As a local, there are 10 things I wish tourists knew before visiting Japan

• Understanding Japan’s transportation network and customs can help you avoid common tourist mistakes.
• Some of my favorite experiences have happened far beyond Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.

Don’t overschedule your itinerary.

Venture off the “Golden Route.”

Bring essential medication with you.

For example, if you’re going from Kobe to Osaka, the JR Special Rapid Service takes around 20 minutes and costs 420 yen. The Shinkansen costs more than 1,500 yen and gets you there only a few minutes sooner (it takes 12 or 13 minutes).

Once you factor in the time needed to reach the Shinkansen platforms and stations, the actual time savings are often negligible while the price difference is substantial.

Save the bullet train for longer cross-country journeys and use local lines instead. They often take you through parts of Japan most tourists never get to see.