top travel tips for japan

1. GET A JR PASS

JR is one of the biggest railway companies in Japan, and they offer a JR Pass, to tourists only, that is an all-in-one train pass that covers all of Japan. You pay by each week you’re traveling, and it even includes the Shinkansen (bullet train). If you’re planning on traveling to multiple cities like we did, 100% get this. The seven-day pass was a little over $260, but it really saved us so much money in the long run, and was so easy to use! We got them directly at H.I.S. (a travel agency dedicated to Japan) on Sawtelle in LA, but they have offices in major cities throughout the US and the world, too! Find one near you here. Oh, and be sure to NOT lose the pass. They will only accept it in its original form. 

2. Waiting in queues and making reservations

In Japan, lines are called queues, and they can be very, very long. Make sure to do research on where you’re going, as some queues may require you to get a ticket while waiting (this is common at ramen shops) or there might even be multiple queues because the restaurant is so popular (Sushi Dai at Toyosu Fish Market is a great example of this). Reservations are also necessary at a ton of places. I was lucky enough to have my cousin in Japan make some for me, but there are often ways to make them online if the restaurant has a website and it’s in English. While a lot of places require a reservation, there’s also a ton of places that don’t even take them, so again, just do your research, and get ready to wait in the queue. I promise the food will be worth it!

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! 

The people of Japan are truly unlike any other humans I’ve ever met. The sweetest, most helpful, generous, kind… I could go on. Surprisingly, not a lot speak English, but whenever we got lost in the train stations, the people working could not have been more helpful. A tiny Japanese woman even asked if we needed help carrying our massive suitcases up a flight of stairs! If all else fails, the Google translate app is pretty good. 

4. Eating in public 

Try to avoid eating while walking around or on the train – it’s considered to be rude in the Japanese culture. Feel free to eat on the Shinkansen or a long-distance train, though! At big stations like Tokyo Station, they have giant food courts dedicated to bento boxes (these are SO delicious, by the way… like, so amazing that they even have fresh sashimi and sushi) and some trains even sell them!

5. Standing on the left side

Because everything in Japan is just so organized and perfect, they even have rules for which side to stand on or walk. When walking on the street, stay on the left side, and if you’re going to stand on an escalator, rather than walk, stand on the left side as well. 

6. Do your research

There’s a ton of people who can go somewhere without a plan. I’m not one of them (I have done it, though!), and Japan isn’t really a great place to just wing it. Honestly, it doesn’t require a whole lot more than some good Googling. I specifically love TripAdvisor whenever I’m traveling out of the country, and looking up Instagram geotags is always nice to check out photos of food and spaces.