An essential part of culture is sharing. By definition, a culture has to be shared and celebrated by people, as it is only really a culture if it can create a community. And, contrary to popular belief, outsiders are not only welcomed, they’re encouraged to engage. For an outsider, however, there needs to be an effort to understand the culture they’re getting into. As Anthony Bourdain famously said, “be a traveller, not a tourist.” This means to show that you have an open mind and a willingness to learn. So let us be clear: Japan wants you to visit it. Japanese culture wants you to learn and grow with it. But first, it wants you to try to respect and understand it. There are plenty of ways to achieve this, but today, we’ll do so by sharing some first-time Japan travel mistakes for you to avoid.
In collaboration with Jetpac eSIM, this is the first article in a three part series. What’s our goal? To tell you a story. As a matter of fact, several stories, all of which are based upon real first-time Japan travellers’ anecdotes. In this first instalment, we will be focusing on the common mistakes that happen immediately upon arriving in Japan. These include planning errors, seasonal miscalculation, and misunderstandings regarding hotels and ryokans.
It’s important to know that, despite the mistake these travellers committed, Japan still welcomed them with open arms. The key to this was their intentions, as they wanted to immerse themselves in Japanese culture like true travellers. Now, dear reader, we’re passing their wisdom onto you. If you’re ready to engage with that knowledge, let us travel to Japan and learn from them.
First-Time Mistakes Upon Arriving in Japan
Our stories begin, like most Japanese trips do, on planes. Lots of planes, all of which arrive in Tokyo on different days and during various seasons at either Haneda or Narita International Airport. Now picture this: a group of first-time Japan travellers has just landed. They’ve seen and read so much about the country, and are now ready to experience it for themselves. However, some of them are more prepared than others, and they will soon discover why.
Seasonal & Weather Miscalculations
Image credit: Michał Parzuchowski, via Unsplash
Let’s call our first character Oliver. He has little idea how he ended up in Japan. He was suddenly added to a group chat called “TRIP” by a close friend of his. When he opened it, there was a screenshot of Japan plane prices. They were way cheaper than he thought they would be. Without thinking it twice, he bought them, and this is a decision he never regretted making. What he does regret, however, was not knowing it was going to be summer. Upon arriving, it was extremely humid, and the sensation that he was in a sauna became a common thought. If he only knew back then, he would’ve packed a lot of linen shirts, as his choice of clothes wasn’t playing the part. Would he go in summer again? Absolutely, but now prepared for it and without polyester.
Our next character, Amy, planned for the weather accordingly. You see, Amy thought she understood the Japanese seasons, and booked her flight to be around October. Fall, she thought, will be beautiful, though a little windy, so it’s best to pack some sweaters. However, as she made her way out of the airport, it soon became apparent this was a mistake. She was sweating, as the dry and pleasant weather she expected wouldn’t really settle in Japan until early November. Summer was still hanging, and a light jacket would’ve worked perfectly fine.
Takeaway: Research Japan’s specific seasonal weather for your travel dates and pack appropriately.
Escalator Etiquette Missteps
The story of Patrick is one that, insignificant as it might seem, he still remembers with some embarrassment. Upon arriving at the airport, he noticed some people, mostly Japanese, standing still on the left side of an escalator. He didn’t give it much thought. But once he arrived at the Shinjuku train station, he realised his mistake. He was on an escalator looking directly at his phone, searching for directions to his hotel, when he suddenly felt someone touching his back. When he turned, he was met by a guy speaking Japanese. Patrick didn’t speak Japanese, but still understood what the man was saying by looking around. He was blocking the path—everyone else was standing on the left, while he alone stood still on the right. Embarrassed, he moved and promised to never do it again.
After three days in Tokyo, he’s now used to escalator etiquette. He stands on the left side, and only takes the right path when he is in a hurry. Little did he know, his next destination works the other way around. Patrick arrives in Osaka, and is one of the first to get off the train. Confidently, he takes the left side of the escalator on his way out. And yet, someone touches his back. He shivers, as he realises nobody has walked past him yet. That’s how Patrick learned that, in the Kansai region (Osaka, Nara, Mie, etc.) people stand on the right side instead. Kyoto is the exception, but Patrick was well aware of this before getting there.
Takeaway: Escalator etiquette is important and varies by region: Tokyo stands left, Kansai stands right. Always observe locals.
Jet Lag: Underestimating and Overestimating
For this next story, let us tell you about Roxanne and Marco. This London couple planned their Japan trip months in advance. As a matter of fact, they specifically booked their flight to be around Sakura seasons, so they’re in for a fantastic first-time experience in the country. There’s just one problem, one that concerns Marco way more than Roxanne: Jet lag.
Their plane leaves Heathrow Airport at 21:00, and arrives at Haneda airport at 19:40 the next day. Marco insists, “we shouldn’t sleep on the plane,” as he thinks it is better to arrive tired and go directly to sleep. Roxanne thinks this is silly, and, by the end, she falls asleep in the plane while Marco diligently stays awake.
Once in their destination, Marco falls asleep immediately upon arriving. Roxanne, however, doesn’t feel tired at all, and decides to walk aimlessly around the hotel. The next day, Marco wakes up at 4:50, and Roxanne won’t be awake until 9:00. When they finally leave their hotel, they’re both exhausted. Roxanne still feels the comfort of the bed lingering on her body, and Marco spent so much time laying down, his body felt heavy when he stood up. Nevertheless, they explore Japan and have a great time, but agree to sleep at a reasonable time for the next day. The Sakura are awaiting their arrival.
Takeaway: Japan’s time zone can be challenging for most people, and jet lag is likely to happen. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution; experiment and find what works for you.
Cash vs. Card
Image credit:Bloomberg
This next story follows Antonio, a travel enthusiast from Spain, on his first Japan journey. He, after many European trips, has become used to paying everything with his card. The Euro, he would tell you, is his best friend; the exchange rate was pretty much always in his favour. For that reason, when he arrived at the Haneda airport, he didn’t pay much attention to the ATMs that could easily be spotted. As you might’ve guessed, this was a mistake. While exploring the country, he discovered many charming and local places that were strictly cash only. Additionally, there was the conversion fee, something he didn’t think he had to deal with that often. Japan quickly taught him that one should always be carrying around change and a few thousand yen.
Luckily for Antonio, he soon discovered that Konbinis like 7/11 and FamilyMart were great for withdrawing yen. Next time, he assures himself, he’ll return with cash — and a Monzo card, the ideal choice for Japan, with no hidden fees and low conversion rates for card payments or withdrawals at 7-Eleven ATMs.
Takeaway: Many Japanese establishments are cash only, so over-relying on your card can be a mistake. Be sure to carry yen with you, and if you have trouble finding ATMs, convenience stores have you covered.
First-Time Mistakes While Staying in Japan
The characters in this section didn’t commit the same mistakes as the ones before. This could be attributed to a mix of cultural knowledge, spatial awareness, and a bit of luck. Before travelling, they planned for the weather. While travelling, they slept a reasonable amount. Upon arriving in Japan, they withdrew some cash at an ATM and observed Japanese people to understand the proper etiquette. However, just when they thought they were safe from embarrassment, disaster struck. The hotels, ryokans and tatami rooms they were staying in, all held an unexpected cultural challenge they weren’t fully equipped to handle.
These first-time Japan travel mistakes will reveal the cultural knowledge they acquire just by staying in Japan. Small as it may seem, they learned something worth sharing.
Bathroom Etiquette Blunders
Image credit:Good Luck Trip
For our first story, we’ll follow Samuel. Samuel is in a rush, he needs to go to the bathroom, but is diligently waiting to do so at his hotel. You see, Samuel has a very narrow idea of what a “Japanese toilet” is. He can only think of Washiki Squat toilets, which, although still around, have been slowly replaced by western style toilets. Samuel, of course, doesn’t know this. All he knows, for sure, is that the hotel he booked is a western style hotel, which he is counting on to have the toilets he is familiar with.
After finally arriving, he doesn’t think twice and goes directly to the restroom. He does what he must, and finds that the extra options on the toilet improve the experience. The actual usage of the toilet wasn’t much of an issue, as there were numerous signs instructing him where to throw the paper and how to flush.
He walks up to the sink, cleans his hands. Feeling refreshed, he soaks his face in cold water. This was his mistake. Completely wet, he looks for paper towels. There are none. No hand dryers either. Embarrassed, he re-enters the toilet and dries himself with toilet paper, getting little pieces of paper stuck on his skin. This only makes things worse. Confused, he sees a Japanese man walking out of a toilet. The man washed his hands, and then dried them with a small towel he got out of his pockets.
As Samuel’s journey through Japan progressed, he realised his fear of Japanese toilets was unfounded. He now knows his focus should’ve been on the towels all along.
Takeaway: Public restrooms rarely have hand towels or dryers; carry a small personal towel. You can buy one in many Japanese stores.
Onsen (Hot Spring) Misunderstandings
Image Credit: The Warped Forest (2011), directed by Shunichirô Miki
We now follow the story of Liezel, a punk enthusiast from the Philippines. She scheduled her Japan trip to be around early May for two very specific reasons. The first one is the cherry blossom season, as she believes Sakura trees are actually pretty metal. The second is a concert, one of her favourite bands, the punk-girl quartet Otokobe Beaver, will be performing live. She is planning on being there for 10 days, with the 8th being the day of the concert.
She is staying at a traditional ryokan, which Liezel finds particularly relaxing. However, on the 7th day, there’s a shift. She is shaking, as expectations for the concert are rising up. Considering the ryokan hasn’t let her down, she decides to try the onsen (hot springs) they have.
The first hurdle Liezel faces is the dress code – there isn’t one. She knows public Onsen require people to be completely naked, but she didn’t expect the communal one in the ryokan to do so as well. Nevertheless, she found comfort in the fact that it was women’s only, so she entered without giving it much thought. The real problem happens once she is inside. Despite there being few people, she receives a couple of mean looks and struggles to find what she did wrong. As she would later discover, the reasons are her tattoos, as the stigma they carry in Japan prohibits them in many establishments.
By the end, Leizel remembers her trip fondly. The concert was fantastic, the Sakura trees were beautiful, and she promised herself she would go to a tattoo-friendly onsen the next time.
Takeaway: Most onsen require you to be completely naked. Additionally, many prohibit tattoos due to historical stigma; if you have one, seek out tattoo-friendly options.
Taking Your Shoes Off
Our next character is called Linda, and she prides herself on being extremely clean. As a matter of fact, one of the reasons she chose Japan as her next destination was the perceived cleanness of the country. This is why it was rather surprising for her when she was asked to take her shoes off at the ryokan she was staying in. Nevertheless, she complied, but couldn’t stop thinking about the possibility of her white socks getting darker. Additionally, the imagery of sweaty feet suddenly being let loose terrified her, and the first day she rushed to her room because of it.
As the days progressed, however, Linda’s fear began to fade. Japan was clean, way cleaner than she realised at first glance. The floors were kept safe from dirt by the taking of the shoes, and people wore light, often fresh socks that seemed specifically designed to address her concerns. No bad smells. No stains to worry about.
This being said, Linda was still surprised to be asked to remove her shoes at some temples and restaurants. But this was a positive surprise, as she knew, right then and there, the places were immaculately clean.
Takeaway: Japan favours taking your shoes off to keep a place spotless; embrace it, your socks will be fine.
Tatami Room Etiquette
Image credit: S. Tsuchiya, via Unsplash
The final story of this section follows a character named Thomas, a self-described tea aficionado. Out of all the characters thus far, he is probably the one that knows the most about the place he is staying in: a traditional tatami room. He’s seen a few tea ceremonies, and specifically booked the room so he could experience one first-hand. When the owner of the place greets him, he adequately bows and takes off his shoes before getting in.
Off to a great start, Thomas is completely lost now. His host invites him to walk across the room, and he vaguely remembers something about the borders. Yes, that’s it, he should not step on the borders when crossing the room. He walks, confidently avoiding borders with big steps. When he finally reaches his host, he looks at Thomas with a mischievous smile. Thomas knows it, he has made a mistake, but when? The host invites him to take a seat.
Sitting in the correct seiza position, the host explains to Thomas his mistake. You see, in avoiding the borders, the steps that Thomas took were too loud for a tatami. Thumbing, he explains, could be considered disrespectful. The correct way would’ve been to slide off the tatami, creating a pleasing rusting sound. Thomas is disappointed in himself, but his host presents him with some tea, letting Thomas know the lessons have just begun. The next time it will be different, Thomas says, and his host doesn’t doubt it for a single second.
Takeaway: Small gestures in a tatami room go a great length to show respect. Always take your shoes off, don’t step on borders, and walk quietly by sliding your feet. Japanese people will appreciate it.
To be continue…
These are all the first-time Japan travel mistakes we can share for now, to keep this article concise. However, this doesn’t mean our stories through Japan are coming to an end, quite the opposite.
Now that you have some idea of the first-time mistakes that haunt travellers upon arriving in Japan, we’re ready to move to the next section. In part two of this series, we’ll explore the common mistakes that happen once people are already somewhat settled in Japan. After two or three days have passed, and they think nothing could go wrong on their journey.
If you want to get to know the experiences of these characters, stay tuned for the next article.
