Japan
Last checked:
- Capital
- Tokyo
- Currency
- JPY · Japanese yen
- Languages
- Japanese
- Plugs
- Type A, B · 100 V
Emergency numbers
Top 5 places
- Fushimi Inari Taisha · Kyoto
Thousands of red torii gates up a mountain; go early morning to avoid crowds.
- Senso-ji and Asakusa · Tokyo
Tokyo's oldest temple with a traditional shopping street.
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima · Hiroshima
Atomic bomb memorial and museum, plus the floating torii gate on Miyajima island nearby.
- Nara Park · Nara
Todai-ji's giant Buddha and free-roaming deer, an easy day trip from Kyoto or Osaka.
- Mount Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes · Kawaguchiko
Classic Fuji views; climbing season is July to early September and requires a fee and booking on some trails.
Getting around
Public transport
Suica / PASMO / ICOCA
IC cards for trains, subways and buses nationwide, also used in convenience stores. Mobile Suica and PASMO work in Apple Wallet. Tap in and out.
Trains
Shinkansen and JR lines
Fast, punctual bullet trains. The Japan Rail Pass rose sharply in price in 2023 (7-day ordinary pass about 50,000 JPY) and is now often more expensive than single tickets; it does not fully cover Nozomi trains without a supplement.
Public transport
Tokyo Metro / Toei subway passes
24, 48 and 72-hour tourist passes for Tokyo subways can be good value if you ride a lot.
Ride-hailing app
GO
Japan's main taxi app; books licensed taxis at metered rates and supports in-app payment.
Ride-hailing app
Uber / S.RIDE / DiDi
Mostly book licensed taxis at normal taxi prices in big cities; Uber also has premium cars. Taxis are expensive; doors open and close automatically.
E-scooters
Luup
E-scooter and e-bike sharing in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto (varies by city); road rules apply and helmets are recommended.
Money and cash
Currency: JPY · Japanese yen
Cards and IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA) are now accepted in most city shops, chains and taxis, but Japan still relies on cash in small restaurants, temples, rural areas and some ticket machines. Carry yen and a coin purse. Foreign cards work at 7-Eleven and Japan Post ATMs. Choose to be charged in yen, not your home currency.
Tipping
Japan has no tipping culture. Good service is considered part of the price, and leaving money can confuse staff, who may chase you to return it. Some hotels, ryokan and upscale restaurants add a service charge instead.
| Restaurants | No tip. Some izakaya add a small table charge (otoshi or 'cover'), served as a small dish; it is normal, not a scam. Higher-end places may add a 10% service charge. |
|---|---|
| Cafés and bars | No tip. |
| Taxis and ride apps | No tip; pay the meter. |
| Hotels | No tip. Ryokan and higher-end hotels usually include a service charge in the bill. |
| Tours and guides | Not expected; some private guides for foreign visitors accept tips (varies). If you want to give something, hand it in an envelope. |
| Food delivery | No tip. |
Service charge: what’s true
Service charges (often 10-15% in upscale hotels and ryokan) are built into the bill, shown as a line item. They are part of the business's pricing, not a personal tip. The izakaya otoshi table charge is a customary fee for a small appetiser and is not usually refused.
Pressure tactics to watch for
Tip pressure is almost unheard of. The real risk is in nightlife: touts promise cheap drinks, then the bar adds large cover, hostess or 'seat' charges. Check prices and charges before you sit down.
Useful phrases
- お会計お願いします (o-kaikei onegai shimasu) The bill, please.
- カードで払えますか？ (kādo de haraemasu ka?) Can I pay by card?
- ごちそうさまでした (gochisōsama deshita) Thank you for the meal (said when leaving).
Etiquette
- Remove shoes when entering homes, ryokan rooms, some temples and restaurants with raised floors; use the toilet slippers only in the toilet.
- Onsen: wash fully before entering the bath, no swimwear, and towels stay out of the water. Many onsen restrict visible tattoos; check first or use a covering patch.
- Keep quiet on trains and do not talk on the phone; set it to silent mode.
- Eating while walking is frowned on in many places, and some streets in Kyoto ban it.
- Queue in marked lines on platforms; stand on the left of escalators in Tokyo and the right in Osaka.
- Carry your rubbish home; public bins are rare.
- Do not stick chopsticks upright in rice or pass food chopstick to chopstick.
- In Kyoto's Gion, private lanes ban photography and touching or chasing geiko and maiko.
Scams and how to handle them
Street touts leading to bars (kyakuhiki)
Where: Kabukicho (Shinjuku), Roppongi, Shibuya, Ikebukuro
How it works: Touts, often speaking English, promise cheap or free drinks, then the bar charges entry fees, 'table charges' and inflated prices.
How to avoid it: Do not follow street touts into bars. Choose venues yourself and check price lists before ordering.
Drink spiking and credit card fraud
Where: Kabukicho especially, also Roppongi, Shibuya, Ikebukuro
How it works: Victims are drugged in bars, lose memory and later find card charges of hundreds or thousands of pounds.
How to avoid it: Refuse drinks from strangers, never leave drinks unattended, carry little cash and set card spending limits.
Hostess and host club billing
Where: Nightlife districts
How it works: Bills include per-hour charges, hostess drinks and service fees that reach huge totals; disputes have led to visitors being arrested.
How to avoid it: Confirm all fees in writing before entering; walk away if staff will not show prices.
Robbery and extortion in entertainment districts
Where: Late-night Kabukicho, Roppongi
How it works: Foreign visitors have been targeted for robbery or forced to pay after being lured into venues.
How to avoid it: Stay with friends, avoid touts and leave if pressured. Call 110.
Fake monks asking for donations
Where: Busy Tokyo and Kyoto streets (varies)
How it works: People dressed as monks offer amulets or blessings and then demand money.
How to avoid it: Politely refuse and walk on.
Safety
- Japan is very safe overall; the main risks for visitors are in nightlife districts (drink spiking, card fraud and overcharging).
- Groping on crowded trains is a known problem; women-only cars run at rush hour on many lines. Shout to attract attention and alert staff.
- Earthquakes and typhoons occur: download the Safety Tips app (JNTO) for alerts in English.
- Drug laws are strict, including some common medicines; check before bringing them.
- Carry your passport (required by law for foreign visitors) and keep it safe.
- Lost items are very often handed in; check with station staff or the nearest koban police box.
How widely English is spoken
Transport signs and main-line announcements are in English in big cities. Spoken English is limited outside hotels and tourist sites in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, and rare elsewhere. A translation app helps a lot.
Sources
- GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Japan, safety and security
- Wikivoyage: Japan
- JNTO: Japan Visitor Hotline
- japan-guide.com: Japan Rail Pass
- Wikipedia: List of tipping customs by country
We check these guides against official and well-known sources, but rules and prices change. Spot something out of date? Email support@tourits.app.