Pop Japan

Japan is indeed an interesting country to visit in. With its fascinating mixture of traditional and pop culture alongside with their innovative progress in technology, it is no doubt that this country is one of the favorites of the tourists to visit.

If you’re travelling to Japan for the first time, you’ll certainly face tough situations like language barrier and culture shock for starter. But no need to be afraid. Japanese are very nice and considerate people. First, before you pack your bags and luggage, take time to remind yourself of the do’s and don’ts in Japan. Here we listed some practical and helpful tips on how to survive in the Land of the Rising Sun. We divided it into two categories: Essential and Etiquette.

ESSENTIAL

1. List down in a small paper the full address of the hotel you’re staying in written in Japanese and carry it with you at all times.

2. Acquire suica cards. It is a prepaid travel cards valid in all kinds of transport in Tokyo. It will avoid the hassle of buying tickets from time to time.

3. Take trains as much as possible. There are lots of trains in Japan that will lead to your destination. Do not take cabs as it can get really expensive.

4. Prepare cash. Credit cards are not really much of an use in Japan. If you wish to have your money exchanged, do it in the airport or go to a Post Office. They accept foreign credit cards. By chance, you can opt to try withdrawing at 7-11 ATM Machine.

5. Learn basic Japanese phrases. This might be the first thing you’ll worry about when going to Japan since they have a different language and English is not really spoken a lot in the area. Learning a few Japanese phrases can be helpful to communicate to the Japanese.

6. Walk around the area. Visit shopping arcades around the city but limit your purchase because it can be really tempting to buy everything from it.

7. Visit free tourist attractions. Some temples and shrines are usually free of charge.

8. Wear clothes depending on the weather. Consider wearing a pair of sneakers. You don’t want walking around with a sore feet in your high heels, don't you?

ETIQUETTE

1. Bow politely when greeting another person, thanking them or in saying goodbye.

2. When visiting someone’s house, remove your shoes and use the slippers that your host provided for you.

3. Do not eat while walking. Japan loves to maintain cleanliness especially in public ways. You wouldn’t want to be glared by Japanese if they see you eating while walking.

4. Avoid making loud noises in trains and buses. While it is not really prohibited in a sense, talking in a loud voice in a public transportation is something you should not do in Japan.

5. Point with an open hand. Pointing with your forefinger is considered rude.

6. Refrain from blowing your nose in public. If you’re sporting a cold, wipe your nose in a washroom and wear face mask. Japanese are very particular in hygiene.

7. Do not tip! Restaurants or any other establishments in Japan do not accept tips from their customers. It’s kind of an insult to them.

8. Before eating, politely say “Itadakimasu!” which means “Thank you for the food.” and say “Gochisousama deshita!” after eating or before leaving the place which means “The food is delicious.”

Although it can get pretty overwhelming for the first time, visiting Japan is definitely worth every penny. The best tip we can give to a first time visitor like you is to PLAN. Travelling to a country like Japan requires an extensive research from your itinerary and even to the stuff you’ll purchase so you won’t be facing major difficulties during your stay. It can get pretty tiring with all the research and stuff but it’s actually necessary by all means.