8 Things to Know Before Visiting Tokyo

For a popular metropolis like Tokyo, Japan you would think that after traveling in countries in Southeast Asia and throughout Europe, that you have all the rules of etiquette down and can get around with no problem. It actually is easy to get around in Tokyo, as in literally to get from one place to another, but if you want to eat, sleep, drink or anything else in between there are a few things you need to know before arriving in Tokyo to make sure your adventure is smooth sailing.

The Tap Water in Tokyo is Safe to Drink

While you are in Southeast Asia, the thing to do is to avoid drinking the tap water to not get Bali Belly, aka diarrhea. With that mind-set in place, we were not sure about the water in Japan and we found out it is absolutely safe to drink the tap water and it does not have a strong chlorine taste like the tap water in LA.

English is Not Widely Spoken in Tokyo

Finding people who are English speakers especially at restaurants is one of the hardest tasks. I speak zero Japanese with the exception of hello, thank you and goodbye so when it came to ordering food off menus with no pictures, I crossed my fingers that I was ordering something tasty. It helps to know what type of restaurant you plan to eat in and know the name of a few dishes. However one thing that I did love is that more than any other country we went to, people who would come and try to help us even if we had a difficult time communicating pass the language barrier. I recommend writing down key words and phrases to help you out and in general it’s a great way to learn or improve your Japanese speaking skills. You can also iTranslate Voice which is an iPhone app that does voice translations for over 40 languages, but it’s not free and it is only compatible with iOS at the moment.

Take the Metro to Get Around Tokyo

The metro is one of the easiest ways to get around in Tokyo and there are lines that take you to both the Narita Airport and the Haneda Airport which makes travel absolutely convenient. The metro system is inexpensive and are extremely punctual. If the train is set to be at the stop at 12:07, it will be there at 12:07. Train tickets are sold through an electronic kiosk and has an English option. While it is electronic, the machines only accept cash.

Tattoos are Taboo

If you have tattoos, even if it’s just one, you may be asked to cover it up in certain places or be denied entrance in places like clubs or swimming pools. This is because in Japan, Yakuzas which are Japanese mafia, usually are the ones who have tattoos so in general tattoos are viewed negatively in Japan even though now its becoming more common for young Japanese to get them. However, Yakuzas are usually covered from the chest down their legs in tattoos so I feel this rule is a little unfair for a young traveler like me to be discriminated against from swimming a few laps. Rules are rules. If it’s possible you can cover up your tattoo with a band aid or a sleeve to get around the rule.

Use Mosquito Repellent and Wear Long Pants

For the first time since World War II, a few people in Japan have recently been diagnosed with dengue fever which is a result of mosquito bites. Dengue fever is not contagious from person to person which is a relief, but the consequences of a bite from a mosquito that is carrying the disease is severe. Most of the reports and positively contaminated areas have been in specific parks, but they have not closed them off. We walked around the parks but we did not stop to relax on the grass or near the ponds just in case and there were a lot of people jogging around the parks so it seems to be okay. As a precaution wear mosquito repellent like citronella and long pants if you’re going to be in the affected area.

Walk on the Correct Side of the Road

The Japanese have some of the best orderly habits I have ever seen and coming from a big city, we can learn to adopt some of the habits. You’ll notice that pedestrians and bicyclists walk and and ride on the same path and they’re almost never in each other’s way because everyone knows where they are supposed to walk, always on the right. There are even arrows painted on public staircases in case you’re confused about which side you should walk on. This makes it easier to avoid walking in other people’s way.

Smoke in Designated Areas

Throughout Tokyo there are designated smoking areas because smoking while walking or standing on a sidewalk is not allowed and violating that rule comes with a fine. Most people seem to be very respectful of this rule, however some restaurants and cafes do allow smoking inside or at least restaurant staff does not ask them to stop.

Don’t Lose Your Coins

It’s common to toss our change into the bottom of our bags or even tell the cashier that they can “keep the change,” but if you do that with Japanese currency you will lose a lot of money. 100 Japanese Yen is about $1, and there is the 100 Yen coin. So keep track of your coins as if its paper money! With that said, you should always learn the country’s currency and exchange value so you that you can keep track of your spending much more easily.

 

If you enjoyed this post, why don’t you follow Adrift Anywhere on Facebook or subscribe to get updates on budgeting tips, travel advice and tips!