5 things to be particularly careful about when travelling to Japan

Hello! I would like to share with you five things you should pay special attention to when travelling to Japan.

In addition to laws and other rules set by the state and prefectures, Japan has its own rules, which each of us naturally implements.

We call them “manners”. It is a kind of concern to avoid making other people feel uncomfortable.

We Japanese take “manners” very seriously. It is very important for sightseeing in Japan to observe “manners” in public places, especially in places where many people use, such as trains and buses.

However, visitors from overseas may unknowingly violate “manners”. This time, we would like to introduce what you should pay attention to when sightseeing in Japan, with a focus on these “manners”.

Places to smoke

In Japan, it is considered “bad manners” to smoke outside of smoking areas.

It is also “bad manners” to smoke while walking. This was born out of concern for the danger of cigarette fires and for those who do not smoke, so that they do not have to breathe in the smoke. If you want to smoke, please find a smoking area.

Do not throw rubbish away.

When you go to tourist attractions, you will find a lot of delicious food to eat and drink.
We hope you enjoy them, but what we want you to be careful of here is how you handle your rubbish.

Basically, you should dispose of your rubbish in the bins placed at the facilities or tourist attractions where the rubbish was generated. However, there are facilities and tourist attractions where no bins are provided.

It may be useful to bring a small rubbish bag for such cases. You can put the rubbish that you could not throw away at tourist attractions in those bags and dispose of them at your hotel or other places.

Please try to make sure that the people living in the tourist area and tourists other than yourself have a pleasant stay.

Train and bus manners

Manners on trains and buses can be divided into two types: before boarding and after boarding. There are many, but we will introduce some of the most common ones here.

Wait in line.

First, wait in line to board the train or bus.

In large tourist areas, there are sometimes signs on the ground of the platform or other places where you can queue. Pay attention to the information on the ground.

If there are people around you in line, check if it is the train you are boarding and get in line at the back of the queue. Interrupting is considered bad manners, so be careful.

Keep quiet in the train.

There are times when loud noises are made without your knowledge.
You may be talking about happy memories and before you know it, you are talking too loudly, or the sound can be heard outside through your earphones.

Be careful not to disturb others, especially on trains and buses, as many people are using the trains and buses.

Rules for Shinkansen trains

Depending on the Shinkansen you are travelling on, you may need to make a reservation for large items of luggage such as suitcases with a total of three sides measuring more than 160 cm.

It may be a good idea to check online about the rules of the Shinkansen you plan to take.

Language barrier.

Many Japanese people do not speak English. There are still many shops and other establishments that do not provide information in English or other foreign languages.

During sightseeing in Japan, you may often use translation apps. It may also be a good idea to learn Japanese for sightseeing.
In order to enjoy Japan, you may feel safer if you are prepared to communicate in a way that suits you.

Don’t go up with your feet in the dirt.

Japan has many beautiful facilities such as temples and shrines.

Some of the various temples, shrines and other facilities can be entered.

If there is a sign saying “No shoes allowed”, you must remove your shoes in order to enter. Please make sure to follow the directions and enjoy the sightseeing.

Conclusion.

How was your visit? In this article, we have introduced five things you should pay special attention to when travelling to Japan.

There are many other manners and things to be aware of, but you may find them unique to Japanese culture.

If you are a tourist from abroad, you may feel uneasy, but if you know what to expect, you can prepare for it. We hope you will take note of what we have introduced here and enjoy a pleasant trip to Japan.