If you’re just tuning in, welcome! This is the second installment of a three-part article series in collaboration with Jetpac eSIM. The topic? Common first-time Japan travel mistakes. In the first part, we’ve addressed some common blunders that can happen immediately upon arrival. On this occasion, we will tackle the first-time Japan travel mistakes that can happen while exploring. Additionally, we will have a dedicated segment to first-time mistakes that can happened while interacting with locals
For this series of articles, we don’t want to give you a bland list of mistakes to avoid. Instead, we want to tell you stories based on real travellers’ anecdotes, so you can get to know their journeys firsthand. By doing so, we hope you’ll learn from their mistakes and be better prepared for your own Japanese adventure.
As you continue reading, you’ll meet characters who, through overconfidence or a lack of awareness, made some embarrassing missteps. However, in making these mistakes, they discovered fascinating Japanese cultural nuances worth sharing. Now, that wisdom is just a few scrolls downwards. If you want it, keep reading.
First-Time Mistakes While Exploring Japan
The characters of this section have been in Japan for at least two days. Thus far, they’ve felt nothing but comfort. They quickly realised that Japan is not that different from their home country, as the culture has a human core they could easily identify with.
Nevertheless, they travelled especially to discover the subtle difference, which is why they are now keen on exploring Japan. They have the right mindset, going to places with an open heart and mind and their eyes wide open. However, their first-time Japan travel mistakes fall into a very specific category; as these characters often miss the forest for the trees.
Uncomfortable Shoe Choices
For the first instalment in this new section, we follow the story of Beatrice. Beatrice’s brother’s girlfriend is Japanese, and ever since she met her, she’s been teasing her for an invitation to Japan. When the opportunity finally arrived, she immediately took it.
Beatrice is, rightfully, not really scared of any upcoming culture shock moments. She has known her brother’s girlfriend for years now, and has become accustomed to bite-size pieces of information about Japan. She confidently feels that she knows more than the average first-time traveller. And, with the advantage of having a local as a guide, she believes there’s nothing to worry about.
Nevertheless, Beatrice’s confidence made her overlook a very common travel mistake. Having a local as a guide, she underestimated the amount of walking that she would be doing. With her brother’s girlfriend guiding, every street became a tourist attraction: an avenue for a memory, an invitation to learn more. Her mistake? Not bringing her most comfortable shoes, a lesson she learned the hard way. Now, looking directly at the blister on her foot, she swears the next time she’ll bring them.
Takeaway: Bring your most comfortable shoes – you’ll be walking more than you think.
Over-reliance on Rail Passes
Image credit: Japan Forward
Our next story follows Gabriel, another first-time Japan traveller with some idea of where he is heading. He, very prepared for the trip, read articles regarding Japanese Rail Passes, specifically the JR Passes. Japan Railways passes, as he has come to understand them, are some of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to move around the country. Without hesitation, he bought one as soon as he landed. Gabriel is onto something, but he falters in the little details.
Little did Gabriel know, the passes he specifically purchased would only be worth the price if he were to travel long distances. He is only staying in Tokyo and has planned a small trip to Osaka. In his case, a regional pass, or even a pass from other railway companies, could’ve been a better option. This being said, what infuriates Gabriel the most is the fact he found himself using mostly buses. Buses that were, in one way or another, related to Japan Railways.
As he would later discover, the best option he could’ve chosen for his particular journey was getting a Suica Card. Part of Japan Railways, this is a rechargeable card that can be used for trains, buses and even shopping. Additionally, it can be added to the digital wallet of some smartphones, which would’ve made things more convenient. As a cherry on top, the remaining card balance can even be refunded. Gabriel eventually got one, but he still wishes he had done so sooner. For his next trip, he is sure of it, he’s gonna research different cards like PASMO and ICOCA.
Takeaway: Many of the Japanese Rail Passes are designed with long distances in mind. For local travel, rechargeable IC cards like Suica, PASMO, or ICOCA can be more cost-effective.
Over-scheduling and Its Consequences
Image credit: Japademy
Before her trip, our next character, Riley, was a little anxious. She purchased her plane ticket out of nothing more than a sense of curiosity. However, the more she learned about Japan, the more the feeling of “there’s so much to do” grew. For this reason, Riley meticulously scheduled her trip, as she wanted to see as much of the country as she could. She’s staying for two weeks, and, up to the fifth day, everything was going according to plan.
On the sixth day, however, disaster struck: she overslept. Well, it would be more accurate to say that she slept properly for the first time in her Japanese journey. You see, Riley managed to keep at pace with her plans for five days, seeing temples and getting to know the local cuisine. However, she always returned to the hotel exhausted, counting on her trusty phone alarm to keep her moving. That fateful day, she forgot to set it.
After waking up, she looked at the time and realised her plans were ruined. Frustrated, she tried to see if there was anything she could salvage from her schedule. After much thought, she settled on a sushi establishment she booked weeks in advance. Once there, the anxious feeling of a lost day dawned on her, but when the food was served, she figured she might as well calm down and enjoy the meal.
What happened next is something she still can’t properly comprehend: the food was delicious. So delicious, in fact, she noticed that staying still and enjoying, could be as, if not more, rewarding than seeing everything. The following days she tried this hypothesis, and it turned out correct.
Takeaway: Don’t overschedule your trip. Leave room for spontaneity, as it can be more rewarding than rushing to see everything.
Littering: Don’t Throw It, Take It Home
Image credit: Jezael Melgoza, via Unsplash
The story of Sophia is brief, but still worth mentioning for anyone who wants to avoid this common first-time Japan travel mistake. Sophia, like most people of the western hemisphere, is well aware of Japan’s cleanliness. She has been in Japan for four days so far, and there wasn’t a single instance where she wasn’t amazed by how clean the streets looked. However, in admiring them, she didn’t notice how little public trash cans there truly were.
Her mistake, as she recalls it, was not carrying around a small plastic bag with her. It all began when she bought some strawberry jam-filled mochi at a convenience store. She carried them around until she got to a nice bench, and ate them. She then proceeded to look for a trash can to throw the packaging. As you might’ve guessed, Sophia couldn’t find one. After looking around, she observed that most people were carrying trash in their pockets, ready to throw it when they got home. Following that advice, she put the packaging in her jeans’ back pocket, only to realise it still had some jam in it. When she got to her hotel, the pocket was sticky.
That’s all that happened. Just a small inconvenience Sophia knows could’ve been avoided by paying more attention.
Takeaway: Public trash cans are hard to come by in Japan. Be prepared to carry some trash home, preferably with a small bag for disposal.
Understanding Japan’s Vertical Cities
Image credit: Unique Tours
Another seemingly unassuming story, this time we follow Marius, a French traveller. He was born and raised in Biarritz, but could hardly consider himself an adept swimmer. Unlike his brothers, passionate surfers, Marius’ hobby is hiking. At least once a year, he goes to the Pyrenees to hike with some friends, but his biggest accomplishment was finishing the French Way of The Way of St. James. His goal in Japan is to become a Dual Pilgrim, by finishing the ancient trail of the Kumano Kodo. He has now found himself in Tokyo, where he plans on meeting other hikers he befriended via Facebook at a café.
Thanks to Google Maps, Marius has arrived at the agreed place, but something is off. The only thing he sees are giant buildings and no sign of any coffee shop. He keeps looking, and eventually realises he was in the right spot all along. Marius discovered that, inside one of the buildings he thought to be office spaces, was the café he was looking for. Moreover, it was located in the basement.
That’s how Marius discovered that many Japanese cities were in fact vertical cities. Google Maps helped him get to the right place, but it was up to him to look up or down. It’s quite different from Biarritz, Marius thinks, but looking up and down is the essence of hiking. Knowing that, he smiles with contempt.
Takeaway: Japanese cities, especially the biggest ones, are often vertical. Make sure to look around and up or down for shops and restaurants within buildings.
Dependence on Public Wi-Fi Without an eSIM
Image credit: Ninja Wifi
Our next character is called Caroline, and she, like many of us, considers herself an Otaku. She wanted to travel to Japan for a long time, but the straw that broke the camel’s back was the opening of a store entirely dedicated to her favourite niche anime. She loves collecting plushies, but little to none merchandising for this show ever gets to her country. For that reason, the store opening was the perfect excuse.
Once in Japan, it becomes increasingly clear she overly relies on her phone for directions. She doesn’t like carrying around physical maps, and strongly believes public Wi-Fi can always be found if you’re patient enough. Her mistake, however, was underestimating Tokyo’s gigantic size. At first, everything seems fine, hopping from one Wi-Fi hotspot to the next. However, after a few minutes without internet, she is completely lost, and what’s worse, she is sure the anime store is nearby. She tries asking for directions, but all the Japanese she knows is from anime, and she is aware people don’t talk like that. Finally, thanks to a little luck, she finds another traveller who happily helps her out.
This stranger had bought an eSIM before travelling, and was moving through Japan with ease. We can’t tell you for sure what eSIM he got, but if it is as good as Caroline makes it up to be, it probably was a Jetpac eSIM. With his help, Caroline reached the store, and when she got to her hotel, bought an eSIM right away to properly explore the country.
Takeaway: Don’t rely solely on public Wi-Fi. Consider getting an eSIM, they offer reliable internet for navigation and communication.
Booking in Advance (When Necessary)
Image credit: Wanderlust Magazine, Tokyo National Museum
For the final story of this section, we’ll follow a character named Juan. Juan is a big fan of Japanese paintings, especially the ones made during the Heian Era. For that reason, his number one priority is visiting the Tokyo National Museum, whose collection is said to be one of the best in the world.
However, there’s been a thought lingering on Juan’s mind, and it has to do with booking. He, unaware of how many people visit the museum, isn’t sure if it is worth booking in advance. After a quick online search, he is assured that he shouldn’t worry about it, as the queue to buy a ticket won’t last over 10 minutes. Ninety percent of the time, Juan would be correct not to doubt, but not the week he specifically visited.
When he finally got to the museum, the queue was about fifty minutes to buy a ticket. What happened? Well, the day Juan visited, the museum was opening a huge South American Treasures exhibit. Juan has since come to think of this as a prank the universe played on him, as he is Mexican and well aware of most of the treasures at the exposition. Nevertheless, when he finally got in, he explored the beautiful Heian art he was there to see.
The next day, thinking of all the things he has yet to see in Japan, Juan went online to look at itineraries. If anything was worth booking, he would do so; if an attraction didn’t have long queues, he would try to incorporate it in his schedule. Don’t overbook, he would tell you, be smart about booking. With this method, he fell in love with Japanese culture, from the Heian Era to today.
Takeaway: Always make sure to research popular attractions. When necessary, book tickets in advance, as peak hours can be brutal.
First-Time Mistakes While Interacting with Locals
The first-time Japan travel mistakes found in this section could’ve easily been avoided by learning a few Japanese sentences. These characters, although not all native English speakers, were still over-relying on Japanese people understanding English. And, for the most part, they did, but there were some situations in which a little cultural knowledge would’ve helped them out.
When interacting with the locals, whatever the reason may be, it is always best to do so in their terms. If not with language, with the right mindset, and with these stories you’ll see what we mean.
Incorrect Approach to Geishas
Image Credit: 8 ½ Women (1999), directed by Peter Greenaway
We now find ourselves in Kyoto, following a character we’ve met at part one: tea aficionado Thomas. After his experience at the tatami room, he knew he had to put his knowledge to the test at a proper tea ceremony. And, what better way to do so than attend one hosted by a geisha. Once he came to that realization, the destinations were obvious: the traditional tea houses in Gion or Pontocho alley, in Kyoto.
And yet, Thomas almost didn’t go there out of embarrassment. He is well aware some tourists have been harassing geishas, in no small part due to the false perception of them being sex workers. When he finally arrives at Gion and Pontocho, he is nervous beyond belief. He knows what he wants, but struggles to find the proper way to approach. Thomas did book a tea ceremony in advance, but since he doesn’t have an eSIM, he is struggling to find the place he should be in. This, unsurprisingly, adds to his anxiety about making a respectful entrance.
After a long time standing still, a geisha from inside one of the buildings walks up to him. She says his name, and Thomas breathes in relief, as he thought they were gonna kick him out. They enter together, and he finally gets the ceremony he was looking for. The geisha was impressed, but still gave him some advice for the next time. Among them, she teaches him how to ask for directions in Japanese respectfully.
Takeaway: Always approach geishas respectfully, recognising their profession as the ancient art form that it is. Consider learning some basic Japanese phrases for polite interactions.
Taking Photos Without Consent
Image Credit: “Life Zone”, Tokyo Tower (2023), directed by Crumpler
Our next story follows a Danish woman named Agnes. One of the things that surprised Agnes upon arriving in Japan was the amount of people who asked to take pictures with her. She is a tall, blonde, blue-eyed girl, something common in Denmark, but often unseen in Japan. After three days in the country, she has become accustomed to people asking for photos. Moreover, she likes it. She feels like a celebrity, and the idea that people approach her for pictures has become second nature. For that reason, she didn’t think anything was different when an older Japanese couple approached her at a park.
The couple spoke Japanese, but Agnes thought she understood what they meant. Without thinking it twice, she grabbed the couple’s phone and took a selfie with them. But this time, the couple looked at her confused and a little uneasy. For once, they were asking her to take a picture of them. After noticing her mistakes, she started apologising and took the picture the couple wanted in the first place.
Embarrassed, she realised everyone in Japan was always asking her consent for pictures. From now on, she said to herself, she would do the same.
Takeaway: Always ask for consent before taking photos of or with people, Japanese people will appreciate it.
Smoking Outside Designated Areas
Image credit: Dominic Kurniawan Suryaputra,
For the final instalment in this section, let’s meet André. André is a 23-year-old French writer from Lyon, and has been smoking ever since he reached the legal age of 18. He wants to quit, eventually, but not before recreating his favourite Japanese author’s, Oda Sakunosuke, portrait. In it, as you might’ve guessed, the writer is smoking. Foolish? Perhaps. Worth remembering? André thinks so, and now that he is in Japan, there’s no stopping him.
He isn’t quite sure where the picture was taken, but he suspects it was at Bar Lupin, where Sakunosuke and Osamu Dazai used to hang out. When he gets there, he is rather surprised to find that no one is smoking. You see, André read an article that said that it was still common in Japan to smoke inside bars. However, what he did not read was the date, September 2016, when that was still allowed. Now, almost a decade later, it’s become increasingly rare, if not impossible, to do so.
Cigarette in hand, he asked the bartender if he could smoke. The bartender laughs, points at the designated smoking area, and invites André there. He is a little frustrated, the picture he wanted to take will never become reality. Just when he thinks the situation is dire, the bartender follows him for a smoke of his own. Mixing Japanese and English, he mentions Oda, Dazai and many writers that have set foot in the bar. Without fully understanding him, André feels he is inviting him to be the next big writer to make history at Lupin. Suddenly, the smoking area feels special, even worth taking pictures in.
Takeaway: Japan has strict smoking rules; always use designated areas. Remember to stay updated on current smoking regulations, as they can change.
One more article to go
As you’ve seen, even seemingly small cultural nuances can lead to big lessons when exploring Japan or interacting with its wonderful people. By now, you’re more than prepared to travel, and your journey through Japan is almost guaranteed to be smooth. However, even though we’ve covered many first-time Japan travel mistakes, our adventure together isn’t quite finished.
There is still one more article in this series, the third and final one. In it, you’ll meet characters who, accustomed to a specific way of interacting with others, experience culture shock. We will be focusing on situations common for every traveller, ones that are often not even considered to be different: restaurants and public transport. These seemingly mundane situations can often catch first-time Japan travellers off guard, due to the unique etiquette required to navigate them.
If you’re interested, keep an eye out for the next installment!
