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Whether you are a big fan of Japanese cultural exports or fascinated by this country of contradictions, where old and new go hand in hand and seemingly create an unrealistic balance, as a first time visitor you are probably a bit nervous and overwhelmed by all the cultural differences and the vast information available out there. If this sounds like you, do read the article below as it can help appease some of your worries. And if you need help planning your trip, check out my Services page or Contact me for more information.

Tip 1 -  Phones in silent mode and don’t talk on the phone while using public transportation

You might have heard of this one or laughed it off as just an unwritten rule, but it is true. Announcements on public transportations will ask you to refrain making loud voices, including but not limited to talking on the phone. You should try to be considerate of others as they might not want to hear what you had for dinner and they also probably don’t care to listen to your music either. Although it might be annoying, but once you set foot on public transportation, you will realise that it is most often overcrowded and smaller than what you are used to, therefore you will be in much closer proximity to strangers than you expected. 

You might wonder if talking to your companions is allowed or not. And the answer is yes, as long as you don’t screech like an owl, you should be okay to converse in a lower voice. And the reason for these unwritten rules don’t just lie in the culture but also because many Japanese people have a longer commute, work long hours and the train ride is their time to catch up on some much needed sleep. 

Tip - 2 - Convenience Stores

Affectionately called a コンビニ (Konbini) by locals, this place really is true to it’s name. First things first, just to mention a couple of the biggest chains in Japan: 7-11, Family Mart, Lawson and Mini Stop are the biggest chains and have stores throughout Japan. Of course there are smaller chains that usually operate only in a specific region, but it is always good to be familiar with at least some of them.

Depending on the size and location of course but generally speaking convenience stores here in Japan have everything and more.  Some of the services they offer that are good to know: ATM cash withdrawals, printing and copying, concert tickets and tickets to attractions, you can also pay your bills if you live in Japan, you can drop off and pick up parcels (company dependent), most stores are open 24/7 which can come in handy if you missed your last train, find yourself in need of a place to rest or if you have the sudden urge to eat/ drink something in the middle of the night, which could actually easily happen if you are jet lagged. They sell fresh bento boxes, a wide variety of food items, steamed buns and fried chickens along many household items you might need, including but not limited to personal hygiene, cleaning supplies, condiments, ramen, snacks, ice creams, magazines and a plethora of (non)alcoholic drinks. And no need to worry if you don’t have a microwave or kettle with you, they also have those ready for you to use.

Tip - 3 - Chopstick manners

Every culture has table manners and things they would consider impolite so no surprise that Japan is no exception to this. You will notice that in Japan chopsticks are used to basically eat any and pretty much every food including soups. Of course it takes time to master the proper ways to use chopsticks, but it is not impossible. With that said, don’t stick your chopsticks in your food as it is considered rude, associated with misfortune and only done at funerals when they leave a bowl of rice with chopstick stuck upright for the dead soul. If you are unsure how to use chopsticks, either ask the restaurant staff to show you how to hold them properly or request a fork. 

Tip - 4 -  Department Store and Stations B1 Floor/Food section

This one is a well kept secret. The first time I came to Japan as a tourist, the tall and seemingly boring buildings have hidden many extraordinary places from me. Had I not had some local friends at the time, I would have missed all the wonderful stores, shops and restaurants, because I wouldn’t have thought of going inside the large concrete blocks housing them. So my tip to you is to head inside department stores to look around and always check the basement floor as that is where they have exquisite food, beautifully packed bentos, local delicacies, traditional snacks and also fancier brands. The same goes for underground shopping malls around bigger train stations. They truly are a maze of wonder. You will surely find either souvenirs to take back home, or mouth watering food to try.  

Tip - 5 - Smoking

In recent years, especially when they were gearing up for the Olympics, Japan made a huge effort to make most establishments smoke-free. Nowadays you would be hard pressed to find a restaurant or coffee shop with a designated smoking area, which until recently used to be norm here. Even many hotels are now following suit and there are less and less hotels offering smoking hotel rooms. However even before this massive drive to try and please foreign visitors, for an Olympic that went up in smoke (pun unintended), you wouldn’t see Japanese people walking around smoking and much less, littering or throwing fag butts on the streets. Both of which are considered not just rude but also in most cities prohibited. Where would one smoke then you may ask? Well, at a designated smoking spot of course. Most bigger stations and shopping centres will have one, either indoors or outdoors. And what should you do if you really want a puff but no designated spots in sight? Purchase a portable ashtray from your nearest Convenience store or 100 yen store and stand somewhere out of the way while you smoke. 

Tip - 6 - Mask or No Mask?

As the height of the Corona pandemic is behind us, we are all still reeling of the impact it had on our daily lives. With measures varying widely from country to country, it is hard to know what to expect, especially as most of the world was in awe at just how well Japanese society seemed to adapt to wearing masks. Truth be told, in Japan wearing a mask has always been a usual sight, so no surprises there. Many people here commute on crowded trains and buses and even more people suffer from hay fever, it also isn’t uncommon to go to school and work while you are sick, thus people mask up to reduce the possibility to pass on their germs. As of right now in February 2024, the government doesn’t have any special advice on wearing a mask, so you are welcome to decide if you want to wear one or not as both ways are accepted and won’t be frowned upon. With that said, in certain places like hospitals, you might be asked to wear a mask, also if you are sick, it is probably best to wear one as some people might still be a bit sensitive being close to a sniffler without a mask. 

Tip - 7 - 3 MUST visit stores

Above I have already touched upon stores that are worth to visit, but it was just a general advice. In this section I will introduce 2 stores you will most likely find nation wide and are places you shouldn’t miss.

Donkihote (ドンキホーテ) which contrary to it’s name has nothing to do with the book. It’s mascot is a giant Pinguin so also no association with donkeys. The best way to describe this shop, is that it’s the everything shop. Depending on the store location and size, they sell everything from groceries to small household appliances, bicycles, 18+ items, anime and kawaii themed products, wigs and costumes, clothes, etc. and are especially known for storing a wide variety of beauty products and coloured contact lenses. It is also a store that is very competitive in prices and often times the cheapest option around. They also have many a weird product on sale, that will make you question the sanity of the store’s owner, but quirkiness is exactly why this store is so well loved. You can also shop Tax Free here if you are here on a tourist visa.

Hands (formerly known as Tokyu Hands) has both smaller stores in shopping centres and larger multi-storey stores as well. They sell a wide variety of stationary, household items, leather goods and many items that are made in Japan. They are a higher end store, but not overpriced and it is a wonderful place to find unique products and products made in Japan. My favourite location is in Shinjuku where they have multi-story shop located within the Takashmaya Department Store. You can also shop Tax Free here as well. 

Tip - 8 - Tap Water

Another question that I regularly see coming up is: Is water safe to drink? - And yes, the answer is absolutely yes. In Japan many parks and playgrounds have faucets you can drink from and generally speaking unless you see a sign directly saying the water shouldn’t be consumed, you can safely drink it. Of course you won’t stay parched even if drinking tap water isn’t your thing. There are vending machines and convenience stores nearly everywhere. 

Tip - 9 - Public transportation: the good and the bad

Japan is famous for two things when it comes to it’s public transportation: cleanliness and being on time. And they really both hold true, with the latter sometimes being affected by weather or other unforeseen circumstances. So make sure to be on time for your bus or train as they will not wait. With that said, some things to keep in mind are: As mentioned above in Point 1, talking on your phone or listening to music too loudly or god forbid without a headset, will earn you very dirty looks. Also queuing is a serious business in Japan, you will see this everywhere and this holds true for public transportation as well. However the one downside to this brilliant transportation for me is that people seldom offer their seat for those in need even near the priority seats, so don’t be extra shocked. Of course we can’t generalise, but good to be aware of it.  

Tip - 10 - Tip or No Tip?

In Japan tipping isn’t customary and the reason behind it is, that Japanese people think your employer should pay you to do your job.

I wouldn’t say it is considered rude as some people might believe, it just isn’t something that is done here in most places and in restaurants and coffee shops you won’t see a tip jar, nor would they accept the money if you tell them to keep the change. 

Places where they might appreciate and accept tips would be, rickshaw drivers at tourist attractions, local tour guides or maybe smaller hotels and businesses. But you won’t be looked at weirdly if you don’t leave a tip. 

I hope you liked the above tips and that it will be of some help to you, when in Japan or when planning your trip to Japan. If you need help planning your trip, visit my Services page to see what I can do to help you or go directly to my Contact me form to get in touch with me regarding my services. 

行ってらっしゃい  （Itterasshai - Meaning: Have a safe trip or Bon Voyage)

We all have things we like to carry around in our bags for convenience and comfort and our choices usually reflect the environment we live in. So here are 5 things I always carry with me since moving to Japan and the reason behind them. Plus tips on where to get them if you forgot to pack it. 

1. Handkerchief  

I never in my life thought about carrying it back in Europe as it isn’t customarily done so. Most public places will either have a hand dryer or paper towel provided, or do what kids do and use your jeans to dry your hands in. Joke aside though, you will be hard pressed to find a Japanese person, especially ladies but even gents alike, who do not carry a handkerchief in their bag at all times. It is also a very popular gift to give to each other and if you have Japanese friends, chances are at least one will gift you a Japanese hand towel, are high. They usually come in standard square sizes, but design and material can widely vary. You can buy the cheaper kinds at a ¥100 store and literally every shop near tourist attractions will sell them and you can find them in most shopping centres and stores. One of the most famous towel brands is the Imabari towel, made in the small town of Imabari, but there will be many other choices to choose from. And the reason why you want to carry one, is that many toilets, especially public toilets will not have a hand dryer nor paper towels, and even when there is one, most Japanese people will use their own. 

2. Hand soap/Hand sanitiser

This one might seem weird as Japan as a country is so famous for it’s cleanliness, however most restrooms, especially the ones in public places, will not have soap just water. Again, a small bottle or the clever paper soaps will do the job and can be purchased in any  ¥100 store, drugstore, Megadonki, Loft, Hands and larger supermarkets as well. And especially the paper soap can make a really great souvenir to bring back home. It was especially a big hit with my friends who have kids. 

3. Sunscreen

The Sun feels fairly strong even in colder months, so I always like to carry a small bottle of sunscreen with me. And when it comes to Summer, it is an absolute MUST! You will surely  burn  quicker than a roast duck. Joke aside though, I always see many tourists forgetting about applying sunscreen and with burnt skin, something I too am guilty of sometimes. If you have a favourite brand or are particular in what you use, then I suggest you bring your own, otherwise just as with the above items, you can purchase them anywhere.

4. Small bag for your trash (and dirty nappies)

This one came as a surprise as coming from Europe we have many trashcans scattered around, but here in Japan, in most places you won’t find any trashcans and that can be frustrating. In many places signs will even be posted to please take home your own rubbish. And although shopping centres usually have baby rooms where you can dispose of your diapers, most other places won’t. So be extra prepared if you are traveling with toddlers. A tip from me, is that when you buy food and drink in a convenience store or a supermarket that has seating to eat your food or bins provided, do consumer all of it there and dispose straight away, so you don’t have to carry it with you all day long. 

5. Mobile Wi-Fi

This might sound like a given and most short-term visitors to Japan think about purchasing a mobile Wi-Fi, but just in case I feel like it is worth to mention. Public wi-fi although more and more common in major hubs, it is still not the norm, limited in time usually, requiring signing-in most of the time can only do it in Japanese, and sadly signal strength is usually not that good and likewise many hotels although offer free wi-fi for guests, they might not be good. On the go you will want to be able to use your internet, especially if you need to navigate yourself. There are many companies offering this service so look them up and order the service. Most companies will offer either an airport pick up option or it can also be mailed to your hotel in advance. 

And if you feel you need help planning your trip, check out my Services page or go straight to the Contact me form. 

行ってらっしゃい　(Itterasshai - Meaning: Have a safe trip. Or Bon Voyage. )