Japan Travel Guide for First Timers: Everything You NEED to Know Before You Go 🇯🇵

Japan Travel Guide for First Timers: Everything You NEED to Know Before You Go 🇯🇵

Kunichiwa and welcome to our Japan guide for first timers. We spent an entire month exploring this fascinating country and we can honestly say it is now our favorite country in the world. From the bustling streets of Tokyo to the peaceful temples of Kyoto, neon lights of Osaka to the onsons in the mountains, it was everything we dreamed of and more. [Music] Oh yeah. [Music] So, if you’re planning a trip to the land of sushi, Sakura, and samurai, or have always been curious about visiting Japan, then you’ve clicked on the right video. We’re going to cover everything from entry requirements, currency, how to pay for things, daily budgets, where to stay, how to get around, what to do, what not to do, and safety. I’ll also be talking about something that happened to me as a female that absolutely shocked me, so stay tuned for that. After hours of planning and deep diving into Japanese travel tips, this is the guide we wish we had before our trip. A one-stop shop. Let’s kick things off with how to get to Japan. Japan is located here in East Asia and is made up of four main islands. There’s Honu, Hokkaido, Kishu, and Shikoku. Most international flights land in Tokyo, either at Narita or Haneda airport. Although you’ll also find direct flights to Osaka, Nagoya or Fukawaka depending on where you’re coming from. If it’s your first trip to Japan, then we recommend flying into either Tokyo or Usaka which are great starting points. We flew from Cape Town, South Africa using Etihad Airways. Our return flight costs around 14,000 rand per person. We always use Google flights to compare routes and dates for the best deals. As for visas, Japan offers visa-free travel for many nationalities. With our UK and Irish passports, we got 90 days visa-free on arrival. The US, Canada, and most EU citizens get the same, but for countries like South Africa, you are required to apply for visa in advance online on this website and then you’ll generally receive it within the week. Check the official Japanese immigration site to see what your country’s eligibility is. Travel insurance is not legally required, but we never travel without it. Japan is incredibly safe, but medical costs can be very high, and earthquakes and tsunamis are a real risk. Our go-to is Safety Wing. We’ve used them for years. They cover everything from natural disasters to miss flights, and you can sign up from the airport in under a minute and cancel anytime you want. So, scan the QR code and check the link below to sign up. Quick tip though, do bring yourself a pen to fill out the disembarkation card and the customs declaration form at the airport or alternatively you can complete these online through the visit Japan website and then you’ll receive a QR code to show at immigration. All right, now for currency. Japan uses the Japanese yen and it’s mostly a cashbased society even today. So, yes, you will need cash, although a lot of tourist sites do actually cater to card payments. When we were there in March, April, 1,000 yen was about $6.50. And a basic meal would cost around $800 to $1,500 yen, which is about $612 per person, depending on the area. That’s for nothing fancy. We’re talking a basic conveyor belt, sushi, or a ramen restaurant. Delicious. Vending machines were everywhere, and a drink from those typically cost about $2. We’ll talk more about the budget and what to expect to pay for the trip a bit later in this video. As for getting money out, the best is to use an ATM, which are basically everywhere in every 7-Eleven convenience store. So, if you can’t find the ATM at the airport, check the convenience store. We had no problem using any of our international cards in Japan. As for currency exchange, we don’t really recommend exchanging cash at the airport. The rates aren’t the best there. Most cities do accept Visa and Mastercards, especially the hotels, malls, and train stations, but in smaller towns, traditional restaurants, temples, even the street food vendors, cash is still king. We carried around 130 USD cash and topped up whenever we needed. A little pro tip, always carry a little coin purse because you will accumulate so many coins, honestly. As for the best time to visit, Japan has four distinct seasons. There’s spring, which is from March to May. It’s famous for the cherry blossoms, and I’d say one of the best times to go. Then there’s summer, which is from June to August. It’s hot, humid, and home to amazing festivals and parties. Then the autumn is from September to November. It’s super colorful, and the air is nice and crisp. Just incredible. The next time we go, we’re definitely going to be going in autumn. And then there’s the winter, which runs from December to February. It’s great for skiing in Hokkaido and the snow monkeys in Nag. Hands down, spring and autumn are the best times to visit for ideal weather and absolutely beautiful scenery. We went in late March, early April, and it was still actually very cold, but the crowds were perfect just before the peak Sakura Madness in late April. It definitely got way busier during the peak cherry blossom season. It’s so beautiful, but my goodness, prepare for crowds and long lines at the airport, restaurants everywhere. Summer can also be brutally humid, I’ve heard, especially in Tokyo and Osaka. But if you’re heading to the beaches of Okinawa or catching a Matsuri, which is a festival, it’s worth the sweat. And then winter, it’s absolutely fantastic for snow lovers. Japan has some of the best powder skiing in the world. There is a time to avoid. It’s Golden Week, which is from late April to early May. And apparently New Year’s is also a period to avoid. Be prepared for huge crowds and huge prices. As for what to pack, Japan is clean and efficient, but if you’re lugging a heavy suitcase around, it can be help. you will most likely be navigating a lot of public transport. And trust me, it’s not fun jumping on and off buses and trains with a lot of luggage. Then there is also those tiny little houses on the fifth floor with small staircases that you’re going to have to carry your bags up. So, be prepared. Unless you’re doing hotels for your entire stay, you’ll be fine. So, pack light and then bring an extra suitcase for all the epic shopping you’ll be doing. We actually ordered a new suitcase in the middle of our trip from level 8 just for that reason. And then do pack yourself a small day bag and a separate toiletries bag if you’re planning to do capsule hotels or host. The bathrooms are on totally different levels to your beds and the private rooms. So you’ll need to lug up your stuff up and down all the levels. And then you also need that day bag to carry around your own trash because trash bins are incredibly rare to come by. It’ll take you hours before you even find one on the streets, believe me. So, you have to keep all of your trash on you. But apparently, you can get rid of all of your trash at any of the convenience stores. They don’t mind. Convenience stores happen to be pretty convenient. All right. Then you need to bring comfy shoes. You’ll be doing around 15,000 steps a day in Japan. It’s quite insane. I just wore my ASEX and Clary had her little Converse shoes on and she seemed to do all right. Yeah, they did the job. Then don’t forget to pack a universal plug adapter. We all know how stressful it can be figuring out exactly what travel adapter to take on your travels like this trip where we paired South Korea and Japan together and they used completely different plugs. Japan uses type A and B and then South Korea uses type C and F. We spent our first few hours in Japan going around to all the big camera stores trying to find the right adapter. Well, not anymore. We’ve just made our travels a heck of a lot easier with the incredible Epica Universal Travel Adapter. Look at all the adapters we’ve collected over the years. We were constantly trying to figure out which one to take to which country, often forgetting to pack the right one, and then having to purchase a whole new one while abroad, even losing some. Finally, there’s no need to go through all of that with this little gem. They call it the Swiss Army knife of adapters. An all-in-one travel adapter that works in over 150 countries worldwide like Japan, Italy, US, EU, UK, and Australia. We have the TA 105, which has four USBA ports, one USBC port, and one universal AC socket. You can charge up to six devices simultaneously on this one, and it’s very simple to use. You just push and slide the button A of whichever plug you’ll need to use in whichever country, and then push button B to retrieve the plug back in. Their comprehensive product lineup has made Epica the number one universal travel adapter brand in the US. So, if this specific model doesn’t suit your needs, you need more USB ports, or you need higher wattage, then check out all the other models they have available. Head to the link down in the description and grab yourself a universal travel adapter for all of your future travels. And use our code epica 10 off for 10% off all adapters. And during Prime Day, there will also be additional Amazon instore discounts that you can stack on top of this offer. So get shopping now. Then don’t forget to pack your JR train pass if you choose to get one. If you choose to use the bullet train between every single one of your destinations, you’ll save a lot of money using the pass. You need to order it to your home address in advance and then take it with you to Japan. Here’s the link to it on get your guide, but we’ll talk more about the JL pass later in the transportation section. As for clothing, that does depend on the season. In spring, you can wear jeans and long sleeve shirts, but do bring some sweaters, jerseys, beanies, and thermals because the weather can be very unpredictable. Very much so. We froze our butts off in spring, and we went just before and during blossom season from 6th of March to the 15th of April. We are South African though, so we’re not really used to cold weather here at all. Then in summer, you can pack much lighter clothes than that, but nothing too revealing. The Japanese are quite modest, so t-shirts, flowy dresses, shorts, stuff like that. The humidity and heat is unbearable in that season. So, girls, bring your UTI mids in case antipersperence, wet wipes, hats, and sunscreen. In autumn or winter, it gets very cold. Tokyo hits about degrees in winter and places like Sapora drop far below. So, layer up coats, boots, scarf, gloves, thermals. As we mentioned, Japan has had some of the biggest snowfall in the world, so skiing is fantastic. Just pack accordingly for that. Other musthaves, like Larry mentioned, a coin purse. Seriously, guys, you’ll be collecting a lot of coins. As I was walking through the city, my pants were jingling all the way. And then bring swimwear for the onen, although you might not even use it because onens actually require you to be completely nude. It’s one of their rules. It’s fun. It’s scary, but you have to do it. And then reusable water bottle. Bring that because the tap water in Japan is drinkable. Bring bug spray in the summer because mosquitoes love Tokyo. And face masks. They are still common practice in crowded areas or if you’re feeling sick, but you can buy them at any 7-Eleven store. And then sanitary products, ladies. They are available in Japan, but it’s all in Japanese. So, if you’re very particular, then bring your own. Another thing, motion sickness tablets. If you’re prone to that, unfortunately, I suffered like hell on all of the trains and especially with the Shin Kansen. It made me feel very nauseious. If you forget anything, should you stress? Absolutely not. Oh my word. The shopping is fantastic. Especially in Tokyo, they have Uniqlo, Gu, Zara, H&M, everything. Vintage shops, even the local drugstores are treasure troves. And our favorite store by far is Dongi Hotel. Love that shop. Obsessed. And then if you go to the smaller towns, you will want to be a bit more prepared because the shopping’s not as good in those. As for where to go, we’ll have our full Japan it video linked above for you. But here are our top spots. Tokyo for the ultimate city of contrast. We loved our time there. The ramen shops in Shinjuku, the beautiful Senoji Temple, Chibi Crossing at night, the team labs. It was just mindblowing. You can watch our 4-day guide to Tokyo linked above, too. And we love doing the sushi thing as well. Oh my gosh. Yes, that was a highlight for us. Sushi making class. We’ll link all of those in our ghetto guide wish list for you. Then Kyoto, my favorite, the cultural heart of Japan. You have to visit Fushima Inari’s 10,000 Tory gates, Adashi Bamboo Grove, which we didn’t actually get to see. Definitely experience a traditional tea ceremony and go to the tea houses. Oh my gosh, it was unbelievable. Then Osaka, it is a foodies heaven. And this is actually Red’s favorite city. Dog Buri Street at night was insane. Make sure you try Takoyaki and Okonomi Yaki. H we actually did a food tour on Get Your Guide and it was mixing handy. Fantastic. N it’s a quick day trip from either Kyoto or Osaka where the tame deer bow to you in exchange for treats. A thousand% worth the trek over there. And then of course Mount Fuji. Oh my gosh, it’s the most epic destination. You won’t even believe how incredible that mountain is. And then the best areas in in and around the mountain are Fuji Oshida and Hakon. There’s lots of onins and hot springs and just epic views of Mount Fuji. And then Nagago, you go there for skiing or for the snow monkeys. Make sure you are going in the right season. We went in spring and there was no snow and they won’t even Yeah, they didn’t even want a bath. It was actually a bit too warm for them. We had one or two in the water. That’s a good monkey. The paid acting. And then Hiroshima, although we didn’t get to experience it, we’ve heard that it’s incredibly moving and still important to visit. And then there is a famous island called Miaima Island and it has famous floating tory gates. So you can add that to your list. And then finally, Hokkaido in the winter is fantastic and Okinawa in the summer. So depending on your vibe, literally Japan has it all. We’ll link our Japan playlist if you want to watch a bit more in detail of each of the places we’ve mentioned before. As for the length of stay, we recommend a minimum of 2 weeks if you’re planning to visit Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka with maybe a few days on the side for trips to Nara, Hiroshima, and Hakone. You could squeeze Tokyo and Kyoto into 10 days, but please don’t skip Osaka. Like Clary said, it’s my favorite, and it’s the food scene is just insane. Ideally, we’d say 3 weeks is best to spend a bit more time in each location, but also to cover Mount Fuji and Nago as well. It’s the perfect amount of time to cover most of the country. But if you have less time, here is a rough itinerary for you. We would say 3 to 4 days Tokyo, 3 days in Kyoto, although I personally would do more cuz there’s so many temples and markets and tea houses to visit. Then 3 to 4 days Osaka. and then do one or two or three days for Nara, Hakone, and even Hiroshima or Miaima Island. All right, let’s dive into accommodation. Japan has a wide range of accommodations from capsule hotels to traditional Leokans, budget host to luxury skyscraper hotels. We’d suggest trying a mixture of it all. We stayed at a 9-hour capsule hotel. It was more like a hostel though for two nights. And while it was fun, I don’t think I’d actually do it for longer than that. It was fantastically affordable though at around $35 a night. We then stayed in traditional Japanese Airbnbs with these tiny little bathtubs, tatami mats, and the mattress on the floor the traditional way. It’s a very cool experience cuz this is how a lot of the locals live. And then by far our favorite type of accommodation was a lean, which is a traditional Japanese inn where you get kimonos everyday to wear. You have tatami mats and traditional rooms and then huge breakfasts and dinners every single day consisting of you cooking your own meals like miso soup, shaboo shaboo, stir fries and then of course the creme de la creme. There were on sins for you to soak in multiple times a day. And you can find these three types of accommodations all over Japan. Use booking.com and a goto to find hotels and book in advance. Japan is popular and things book out quickly. We also use Airbnb a bit to book stays with the kitchen, but we didn’t actually end up cooking a lot because the food is incredible and convenient stores are life. Life hot already made affordable meals and snacks never more than 200 m away. It was fantastic. We literally lived off 7-Eleven. We spent roughly 100 USD a night on accommodation. You could easily spend more if you stay at nicer places than us. Our biggest tip is to stay in accommodation that is near train station. After 15,000 steps a day, the last thing you’ll want to do is walk kilometers from the train station to your accommodation. Unless you’re staying in super budget places, then you’ve got no choice. We’ve listed over 20 accommodation options in our Japan resource pack linked down below, ranging from cozy budget stays to full-blown luxury leakans. We also include our Google Maps link to all the best restaurants, cafes, and hidden gems to visit. So, check that down in the description. All right, then. As for budget, Japan can be surprisingly affordable or very expensive depending on how you travel. If you’re a backpacker, expect to spend around $60 to $80 a day. For comfort, then it’s around $1 to200 a day, which is our bracket. Then luxury, you can easily spend $300 a day. We spent around $4,900 on our trip, excluding flights, and that was for 26 nights in total, which worked out to exactly $190 a day. That is eating out one to two meals, doing everything from temples and museums to bullet trains and food tours. That’s not bad. Not too bad. Compared to our Switzerland trip where we averaged $341 a day, Japan felt pretty reasonable. Totally. Now, for transportation and getting around, Japan has one of the best public transportation systems in the world. Period. The trains. Get yourself a Japan rail pass. If you’re planning to travel via bullet train between all the cities, it can potentially save you hundreds of dollars, but you do need to order it months in advance to your house. Here is the QR code. If you are staying in just like the top three Tokyo, maybe one more place, then you can get the JR pass and you can get an Icy card like the Sua or Pasmo to tap in and out of the subways, the buses, even the vending machines. You can now also add the speaker to your iPhone or Android device via the wallet app. It’s a game changer. We honestly didn’t get the JR pass because we chose not to use bullet trains for our entire trip. We only used the Shinkansen three times from Tokyo to Osaka, Osaka to Mount Fuji, and then from Naganor back to Tokyo. The total cost for all of our Shinkansen tickets was $500 for the both of us. That’s cheaper than a single 14-day JR pass, which is 584, and you can only use it for one person. Granted, if we add all of our other train and bus costs for the whole trip, the total does come to $900. The Shinkansen is super fast, crazy efficient, but actually very expensive. So, if you’re traveling long distance, but you want to get there fast, it is the way to go. Like I mentioned, they are expensive and there is no service offered on the train. So, you have to buy your own food and drinks and take it onto the train with you. You can buy the Shinkansen tickets at any JR station at either the counter or one of the vending machines. Just look for the green or blue signs. When booking the tickets, you can either buy a reserved or non-reserved ticket. If you buy non-reserve, which is slightly cheaper, then you can only sit in one of the nonreserved cars and the seating is on a first come first serve basis. If you’re going in seriously busy seasons, we’d recommend purchasing tickets a few days in advance online rather than in person at the station. We have the link in our resource pack for you. For the subway and buses, each city has its own system, and they’re all clean, punctual, and safe. For e-haling, we use Uber on the travel days when we didn’t feel like carrying our luggage through train stations. You can use it to hail a taxi in cities like Tokyo and Osaka, but we actually recommend the Go app instead, which was a lot more reliable. Taxis are regulated and metered, and no one will try to scam you, thankfully, which is quite rare for taxis in the world, and you can pay cash or card. We had a very pleasant experience hailing one in Tokyo, so don’t be afraid of trying them. Then for car rental, you don’t need a car in the cities. But if you’re planning to explore more rural areas like Hokkaido, Mount Fuji, Nagana, or even the Japanese Alps, it’s absolutely worth renting one. Just remember they drive on the left hand side of the road and the right hand side of the car, and you’ll need an international driving permit. Fairies. For places like the Miaima Island or Kunawa, you might find yourself on a ferry. They’re safe and they’re fun. And you can use 12go Asia to book those. We actually took an overnight ferry from Japan to South Korea that was literally 18 hours long, but there is a very fast one that takes a few hours. Then domestic flights. Japan’s lowcost airlines like Peach, Jet Star, and Anna are reliable and cheap. You can fly from Tokyo to Okinawa for around 150 USD one way. All right, language and culture. Japanese is the official language and while many people understand basic English, it’s good to download Google Translate, especially with the camera feature for menus. Here are some basic phrases we got by with hello, which is thank you, which is and you have to bow. Just saying is not good enough apparently. No, no, it’s not. So, don’t forget the goas. And then how much is ikura desuka? The culture is deeply respectful, orderly, and quiet. So please be mindful of noise on public transport. Take off your shoes when you enter homes and always queue up even at the convenience stores. It’s worth mentioning that the Japanese are so open to sharing their culture with you that they even allow you to dress in the traditional attire and kimono and visit the shrines and the temples or anywhere really in kimono. You can rent it on Get Your Guide or you’ll see them everywhere. And it’s absolutely a fantastic experience to embrace the Japanese culture so openly like that. It is not disrespectful. And then there’s an onen culture or etiquette that you need to abide by. There’s a whole bunch of rules. I won’t go through them now, but one of them is mainly you have to be nude, obviously. You shouldn’t sweat, and you shouldn’t have any tattoos. Yes. Yeah. And just be very mindful and respectful of everyone else in the onen with you. So, there are showers next to the onen where you completely wash yourself before you get in. Ladies, you have to put your hair up in a towel and yeah, completely nude. They are very, very hot, but they’re incredibly good for healing. Oh, yeah. And if they say take off all your jewelry, do it. I left this silver bangle, which has now gone silver again, luckily. But it literally turned chrome from the onen. That’s how intense the minerals are in there. Very good for you. As for the tattoos, you can go to an onen if it is a private onen. So, if you’re in a hotel and they allow you to, that’s okay. If you get your own Leoan room with a private onen, you’re allowed to go in with tattoos. There’s a whole culture around it. It’s absolutely fantastic. And we highly recommend you get nude with strangers. Lots of fun. Oh, and if you’re wearing a backpack on the train, it is respectful to turn it around and wear it on your front so you don’t bump people. Japan is also a mix of Shinto and Buddhist traditions with deep reverence for nature, history, and minimalism. You’ll experience this in temples, onens, gardens, and even the vending machines. We absolutely loved the culture in Japan, and it left such a big imprint on us, and I think it’s the reason why it is our favorite country now because there’s just no place like it on this earth. As for what to eat and drink, this deserves its own video, honestly, but here are a few musts. Ramen, obviously, and there’s so many different types. Good luck. sushi, takoyaki, which are little octopus balls, okonomiyaki, which is this delicious savory pancake, soba and udon noodles, yaki tori, and then tonkatsu curry rice. Yummy. Then convenience store food, guys. It is that good. 7-Eleven tuna mayo oniri. It’s elite. And so are the gyozas. They’re fantastic. You did not stop eating the gyozas. I ate about a million of them and I miss him every day. And then Japanese breakfast. It’s an interesting one with usually fish, miso, soup, pickles, and rice. The best place to experience a traditional Japanese breakfast is at the Leokan. Then desserts obviously machi. You must also try matcha everything. Tayyaki, melon pan, Japanese cheesecake. There is just so much to eat. And then for drinks, there’s sake of course the number one. Then plum wine, lemon sour, matcha tea, of course, in a tea ceremony. You have to do one of those. And then the canned coffees from the vending machines. Super convenient. As for alcohol, legal drinking age is 20 and you can buy alcohol at any convenience store again. And the bars in Shinjuku and Shibuya are next level fun. Drinking culture in the cities is actually like so interesting. We didn’t get to experience it much, but many people get so drunk in the middle of the night and because the trains stop at midnight, they all sleep in the stations and wait for the earliest train the next morning. And then a lot of the people around them tend to bring water bottles all around them so that when they wake up from their terrible hangover, they can drink a bottle of water. It’s such an interesting culture. And then while on the topic of eating, we need to mention the very important custom that is to finish your food when you’re eating at a local’s home or even in the restaurants. If the food is left unfinished, it will be seen as disrespectful to the ones who prepared it. So, it’s just something to keep in mind. Absolutely. And also, if you want the locals to like you. True. All right. Then for apps to download, Google or Apple Maps are going to help you a lot. If you’re venturing out of the cities without cell data, then don’t forget to download the offline maps. Then the same goes for Google Translate. It’s also tremendously useful. And download the Japanese offline mode as well. You can download the Japan official travel app for the train timets and local tips, although we didn’t really make use of it. We got by without it. Then get your guide for booking tickets to attractions or food tours. We booked every fun thing we did in Japan on this platform. It’s great. Then the Go app for taxis as we mentioned. Then Olafly for eims. We’ll leave a link for that down below for you. Super important to be connected at all times. Now let’s go on to SIM cards and internet. You can grab a SIM card at the airport when you land, although I actually didn’t see many stands at all. or you can go the eim route with something like an Odafly eim. For physical sim cards, popular options include SoftBank, AU, and DOC. We didn’t go this route though. We just did the ESIM with Olafly, and it was incredible. We had instant connection as we landed. There was no need to seek out a SIM card company or potentially get overcharged because apparently Japan’s data isn’t exactly cheap. Internetwise, we had a mixed experience. We got really fast internet in our first Airbnb and then really bad internet in some of our other ones. Some cafes were great with speeds of over 50 megabytes, but most Airbnbs and budget accommodation, the Wi-Fi was really slow. We were so surprised by this that we expected Tokyo to have super high technology and really fast internet, but it just didn’t turn out to be the case in some places. Next up, let’s talk health and medical. Thearmacies in Japan are everywhere and they’re called Kusuria. They’re well stocked, clean, and super professional. But here’s the thing. You actually usually need a prescription for anything stronger than any cold medication. So, there’s that. And use Google Translate. It’s your best friend here if you don’t speak Japanese. We had to see a physiootherapist/acupuncturist for Red’s back. Once again, it was kind of expensive, but Japan does have amazing healthcare. You will want to have your travel insurance because private clinics and stuff like that really do add up. Then vaccination wise, we always keep our typhoid and hepatitis A and B shots updated just in case. They’re not required for Japan, but they are recommended. Japan is super clean, but still better safe than sorry. And while rabies isn’t really a major concern here, unlike a lot of places with a lot of stray animals, if you’re heading into the rural areas or doing outdoor activities and adventures, it’s something to ask your doctor about before you travel. As for healthy food, Japan is a dream. Fresh produce, clean ingredients, healthy, convenient store meals. Yes, really. And lots of fish, tofu, and vegetables. The quality is excellent. Fruit is weirdly expensive, though. You’ll see apples being sold individually for like $3. I think it’s those special Fuji apples. They’re very delicious. Or a pack of strawberries for like $80, I’ve seen. Is that much? Yes. It was viral on Tik Tok. Well, but overall, it’s easy to eat. Well, for tipping, the good news is tipping is not a thing in Japan. In fact, if you try and leave a tip, staff might run after you to try and give your money back. Excellent service is just part of the culture. So, no awkward tipping moments, no calculations. We love it. As for weather and natural disasters, Japan is definitely a bit of an interesting one, and we found ourselves a bit anxious thinking about natural disasters when we were there. To be honest, earthquakes are the biggest concern. Japan sits on multiple tectonic plates, so tremors are part of life here. Most buildings, especially newer ones, are designed to handle them, but it is good to be prepared. You can download an earthquake alert app like call or nerve if you are worried. We have to mention this and it is something we did think about when we were there and that is what everyone is calling the big one which refers to the long anticipated massive earthquake expected to strike along the Nankai trough which is a deep ocean trench that runs along the southern coast of Japan’s main islands. It’s a potentially devastating mega thrust earthquake that could be a magnitude of 8 to 9 plus. It is expected to severely affect densely populated areas like Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya as well as much of the Pacific coastline. And then it goes without saying that along with earthquakes comes tsunamis obviously which Japan has had a number of terrible ones in the past too. I think it was 2011. It was very bad. In fact, right in the middle of our trip, while we were sitting in Osaka, a coastal city that’s going to be hit by the big one, our families messaged us saying they heard on the news that the government has definitely said that the mega quake is going to hit within the next 30 years. There’s an 80% chance. And they released like the projected numbers of fatalities and it got the country in a huge st. It’s apparently the first time they’ve even ever acknowledged like this mega thrust and warned their people beforehand. And we were there. And then typhoons can hit from June to October, especially in the south. If you’re traveling during this season, check the weather often and be ready for delays or cancellations. Then lastly, flooding and landslides can also happen during the rainy season, which is June to July, especially in the rural or mountainous areas. Again, don’t stress too much. Just stay informed. Okay, now that that dreadful subject is over, let’s move on to safety and scams. Another dreadful one to talk about. Not too bad, right? Japan is one of the safest countries we’ve ever traveled to. The crime rates are super low and people are incredibly honest. We’ve even seen people leave their phones and their wallets and their laptops on tables and nobody touches them. That being said, though, there are still a few things to watch out for. Something happened to me in Tokyo. It happens with a lot of females every day and it’s a phenomenon called bhakari or took. It’s where a man will accidentally assault you by either ramming into you, elbowing you, or hitting you with an item. It happened to me in Tokyo just before this photo was taken near the anime capital, Akihabara. Yes. In the gaming area. So, I was walking leisurely when all of a sudden I was hit. so hard on the back of my head. I stumbled and then I looked up and it’s this tiny Japanese man that’s smiling but apologizing saying sorry and then within 5 seconds he was gone. I was so confused. He acted as if he had bumped into me but it was not possible because we were in this gigantic open wide space and there was no one around. There’s no ways he would have not seen me in front of him. He also wasn’t on his phone, so it confused the hell out of me. I ended up walking up to Rhett and I burst into tears because I had an instant headache and I was literally just in shock to be honest. But I did presume that it was a must have been a mistake cuz this is Japan after all. And I took a headache tablet and I went on with the day. It was only on Tik Tok a few weeks later where I found this video that explained exactly what happened to me is actually planned and it’s sick little men that get a kick out of targeting weaker looking women like me. Very hectic and something to be aware of ladies. And then there’s some nightlife scams especially in Tokyo’s Capoko district or dobury. Some bars might overcharge you or add mystery fees to your bill. Look out for these beautiful hosts and these pretty ladies. We saw them in Shinjuku in Tokyo. It they just gorgeous anime looking people that try and lure you into the bar. It’s a well-known tourist trap, although it’s not really a scam. It’s just the culture there. You find yourself in there. There will be strippers and all sorts of stuff and overpriced drinks and they get you in by saying that there’s no cover charges. And then he says, “Pretty girls inside and come and learn uh about the local ladies. Just one drink, very cheap Japanese experience. Come meet local women.” And then inside the venue, you go there and then you get your bill at the end of it and it’s like $1,000 literally for a couple of drinks because on that bill you are paying for companionship. So the hostess charge companionship fee. They charge you a little amount for their time and their beauty. And then they also charge for like random things like the table and all sorts. Anyway, avoid it. If you don’t want to pay thousand dollars for like two drinks or just go and do it. It’s an experience in Japan after all. If you got money to burn, go for it. And then finally, guys, we are on our last section. Japan is very respectful, a rules-based society. Keep your voice down on trains and don’t talk on your phone in public transport. At temples and shrines, dress modestly and behave respectfully. There’s no need to cover your head, but do avoid flashy or revealing outfits. Trash bins are rare, especially in Tokyo and after the 1995 subway bombing. So, like we mentioned, carry your little bag with your rubbish. Something very important, if you are a smoker, they are very strict with smoking. You cannot just smoke out in the open in public. It is not allowed. There was this video of an American woman that got into trouble because she was skiing on she was on the slopes, the ski slopes, and then she smoked thinking she’s in nature, she’s in the wide open, not around anyone, that it was fine. No, it is not. They are very specific designated smoking areas, generally like a tiny little part outside a 7-Eleven or something like that. So, do ask the locals. They’ll guide you. And there’ll be little like smoking booths on the street outside some of the train stations and stuff. It’s just packed with like 20 people in this place. So yeah, don’t just smoke anywhere, guys. You’ll get into trouble. Even vaping. No. No. Also, flying drones not allowed. I didn’t even take my drone. So, if you’re wondering about that and you’re a videographer or YouTuber yourself, I just left mine at home and just got some stock footage instead. Much safer and way less stressful. One thing we have to mention which was an absolute highlight for our time in Japan were the arcades. You can type in Taito station into your Google maps. They are all over the country and they are phenomenal because they are arcades where you can genuinely win stuff. Like the claw machines actually do win by our three wins. Yeah. They’re not trying to screw you over, guys. Exactly. And honestly, as pros at this point at the claw machine, the tip is to just keep trying. Move the object closer and closer to the hole and you will get it in. I just had to mention that because flip. It was your best day. Yes. Highlight of the entire time. And that is it, my friends. You are all set for Japan. If you’ve got any questions or tips of your own, please drop them in the comments or DM us on Instagram. And if you found this video at all helpful, please can you give the video a like? It really helps get it out. And don’t forget to watch some of our other Japan videos linked below for you and grab our Japan resource pack for all the links and best places to go. Have the best time and enjoy every moment of one of the most fascinating countries on this earth. What’s goodbye in Japanese? I don’t even know what’s going to tell the people. I don’t know. Leave it in the comments. All right, guys. Bye-bye. [Music]

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🇯🇵 Planning your first trip to Japan? This ultimate Japan travel guide for first-timers covers everything you need to know before you go—from navigating Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, to cultural etiquette, transportation, budgeting, and must-see attractions. Whether you’re visiting Japan in 2025 or planning far ahead, this video will help you avoid common mistakes and make the most of your adventure!

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✅ What you’ll learn in this Japan travel guide:

Top travel tips for first-time visitors
What to pack for Japan
How to use trains and transport like a local
Japanese etiquette and cultural do’s and don’ts
Budget travel hacks and money-saving tips
Best places to visit in Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and beyond
🎒 Whether you’re a solo traveler, couple, or planning your first international trip—this guide is packed with insights to help you travel Japan with confidence.

Chapters:
0:00 – Intro
1:30 – How to get to Japan
2:10 – Visas
3:22 – Currency in Japan
4:49 – Best time to visit Japan
6:28 – What to pack for Japan/ shopping
12:52 – Where to go/what to do
15:24 – Length of stay
16:24 – Accommodation and prices
18:43 – Daily Budgets
19:31 – Transportation
23:09 – Language and culture
26:02 – What to eat in Japan (eating culture)
28:28 – Apps to download
29:16 – Sim cards and internet
30:16 – Medical and health care in Japan
31:57 – Should you tip?
32:12 – Weather and natural disasters
34:23 – Safety and scams (Claires story)
37:41 – Other important things to note

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