12 Essential Issues to Know About Touring in Japan
At this time we have now to speak about Japan. In the previous few years, it is appeared like everybody I do know has been going to Japan or speaking about going to Japan. And the tourism numbers assist this: Japan has smashed its personal tourism data yearly for the final a number of years post-pandemic.
Japan has quickly turn into a prime tourism vacation spot on the earth — and it isn’t stunning, contemplating the nation’s lengthy historical past, wealthy tradition, and unimaginable meals.
I added myself to the listing of individuals intrigued sufficient by Japan to plan a visit final fall. And I can now say this: I get it. I get the hype and perceive why so many individuals love this nation!
High issues to find out about visiting Japan
Regardless of Japan’s rise in recognition, the nation continues to be a bit “unique” to a whole lot of potential guests. And that inevitably signifies that many individuals are hesitant about visiting for varied causes; perhaps the language barrier, or the meals, or the worth of journey, and so forth.
So, after my very own journey to Japan and all of the analysis and planning I did for it, I believed I would share a few of the prime issues I discovered or noticed whereas there that will help you prep in your personal Japan travels.
Japan is not almost as intimidating in-person because it may appear on paper!
1. Japan may be very secure
I did half of my Japan journey in a small group, and the opposite half solo. And even by myself in massive cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, I felt very, very secure always. I am no stranger to solo feminine journey, after all, however even when I used to be comparatively new to it, I do know I might have felt secure in Japan. (I even went on a solo hike in Kyoto!)
Japan general has a really low crime fee, and an excellent decrease fee of violent crime. Even petty theft like pickpocketing is much less of a difficulty right here — although after all I at all times suggest being conscious of your environment and maintaining a detailed eye in your valuables, irrespective of the place you’re. However strolling round with an open tote bag or your iPhone in your again pocket? In all probability superb in most elements of Japan, actually.
As a girl exploring by myself, I didn’t expertise any catcalling, didn’t really feel unsafe strolling at evening, and actually simply did not get any creepy vibes in any respect. (There are experiences of girls typically being rubbed on/touched by males in very crowded subway/prepare automobiles, however I by no means skilled this myself nor noticed anybody performing inappropriately on the trains — however there are actually women-only subway automobiles on a few of the busier strains in cities like Tokyo!)
Backside line, although: Japan might be manner safer than wherever you at present reside, particularly in case you’re from the US like me.
2. There IS a language barrier
Essentially the most intimidating factor about Japan for me earlier than my first journey was the language barrier, since not solely do I not *converse* any Japanese, however I can also’t learn a single character. English can also be not widely-spoken outdoors of the most important cities in Japan, which might make a language barrier appear insurmountable.
However guess what? It actually wasn’t that massive of a deal! In cities like Tokyo and Kyoto (and plenty of others), you will truly discover indicators on the airport and prepare stations in each Japanese AND English — plus the trains are all color-coded, and in cities like Tokyo the strains all have English letters related to them (this was all added within the lead-up to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo!).
ATMs and self-service machines often have a button for English, too.
And, on the finish of the day, Google Translate may be very, very helpful. Get your self a eSIM for Japan (I used one from Airalo), after which you should utilize Google Translate to translate every thing from menus (use the picture possibility) to spoken Japanese. I had a stunning dialog with the proprietor of a small izakaya utilizing simply Google Translate!
It *is* barely harder to navigate the language outdoors of Japan’s bigger cities, nevertheless it’s completely doable in case you simply take your time.
3. Japan may be very clear
This one is true: Japan is an extremely clear place. Most of this comes all the way down to Japanese tradition and their robust sense of politeness, respect, and placing the great of the group/group first.
All over the place from temples to coach stations to even the trains themselves are saved very clear; it is truly jarring to see litter wherever in Japan. (Although the viral TikTok movies of individuals strolling round Japan in white socks and claiming they remained completely clear are clearly made up; streets are streets, and an absence of litter does not imply an absence of filth!)
However whereas the “clear sufficient to not soiled your socks” rumor is fake, one stereotype that’s completely true is the one about how tough it’s to discover a trash can in Japan. You’ll undoubtedly have to hold round any trash you make or accumulate all through the day. (I additionally suppose that is why vacationers are informed to not stroll and eat in Japan; it isn’t completely a “being impolite” factor, however moreso that there will not be wherever so that you can throw out your trash in case you stroll away from the conbini. Most comfort shops do have rubbish cans!)
4. There are public bathrooms all over the place
Talking of conbinis (comfort shops like 7-11, Household Mart, and Lawson), they’re really magical locations — and plenty of have free public bathrooms!
In contrast to many massive cities world wide, cities in Japan have a lot of free public bathrooms obtainable. You may discover them in prepare stations, a lot of comfort shops, buying facilities, parks, and extra. And, as a result of that is Japan, these public bathrooms are often fairly clear!
And whereas *some* public bathrooms is likely to be squat bathrooms, in my expertise many of the ones you will come throughout in massive cities in a 7-11 or prepare station shall be Western fashion — and could have a bidet and heated bathroom seat; it is simply the way it’s completed in Japan!
I exploit an app known as Flush to search out public bathrooms once I journey (one in every of my favourite journey apps), and it was completely lit up in locations like Tokyo.
One factor to notice about Japanese restrooms, although: whereas they are going to be clear and often stocked with bathroom paper, they could lack cleaning soap and any solution to dry your palms (like, we’re speaking zero towels and nil hand dryers in lots of instances). You may see Japanese individuals carrying round little towels particularly for drying their palms in public restrooms; choose up a cute one as a memento, or come ready with your personal towel (one thing like this is ideal) together with hand sanitizer or some soap sheets.
5. You may want money
Regardless of Japan being touted as a futuristic, high-tech vacation spot with bullet trains and robotic bathrooms, many features of the nation are usually not truly that superior. For instance, you continue to want money in a whole lot of instances; I needed to discover an ATM on arrival with a view to purchase a prepare ticket from the airport into town heart!
Plenty of outlets are cash-only, too, and in case you go to a temple with a entrance charge or wish to buy something there, you often have to pay with money.
The excellent news is that each comfort retailer has an ATM that is secure to make use of, so so long as you include a debit card (and let your financial institution know you are touring forward of time), you will not have bother getting money.
Professional tip: Most individuals in Japan use some type of IC card (Suica, Pasmo, and ICOCA are some widespread ones), which is a chargeable contactless good card that you should utilize to pay for many public transit throughout Japan. You may also use most IC playing cards at comfort shops and even some eating places. You should buy a bodily card at most main prepare stations, or in case you use an iPhone you should utilize the Welcome Suica app and cargo cash on it seamlessly utilizing Apple Pay.
6. You’ll completely stroll your toes off
You’ve got perhaps already heard this about Japan, however undoubtedly be ready to stroll A LOT. Like, it is commonplace to stroll wherever from 15,000-25,000 steps a day in a metropolis like Tokyo as you go to shrines and museums and buying areas.
Good sneakers are completely important, as is an effective plan for every day so your itinerary would not have you ever criss-crossing town a number of instances. (Although even with a superb plan, nonetheless prep your self to spend so much of time in your toes!)
7. Prepare stations will be like cities themselves
Talking of all that strolling… in cities like Tokyo, a whole lot of that strolling is likely to be inside prepare stations alone! The largest prepare stations in Japan aren’t simply locations the place you hop on a prepare or subway. Many canopy a number of metropolis blocks and are linked to malls and buying facilities.
If you are going to be transiting by the largest stations to catch a prepare, or in your solution to a timed exercise, give your self loads of time! I acquired misplaced in Shinjuku station in Tokyo for a superb 20 minutes. And Tokyo Station? It is value it to go to by itself to buy on Character Avenue (the place they’ve outlets devoted to Japan’s cutest characters, manufacturers, and mascots) and eat on Ramen Avenue — each of that are contained in the station.
Prepare stations in Japan have loads of signage (and nowadays many of the larger ones have indicators in Japanese characters AND the English alphabet), however can nonetheless be extraordinarily overwhelming. Google Maps does a fairly good job with instructions for transit in Japan (the app will even inform you which prepare automobile to get in, and which exit to go away by), nevertheless it’s not good. So undoubtedly permit your self loads of time!
8. Pack mild if potential
I do know, I do know, no one likes to be preached at about how they pack, or to be shamed by carry-on-only vacationers about checking a bag. You do you! BUT, I want you to know that touring with a whole lot of baggage in Japan will be difficult.
Sure, there are luggage-forwarding providers that you should utilize to ship your massive baggage between cities. These providers are tremendous helpful and inexpensive, and folks undoubtedly use them! However you must know that transferring baggage will not be instantaneous; you must permit no less than 24 hours (or extra) for supply normally. That means you are going to should be carrying your toiletries and in a single day necessities regardless, since in case you ship your bag out from Tokyo on Monday morning, it will not make it to Kyoto till Tuesday on the earliest.
Should you’re transferring round quite a bit in Japan, baggage forwarding might be simply going to be irritating.
And attempting to journey on trains and public transit with actually giant baggage? I might not suggest it. Not all prepare stations in Japan are suitcase-friendly. (Or, they is likely to be, however you might need to stroll a whole lot of additional steps to search out an elevator or escalator.) Additionally, with a view to deliver giant baggage onto most Shinkansen trains, you must ebook a particular seat close to a baggage rack — and clearly these seats are restricted.
So for these causes, I extremely, extremely suggest touring to Japan carry-on-only. Sure, I do know packing like this may be onerous, however in case you’ll be transferring round quite a bit, I promise you’ll thank your self later. (Listed below are some tips about the way to do it.)
Plus: So many inns in Japan have public laundry rooms with very nice coin-operated washing machines AND dryers! You’ll be able to often do a load of laundry (wash and dry) for round 300-400 yen ($2-$2.50 USD). I did laundry twice on my 2.5-week journey to Japan.
And in case you’re fearful about how you will get all of your buying residence in case you’re solely bringing a carry-on? My recommendation could be to save lots of the majority of your buying til the top of your journey. Then, if you must choose up an additional suitcase or duffel bag, no less than you will solely should lug it to the airport and never throughout Japan with you.
9. Japanese meals is not simply sushi and ramen
This ought to be an apparent one, however Japanese individuals do not subsist solely on sushi and ramen of their on a regular basis lives. Sure, you will discover a lot of sushi and ramen choices in Japan. However in case you do not take pleasure in a type of meals, do not fret about not having the ability to discover one thing to eat!
Will you encounter completely different sorts of meals in Japan than you are used to at residence? Perhaps! I might encourage you to strive all of the meals choices no less than as soon as; strive sushi contemporary from the supply; have a kaiseki dinner (a multi-course conventional meal) no less than as soon as; order the Japanese breakfast.
But when at any level the miso soup and rice and fish simply aren’t hitting for you any longer, know that you could additionally discover tempura, tonkatsu, curry, soups, beef (together with burgers), and extra. And in a pinch you possibly can hit up a comfort retailer for “safer” meals like sandwiches, onigiri, baked items, and smoothies.
As a non-sushi-lover myself, I believed for years that I might battle with the meals in Japan. However I used to be so flawed, and had no points discovering good locations to eat.
10. Japanese hospitality is one other stage
The Japanese take hospitality very significantly. Hospitality right here is not simply being well mannered to visitors; there is a phrase for it, omotenashi, which is mainly the “artwork” of wholeheartedly offering honest and real service with out anticipating something in return.
It manifests in a different way relying on the state of affairs; it might be so simple as a bow when somebody greets you, or a tiny origami crane left on the pillow in your resort room. Or it might be bigger gestures, just like the proprietor of an inn going out early within the morning to purchase fresh-basked croissants for our group of mostly-People as a result of she is aware of we like pastries at breakfast.
On my first journey to Japan, I spent a couple of week touring across the Tohoku area (the northern a part of Honshu Island, north of Tokyo), the place the omotenashi is taken to a wholly completely different stage. Right here, it is common for individuals to stroll visitors out to their autos after which stand and wave goodbye till they cannot be seen any longer.
It is value noting, although, that the Japanese sense of hospitality and their cultural aversion to something deemed confrontational can typically result in some humorous and/or irritating conditions. For instance, in case you ask a neighborhood for instructions and they do not know, some individuals would possibly simply offer you flawed data as a substitute of claiming they cannot provide help to.
11. You are welcome to expertise the tradition
Points of Japanese tradition — like anime and the kawaii aesthetic — are loved past the borders of Japan. However even inside Japan, vacationers are allowed, anticipated, and even welcomed to take pleasure in and even take part in Japanese tradition.
For essentially the most half, so long as you are doing issues with out the intention of creating enjoyable of or disrespecting the tradition, most Japanese individuals do not care.
Some examples: vacationers are welcome to go to and even pray at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, even when it isn’t your faith. It is also not seen as cultural appropriation to decorate up in a kimono and take pictures — so long as you are carrying the clothes accurately. And you’re welcome to attend sumo matches, baseball video games, and extra.
For essentially the most half, native individuals encourage non-Japanese individuals to take part in Japanese cultural actions; they see it as appreciation for his or her tradition, of which they’re very proud.
12. Decrease your contribution to overtourism
Do you know that Japan wasn’t actually seen as an interesting place to journey earlier than the mid-2010s? It took an enormous pro-tourism marketing campaign from about 2013-2015 to place Japan as a fascinating spot for worldwide guests. Now, although, elements of Japan are vulnerable to being cherished *too* a lot.
Overtourism is an actual and rising drawback in elements of Japan — partially as a result of most individuals observe an analogous Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka itinerary once they go to Japan, they usually all attempt to go to the identical handful of locations they’ve seen on social media.
I am not telling you to skip all these widespread websites (I would not anticipate you to!). However I do want you to know that there are such a lot of OTHER nice elements of Japan to discover, too, which are simply as stunning as those you see time and again on Instagram.
By myself first journey to Japan, I combined widespread spots with less-crowded ones. For instance, in Tokyo I visited Shibuya and Senso-ji temple, but additionally spent a day within the quieter Yanaka neighborhood. In Kyoto, I visited Fushimi Inari shrine, however hiked a again manner up the mountain. I additionally traveled to non-touristy locations like Sendai and Morioka (with a bunch), and frolicked in Kanazawa as a substitute of Osaka.
There are such a lot of methods to construct a Japan itinerary. Do not feel pressured into simply doing what everybody else does.
And if you are going to a few of these widespread and overcrowded spots anyway? Attempt to go later or earlier within the day, DON’T complain about “all of the vacationers” if you’re one in every of them, and deal with the location with respect. Anti-tourism sentiment is not tremendous widespread in Japan, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly rising.
There are such a lot of different issues I might inform you about Japan, however a few of it you simply should expertise and discover out for your self!
One factor I can assure, although, is that Japan will very probably reside as much as your expectations of it — there is a purpose, I feel, that so many individuals return repeatedly.
You’ll find much more Japan ideas on this put up over on Instagram:
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Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Harmful Enterprise Journey Weblog. She has traveled to greater than 60 international locations on 6 continents from her residence base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey by the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares ideas primarily based on her private experiences and locations she’s truly traveled!