We’ve put together a useful list of things you might wish to consider before you go to Japan. What to expect and be aware of. The culture and etiquette is quite different than what we are used to in Europe. Respecting these cultural elements is appreciated and will provide you more enjoyable stay in Japan. Check out the list below.
Credit card or cash
International debit and credit cards will be accepted at major establishments, such as hotels, large retail stores and some restaurants. But many places are cash only, especially once you travel outside of Tokyo. Even in Kyoto we had to use cash over credit card.
We recommend to carry cash and do not rely on debit or credit cards during your stay in Japan. However ATMs are almost everywhere – at banks, post offices and convenience stores (such as FamilyMart, 7Eleven and Lawson). Most ATMs have an English language option.
Internet and WiFi connection
While moving around Japan you should stay connected to the Internet. It helps you plan your way and activities much faster and easier. Many hotels, cafes, metro stations, stores, trains and so on offer free WiFi. There are also hotels offering their customers free phone with prepaid internet for the whole stay. We had one in Kyoto and we suggest you to check this option too, if you don’t want to pay for your own mobile data.
Plan ahead
Even though Japan has significant transport and hospitality infrastructure, with a population of 127 million people and lots of visiting people, things might get busy. The Japanese are great planners and plan ahead when they travel within their own country and you should too. Don’t expect to turn up on the train and get a seat. You might also many times miss the train, because they don’t waste a second and always go on time. So do plan ahead and have some route backup options as well.
Follow the rules
With such a large population, people need to follow the rules to make things work. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, everything is on time, but not in rush. If check-in time at your hotel is 14:00, you cannot get into your room until precisely 14:00. Starting from waiting for the green light at a street crossing and no food in the public transport you should follow the rules not to get in any problems or unpleasant situations.
No tipping
Why no tipping if you are satisfied customer? Japanese people do not accept tips for services provided, because they always give the best quality services, which means Japanese people believe in providing 100% quality customer service all of the time, without requiring extra money. If you don’t do it perfectly don’t do it at all – is the core of Japanese culture.
Queue up
In huge metropole cities like Tokyo or Osaka, there need to be an order to keep things running in the most efficient way. If you see people queuing up for the train, bus, ticket counter, make sure to respect the queueing system. They really have it organised. Follow the markings on the ground or instructions of the officers around. Without any barriers they are able to create impressive snake queues. So queue up like a pro!
Public transport manners
Many Japanese people use the time in public transport to relax or get a quick nap before they clock into the office for the busy day. In Japan buses and trains are expected to keep noise to the minimum, which includes talking on the phone. If you need to make a call or talk to your friend, try to keep your voice down. Also food and drinks are not allowed there, as Japanese people believe you should always find a proper time to enjoy the food.
Public transport cards
By using metro and Japan Rail cards you might save a significant amount of money and time. Japan is famous for its extensive train network and trains are a really convenient way how to travel across the country, but also an expensive way. Before coming to Japan you should consider buying Japan Rail Pass. This card gives you unlimited number of train rides across the whole country (you can find more about it in our post about transportation in Japan). We recommend to get metro cards such as Pasmo or Suica. It’s easier to charge it once and use it for the whole day, than bother with buying single tickets every time. And believe me, you will be depending on public transport many times a day.
Tattoos
Having tattoos may cause some minor inconvenience for tourists as it can stop them from entering some gyms and hot springs. Tattoos in Japan carry a negative connotation as they are associated with the organised crime groups Yakuza. However, if you do have a tattoo cover it with a long sleeve t-shirt or a plaster. Some hotels also offers badges for covering your tattoos.
Eating on the go
This part can be well connected with public transport manners. General thought about eating in public is that you should take your time, sit down and enjoy your meal without focusing on the road and rushing to get somewhere. Eating on the way is not accepted in Japan as it can potentially create litter. Try to avoid it, but if you find yourself in a situation where its unavoidable, try your best to consider those around you.
No public garbage bins
Japanese are well known for keeping places tidy and always clean their mess. They even pick up litter after other people and leave a place tidier then it was when they arrived. You’ll notice that there are no rubbish bins on the streets but also no rubbish at all. This is because the Japanese usually keep their rubbish and dispose it at home. You might find public garbage bins only in big shopping centres or train stations. So always bring some bags for your own rubbish to carry before finding a place where to dispose it.
Choose your hotel wisely before you go to Japan
Want to save some time and money? Book your hotel close to JR stations. When visiting Japan you usually have JR pass with unlimited train rides, so it’s convenient to use it as much as possible. It might seems like short walk on the map, but it’s far in real. Excluding public city transport like metro or buses, especially in Kyoto will save you significant amount of money and time on transport and it also makes planing of trips easier.
Under reconstruction
As Japanese want to have everything clean and in perfect condition, you might often get disappointed by visiting some famous touristic places which are under reconstruction. We crossed half of Japan to see Myajima gate and it was all covered in plastic. So as we said plan ahead and check these places before visiting.
Japan electrical plugs
Before coming to Japan make sure to get yourself a universal travel adapter. Even though there are many places with USB chargers, there is no international electricity plug. Of course you can buy it there, but why waste the time, while you can be exploring Japan all around.
Google translator
We found it to be very useful application. Even though Japan is very modern and developed country, you might still get in communication problems, especially when you are leaving big cities. We were very surprised by lack of English speaking people in Kyoto. We often communicated only though Google translator. And one more thing! How can you read the Japanese text? Know how to turn on washing machine? Even flushing the toilet comes with instructions. Visual photo translation which is included in this app will come very handy as well.
We hope that this list of things to know before you go will help you prepare for your trip to Japan and better understand the unique and amazing Japanese culture.
Make sure to get your travel Insurance before you go to Japan. We highly recommend World Nomads for adventurous travellers.
With Love,
Jelena and Luke
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