Have you ever dreamed of seeing the awe-inspiring sights of cherry blossoms in Japan? Embark on a transformative 7-night/8-day adventure with Walker Wellness Retreats as we delve into the cultural wonders of Japan during cherry blossom season! Immerse yourself in the rich history, vibrant traditions, and breathtaking landscapes of this enchanting country while enjoying the comfort of highly rated accommodations and curated experiences.
Helpful suggestions for travel to Japan:
Don't overpack your toiletries – you can always buy more when you arrive.
Japan has excellent skin care products.
Leave room in your suitcase for souvenirs.
Pack your toiletries in a Ziploc bag,
2+ bank cards. As a personal rule, I never leave the country with only one bank card. You need a backup in case your card is stolen or eaten by the machine. It's handy to have one in each of the major payment systems, Visa and MasterCard.
Photocopy of your passport in case anything happens to the real thing. Leave one Photocopy at home and pack one in your luggage.
iPhone – I recommend downloading the Google Translate app (so helpful for reading Japanese) as well as an offline map app such as Maps.
Rent Pocket Wi-Fi. Free Wi-Fi is not as readily available in Japan as you might expect, so we strongly recommend getting a pocket Wi-Fi device for the duration of your stay. Pocket Wi-Fi is a small mobile hotspot that allows you to connect to the internet from your laptop, tablet, or smartphone pretty much anywhere in the country.
It's best to order one well in advance and either collect it at the airport or have it sent to your first hotel. Most companies will also give you the option to rent a Japanese mobile phone or SIM card for your existing phone (if it's unlocked), which can save you from paying exorbitant prices if you need to make local calls.
Numerous apps can be helpful during your time in Japan, but here are a few to get you started:
Google Translate: It won't always give you perfect translations, but it's useful when trying to negotiate the language barrier.
Japanese-English dictionary apps: There are plenty to choose from, including Imiwa? and Japanese. A dictionary app can be helpful for looking up individual words quickly.
Hyperdia: This app (and the associated website) enables you to search Japanese train routes and timetables across the country in English. Combined with specific transportation apps for the cities you're visiting (like a Tokyo subway app), you'll have no trouble getting around.
Google Maps: This is invaluable for navigating your way through Japan's sometimes labyrinthine streets. The general lack of road names can make it challenging to find restaurants and bars by address, whereas Google Maps will lead you straight to the door.
You will hardly find trash cans, but take your trash with you.
Try the delicious foods at convenient stores-its one of a kind to find amazing treats at convenience stores such as Larsons or 711.
Taxi Doors. Japan is famous for technology and efficiency, so it should come as no surprise that taxi doors open automatically. When you hail a taxi, the driver will pull up, and the rear door will automatically open for you to get in. Once inside, it will close again automatically behind you.
Money
Use the Money Tray. In Japan, money is rarely passed directly from hand to hand.
When you purchase something in a shop, restaurant, or bar, you'll often notice a small tray next to the cash register. It might be on the counter or attached to the cash register itself. You should place your money or credit/debit card in the tray instead of handing it to the cashier.
The cashier will usually place your change in the money tray after completing the transaction. The same system operates when paying for services in places like hotels, cinemas, and onsen (hot spring baths).
Another common practice for exchanging money is to place cash in an envelope rather than passing it openly and using both hands to pass it.
Leaving a tip is a common way to express gratitude in dozens of countries around the world, but such a practice isn't widespread in Japan. In fact, if you leave money on a Japanese restaurant table, there's every chance a staff member will run after you to return it, thinking it was gone by mistake. The Japanese work ethic emphasizes high standards, and rather than incentivizing them, excellent service is seen as standard practice.
The best thing you can do to thank the staff for a great meal is to give them a smile and your best attempt at the phrase "gochisousama deshita" which means, "thank you for the meal, it was a feast."
Other Etiquette:
Queue with the flow- Never cut the line. Follow the flow and stand in line with everyone else.
Don't be late. Japanese people are very punctual, and when visiting the country, you're expected to follow suit. Everything runs on time!
Take Off Your Shoes. You must remove your shoes before entering homes, ryokans, certain temples, traditional restaurants, and any area with tatami mats. It's advisable to wear shoes that slip on and off quickly because you'll be doing this a lot!
Some places provide indoor slippers for you to wear, but this won't always be the case.
Generally speaking, it will be obvious when you need to remove your shoes: look for indicators like a lower entrance hall, tatami flooring, slippers laid out on the floor, and shoe storage shelves. If in doubt, ask.
Watch Out For Bathroom Slippers. During your travels in Japan, you may notice that certain places, like homes and ryokan, have slippers exclusively for use in the bathroom. When you enter the bathroom, leave your regular slippers outside the door and switch to the bathroom slippers. These should only be worn in the bathroom, so don't forget to change back when you leave.
Familiarize Yourself with the Toilet Buttons! Japan is well known for its fancy toilets, which have an array of buttons to control various features. These functions can include small and large flushes, a bidet, a dryer, and an automatic lid opener. Sometimes, the controls are labeled in English as well as Japanese, but more often than not, you'll be left to decipher the pictures and kanji characters yourself. The icons should be reasonably self-explanatory, but if you're feeling nervous about it, you can search for a sample image online.
Japanese greetings can be tricky for foreigners. Across the West, hugging is standard practice, and across Europe, it's customary to kiss on the cheek. In Japan, Yoshimi says it's best to stick with the most common greeting: a bow, especially when meeting older adults. While there is specific etiquette in regard to angles and amount of times to bow, simply returning the gesture or nodding will be appreciated. As a general rule of thumb, the deeper the bow, the more respectful it is.
Cover Your Tattoos. In Japan, there is still an association between tattoos and organized crime. As a foreigner, you're unlikely to be mistaken for a member of the yakuza. However, you might need to cover up your tattoos if you want to use public facilities such as gyms, swimming pools, and onsen (hot spring baths). If your tattoos are too big or awkward to cover, don't worry. You can always use a private onsen or search online for a tattoo-friendly one. These are becoming more common nowadays, particularly among establishments looking to cater to overseas visitors.
Be Respectful on Public Transport. Japanese society is known for its emphasis on politeness, and one place this is most apparent is the train network. Conductors bow to you, carriages are spotlessly clean, and departures are so punctual you can set your watch by them.
Don't talk on your phone on public transport. If you need to make or answer a call on the train, you can do so in the small compartments between carriages.
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About The Host
Amy
Amy, MSW, LCSW, CCM, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She started Walker Wellness Retreats in 2016 due to her love for travel and helping others experience the world.
Amy works as an online mental health therapist when she is not leading international retreats. She is passionate about helping individuals and couples work through barriers and find new ways to communicate, connect, and thrive. She loves international travel, wine tasting, whale watching, and the outdoors.