What you need to know.

Prices
So... you about to buy a ticket to Japan, now what? I have to say depending on the time of travelling there, it will be expensive at Christmas/New years, summer time in June-August and whatever Japanese festival holiday they have. So... Cheapest is non-holiday season, I mostly went in Summer (June-July) which cost me roughly in the £600 range (cheapest £560 last time I got mine). So, check on the season you go, out of holiday season it will be about £300. So there's quite a difference. If you choose to venture with a tour guide, I think it's slightly cheaper since that it's a package. But if you plan to go independently either on your own or with mates be prepared to have some sort of back-up because it's slightly expensive country to be in. So save as much as you can in the £500+ mark, depending on whether you are buying stuff over there or travelling on transport to other places.

Trip/itinerary
Everything before hand, you have to sort out a place to sleep during your stay and plan on what you want to do in your travel. I can't stress enough people who haven't have a clue upon arriving, so just write down a list of interest and places that you like. The internet is full of information to pin-point your place of interest. I pretty much research on the area first and follow up what places/events are there during that time. Japan has quite alot of festivals because they don't have much seasonal holidays the rest of the world, eg. like in the UK we have Easter or US have Thanksgiving, etc. So the one way they have holidays are to have festivals. Which is a great opportunity to sample the culture without any offence, just a simple fun festival to enjoy your time there. I missed the Hanabi 花火 (fireworks) display which I'm gutted, really wanted to go and see it at the river side. Search online what events will be held in the time you are in Japan, it's well worth it.

Technology
If you want to phone home, your phone must be 3G, not 2G. The thing that really annoyed me when I first arrived into Japan, my phone didn't work because it was tri-band. So make sure that it's 3G or UTMS compatible along with a sim-card that you can use, preferably a International sim-card. If you're not sure, just check the specs on the IPhone with your phone, if they have roughly the same specs then it's ok to use it in Japan. I guess that using your own home sim-card will be expensive when going aboard... But if you want to cut down a huge bill when you go back home, I would advise to use a International Sim-card. I will link information on a different post about these. Plus on the sim-cards, no tourist can buy a Japanese sim-card, I'm afraid. So tourists can't buy sim-cards like you can normally buy in UK, Hong Kong, etc. Unless, there is another way to get it but you have to register on rental phone/sim-card, which is quite expensive.

So why doesn't Japan allow you to buy sim-cards, they regulate their sim-card user to one person with a Japanese address and bank account meaning people who live in Japan are the only ones. This includes foreigners who work in Japan more than a year can get a Japanese sim number/phone. But there's more to that, some say that it cuts down criminal activity but I'm not sure. I have to look back on that information. Well... on the final thought, I think it's expensive on rental or roaming your home sim number, so I researched on International sim-card that I saw on TV and is actually brilliant to have. I will have to link the site later for this information.

Anything else... oh, there's a tax-free for tourist who buy technical stuff like laptops, cameras, TVs and etc. Just show you're passport clearly stating you are a tourist and happy buying. Make sure that it's more than ¥10,001 (roughly £100) otherwise you will have to pay the 5% consumption tax. Another thing on passports, always take it with you. Just in case that the police will stop you if you look suspicious. LOL! (¬...¬ )

Forms/laws
First thing you have to do is fill out forms, you get these on the plane when you are in flight. mostly one for customs (stuff that you bring into the country like cigarettes, perfume, etc.), one for visitation (Officials like to know where bouts you are staying/going), and the other was health (the time I went it was swine flu it hit the news bady). Bear in mind they need this information cos they are like that very strict on their laws, so abide by them cos the next time you will go back there's a mini record and will take note on anything law breaking. For example if you got reported by someone like disrupting the neighbourhood by talking in the streets and got taken in to Police. That would be on file... no matter how small it is they would be considering on stuff. But mind you... it's rumour that I hear stories of shunned entry. So... have that in mind and don't break the law.

Money
The money is easy to to sort out but beware it's an expensive place to be especially the travelling side of it. (in the middle of typing.)