Travelling to Japan for the first time? 25 things to know

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Japan is like no other country we’ve visited. Don’t get me wrong, each and every country is unique. Japan however takes this uniqueness to another level. And if you’re travelling to Japan for the first time, there are some things to know that may be useful. Even after a couple of visits, we’re still learning new things.

A safe, warm, stupidly polite nation with excellent food. It’s very easy to understand why people gravitate towards visiting Japan.

Japan is full of things that will surprise. Some things will be a shock. Some things you’ll wish you could take back to your corner of the world. In any case, a heads up on some of these unique things can be a help.

Here’s a few of the key things to know when travelling to Japan that we think a first time visitor might find surprising.

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Things to know if you’re travelling to Japan for the first time

#1 Convenience stores are on every corner

In the metropolises of Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and beyond, you’ll never be far from a 7/11, Family Mart or Lawson. If you’re intending on meeting someone, best to use another point of reference than the convenience stores (or kombini as they’re known).

The convenience stores offer up good quality, reasonable value options. You’ll find some hot dishes like fried chicken, onigiri (Japanese rice balls), drinks and snacks.

The egg salad sandwich is well famed as a value option for the traveller on the go. Be sure to try one.

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#2 Sleeping in public is completely normal

This may not be exclusive to Japan – many Asian countries love a public snooze. In a culture where overwork is a real thing, don’t be surprised to see people catching some zeds in the oddest of places. The metro is a popular spot. A vacant seat or bench are also popular options for someone to stare into their own eyelids.

As a keen sleeper and napper, I love seeing the Japanese prioritise their sleep.

Visiting Tokyo on your trip to Japan? Check out our 4 days in Tokyo itinerary.

#3 See the order, respect the order

One of the first things you’ll notice when travelling to Japan for the first time is that things are very orderly. Seriously orderly. At the train stations, note the markings which make it very clear where to stand. There’s clear space for those getting off and an orderly queue for you to line up in to board the train. Observe the order, and play your role in it as well by staying alert.

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#4 Be sure to check your train carriage

Some train carriages are women only. Some parts of train carriages are for elderly and disabled riders. Check the signage when you get on to make sure you’re in the right area to avoid an embarrassing faux pas.

#5 Avoid eating on the move

For those travelling to Japan for the first time, this is a huge watch out. Despite the serious number of convenience stores in Japan, eating on the move in public is frowned upon. Eating near a store is tolerated, but for the Japanese, eating on the go is a poor display of manners. Try and find a place to sit and eat or outside of your convenience store, but avoid eating on the go.

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#6 You’ll see lots of people wearing masks

Similar to a number of Asian countries, you’ll notice a lot of locals wearing face masks. There are a many reasons why the Japanese wear these. Protection for their respiratory system or avoiding the spread of germs if they have an illness is the most often cited reason. Some purportedly wear them to avoid social situations as well. It’s incredibly common, and you’ll notice plenty of these for sale in pharmacies.

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#7 The major cities are well covered with English signage

There are a lot of misapprehensions about Japan and being able to navigate. For English speakers, fear not, there are a lot of signs in English. The train lines in particular are well covered. Whilst the subway system is complex, the language barrier here won’t be a major concern.

Heading to Japan and not sure how to budget or manage your money whilst away? Read our money guide to help you plan your budget and how to spend in Japan.

#8 Prepare to be thanked endlessly

The Japanese people are so, so kind. Expect to be thanked in any transaction multiple times. Arigato gozaimasu you will hear again and again and again. If they’re helping you, they will see it through and see it as complete servitude. It’s a lovely sentiment you’ll receive from people just about everywhere.

#9 Bowing is traditional and practiced often

Another nod to the Japanese people’s politeness is the art of bowing. Bowing in public happens. Bowing is a sign of respect between individuals. You’ll find people bowing at each other in metro stations. I offered a seat on a train and had a lady bow at me half a dozen times. One of our hotel staff provided me with an extra towel. She walked me to the elevator and remained bowed until the doors completely shut. It’s absolutely endearing.

#10 There’s more to eat than sushi

Speaking to a lot of friends who haven’t yet visited Japan, there’s a common misconception. If you don’t like sushi, you’ll struggle to find good food. Whilst the sushi is amazing, nothing could be further from the truth.

Japanese aficionados will know this fact well. But you’ve got sushi, shabu-shabu, ramen, udon, yakitori, okonomiyaki, teriyaki, takoyaki and teppanyaki to name just a few. The Japanese menu is wider than you might imagine. And importantly, many options for non-sushi lovers.

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#11 The bullet trains are great, but are not your only option

The fast trains known as the shinkansen are something that need to be experienced at least once in Japan. A longer distance will give you a fuller appreciation of this marvel of speed. For shorter distances, local trains can get you around in reasonable times (and cost) too. These may even drop you in a more convenient location in some destinations as well. So when researching your transport options, remember there’s more available than the shinkansen.

#12 You can get by with credit and debit cards, but you need some cash

Japan continues to increase its acceptance of digital and card payments. Its hosting of major sporting events like the 2019 Rugby World Cup are helping card acceptance right along. With that said, if you’re planning on using a prepaid card to get around, you’ll need to load it with cash. Many temples that charge an entrance fee will take cash only. And some of the best hole in the wall restaurants may only take cash too.

Bring your credit and debit cards, and ensure you’ve enough cash on you to get by.

#13 Finding a bin can be a sport

You’ll enjoy Japan for many things, and its incredibly clean streets will be one of those. Where you might fall into some trouble is disposing of waste. Garbage bins can be scarce commodities, but once you know where they are you can be better prepared.

Most convenience stores have bins. Typically this is for rubbish produced from items consumed in their store. Train stations will often have them located on platforms. Vending machines will have recycling bins next to them. These are for bottles and cans only.

If you’re creating rubbish on your trip, be sure to hold onto it until you find a bin.

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#14 Toilets are hyper clean and free

Maybe we’ve been travelling in Europe too much, but it’s nice to not have to pay for entry into a bathroom. Better still, these toilets are well attended and clean. Most include electronic washlet toilets. You won’t find many better public bathrooms anywhere in the world. A hot tip, if you’re in a bind for a bathroom, your nearest metro station will be your best bet.

#15 Wait in that line

Waiting at restaurants is a thing. And if there’s a line, there’s no doubt it’s good, the Japanese do not suffer bad food. We queued for many restaurants which don’t take reservations and they were some of our very best meals. Don’t let a queue turn you off.

One of our favourite restaurant visits was Izakaya Toyo in Osaka. We’ve covered this in our one day in Osaka itinerary.

#16 Eating is often a quick experience

The reason the queues are worthwhile lining up for, is that eating in Japan is often a quick experience. Visit a ramen restaurant and you will find people slurping down their meal in rapid time. We visited one restaurant which opened at 5.30pm and saw a guy order his ramen, eat it and be out the door by 5.45pm. Don’t expect to sit around your meal for hours chewing the fat.

#17 Restaurants often specialise

Throughout Japan you’ll find restaurants which specialise in specific types of food. Katsu, ramen or yakitori perhaps. It’s unlikely you’ll find yourself in a restaurant serving up a huge variety. This specialisation helps ensure that you get the best quality food. You may just need to identify the type of cuisine you’re after before selecting a restaurant.

#18 Collectables are ridiculously popular

A popular thing for tourists, collectables are just about everywhere in Japan. The Gatcha machines seemingly appear out of nowhere. If there is a machine close by, you won’t be far from someone throwing in a couple of hundred yen to collect the latest toy. You’ll find walls of some 50-100 machines with collectables of all sorts of cartoons and comics. Choose your machine wisely!

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#19 Vending machines are everywhere

One of the oddest quirks in Japan is the infatuation with vending machines. In a country built for convenience, the vending machines are everywhere. Littered throughout the cities, you’ll even find them in odd outdoor locations near parks. It’s incredibly handy if you’re in need of a beverage. With so many convenience stores around, it’s surprising there is such a need for them.

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#20 Sustainability isn’t a thing

We’ve established our love for Japan but there is one thing that may disappoint visitors. The sustainability challenge. In an environment where convenience is everything, you’ll find a mountain of plastic. Plastic bottles are put in plastic bags. If you refuse a bag, they’ll sticker your bottle.

Sure, there are recycle bins and stations throughout. Seeing a single banana wrapped in plastic, as well as just about every food, is a little sad. Particularly given the amount of waste produced.

Most mid to high end hotels offer a ridiculous amount of complimentary toiletries. There’s the standard soap, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner. You’re also likely to get a comb, hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, loofah, shower cap, hair ties and razor. As a sustainability measure, we’d encourage you still to take your own amenities.

Japan is still a long way from where they need to be in an economy built on rapid convenience.

#21 Mind the bikes

The locals ride bikes – even in big cities like Tokyo and Osaka. Usually without helmets too. Make sure you’re aware when walking the streets.

#22 You may have to hunt for an elevator at train stations

There are lots of stairs in the subway. The majority of stations have an exit with a lift. There may only be one lift and the exit might be a few minutes walk from where you need to get off. If will often be a decision on walking further with minimal stairs or walking up 3 flights of stairs.

#23 Prepare to walk…a lot

There’s plenty of good things to be said about Japan’s excellent public transport systems. They will get you to just about everywhere you want to go. So it may come as a surprise that one of our key things to know when travelling to Japan is how many miles you’ll rack up on foot. During our visit 20,000 steps on our Fitbit was a light day. Most days averaged between 25,000-30,000 steps.

There’s a lot of temples to explore and back streets too. Of course even a wrong turn in Shinjuku station could see you add some unintended distance to your day.

Bring some good walking shoes and socks, and ready yourself for some serious walking.

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#24 Hotel rooms are small

Space is at a premium in Japan and this is reflected in accommodation. The Japanese fit a lot into reasonably small spaces. The use of space is often quite smart like storage under the bed for instance. Despite this, there’s no doubt the accommodation is a lot smaller than most western travellers will be accustomed to.

#25 Busy places can be empty come nightfall

There are a number of places in Japan which are bustling with people during the day. However, some of these thin out to almost no one come the evening. Asakusa, one of Tokyo’s more traditional areas is a testament to this. The boulevards are peaking with people, often dressed up in kimonos taking selfies.

By night however, there will only be a few people about despite being well lit and quite frankly, beautiful against the dark sky.

Japan’s cities and attractions can be very busy and popular. Timing your visits may help you enjoy your exploration further.

Have you been to Japan? What have we missed that might help someone travelling to Japan for the first time? Let us know below!

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