Japan has long fascinated travelers.
But many of its most famous attributes, from its cuisine to its national culture of civility, can be initially puzzling even to outsiders.
To help travelers bridge the cultural gap, CNBC Travel asked frequent travelers for their single biggest piece of advice when visiting Japan.
1. Speak quietly and take your trash home
“Japanese culture is about respecting the environment and the people around you. Don’t talk on the phone on public transport or in close quarters with other people.
Also, don’t eat while walking, as tasting food is an important expression of respect. Instead, sit back and enjoy every bite.
Also, be prepared to carry trash around the city while traveling or sightseeing. There is little chance of finding a trash can. Locals usually carry small bags to carry the day’s garbage with them until they get home. Japan is very clean and the public toilets are also cleaner compared to other countries. Basically, try not to leave any traces. ”
— New Jersey-based Tyler Monaghan is an assistant golf caddy manager who is married to a Japanese man. He has traveled to Japan three times for a total of 155 days.
2. Punctuality is important (same goes for jazz clubs)
“Trains are very punctual, so two minutes is a big deal. If you don’t arrive at the exact time, it’s a different train. If you miss a train in big cities like Osaka or Tokyo, the next one is within minutes. The train will arrive, but in rural areas it may take several hours or tomorrow.
Trains in many cities have plenty of time to stop and board, but trains in Japan arrive and depart quickly. “Two minutes is a lot,” said architect Henry Rose.
Source: Oliver Horowitz
Also, be aware of the concept of “last train.”whole Both public and private trains close between approximately midnight and 5 a.m., but be aware that it may seem a little earlier in larger cities. In rural areas, it may be faster. Get ready to take a taxi. Or, if you’re interested, explore this nocturnal world, perhaps at a jazz club that stays open until the first train. In large cities, they are entire economies unto themselves. ”
— Seattle-based architect Henry Rose has visited Japan more than 10 times.
3. Get a Japanese business card to meet people
“Exchanging ‘meishi'” It is a glorious and serious tradition in Japan. The cards are presented with both hands and a deep bow. This is also one of the most unexpected and fun icebreakers you can use to meet someone new.
Author Oliver Horowitz (right) stands next to Horowitz’s master, a man examining business cards.
Source: Oliver Horowitz
Get a card printed entirely in Japanese. You can use Google Translate for translation. Kinko’s staff in all major cities in Japan will guide you through the entire process. After this, the locals will be surprised and absolutely delighted that you have prepared a celebrity. During my last trip to Japan, I had 100 cards printed in Kyoto. I handed it out for the rest of the trip, always with a smile on my face. ”
— Oliver Horowitz, I’m a travel writer living in New York and have been to Japan three times.
4. Bring some fun socks.
“Being barefoot is a big no-no in Japan. Travelers should expect to take off their shoes frequently in Japan, and should always wear socks. Shoes may also be taken off in unexpected places, such as restaurants.
Travelers may want to consider tabi, a Japanese split-toed sock worn with lace shoes dating back to the 1400s.
Tina Horn Eye Stock | Getty Images
It is also common for slippers to be placed at the entrance to public restrooms, with the expectation that restroom users will use them and return them promptly. Be sure to pack and wear only your best (clean, hole-free) socks while in Japan. If you have a collection of fun or interesting socks, wear them in Japan where you can see and admire them in person. ”
— Jolayne Pfeiffer, a school administrator based in Aspen, Colorado. In addition to spending his junior high and high school years in Yokosuka, he has traveled to Japan nine times..
5. Don’t knock on convenience stores
“Rest assured, the only similarity these little oases have to American oases is in name! Stores like 7-Eleven and Lawson are impeccably clean and contain some of the go-to items I’m looking for. , we have almost everything you need every time:
- There is a wide selection of onigiri, which are sandwich-sized triangles of rice wrapped in seaweed and stuffed with salmon, tuna, eggs, pickled plums, and more.
Participants sample rice balls at a 7-Eleven Japan product conference in Tokyo on January 23, 2024. Staff and suppliers gathered to discuss the taste, texture, and ingredients of Japanese rice balls, one of 7-Eleven’s most important products. Billions are sold every year.
Noriko Hayashi | Bloomberg | Getty Images
- Coffee, especially at 7-Eleven. Automated, state-of-the-art machinery grinds the beans, giving you the best coffee you’ve ever had, with plenty of options for temperature, strength, milk, sweetener, flavor, and more.
- A small bottle of flavored vitamin C shot called You-C1000 came in very handy on a winter backcountry skiing adventure in Hokkaido. Available in delicious flavors like apple, orange, and lemon, it’s a convenient way to get your daily dose of vitamin C. ”
— Colorado-based leadership coach Jeffrey Cole has visited Japan four times, from Hokkaido in the north to Miyako Island in the south.
6. Hire a guide even if you don’t think you need one.
“Language and cultural barriers are real, and locals can show you places you would never see on your own.
I did it at Tsukiji market. I’ve been there about 5 times so far, but finally being guided by my grandfather, I felt a whole new world.I’ve done this too Akihabara Electric Town I also participated in many gourmet tours. ”
— Miles Ashton be based in chicago An entrepreneur who has visited Japan more than 10 times, including living in Tokyo for 9 months.
7. Shopping at Tokyu Hands
“Not only is the layout great, with different departments on each floor, but the products are diverse and unique.We have 60 stores nationwide and focus on hobby, home improvement, and lifestyle products.
A great place to find affordable, non-touristy gifts. In addition to camping supplies, we also have the best pens, paper, and organizers. We have everything that is small, efficient and practical.
Tokyu Hands, which has rebranded to Hands, is known for selling themed home goods and beauty novelty items.
Source: Oliver Horowitz
Two of the coolest things I bought were a collapsible shoji lamp, a flower-shaped ice pack to put under a hat, and a circular cooler carry to hold a U-shaped neck ring to freeze. It’s a case. ”
— Chris Beyer, owner of New York-based Destroyer Park Golf Course. She has traveled to Japan over 20 times so far. I lived there as a child and teenager. Chris’s father Dick “The Destroyer” Bayerwas a famous wrestler in Japan..
Editor’s note: Answers have been edited for length and clarity.