summary of the fun things they've seen and done, and go through a very brief survey. Maybe they get a coupon for their next visit, etc. After paying, guests are escorted out via the light up floor system again into the Gift Shop to exit. They could choose to return their RFID wristbands for a deposit return, or keep them (and can re-use them).

Japan Guide: Key Phrases

A few key phrases are helpful to learn and have in your back pocket. While you may not have the time or discipline to go through a full Japanese course, I would recommend you learn these phrases (and there are plenty of online resources you can use to hear the correct pronunciations and practice with).

Excuse me / Sorry

"Sumimasen"
You'll tend to use this phrase a lot, so practice it! Use it to get by in a crowd, if you bump into someone accidentally, or if you need help. Generally, you'll use this phrase before anything else on this list. Just assume you'll start with it.  

Thank you

"Arigatō gozaimas"

There are a number of ways to say thank you depending on the formality, situation, etc., but for beginners, I could stick with this one. Do NOT refer to that Mr. Roboto song for etiquette, trust me on this one.

Where is this?

"Ko-re wa doko des ka?"

It is sometimes useful to point to what you're looking for (on your phone or a map, etc) and ask where it is.
 
Ko-re means "this," and "doko" is the all-important word for "where," the wa and des ka are just formalities for this form, but good to include if you can remember.

Do you have this?

"Ko-re wa arimas ka?"
Use this if you're looking for something specific in a store, and you have a picture on your phone, for example. 

Where is the bathroom / toilet?

"Toire wa doko des ka?"

Check please!

"O kaikei onegaishimas"
If the server doesn't give you the bill with your food, you may have to ask for it. Make sure to start with excuse me. 

Do you have an English menu?

"Eigo no menyū wa arimas ka?"

You can remember how to say English by thinking of Eggo waffles, "Eigo." Menu is basically menu.

Good morning

"Ohayō gozaimas"

Think of the state of Ohio.

Good afternoon

"Kon'nichiwa"

Usually you'll use this phrase as a greeting even starting around 11 am, and until it gets dark.

Good evening

"Konbanwa"

It is okay / good / fine

"Ii des."

Pronounce like "eee"

Yes  /   No

"Hai"   /  "īe" 

Pronounce like "Hi" and "eee-ya"

I don't understand / I don't know

"Wakarimasen"

I understand / I know

"Wakarimas"

Water, please

"O mizu o kudasai"






 

Katakanized Words

You'll notice a number of words are similar to their English translations, except perhaps with more / longer syllables. This is called Katakanization. For a few examples, beer is "bī-ru," cake is "kēki," orange juice is "orenji-jūs," cookie is "kukkī." These words are helpful to recall, however, don't assume that other words can just be exteneded to make Japanese words, you may get funny looks if you try to make up Japanese words.

More Japan Guide

Getting There / What To Bring 
Training It - The Best Way to Get Around in Japan (Trains) 
Where to Stay
Eating Out
Things To Do 
Key Phrases

Japan Guide: Things to Do (Japan Bucket List)

Things To Do

There are probably ten thousand things to recommend to do in Japan, and so it largely will depend on your preferences and interests. However, there are a few things I think nobody should miss: cheering at a Japanese baseball game, partaking at a Shinto Shrine, and shopping at a large electronics store. 


Japanese Baseball Games - I recommend Japanese baseball games to anyone going to Japan, because they are rowdy like college football games in America, but in a distinctly organized way. While your team is at bat, the crowd around you will be cheering a handful of cheers, including the word "Katabuse" which means "kick butt." Each team has a different version of the 7th inning stretch that is unique and fun - my favorite was the Hiroshima Carp that wave around somewhat phallic balloons while singing a song, and then everyone simultaneously releases the balloon and they go flying up into the air until the air is exhausted, and then fall onto the field where they are rapidly cleaned up. You'll find some American fast food places like KFC or McDonald's at the stadiums, but nothing is better in my book than yakitori (meat on a stick) and beer served by the passing "Ghostbusters" - the adorable young women running around the stands with kegs on their backs, pouring various brands of beer fresh on the spot. Here's a great article that says so much more eloquently why baseball games in Japan are a must-see: https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/travel/05journeys.html 

Shinto Shrine - If you're traveling anywhere in Japan, you won't be hard pressed to find a Shinto Shrine. Small shrines are tucked into alleyways throughout neighborhoods, although they may have limited hours. Larger shrines are found at just about every major tourist area, like Ueno Park or Miyajima. Buddhist temples are also prevalent throughout Japan, and both shrines and temples are absolutely beautiful and spiritual places to visit. Japanese people don't think of religion the same way we Westerners do - that is, they may worship at a shrine but not consider themselves religious. Religion is more like Christianity or Judaism; Shinto, to them, is just a way of life. Thus, even if you're a Christian or Jew, or any other religious follower, you're still welcome to worship or partake in the Shinto Shrine. Typically, there is a place to wash your hands and face as you approach the shrine. Then you can approach the shrine quietly and respectfully. A good guide to visiting shrines is here: https://www.wikihow.com/Worship-at-a-Shinto-Shrine

Electronics Store - Japan has a rich heritage of history and tradition, but in today's global landscape, the country can't be discussed without noting their amazing technology. Thus, I recommend visitors to Japan make sure to shop at an electronics store. Even if you don't end up buying anything, it can be quite an experience to peruse the various floors (the best electronics stores usually span several stories high and even a few stories below ground) and signage. In Hiroshima, the stores were called Deo Deo, which I loved, because of the phrasing that means "at Deo Deo," which is "Deo Deo de…" The one near our hotel in Akihabara was called Yodobashi. One thing to note, for any shopping experience, is that if you are buying more than one item in a store, sometimes you will be asked if you want to separate the bill or not (i.e. do you want each item to be a separate charge), so be aware that this may be asked.

Tokyo Disneyland and Disneysea are also very popular spots for visitors to Japan. The food there actually tries to pull from different regions, so you'll actually be a bit hard pressed to find real Japanese food. However, much like their ice cream and soda, they have lots of flavors of popcorn, which is kind of fun. Disney is very English friendly, they'll even give you headsets or devices for the shows so you can hear or see the translations. For whatever reason, Disney celebrates Easter like crazy in Japan, with parades and theming throughout the park. It's quite wild. And while I think the Japanese culture in general epitomizes customer service, you'll see Disney cast members are cheerily over the top with their double hand waves that you can't miss!

Onsens / Public Hot Spring Baths are a major highlight in Japan. Many hotels will have them for their guests, including the second capsule hotel I stayed at! Generally, onsen are separated by gender and are used completely in the nude. You may get a small towel, but the towel is to be left several feet from the bath. It is customary to shower before entering an onsen. As a tourist, you may get looks or you may experience a people leaving the baths as you enter them. A little planning goes a long way here, it's good to check if your hotel has onsen, or if you're going to go to public one, if there is a coed area to mingle with your party in bathing suits, etc. Tattoos are taboo, so if you have tattoos, you may want to find specific onsens that are tattoo-friendly.

There are also plenty of experiences you'll have naturally or without necessary planning, like visiting convenience stores or riding the trains. There are also lots of experiences that aren't for everyone, or require a visit during a specific time of the year. I've tried to capture all of the potential experiences people may want to consider when thinking about what to do in Japan here. Please feel free to leave others in the comments, I'd love to hear what you think is a must-do in Japan! 

Japan Bucket List

• Attend a Japanese Baseball Game
  

  

  Cheddar Hedgehog and Owl Cafe

• Bathe in a Hot Spring (Onsen)
• Worship / Pay Respects at Shinto Shrine
• Shop at a Large Electronics Store
• Ride the rides at Tokyo Disneyland
• Watch a Sumo Tournament
• Sleep in a Capsule Hotel
• Ride the commuter trains during rush hour
• Ride a Bullet Train (Shinkansen)
• Visit Peace Park Museum in Hiroshima
• Feed the deer in Miyajima
• Buy beer from a vending machine
• Try at least three flavors of Japanese Kit Kat
• Pop open a bottle of Ramune
• Eat yakitori (meat on a stick) from a street vendor

Yakitori under Cherry Blossoms

• Picnic under the Cherry Blossoms (spring time)
• Eat a fugu (blowfish that's poisonous if prepared incorrectly)
• Play at an arcade

  

  Looking at the Capsule Toys

• Try using the washlets (the remote-controlled bidets in the toilets)
• Visit a Cat Café or similar (Owl Café, Hedgehog Café, etc)
• Tour a car factory (Mazda, Toyota, Honda, etc)
• Attend a tea ceremony
• Eat at Kirby Café (reservations required, near Tokyo Sky Tree)
• Walk through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
• Buy a capsule toy
  

 

Honorable Mentions

Find the old Nintendo Headquarters - There's not much to do other than take a picture outside of the sign, but for the uber game nerd, this is a fun little adventure to undertake in Kyoto. The current headquarters is also in Kyoto, and there's equally just as much to do (namely, nothing other than taking a picture) there as well.

Robot Restaurant - I was blinded (read, tricked) by the name of this tourist trap. It is neither a restaurant by definition, nor does it have robots. Rather, it is a show that serves some semblance of food, and it features people dressed like robots and some parade-like vehicles on RC car fixtures. The best way to describe it is like an Anime version of Medieval Times. And yes, you absolutely need to get the glowy drink to enjoy the show. 

Take the Skyway to the top of Miyajima - I'm told there are monkeys on the mountain on Miyajima, but two visits have yielded zero monkey sitings. Still, the view from the top is spectacular. I would not, however, recommend climbing up or down (we did the latter), as it is much higher than it seems and I was sore for literally days to the point of canceling plans because I couldn't walk. So yeah, take the Skyway.  

Visit a Kit Kat Chocolatory - These are storefronts in malls that have super fancy Kit Kats. It's worth a stop if you're in the area of one. 

Visit a Pokemon Center - For the gamer / nerd, a visit to one of the many Pokemon Centers is a fun treat. Get your Pokemon socks, chopsticks, and cards here. If you play Pokemon Go, make sure to have open Gift spots and spin the stops here to get fun Gifts to send to your friends. 

More Japan Guide

Getting There / What To Bring 
Training It - The Best Way to Get Around in Japan (Trains) 
Where to Stay
Eating Out
Things To Do 
Key Phrases

Japan Guide: Eating Out

Eating Out

Lots of restaurants will advertise if they have an English menu, and they'll offer it to you if they have one if they recognize you look foreign. If they don't, there's almost always lots of pictures, and you can just point.

No tipping, and taxes are usually included. Both of these are big bonuses in my book, I like that these are the customs in Japan and wish that the US would adopt these practices.

Sometimes hosts will ask you if you want to sit in smoking or non-smoking sections of the restaurant.

If servers don't come to your table and you need to place your order, get more drink or pay your bill, it's normal to call them over. Use the phrase, "Sumimasen," which means excuse me, and they'll come right over.

Most restaurants are very specialized in a certain kind of food. For example, tatsu (fried) places will have mostly tatsu, and not sushi or ramen. If you want good ramen, you need to go to a ramen place. For a truly Japanese dish, I recommend

Partially eaten okonomiyaki

okonomiyaki, if you can find it. They refer to it as a savory pancake, but it's so much more than a pancake, with noodles and cabbage inside, and the delicious and distinctive okonomiyaki sauce they smother it in (along with mayonnaise).

My favorite dish, however, is yakiniku, and also a little bit difficult to find. I used to eat it at school when I studied at Hiroshima Shudo University, and it appealed to my limited palate because it is very simply beef and rice, but whatever magic they sauce it with, it's delicious. I found it also at a restaurant in Miyajima.

A suitable and quite delightful proxy can be more easily located at, of all places, a uniquely Japanese burger franchise called MOS Burger, home of the yakiniku burger. Speaking of burgers, I also recommend eating McDonald's in Japan just once, if you have the chance, so you can experience that.

One note about sushi: when you go to sushi in America, much of the fish is cooked and has fun names like California roll or Dynamite roll. Most of the sushi in Japan, in our experience, is raw. Some may be broiled or seared but may not be fully cooked. I'd advise to keep you mind open, if you're going to try raw fish, what better place to do it than in Japan where they really know what they're doing?

As far as ice cream, sodas and desserts, there are lots of unique flavors that Westerners aren't generally used to, like bean curd. Fish-shaped Taiyaki is a delicious treat you can get at street vendors, especially if you can find chocolate filled ones. Teas and waters, too, especially in the vending machines
or convenience stores, have some wild flavors. My favorite was the orange flavored water, and Jaiman really enjoyed the apple flavored tea as well as the melon soda. 

 

More Japan Guide

Getting There / What To Bring 
Training It - The Best Way to Get Around in Japan (Trains) 
Where to Stay
Eating Out
Things To Do 
Key Phrases

Japan Guide: Training It - The Best Way to Get Around Tokyo and elsewhere

You may be used to grabbing an Uber or a Taxi to leave the airport in the US and in other countries, but I would recommend against it in Japan, especially in Tokyo. The trains are much more affordable, and are quite convenient, quick and easy to navigate once you get the hang of it. For a comparison, to get to our hotel in the Akihabara district of Tokyo from the airport, a taxi or Uber would have cost about $80 USD, while the train tickets were about $4 USD per person. Additionally, trains are a great way to get around Tokyo, including going to Disneyland Tokyo. You can also take the bullet trains, or shinkansen, to other parts of Japan for a bit cheaper than an airplane ticket, and I mean, they are COOL so you really should use them if you're traveling to other parts of the main island. But, the train system can be a bit daunting for first timers, so here are some tips for figuring out your passage on the trains. Also, don't hesitate to ask for help at the ticket counter, generally they are very helpful and, while they may not be great at English, they will do what they can to get you the correct tickets and get you on your way.

If you're going to be taking the trains to multiple places on a particular day, you may want to buy all day passes (which are about $7 USD). This also takes out the complication of figuring out which one-way tickets you need to buy, but will be more expensive than two one-way tickets typically.

To buy one-way train tickets, you have to know what the fare is because it doesn't tell you the route at the ticket booth. Some stations will have the map in Romanji (Roman letters so English speakers can read them), but not all. If you can find the stop you want to go to on the map, it will say what the fare is, like 220 yen (which is about $2). Then you go to the ticket machine and get a ticket for 220. You have to get the tickets one by one typically.

Once everyone has their tickets, you stick the ticket into the gate and take it on the other side, and that's what lets you through. You'll know right away if you went through the wrong gates, like if you tried to go to bullet train, because the gate will stop you and sound a buzzer of sorts. When you are at your final stop, you'll exit by sticking your ticket into the gate again. If you had one-way tickets, the machine won't return the ticket once it's been used completely. If you had all-day tickets, the machine will return the ticket to you to use again.

The trains run pretty frequently, so if you "miss" one, the next one will come in a few minutes typically. The bullet trains run about every 15 - 20 minutes. Most of the trains also show the stop name in Romanji as well as the Japanese writing. But it's good to know the Kanji for where you're going, just in case. We like the JR lines best (they all start with J).

The morning rush can be a little nuts on the trains. On popular routes, be prepared to stand the whole way and have to cram in with business men and women on their way to work. You'll see people running up and down the stairs and escalators, so it's important to stay to the left on escalators to make room for people who want to pass you.

The shinkansen, or bullet trains, work very much the same, but are much more expensive for obvious reasons. They are also much more comfortable and are better suited to accommodate luggage. I believe most if not all have bathrooms, and some even have vending machines on the trains. If you plan to ride the shinkansen, or bullet train, I would recommend you look into the JR Pass for Visitors before you go, you can get a really good deal and save hundreds of dollars, but you have to buy it before you get to Japan. In Kyoto, there aren't really trains everywhere like there is in Tokyo. The buses are pretty good, but I got a little lost. Read my post about our adventure in Kyoto to get a feel for the bus system there. 

More Japan Guide

Getting There / What To Bring 
Training It - The Best Way to Get Around in Japan (Trains) 
Where to Stay
Eating Out
Things To Do 
Key Phrases

Japan Guide: Where to Stay

Where to Stay - Tokyo

Capsule Hotels are great - read more about my experiences here:

Capsule Hotel - Brilliant or Terrifying?

Capsule Hotel: Bather Tested, Claustrophobic Approved!

Of major importance is to note that most capsule hotels are only for men, so if you are a woman or will be traveling with women, make sure to find accommodations that allow women. A lot of people have a visceral reaction to the idea of capsule hotels, but I would challenge you to at least try it for a night as part of your Japanese experience - you will likely be pleasantly surprised!

Whether or not you stay in a capsule hotel or a traditional hotel, location is also key in Japan. I would also recommend staying fairly close to the train stations, especially those for the JR line. You'll know they are JR line stations if you look for public transit directions on google and they have a line that starts with "J", like "JK" for example. This will allow you to easily access the rest of Tokyo easily, and you won't have to drag your bags too far to get to your hotel.

The Akihabara District is popular with gamers and fans of nerdy things like Anime, Pokemon, etc. We really liked our hotel here, the Remm Akihabara hotel. It was right next to the station, near food and a convenience store, and easy to find.

The Shibuya District is the high fashion district, with artists on the streets just about every night, trying to be discovered, and infamous for its "Shibuya Scramble" - one of the busier pedestrian crossings you'll see.

Shinjuku is another vibrant area with lots of shopping and food.

I would just recommend that wherever you are looking, look for pictures to make sure you're comfortable with what you're getting. Rooms are very small typically. I prefer to use Travelocity to book hotels, it has treated me well. I don't care for hotel breakfasts here (usually fish or unappetizing sausages and seaweed wraps or whatever). We like picking up breakfast (and sometimes dessert or nightcaps) at local Family Marts or 7 Elevens, they're virtually everywhere and a lot of the food is labeled in English. Look for unique Kit Kat flavors there, too! There are also McDonald's and Burger Kings around, so breakfast is pretty easy.

Where to Stay - elsewhere

I want to put in a plug for one of the most amazing experiences we had in Japan that most people aren't really aware of. We stayed on the island of Miyajima,

just off the shore of Hiroshima. You'll take a ferry from Hiroshima to get there, and will immediately be greeted by the deer who often walk into the ferry station to look for snacks in newcomers' bags. We had booked a pretty neat room at Miyajima Grand Arimoto, and our room included a private onsen (hot spring bath). The food was incredible in Miyajima, and while it had some touristy parts of it, it felt like it catered to Japanese tourists rather than tourists from outside the country. Miyajima is one of my happiest places on this Earth, and I hope more people will get to experience its magic and beauty. Read more about my Miyajima experience here. 

More Japan Guide

Getting There / What To Bring 
Training It - The Best Way to Get Around in Japan (Trains) 
Where to Stay
Eating Out
Things To Do 
Key Phrases

Japan Guide: Tips for First-timers and Returning Visitors to Japan

I've recently returned from my third trip to Japan, and it has spurred a lot of conversation with colleagues, friends, and total strangers like Uber drivers and the girl at the DMV. For those who haven't been, Japan can seem like an "exotic" place to visit, but for Jaiman and I, it's as natural as any adventure. There are some really neat aspects of Japan that make it very friendly to tourists as well some aspects that are a little daunting to newcomers. After a number of these conversations, I thought I'd put together a semi-comprehensive guide to visiting Japan.

Embedded in this guide are tips for what to do and what to expect in certain situations. I believe knowing what to expect helps people feel more comfortable when confronted with something so completely different like a whole new culture. Here is a summary with links to each of the sections:

Getting There / What To Bring (below)
Training It - The Best Way to Get Around in Japan (Trains) - What to expect at the train station and how to prepare and navigate for using trains as your primary mode of transportation in Japan.
Where to Stay - What to look for in hotels.
Eating Out - No tipping, and taxes are usually included! And other tips for what to expect at Japanese restaurants.
Things To Do - My recommended Must-Dos as well as some other fun ideas for your itinerary.
Key Phrases - Don't Miss This Section! Most people in Japan are not great at English, so it is very helpful and respectful if you have some basic Japanese phrases under your belt when you go.

Bonus: Japan Is Weird (Different) and Confusing (Unfamiliar) and I Want to Go Back - Some quirks and our favorites from our previous trip are discussed here. 

Getting There

Narita is the bigger airport in Tokyo, but both Haneda and Narita are fine to fly into and out of. Most itineraries will go through Tokyo, even if you're going elsewhere in Japan. As such, I'd recommend flying to Tokyo and staying there for a few nights if your schedule permits, and then you can always take a bullet train to other parts of the main island instead of getting back on an airplane. If you plan to ride the shinkansen, or bullet train, I would recommend you look into the JR Pass for Visitors before you go, you can get a really good deal and save hundreds of dollars, but you have to buy it before you get to Japan.

Flights from the US are lengthy, at least 10 hours and up to 15 hours depending on where you're flying from. When you land, you'll be about 12 hours off from your previous timezone, so it's important to sleep a little but not the whole time on the plane. The best way to ward off jetlag is to stay up most of the arrival day, and then make sure you go to bed at a decent time the first night.

Many major airlines have personal screens with entertainment, and free alcohol for international flights. You'll also notice that announcements will be made in Japanese and English, and potentially Chinese or Korean as well. While checked luggage may be free for the international flights, I prefer to pack lightly (at least on the way there) so that I can limit myself to carry-ons. If you plan to do a good amount of shopping, it may be a good idea to bring an empty collapsible bag to fill up with your goodies to bring home. Don't worry, though, if you forget, because you can find cheap bags for this purpose in Japan, too (Jaiman got a huge duffle bag for about $16 USD). 

What to Bring

Definitely bring plenty of Japanese cash (yen) to avoid costly ATM fees, you'll need cash at the train stations and at many restaurants, street vendors, vending machines, etc. Major credit cards (Visa, Master Card, Discover) are accepted at many places, but not all. Make sure you know which credit cards have foreign transaction fees. My Discover card doesn't have foreign transaction fees, for example, so I prefer using that when possible, but sometimes places don't take Discover, so then I'd have to use cash or another card and pay the small fee.

Umbrellas are a good idea generally, but they can be purchased pretty readily if you need one while you're out and about.

Bathing suits are a good idea if you plan to go to a public hot spring / onsen. Many are separate by gender and are only used in the nude, but some will have coed spaces for those with bathing suits.

Comfortable shoes are a must, it doesn't matter how little you expect to walk, you'll probably walk more than you expect. 

More Japan Guide

Getting There / What To Bring 
Training It - The Best Way to Get Around in Japan (Trains) 
Where to Stay
Eating Out
Things To Do 
Key Phrases