Japan Travel Tips
Posted By Mike Gfeller on January 6, 2015
DISCLAIMER: these are our travel tips (Wolfgang and I). They are not meant to be exhaustive. We had never been to Japan before, so these should help you if you are going to Japan for the very first time.
1. A yen is roughly equal to a penny depending of course on the exchange rate. 100 yen = 1 dollar. This is a rough estimate. The money is very easy.
2. Don’t tip. Period.
3. Have a good pair of walking shoes. You will do a lot of walking.
4. If you go during the summer months, they have hand towels you can purchase anywhere. Buy them. They are needed to wipe off the perspiration. You will perspire.
5. They use money trays and you put your money in the dish/tray when paying for something. Don’t hand your money directly to a person. Use the tray.
6. Your electrical devices work in the outlets in Japan.
7. Get a Japanese Rail pass before you go over there. It’s the best deal ever. Make reservations on the Shinkansen wherever possible and make sure you ask for a car that doesn’t allow smoking.
8. If you are spending time in Tokyo, get a map of the subway/train system ahead of time and study it. Learn the lines and the colors. It will make it much easier once you get there. It is intimidating the first couple of times you are heading somewhere and you have to change to a different line. The map/colors/numbers will help you.
9. The Japanese are very polite. Be polite in return.
10. There are a lot of stairs/escalators. Pay attention. In some cities custom dictates walking to the left, but in some cities, you walk on the right. Watch for visual cues.
11. You can ship your bags/luggage from one hotel to another. There is an entire economy and system dedicated to this in Japan. It works, it is safe, efficient and cost-effective.
12. You don’t need a rental car.
13. If you estimate how long it will take you to get somewhere, make sure to inflate it by at least 50%. Everything takes longer to get to than you think.
14. If you are traveling to several different cities, understand the differences in regional cuisine so that you can try the best of each region. Hiroshima, for example, has particularly good okonomiyaki and is also well known for oysters.
15. Americans have a larger personal space bubble. Be prepared. The Japanese have very little personal space. You will be packed in like a sardine on the subway.
16. If you are sitting and there are seniors or pregnant females standing, stand up and offer them your seat. It is more than expected.
17. Most restaurants have pictures of the food along with the cost outside of the restaurant. You should spend a few minutes browsing and decide what you want before you enter the restaurant. Also, many restaurants require you to select the meal electronically and pay for the meal on a machine located outside the entrance. If you do this, you will receive a coupon. Once they are ready to seat you they will take you to a table and take your coupon, bringing your food a short time after that.
18. Schedule your route ahead of time, especially if it requires you to change trains. You may be standing for awhile otherwise.
19. The train stations are shopping malls, which makes sense considering how many people walk through them every day. If you are stuck at a station for awhile you can get something to eat, drink or go shopping.
20. Don’t be afraid. Japan is generally a safe place to go. I felt safe the entire trip.
21. At every train station platform there are several vending machines that sell water, soda, beer, etc. Make sure to always have some coins/bills and you won’t go thirsty.
22. Find a ramen restaurant. It is so good over there.
That’s it for now. Wolfgang and I will add to this list as we think of more tips. We hope you find this helpful!
-Mike and Wolfgang
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