5 things to know before exploring Japan

There is a lot to things to know before heading to Japan, so narrowing it down to some of the key ones is quite useful. Here are five general things to know before preparing and exploring Japan.

Cash is king – We are so used to using credit cards for everything (especially in the West), but cash is still king in Japan. A lot of places, especially small restaurants, stores, and even cabs, they will only take cash. So before you go to Japan and even before you leave the airport, make sure to get some Yen or may not be able to pay for items during your trip.

Everything is on time – Most Americans are used to planes, cars, and even friends usually being a few minutes late for events (or even later). However in Japan, this is not the case. If it is stated that a train is arriving at 5 PM, it will be there at 5 PM. The Japanese mean what they say when scheduling a time, so don’t bank on having a little extra time.

Trash cans are hard to find – If you are walking around the streets of Tokyo or any city in Japan, finding a trash can is going to be hard. You can usually spot a trash bin outside a train station or at the local convenience store, but they are hard to find around the city so plan ahead. Limit your trash during the day or make sure you find a store with a trash can nearby or you may end up hauling your trash around all day.

Don’t tip! – This is straight forward, don’t tip! From restaurants to shuttle services, don’t tip, it is not required and it is even considered akward rude by the Japanese to offer them extra cash. Just pay your bill and then move along with your day, there is not need to search for some extra cash. The gratuity is already going to be included in the total price, so don’t feel weird about not leaving or handing anyone the extra money.

Follow the flow of people – When moving around the train stations, the streets, or anywhere around Japan, follow the flow of the people. 99% of Japanese people are going to follow the rules and the cross walks, so if you see everyone stopping, stop and just wait a minute. It’s how such a large city is able to maintain just some basic order, so follow the flow and you will be able to make your way around the large cities without any issue.

BONUS: The metro trains in Tokyo stop operations at midnight and won’t resume until 6 or 7 AM for the morning commute. If you are trying to jump onto that last train, be aware that they can be quite packed as everyone tries to make the last train. Or if you are out late that evening, you will need to find another way back to your hotel which can cost a lot of money (taxi).