13 Japan Travel Tips I Wish I Knew Sooner

Are you planning to visit Japan soon but still feel a little nervous about it? Don't worry, we've got your back. After visiting Japan several times, I have decided to compile a list of important things I wish I knew before I went there.

From the lack of trash bins and benches in cities to important etiquette to know as a foreigner traveling here, here are the 13 things to know before visiting Japan. Let's start with the most important one: prepare to walk... like A LOT.

Looking for a complete itinerary to Japan? Check out:2 Weeks Backpacking Japan Itinerary

Table of Contents

13 Important Things To Know Before Visiting Japan
Further Reading for Japan

13 Important Things To Know Before Visiting Japan

1. Prepare to Walk A lot

Exploring Japan is best done on foot. Whether you're navigating bustling urban areas like Tokyo or Kyoto, touring historic temples and shrines, or meandering through charming traditional neighborhoods, a significant portion of your time will be spent walking from one point to another.

What surprises me the most is the sheer amount of walking I did each day during my time in Japan. There were days when I covered over 13,000 steps, a number significantly higher than any other place I've visited.

During the initial days of my trip to Japan, I walked so extensively that I ended up injuring my left ankle. I ended up having to stumble my way around Japan like an old person for five straight days, which was not ideal.

One of my mistakes was not properly warming up before arriving in Japan. I hit the ground running on the first two days, taking a day trip to Hakone and celebrating Halloween in Shinjuku on the second day.

Another mistake I made was attempting to cram too many activities into each day, causing me to move around excessively and putting additional strain on my already exhausted ankle.

To avoid injuring yourself as I did, first, make sure to pack comfortable walking shoes that you've already broken in. Avoid purchasing new shoes and attempting to break them in during your trip, as it may lead to an uncomfortable experience. Trust me, it's better to be prepared.

Lastly, take your first day slowly and avoid overloading your initial days with too many activities. Begin your trip at a more relaxed pace to allow your body to acclimate, and then gradually increase your activities as your body warms up to the trip.

If your time is very limited, consider warming up at home by walking on treadmills before arriving in Japan. This way, you'll already be warmed up, allowing you to hit the ground running on your first day and make the most of your time.

2. You won't find many places to sit

Speaking of being unprepared for all the walks one has to do in Japan, you will also be surprised at how much standing around you have to do here due to the lack of seats and benches in public spaces.

In Japan, it is common to see people standing rather than sitting in public places due to the high population density and the limited availability of seats. For instance, when traveling on trains and buses in Japan, one should expect to spend a significant amount of time standing, especially during rush hours.

When I was in Nikko, I had to stand for 1.5 hours on a cramped bus to get from the city center to Kegon Falls, which was not ideal. By the time I arrived at the waterfall, I was already tired from standing in a moving bus for so long. The traffic jam also didn't help.

There are several ways to minimize the amount of standing, such as avoiding traveling during rush hours or public holidays, boarding the bus at an earlier stop, opting for early morning travel, and so on.

3. You also won't find many trash bins around

Another thing you'll realize when you're here is that there aren't many trash bins in public spaces for easy disposal of trash while you're out and about. This is likely why cities in Japan are so well-kept and clean all the time.

The reason is that Japanese culture places a strong emphasis on personal responsibility and cleanliness. Individuals are expected to take their trash with them and dispose of it properly at home, which is why you won't find as many trash bins around in Japan.

Before you head out to explore Japan, make sure you have a way to carry some of the trash you might accumulate during the day, so you can properly dispose of them when you are back at your hotel. DO NOT LITTER!

4. Avoid traveling with big luggage

Given the extensive walking in Japan, the idea of lugging around a large suitcase seems like a total nightmare to me. I witnessed many people struggling to navigate the steep, narrow, and often crowded staircases of Tokyo's metro system.

The metro stations are often equipped with elevators, but not all metro exits have them, and if they do, they are often crowded with tourists with large luggage waiting to get on one. The one in Asakusa, especially, is always crowded with tourists with big luggage.

You will also encounter tactile paving used to assist people with low vision or blindness in navigating the streets all over Japan, and your large luggage may have difficulty crossing it without struggling and making noisy sounds.

On the Shinkansen bullet train, there is no storage space except for the area above your seat unless you pay extra for oversize luggage storage, which must be purchased with the train ticket.

If this sounds like a nightmare to you, there are several solutions you can consider. First, do as I did and travel with a backpack, or you can use a smaller luggage that you can easily maneuver around Japan's dense cities.

If you still insist on taking a big luggage with you, you might want to consider using the bag delivery service. This service allows you to safely send your luggage to your hotel, freeing yourself from the hassle of dealing with it during your travels.

5. Cash is still King

While credit cards are increasingly accepted in Japan, including at convenience stores, shopping malls, and many restaurants, there are still numerous places, especially outside the city, that only accept cash. Therefore, it is always a good idea to have cash on hand during your time here.

While traveling, you will likely accumulate a lot of coins as they are still widely used in Japan. I highly recommend that you carry a coin pouch with you so you can use the spare coins whenever needed. Local buses, for example, often require exact change and may only have a coin machine for payment.

Many ticket machines at train and metro stations are also unable to accept credit cards; instead, they only accept IC Cards like the Suica Card. Therefore, having cash on hand will come in handy in these situations as well.

6. Many Places Close Early

Many places in Japan close quite early, especially the further away from touristy areas they are. In locations like Nikko, for instance, many restaurants often close as early as 6-7 PM, even during the summer months. So be sure to be aware of the closing time before you head out to eat somewhere when you are not in big cities.

Cable car services in places like Hakone and Miyajima Island in Hiroshima also close extremely early, around 4:30 PM. If you want to avoid being stranded on the mountain without a way to descend, make sure to plan your visit carefully.

I observed many people having to turn back midway at the Miyajima Ropeway because they underestimated the time needed to ascend and descend the mountain. They also forgot to account for the waiting time due to long queues, which is often a problem in touristy places in Japan. If you plan to do something here, be sure to be aware of its closing time.

7. Book Things in Advance if you can

Due to the number of tourists visiting Japan each year, you will often find yourself having to wait in a long queue to do anything cool here.

Even when capturing photos at the iconic Tori gate in Hakone, you might have to wait for at least an hour just to get that money shot. Seriously, no amount of Instagram likes is worth waiting an hour just to capture that one photo.

Due to this issue, many tourist attractions have implemented a booking and time slot system, allowing them to manage tourist influx efficiently and keep their attractions fun again.

That said, many popular places, especially observation decks in Japan like Shibuya Sky, often get booked out very quickly. If you wish to visit the place, you will need to book at least a week in advance. If you want to be there during the golden hour, book at least a month in advance.

Other places that require booking are teamLAB Planet in Tokyo, Universal Studios in Osaka, and more. For more ticket deals in Japan, check out: Japan Ticket Deals.

8. Avoid visiting touristy places during the weekends/holidays

Japan can be extremely crowded during weekends and public holidays, with most modes of transportation cramped with people and hotel prices sky-high, ultimately hindering your enjoyment of the places you visited.

I visited Hakone on a Friday, and the moment I got on the train, it was jam-packed with people. I ended up spending much of that day standing around in trains and cable cars, leaving me with little time to truly enjoy the place itself, which is quite unfortunate.

I was also in Hiroshima during a public holiday, and to my surprise, the hotel prices were higher than when I was in Tokyo. Moreover, 88% of accommodations were fully booked many days in advance. I ended up staying in a hostel, paying almost the same price as I would for a private room in a hotel in Tokyo.

If possible, make sure to avoid visiting touristy places in Japan during weekends and public holidays. Trust me, you'll enjoy the place much more.

9. Be Respectful

It goes without saying, but as a visitor to Japan, you have to be respectful of their culture and their ways of life. Japanese people are some of the most gentle and kind-hearted people out there, and I've seen many "influencers" taking advantage of that and treating Japan like a playground.

Please, do not be like these foreigners. They are the worst of the worst, and it is really affecting the locals' perception towards foreigners negatively. Consequently, many places now display signs in English prohibiting any form of filming inside the premises.

A few bad apples have ruined so many things in Japan for the rest of us, and it needs to stop. The other day, I saw a person climbing up the Hachikō Memorial Statue just to get a photo, and it infuriates me so much. To make it worse, they were Asians! Talking about making us look bad among ourselves 😅.

10. Do Not Eat While You Walk

Another thing that is considered rude in Japan is to eat while you walk. Walking and eating are so frowned upon, and you will often see signs warning you about it in food markets like Nishiki Market in Kyoto. This is also the reason why Japan is so squeaky clean.

When you want to eat something, let's say you just bought a delicious salmon onigiri from Family Mart. You can often find seats available inside the convenience store, or if not, you can stand in front of the store and eat. Dispose of the trash properly inside the convenience store when you're done, and you're good to go.

11. Align Your Trip to Fun Events in Japan

If possible, try to align your trip with events happening in Japan for more memorable experiences. Festivals take place throughout the country all year round, and being in the right place at the right time can make your experience truly unforgettable.

One of the biggest and most famous festivals in Japan, Gion Matsuri, is an annual celebration that transforms the entire Gion District into a street-wide party fueled by food stalls, awesome performances, and a grand parade featuring elaborately decorated floats known as yamaboko.

The festival spans the entire month of July, but the main events, including the grand procession (Yamaboko Junko), typically take place on July 17th. So, if you want to experience one of the best festivals in Japan, make sure to align your visit around this time.

If you want to witness the Sumo Grand Tournament, which is often held in January, March, May, July, September, and November throughout the year, be sure to book the ticket in advance and align your visit accordingly.

You can check the tournament schedule from here. For other fun events and festivals in Japan, be sure to check out the upcoming Japan event list here.

12. Buy Train/Bus Passes for convenience/save money

Utilizing train and bus passes is one of the best ways to get around places in Japan. You can purchase several types of passes to help you navigate the places you visit conveniently and affordably, such as the JR Pass, regional pass, and the Suica IC card.

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JR Pass is not as cheap as it used to be, but it is still one of the fastest and most convenient ways to get around the country using the Shinkansen bullet train.

With the JR pass, you can hop on any bullet train and travel long distances across the country without having to fiddle with the ticket machine, which is awesome for those who want to be a bit more flexible with their time.

If you want to save some money, you can also go with regional train/bus passes like Kansai Thru Pass, which will give you unlimited access to local trains and buses in Kyoto and Osaka for free, Nikko Free Pass to get around Nikko, Hakone Freepass for Hakone, and many more.

If you are looking for a great deal to save some money on your trip to Japan, be sure to browse through some of the available train and bus passes here.

Tips: Get the Klook Value Pass instead of JR Pass to travel across Japan and save up to 130 USD!

13. Shop at Tax-Free Stores

Last but not least, if you enjoy shopping, Japan is probably one of the best and most convenient places to shop for tax-free products. Many big stores participate in in-store tax-free exemption, allowing you to enjoy discounted prices right away at the store. This is unlike in other countries where you often have to claim tax-free items at the airport.

While not all products and stores are eligible for tax-free shopping, big department stores that sell non-consumable products, such as electronics from Bic Camera and Yodobashi or clothing from Unique Stores, are participants in the program. You can shop until you drop in these stores.

Just make sure you have your actual passport in hand when you check out, and you should be able to get 10% off the price tag on top of whatever discount campaigns they are currently running. Combining this with the weak yen, and you have yourself a shopping paradise here, so enjoy it!