Japan is such a sophisticated, advanced, and fun country with a great mix of historical and modern living bound by traditions, and I am happy to say that I was finally able to make my trip to the place that everyone raves about, only 3 years after my original trip was cancelled in May 2020 due to the pandemic. Prior to my visit to Japan, I had done a lot of research to prepare myself but sometimes it really helps to be in certain situations and experience it yourself firsthand to really know what it’s like. After 2.5 weeks in Japan visiting Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka, I wanted to share with you the best things to know before visiting Japan so that you can make your own visit smooth and easy, as well as the best trip you can possibly have when visiting this great country.
Things To Know Before You Leave For Japan
Here are some things you should really know and do before visiting Japan as they will help you get accustomed to the Japanese way of life and make things easier and more convenient for you while you’re visiting a foreign country.
1 – Speed Up Your Customs Process
To help speed up your process of going through Japanese Customs at the airport, you can register your entry and exit information ahead of time on this website and get two QR Codes: one for Customs Declaration and one for Immigration Clearance. Otherwise, you will need to fill out a form but doing this ahead of time makes it more convenient for both you and the Customs Officer as you only have to show them the QR code, scan it at the machine, and go on through to get to your transportation and start your journey in Japan!
2 – It Helps To Know Some Japanese Phrases
When visiting a foreign country where they speak a language that you’re not familiar with, it really helps to learn some of the phrases they use. In Japan, although some people speak English, a lot of them do not and it will really help you and them if you learn a bit of the more common Japanese phrases. We ended up using “arigatou gozaimasu” (thank you) and “oishii” (which means delicious when talking about food) the most on this trip. “Sumiamasen” (excuse me) was also very useful as well as “daijoubu desu” (no, thank you or I’m okay). Of course, there are many other common phrases that you may want to learn or have handy on your phone.
3 – Use The Google Translate App Or DeepL App
A lot of the menus and labels on packaging when shopping are in Japanese only so it helps to use the camera function on the Google Translate app to know what you’re trying to order or buy. It’s not always accurate, but it does help a lot to get a basic understanding. On rare occasions, you may want to use the Google Translate or DeepL app to have a conversation with someone if they only know basic English. Overall, I didn’t find communication to be too much of a barrier, and they try to either speak English or help you out somehow.
4 – If You Know Chinese, It Will Actually Help Quite A Bit
If you happen to know Chinese, it will actually help quite a bit to get the context of what you’re trying to read in terms of food, station exits, or train/bus stops. Even though I’m not fluent, I can read some Chinese and this has helped me a lot, especially in Hakone where Google Maps actually don’t show any English.
Some Japanese people also speak Chinese since China is so close by and they get many tourists from there as well as South Korea. When I was claiming my tax back at the Foreign Visitors Centre from a purchase at Gucci in Osaka, the lady at the counter didn’t speak any English and she asked me if I spoke Chinese (Mandarin) and I said a little. So our entire conversation was in Mandarin for my tax back transaction and thankfully that had gone well.
5 – Do Some Research On Japanese Etiquette, Customs, And Traditions
Along with learning common Japanese phrases, it’s important to do some research on Japanese customs and traditions to make sure you don’t do anything taboo and to stay respectful at all times as best as you can. The Japanese highly value having proper manners (as you should!), and you don’t want to be another rude tourist that ruins it for everyone else or hold a bad name for where you’re from. Here are some basic etiquette “rules” to know on Japan Guide that may be useful to read up on before visiting Japan.
6 – Get An eSim For Data Usage
If you need to constantly use your phone, especially for navigational purposes, you’ll want to get an eSim for the duration of your trip in Japan. You can buy a Japanese eSim from Airalo for as little as $4.50 USD for 1GB of data for 7 days. I purchased 5GB of data for $11.50 USD which provides a duration of 30 days of use. I was in Japan for about 15 days or so and it was the perfect amount of data as it lasted me until the last day of my trip. I used it mostly for Google Maps and finding train times and prices, Googling certain things, and minimal WhatsApp and Instagram use. It’s also good to know that you can’t hotspot with this data so each person will need to get their own data. In this case, my husband and I just had data on my phone while he used Wi-Fi everywhere.
Use code DANA8214 for $3 off Airalo eSims!
Alternatively, you can rent portable Wi-Fi from the airport which can be shared among your travel group. It’s the size of an iPhone 6 and lasts about 10 hours. You can just turn it off when not in use to conserve battery but it is an extra item that you’ll have to carry with you. The portable Wi-Fi can be found at any airport in Japan and it costs about $10 USD a day and can be returned to any airport.
7 – Remember To Have A Portable Charger With You
I always have a portable charger with me like this one from Aukey when I’m traveling and I prefer one that’s at least 10,000 maH or higher. You may use your phone a lot during your trip in Japan and even more so if you need it for Google Maps and navigating around the city and you’ll need to recharge your phone at least once a day while you’re out. You want to be prepared, otherwise you can actually rent portable battery packs around Japan for a small fee and you can return it to any station.
8 – Carry Your Passport With You At All Times
A lot of the time, we tend to leave our passports in the safe at our hotel when we travel, but in the case of Japan, you’ll want to carry your passport with you at all times for two reasons: 1) you can get fined up to JP¥200,000 or imprisonment for up to a year if you don’t have your passport on you if you’re a foreigner if the authorities stop you and ask to see it and 2) to qualify for tax-free shopping when spending above JP¥5,500 you’ll need to show your ID. It is easy to spend that amount of money plus the shopping is so good a lot of people buy extra pieces of luggage there – I was lucky to find one for JP¥5,900 (about $55 CAD) and get a free luggage belt as well.
9 – Cash Is Still King Although Most Places Accept Credit Card
Most places accept credit cards if you so choose, but some places like temples, restaurants, and smaller shops only accept cash. Technically, you don’t need a ton of cash on you but it will come in handy! I originally preferred to use my credit card but I ended up opting for cash most of the time. For a 2.5-week trip to Japan, we had $800 CAD for each person which we had exchanged for Japanese Yen prior to our trip. It was enough for the most part but I had made some extra purchases with my credit card.
10 – Have A Coin Pouch Or Wallet With A Coin Compartment
Speaking of cash, it will be good if you have a coin pouch or a wallet with a coin compartment when visiting Japan since Japanese currency has 6 kinds of coins: JP¥1, JP¥5, JP¥10, JP¥50, JP¥100, and JP¥500. You will use and get these coins in return often and you’ll want to have somewhere to put them as well as have easy access to them. A lot of street food cost JP¥500 (about $5 CAD) or less and these coins will come in handy.
11 – Consider If You Need A Travel Adapter
In Japan, there are two plug types: Type A (two flat parallel pins) and B (two flat parallel pins and a grounding pin). Although the Japanese plugs and outlets look like the North American ones that we may be familiar with, the voltage in Japan is 100 volts (100V) and 50 Hertz in Eastern Japan and 60 Hertz in Western Japan. In North America for example, the voltage is 120V and I didn’t encounter any issues using my plugs in Japan to charge my phone and tablet. My husband also didn’t have any issues using his electronic flosser and hair clipper. Keep in mind that you can only use electronics with two prongs unless you bring your own three-prong adapter or extension cord.
Outside of North America, you may need to bring a travel adapter if you plan on visiting Japan, but most hotels should also have one if you need it. Also, it’s good to know that if you want to buy electronics in Japan, you may want to look for electronics specifically made for tourists so that you can use them back home.
12 – There Are No Garbage Bins So Bring Your Own Garbage Bags
Japan is very clean and you won’t find garbage bins to throw out trash unless they’re by the drinks vending machines. You will also be encouraged to take your trash “home” with you to throw away but food vendors will be glad to throw your trash away if you ask or if you purchase something from them and are very kind about it. So, if you’re always on the go like I was, it’s good to have several plastic bags with you on your trip and take one out with you each day in case that you have trash. Before visiting Japan, I had already prepared small plastic bags and I had also acquired some while shopping if the stores voluntarily gave them to me with my purchase.
13 – Bring A Reusable Bag To Use As Your Shopping Bag
Like in Canada, Japan also charges for each plastic bag you need when shopping so bring your own reusable bag to use as your shopping bag when visiting Japan as there will be lots of things you’ll want to buy. I also found it very convenient to just pull a foldable tote bag out of my purse or backpack anytime I made a purchase and it just became a habit. I only needed one reusable bag the entire trip and every store I went to, I just kept putting it into the same bag.
14 – Bring Travel Tissue Packets Or Wet Wipes
Instead of tissues, napkins, and paper towels, the Japanese are used to using small towels and can even carry their own with them. The Japanese also tend to eat very cleanly which lessens the need for tissues as well so you won’t always find them at every restaurant or even bathrooms. So when I came across restaurants that provided wet wipes or napkins, it was a relief, otherwise, I had to pull out my own tissues which I usually carry in my bags anyway – you can see what I pack in My Everyday Makeup Bag which carries a few essentials outside of makeup.
15 – Solo Travelers Or Couples, Bring Your Tripod, But…
If traveling on your own or you want couple photos, bring a tripod but be aware that some places don’t allow for tripods or even selfie sticks so you’ll need to take old-fashioned selfies, and other areas might be too busy to use a tripod. But, some places in Japan also have a setup where you can place your phone on a stand and use a self-timer which is helpful.
16 – Make Your Reservations At Least One Month In Advance
Traveling to Japan is at an all-time high as the country has finally opened after being shut down for 3 years due to the pandemic. You can book most things a month in advance, but be sure to make your reservations on the first day it is open as slots and spaces get sold out very quickly. For example, with popular attractions such as teamLab or Shibuya Sky you’ll want to make sure to book one month in advance, and for certain restaurants, you’ll also want to book one or two months in advance as spaces are very limited and restaurants are small, sometimes with less than 10 seats. Even booking a good seat on the train (such as on the Romancecar from Tokyo to Hakone), is open exactly a month in advance and you’ll need to book that on the first day otherwise the seats at the front of the car or with a good view will be sold out.
Transportation And Navigational Things To Know
17 – Public Transportation Stops Around Midnight
Trains generally stop at about midnight and restart at 5 AM the next day, so make sure you know when the last train is to get home or you can prepare to stay out all night or hail an expensive taxi ride if you don’t have a car.
18 – The Japanese Drive On The Left Side Of The Road
If you plan to rent a car or just for general pedestrian knowledge, the Japanese drive on the left side of the road with the driver seat on the righthand side of the car. This will be good knowledge to have for visiting Japan when crossing the road or knowing which side of the road to drive on.
19 – Pathways/Escalators Are Usually On The Left Side As Well
When walking through the street or the train station areas, the pathways are usually on the left side. But I found that sometimes the stations like to confuse you and as you’re walking left, the next section has arrows pointing to the right on the ground.
For escalators, if you’re standing, you’ll want to be on the left-hand side whereas in North America, you’ll be standing on the right-hand side. However, in Osaka, you’ll likely be standing on the right-hand side. The theories are that in Osaka, the rich merchants stood on the right-hand side back in the day to protect their valuables and that this city adopted the American style.
20 – Don’t Jaywalk
In Japan, you don’t really jaywalk at a red light. You wait until the light is green even if it’s a small crosswalk – so don’t be that person! Because everyone else will be waiting even if there are no cars coming from any direction.
21 – Decide If You Really Need A JR Pass & Reserve Your Seats
As a tourist, you can get the JR Pass which allows for unlimited travel on most of the JR network including Shinkansen bullet trains, limited express trains, and local JR trains. The JR Pass is beneficial if you visit multiple prefectures across Japan and there is a 7, 14, or 21-day pass to choose from. In October 2023, the prices are going up more than 50% so you’ll really want to plan your trip well and calculate whether or not it makes sense for you to get this pass.
For my trip, I did not need to get this pass as it would’ve cost over $500 CAD for a 14-day pass and we spent about $300 CAD or less in total for transportation on this trip. So I advise looking for alternate forms of transportation as there are plenty of options in Japan.
Here is also a JR Pass Fare Calculator to help you plan your trip.
22 – Local Trains And Transportation Cards
There are about 10 IC cards that you can get in Japan that are compatible with each other and allows for travel on almost all trains/subways and buses in most of Japan. They are rechargeable, contactless cards that can be used to pay for public transportation as well as make payments at many vending machines, shops, and restaurants. I found that the Suica (JR East, Tokyo and Eastern Japan) and Pasmo (Tokyo Metro) were the more popular cards to use when I visited Japan.
Also, due to the shortage of IC chips, Suica and Pasmo cards are currently suspended, but the sale of personalized cards such as Welcome Suica and Passmo Passport will continue. But not to worry! For my trip to Japan, I was able to use my Apple Wallet to select the Suica card and add money to the card that way. I just had to tap my phone for each ride and I found this much more convenient than having the physical card (I had borrowed two Suica cards from my aunt in case but didn’t end up needing them) as I can load money onto the card through Apple Wallet and my credit card, whereas with the physical card, you can only load it with cash in person.
Just remember to tap on and tap off with your transit card! The train gates are open but if your card doesn’t work or if you try to go through without paying, the gates will close, whereas in other countries, the gates are usually closed and will open upon payment.
For more information on transportation cards and the right one for you when visiting Japan, this guide will help you!
23 – If You’re In Tokyo Going West…
If you’re in Tokyo and plan to visit other prefectures from Hakone onwards, it’s a good idea to book your Shinkansen seats on the right-hand side of the train. This way you will get a better view, plus you have the chance of seeing Mount Fuji if it isn’t cloudy or foggy out. You can spot it just after the Hakone Station and it’s actually quite large from the train!
24 – If You’re Going To Hakone From Tokyo
Not everyone will be visiting Hakone, but if you do, I thought this was important to share from my personal experience when visiting Japan. I had purchased the Romancecar Limited Express ticket as well as the Hakone Freepass, but on the day of, I didn’t realize I needed a regular ticket as well to get into the train station on top of the Romancecar train ticket. The site was a little confusing as was their app so it was helpful that I actually got to speak to an agent at the booth before our ride. You can buy the Romancecar tickets both online or at the ticket counter but it’s better to reserve your seats in advance or purchase them online in the case that seats do get sold out. And, you need to show all three passes together.
25 – Rolling Your Luggage Through Town Is Common, But…
Many tourists can be seen rolling their luggage through town when visiting Japan and it’s very common but make sure you have good suitcases to roll around or even a hiking/traveling backpack because it isn’t always easy to push around or take with you. For example, in Hakone it’s a bit hillier as you’re in the mountains and you’ll need to go uphill depending on where your accommodations are and it can be quite a trek. For moving from one city to another using trains, there are a LOT of stairs and sometimes there aren’t any escalators or elevators and if there are, you need to go really far to find them.
Although there is the option for luggage transportation using the Yamato Transport service (aka Black Cat) where you can ship your luggage from one location to another instead of carrying it around with you, sometimes you just want or need to keep your luggage with you – so keep in mind how much you want to bring with you to make things a little more convenient when traveling through. Japan.
26 – Google Maps Isn’t Always Accurate With Tall Buildings, But It’s Useful
As with most places across the world, Google Maps isn’t always accurate and doesn’t always work especially when there are tall buildings around. Half the time my GPS was showing me elsewhere and changes my location multiple times before settling down after I restart the app several times. You may get frustrated, but be patient, it’ll end up working! Also, sometimes Google Maps will only show Japanese like when we were in Hakone but there are also paper maps that you can use just in case. Although there were some difficulties, it was still very useful as it actually helped me navigate across Japan and provided an accurate cost of my transportation when I needed to go from one place to another using the trains and allowed me to know the exact amount of money to put on my Suica card. It also let me know which car of the subway I should be on for quicker exits.
27 – Lockers For Luggage Storage Is Available At Train Stations
Because Japan is so accommodating to travelers, they also have lockers available at train stations should you choose to store your luggage as you go sightsee. There are generally two types of lockers: 1) you pay with coins 2) you use your IC card (Suica or Paso) or PIN codes. These lockers have small, medium, and large sizes to choose from and is very convenient if you know where you’re going and how to get back to them! The train stations are very large and complex so if you don’t have a good sense of direction or good memory, this may not be the best for you. But it really is a convenient option if you’re really traveling around a lot or just have a bit of time between stops if you don’t want to lug your suitcases around with you while exploring or even grabbing a bite to eat.
Accommodations Things To Know
28 – Some Hotel Rooms Are Quite Small
Contingent on how much you want to spend on accommodations or what kind of hotel you end up booking, a lot of the hotel rooms are quite small in Japan. It may be helpful to have a hiking/traveling backpack or use a suitcase that opens top up instead of a suitcase that folds in half which can take up quite a bit of room on the floor and sometimes there isn’t always that kind of room available to do even that. For us, we didn’t really have that problem since we did upgrade our rooms and opted for nicer accommodations in Japan, but it is good to know that space might be tight.
29 – Things You’ll Find In Your Hotel Room
In Japan, you can travel with fewer items than you would normally need to pack for a trip. Your hotel room should come equipped with many things you will find in your own home for comfort and ease of your stay when visiting Japan. You will have room slippers, pyjamas, toothbrush and toothpaste, hair combs, air fresheners, bath and Epsom salt, Q-Tips, hair ties, razors, nail files, sewing kits, water, juice, coffee, a variety of tea, and more. You can take them all home with you and if you get daily housekeeping service, they’ll also refill this for you.
Other things you may find in your hotel room are air fresheners and even air purifiers which also can double as a humidifier during the winter.
30 – Japan Is Also Well-Known For Their Bidets
Aside from its convenience stores, Japan is also quite well-known for the complexity of its toilets and the bidets that they’re equipped with. Not only does it spray water to clean you after using the toilet, but you can adjust the pressure as well as the aim and there’s a dryer to finish the job. Not to mention that the seats are heated, and you can put on music if you’re going number two in public.
Food And Dining Things To Know
I will say that the food is beyond amazing in Japan. Japanese food was always my favorite cuisine but being in the home country took this to another level. The variety, the quality, the creativity, and the taste just hits every taste bud and not to mention the price is extremely affordable. But here are some important things you need to know about food and dining before visiting Japan.
31 – Avoid Eating And Drinking On The Street
Not only is Japan focused on the cleanliness of its streets, but it’s also considered bad manners to eat and drink while on the go since you miss out on appreciating your food the way it was intended by the makers. When you purchase food from a street vendor, you usually stand off to the side or there may be a chair or two or a table where you can eat, throw your garbage, and be on your way. Depending on where you go, the vendors will also tell you that you need to stay and eat or even sit down.
32 – There Is No Tipping
There is no tipping when it comes to any services in Japan, you just pay the total including tax and that’s it. It can even be seen as disrespectful to tip – if only it was the same in North America! Even with the no-tipping culture, the customer service is impeccable and noticeably more genuine. And it’s just nice being able to pay exactly what’s stated without any extra charges.
33 – When It Comes To Paying Your Bill
For the most part, you will pay for your meal at the time of ordering your food or you will get a bill as soon as your food arrives at your table. At the end of the meal you either just leave, or you take the bill to the front to pay. It’s nice not having to wait for someone to bring you your bill and that you have the ability to leave as soon as you finish your food. This makes it much more efficient for all parties, especially if you just want to eat and go because there’s no time to waste as there’s so much to do in Japan!
34 – You Don’t Normally Pack Leftover Food
Unlike North America where you can take home leftover food that you can’t finish at restaurants, most of the time in Japan you’ll need to leave your food behind. This is because the restaurants don’t want to risk food poisoning. It’s not necessarily a health department issue but a restaurant regulation. So, keep in mind to try to order exactly what you think you can eat, or order a few things at a time and then continue ordering so that you don’t need to waste any food. When I was in Japan, I didn’t notice anyone taking their leftover food and there was also very little waste.
However, there was a time in Kyoto when I really couldn’t finish my food and there was a karaage dish I couldn’t even touch that I didn’t want to go to waste so I did ask for it to be packed up and luckily they did it for me, but it took a very long time since it wasn’t customary to do this.
35 – Japanese Convenience (Konbini) Stores Are Great But Not Always The Cheapest
When visiting Japan, you can’t miss their famous convenience stores like 7-Eleven, Lawson, and Family Mart which sell very unique and delicious foods that you can’t find anywhere else. I will say that I had a great time going to all the different convenience stores across Japan and trying new things out and I definitely found a few personal favorites, especially with their drinks and snacks. However, as great as these convenience stores are, don’t discount going to grocery stores and supermarkets as they tend to have even lower prices and obviously a wide range of foods. I found that some things were even 30-50% cheaper than convenience stores.
Also, duty-free shops like Don Quijote have an amazing variety of shopping with their snacks and large product offerings whether it’s for food, drinks, beauty, travel, general shopping, and much more. And they’re usually at least 5 stories high!
36 – Sometimes It’s Better To Wing It At Restaurants
Because we were unsure of the exact timing of our itinerary, we didn’t make any reservations in advance. But I strongly recommend doing so at least a month in advance if you really want to eat at a specific location as restaurants are small and doesn’t have a lot of seating, and the most popular restaurants or Michelin restaurants will get booked up fast. Otherwise, lines can be very long and you can wait an hour or two and you don’t want to waste valuable time on your trip waiting as there may be several times you need to wait in line for things and you don’t want to add one more thing to the list to wait on. For us, it was better to wing it and either stumble upon a restaurant or do a quick Google search – and literally, everything tastes amazing in Japan no matter where you go so you can’t go wrong.
37 – Tabelog Is Like The Yelp Of Japan
If you’re really keen on finding specific restaurants and like to look at reviews, use the Tabelog app as it is like the Yelp of Japan. You can search for restaurants by type or purpose across the country. Google Maps worked as well, but it is very limited and if the restaurant isn’t in English it may not even show up as an option.
38 – Vending Machines Are Everywhere, Plentiful, And Cheap
There are about 4 million vending machines in Japan and they have everything from water, coffee, tea, sake, multiple kinds of soft drinks, snacks, fresh fruits, fresh bread, cigarettes, and much more. They’re also very affordable with soda and basic drinks costing JP¥100. Sometimes you can find machines that are even on sale for half off. And it really is just so convenient for everyone!
With so many permits required for businesses in Japan, it’s much easier to have a vending machine to bring in income with national average sales ranging from JP¥400,000 to JP¥500,000 a month.
Weather Things To Know
Because I visited Japan in the summer this time, I can only speak on my experience and recommendations when it comes to visiting Japan from June to August. But there are also some general tips that you may find useful. I will also be visiting Japan in October so I will share my fall updates on this blog post then. Update: October weather was amazing and super comfortable, I highly recommend visiting around that time as you can wear long sleeves and pants or even dresses as the weather can cater to both types of clothing easily so bring a little of both!
39 – Umbrellas Are Left Everywhere For Your Use
We noticed when we were in Japan that umbrellas were left anywhere and everywhere. I’m not sure why people leave them, but it really does come in handy when it randomly rains or you need some protection from the sun. I brought an umbrella with me on our trip, but I didn’t bring it out on a day when it just started raining out of nowhere. And I had checked the weather for that day before we left the hotel. It started raining a couple of minutes after we exited the subway to get to the Tokyo Tower area and we had to go through Prince Shiba Park. As it was starting to rain harder, my husband found an abandoned umbrella by a park bench with no one around and it was in good working condition – it really saved us! After that, we started noticing that umbrellas are just left all over the place and I think that people leave them for some reason, and others take it when needed.
If you don’t have the lucky chance of finding an umbrella, they’re actually quite cheap to purchase in Japan for a couple of dollars if you can find a shop nearby.
40 – Summers Are Really Hot And Humid
Before going to Japan, I knew that summers are really hot and humid. But once I arrived and with the amount of walking, running around, and traveling we had to do coupled with the heat and humidity, it was tougher than I thought and it’s really something to keep in mind before visiting Japan in the summer. It was at a minimum of 30°C to 35°C every single day with at least 80% humidity and you’ll want to be sure to have some tissues on you to wipe away sweat if needed. And don’t forget to wear sunscreen as the sun is quite strong there and I got noticeably tanned without even trying. Here’s A Guide To Sunscreen Use And Choosing The Safest One For You.
Thankfully, the Japanese are quite used to this and have many solutions available. Whether it is cold drinks, ice cream, neck icing, jackets with built-in fans, cooling clothes, cooling wipes and sprays, and more – you can find these available at many different stores if you’re really struggling. And don’t forget to stay hydrated as you’ll really need it on hot days. Bringing your own insulated bottle will also help with preserving your drinks in that you can keep them colder for longer. Although normally I’d recommend the Stanley Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler 64 oz , the Simple Modern Trek Tumbler 50 oz, or the Simple Modern Summit Water Bottle 128 oz as they come in larger sizes, keep your drink cold for many hours, and they’re not plastic, it might be slightly too heavy for a long trip and long days. A great alternative for traveling is the Simple Modern Classic Tumbler 28 oz as it’s light and versatile for cold and hot drinks as well as options for straw or no straw. Here are also 8 Ways To Stay Hydrated For Great Skin While Traveling.
41 – If It’s Too Hot, Don’t Be Too Ambitious With Your Itinerary
If it’s too hot, don’t be too ambitious with your itinerary when visiting Japan like I was and expect to possibly need double the time you normally do to explore a new location since it can be a bit much with the heat and you’ll want breaks with air conditioning or at the least, cold drinks. Take your time as you can really burn out with the heat if you’re not used to it, you can get tired much sooner, and it can just be difficult and uncomfortable in general.
42 – Bring Bug Spray And After-Bite (Or Buy It In Japan)
I didn’t think bugs would be an issue but it was – by the second day I was in Japan! I got bit on my ankle (you don’t really feel the bug bites here) in the city not anywhere near nature or water, and it was painful and swollen for the next week and a half. Over the next week in Tokyo, I also got multiple bug bites all over my legs. Thankfully I had brought After-Bite but I quickly ran out and had to buy some in Japan. There was such a huge variety of bug bite solutions at the pharmacy, it was hard to choose but I picked one for around $3 CAD and it actually worked overnight. When I go back to Japan, I definitely need to buy more. It seems that everything in Japan is just so much better, so much more effective, and so much cheaper than what we can get in North America so it’s a good idea to try different things out, see what you like and buy a few of them!
Clothing And Attire For Visiting Japan
As you visit a new country, it’s good to do a bit of research regarding clothing and attire no matter where you go and this will also be useful to know before visiting Japan so that you pack the right items for your trip. Or feel free to just go shopping since prices are great and there are a lot of different styles to choose from.
43 – Get Really Good Shoes For Walking
Japan is very large and to explore it the right way, you’ll be taking a lot of public transportation and walking a lot – at least 10,000 steps per day for most people and we were averaging about 15,000 to 20,000 per day. I highly recommend getting really good shoes for walking (these are The Most Versatile Shoes For Men And Women and they are waterproof as well as supportive on the foot) and a couple of interchangeable pairs in case one hurts you then you have options.
I had brought 4 pairs of shoes: a pair of Nike slides which I planned to mostly just use inside at the hotel but came in handy as we were traveling from one city to another with our luggage, slip-on shoes from Ilse Jacobsen (similar to these Michael Kors Slip-On Sneakers), Valentino Rockstud Flat Rubber Sandals, and a pair of Skechers slip-on sneakers (which destroyed my feet – I’ve had two pairs in different colors and they’re not good for walking even if they have memory foam). You never know which pair of shoes really work well for you (and matches your outfits) until you’re there and are actually making those steps each day.
It really helps to be able to have choices and to switch it up just for the comfort of your feet because let me tell you, my feet have never stopped hurting once on this trip from all the walking and I needed to buy extra Band-Aids to help with the chafing from the Skechers. I found these Sorbothane bandages (known for their incredible shock absorption and pressure dispersion performance which is highly recognized in the medical field and for cars apparently) in a Japanese pharmacy and it was the only kind of Band-Aids that worked on my trip. They are much more effective than any blister Band-Aids you’ll find since as soon as I put the blister Band-Aid on, it fell off in minutes and burned a hole in the one spot I needed to be covered with the heat in the air and the friction from my shoe.
44 – Japanese Fashion Is A Little More Modest
In North America, we’re used to wearing everything and anything we want, no matter how short, how low-cut, or how tight. In Japan, they are a little more modest with their clothing so it’s important to know before visiting Japan to try to stay respectful in this manner to maintain cultural customs and norms. You may want to avoid or lessen the extremities of what you normally wear. Opting for more conservative clothing is always a safe bet especially if you plan to visit temples and shrines. Wearing fitness attire like leggings is only good for the gym and you may get weird looks unless you wear a skirt or dress on top. The Japanese are very well put together for the most part and you don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb or offend them either – you’re in their country after all. I feel like you can push it a little, but don’t go overboard and for the most part, they understand you’re a tourist and have a completely different style.
For my summer trip to Japan, I wore 95% dresses and 5% shorts and tank tops. It seemed to be fine and really helped with the heat situation, but I did notice that the Japanese were more covered up as they’re probably also used to the heat and really don’t want to get tanned from the sun.
45 – Visiting Certain Places May Require You To Remove Your Shoes
Visiting certain temples and restaurants in Japan, you may required to remove your shoes. If you are wearing sandals or slip-ons, bring a pair of socks for indoor use. I actually hadn’t done this as I wasn’t expecting to remove my shoes in some places but luckily no one had complained I didn’t have any socks with me.
46 – Tattoos Are Still A Taboo In Certain Places
When it comes to visiting onsens (hot springs), if you have tattoos you’ll need to find a tattoo-friendly one. We actually had our own private onsen in our ryokan in Hakone so we were able to avoid this, plus it was just really too hot in the summer. You may also want to cover up a little bit in temples and shrines. But for the most part, it seems the Japanese don’t mind tattoos as they know you are a tourist most of the time and they find it as more decorative and a cool thing instead of offensive or have you seen as associated with the Yakuza. My husband is covered in them and a few Japanese people were very interested in his Medusa tattoo since snakes are traditionally seen as a god there.
My full itineraries for each location I visited in Japan will be coming soon, so check back often!
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