For the most part, my recommendation is to download Google Lens. This app will allow you to use your phone camera to automatically translate text such as restaurant menu's, instructions on cash machines, etc. To a large degree, most Japanese understand simple English requests. The following words are a part of the Japanese language: "Excuse me" "Help" "Thank you" "Please" "Hello" "Goodbye" "Have a nice day" "Nice to meet you" "Police" "Taxi" as well as all English numbers. Most Japanese take six or more years of English, but their focus is on reading and not speaking. For all other things, I recommend trying to use Google translate. You can pass a phone back and forth with a Japanese person; service staff are ordinarily incredibly polite and will go out of their way to help you. Ah, please remember, there is no tipping culture - do not tip people, it is not polite.
Exchange your money in the U.S. You may not be aware of this, but because of COVID and other reasons, most banks in the U.S. will not do same day currency exchanges. You should order foreign currency from your bank more than a week before you intend to travel. Check with your own bank and credit card companies to determine what your overseas transaction fees are like and if using your cards is a viable option.
Generally, you won't need to provide extensive information about yourself on entering Japan. Having said this, Japan technically maintains the prerogative to refuse entry to people who have a criminal record, especially which includes illegal firearm use or ownership or criminal use or distribution of hard drugs. I don't recall them doing a background check on me, so I wouldn't really worry, but I can't be 100% certain. Additionally, if you plan to bring prescription drugs, you will need to bring less than 1 month of supply and carry a doctors note which states the purpose of the drug. Please contact your primary care provider and let them know you plan to travel and ask them to help you with this. Being refused entry for carrying illicit drugs can result in a lifetime ban from entering Japan. Other notes about entry: You will not need a Visa as an American citizen, unless the duration of your stay will be longer than a certain duration (check if it applies if you're staying longer than a week). If you've visited other nations recently, check to see if that will affect you. You will need an actual passport; Japanese airport personnel do not recognize a US Passport Card as valid and while you can probably get through with it, it will probably be a hassle.
No. You may be able to drive in Japan, but there are various ways in which you might break the law and therefore become unwelcome in the nation. For example, they obey Every. Single. Traffic. Law. Without exception. Driving with a BAC above 0.03 is an arrestable offense. You are expect to park the car backwards in parking lots. There is no street parking, and little to no parking available at hotels. Considering that public transportation is excellent, safe, and cheap, I would say renting a car is completely unnecessary. For what it's worth, gas is about $4.50/gallon, or comparable with the low end of California prices.
Check with your phone company. Generally, though, yes. Roaming data rates will usually apply; download speeds are ordinarily limited to 256kbs, which is quite slow. Both Google and Android phones are used throughout Japan, many of which are the same models as the ones you have. Google Maps GTFS transit data is connected to Sapporo buses and trains and provides an accurate estimate of when they will arrive if you are using Google Maps to calculate routes. You may choose to buy a temporary SIM card in Japan to get access to better internet speeds. If you want to do this, I strongly recommend you do this at the airport. You are much more likely to get an employee that speaks English well, and outside of the airport those SIM cards become harder to find, as a lot of stores only sell longer term SIM cards. Do not expect electronic goods to work in Japan, or those bought in Japan to work outside Japan. Japanese region locks go beyond what can be resolved with a VPN. They may work; they may also not work. This includes things like DVD's/video games/etc. There is no trick to knowing, just expect it to not work.
The weather in Hokkaido in late April will be high 40's to low 50's during the day, and just above freezing at night. Pack clothing accordingly. There is a stereotype that Americans do not know how to dress appropriately for the weather, wearing shorts and flip flops in the cold. So take that how you will. For all: bring any over the counter drugs you might expect to use. In Japan, things like lactaid and benadryl are prescription-only drugs. Expect all your over the counter meds to be unavailable, and you won't be left unprepared. For the men: bring deodorants, body wash, and any other scented products. Japanese scented products are incredibly weak by comparison. Japanese razors are all foreign made, but their shaving creams and lotions are terrible; bring your own if you plan to shave. For the ladies: Japanese feminine products are better than those in the US. Most hotels will stock feminine products as courtesy items the same as soap and shampoo. Ask Yae for details. On average, it will rain between 1/3 to 1/2 of the days in April. Bring appropriate shoes, extra socks, and several jackets.
You are not obligated to do anything at a Shinto Shrine if it conflicts with your beliefs. Shintoism is the traditional and ancestral religion of Japan which has, today, become more an expression of Japanese identity and culture rather than an actual religious system. Very few Japanese believe in Shintoism or describe their activities as religious, yet most Japanese participate in Shinto festivals and events. If you choose to participate, then you should do the following: 1. Before entering the main area of the shrine, on the left there will be a fountain. Here you will wash your hand (follow the video below!) 2. Before passing the torii (gate) you should bow slightly. 3. Do not walk down the center of the walkway towards the main shrine! This is the pathway reserved for the kami. 4. Proceed up the steps and 'queue' to pray if needed. Be quiet and polite to those in front of you at this time. 5. On reaching the top, have money prepared. You may ring the bell (unlikely that Hokkaido Jingu will have theirs out, but other shrines may). Once you ring the bell, drop money into the square wood box in front of you. How much is a good amount? Any amount, but the 5 yen coin (gold one with a hole) is considered lucky. 6. Bow twice, clap twice. Hold your hands together after the last clap and make a wish for something, or just thank the gods of Hokkaido and say hello. Return your hands to your side and make a last bow. You did it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxoVMVVCW7c There are three gods/spirits that our wedding shrine is dedicated to, but the chief diety is Okunitama - god of the land of Hokkaido. Sukunahikona is the god of brewing. Onamuchi is the god who civilizes the land. Shintoism isn't a devout or dogmatic religion, you can pray to whatever you want, and you can get half the steps wrong and no one will care. Just do what means something to yourself.