Japan is an exciting country filled with so many ways of life that are completely foreign to our western ways. I visited Tokyo for the first time in October 2011 and found that it exceeded my expectations on so many levels. However, if I went back, I’d be wiser for the following information in regards to the essentials, the food and getting around.
Essential Preparation Tips for Japan
Most people would agree that there are certain things that we need to know before we travel anywhere. Would-be travellers to Japan should do some online research before they travel. Online travel forums are a great place to find information on all the current concerns about travel to any destination, including Japan. For example, Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree forum is particularly well-endowed with sage travel advice for Japan.
Many travellers carry an armory of electronic gadgets when they are away from home and whilst they are no doubt helpful, they need to be constantly charged. If you don’t have an adaptor of your own, most reputable hotels will be able to provide one for you to borrow. The Park Hotel at Shiodome in Tokyo definitely provides them.
Unlike many other places that I’ve traveled to, ATMs or money machines that cater to foreign cards are not as widely accessible in Japan. There definitely aren’t many on the street. You are more likely to find them inside banks and convenience stores such as Seven Elevens. So it pays to carry more cash with you in Japan than you might be used to or feel comfortable with. Many restaurants only take cash. Japan feels exceedingly safe so you'd be exceptionally unlucky to get mugged.
Don’t be afraid of the language barrier. There is dual signage in all the places where it is really needed it e.g. train stations and restaurants. If staying at a hotel, ask reception for the hotel’s address and contact details in Japanese. They normally have this information printed on a card that you can show a taxi driver if you find yourself stuck in the middle of nowhere and just need to get back to the hotel.
Be Prepared for the Food in Japan
If you are a vegetarian or love seafood, you’ll adore the food in Japan. If beef is more your thing, then unfortunately you are unlikely to find huge slabs of it anywhere. Visit the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo. It’s the largest wholesale fish market in Japan. And if you are really keen, get up at 3.30am to join the queue of tourists vying for a coveted spot to watch the daily tuna auctions that start at 5.25am.
If you are a sushi lover, you’ll enjoy the huge variety of sushi that can be made to order. Just don’t baulk at the descriptions. Crab guts and fatty horse toppings might not inspire your appetite but they are truly delicious.
And for the more adventurous at heart, try a Yakitori restaurant with a menu that includes heart skewers, gizzard skewers, intestine skewers, cartilage skewers and liver skewers. Wash them back with some sake. It will temporarily take your mind off what you are eating. Try the Yakitori Bar Tonton at 2-1-10 Yuraku-Cho, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, for a truly local experience.
Getting Around Tokyo
Tokyo is a huge city so the city’s public transport system is well oiled and efficient. Eight million people live in Tokyo but don’t be surprised if you’ll sometimes have the train carriage to yourself.
The train stations are surprisingly simple to negotiate if you’ve used trains in large cities before. Station maps and routes are written in both Japanese and English. There are also maps showing the train fares. And don’t worry if you’ve paid the wrong fare. Fare adjustment machines are situated at each exit so that you can pay the difference if you’ve underpaid. Check out Tokyo Metro to download the subway maps to study beforehand.
It’s handy to have a navigation function on your mobile which will help you negotiate the streets. Failing that, don’t be afraid to ask for directions from people on the street. Not all of them will be able to understand you well enough to help you but if you keep asking, you are bound to find someone who speaks English well enough to point you in the right direction.
My friend and I were lucky enough to ask directions of a young Japanese couple that had just returned from schooling in both London and New York. Not only were they helpful enough to look up the directions on their iPhone, but they were also kind enough to walk us to our destination. Brilliant!
Feel free to ask for directions at stores such as Starbucks, Subway or Seven Eleven convenience stores as they often have employees that speak better English than the average Japanese person on the street. This is because English speakers are more likely to frequent brands they recognize.
Visiting Japan for the First Time
Wouldn’t it be great if you knew everything that you needed to know about Japan before you went there for the first time? These tips should make your first trip more enjoyable.
