Japan Tips

Check your medications

Some everyday American medications are actually banned in Japan, so give anything you're bringing a quick check before you pack. It's a customs rule, so worth the two minutes.

Leave the beef jerky at home

Beef jerky's a classic travel snack, but you can't bring meat into Japan from abroad, jerky included. It's a strict quarantine rule, so eat it before you land or leave it at home.

Sort out connectivity

An eSIM you switch on when you land is usually the easiest route. Check with your carrier first that your phone's unlocked and eligible; if it isn't, a rented pocket Wi-Fi does the job. There's free Wi-Fi at plenty of stations and convenience stores, but having your own makes life a lot easier.

Have your suitcase forwarded

Luggage forwarding (takkyūbin) is cheap and sends your bags hotel to hotel, usually in a day or two. It saves you dragging them through stations that are mostly stairs and tight platforms, and it's kinder to the commuters packed onto those trains. If you do keep your luggage with you, take a taxi rather than the train (and on the shinkansen, oversized bags need a reserved space, which is limited).

Expect it to be crowded

Come ready for crowds, especially in spring in Kyoto. Trains, buses, and the big sights can get shoulder to shoulder, sometimes literally pressed against the person beside you. It's normal and perfectly safe, just a lot to take in at first, so it helps to expect it going in.

The JR Pass probably isn't worth it

It's jumped a lot in price, and for a Kyoto-based trip the math rarely adds up. We'd just pay as you go.

Taxis and rideshares can be worth it

Kyoto's sights are spread out, and some are a slow haul by bus. If the map's showing a long bus ride, a taxi or Uber across town is often quicker, well worth it, and a nice break for your feet.

Comfortable walking shoes

You'll easily rack up 20,000+ steps a day, so bring a comfy pair you've already broken in.

Wear your bag in front on trains

On busy trains it's considerate to bring your backpack or bag around to your front, or set it by your feet, so it isn't bumping the people behind you. On a packed rush-hour car especially, everyone does it.

Keep it quiet on trains and buses

Even when they're packed, trains and buses stay noticeably quiet. People save phone calls for later and keep conversations low, so it's a nice one to match.

Lines are taken seriously, especially at stations

Queuing matters here, especially at train stations, so just find the line and join it. Let everyone off the train first before you step on, it seems obvious, but it keeps things moving. You'll usually see markers on the platform showing where to line up, and the trick is to line up beside the doors rather than in front of them, so people can get off unobstructed.

Paying can work a few different ways

Sometimes you pay at the table, sometimes at the register on your way out. The one that catches first-timers off guard: spots with a ticket machine by the door. You order and pay there, hand the ticket over, then take a seat.

Asking for the check

Cross your index fingers into an X; that's the standard signal and it's understood just about anywhere (the Western air-signing motion often isn't). Out loud, “che-ku” works, or “o-kai-kei” is the actual word. Best to skip the word “bill”, it sounds a lot like bīru, which is beer, so you might end up with one.

Otoshi

At a lot of izakaya, a little dish you didn't order shows up. That's otoshi, a small seating charge that comes as food, not a mistake.

What you see is what you get

Some places are happy to tweak a dish, and some let you build your own, but plenty don't, so it's easiest to come ready to enjoy things the way they're made.

Skip omakase if you like to choose

It means “I'll leave it to you,” so the chef decides each course, and you enjoy what's presented to you.

Sharing depends on the place

Izakaya, yakiniku, and hot pot are built for sharing; ramen, soba, and sushi are usually one bowl or set each. Most places also expect everyone to order something, so two people splitting a single meal isn't really done. As always, it depends where you are.

Order what you'll finish

You usually can't box up leftovers, and you won't want to carry them around while exploring, so order a bit at a time and add on as you go. You can almost always order more, and there's always a konbini, a food stall, or another spot nearby if you're still hungry afterward.

Finishing your rice

Finishing your rice down to the last grain is a quiet sign of respect here, from the idea that no grain should go to waste. Of course you're not expected to force it if you're full, but it's a nice thing to keep in mind.

Don't sleep on konbini

Convenience stores and grocery stores are genuinely great for a quick bite. Try all three big chains, 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart (there are others too), and pick a favorite. Everyone ends up with one.

The floor is remarkably high

We can't promise you'll never have a bad meal, but it's uncommon. Skip the line you saw on your feed and step into the quiet place next door instead; it's usually just as good, without the wait, the crowd, or the markup.

Grab an ekiben before the shinkansen (駅弁)

Ekiben (駅弁) means “station boxed lunch,” a bento sold right at the station. If you're taking the shinkansen, pick one up before you board, there are whole shops of them, often with regional specialties. Eating on board the shinkansen is perfectly normal (unlike regular commuter trains), so choose your own and enjoy it as the scenery rolls by.

Don't stab your chopsticks into your rice

Don't stab/stick your chopsticks straight up in a bowl of rice. It mirrors an offering made at funerals, so it reads as both rude and unlucky. When you're not using them, rest them on the chopstick holder or on the edge of your dish instead.

Go ahead and slurp your noodles

Slurping ramen, soba, and udon is completely normal here and not rude at all. There's a reason for it: pulling in air along with the noodles cools them and carries the aroma and flavor across your palate, so they actually taste better, and it lets you eat them hot before they soften in the broth.

Tipping

There's no tipping here, and no one expects it. Warm, attentive service is just the norm, so you don't need to add anything.

Trash cans barely exist

Public trash cans are surprisingly rare, so carry a small bag and hang onto your trash until you come across one.

Pack a hand towel

Public restrooms often don't have paper towels, and now and then no soap either, so a small hand towel and a bit of hand sanitizer are worth keeping in your bag.

You may meet a squat toilet

Alongside Japan's famous high-tech toilets, you'll still find squat toilets in some older buildings.

Tattoos and onsen

A lot of onsen and public baths still don't allow tattoos. Worth checking ahead, or looking for tattoo-friendly spots.

Dressing for temples and shrines

Wear what you're comfortable in, always. In general, showing a lot of skin, low-cut tops especially, is simply less common in Japan, so a little more coverage is a kind touch, at temples and shrines in particular as these are sacred spaces. A light layer you can slip on does it.

Shoes come off more than you'd expect

You'll be taking your shoes off more than you'd think, at temples, some restaurants, and traditional inns. Wear socks you don't mind showing off, and shoes you can slip on and off easily.

Keep some cash on you

Japan's more cashless than it used to be, but temples, shrines, small shops, and some restaurants still aren't. Entry fees, charms, and stamps are usually cash only, and if you run low, ATMs at 7-Eleven and post offices take foreign cards.

A little language goes a long way

In busier cities like Kyoto, Tokyo, and Osaka there's plenty of English signage and some people speak a little, but it's kind not to assume everyone does, especially in smaller towns and the countryside. A translation app and a few basic phrases go a long way, and a small bow is always a warm hello.

Pace yourself in the big cities

Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo are amazing, but they can be a lot: noise, crowds, and plenty to take in. Try not to cram your days full; a looser plan with breaks built in tends to make for a better trip.

Tread lightly in the busy spots

Kyoto especially, along with busy parts of Tokyo and Osaka, has felt the weight of heavy tourism lately, and so much of what draws people there is where locals actually live and work. Nothing to overthink: keep to public streets, keep your voice down, take your trash with you, and ask before photographing anyone (in Kyoto's Gion, photos of geiko and maiko, often called geisha, aren't permitted). Treading lightly is what keeps these places open and welcoming.

Tax-free shopping

Japan's new tax-free system kicks in November 1, 2026, so by our April 2027 wedding it'll be “pay now, refund at the airport.” Spend ¥5,000+ at a tax-free shop and you pay full price, then claim the tax back at a terminal in the departure lobby before you check your bags, with your passport. The catch: the goods have to leave Japan unused, so you can use them, but you'll lose the refund if you do. Keep them handy and do the refund step before your bag is checked; customs may ask to see them.

Look for local and handmade

Big chains like Don Quijote are handy for bulk buys and quick gifts, but the souvenirs you'll actually treasure tend to come from little neighborhood shops and local makers. Something handmade, by someone who really cares about it, means more, for you and for them.

Big stores can be a lot

Places like Don Quijote are an experience in themselves: bright, loud, busy, and maze-like, especially in crowded areas at peak times. Worth taking a breath before you go in.

Golden Week runs April 29 to May 5

It's the busiest week for domestic travel in Japan, when trains, flights, and hotels across the country fill up and prices jump. Worth knowing if you're extending your trip after the wedding.

The cherry blossoms will be finished

By our wedding the cherry blossoms will have handed off to aomomiji, the fresh green maple. The blossom crowds will have eased by then, though spring's a popular time in Kyoto, so expect it to still be busy.