A Beginner’s Guide To Japan

The Land of the Rising Sun.

Japan is ahead of the rest of the world in more than just time (they are winning the race for the fastest-shrinking population, too). Sure, the Japanese have sushi, sumo, samurai, and Shiba Inus, but the country has much more to offer than stereotypes (although karaoke is fantastic).

Quick Japan Facts

• Capital: Tokyo
• Language: Japanese
• Currency: Yen (¥) / En 円 (JPY)
• Population: 126,659,683
• Time Zone: JST (UTC+9)
• Calling Code: +81
• Drives On: Left
• Drinking Age: 20
• Drinking In Public: Legal
• Drinking Tap Water: Safe
• Flushing Toilet Paper: Okay
• Vaccinations Required: None
• Credit Cards: Not accepted everywhere; carry cash.
• Tipping: Not expected
• Emergency Number: 119
• Outlets: America-style with two flat prongs
• Visa Requirements: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Japan Basics

• LANGUAGE | Yes, Japanese is scary. Not only can you not speak or understand, but now you can’t even read the names of things. Japanese consists of two different alphabets (katakana and hiragana), each comprising 48 characters, used in conjunction with kanji (or characters). Good luck.
   
• GETTING AROUND | A beautiful (and complex) system of rail lines connects Japan, allowing you to navigate both within cities and between them easily. Japan’s discount airline, Peach, offers flights as cheap as $30 within Japan and has great deals on flights to Taiwan or Korea as well.
   
• BUDGET TRAVEL | Japan may be home to one of the world’s most expensive cities (Tokyo), but Japan does not have to be costly. Just like many other countries, affordable food, accommodation, and transportation can be easily found by those seeking them. Save on rice and ramen for your big night out at the infamous Robot Restaurant.
   
• THINGS TO DO | Personally, my favorite thing to do was go to karaoke (especially nomihoudai karaoke). However, Japan offers plenty of outdoor activities, from hiking volcanoes to getting naked with Japanese strangers at onsens. However, the complete list of traditionally Japanesey things to do is quite extensive (everything from tea ceremonies to taiko drumming).
   
• WHEN TO GO | Japan has seasons, but Japan also spans an impressive latitude, making when to visit the country a complicated decision. Summer on the beaches of Okinawa? Skiing the mountains of Honshu in the winter? Maybe the autumn leaves of Kyoto? Prefer cherry blossom viewing in the spring? You really can’t go wrong.

Japan Photos

What to Eat

• SUSHI | Largely synonymous with “Japanese food”, sushi is as popular as one would expect in Japan. The country is littered with sushi bars ranging from $1 rotation sushi restaurants to some of the highest-regarded restaurants in the world. The best part? It’s all delicious.
   
• RAMEN | Not all the ramen in the world is of the “top” variety. Almost every region of the country has its own “specialty” ramen, but you can rest assured that no matter where you are, it will be plentiful (and affordable). And remember, slurping is 100% allowed when eating, so go wild (you pig).
   
• BASASHI | More a specialty dish in the southern prefecture of Kumamoto than a national dish, basashi, or raw horse meat, is something to be tried for anyone wondering what happens to all those failed racehorses.
   
• SNACKS | Japan’s grocery stores and supermarkets boast one of the most impressive snack collections I have ever seen. Despite everything being individually wrapped, once you master the process of quickly unwrapping your calorie-rich goodness, you will undoubtedly be determined to try the full array of snacks.
   
• SHOCHU | Chances are that you have heard of sake, but have you ever tried shochu? Distilled from barley, potatoes, buckwheat, or rice, shochu typically has an alcohol content around 25% (stronger than sake) and is one of the cheapest beverages of alcohol one can find in Japan. I’m not a massive fan of the taste.  

Note: Smoking in restaurants is permitted in many places across Japan, so be prepared to face this fact when eating out.

JAPAN TIPS & TRICKS

• RAIL TRAVEL | If you plan to travel extensively within Japan, consider investing in a JR Pass before arriving in the country. Only available to foreign tourists and only purchasable before arrival in Japan, this pass (which can be purchased by region and by time) will save you hundreds over the price of paying for individual tickets. JR Pass official website.
   
• CARRY CASH | I am a fan of paying with my credit card, but in Japan, I found this notoriously difficult to do. Not only must you pay with cash at many smaller venues, but even some of the large supermarkets and department stores do not accept credit cards.
   
• 100-YEN STORES | The Japanese equivalent of the dollar store, 100-yen stores (¥100 ~ $1) put their American counterparts to shame. You can find practically anything in these places, a lot of which has no business costing only ¥100.
   
• NOMIHOUDAI | What does this mean? Well, it means “all you can drink”, and it can be found everywhere from karaoke parlors to bars and restaurants. As cheap as 2,000 yen (~$20), nomihoudai has to be one of the greatest deals available in the country. Always remember to nomihoudai responsibly.