5 Tips for First-time Travellers to Japan

I recently went on a trip to Japan for almost three months and it was the most amazing experience I've had in a really long time. If you've been a reader of my blog since the very beginning, or you've known me long before that, then you'll know how much I love Japan, and I've spent the past four years researching this country's customs and its culture, so that I would be somewhat prepared when the time was right. 

The time finally came and, although there's still so much I have to learn about all the unspoken rules on how to behave in public, I wasn't totally clueless and it made this trip so much enjoyable. Obviously I don't consider myself an expert in any way, I just thought I'd share some tips I picked up along the way for anyone who is going to travel to Japan for the very first time soon and might be a little nervous (like I was).

1. Plan, plan, and then plan some more

Although I understand a lot of people are not fortunate enough to be able to travel to Japan for such an extended period of time (like I did), it is always a good idea to have a detailed plan. I spent a long time creating an itinerary of all the places I wanted to see, and then making a list of all the things I wanted to see/experience in each place, including whether a specific activity had a cost or not (which also helped with budget). You may not be able to see or do everything on your list, but it will certainly help you prioritise your wants. However, as a personal tip, make sure you also look around and take in your surroundings, as you may come across unexpected sights that will make your trip even more special, and those—to me—are the best kind of experiences.

2. Time your trip right

While it may be very tempting to travel to Japan during peak seasons, it is worth considering other options as well. I purposely planned my trip for Winter, and I wouldn't have had it any other way because hotels were cheaper (despite Christmas and New Year holidays), and there weren't as many people as you would normally find during other seasons, which made sightseeing way more enjoyable. However, remember that the weather is unpredictable, so even the most perfectly planned time could not go exactly as you wish. I went to Japan fully prepared for Winter, cold and—most importantly—snow, and I basically didn't get any of that! On the bright side, I was lucky enough to experience the last leg of Autumn with its beautiful colours, but I only got the tiniest bit of snow, and it started to get really cold as I was leaving. 

3. Do what you want to do

While planning your trip to Japan, it might be easier to do what everyone else does, and see what everyone else sees. However, you shouldn't plan your trip around what people say, but on what YOU want to do and see. I've seen dozens of videos on TikTok saying "If you're going to Japan you must see these spots!" or "Don't go to this place because it's overrated, go to this place instead!" and personally, I find most of them just clickbait. It's good to see major cities like Tokyo—or Kyoto—because they offer two totally different experiences and they're worth visiting at least once. However, ask yourself what kind of experience you would like to have in Japan and then plan accordingly. For example, I am interested in the Edo historical era and shrines/temples, so I enjoyed Kyoto more than Tokyo and a lot of my activities were based around visiting shrines and temples. 

4. Language barrier? No, thank you!

If you don't speak Japanese, you may be wondering "how am I going to communicate with others?" While Japanese people don't expect foreign tourist to be fluent in Japanese, it's convenient (and respectful, I might add) to at least learn a few basic words and sentences so that you will be able to interact for basic necessities. They will definitely appreciate your effort, and will reward you by communicating in English in return (if they speak it, of course, but if they don't, they will do their best to try and communicate with you in the little English they know). Moreover, you can rely on translator apps to help you where you lack the language... It certainly saved me at the pharmacy when I needed something to lower my high fever and cough.  

5. Be respectful 

Last but definitely not least, I feel a little silly even having to write this specific part—but considering what's been happening in Japan with tourists being arrested left and right—I feel I kind of need to point this out, even if it's a very obvious matter. BE RESPECTFUL. Period. There's no sugarcoating this. You need to be mindful of your surroundings, be mindful of other people, and follow the rules where needed. While walking in Kyoto, I've seen tourists taking pictures of inner streets while ignoring the huge "No Photography" sign next to them. Not knowing Japanese is not an excuse, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out that a picture of a camera with a red X on it means that taking photos is not allowed. Many signs are also written in English, so there's literally no excuse. 

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So there you have it, here are my 5 tips for first-time travellers to Japan. There's so much that needs to be explored, but this post would be extremely long if I wrote everything! I'd like to read of other people experiences so, if you've travelled to Japan, please do leave a comment! And if you haven't been to Japan before, what do you think would be good advice?

次回まで。♥