Things to Know Before Visiting Japan
Japan has easily become one of my favorite countries I’ve ever been to. It’s one of those destinations that feel like an out of body experience. That’s just the best way to describe it. It’s a mix of ancient tradition with futuristic elements, state of the art technology, beautiful scenery and so much more. Japan can be a bit of a culture shock. You will be half way across the world, so are lots of customs and traditions you may not be used to. Understanding these different customs will not just help you have a smooth stay in Japan, but you’ll also be respectful of the culture and not get into any trouble along the way. Here’s my list of things to know before visiting Japan:
Be prepared to walk.
I’d heard you will get a lot of steps in Japan, but it wasn’t until I spent 10 days there that I realized how much walking you will do. Even though we did take public transportation every day, we still averaged more than 20,000 steps every day! That being said, leave the cute heels and flats at home, or carry them with you if you need them for a photoshoot. I tried wearing boots with a small heel which are usually comfortable, but even on a day where I only needed to wear them for a couple of hours, my feet were screaming. Make sure to bring several pairs of comfortable walking shoes as well as any insoles or blister pads, if needed.
Speaking of walking, do not jaywalk! Being from NYC, jaywalking is very common, even though it is still technically illegal. It’s illegal in Japan too, but you can actually face a hefty fine here and maybe even prison time if caught. I jaywalked in the middle of a busy street once in Kyoto, and while I didn’t face any consequences, I noticed I was the only one that crossed the street there. In Japan, it’s considered socially disrespectful. While it may not seem like a big deal for us in the U.S., politeness is an integral part of Japanese culture.
Etiquette and honor are pillars of Japanese culture.
Speaking of respect, you’ll find that Japan is one of the most polite countries in the world. Japan is very image-conscious, so honor and etiquette are taken to another level. Public harmony and cohesion are very important in their culture, so make sure to follow these basic etiquette rules:
- Being invited into a Japanese home is an honor, so take off your shoes. If you have temple visits or tea ceremonies planned in your day, make sure to wear shoes you can easily remove. Taking shoes off is common in many places around Japan and people are expected to wear socks or stockings, so if you have bare feet under, bring a pair of socks with you!
- Mismatched socks is a faux pas, and make sure your socks don’t have any rips or holes!
- Be mindful of tattoos. Of course, lots of tourists around the world come to Japan every day so you would think it’s normal to see people in tattoos every day. However, while not illegal, tattoos are historically associated with the Japanese mafia, so be mindful when out in public. Try to cover up tattoos when possible, as many businesses still have a ban on visible tattoos. (Onsens can be tricky for people with tattoos as well, so make sure to look for onsens that allow people with tattoos)
- No PDA. Public displays of affection are considered inappropriate.
- Dress modestly. While Japan is the perfect place to play around with fashion, especially in Tokyo, please be respectful of the overall conservative culture. Avoid clothing that’s overly revealing, like showing too much cleavage or sleeveless tops.
- Chopsticks have etiquette rules of their own. These are just the ones I remember: Do not stick chopsticks upright into rice. Don’t point with them. Do not lick them and don’t leave them vertically on your plate.
- Queing – Never cut in line. Respect the queue for elevators and public transport.
- This seems obvious, but burping and blowing your nose in public is considered rude. However, slurping is okay. Slurping things like ramen or soups is actually seen as a compliment to the chef, signaling the food was good.
- Do not tip! While tipping is quite common in other countries, it can be considered insulting in Japan. Hospitality is also a part of the Japanese culture, so it’s already expected for restaurants and hotel staff to provide excellent service without anticipating additional compensation. Leaving a tip can be confusing and offensive, and I’ve heard stories of staff chasing you down to try to return your money to you.
- Silence in public! We all hate rush hour on public transportation. It’s crowded and most of the time, very loud — not in Japan. Avoid being loud and obnoxious on public transportation. Trains and buses are eerily quiet. I say “eerily” because being from NYC, I would never expect for hundreds of people to all remain quiet on a train. Again, this goes back to social harmony and respect for others. Avoid having conversations on public transportation if you can, because even if you think you are speaking quietly, you’re probably still too loud. You’ll see that most Japanese are listening to music or reading a book. Also, no speaking on your phone and make sure it’s on silent. On shinkansens, or long distance trains, there are designated areas if you need to use your phone.
- Also not considered appropriate on public transportation: eating on the go. I was raised in a city where everyone is constantly on the go, so grabbing a bite to eat as you’re heading to work is common. However, it’s taboo to eat and walk in Japan. If you order something from a food stand for example, it’s expected to eat your food there and then go wherever you need to. That being said, do not eat or drink while on trains or buses (shinkansens are okay).
Japan is extremely clean.
Trash bins are very hard to come by. Part of the reason is because Japan eliminated lots of their public bins after the 1995 Tokyo attacks, where bins were used for terrorism. The other reason goes back to their culture and emphasis on public harmony. Everyone is expected to be in charge for their own waste. There’s also lots of rules for how trash should be sorted, which would be hard to enforce with public bins where people throw all of their trash in. You will find some garbage bins in train stations or convenience stores, but those at the convenience stores are small and are for goods purchased there. This also ties in to the “no eating and walking” rule. Since you’re expected to eat where you order your food, your trash goes in their bin. I suggest carrying a bag for trash incase you find yourself needing a garbage bin on the go. Trust me, you’ll be carrying your waste at some point and you don’t want to have it at hand all the time.
Most people don’t speak English.
Japan has historically been more isolated than other countries, which means less of a need to learn other languages. You’ll find that most people don’t understand English, so be prepared with a translator on your phone. Lots of menus are also in Japanese, so have a photo translator as well. Also, try to learn basic Japanese words like, “konnichiwa (hello), sumimasen (excuse me/sorry), arigatou gozaimasu (thank you).”
Bring an extra suitcase.
I would assume that maybe 8 or 9/10 people who have visited Japan have ended up buying an extra piece of luggage. Try to pack light, because you WILL do a lot of shopping. I found that lots of things were quite affordable in Japan. If possible, pack an extra carry on or duffel inside of your larger suitcase. Trust me.
Carry cash.
While many merchants take credit card, always have cash handy for smaller vendors or for entry to temples. ATM’s are widely available at convenience stores.
Everything in Japan is smaller.
We’re used to everything bigger in the U.S., even the people. Japan is the complete opposite. Expect accommodations to be small, even for double occupancy. Even on some public transportation, there are restrictions with how much you can bring on board. I suggest shipping your luggage to your next destination through a convenience store or even your hotel (shipping luggage is quite common and safe).
Clothing and shoes can also be tricky for larger sizes. Clothing is typically one to two sizes smaller than Western sizes, so if you need larger sizes, try to stick to chain stores like Uniqlo.
Make reservations in advance.
Lots of restaurants, no matter how popular they are, can fill up pretty fast. Like I mentioned above, everything in Japan is smaller, including the restaurants. If you have a particular restaurant you wanted to try, make sure to reserve a spot beforehand.
Lastly, Japan is extremely safe and the people are honest.
Of course, you should always travel with basic precautions. Keep your valuables at home or locked up in a hotel safe. However, I never felt unsafe in Japan. This all goes back to social harmony and respect. There’s a huge honor system in Japan. On my group trip, someone forgot their phone on a busy train in Tokyo, and within the hour it was already turned in to the nearest police station. Many shops also don’t have human staff. You simply leave the money for what you are purchasing at a jar, take the appropriate change, and leave.
