photo by Natee P
Japan has a lot of different experiences to offer from changing seasons with seasonal attractions to Japanese cuisine and a variety of unique cultural activities. But you might find that things are not exactly as you imagined before your visit. What are the differences between Japan and other countries? Let’s look into some of the complaints by foreign tourists who visited Japan for the first time.
Public Wi-Fi is useless
It has been often pointed out that Japanese cities are not equipped with good public Wi-Fi yet. This seems to be quite frustrating for some tourists. Indeed, nowadays the Internet connection is vital for communicating with friends on social networks and gaining information.
So, how can I get there?
Japan has widespread public transport which enables you to go everywhere by trains and buses, as long as your destination is not in a very remote area. However, foreign tourists seem to find it difficult to gain information about transport in their languages.
How much does it cost to get there?
Now you manage to find where to get on, transfer and get off the trains. But how much does it cost overall to get there? Some tourists find it difficult to find this too.
How to use buses and trains and how to pay
It is sometimes difficult even for Japanese people to find the destination of a bus, where it stops before the terminus, and which platform it leaves from. It can be even harder for foreign tourists who do not read Japanese very well. You won’t get lost in a small station, but when it comes to a huge station with multiple lines like Shinjuku station, it can be very complicated. It is not unusual to see puzzled foreign tourists in Shinjuku station.
The signposts and maps are only in Japanese
It is still the case in Japan that most signposts and maps are only provided in Japanese outside of major cities. Some names of stations, address and shop names can have a mixture of alphabets and English vocabulary, which causes extra effort in searching online. This issue should be addressed urgently.
Not many places accept credit cards
It may be common in some countries to pay everything by card, even for a small amount of money. Unfortunately, credit cards are not accepted everywhere in Japan, where cash is still the major mode of payment. Small-scaled shops often do not accept card payment. If you are not prepared for this, you may not be able to pay for anything despite the fact that you have plenty of savings in your bank account. So, be aware that you are likely to be in need of cash.
Exchanging currency is not as easy
Unlike some other countries, “yen” is the only currency valid in Japan. You can exchange your foreign currencies either at the airports, money changers and the banks in big cities. There are not many places which accept Travellers Cheques, except for hotels and places with many foreign customers. It would be advisable to have your money exchanged to yen when you can.
Withdrawal of money can be troublesome
In Japan, it can be difficult to find ATMs which allow you to withdraw money with your oversea bank cards and credit cards. You can find those ATMs in some convenience stores and other places may have ATMs affiliated with the financial network of your bank. Some foreign tourists seem to find it rather surprising that most ATMs charge you handling fees during the night and on holidays.
Difficulty in finding suitable restaurants for dietary requirements
Japanese people traditionally have little ingredients that are not eaten for religious or customary reasons. Muslims and vegetarians may find it difficult to know where they can have meals suited for their dietary requirements, as not many restaurants label their menus.
Difficulty in ordering food
Except for some tourist-friendly restaurants and family restaurants, many places offer the menu written only in Japanese. Many foreign tourists wish to see at least some photos on the menu and price clearly displayed.
Difficulty in communicating with locals
Partly because of the fact that Japan is an island country, most Japanese people only speak the Japanese language in their daily lives. Although English is one of the core subjects throughout the education system, many people are not good at speaking in English. This is partly because they do not have many opportunities to practice English in their life and also because Japanese are quite shy. But Japanese people tend to be hospitable and willing to help – if you need some help in finding a direction, they are likely to try their best in communicating with you.
Summary
These are the list of common complaints from foreign tourists. Although they know Japan has unique and beautiful culture and customs, they seem to find some aspects can be inconvenient and frustrating. Now that you know what inconvenience you may find in Japan, you won’t be caught in frustrating situations! Be prepared well, and do enjoy your stay in Japan.
date by 外国人旅行者の日本の受入環境に対する不便・不満
