First time in Japan
Ten things worth knowing before you land. None of them are hard. All of them are easier when nobody has to explain them to you at a ticket gate.
1. Sort out entry before you book anything else. Japan has visa exemption arrangements with 74 countries and regions, usually for stays of up to 90 days, though some get 15 or 30. Residents of certain countries can apply for a tourist eVisa online. At the airport, the eVisa notice has to be shown live on a connected device. Screenshots and printouts are refused. Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pages for your passport, and use only the official site.
2. Carry cash, but don't live on it. International credit and debit cards work in most city shops, restaurants and taxis. Restaurants are still where cards fail most often, and smaller places may not show logos. Ask before you order. Seven Bank and Japan Post Bank ATMs are the easiest places to get yen. Keep enough cash for a meal and a bus fare at all times.
3. Get an IC card on day one. A rechargeable IC card (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA) handles trains, buses, convenience stores and a growing number of shops with one tap. Visitors can buy Welcome Suica at the Narita and Haneda airport stations, or a visitor ICOCA at Kansai Airport Station. Cards often won't cover short local train or subway fares, so the IC card does that job.
4. Trains run on quiet and queues. Line up along the painted marks on the platform and let people off before you board. Don't take phone calls in the carriage. Step out to the space between cars. On local and commuter trains, don't eat. The shinkansen is the exception: a bento on board is normal. Avoid the rush hours, roughly 7:30–9:00 and 17:30–19:00, if you have bags.
5. Tax-free shopping now works as a refund. From November 1, 2026, you pay the full tax-inclusive price in the shop. Spend ¥5,000 or more (before tax) in one store on one day to qualify. Keep everything in your carry-on, because customs checks your goods at departure. Scan your passport at the airport kiosk within 90 days of purchase. The shop or its refund agent then pays you back.
6. Carry your trash with you. Public bins are rare, and visitors complain about it more than anything else. Most bins are at convenience stores and stations, usually split by type. Keep a small bag in your day pack and take wrappers and bottles back to your hotel. People also avoid eating while walking, which cuts down on trash in the first place.
7. Don't tip. Restaurants, bars, cafes, taxis and hotels don't expect it. A thank-you and a smile do the job. Private guides who work with overseas visitors may accept a tip, but they don't expect one. If you want to give something, put the cash in a small envelope from a convenience or 100-yen store and hand it over discreetly.
8. Watch for the shoe line. Take your shoes off when you enter a home or a temple, and anywhere you see a row of indoor slippers waiting at the step. Some toilets have their own slippers. Swap into those and remember to swap back. Wear shoes you can slip on and off, and socks without holes.
9. Wash first, then soak. At an onsen you go in naked, with no swimwear. Wash your whole body at the seated showers before you get in. The small towel stays out of the water, and so does your hair. Tattoo rules depend on the facility. Some allow small ones or cover seals, and private baths avoid the question. Email ahead if you're unsure.
10. Keep your voice down. Trains, buses and waiting rooms are quiet, and nobody holds speaker calls in public. A low voice and silent phone go a long way. When in doubt, watch what people around you are doing and copy it. You'll rarely get told off, but you'll notice the looks.