Ah, Japan. I try my best, I really do. But you make me feel like a bull in a china shop. Just a big, boorish bozo leaving a trail of offence, dismay, and bad-mannered behaviour in my wake. Japan has one of the world’s richest cultures; it’s a place that’s as idiosyncratic as it is beautifully arcane. The flipside is that, as a tourist, at any given moment you will be committing some kind of social faux pas. Here’s are our top tips for travelling in Japan.
Breaking some unwritten rule of time-honoured etiquette that’s obvious and normal to any ordinary Japanese person but that just seems downright bizarre to all but the most Japanophile of tourists. If it’s your first time visiting Japan (or, let’s face it, your hundredth), you need to face facts: you will make a complete fool of yourself at some point. Guaranteed.
Then there’s the more run-of-the-mill Japan holiday mistakes you’ll make. I’ve committed all of those sins, too. And sure, none of them are trip-ruiners, but there’s a lot of things I really wish I’d known going in, instead of flying blind.
As someone who goes to Japan far more often than my wallet can handle, I’m here to tell you all of the ways that you’ll mess up your next trip. Whether it’s as innocuous as trying to tip at a restaurant, or as grave as unintentionally disrespecting thousands of years of tradition, rest assured, I’ve done it, so you don’t have to.
Rules to follow when eating in Japan
Savoy Tomato & Cheese is considered to produce one of the best pizzas, not just in Tokyo, but in the entire world. I just rocked up, hoping for a walk-in.
Folks, I did not get in. Japan has a reservation culture, not a show-up-and-see-what-happens culture. So if there’s anywhere you really want to eat at, or drink in, and they offer bookings, make one. (This is increasingly the case for certain tourist attractions, too.) And hey, once you’ve had a nice meal – don’t tip. Even if service was exceptional. It’s not really the norm in Japan and can be met with confusion.
While we’re talking payments, be sure to place your card or cash onto the plastic tray that’s proffered to you, rather than handing it directly to the person at the cashier. There’s a rhythm to the transaction, it’s just the way it’s done here.
Lastly, yes, the food at Japanese convenience stores is so much better than it is in Australia. FamilyMart, 7-Eleven, Lawson – amazing. But at the end of the day, they’re still convenience stores. Don’t eat most of your meals there. You’re better than that.
How to navigate the onsen (Japanese hot spring baths)
Few things are as relaxing as a long, scalding soak in a traditional onsen – Japan’s ubiquitous hot spring baths. But of course, there’s a procedure here, too. First off, you need to be completely starkers – no ifs or buts. (Definitely some butts, though.)
When I had my first onsen, perhaps due to being self-consciously naked in a room full of people, I rushed straight from the changing rooms to the bath as quickly as possible. Don’t do this. You will be looked at with withering – and fair – glares of disapproval. Use one of the showers and clean yourself before taking a plunge. That’s a biggie.
Tattoos? If you’re rocking some ink, you might not be allowed in. Hit up Tattoo Friendly Japan beforehand. The website is a good resource.
Tips for public transport in Japan
Did you know that trains in Tokyo, the biggest city in the world, don’t run 24/7? I didn’t, and it was only after about the fifth time I’d been out drinking on the other side of the city to my hotel, finding myself stranded, that I really wrapped my head around this reality.
You’ll have three options: a long walk, an expensive taxi ride, or having a snooze next to all the drunk salarymen who also missed the last train. If you do make it to the subway before the midnight curfew, a minefield of potential misdemeanours awaits you.
But in the interests of time, these are the absolute musts: don’t be loud; don’t eat; if you’re in a big group, disperse yourselves; use the queues to board correctly; and for goodness’ sake, wear your backpack on your chest, not your back.
What to pack for a trip to Japan
Things you’ll want to pack in your suitcase: sensible walking shoes. Pounding the pavement all day, you’ll be shocked at your daily step count. Trust me on this. Things you won’t want to pack in your suitcase: basically everything else.
Bring the bare minimum you can to Japan, in the smallest suitcase you can find. Because you’ll want as much luggage real estate as possible for everything you’ll buy over there – and also, Japan just doesn’t make life easy for big suitcases, especially when it comes to available space on bullet trains.
I’ve been given enough disappointed looks on a shinkansen to last me a lifetime. But here’s the good news: Japanese people are unfailingly gracious about tourists fumbling through their lovely country.
Especially towards the ones who are at least trying their best not to be rude. And every time you go, you’ll be less of a bozo than the time before.
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