There’s a lot to love about the Land of the Rising Sun. From fabulous food and fascinating history to awe-inspiring artworks and spectacular natural settings, Japan earns a well-deserved spot at the top of many a traveler’s bucket list.
While a visit to this far-flung locale (at least for those of us residing stateside) may seem daunting, a little preparation can go a long way. Even after spending hours combing through YouTube videos and travel blogs for my fall 2023 trip to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and the remote island of Ishigaki, I still had a lot to learn about traveling through Japan. Luckily for you, I’ve taken my mishaps and transformed them into a list of things I wish I had known before traveling to Japan so you don’t make the same mistakes I did. Here are seven things to know about Japan before packing your bags for your next bucket list adventure.
1. People care about how they look
Fashion is a way of life in Japan’s major cities and athleisurewear is not en vogue. In Tokyo and Osaka especially, people dress to impress whether heading to the office or for a night out with friends. Avoid a fashion faux pas by skipping the leggings and shorts and opting instead for trousers and dresses in breathable fabrics.
It’s also important to note that Japan is a fairly conservative country, so covering your knees and shoulders is typically a smart move, and be sure to leave the crop tops at home. Pack midi- or maxi-dresses and skirts, wide-leg cotton or linen pants, polos, blouses, and trousers. You’ll avoid feeling frumpy and you won’t have to run back to your hotel to change before a night out.
Pro tip: If you’re planning to visit Tokyo Disneyland (and I recommend you do!), you’ll want to up your park wardrobe game. Even park guests dress to impress for a day of merriment at the Happiest Place on Earth and you’ll want to follow suit.
2. The language barrier is not as complicated to navigate as you might think
One of my biggest fears about traveling to Japan was the language barrier. I was convinced that if I didn’t have a translator or speak passable Japanese that I would be completely lost and overwhelmed. Luckily, I was proven wrong time and again.
In major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, most folks working in the hospitality industry speak some English. Gesturing is also a common practice, so you can always just point to what you need at a store or on a restaurant menu, and the message will be received. I also found that in the tech-savvy world of Japan’s big cities, using a translation app like Google Translate was a perfectly acceptable form of communication — we even had a guide on a river cruise outside of Kyoto use Google Translate to point out various wildlife along the route.
While it’s fairly easy to traverse Japan’s major cities without learning Japanese, you should never assume that people speak English. Whenever I travel abroad, I try to learn at least basic phrases in the local language, like “hello,” “goodbye,” “please,” “thank you,” and “do you speak English?” At the bare minimum, asking someone if they speak English in their native language is a thoughtful gesture that shows you did some research before visiting.
3. Shrines are on top of mountains
When searching for the perfect shot of Fushimi Inari Taisha’s iconic orange torii gates or Kiyomizu-dera’s staggering wooden terrace, you might want to forgo the super-cute outfit for Instagram and strap on your hiking shoes instead. While they certainly draw crowds of international gawkers, these enchanting spots are first and foremost holy sites perched in secluded locations designed to instill a sense of awe and peace within their visitors — ie, on top of mountains overlooking the cityscape below.
It’s not uncommon to see tourists dressed to impress, struggling up the mountainsides only to ruin their carefully orchestrated hair and makeup just because they didn’t bother with a cursory Google search. To reach the peak of Fushimi Inari Taisha, for example, you’ll need to summit 12,000 steps, though that also means that those Instagram-worthy shots without the crowds are much more likely to be found at the top of the shrine than at the always-crowded base. In order to successfully reach these shrines, I’d recommend dressing appropriately (athleisurewear is ok here) and just enjoying the journey as much as the destination.
4. Tokyo is humid
When walking around the heart of Tokyo, it’s easy to forget that you’re just a few miles from the shores of Tokyo Bay — that is, until you start to sweat. It doesn’t get exceedingly hot in Tokyo, even in the summer, which can lull you into a false sense of security when planning to walk a few extra miles. I learned this lesson the hard way walking from Tokyo's Imperial Palace to the Tsukiji Outer Market. The 30-minute stroll started out pleasant with upper 70-degree temperatures and a light breeze. But things quickly took a turn thanks to the high humidity that reached its peak during our September visit.
While you shouldn’t let the humidity dampen your plans, you’ll want to take it into consideration during your visit. Wear breathable fabrics like cotton or linen, take public transportation when available and, if you do choose to walk a longer distance, plan a few rest stops and drink plenty of water.
5. Tokyo is huge
This may sound like a no-brainer, but Tokyo’s size is no joke. Prior to visiting, my perception of Tokyo was that it was an incredibly dense city, which while true, isn’t what shocked me the most. Though it looks fairly condensed on a map, the city is incredibly spread out with a footprint roughly the size of Los Angeles County. While bouncing around from attraction to attraction in a single day might work in compact European capitals, this strategy proved less than ideal in Tokyo.
Our plans to explore various neighborhoods throughout the day proved to be incredibly inefficient with transportation between destinations eating up a disproportionate amount of time, even with Japan’s super-efficient train system. To make the most of your visit, I’d suggest planning an itinerary around one or two adjacent neighborhoods, spending at least half a day in one part of town before moving on.
6. Plan to shop (bring an extra carry-on bag)
Souvenir shopping is a huge part of Japanese culture and you’ll want to get in on the craze. Even if you think you won’t want to buy much, I’d still recommend bringing at least an extra backpack (packing tip: buy a lightweight hiking backpack, pack it flat inside your suitcase, and voila: an extra carry-on for souvenirs) to carry any extras you might feel so inclined to buy.
From the snacks and engraved chopsticks to porcelain products and vintage gaming gear, there’s bound to be something that catches your eye during your visit to Japan, and you won’t want to leave it behind just because you didn’t plan ahead.
7. Reservations are a must for upscale dining
Following an extended tourism ban after the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan is a hot destination on just about everyone’s bucket list. Read: It’s BUSY.
If you’re looking to experience an over-the-top Japanese meal (think top-tier sushi, tempura, kaiseki, etc.), you’ll need to make reservations far in advance. High-end restaurants in major cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka book up quickly and are often difficult to reserve as a tourist. If you’re staying at a hotel, cozy up to the concierge and ask them to help you snag a seat at one of these spots.
If fine dining isn’t what you’re after, you can get away with not making reservations in Tokyo and Osaka, where quality ramen shops and sushi spots can be found on every block (just keep in mind that you may have to wait a bit). Kyoto, however, is a different story. Restaurants in this ancient city are typically tiny eight to 10-seat joints that require hard-to-get reservations and rarely accept walk-ins. Unfortunately, these business owners have been burned one too many times by tourists who make reservations and cancel (or worse, just never show up). When you only have eight seats in your restaurant, that’s a lot of lost revenue. These folks are understandably wary of allowing foreign tourists to make reservations, which is why having a relationship with a concierge or local guide is extra helpful here. You can also try your luck in the historic Gion district, where casual izakaya (pubs), ramen joints, and dumpling shops offer a more easygoing ambiance.
In my opinion, reservations may not even be worth the stress. The best meals we had in Japan were from street food stalls at the local markets. My advice? Eat a big, late lunch at a market like Nishiki Market in Kyoto or Kuromon Market in Osaka, and opt for a casual light dinner at a ramen or dumpling shop to round out your day. Or skip dinner altogether and buy a few sweet treats instead.
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