A few tips I would have liked to have known before going to Japan and then some
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
1.Masks are used everywhere in Japan – both indoors and outdoors (not limited to the subway/Shinkanzen) even if not mandatory
2. Tickets for the Shinkanzen/museums are generally bought the day of. It is fairly common in NA to buy tickets in advance/online. Here – except for restaurants – it isn’t something necessarily common. Most people buy their tickets at the entrance
* this is not the case for Shibuya Sky, Universal Studios, Disney, Contemporary/new attractions
3. Cash is king. Some places allow you to pay with credit card/IC card, particularly in big cities, but it has happened more often than not that it was cash only (even in some buses). At some point, I was stuck for almost an hour at an onsen waiting for a taxi that had a credit card machine
4. Weekends are really overcrowded. Be prepared
5. Carrying your passport at all times will allow you to buy tax-free goods without issues
LANGUAGE
6.Some people have mentioned this in this sub, however, I do feel more emphasis should be made on this particular point: do not expect people to speak or understand English.
*Although some Japanese may know a few words in English, it is extremely rare to find people able to speak conversational English, even in customer service. Surprisingly so. It is, however, expected, inasmuch as this is Japan, and the only language spoken is Japanese
**Google Translate helped me in most cases
*** people really do appreciate you trying a bit in Japanese before switching to English
TRANSPORTATION
7. It can be confusing and time-consuming to find stations, stores or restaurants, in particular while in Tokyo or Osaka (even with google maps). A good approach is to always give yourself some additional time to find them
* Transportation fees are paid at the end of the trip when using an IC card, similar to other cities (e.g. London). Although you need your ticket/IC card to access means of transportation, it’s at the end of your trip, while exiting, that you will see how much it costs. So you’ll have to pull out your card/ticket back while exiting
**Google maps is a must in most place you go, particularly to plan your rides. However, not everywhere. In Kyoto, it has hapenned a few times that the information wasn’t accurate or translated, in particular for the buses. Hiroshima, was similar, in that aspect.
*** Some stations, like Shinjuku Station, are very huge, to the extent that you might get lost, even with Google. The signs are fortunately in both Japanese and English, so you can find your way around
**** Check if you can have your IC Card on your phone – honestly it really makes it easier
***** This should be a given, but just in case: be sure to buy the JR Pass before going to Japan
RESTAURANTS
8. Many sitting down restaurants with menu work with a reservation-first policy – meaning that they can be fully booked for the day, even before opening.This is particulalry true in Kyoto, and Tokyo (depending where). Be prepared to reserve well in advance (Attention: in most restaurants, you can only reserve in Japanese)
* People eat dinner fairly early in Japan (restaurants begin openning/re-openning around 5:30 pm). Should you have no reservation, one way around is to wait at the restaurant before opening, so as to ensure a place
** For solo travellers, it has hapenned to me more often than not, even without reservation, that I managed to get in simply cause I was alone (one seat)
*** Kyoto without restaurant reservation is a sh*show. Be prepared to eat early
**** Restaurant hours on Google are sometimes more of an indication. Some restaurants will close after a certain point if they have no clientele – even if it’s two hours before their internet closing time.
SIGHTSEEING
9. There are many tourists in Japan, even during the off-season. This is particularly true in Kyoto, that I found very much flooded with tourists. Waking up early is a good way to ensure some privacy and, in my experience, the best for sightseeing.
ONSEN ETIQUETTE
10. Be sure to know which places accept tattoos, and to understand well the etiquette that is involved. Onsen are not spas.
* Not staying too long in the water is recommended. Actually, the best approach is to follow what the Japanese are doing. They take their time before going in, starting with their feet, then they stay for a couple minutes, then go in and out two or three times. My first time around, I almost fainted cause I was rushing out of the water after staying too long. It is not an enviable position.
** I have a small tattoo on my arm and had no issues, even in onsen that did not accept tattoos
TLDR: Some tips and things to expect for upcoming travellers. Not everything is relevant, tbf
Note: The previous version mentioned “all restaurants.” It has been fairly pointed out, and I agree that it is not all restaurants, but rather sitting down restaurants with menu (that can be more expensive). I’m really sorry for the confusion.
* Food Street/ fast food require no reservation
** Some restaurants will simply work on first come first served policy
26 comments
How did you reserve restaurants? And how far in advance did you do it?
>Carrying your passport at all times will allow you to buy tax-free goods without issues
You are legally required to carry your passport at all times as a tourist anyways.
Can you put tape over tattoos? I have one medium sized on my back
#1,6,7… I’m surprised no one on this sub filled you in on this. Those are pretty common knowledge.
I always emphasize the train system and watch YouTube videos before you go. It is very different from everywhere else and can be confusing.
When you mean reserve restaurants, you mean all kind? Or food chains you will be ok?
3. How do I know that something I purchase is a tax free good?
And in regards to always needing a reservation, is this really the case even for simple ramen or izakaya places?
Thanks for the great trip report, appreciate sharing it
>8. Almost all restaurants work with a reservation-first policy – meaning that they can be fully booked for the day, even before opening.This is particulalry true in Kyoto, and Tokyo (depending where).
I’ve lived in Tokyo for 2.5 years and additionally spent several months (in total) as a tourist all over the country. I have literally no idea what you’re talking about, I’ve never reserved a table ever and never had such issues. My guess is that you either went to fancy places only (while I generally don’t go there at all) or there was a misunderstanding or the restaurants used this as an excuse not to accept foreign tourists
Heaps of ppl speak English there, sounds like they just didn’t want to talk to you lol
Uhhh. Most of these are just flat out not right. Shinkansen are not “typically” bought at any specific interval. If a restaurant takes reservations then of course the reserved parties come first? Public transport is incredibly easy to navigate. It’s always on time and if you really don’t want to go through the hassle Google maps is extremely accurate about which stations and trains you take to get to any specific place. Are you sure you even went to Japan?
This is a great list! I just want to add that while shinkansen tickets can usually be purchased at the station the same day of travel without issue, if you are planning to take a shinkansen during a busy holiday it may still be worth booking in advance, as there may be much less availability during heavy travel periods.
Masks are still common across Asia, I live in the Philippinea and we still weat mask. I webt to
SG and Indonesia last August, and pretty much the same. I went to Japan last month and yup same.
About the cash is king, not anymore. Unlike in my previous travels, I have more options now to pay with credit card, Sapporo was the only city I stayed at, the rest were in the mountains and resort rural towns.
I agree with the advance reservation. Although it helps to have Japanese speaking companions
So I’ve been to Japan a few times, and to be honest, this easy experience on my first trip in 2019, but when I went in Nov, 2022, this was not the case.
I will admit reservations in sit down restaurants that you want to attend are HIGHLY recommended. If you are going more than a Solo traveller, don’t expect to get into restaurants if you have prebooked.
Yes, Cash is fairly prevalent, but the difference between 2019 and 2022 is drastic. I was able to use my card in almost every place we went even smaller shops. But I would have a few thousand yen on you as a back up just in case the place you are going doesn’t take cards. But since COVID, most people (from our experience) have accepted CC.
We joked that we felt the entire country of Japan must have studied their English during COVID, because the amount of people that spoke to us in 2022 vs 2019, there was a drastic difference. However OP does have a point that if you at least try to speak what little you know (Excuse Me, Please, Thank you, etc). It goes A LONG WAY. I feel you get from the world the amount of effort you put into it. So be humble, kind, and I think you will receive that in return.
Curious, are the restaurants non smoking ?
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Do you know what mobile app to get the Japak IC? Is this app accepted in all places? Or should I get a Suico card? How can one get a Suico card in the USA?
One observation i had while in japan, white people are raciste toward brown people, everytime i am around they seem off and dont want me to be around them they even grab their stuff and give me sus looks lol, some people need go chill tbh, do get me wron ive met some awesome white people one guy took 5 mintutes form his time to guide me trough trains, i hangout with an other guy and went to nara together, met white girl and had some good memories, but a lot of white people seemed raciste to me
Is cash still really king? I’m going to Japan soon so just want to know whether I should bring more cash?
I was there back in 2019 I remember I used my Visa card for most purchases. I still had cash which I used as well.
I’m not sure if someone has mentioned it already, but for navigation use Hyperdia or the official Japan travel app (which I believe is powered by Hyperdia).
Foreigners can get some modest discounts buying Shinkansen tickets in advance.
Card payments may not be as ubiquitous as Europe, but they are certainly accepted at major establishments.
These posts are getting tiring. They’re all the same. Basically copy and pasted from each other.
Went to Japan late last year and wanted to mention that credit cards (including Amex) are widely accepted in large cities and small towns. The only places that I noticed were cards weren’t accepted were some vending machines (accepts IC cards) and some IC card reloading machines
For the Shinkansen (high speed train), I would highly recommend pre-booking your ticket to secure a seat. Tickets do sell-out on peak hour trains.
Kyoto has its own public transportation phone app, but it has terrible performance. Even if Google Map has some inaccuracies, I still ended up using that instead.
For Shibuya Sky, tickets have to be bought in advance?
I’ve been in Japan a few weeks and have paid for 99% of all my shopping and food with my credit card on top of using my phone and credit card for train fare.
Also haven’t made a single restaurant reservation and have encountered a surprising amount of people who speak English. Not full conversational English but enough to fill in the gaps of what I can’t say in Japanese. On top of a huge amount of restaurants having English menus and places like the pharmacy having sheets printed out in English to describe the process of buying medicine.
Maybe I’m in a different Japan. Although feel like a lot of this applies more to places outside of Tokyo specifically.
I just came back last week, first time back in >5 years
* Agreed about masks. Yes, they are considered “optional” in many places but 99% are wearing masks still. Ready for downvotes, but it annoyed me that the only maskless people were foreigners – I get it, I don’t wear a mask in the US outside anymore but IMO best to be respectful of local culture in other countries, especially in Japan where the society is extremely rule abiding. It will take a long time before they go maskless
* I was really confused with cash vs credit card debate on this sub before returning. There are some very vocal posters here saying that Japan is some sort of credit card society now
* In my experience, you will never have a problem having cash. Just withdraw from Lawson ATM’s as needed. Really not a big deal, and have a coin purse.
* More restaurants were taking card, but there were several that were still cash only. I suspect the people posting that cards are king now don’t go to any small stores or food stalls. Many are still cash only, especially the food street in Kyoto
* So why not do both? Carry a credit card and Pasmo/suica card, but definitely have cash on you at all times. I would not advocate for credit card only.
* Restaurants you don’t need reservations unless you are eating at some Michelin place. Agreed lines can get long during peak hours, I just simply went to restaurants a little earlier/later to avoid crowds. For very popular places with tourists, go early before opening (Shin Udon, Toyko station ramen etc.)
tatted up gaijin enters no-tattoo onsen then thinks its fine because everyone is too polite to say anything to him
So cash is a weird one. When I lived in Japan (08-12) cash was KING. If you found a Uniqlo that took plastic you were lucky.
But I just was in Japan in November and it has completely changed. Conbini all take cards. All the chains take cards, and most independent cafes and bars I went to did too. Only really small mom
And pops shops didn’t.
I suspect if you don’t know how to ask in Japanese, you won’t know if cards are okay (i speak Japanese).
Oh and Taxis, use Uber. They have Uber Taxis and it’s all done through the app.