A little preparation is key to elevating your encounter with Japan.
Japan is a unique society and culture that offers a truly unique travel experience, bringing together the best of modern civilisation and a distinct cultural identity steeped in history.
While travel in Japan is easy and safe, with national and public transport second-to-none, a little preparation will help boost your experience from good to a great one.
Umai Japan’s Top Tips
Etiquette – Japanese society is built on manners and consideration towards others. People are respectful of each other’s space and enjoyment of it. Giving up seats for older folk is a good example. Try to refrain from using phones on trains, loud conversations, interrupting and eating in public. See Japanese Food Etiquette for more details when dining.
What’s On – Japan’s preoccupation with excellence through specialisation and mastery means that just about anything is done well in Japan. There are constant exhibitions, performances, events, festivals and whole areas of retail dedicated to anything you can think of. A little online research into what’s on in the cities you’re planning to visit can reveal events or pop ups that aren’t in tourist guides and are always well worth attending.
Safety – Japan is a very safe country, and more so for travellers. The authorities come down hard on Japanese criminals who target foreigners. There are a couple of exceptions to this rule. Bill scams in nightlife areas are not uncommon, with “all you can drink” offers turning into huge bills of thousands of dollars being the one most talked about. Common sense should prevail here. Drinks are not expensive in Japan and any offer which looks too cheap to be true almost definitely is. Also, many small bars will serve small snacks and charge for these without being asked, but this is usually only a few dollars’ worth and is a standard part of Japanese hospitality.
Language – In larger cities, enough people speak English not to cause any problems getting around. Taxis can be an exception due to the speed of conversation and having addresses ready is a good idea. As with any country, learning a few fundamental words is appreciated and will often be met with an enthusiastic “あなたの日本語は上手です” “Anata no Nihongo wa jozu desu!” or “Your Japanese is very good!”, even when just saying thank you. Umai recommends the Memrise app to learn a little before you go with videos of Japanese speakers, AI conversation practice and a considered vocab program useful for travellers.
Cash – Carrying cash is very useful in Japan. The ATMs in 7Eleven and Family Mart stores accept the widest range of foreign cards for cash withdrawal and the fees are minimal. Always choose Japanese Yen for calculation of the amount withdrawn rather than your home currency as bank exchange rates tend to be better than the ATM operator’s.
Cards – Historically Japan was a very cash driven economy and despite having domestic card infrastructure, it was slow to adopt international standards like Visa and Mastercard. Since the 2020 Olympics (which Tokyo hosted in 2021), the ability to use foreign credit cards is almost universal in large cities now, but many regional areas still operate only in cash. See section on Cards, Cash & Coins for more details.
Transport – The first thing to do when arriving in Japan is to buy a rail pass. The Suica or Pasmo cards are intracity travel cards where you simply touch on and off and fares are calculated automatically. The alternative of purchasing fares for every journey is no cheaper and simply a waste of time. For intercity travel, the shinkansen or bullet trains are a must. We are often asked if the Japan Rail Pass is worthwhile. It is – only for those who will take many regional trains during their trip. If you are simply getting from one or two cities to another and return, it is more economical to buy individual tickets.
Medicine/Drugs – Japan has relatively tight controls on medications that could be classed as stimulants or psychoactive. While most prescription medications can be registered for personal use during a trip, some available in Australia, the US and elsewhere are outright banned and some over-the-counter drugs can cause issues upon entry. These include pseudoephedrine and codeine. For a list of controlled substances that require registration ahead of entry, visit HERE. Recreational drugs, no matter their legal or cultural status outside Japan, are universally unacceptable and you will face serious consequences at customs.
While visitors to any country are not expected to know or abide by many of the local customs, Japan is one where a little effort will make a tangible difference to how people interact with you. Already a polite and respectful society, visitors are treated very well. By knowing and using just a few basic words and cultural conventions, most Japanese people will be impressed and will often go the extra mile to enrich your time together.
