How Not to Be a Travel Virgin in Japan

🔖 8 min read

Japan is a dream destination—but it’s also one of the few places where even seasoned travellers can feel completely out of sync. The country’s mix of ultra-modern systems and deeply rooted traditions creates a travel experience unlike anywhere else. This isn’t just another guide—it’s built to save you time, sidestep confusion, and help you unlock the most enriching, memorable parts of your trip. Less guesswork, more magic.

So… What Is a Travel Virgin?

Image Credit: Mehdi Mirzaie

Let’s set the scene.

You’ve booked your flights. You’ve browsed Instagram geotags. You’ve saved a couple of TikToks. You’re convinced you can figure the rest out as you go. But then you land in Japan—and realise this country doesn’t operate like the others.
Your debit card gets declined at a ramen joint. You speak into your phone on a train and suddenly feel every pair of eyes on you.

You try to visit a local izakaya, but there’s no English signage and no online reservation link.

Sound familiar?

If so, you might be a Travel Virgin—someone full of curiosity but new to the unspoken systems that make Japan, well… Japan.
And that’s totally okay. It’s part of the magic, honestly. But it’s also why Jetpac exists: to help first-time (and returning) travellers avoid the classic Japan blunders, and instead feel prepped, plugged in, and genuinely excited for what’s ahead.

Why Japan Isn’t Just “Another Country on the List”

Image Credit: Go Tokyo

Japan doesn’t just feel different—it operates differently. And for the unprepared, that difference can turn an exciting adventure into a confusing puzzle.

While most destinations have gradually conformed to globalised tourism—complete with tap-to-pay taxis, English menus, and Tripadvisor-famous landmarks—Japan continues to move to the rhythm of its own cultural clock. In fact, it’s one of the few major travel destinations where deeply embedded tradition and hyper-modern infrastructure exist side by side… but don’t always talk to each other.

This creates a unique travel paradox: you can glide 300km/hour on a Shinkansen (bullet train) and still not find a trash can at the station. You can be in one of the safest countries in the world, but still feel completely lost on how to enter a restaurant, navigate a shrine, or communicate with your host.

Here’s why Japan can be deceptively hard to navigate—even for experienced travellers:

🗾 Offline knowledge still reigns supreme.

Image Credit: Go Tokyo

In much of the world, you plan your trip by scrolling Instagram, scanning Google Reviews, and bookmarking geotags.
But in Japan? The best experiences often aren’t online at all.

Many budget-friendly gems—like tiny soba shops run by elderly couples, hole-in-the-wall bars with no signage, or mom-and-pop ryokans—don’t have websites. Some don’t even have phones. They exist purely through reputation and word-of-mouth, passed down by locals or lucky travellers who stumbled upon them.

Even when a place is on Google Maps, it might list outdated hours or cryptic info. One ramen spot might say it’s open “every day”… except Wednesdays, or after 9pm, or not if it rains. Welcome to the analogue charm of Japan—where digital doesn’t always mean dependable.

What most travellers don’t realise is that even tourist information centres—often dismissed as generic—are treasure troves. Walk into one and you’ll be greeted with a flood of useful flyers, city passes, local tour options, and seasonal promotions you’d never find online. Want to join a ¥500 cultural class in a Kyoto machiya? There might be a paper flyer for it, sitting in a display rack, waiting for you.

And it doesn’t stop there. At major train stations and local hubs, you’ll come across racks filled with regional pamphlets, walking maps, bus route diagrams, and printed guides—detailing attractions, local discounts, and transport tips that aren’t available digitally. These are curated by the city itself—often beautifully designed, incredibly detailed, and made with the assumption that locals will grab them, not tourists.

Sure, influencers and TikTok reels might drop a few hidden spots—but try converting a 30-second video into something useful for your itinerary doc or Google Maps list. It’s messy. It’s vague. And let’s be honest, half the time you don’t even get the location tag.
That’s why Nakama’s community-sourced advice shines—real people sharing real discoveries, written clearly, sorted helpfully, and delivered with local nuance you can trust. It’s the bridge between what you see and what you actually do in Japan.

🤐 Etiquette isn’t always obvious.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

There’s no instruction manual for blending in, but in Japan, everyone seems to already know the rules.
These aren’t signposted laws—they’re quiet cultural rhythms. You’re expected to observe, intuit, and adapt.

On escalators: stand on the left in Tokyo, the right in Osaka—and don’t block the standing lane.
In onsens: scrub yourself thoroughly before getting in—bathing while dirty is considered unclean, not just rude.
On trains: don’t speak on the phone. Ever. Silence isn’t just polite—it’s public etiquette.

But etiquette goes beyond behaviour—it’s also about understanding how things work, and how they’re supposed to work.

For instance:

Your Revolut card or Apple Wallet? Often unreliable. Many local shops, restaurants, and even train kiosks reject foreign cards and digital wallets.
Bringing a big suitcase on the Shinkansen? You now need to reserve a special spot for it—or risk a fine or having to stand with it.
And speaking of seats—always reserve a seat. Reserved cars far outnumber non-reserved ones, and skipping this step might land you in a packed train with nowhere to sit for three hours.
Thinking of doing some shopping? Many stores offer 10% off Tax-Free—but only if you know to bring and show your passport. It’s a golden perk most tourists only discover too late.
And then there’s luggage space. Every step of your trip, you’ll wish you had more hands, fewer bags, or some kind of teleportation. Japan is tidy, efficient… but not known for generous storage on metros, buses, or sidewalks.

These are the kinds of details no Instagram reel will warn you about. And even when you find a YouTube video or blog, it’s rarely contextualised or up-to-date. Here at Japan Nakama, we’re trying to change that.

🈳 The language barrier is real.

Image Credit: Xie lipton

Yes, English signage is growing. Yes, staff in major hubs will try to help. But outside city centres? You’ll be greeted by menus full of kanji, announcements only in Japanese, and restaurant booking systems that don’t even include a phone number.

Translation apps help, but they won’t explain the why. A sign might say “Don’t enter”—but you won’t know that it’s a sacred site.

Or that what looks like a regular door is a centuries-old tea room. Understanding context—not just translation—is the key to travelling well in Japan.

🚅 The systems are efficient—but not intuitive.

Image Credit: Kanchan Raj Pandey

Japan’s trains run like clockwork. But understanding how to use them? That’s a whole other story—somewhere between solving a Rubik’s cube blindfolded and surviving a real-life video game boss battle.

Let’s start with Tokyo. You’d think the capital of efficiency would have one cleanly unified subway system. But no—Tokyo decided to keep things spicy.

There are two entirely separate subway companies running the city’s underbelly:

Tokyo Metro (9 lines, mostly private), and
Toei Subway (4 lines, run by the Tokyo government).

They look unified on the map, but behind the scenes? They’re like rival siblings who share a room but refuse to share snacks.

So what does that mean for you, the wide-eyed traveller?

Different fares. Ride one, pay one fare. Transfer to the other? Boom—new fare deducted.
Separate ticket gates. Transferring lines? You may have to exit through one company’s gates and re-enter through another’s, even though you’re in the same station.
Distinct branding. They’ve got their own maps, signs, announcements… even their own mascots. It’s like navigating two parallel train dimensions.

There are a few glimmers of unity—shared day passes, and even a rare station or two where you can transfer without a second ticket—but the underlying reality remains: they are separate entities with separate systems, and your IC card doesn’t care that you’re confused.

Oh, and let’s not forget the stations themselves. Take Shinjuku Station, for example. With over 200 exits, it’s less of a station and more of a labyrinth built to test your will to live. One wrong turn and you’re in a different ward. You could miss your train just trying to find the platform… or the right exit… or daylight.

Even seasoned locals get turned around. Add in rush hour, an ocean of directional signage (some of which will only be in Japanese), and the subtle panic of being late for your Kyoto-bound Shinkansen, and you’ve got a recipe for transit-induced existentialism.

So yes, Japan’s systems are efficient—if you already know the choreography. But if you’re new? It can feel like you’re dancing out of sync in a silent musical.

So What Happens? You Wing It.

That’s exactly why we built Jetpac—and why here at Japan Nakama, we’re passionate about dispelling the unknowns that could trip up your trip.
We want your time in Japan to feel hassle-free, smooth, and deeply fulfilling—the kind of journey that leaves room for wonder, not worry.

Ready to plan smarter? Explore our Japan travel content hub:

Explore Japan – our main collection of cultural deep-dives, hidden gems, and destination spotlights. Read more.
Travel Tips – practical advice to help you avoid common pitfalls and travel like a local. Read more.
Travel Guides – in-depth itineraries and planning tools for cities, regions, and experiences across Japan. Read more.
Off the Beaten Path – uncover lesser-known places, local secrets, and authentic experiences beyond the usual tourist trail. Read more.

That’s Where Jetpac Comes In

We don’t just hand you a generic travel checklist. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Jetpac to tap into the most valuable resource out there: real travellers. Together, we’ve been engaging with people who’ve journeyed across Japan—collecting their most honest, unexpected, and practical anecdotal tips, all so you can benefit from their experience.

Because the best advice doesn’t always come from guidebooks or Google—it comes from stories, conversations, and the lessons you only learn once you’ve gotten a little lost. So we created:

🎒 Jetpac’s Top 100 Japan Travel Tips — A community-sourced guide packed with planning advice across etiquette, logistics, transport, accommodation, and more. Sign up to get yourself a free copy.
💸 Japan on a Budget: 100 Saving Hacks — Your go-to for stretching your yen, avoiding tourist traps, and accessing local deals and workarounds. Sign up to get yourself a free copy.
🎤 Jetpac Voxpops on YouTube — Raw, honest video interviews with travellers sharing their own Japan mishaps and what they wish they’d known. Watch & Follow us on Youtube.