First Time in Japan: What Actually Matters
Japan runs on cash, IC transit cards and forward luggage more than most first-time visitors expect. Tipping is inappropriate, restaurants frequently require reservations, and a normal sightseeing day involves eight to twelve thousand steps.
Cash Versus Cards: What to Carry
Japan is more cash-dependent than most Western countries. Small restaurants, market stalls, temple admissions, rural buses and many family-run guesthouses expect banknotes, and some will not accept cards at all. ATMs at Seven-Eleven, Japan Post and FamilyMart branches accept most foreign debit and credit cards; many bank branch ATMs do not.
Carry a buffer of 10,000–30,000 yen in cash at any time and withdraw as needed. Tell your card issuer you are travelling before you leave, and confirm whether your card charges a foreign transaction fee. Contactless payment acceptance has grown, particularly in cities, but it is not reliable enough to be your only method. Japan is one of the rare places where a full cashback remains normal: coins are handed over in both hands and bills are placed on the small wooden tray at the till rather than passed hand to hand.
Getting Around: IC Cards and Tokyo Station
Purchase an IC transit card (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA or similar) at any major station on arrival. It loads stored value and works on virtually all urban trains, subways, buses and convenience-store purchases. Recharging is done at station machines or convenience stores; carry coins for self-service machines.
Tokyo Station is the single thing that confuses most first-timers. The building is over 500 metres long, with over 200 exits, and lines run on several underground levels. Allow at least fifteen minutes to change platforms or lines, read exit signs for the specific street exit number rather than the letter alone, and use Google Maps or the station's posted floor guides. Osaka Umeda and Kyoto Station are similarly complex. Japan's rail network is famously punctual, so a missed train costs you the full headway to the next one.
Luggage Between Hotels
Do not carry bags between cities. Japan's takkyubin courier service moves suitcases door to door between hotels for a modest fee, usually arriving next day if handed in before the cut-off time (typically mid-afternoon). Hotel front desks handle the entire transaction. Ship your large bag from your last Tokyo hotel to your first Osaka or Kyoto hotel and travel with only a daypack; this saves hauling bags up staircases and through ticket gates.
For hotel-to-hotel transfers in the same city, staff will often store luggage until you return. Confirm the policy when you check in.
Restaurants: Booking and Ordering
Popular restaurants in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto take reservations days or weeks ahead, particularly omakase sushi, kaiseki ryokan dining and any counter with only eight seats. Hotel concierges and tour operators can book on your behalf; walk-ins are often turned away at the door even when seats are empty.
Many smaller places operate on an ichigen-san okotowari policy (first-time customers by introduction only) but this is rare now. Izakaya and ramen shops are typically walk-in. For menus, expect a picture or plastic display outside; inside, tablet-based ordering and vending-machine ticket ordering are common in ramen and udon shops. Take your numbered ticket to a seat and hand it to staff. Most sit-down restaurants add a seating charge (otoshi or seiriken) of a few hundred yen, presented with water or a small appetizer; it is not a tip.
Etiquette You Need Before You Arrive
Tipping is not practiced and can cause confusion. Service is already included in the price.
At temples and shrines: do not photograph inside halls, walk around rather than through the main gate of a shrine, remove hats indoors, and note whether shoes are expected (look for a step or a shoe rack). At onsen: wash thoroughly at the shower station before entering the bath, do not put towels in the water, and cover tattoos if your onsen prohibits them — many do, so check in advance.
On trains: switch your phone to silent, do not eat or drink on local trains (long-distance shinkansen are an exception), and priority seats are for those who need them. Queue in marked lines for buses and taxis. Bowing is appreciated but not required of visitors; a small nod suffices.
How Much You Will Walk
A full sightseeing day in Kyoto or Tokyo typically runs 15,000–25,000 steps. The Kyoto Bus 100 route between Kiyomizu-dera and Kinkaku-ji includes long uphill sections; Fushimi Inari alone takes two hours to walk to the summit. Plan shoes accordingly — walking sandals are fine in summer cities but poor on gravel temple paths.
Build in a rest stop: department-store depachika (basement food halls), kissaten coffee shops and station waiting rooms are all reasonable places to sit for twenty minutes. Most hotels and ryokan provide slippers for indoor use; the bathroom pair stays in the bathroom.
When to Book in Advance
Book flights, peak-season hotels (late March to mid-April cherry blossom, late October to November autumn foliage) and popular attractions weeks ahead. teamLab Planets and teamLab Borderless, Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Shibuya Sky observation deck and the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto all require timed tickets that sell out. Ryokan with onsen and kaiseki dinner, particularly in Hakone and Beppu, are also worth reserving early.
Travelling during Golden Week (late April to early May), Obon (mid-August) or New Year week means sold-out trains and hotels; if you must travel then, book earlier than usual.
Planning your trip
- Confirm visa and entry rules with the Japanese embassy or consulate for your nationality before booking flights; rules change.
- Load an IC card on arrival and keep 20,000 yen in cash as a working float.
- Hand large luggage to the takkyubin courier between cities and travel with a daypack only.
- Reserve popular restaurants and timed-attraction tickets at least two weeks ahead in peak season.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Japan?
Visitors from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore and most EU countries can enter Japan for tourism without a visa for stays up to 90 days, but the exact rule depends on your nationality. Confirm with the Japanese embassy or consulate for your country before booking, as entry requirements change.
Should I exchange money before I arrive?
Exchanging a small amount at the airport is convenient, but Japan's 7-Eleven, Japan Post and FamilyMart ATMs accept most foreign cards and are the easiest way to get yen. Notify your bank before you travel.
Is tipping expected?
No. Tipping is not part of Japanese service culture and can cause confusion. The otoshi seating charge at izakaya is not a tip; it is a standard cover charge.
How far in advance should I reserve restaurants and attractions?
For popular counter restaurants and teamLab, Ghibli Museum or Shibuya Sky timed tickets, book two to four weeks ahead in peak season. Peak-season hotels and ryokan should be reserved as soon as your dates are fixed.
BLISS TRAVEL has planned private journeys across Asia since 2005 and is licensed by the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (licence 352969).