10 tips for your first time in Japan

There’s much to consider before your first trip to Japan. Apart from booking your flights, arranging travel insurance and packing your bags, it’s important to consider what your experience is going to be like once you’re in the Land of the Rising Sun. From knowing how to dine like a local to staying connected while you’re away, these travel tips will help you navigate Japanese culture and etiquette, and ensure your trip is a winner from the get-go.

1. Get cashed up

As a highly cash-based society, don’t turn up to Japan and expect to charge everything on your credit card. While credit cards are growing in popularity, most stores, restaurants and bars accept cash only (especially out of the big cities). Before you leave simply exchange some of your cash into yen and ensure you bring your bank and travel money cards so you can access an ATM to withdraw cash from your accounts. Not all ATMs accept foreign cards but ATMs within post offices and 7-Eleven convenience stores tend to accept international cards.

2. Turn down the volume

Modesty is a big part of Japanese society and this is something many foreigners find hard to grapple with upon arrival. Talking loudly, eating, coughing and sneezing in public is frowned upon, so think twice before you start a loud conversation in a bookstore or tuck into a few gyoza on a train. If you do need to sneeze or cough in public, try and do it in the most inconspicuous way to avoid offending the locals.

3. Brush up on the your Japanese language skills

English isn’t spoken widely in Japan, so be prepared to learn some basic Japanese phrases before you arrive. Hotel staff and tour guides may speak English, but don’t expect bar staff, waiters, taxi drivers or other locals to speak English (especially in rural regions). Even just learning the basics will help with opening doors. Many restaurants and bars only have menus written in Japanese, so bring a phrase book to help decipher menu items. Thankfully, most train station signage is listed in English.

4. Don’t be afraid to eat at convenience stores

In most countries, convenience store foods are pretty grim and best avoided. Yet in Japan, it’s entirely possible to eat very well at convenience stores. With a long, proud culinary history, Japan’s cuisine is one of the biggest reasons travellers head to (and return to) Japan. While there are plenty of fine dining restaurants, sake bars and ramen joints to check out in Japan, convenience stores offer a low-cost alternative for when you feel like a quick snack or bringing back a meal to your hotel room. Packed meals filled with things like curry, vegetables and rice are popular, as are steamed meat buns and omusubi (flavoured rice balls).

5. Hold the tips

While it is customary to tip drivers, restaurant and bar staff in countries like the USA and Canada, in Japanese culture tipping is not the norm. The price that is advertised is the price that you pay and no more is expected of you. In fact, some people may be insulted by being tipped, so when in Japan it’s best to just pay the bill and no more.

6. Get used to taking your shoes off

In Japan it is customary to remove your shoes before entering people’s homes (and sometimes businesses and hotels too). Generally speaking, if you see a rack outside a door, then you’re expected to remove and place your shoes there. Guest slippers are commonly provided, so slip into a pair of comfy slippers before dragging your shoes through someone’s home or workplace.

7. Japanese toilets take some getting used to

Be prepared to spend a considerable amount of time trying to work out how to use the toilet in your hotel room. Many Japanese toilets are high-tech, complete with a panel of buttons used to operate many different functions well beyond the flush or half-flush variety. With seat warming, sound effect and instant deodorising capabilities, Japan’s electronic toilets have bemused many a visitor. You’ve been warned!

8. Invest in pocket Wi-Fi

While most hotels will have fast Wi-Fi access, renting a wireless router from the airport is a great, low-cost way to ensure you have speedy Wi-Fi access wherever you go. With the ability to hook up multiple devices to the system (smartphones, laptops, e-readers), you’ll be able to access Wi-Fi on-the-go, instead of spending time searching for a hotspot. Having fast, cheap Wi-Fi access during your Japan trip will help you keep in contact with friends and family back home and give you the address of that little sake bar you’ve been searching for.

9. Follow local etiquette before chowing down

Tasting the local cuisine is one of the biggest joys of travel, yet wherever you go it’s important to follow the local etiquette when eating. If dining at a restaurant with a traditional tatami floor, be sure to remove your shoes and slippers before stepping onto the tatami mat. Wet towels are often provided to wash your hands before eating, so after you’ve cleansed your hands simply fold the towel and place it on the table beside you. Resist the temptation to use the towel on your face. Blowing your nose, sneezing, belching and coughing at the table is considered rude, so it would be best to leave the table before you do. If you’re not accustomed to using chopsticks, consider giving them a go before you arrive in Japan. It’s surprisingly easy to get the hang of with a little practice. When using chopsticks remember that it’s considered rude to point them at other diners or use them to pass food to others. Japan’s food etiquette can be quite daunting to work out, so observe locals before tucking in.

10. Pick up a rail pass

While some rail systems leave a lot to be desired, Japan’s rail network is among the best in the world. Fast, clean, punctual and easy-to-use, Japan’s rail system allows travellers to traverse the country in an affordable, efficient way. Available only to tourists, the Japan Rail Pass gives foreigners unlimited travel on Japan Railway transportation (including JR trains, Shinkansen bullet trains and the Tokyo monorail). Buy a pass online before you leave to make the most of your rail pass upon arrival.
 

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