🇯🇵 Japan vs 🇨🇳 China

Buy a Suica or Pasmo IC card at any major station. It works on all trains, subways, and most buses nationwide.

⛔Some rural buses and regional lines only accept cash. Always carry some yen as backup.

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China has a world-class high-speed rail network and extensive city metros — use the 12306.cn app or Trip.com to book trains.

⛔During Golden Week (October 1–7) and Chinese New Year / Spring Festival, trains and transport are extremely congested and tickets sell out weeks in advance — plan and book well ahead.

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Japan has excellent hospitals but they are expensive for uninsured tourists. Always bring travel insurance. Many hospitals do not speak English.

⛔Some common medications (e.g. certain cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine, codeine, or stimulants) are illegal in Japan even with a prescription from another country. Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs list before traveling.

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Major cities have good hospitals, but use international or foreigner-friendly clinics to avoid severe language barriers.

⛔Chinese public hospitals are overwhelmed and operate almost entirely in Mandarin — attempting to use one without a translator in an emergency can result in dangerous miscommunication.

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Japan has strict drug laws, zero tolerance for drunk driving, and laws against jaywalking in some areas. Ignorance is not a defense.

⛔Japan has very limited legal support in English. If arrested, immediately request to contact your embassy. You can be held for up to 23 days without charge.

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Respect China's strict laws: drug offenses carry the death penalty, criticizing the government is illegal, and the Great Firewall blocks most Western apps — use a VPN.

⛔VPN use is technically illegal in China under Chinese law, though enforcement against tourists is rare. Using a VPN remains the only practical way to access most Western internet services — download and set it up before you arrive.

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Dial 110 for police, 120 for an ambulance, and 119 for fire.

⛔Emergency call operators typically speak Mandarin only — without Chinese language ability or a local contact who can call on your behalf, getting help quickly can be very difficult.

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Japan is generally relaxed about clothing, but remove shoes when entering homes and many temples. Dress modestly at religious sites.

⛔Many traditional onsen (hot spring baths) refuse entry to guests with visible tattoos. Check the policy before visiting.

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Drinking age is 20. Alcohol is sold in convenience stores 24/7. Drinking in public is legal. Drunk driving has zero tolerance.

⛔Zero tolerance drunk driving: 0.03% BAC limit. Even a small amount can result in arrest, heavy fines, and deportation for tourists.

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Bargaining is expected at markets and tourist shops but is completely inappropriate in malls, supermarkets, or restaurants.

⛔Purchasing counterfeit goods (fake designer clothing, handbags, watches) at tourist markets is illegal and customs agencies in your home country may confiscate items or impose fines at the border.

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Photography is generally free in public. Avoid photographing people without permission, and check rules inside temples and museums.

⛔Photographing geisha or maiko in Kyoto's Gion district without permission has resulted in local photography ordinances. Violations can result in fines.

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Most tourist sites allow photography, but photographing military installations, airports (outside designated zones), government buildings, and police operations is strictly prohibited.

⛔Photography near military facilities, police operations, or in restricted areas of Tibet and Xinjiang can lead to detention, confiscation of your phone or camera, and deletion of your images by authorities.

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Most shops, restaurants, and convenience stores are open 7 days a week. Convenience stores never close. Banks close on weekends.

⛔During Golden Week and Obon (mid-August), Japan is packed with domestic travelers. Prices spike and reservations fill months in advance.

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China is commercially open 7 days a week, but government offices are closed on weekends and Golden Week holidays cause massive nationwide disruption.

⛔The Great Wall, Zhangjiajie, West Lake, and other iconic sites become dangerously overcrowded during Golden Week — entry is restricted by timed tickets that sell out; book well in advance or avoid these dates entirely.

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Taxis are metered, honest, and widely available, but expensive — use the Japan Taxi, S.RIDE, or Uber app to book.

⛔Taxis in Japan are very expensive compared to most countries. For long distances, trains or expressway buses are far more economical.

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Use the Didi app for rideshare — it is reliable, metered, and has an English interface; street taxis work but communicating your destination without Chinese is difficult.

⛔Unlicensed taxi touts at airports and major train stations frequently overcharge tourists by 5–10 times the fair rate — always use the official taxi queue or a Didi booking.

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Never drink tap water in China — always drink bottled or boiled water.

⛔Drinking unboiled tap water in China risks gastrointestinal illness — this is a consistent risk throughout the country, not just in rural areas.

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Japan is heavily cash-based — always carry yen. 7-Eleven (Seven Bank) ATMs are the most reliable for foreign cards.

⛔Many restaurants, shrines, local markets, and rural businesses are strictly cash-only. Never assume card payment is accepted outside major tourist spots.

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Use Bank of China, ICBC, or HSBC ATMs for the most reliable foreign card access — cash is still necessary for markets and small vendors.

⛔Many Chinese ATMs outside major bank branches will decline foreign Visa/Mastercard entirely — always carry enough cash for a full day and never rely on finding a working ATM at short notice.

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Buy a tourist SIM or eSIM at the airport on arrival — data coverage is excellent nationwide.

⛔Data-only SIMs cannot make or receive calls. If you need a Japanese phone number for hotel bookings or emergencies, confirm the SIM plan includes voice.

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Buy a local SIM at the airport from China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom — but install and configure your VPN before you land, as local SIMs are subject to the Great Firewall.

⛔If you do not set up a VPN before landing, you will be unable to use Google Maps, WhatsApp, Gmail, Instagram, YouTube, or most Western apps for your entire trip — this is a critical preparation step.

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Japan uses Type A plugs (flat 2-pin) at 100V — the lowest voltage in the world. Check your device labels before use.

⛔Using incompatible appliances at Japan's 100V can damage them or cause them to overheat. Always check the voltage rating on your device before plugging in.

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The most common tourist scams are the tea ceremony trick, the art student hustle, and taxi overcharging — stay alert near major tourist sites.

⛔The tea ceremony scam has resulted in tourists being presented bills of CNY 2,000–10,000 (USD 300–1,400) and being aggressively pressured to pay — if you fall victim, contact the tourist police immediately.

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Japan is one of the safest countries in the world for tourists — violent crime is essentially zero.

⛔Natural disasters pose a genuine risk in Japan. Familiarize yourself with evacuation routes at your accommodation and keep travel insurance that covers emergency evacuation.

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China is very safe by international standards — violent crime against tourists is extremely rare, but stay alert to scams and petty theft in crowded tourist areas.

⛔Political demonstrations and civil unrest are rare but when they do occur, the security response is swift and overwhelming — foreign tourists caught in the vicinity may be detained for questioning regardless of involvement.

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Okinawa has world-class tropical beaches; mainland beaches are popular in summer but water is cold on the Sea of Japan side.

⛔Habu sea snakes inhabit Okinawa waters and are venomous. Box jellyfish appear in late summer. Seek medical attention immediately if stung or bitten.

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Hainan Island (Sanya) is China's premier beach destination, but prepare for very crowded conditions during Chinese public holidays.

⛔Some Chinese beaches lack consistent lifeguard patrols and rip currents can be strong — swim between marked flags and observe local safety warnings.

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Drive on the left. An International Driving Permit (IDP) plus your original license is required. Traffic laws are strictly enforced.

⛔Driving in central Tokyo and Osaka is strongly discouraged — parking is extremely expensive, one-way systems are complex, and public transport is far faster.

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Foreign driving licenses are not valid in China and tourist car rental is nearly impossible — use Didi or hire a driver instead.

⛔Attempting to drive in China on a foreign license is illegal and will invalidate any travel or vehicle insurance — do not attempt to rent or drive a vehicle without a valid Chinese driving permit.

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Chinese food has enormous regional diversity — point at photo menus or neighboring tables' dishes, and street food is excellent value but choose busy stalls.

⛔Shellfish and raw seafood in inland areas far from the coast carry a higher food safety risk — stick to cooked dishes in non-coastal cities if you have a sensitive stomach.

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Remove shoes and hats before entering Buddhist temples, dress modestly at mosques, and always observe silence during active worship.

⛔In Xinjiang, mosques and Islamic sites are under heightened government surveillance and some may be closed to foreign visitors or subject to restrictions — research current access conditions before planning visits to religious sites in the region.

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Spring (March–May) for cherry blossoms and autumn (September–November) for fall foliage are the most popular and beautiful seasons.

⛔Typhoon season runs from June to October, with August and September being peak risk months. Check weather forecasts and have travel insurance that covers typhoon-related cancellations.

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China's vast size means no single best time, but spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are optimal for Beijing and most of eastern China.

⛔Chinese New Year / Spring Festival is the largest annual human migration on earth — if your travel dates overlap, expect extreme congestion, dramatically inflated prices, and many closed businesses.

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