Japan guide
Step-by-step help for the moments visitors actually get stuck — from the shrine water basin to the ticket gate — with Japanese you can show to staff.
First time in Japan? Start here
Visiting a shrineTorii gate, water basin, and two bows, two claps, one bow.14 steps · 10 common mistakes
IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA)Which card to get, tapping through the gate, topping up.5 steps · 7 common mistakes- Paying & no tippingPay at the register — and don't leave a tip.7 steps · 7 common mistakes
Onsen & public bathsWash first, towel out of the water, and how a visit goes.14 steps · 7 common mistakes- Calling 110 & 119Which number to call, and what the operator will ask.7 steps · 5 common mistakes
Shrines & temples
Praying, seals, charms and photos.
- Visiting a shrineTorii gate, water basin, and two bows, two claps, one bow.
Visiting a templeIncense, hands together in silence — and no clapping.
Goshuin, charms & fortunesTemple and shrine seals, omamori charms and omikuji fortunes.- Where photos aren't allowedInside halls, Buddhist statues, ceremonies — and Gion's private lanes.
Eating out
Tables, chopsticks, food needs and paying.
Getting around
Airports, trains, buses, IC cards, taxis, accessibility and luggage.
Arriving & leaving JapanImmigration and customs on arrival, and the departure tax.
Airport to the cityTrains, buses or a taxi from Narita, Haneda and Kansai.
Trains & stationsQueues on the platform, quiet carriages and priority seats.- IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA)Which card to get, tapping through the gate, topping up.
Driving & cyclingWhich licence you need, driving on the left, and the cycling rules.
Accessible travelWheelchair help on trains, elevators, accessible toilets and taxis.
Local busesWhich door, the numbered ticket, and paying when you get off.
TaxisDoors that open by themselves, and showing where you're going.
Luggage: lockers & forwardingCoin lockers, sending bags ahead, and big suitcases on trains.
Stays & baths
Check-in, shoes off, onsen, tattoos and laundry.
Hotel check-inYour passport at the desk, leaving bags early, and the room.
Shoes off & ryokanWhere to take shoes off, slippers, tatami and yukata.- Onsen & public bathsWash first, towel out of the water, and how a visit goes.
- Tattoos & bathingWhy some baths say no, and how to find ones that say yes.
Doing laundryHotel laundry rooms, coin laundries, washing and drying.
Out and about
Rubbish, manners, convenience stores, mountains and staying safe.
- Rubbish & recyclingWhy there are so few bins, and how sorting works.
Bowing, quiet & toiletsSmall bows, inside voices, high-tech toilets and where to smoke.- Staying safe at nightTouts in nightlife areas, drink prices, and help on trains.
Convenience stores (konbini)Food, ATMs, top-ups — and the few words you'll hear at the till.
Mountains & Mt FujiThe climbing season, registering before you climb, gear and altitude sickness.
If something goes wrong
Emergencies, checked against official sources.
- Calling 110 & 119Which number to call, and what the operator will ask.
Police & lost thingsPolice boxes, reporting a theft and finding lost property.
Hospitals & clinicsWhere to go when you're ill, and what to bring.- Pharmacies & medicineDrugstores vs pharmacies, and bringing your own medicine.
Earthquakes & evacuationWhat to do during the shaking, after it, and if a tsunami is coming.- Lost passportPolice report first, then your embassy.
- HeatstrokeSpotting it early, heat alerts, and keeping cool.
- Lost card & no cashBlock a lost card, and where to get cash with an overseas card.
Money & phone
Cash, tax-free and staying online.
About HAKOBUNE Spot
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Photo credits (26)
- Martin Falbisoner / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Syced / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
- ウィキ太郎(WikiTaro) / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
- Asanagi / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
- Timothy Takemoto / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
- Masashi Yanagiya / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
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- Kentaro Iemoto / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
- MaedaAkihiko / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Hahifuheho / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
- Hirho / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Cheng-en Cheng / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
- Mutimaro / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Naha Mama Pavilionz / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
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- Mr.ちゅらさん / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Kojach / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
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- Tomio344456 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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- Nori Norisa / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)