Travel in Japan

What this topic covers

Japan feels familiar enough that many visitors prepare lightly. Then they arrive and get stuck on small things: the ticket machine at a ramen shop's door, the rules in a hot spring changing room, a street with no bins anywhere. This topic leaves out the preparation that applies to any country, such as flights, currency and insurance, and focuses on the local knowledge you need once you land. It is split into seven guides covering transport, eating out, shopping, hot springs, accommodation, everyday rules and basic Japanese. None of them recommends a company or product; they explain what to check and how to behave.

The basic feel of travelling in Japan

Public spaces in Japan are generally quiet, and queues and turn-taking are taken seriously. People avoid phone calls on trains, and on escalators everyone stands on one side, though which side depends on the region. Traffic and pedestrians keep left, so you need to look right first when crossing. You will also take your shoes off more often than you might expect: at ryokan, in tatami seating at some restaurants, in changing rooms and in private homes, shoes come off at the entrance or at the step up. Most of these rules are signposted or obvious from what others are doing, so in the beginning the safest strategy is to wait a beat and follow the people around you.

Entry and documents

Whether you can enter without a visa, how long you can stay and how much passport validity you need all depend on your nationality and can change. Check the official guidance from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Japanese embassy in your country before you go. There is also an official online service for registering immigration and customs details in advance, which can shorten the queues at the airport. Some items are banned or restricted: processed meat, certain fruit, and cold or pain medicines containing particular ingredients may be refused entry. If you are bringing your own medicine, check the ingredients and quantity beforehand.

Money and payment

Card and phone payments have spread quickly in Japan, but cash-only places remain: small restaurants, shops in the countryside, stalls at shrines and temples, and some buses. Carrying a little cash at all times is less stressful than relying on cards alone. When you run out, ATMs that accept overseas cards are often available at convenience stores and post offices. Prices are in principle displayed including tax, but some shops print the pre-tax price larger, so check before you pay. The small tray at the register is for placing money on rather than handing it over directly.

Suggested reading order

Before you leave, start with the transport and accommodation guides. Whether you buy a pass and what kind of place you stay in shape your itinerary and budget more than anything else. Then save the basic Japanese phrases on your phone, and reopen the guides on restaurants, convenience stores, hot springs and trash just before you arrive or before you face each situation. If your accommodation has a hot spring, read the etiquette guide together with the accommodation guide so check-in holds no surprises.

Common misconceptions

Stories about Japan often mix outdated information with exaggerated anecdotes. These are the things travellers most often get wrong.

• Tipping is appreciated → there is no tipping culture, and staff may chase you to return the money
• Cards work everywhere → some shops still take cash only
• Bins are everywhere → they are rare, so you end up carrying your trash
• You can smoke anywhere → indoor smoking is banned in principle and many areas restrict street smoking
• Rail passes always pay off → depending on your route, single tickets can be cheaper

Caution: disasters and emergencies

Japan has frequent earthquakes, and typhoons and heavy rain arrive from summer into autumn. When you reach your accommodation, look at the emergency exit and evacuation map once, and make sure emergency alerts are enabled on your phone. In a strong quake, protect your head and move only after the shaking stops; if a tsunami warning is issued near the coast, go to high ground. Dial 110 for police and 119 for fire and ambulance. If you feel unwell, do not push through it: ask the staff where you are staying for help or go to a medical facility. Your own government's travel advisory service is the place to check current safety information.

The seven guides in this topic

Each guide can be read on its own. Figures that change often, such as fares, pass prices and tax-free conditions, are deliberately left out, so wherever you need a number, check the latest official information from the operator or the Japanese government.

• Japanese transit cards and rail pass basics
• Restaurant etiquette in Japan
• Shopping at convenience stores and drugstores
• Hot spring etiquette
• Choosing a place to stay in Japan
• Trash sorting and smoking rules
• Basic Japanese phrases for travellers