Reasons Why You Should Travel to Japan: A Guide for Novices
Japan is an interesting travel destination for many reasons. Traditional values and modern conveniences coexist harmoniously here. Discover beautiful wilderness places just a train ride away from gleaming, expensive cities, and find noisy, jarring outlets just a short distance from peaceful, nuanced enclaves. People will patiently wait in line for water after a natural disaster, but they will unfriend you on social media if you upset them in any way.
Japan has such a unique culture and language that it would be impossible to list everything you need to know before visiting the country. We could talk about the country’s amazing food for hours, enumerating the best places to eat ramen, revealing all the hidden jewels, and laying out all the ways you may unintentionally hurt someone’s feelings.
Japan has a very high standard of personal safety.
That it is relatively risk-free to travel around Japan is definitely a plus. Japan consistently ranks among the world’s safest countries, making it an excellent destination for women traveling alone. That doesn’t give you license to ignore all warnings. Get more information in our Japan Traveller Guide.
Cash is the dominant form of payment in Japan.
In Japan, paying in cash is valued highly. Almost all employers still prefer to pay their employees in hard currency, and the same holds true for the vast majority of retail and service establishments.
Most native Japanese speakers’ self-awareness about their English proficiency is wildly optimistic.
When in doubt, find someone who speaks English and respectfully request assistance. If your new BFF claims they can’t speak English very well, chances are they’re exaggerating. Helpful hint: Try to speak slowly.
In Japan, there is a buzzer system instead of waving down the waiter.
It is not necessary to wave down your waiter urgently in Japan. In order to get the waiter’s attention without drawing attention to themselves or making a fuss, many tables have a little black box with a black button. Customers place their orders via a screen in their booth, and their meals are delivered through a narrow slot.
The sushi at supermarkets is actually rather tasty.
Buying sushi in Japan can definitely put a dent in your wallet. Thankfully, if a daily chirashi indulgence is out of the question due to financial constraints, you can still satisfy your cravings in a depachika, a food hall located in the basement of a department store. A variety of dishes, including fresh sushi, are available here and are ready to be taken away by passing tourists.
Japan has enormous underground shopping centers.
Japanese urban areas are so densely populated that structures are covered, no, layered, with residents. It’s simple to forget about what’s happening below ground if you’re preoccupied with what’s happening above.