10 things foreign travellers wished they had known before visiting Japan

photo by puffyjet

The number of foreign travellers coming to Japan is increasing every year with 2014 seeing a record number of 13, 410,000 visitors. The weakening of the Japanese yen has contributed to Japan’s extreme popularity. However the unique culture of these islands still frequently shocks visitors. This article collates the ‘I wish I’d known that’ comments made by past foreign travellers to Japan.

1, The ATM won’t take my card!!!!?

One major problem for an extremely high number of foreign visitors to Japan, particularly those from Europe, America and Australia, is the ATM machine. Of course, there are plenty of ATMs in banks all over Japan. The problem is most of them will not allow withdrawals using foreign bankcards or credit cards. For travellers from overseas, this is a real nightmare. Suddenly strapped for cash can make you feel very lost in this remote island nation.
But there is no need to worry. In whatever part of Japan you find yourself, there are 7-11 convenience stores and Post Office ATMs that will accept foreign cards. Post office ATMs are only available during business hours but the 7-11 stores are open 24 hours, 7 days a week.

2, Always carry cash around!

Paying in cash is often less a choice than the only way you can pay for things in Japan. Credit cards, used so commonly in foreign countries, are not used regularly here. Recently however, hotels, large Japanese-style ryokan lodgings, department stores and large supermarkets have begun to accept credit cards. But many places like small stores and restaurants still only accept cash, so it is better to be prepared and carry money with you. Also, please note that sending packages from the post office can only be paid for in cash.
This long tradition of paying by cash at least ensures you never exceed your debit limits, and that the proprietors all know they are getting their money – smiles all round!

3, Carry a map or install a maps-app on your phone

Inconveniently for visitors, only main roads in Japan have street names. As soon as you head down a sideroad, there are no names to follow. Instead, districts are divided into blocks. Each block has a number which corresponds to their Japanese address. Depending on what part of the world you are from, this can be a really difficult system to follow and work out where you want to go. Either carrying a map or installing a maps-app on your phone will make your journey a lot easier. Remember of course that even if you get to where you want to go, you still have to work out how to get back to your lodgings!

4, Mobile phone usage

You can use your own mobile phone on a trip to Japan by setting it to international roaming but this can be extremely expensive. Because of this, you may think it is best to buy a SIM card in Japan. However in order to prevent fraud using mobiles, if you want to buy a SIM or to enter into a mobile phone contract, you are required to show evidence of an address in Japan.
You can rent a mobile phone at the airport for domestic use. Alternatively you could buy a DATA-only SIM card at the airport, or purchase or rent a Pocket WiFi. Then if you want to make calls, you can download a free calls app to your smartphone.

5, The chances of an earthquake or natural disaster

This is a serious subject and important to know about. It is a well-known fact around the world that Japan is an earthquake-prone country. In the last 20 years the Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake in 1995 and the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 caused particularly tragic destruction. While not a daily event, there have also been other strong earthquakes in this time. Not only earthquakes, tsunami, flooding, typhoons and volcanic eruptions can also be a danger.
In the event of any natural disaster, the important thing is obtaining accurate information and a speedy evacuation when necessary. The Japan Tourism Agency has given guidelines and instructions to hotels and authorities in tourist destinations for helping foreign travellers with evacuation in the event of a natural disaster.
In addition, an app designed for foreign tourists called Safety Tips for Travellers has been released. The app provides updates and evacuation information to foreign travellers in 80 different languages. For those with smart phones, we strongly recommend you install this app before you travel.

6, Masks

In winter and at the start of spring many residents put on large masks. Please do not worry though. The masks do not mean there is an epidemic outbreak. The masks can be worn to prevent catching a cold from other people, to stop passing on a cold to others, or to counter the increased pollen count at the start of spring. Many people in Japan wear a mask when they catch a cold to stop the spread of germs. Having said that, amongst the mask wearers there may also be a few ladies for whom putting make-up on was just too much bother…….

7, No trash cans in the street.

The shortage of bins can cause foreign visitors as much trouble as finding the right ATM. Even with so few bins though, the streets are still very clean. This appears to shock many foreign visitors. Why are the streets so clean? The answer seems to be that putting out bins encourages people to dispose of their rubbish in the street. The streets are kept cleaner by taking the bins away and encouraging people to take their rubbish home.
One treasured spot with a trash can for public use is on the platform of train stations. But going to a train station just to throw rubbish away hardly seems worth it. For visitors we recommend taking your trash back for the bins in your lodgings.

8, Take shoes off before going inside, and do not walk around barefoot

People in many countries walk around outside without any shoes on, but I have almost never seen anyone in Japan in bare feet. Perhaps this is no surprise; it has long been traditional in Japan for people to take their shoes off when entering a room for both religious and hygiene reasons. Removing shoes stops the spread of dirt from outside into the home. If you walked into a home barefoot, it would be the same as walking in with your shoes on.
These days of course, there are restaurants and hotels where patrons keep their footwear on, however homes and many shops and other buildings still preserve the custom of taking shoes off.

9, Menus are only written in Japanese

With the exception of foreign-owned chains like MacDonald’s and Starbucks, not many Japanese restaurants have foreign language menus. This is a real challenge for foreign visitors who cannot read Japanese. However many places have photos of each dish on their menu; choosing one of these restaurants will make your life a lot easier.
Note that the meat dishes in izakaya bars and yakiniku restaurants can be very fatty. If you don’t like this kind of food, going to one of those establishments might be a bit of a gamble.

10, What should I do if I get sick?

The threat of sudden illness on a vacation is a real fear. As a foreign traveller, both consultation and treatment must be paid for out of your own pocket. This can cost a lot of money.
There are a couple of things you can do to ensure you don’t have too much trouble if you do injure yourself or get suddenly sick:

Sign up for travel insurance and carry the proof of insurance around with you.
Many medical establishments do not accept credit cards. Be sure to keep some cash on you.

This is a list of medical emergency contacts for English-speakers.

Summary

After reading all of these ‘I wish I’d known that’ pieces you might think a trip to Japan is more trouble than it is worth, but that is not true. Good planning prevents problems later. Use this article as a guide, and please have a wonderful trip to Japan.