{"id":12479,"date":"2016-12-16T11:59:26","date_gmt":"2016-12-16T11:59:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/?p=12479"},"modified":"2021-01-07T10:46:01","modified_gmt":"2021-01-07T10:46:01","slug":"8-spoilers-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/12\/16\/8-spoilers-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"8 spoilers for your first trip to Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12479&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12479\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12479&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12479&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12479%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12479\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12479\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p>When you\u2019re planning your first trip to Japan, after a while, all the guides and articles start to look the same. Don\u2019t tip. Do bow. Don\u2019t stand your chopsticks up in your rice. It\u2019s all good advice, but what about the rest? What about the little things that don\u2019t make it on the top ten lists?<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve called these \u201cspoilers\u201d, but they\u2019re not really. Knowing about this stuff in advance won\u2019t ruin your trip \u2014 in fact, it just might help you enjoy it even more.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-29270\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/heikonyan-4453540_1280.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"850\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/heikonyan-4453540_1280.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/heikonyan-4453540_1280-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/heikonyan-4453540_1280-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/heikonyan-4453540_1280-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/heikonyan-4453540_1280-564x375.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/heikonyan-4453540_1280-1200x797.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/heikonyan-4453540_1280-900x598.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/heikonyan-4453540_1280-720x478.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/heikonyan-4453540_1280-390x259.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/heikonyan-4453540_1280-780x518.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/heikonyan-4453540_1280-510x339.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><strong>1. Everything has a mascot and a jingle. Everything.<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>A cute dog cartoon showing you the visa process at the airport? Sure. A jingle playing when you walk into the convenience store? Why not.<\/p>\n<p>The Japanese are crazy about mascots, which means that everything from your chain hotel to your elevator instructions to your local shrine probably has its own kawaii (\u201ccute\u201d) little cartoon champion.<\/p>\n<p>Jingles are scarcely less ubiquitous. Every subway stop has its own theme tune for when the train arrives, and you can even buy a CD of your favourite. Rubbish trucks play Japanese folk songs and Christmas carols. My personal favourite unexpected jingle was a cleaning cart being pushed by a janitor.<\/p>\n<p>When you put it all together, it\u2019s an adorable assault on the eyes and ears. Enjoy it!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-29273\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tokyo-sky-tree-4947259_1920.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tokyo-sky-tree-4947259_1920.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tokyo-sky-tree-4947259_1920-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tokyo-sky-tree-4947259_1920-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tokyo-sky-tree-4947259_1920-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tokyo-sky-tree-4947259_1920-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tokyo-sky-tree-4947259_1920-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tokyo-sky-tree-4947259_1920-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tokyo-sky-tree-4947259_1920-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tokyo-sky-tree-4947259_1920-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tokyo-sky-tree-4947259_1920-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tokyo-sky-tree-4947259_1920-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tokyo-sky-tree-4947259_1920-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tokyo-sky-tree-4947259_1920-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/p>\n<h1><strong>2. Get used to looking up<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>With over 70% of the country covered in mountains, space is pretty limited in Japan \u2014 and if you can\u2019t spread out, you have to spread up.<\/p>\n<p>Skyscrapers dominate Japan\u2019s city skylines, and it\u2019s not unusual for hundreds of companies to live within the same building. This means that a quiet, nondescript street could be buzzing with activity behind closed doors \u2014 you just can\u2019t see it from the ground. So, if you\u2019re having trouble finding that great sushi place you were told about, try looking up! <b><br \/>\n<\/b><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-29276\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/gio-almonte-87UzbJzk6HA-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/gio-almonte-87UzbJzk6HA-unsplash.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/gio-almonte-87UzbJzk6HA-unsplash-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/gio-almonte-87UzbJzk6HA-unsplash-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/gio-almonte-87UzbJzk6HA-unsplash-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/gio-almonte-87UzbJzk6HA-unsplash-564x317.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/gio-almonte-87UzbJzk6HA-unsplash-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/gio-almonte-87UzbJzk6HA-unsplash-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/gio-almonte-87UzbJzk6HA-unsplash-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/gio-almonte-87UzbJzk6HA-unsplash-900x506.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/gio-almonte-87UzbJzk6HA-unsplash-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/gio-almonte-87UzbJzk6HA-unsplash-1440x810.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/gio-almonte-87UzbJzk6HA-unsplash-390x219.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/gio-almonte-87UzbJzk6HA-unsplash-780x439.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/gio-almonte-87UzbJzk6HA-unsplash-510x287.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" \/><\/p>\n<h1><strong>3. Get used to looking down<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>Building vertically isn\u2019t limited to above the ground! Japan may be known for its skyscrapers, but its subterranean world might be even more extensive. Never mind the tangled webs of subway systems \u2014 entire department stores also live underground, with vast warrens of shops stretching for miles beneath the streets. Yaesu Mall in Tokyo, for instance, has nearly 200 shops, including 60 restaurants and caf\u00e9s, and it\u2019s not at all unusual to find high-end eateries hidden away underneath department stores and train stations.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-29279\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tianshu-liu-khQY5Eu-aa0-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tianshu-liu-khQY5Eu-aa0-unsplash.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tianshu-liu-khQY5Eu-aa0-unsplash-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tianshu-liu-khQY5Eu-aa0-unsplash-1024x695.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tianshu-liu-khQY5Eu-aa0-unsplash-768x522.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tianshu-liu-khQY5Eu-aa0-unsplash-564x383.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tianshu-liu-khQY5Eu-aa0-unsplash-1536x1043.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tianshu-liu-khQY5Eu-aa0-unsplash-2048x1391.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tianshu-liu-khQY5Eu-aa0-unsplash-1200x815.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tianshu-liu-khQY5Eu-aa0-unsplash-900x611.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tianshu-liu-khQY5Eu-aa0-unsplash-720x489.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tianshu-liu-khQY5Eu-aa0-unsplash-1440x978.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tianshu-liu-khQY5Eu-aa0-unsplash-390x265.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tianshu-liu-khQY5Eu-aa0-unsplash-780x530.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/tianshu-liu-khQY5Eu-aa0-unsplash-510x346.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" \/><\/p>\n<h1><strong>4. They know how to deal with weather<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>The Japanese take every weather condition in their stride. When it is hot, there are misting machines, air conditioning and fans galore. People carry umbrellas for sun protection and small towels to dab away sweat. When it\u2019s cold, restaurants get out their heated kotatsu tables, bubbling vats of hotpot appear in convenience stores, and people warm up in steaming hot springs \u2014 often under the stars.<\/p>\n<p>When it rains, everybody magically has an umbrella. Every store has a stand outside where you can leave it, and nobody will have pinched it when you come out. Some even have a contraption that\u2019ll wrap your umbrella in plastic so you don\u2019t drip indoors!<\/p>\n<p>We could all learn something from the Japanese about dealing with the weather!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-29285\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pexels-david-dibert-2169218-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pexels-david-dibert-2169218-1.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pexels-david-dibert-2169218-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pexels-david-dibert-2169218-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pexels-david-dibert-2169218-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pexels-david-dibert-2169218-1-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pexels-david-dibert-2169218-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pexels-david-dibert-2169218-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pexels-david-dibert-2169218-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pexels-david-dibert-2169218-1-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pexels-david-dibert-2169218-1-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pexels-david-dibert-2169218-1-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pexels-david-dibert-2169218-1-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pexels-david-dibert-2169218-1-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pexels-david-dibert-2169218-1-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" \/><\/p>\n<h1><strong>5) Limited or no Japanese is not a problem<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>Lots of people are put off visiting Japan because of the language barrier, but don\u2019t be! What with the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the coming Tokyo Olympics, Japan has never been more accessible to English speakers. For your first trip, you\u2019ll probably be sticking to the better-known tourist spots, which means that you\u2019ll encounter plenty of English \u2014 including train station announcements, restaurant menus, and street signs.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, you\u2019re not going to understand everything all of the time, but that\u2019s part of the fun of Japan \u2014 and the Japanese are so friendly you\u2019ll never be short of somebody to help you out.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-29294\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/kazuo-ota-Go4Cxbk4IMk-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/kazuo-ota-Go4Cxbk4IMk-unsplash.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/kazuo-ota-Go4Cxbk4IMk-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/kazuo-ota-Go4Cxbk4IMk-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/kazuo-ota-Go4Cxbk4IMk-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/kazuo-ota-Go4Cxbk4IMk-unsplash-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/kazuo-ota-Go4Cxbk4IMk-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/kazuo-ota-Go4Cxbk4IMk-unsplash-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/kazuo-ota-Go4Cxbk4IMk-unsplash-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/kazuo-ota-Go4Cxbk4IMk-unsplash-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/kazuo-ota-Go4Cxbk4IMk-unsplash-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/kazuo-ota-Go4Cxbk4IMk-unsplash-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/kazuo-ota-Go4Cxbk4IMk-unsplash-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/kazuo-ota-Go4Cxbk4IMk-unsplash-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/kazuo-ota-Go4Cxbk4IMk-unsplash-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" \/><\/p>\n<h1><strong>6) It&#8217;s clean. So clean\u2026<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>For a country with so few public bins (if you see one, use it!) it is incredible how clean and tidy Japan is. You probably know this already, but it\u2019s still a surprise in real life.<\/p>\n<p>The Sumida river of Tokyo has a fraction of the crisp packets you\u2019ll find in London\u2019s Thames, and the Dotonburi canal in Osaka is infinitely tidier than the canals in Birmingham. Even at rowdy gigs in rock clubs, the locals do not throw their empty plastic cups on the floor. At the end of the night, if there are any stray cups around, people collect them up on their way out. It is a beautiful thing.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-29297\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/matthieu-buhler-89nS8VZVf14-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/matthieu-buhler-89nS8VZVf14-unsplash.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/matthieu-buhler-89nS8VZVf14-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/matthieu-buhler-89nS8VZVf14-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/matthieu-buhler-89nS8VZVf14-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/matthieu-buhler-89nS8VZVf14-unsplash-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/matthieu-buhler-89nS8VZVf14-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/matthieu-buhler-89nS8VZVf14-unsplash-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/matthieu-buhler-89nS8VZVf14-unsplash-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/matthieu-buhler-89nS8VZVf14-unsplash-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/matthieu-buhler-89nS8VZVf14-unsplash-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/matthieu-buhler-89nS8VZVf14-unsplash-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/matthieu-buhler-89nS8VZVf14-unsplash-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/matthieu-buhler-89nS8VZVf14-unsplash-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/matthieu-buhler-89nS8VZVf14-unsplash-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" \/><\/p>\n<h1><strong>7) Contrast and harmony<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>It has become a clich\u00e9 to call Japan a \u201ccountry of contrasts\u201d, but it\u2019s true. Thriving consumerism coexists with Zen Buddhism, tradition brushes up against modernity on every street corner, and \u201chole in the floor\u201d toilets can be found in the same facilities as ones with 18 buttons. My favourite example is Japan\u2019s obsession with the fax machine. Even today, while the country\u2019s tech shops are overflowing with futuristic gadgetry, every office still has one \u2014 and uses it.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-29300\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/japan-4560320_1920.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1278\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/japan-4560320_1920.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/japan-4560320_1920-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/japan-4560320_1920-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/japan-4560320_1920-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/japan-4560320_1920-564x375.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/japan-4560320_1920-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/japan-4560320_1920-1200x799.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/japan-4560320_1920-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/japan-4560320_1920-720x479.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/japan-4560320_1920-1440x959.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/japan-4560320_1920-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/japan-4560320_1920-780x519.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/japan-4560320_1920-510x339.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/p>\n<h1><strong>8) The bullet train isn\u2019t *that* special<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>Before my first trip, my friends and colleagues were in awe that I was going to be riding a bullet train. I\u2019m not sure what I expected \u2014 an experience to tell future generations about, maybe? They run about every 10 minutes. You buy a ticket, you get on, you get off at your destination. A clean and efficient train service isn\u2019t to be sniffed at, but don\u2019t be downhearted if it isn\u2019t a trip highlight.<\/p>\n<p><b><br \/>\n<\/b><strong>If you&#8217;ve been inspired by Cat&#8217;s trip to Japan, don&#8217;t hesitate to get in touch with one of our consultants to begin planning your trip today. We&#8217;ll put together a tailor-made proposal free of charge, or book you onto one of our fabulous group tours! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/about-us\/contact-us\/\">Click here to contact us<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12479&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12479\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12479&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12479&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12479%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12479\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12479\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like this post? Help us by sharing it! When you\u2019re planning your first trip to Japan, after a while, all the guides and articles start to look the same. Don\u2019t tip. Do bow. Don\u2019t stand your chopsticks up in your rice. It\u2019s all good advice, but what about the rest? What about the little things [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2355],"tags":[1369,2195,2546,2691,2821,2900],"class_list":["post-12479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-first-trip-to-japan","tag-bullet-train","tag-tokyo","tag-first-timers-japan","tag-travellers-tales","tag-customer","tag-cat-jones"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12479","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12479"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12479\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29531,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12479\/revisions\/29531"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12479"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}