12 Japan Travel Tips for First Time Visitors

For first-time visitors, there is never too much to prepare before a trip to Japan: from the Internet to transport, from taboos to customs. For your smoother and enjoyable experience in this charming island, we have prepared these comprehensive Japan travel tips for your last check.

Stay Connected to the Internet

There are 4 ways to stay connected to the Internet when visiting Japan:

• Pocket Wi-Fi
• SIM / eSIM Cards
• International Roaming Plans (may be more expensive)
• Public Wi-Fi (unstable, limited to Japanese cell phone providers)

And for first-time visitors, pocket Wi-Fi or SIM cards are more recommended choices. Below is the comparison table to make your ideal choice.

	Pocket Wi-Fi	SIM & eSIM
Rental Period	flexible (1 day to 3 months)	fixed plans (7/15/30 days)
Coverage	10 to 15m radius	depends on the carrier (Docomo is best nationwide)
Device Support	5 to 10 devices	cell phone unlocked to the provider only
Speed	85 Mbps	78 Mbps
Cost	4 to 8 USD/day	1 to 3 USD/day
Setup	reserve online & airport pickup	Instant eSIM activation / SIM at vendors
Portability	Device + charger (about 200g), and 6-8hr battery	Phone only (0 added weight)
Best For	Groups (3+ people) Laptop & cell phone users	Solo/couples Short trips Phone-only users

Useful Apps for First-Time Visitors

• Google Maps: which can be your best navigation most of the time (as for Shibuya or Shinjuku Station, check the sign first), also a good check for the bus and train timetables.
• Japan Travel by NAVITIME: another timetable checker, and also offers precise transfer guidance for buses and trains, including station exit and platform information.
• Welcome Suica Mobile: your digital Suica card for local trains, buses, and subways. Top-up by Apple Pay is available.
• Google Translate: the real-time photo translation feature is perfect for translating things like menus and street signs.
• VoiceTra: a speech dialogue translation developed by the Japanese government, recognizing the Kansai dialect.

Walking on the Left

It is a rule to see and follow when visiting Japan. Whether walking or standing in a queue, it is a habit that the Japanese seem to prefer on the left.

This unspoken left-side rule can be traced back to the samurai period, when swords were worn on the left hip. And to reduce the scabbards' clashing or collisions, the left-side walking became much appreciated among the citizens.

Which means that you can try to step to the left to avoid the oncoming pedestrians most of the time, apart from Kansai city, like Osaka, the historic commercial major city with more businessmen than samurai.

Walking on the Left

But no Eating While Walking

Yes, sad news. Though famous for its various and delicious street foods, in Japan, eating while walking is not as common (even forbidden) as in other Asian countries. It may be a little rude activity for locals, but the real headache is that the trash bin is barely to be found on the street, making it quite an arduous task to deal with the residue after indulging in your meal. Then, you will find that standing still is the right way.

Enjoy your meal right outside the stall and return the leftovers to the stall's bin - everything is fine and perfect.

Or, Carry a Bag With You

Taking a temporary storage bag with you is also a good idea during your first visit to Japan.

Not only for the replacement of the single-use shopping bag, you can also take it as a trash bag for tissue or residue, just like we mentioned before, or prepare a waterproof bag for your hand towel, since the hand dry machine is not that common to see in Japan. And the change wallet for lockers, shrines, and vending machines - they love coins!

Other Cultural Etiquette to Follow

Taking off your shoes: kind of Japanese second nature, it is a widely observed custom not only accepted in the household. Ancient temples, the main hall of shrines, tea houses, Kaiseki restaurants, and ryokan hotels. If possible, prepare some cute and soft socks for your package.

Turn on silent mode on public transport: one of the reasons is that the Japanese used to take trains, buses, or subways as their mobile library - they would read or think to kill their fragmented time, so keep your voice down when taking public transport.

Enter the hot spring naked (but cover your tattoos): everyone is the same, so don't be shy. If Sento (Japanese bathhouse) culture is not your purpose, the good news is that there is no shortage of hotel or ryokan rooms with private onsen to soak in.

Sleep & sit on the ground: the tatami bed and cushion are more common to see in most ryokan or traditional hotel rooms in Japan, but high chairs are few. Try to add a buffering step before you fully sit down on the cushion: bend your knees, squat down slowly first, then let your hip touch the ground. It would be really helpful to the back.

Cash is Still the King

Credit cards and electronic payments are widely used in Japan, but the hard truth is that cash remains the most widely accepted form of payment, especially outside of Tokyo or the Kanto region, where cash-to-cash transactions can be more beneficial for some local experiences.

Prepare some coins for the shrine prayer and drinks from vending machines, and the thousand Japanese yen banknotes for your meals and snacks at the local izakaya - expect a credit card terminal to come out of the blue? The cash machines at 7-Eleven will be more helpful. (Cash of about 200 USD (30,000 JPY) will be enough)

Japanese Yen

Tipping is not Practiced

Though still highly cash-appreciated, tipping is not practiced in Japan. In contrast, you will encounter final bills including a service charge and the goods at the after-tax price.

As for the "coin plate" you may see at the register and counter, it is exactly the cash tray to clear the fee and check the returns - they love coins, remember?

JR Pass is not always a Good Deal

The unlimited ride on JR trains throughout Japan for 1 to 3 weeks - sounds exciting, doesn't it? However, after the increased price from 2023, JR Pass is now paying off more for multiple long-term journeys within a short period.

For example, a 7-day or 14-day journey through Tokyo, Nagano, Kanazawa, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima is plenty enough and all connected by the JR train lines, yet may not be that friendly to first-time visitors. And, if you are only looking for the golden route (Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka) or a simple round trip within 3 or 4 cities, skip the pass!

Be Attentive to the Weak Dryer

If you are going to use the laundry room and dryer service at your hotel, attention please! The dryer in Japan is not as strong as you are used to - it just makes your wet clothes hot!

You may need to double or triple the machine to make your clothes completely dry, but what a waste of time during a foreign country journey! A better option is to head to the nearby coin laundry instead, with one-step machines to wash and dry your clothes fully - make sure you have some coins ready!

Best Time for Japan Visit? Spring & Autumn!

Simply, spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) boast the best weather and vision conditions - pleasant temperatures around 22℃ (72℉), with plenty of sunny days ideal for outdoor activities accompanied by cherry blossoms and fall foliage - apart from its higher prices and crowded streets, they are indeed the best time to visit Japan.

While summer is highlighted by the bustling festivals and fireworks, the excellent powder snow in winter is unable to bear giving up.

For more ideas or questions to plan your trip to Japan, check the article below for your step-by-step guide.

A Simple Packing List for First-Time Visitors

Before you pack, I would like to mention that hotel rooms in Japan are usually small; for example, a standard 4-star room is no more than 30 ㎡ (323 ft²). And a reservation for your oversized luggage on the Shinkansen is necessary. Packlight is the key, and here is a simple list for your reference, or feel free to contact us for more details you want to know!

• Type A plug adapter for your Type B plug
• Water bottle for drinking - tap water is safe to drink in Japan
• Comfortable shoes for hiking and walking, and shoes easy to slip on and off
• Soft, clear, and decent socks
• Earplugs and eye masks for traditional ryokan and temple stay
• Light coat and trousers for the temple or shrine visit
• Shopping bags for goods, trash, or emergencies
• (If possible) Small notebook for stamp collecting - especially the Kumano Kodo hike is on your bucket list