How Things Work in Japan

Tipping is not part of Japanese culture at all. Service staff take enormous pride in doing their job to the highest standard, and offering a tip can actually be seen as insulting — implying they need extra money or did not expect to do their job well. This applies universally: restaurants, taxis, hotels, hair salons, ryokan, tour guides, and all other services. In high-end settings, staff may politely refuse and even chase you down the street to return money you left behind.

Japan has one of the world's most efficient public transport systems. The IC card (Suica or Pasmo) is a rechargeable contactless smart card that works on virtually all trains, subways, and most buses across the country. You can load it with yen at any station machine. iPhones and Android phones support digital Suica via Apple Pay or Google Pay. The JR Pass is a separate product worth buying if you plan long-distance Shinkansen travel — it must be purchased outside Japan.

Japan's healthcare system is world-class in quality. However, as a tourist you are not covered by the national health insurance system, meaning you pay full price. A basic doctor visit costs ¥3,000–¥10,000. Emergencies and hospitalisation can cost hundreds of thousands of yen. Most hospitals, especially outside major cities, have limited English-speaking staff. Tokyo and Osaka have several international clinics specifically for tourists. Pharmacies (薬局, Yakkyoku) are widely available and sell many effective OTC medications.

Japan is generally very safe and law-abiding, but tourists can inadvertently break laws. Drug laws are extremely strict — possession of marijuana or other controlled substances can result in immediate arrest and years in prison, even for tourists. Japan has a near-100% conviction rate once charged. Carrying a pocket knife with a blade over 6cm is illegal in public. There are also laws around photography in certain places. Public drunkenness is tolerated more than in some countries, but causing a disturbance can result in detention.

Japan's emergency services are highly responsive and professional. The police line (110) and ambulance/fire line (119) have basic English operator support in major cities, but response may be slow in rural areas. For tourist-specific help including language support and guidance, use the Japan Tourism Agency's 24/7 multilingual tourist information center. Hospitals will provide emergency care regardless of insurance status, but expect significant bills afterward.

Japan does not have strict religious dress codes for most tourist activities. However, there are important situational rules. At traditional ryokan (inns), you change into a yukata (light robe) provided — walking around the inn in your yukata is expected and normal. At Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, very revealing clothing is considered disrespectful but usually not enforced. The key universal rule is shoes: always remove them when entering private homes, many traditional restaurants (look for a raised floor), and some temple interiors.

Japan has a relatively relaxed attitude toward alcohol consumption. The legal drinking age is 20 (not 18). Alcohol is available 24/7 at convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) and vending machines. Drinking in public places such as parks and streets is entirely legal. Cherry blossom viewing parties (hanami) involve open-air drinking and are a national tradition. However, drunk driving is taken extremely seriously — the legal blood alcohol limit is 0.03% (one of the strictest in the world) and the penalties are severe.

Japan has a completely fixed-price retail culture. Haggling at shops, markets, restaurants, or with taxi drivers is not expected, not practiced, and generally considered rude or at minimum very strange. Prices are what they are. The only partial exception is at some antique markets or second-hand shops where the seller may be open to a polite inquiry about discounts on high-priced items, but even then it should be done gently and the answer is often no. Department store sales staff are trained to give a fixed price and are not authorized to negotiate.

Japan is generally very photography-friendly for tourists. Public spaces, streets, temples, shrines, and scenic areas can almost always be freely photographed. However, inside many museums, art galleries, and some temple interiors, photography is prohibited or limited to certain areas — look for signs or ask staff. There is a strong cultural expectation of privacy around photographing individuals: always ask permission before closely photographing people's faces, especially in traditional neighborhoods like Gion in Kyoto where geisha harassment has led to photography bans on some streets.

Japan operates largely 7 days a week for retail and food. Convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) are open 24/7, 365 days a year — they sell hot food, ATMs, and nearly everything you need. Major department stores and shopping malls often have slightly shorter hours on Sundays. Some smaller local shops may close on Sundays or have irregular hours. Banks are closed on weekends and public holidays, but 7-Eleven ATMs accept most international cards 24/7. Japan has many public holidays (around 16 per year) — on these days, most businesses operate as on a Sunday.

Japan's taxis are among the world's most reliable and honest, with fully metered fares and no haggling. The flag fall is around ¥700 with additional charges of roughly ¥90 per 280m. Uber operates in major cities but is less common than local apps like Japan Taxi and S.RIDE, which allow card payment and English-language booking. Taxis can be hailed on the street or found at designated taxi stands near train stations and hotels. One important rule: never open or close the taxi door yourself — the driver controls an automatic door mechanism from the front.

Japan's tap water is treated to some of the highest standards in the world and is safe to drink directly from any tap or public fountain. Bottled water is widely sold at convenience stores and vending machines but is entirely unnecessary for health reasons. Many Japanese people prefer tap water and municipal water quality reports are publicly available. When hiking or visiting rural areas, stick to tap or bottled water rather than drinking from streams.

Despite being a technologically advanced country, Japan remains strongly cash-oriented. Many restaurants, temples, smaller shops, and rural businesses accept cash only. The most reliable ATMs for foreign Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro cards are Seven Bank ATMs inside every 7-Eleven convenience store, followed by Japan Post ATMs. Both are available 24/7. Always carry at least ¥10,000 in cash as a buffer, especially when leaving major cities. Regular bank ATMs often do not accept foreign cards.

Japan has outstanding mobile network coverage across cities, towns, and most rural areas. Tourist SIM cards from providers like IIJmio, Docomo Tourist SIM, and Softbank are available at major airports (Narita, Haneda, Kansai) immediately after landing. Most tourist SIMs are data-only; voice calling may require a separate plan. Airalo and other eSIM providers work well and can be activated before departure. An alternative is pocket WiFi rental, which supports multiple devices — reserve online before traveling as airport stock can run out.

Japan uses Type A flat two-pin plugs, the same physical shape as North America, so US and Canadian devices plug in without an adapter. However, the voltage is 100V (compared to 110–120V in North America and 220–240V in Europe), and the frequency differs — 50Hz in eastern Japan (Tokyo) and 60Hz in western Japan (Osaka, Kyoto). Most modern electronics, phone chargers, and laptop adapters handle 100–240V and are fine. Appliances with motors such as hair dryers, electric shavers, or curling irons from 110V or 220V countries may not work correctly or could be damaged.

Japan has an extremely low incidence of tourist scams. Prices are fixed universally and haggling is not practiced or expected. There is no ATM skimming to speak of, no street scams, no fake tour guides, and lost property is routinely handed in and returned to its owner. The closest thing to a tourist trap is overpriced food and drink at restaurants immediately adjacent to major attractions like Senso-ji or Fushimi Inari — a short walk away offers the same food at a fraction of the price. Japan's culture of honesty extends to taxi drivers, shopkeepers, and service staff at all levels.

Japan consistently ranks among the world's safest nations. Violent crime against tourists is extremely rare, and solo travelers including women can walk city streets at night without significant concern. Lost wallets and phones are almost always turned in to the nearest Koban (police box) and returned intact. The primary safety concerns for tourists are natural disasters: Japan sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, and volcanic activity. Download the NHK World app or Yahoo Bousai (Japan's government disaster alert app) for real-time warnings.

Japanese etiquette is highly context-specific but tourists are generally given considerable latitude. The most important rules are: remove shoes when entering homes, many traditional restaurants (look for a raised genkan step), and some temple interiors; bow slightly as a greeting — a nod of the head is sufficient for tourists; avoid eating while walking, particularly in Kyoto; never make phone calls on trains or speak loudly in quiet public spaces. Queuing is strict and orderly — always line up in the designated area and board trains in order. Blowing your nose loudly in public is considered very rude.

Japanese is the only language used in most settings outside central Tokyo tourist zones and major international hotels. English signage is good in train stations and airports but sparse in smaller towns, rural areas, and local restaurants. Google Translate's camera mode is extremely useful for translating menus, signs, and labels in real time. Download the Japanese language pack for offline use before leaving home. Learning to read katakana (one of Japan's three scripts) takes a few hours and allows you to read many English-derived words written in Japanese, which is enormously practical.

Japan's best beaches are in Okinawa prefecture, particularly around Ishigaki and Miyako islands, where the water is warm, clear, and comparable to Southeast Asia. A flag system is used at supervised beaches — red means no swimming. In Okinawa waters, Habu sea snakes are present and venomous, though encounters are rare as they are shy. Box jellyfish can appear in late summer. Mainland Japan beaches such as Kamakura and Shonan near Tokyo are crowded in July and August but pleasant. The Sea of Japan coastline has notably colder water than the Pacific side.

Japan drives on the left side of the road. To rent or drive a car, you need a valid International Driving Permit issued in your home country along with your original national license — an IDP alone is not sufficient. Traffic laws are strictly enforced and penalties are severe. Right turns on red are not permitted. Expressway tolls are expensive and use an ETC electronic system — rental cars usually come with an ETC card. Parking in cities is costly and difficult. On mountain and rural roads, be alert for deer crossing at night. Petrol stations are often full-service rather than self-serve.

Japan's food culture is extraordinary in quality and variety. Tipping is never done (see the tipping topic). Many restaurants display plastic food models in the window — point at these or use Google Translate camera on the menu if you cannot read Japanese. Set lunch meals (teishoku) typically include a main dish, rice, miso soup, and pickles for ¥800–1,500 and represent exceptional value. Water is always served free and automatically. No service charge is ever added to bills. Ramen, sushi, tempura, tonkatsu, and yakitori are all reliably excellent even at inexpensive restaurants.

Japan has thousands of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, each with their own rules, but common etiquette applies broadly. Remove shoes when entering temple interiors — shoe racks are provided. At Shinto shrines, bow respectfully when passing through the torii gate. Speak quietly and behave respectfully in all religious grounds. Some inner sanctuaries are off-limits to non-worshippers. Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines have different ceremonial protocols — at shrines, the standard approach is two bows, two claps, then one bow at the main hall. Photography rules are posted at each entrance and vary by site.

Japan has four distinct seasons with dramatic regional variation. Spring is famous for cherry blossoms (sakura), typically peaking late March to mid-April in central Honshu — accommodation books out months ahead. Autumn brings vivid red and orange foliage (koyo) from September through November. Summer (June–August) is hot, humid, and coincides with typhoon season and the rainy tsuyu period in June to early July. Winter (December–February) is cold and dry in most of the country, excellent for skiing in Hokkaido and Nagano, with Sapporo's famous Snow Festival in February.

Japan can be visited affordably with the right strategies. Convenience store food (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) is genuinely high quality and costs ¥200–¥600 per item. Lunch set meals (teishoku) at sit-down restaurants cost ¥800–1,200 for a full meal. Overnight highway buses between cities (JR Bus, Willer Express) are dramatically cheaper than the Shinkansen. The JR Pass only pays for itself with extensive long-distance travel — calculate before buying. Many famous sights such as Fushimi Inari Taisha and most public parks are free. Using a Wise or Revolut card eliminates foreign exchange fees on every purchase.