Japan for the Canadian Traveler
Like Duolingo, but for Japan for the Canadian Traveler. Tomo turns the whole topic into a game you play five minutes a day, until it actually sticks.
For the part of you with thirty open tabs that never became anything.
Free during early access · No credit card · iPhone & Android

Key ideas in Japan for the Canadian Traveler
- Narita is significantly further from central Tokyo than Haneda
- Takkyubin services allow for hands-free travel on crowded Japanese trains
- The Narita Express (N'EX) is the primary rapid link for Narita arrivals
- Delivery usually takes overnight to most major cities like Tokyo or Kyoto
- The Tokyo Monorail serves Haneda airport exclusively
- The service is widely available at airport arrival halls
- Deciding between the Narita Express and the Monorail based on arrival airport
- Understanding the benefit of the Takkyubin luggage forwarding service
- 7-Bank ATMs (in 7-Eleven) accept almost all international cards
- Many local Japanese bank ATMs do not accept foreign-issued debit cards
- 7-Bank offers a better exchange rate than airport currency booths
- The Welcome Suica and Pasmo Passport are valid for 28 days and require no deposit
- Suica is typically associated with JR East (Narita), Pasmo with private lines (Haneda)
- These cards are essential for 'tap-and-go' travel on all Japanese transit
- Distinguishing between the two main tourist-specific IC cards
- eSIMs can be activated digitally without swapping physical cards
You've tried the other tabs
Thirty open tabs. Four facts you actually kept.
You watched. You nodded. By Sunday it was gone.
One answer, then back to scrolling.
Eight weeks. You meant to finish. You didn't.
Tomo gives Japan for the Canadian Traveler the Duolingo treatment: levels, streaks, and quick quizzes that test what you just learned. That game loop is what the tabs above never had, so it's the one you actually finish.
Here's what playing it feels like
A real question from this course. Take your best guess.
What is the main reason travelers use the Takkyubin service right after landing?
Get it right to open this lesson and 65 more in the app.
Where Japan for the Canadian Traveler takes you
A comprehensive guide for Canadians navigating a two-week journey through Japan, including the essential cultural pivot for a following week in Indonesia.
- 1
The First 24 Hours
- Landing and Getting to the City
- The Konbini Survival Guide
- 2
Navigating the Rails
- The IC Card: Your Digital Key
- Mastering the Shinkansen
- The Local Train Maze
- 3
Social Grace and Etiquette
- The Silent Language of Bowing
- Shoes, Slippers, and Tatami
- The Art of Tipping (or Not)
- 4
The Culinary Journey
- Dining Etiquette: Chopsticks and Slurping
- Izakaya Culture
- Vending Machines and Street Food
- 5
Wellness and Daily Life
- The Onsen and Sento Experience
- The High-Tech Washlet
- Trash and Recycling Mastery
- 6
The Golden Route Highlights
- Tokyo: The Neon Metropolis
- Kyoto: The Cultural Heart
- Osaka: The Nation's Kitchen
- 7
Shopping and Logistics
- Tax-Free Shopping for Canadians
- Connectivity and Power
- 8
The Indonesia Pivot
- Packing for Two Worlds
- The Transition Logistics
- Contrasting the Two Cultures
8 sections · 22 units · 66 levels. Built to play, not to enroll.
You pick the voice
Japan for the Canadian Traveler is taught in the The Bestie style: your friend who just gets it. Want a different feel? In the app you can spin up the same topic in any of Tomo's teaching styles. Same facts, totally different vibe.
More Travel on Tomo
The Modern Oshawa Centre
Navigate the massive expansion and newest retail arrivals at Durham Region's premier shopping destination. Learn where to find the latest brands and how to master the new wing's layout.
Officiating Your First Wedding
Master the art of leading a ceremony that feels personal, professional, and perfectly timed. Learn how to command the room and handle the legalities without breaking a sweat.
Navigating the American Metropolis
Go beyond the skyline to understand how America's 100 largest cities actually function. Explore the hidden patterns of urban growth, the logic of city layouts, and the unique identities that define the modern US landscape.
Exploring the Emerald Isle
Move beyond the tourist traps to experience Ireland like a local. Master the art of the pub session, navigate the winding backroads, and uncover the hidden history tucked away in the countryside.
Your First Trip Abroad
Stop dreaming and start packing! Learn how to navigate airports, handle foreign money, and explore new cultures with confidence even if you've never left your home country.
The Global Perspective: Navigating World Cultures
Move beyond basic facts and learn to navigate the subtle social cues, unspoken rules, and deep-seated values that shape how people live and interact across the globe.
Start Japan for the Canadian Traveler today.
Download Tomo, search Japan for the Canadian Traveler, and play your first lesson in under a minute.