Things to Know Before Your Trip to Japan

Japan is a country full of amazing sights, a rich history and culture, the kindest people, and delicious food. There is so much to see and do that planning a trip there can be a bit overwhelming. Here are some things to know before your trip to Japan so you can be better prepared and have a smoother travel experience.

Japanese Culture

It’s always good to know a bit about the culture of the places you are traveling to before you get there. Here is a brief description of some parts of Japanese culture you might notice on your trip.

Japan is a collectivistic society, emphasizing the goals of the group over the goals of the individual. The importance of interdependence is captured in the concept of amae, which is the feeling of nurturing others and relying on them for support as they rely on members of the ingroup for support as well. Japanese language also has a word for the culture’s own brand of hospitality, omotenashi, which is seen in the attentive service customers receive at any store and the complete care a person receives as soon as they set foot in someone’s home. Taking care of people in the ingroup and letting them take care of you is a cultural cornerstone of Japan. Cooperation is essential.

Japan is a very high-context culture, meaning speakers say little in hopes the receiver will interpret and understand what is really being conveyed without feeling insensitive by being too direct. One reason is the desire to save the face of both the message sender and receiver. Another is to establish rapport with the receiver, relating back to the collectivistic concept of amae because the sender relies on the receiver to decipher the message correctly and vice versa.

Japan also has many written and unspoken rules in place. With such a large population, order is maintained by adhering to these rules in every facet of life – in the classroom, in the home, in the workplace, and in public spaces. Don’t worry if you are unfamiliar with all of these rules before your trip. You will learn them as you go.

Money & Payments

Yen (¥) is the currency used in Japan, and it consists of both bills and coins. Japan is still very much a cash-based society, although more and more places in bigger cities (especially those that attract international visitors) are beginning to accept credit and debit cards. Still, it is best to carry cash with you, especially if you are traveling to rural areas where credit cards might not be usable.

To withdraw cash, you can use one of the many ATMs in Japan. Keep in mind, however, that some do not accept all credit cards. Before your trip, do some research to see where your card will work and if it will incur foreign transaction fees when withdrawing money. Japan Post post offices and some Japanese banks have ATMs that work with cards issued outside of Japan. However, the ATMs found in banks and around the street often shut off at night. In my experience, the best places to find ATMs that work with international cards are inside 7-Eleven convenience stores (more on Japanese convenience stores later). 7-Elevens are usually open 24/7 in Japan, so you can get cash at any time.

Payments

It is common in stores to see small trays at the cash register. Customers put their payment on the trays, the cashier takes it, and the cashier returns with change on the tray for the customer.

Tipping

Tips are already included in the prices of food and most services, so tipping an additional amount is not necessary. On my first trip to Japan, one of my travel mates tried to tip our taxi driver, and he refused to accept it, explaining that tipping is not customary in Japan. However, it is an accepted practice in some tourism companies that provide tour guide services.

Get Connected

If you want to navigate the streets of Japan using a mapping app, post pictures of your trip to social media, access a Japanese/English dictionary, video chat with your friends and family back home, or check news and emails during an emergency, you’ll need to get connected to Japan’s telecommunications network. A good way to do this is through buying a SIM card, which can be installed into your phone and allows you to connect to a network within Japan.

One SIM card provider is Mobal, a telecom company that has partnered with Seibo, a non-profit organization in Japan that helps to provide school meals for children in Malawi, Africa. Proceeds of Mobal’s SIM card sales go towards Seibo’s important goal of ensuring that children are able to receive an education without going hungry. You can support Seibo’s efforts by purchasing a SIM card through Mobal’s website* or SIM Card Geek’s website*. Through purchasing a plan using these links, you can contribute to a good cause while resting assured that you can connect your phone or tablet to a network while abroad in Japan.

Mobal sells SIM card packages that include voice, text, and data that are better suited for longer stays, or plans that include data only for shorter excursions. You can pick whichever one works best for your travel needs. Service is provided by SoftBank, a major telecommunication network in Japan. It operates on 4G LTE data, and plans contain different amounts of gigabytes (GB), so you can choose whether you’d like 3GB or 10GB depending on how much you think you will need for your trip to Japan. Because Mobal offers free worldwide shipping, you can have SIM cards delivered to your door with easy installation instructions so you don’t have to worry about spending time finding a place that sells them once your plane lands in Japan and you’re in a jetlagged state. Or, if you would prefer to pick it up upon arrival to Japan, you can do so at any main airport including Narita, Haneda, and Kansai or at a downtown Tokyo collection point. English-language customer support is available, so you can ask any questions you might have about connecting to a network before or during your trip to Japan.

It’s always nice to know that your purchases are going towards good causes. Consider buying a SIM card through these* links* and help support Seibo provide meals to schoolchildren in Africa. To learn more, please visit Seibo’s website.

Transportation

Japan has a vast and exceptionally efficient network of public transportation ranging from buses, local trains, express trains, bullet trains (shinkansen), planes, ferries, and more.

One easy way to navigate public transportation on your trip to Japan is to have a Suica card. I’ve been using a Suica card since my very first Japan trip, and I love the convenience of it. It is a preloaded card that is valid on many of Japan’s trains and bus lines. And it doesn’t just work in Tokyo – it is accepted in multiple regions. All you have to do is touch your card to the turnstiles when you enter and exit a train terminal or bus, and it will automatically deduct what you owe. Simple as that! Your balance will appear each time you swipe it, and if you are running low, credit can be added to your Suica card throughout your trip at the many train terminals that have card recharging stations. You can even use your card at participating convenience stores and vending machines to purchase food, beverages, and other products. It stays valid as long as you use it within a period of 10 years, so you can keep it with you for your next trip to Japan – trust me, you’ll be eager to go back!

In addition to SIM cards, SIM Card Geek* offers prepaid Suica cards that are loaded with a 2,000 yen credit (including the 500 yen deposit necessary to purchase it in Japan). If you want to bypass purchasing it upon your arrival, you can buy it through SIM Card Geek and have it shipped to your home for no extra cost before you leave for your trip. SIM Card Geek donates proceeds of their sales to Seibo, the aforementioned non-profit organization that provides school meals to children in Malawi, Africa. By using this SIM Card Geek link* to purchase your Suica card, you can help contribute to Seibo’s goal of alleviating hunger to allow students to achieve success in school.

Transportation Etiquette

It is always important to be mindful of others sharing public transportation with us. Basic etiquette in Japan is to be quiet on public transportation: no loud talking, no cell phone calls, and use headphones when listening to music or watching something on your mobile device. Passengers often sit quietly reading, texting on silent mode, or sleeping.

A neat thing you’ll notice in train stations is that escalators are divided by an invisible line. It is an unspoken rule that in Tokyo and most other regions in Japan, whether you are riding an escalator up or down, the right side is designated for those who want to walk or run past the people standing still on the left. In Osaka and Nara, it’s the opposite – those in a rush use the left side while those standing use the right. People using the speedier side are usually in a hurry to catch the next train or to get somewhere on time.

Some train lines offer women-only passenger cars, which will be marked as such. Be mindful of which car you enter since certain ones may be used only by women.

Mapping Out Your Itinerary

When figuring out which places you want to visit, it helps to map everything out so you can see visually how close or far each destination is from one another. I like to pin places on Google Maps so I can visualize how I will get from one to the next. Japan is a very walkable country with great public transportation, so you can fit a lot of activities into one day if they are in close proximity or an easy bus or train ride away. For example, Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro in Tokyo are all connected by the JR Yamanote Line, so it is easy to visit them all in one day if you are pressed for time. Train schedules and route information are available on Google Maps, Hyperdia, and Jorudan. 

Packing & Luggage

It is best to pack as light as possible when traveling to Japan. Bringing large suitcases onto public transportation is not recommended. On my first trip to Japan, I made the mistake of bringing a giant suitcase. It was unwieldy, difficult to lug onto trains, and hard to wheel around the walking paths. It took up too much space and I kept getting in people’s ways. On trips since then, I’ve taken just a carry on sized suitcase and a large purse with a smaller purse stowed inside it for everyday use. I also pack a foldable duffel bag for whatever I buy on trips that won’t fit in the carry on suitcase. That way, on the flight back, I can keep the duffel bag and large purse on the plane with me and check the carry on suitcase. This may be harder to do in winter months, however, when you need to pack heavier clothes to stay warm.

One of my favorite ways to maximize space in a suitcase is to roll clothes instead of fold them, then put them in packing cubes. I usually do laundry halfway through the trip, so I stay in accommodations that have easy access to a washer and/or dryer. If you are planning a long stay in Japan, try to locate the nearest laundry facilities to your accommodations so you don’t have to overpack clothing.

Pack Socks

In many places in Japan, it is customary to remove your shoes upon entering. This applies to Japanese homes, accommodations like ryokan, some temples, and some restaurants. Some places will provide slippers you can wear around the building, and in others, you will be walking around in your socks. Make sure you pack plenty of socks (preferably ones without holes).

Safety

Japan consistently ranks as one of the safest countries in the world. Like any place, though, it’s always good to be aware of your surroundings. If you need to report something, you can go to a kōban, which is a small police box set up in many cities and neighborhoods across Japan. They will be marked as “KOBAN” or “交番.”

Accommodations

Japan has many different types of accommodations ranging from budget to luxury prices.

Hotels offer rooms with private or shared bathrooms. Some have restaurants, bars, spa facilities, and other amenities. They are usually found near city centers and train stations, so they are convenient starting points for a day of sightseeing.

Ryokan are traditional Japanese inns that wonderfully embody Japanese culture. Though there are plenty of modern ones now, the traditional ones are often family owned and feature tatami mat floors where you sleep on a futon mattress laid on the floor. Some serve guests breakfast and dinner either privately in their room or in a communal dining space. Ryokan often have shared bathrooms and bathing facilities, and ones in areas with a lot of geothermal activity like Hakone have hot springs known as onsen. These hot spring baths have lots of health benefits and are super relaxing after a long day of traveling. If you want a taste of Japanese culture, ryokan are a great option.

Shukubō are located on the grounds of Buddhist temples, usually near sacred sites like Mount Kōya. Guests can participate in activities with Buddhist monks such as early morning prayers, zazen meditation, and shōjin-ryōri, vegetarian meals served in individual dishes that are designed so that no one flavor overpowers another. Rooms are typically simple, containing tatami mat floors with futon mattresses. Bathrooms and bathing facilities are shared among guests and monks.

Hostels are popular choices for budget travelers and are found all over Japan. In this type of accommodation, you share rooms and bathing facilities with other guests. This is a nice way to meet travelers from all over the world.

Capsule hotels are quite unique. Guests get a pair of keys for a locker to store their luggage, then crawl into a pod-like sleeping area in a room with multiple pods stacked one on top of the other. Bathroom facilities are shared with other guests. These accommodations are often male only or female only, or they have separate floors for males and for females. These grew popular as places for businessmen to stay over for a night if they were out too late and didn’t want to go all the way back home to then shortly after commute back to work in the morning.

Airbnb operates in Japan (though Japan’s Airbnb laws seem to be a bit in flux as of this writing). I’ve stayed in three different Airbnbs in Japan (two in Tokyo, one in Osaka) and had wonderful experiences with all of them.

Restroom Facilities

Most public places in Japan have free restroom facilities. These can range from old school squat toilets built into the ground to high-tech toilets that have lids that automatically lift up when you approach them as well as an array of buttons that do things like play music. If you need to ask somewhere where the nearest restroom is, you can say, “Sumimasen (excuse me), toire wa doko desu ka?” or “Sumimasen, otearai wa doko desu ka?”

Food

Food is plentiful in Japan, and it sure is delicious. Japan has high standards for food excellence, and you can see this reflected in the quality of dishes and service in dining establishments. If you can’t read a Japanese menu and a restaurant doesn’t have a menu in your native language, don’t worry – many restaurants have their menu items presented in a window display. The displays looks so real, but they are actually handcrafted plastic models of food that have been masterfully replicated to look just like the real thing.

Though Japan has a reputation for being expensive when it comes to food, it is not true of every kind of dining establishment. There are many affordable restaurants and ways to eat economically in Japan. Yes, there are high-end sushi restaurants that will cost you $100+ per person, but there are plenty of cheaper options too. One of my favorite places for a quick, filling lunch is Tendon Tenya in Shibuya, a chain of tempura restaurants that has a reasonably priced menu where you can have a bowl of tempura with rice and either noodles or soup for less than $10 USD.

Convenience Stores

Before I ever went to Japan, countless people had sung the praises of Japanese convenience stores, often referred to as konbini or conbini. I tried to envision how great a convenience store could really be and always ended up drawing a blank. Then I set foot in a Japanese 7-Eleven the very first night I landed in Tokyo on my very first trip to Japan, and at once I understood why everyone loves them so much.

Convenient they are! They have everything you could need. The prepared food selection is fresh and delicious: onigiri rice balls, noodle dishes, sandwiches, bento boxes, and more. The beverage selection is impressive, too. If you are tea lover like me, wait ‘til you see the shelves packed with all the different flavors and varieties of iced and hot tea. Coffee lovers are also in luck, as there is a wide variety of iced and hot coffee products as well. And everything is very affordably priced. Aside from food items, they also sell everyday household items, toiletries, magazines, beauty products, and much more.

Some of the convenience store chains found all over Japan are 7-Eleven, Lawson, and Family Mart. Many are open 24 hours, 7 days a week, so you know where to go if you need a midnight snack or an early morning breakfast.

Themed Restaurants

Japan has so many unique themed restaurants. There’s the Hello Kitty café in Kyoto where you can sip a matcha latte that has a Hello Kitty marshmallow floating in it, the Alice in Wonderland restaurant in Ginza where staff members dress up as Alice and the Mad Hatter, Ninja Akasaka where ninjas play games with you as they serve your dinner, and the infamous technicolor Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku. Keep in mind these restaurants are usually a bit pricier due to the atmosphere and themed service they provide guests.

Vending Machines

Vending machines (jidōhanbaiki in Japanese; jihanki for short) are ubiquitous in Japan. The first time I went to Japan, I was floored by how omnipresent they were: on street corners, alleyways, shops, parks, etc. I could make an entire album out of all of the photos I’ve taken of Japanese vending machines over the years. They sell a variety of teas, coffees, sodas, juices, sports drinks, and water. In the warmer months, you can buy cool (tsumetai) drinks, and in the colder months, the vending machines sell warm (atatakai) drinks. Note that most Japanese vending machines do not sell food items. They usually just sell beverages, though I have seen one or two that sell ice cream.

Eating Etiquette

In Japan, it is considered rude to eat while you walk. This might be tricky if you come from a grab-and-go, eat-on-the-go culture. It is common in Japan to see people buy something from a vending machine or street vendor, then stand by it until they’ve finished their food or drink. If you are hungry, it is best to sit down and enjoy your meal so you can savor the food (important in Japanese culture), then continue exploring.

Chopsticks Etiquette

Get ready to eat with a pair of chopsticks, as this is the utensil most traditional Japanese restaurants provide. There are many guidelines to chopstick etiquette. If you don’t memorize them all, don’t panic! Just try to remember some of the basics: do not stand your chopsticks up vertically in a bowl of rice (this is only done as offerings to the deceased), do not transfer food from your chopsticks to another person’s chopsticks (this is reminiscent of how bones are passed during funeral rituals), and do not spear pieces of food with your chopsticks. If you want to put them down, lay your chopsticks on the special rest the restaurant may have provided, or lay them uncrossed atop a bowl or plate.

Appreciation for Nature

Japan has a deep appreciation for nature. Even in cities as large and developed as Tokyo, there are many green spaces, parks, and gardens that people can enjoy. There is a belief that humans and nature should coexist harmoniously together in Japan. Shinrinyoku, referred to as forest bathing, is all about being present while immersed in the natural environment to in turn receive the health benefits that nature provides. In Shinto, the traditional religion of Japan, spirituality is found in nature.

Residents of Japan respect the natural world around them. It is best for visitors to do the same. Do not litter, do not carve your name onto bamboo stalks, but DO take some time, as the saying goes, to stop and smell the roses, and enjoy how beautiful the nature of Japan is.

Omiyage Gift Giving

The concept of omiyage in Japan is such a sweet one. The word omiyage technically translates to “souvenir,” but the term has much deeper connotations. It represents a special gift giving culture. In Japan, people bring back omiyage from wherever they were traveling for their family, friends, and colleagues. Whatever they bring back is characteristic of the place they visited. Or, if they are visiting people in a different country or region, they bring gifts from their hometown. In high school, my family and I hosted a Japanese exchange student who brought us gifts from her hometown in Saitama Prefecture. People even go the extra mile with gift wrapping and wrap their presents in furoshiki, beautiful cloth, to make it look more aesthetically pleasing.

If you are visiting Japan from another country and will be meeting up with friends there, bring some things from your hometown to give as omiyage. Or, if you are starting off your trip to Japan in one region and then making your way to another, you can buy omiyage that is representative of one prefecture to bring to your friends in another. For example, you can bring your friends in Tokyo some matcha green tea from Uji, Kyoto, or some Hakata ramen from Fukuoka.

Final Thoughts

Preparing for a trip to Japan might seem overwhelming, but once you get there, you will have the trip of a lifetime. Public transportation is so efficient, accommodations are plentiful, the food is of high quality, and you will learn so much about the rich and fascinating facets of Japanese culture by experiencing them firsthand. I hope this guide can help you plan for what to expect on your trip to Japan, and I sincerely hope you enjoy your travels!

 

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(All photos taken by Clara Juliette)

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