- CASH
Japan is more of a cash based place than credit card. Yes you can use credit card in some places, but the majority will likely be cash, so it's handy to figure out how you'll have enough cash on hand before you travel. Cash Passport (if your bank offers them) is a good option (minimal fees). Also not every ATM will work with foreign bank cards so an easy tip is to remember 7Elevens have foreign card friendly ATM's. - SAFETY
In general, Japan is a very safe place. Women can walk around at night unaccompanied and catch trains without worrying. It's really quite nice to see given we don't have that in a lot of cities. You should always be careful of course, but you will observe a lot more women out in groups at night. Crime is minimal in Japan also. There are very heavy penalties and the culture respects the law. You'll even see vending machines with beer and cigarettes available - those under age simply do not use them. - VENDING MACHINES
Segway from above - Vending machines are EVERYWHERE. Even in amongst apartment blocks. Coffee, tea, juice, ice cream.... it's all available. And as mentioned, you'll find beer, highballs and cigarettes in some as well. They are usually competitively priced also. - SHOES OFF PLEASE
In a lot of places you will be required to take off your shoes before entering. Shoes are considered quite dirty and are thus left out of certain areas. This can include dining, in change rooms... definitely in someone's house. Don't worry as you will either be instructed by your host, or you will see shoes lined up nicely before a step/mat or something. So maybe leave socks with holes at home haha. - HAND WIPES BEFORE MEALS
When you eat out, you will be provided with a moist towel before your meal. This is for cleansing your hands, and to be used throughout your meal when you need to wipe your hands. Again with the cleanliness - given you're out and about touching escalator rails, public transport etc, it's nice to cleanse the hands before a meal. - FACE MASKS (like a surgical mask)
You'll see people walking around everywhere wearing these. It's actually a very respectful altruistic action - they are ensuring that they do not get others sick. In Japan if you are unwell you wear a face mask to minimise the spread of your germs. It is very polite. - CATCHING THE TRAIN
Catching the train is a very polite affair, with everyone lining up at specific spots (they are marked) in two orderly lines. People rarely "push in", and they always wait for exiting passengers to hop off the train before entering. Whilst on the train, noise is kept to a minimum out of politeness to other passengers. (Note: the two lines is a bit different during peak time!)
Also - where there is bench-type seating, if there is space for another passenger to sit, everyone on the bench will shuffle along to ensure there is enough space. - PERSONAL SPACE
People in Japan seem very aware of personal space and rarely invade it. Unlike a lot of other countries, you won't often get bumped by another person, and if you do they are very apologetic. People usually leave an appropriate amount of space between themselves and others (again - this is different in peak hour!) on the train, on escalators... anywhere really. - TOILETS
You'll notice the toilets in public places/restaurants/shops/hotels etc generally have some additional options for cleansing, such as "bidet", "shower" and the polite "sound" to mask your toiletting noise. They often have instructions attached, so you will become familiar with them quickly. Also if there are slippers in the toilet, they are "toilet slippers" - not for wear out of the toilet! They stay in that zone only. - CHANGE ROOMS
As previously mentioned, you are often required to take your shoes off before entering a clothing change room. In addition, if you are trying on tops, you are asked to put on a 'face shield' which is a mesh face cover that stops any make-up etc staining the top that you are trying on. - HOTELS
Generally the hotels will provide you with amenities such as toothbrush/paste, razor, body wash, hand wash, shampoo/conditioner. Best to bring your own shower cap. The hotels also usually provide you with what looks like a big night gown shirt - a long buttoned up shirt for wear each evening - this is replaced each day similar to towels.
Hotels will ask you to hand your key in to reception every time you leave the room. This saves from housekeeping accidentally walking in when you are still in your room (and I'm sure has other purposes but that was the one that occurred to me). It also saves you from lugging the key around with you and potentially losing it. - TAX
When shopping, keep in mind that tax is not generally included in the advertised price. You will see the price + tax upon purchase. - PICTURES OF FOOD
A handy feature of most restaurants/food establishments is a very detailed set of pictures of each meal item you can order. Quite often there are also plastic fake versions that you can see too. This makes it so that there are no surprises and given the food is always beautifully prepared, you do get what you ordered :) - VISITING AN ONSEN (HOT SPRINGS)
This could probably be a whole post on it's own, but I'll just add a couple of tips here. Firstly - Japanese onsen's are separated by gender: because you bathe nude. Most places will have some kind of instructions for you beforehand but basically you go in to the area for your gender, pop your clothes into a locker (and wear the locker key around your wrist). Towels are provided and if you would like to be modest you can cover yourself by wrapping it around you or holding it lengthwise on the front of the body. Please note though that towels DO NOT GO IN TO THE BATHING WATER WITH YOU.
You then head to the bathing area (you'll see shampoo, body wash, little stools to sit on in individual bays). Pop your towel aside and give yourself a full scrub/shampoo/condition. There is usually toothbrush/paste and exfoliating cloths around as well if you want to use them.
After fully cleansing and rinsing yourself of soap, you can head in to the bathing areas/saunas. If you have long hair, tie it up so it isn't going all over the place in the water. As mentioned, don't let the towel go in the water. Either place it on the side of the pool area, or fold it and wear it on your head. Or wrap it around your hair. - PAYING FOR THINGS
Probably should have mentioned this next to cash/tax etc.. but anyway... when you are paying for something, there will be a little tray on the counter that you should put the money in to. It's usually flattish, just a bit bigger than the size of cash notes. You place your money/card/coins on there, the attendant picks it up and will hand you your change either back in to the dish, or in your hand. Basically you don't just pass cash from your hand to their hand.
That's all for now - I'll add some pictures and any more tips I think of later :) Hope you find this helpful.
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