japan.md (5743B)
1 +++ 2 title = "Visiting Japan" 3 +++ 4 5 ### City-specific info 6 7 * [Kyoto・京都](kyoto) 8 * [Tokyo・東京](tokyo) 9 10 11 ### Transportation 12 13 * If you have an iPhone, [add a Suica card][ios_suica] in Apple Wallet. If not, 14 pick one up from any JR station. At last check, physical Suica cards were no 15 longer available due to a semiconductor shortage, tourists can pick up a 16 [Welcome Suica][welcome_suica] card, but these are ONLY available at Narita 17 and Haneda airports. 18 19 [ios_suica]: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207155 20 [welcome_suica]: https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/welcomesuica/welcomesuica.html 21 22 23 ### Luggage 24 * If at all possible, limit your luggage to carry-on sized suitcases and use 25 laundry machines at hotels. Lugging large suitcases through crowded stations 26 and on trains -- particularly on weekdays during rush hour -- can be pretty 27 inconvenient. If you need a large suitcase, consider also bringing a carry-on 28 sized suitcase containing two days worth of clothing, then see the next point. 29 * Luggage can be shipped by courier ([Kuroneko Yamato][kuroneko]), typically 30 overnight, to anywhere in the country for very reasonable prices (~¥3000). You 31 can do this from most hotels and convenience stores. Shipping to airports 32 typically takes TWO days. 33 * Hotels are happy to hold luggage after checkout at the desk for free, 34 typically up until end-of-day, so there's no need to lug bags around. If you 35 prefer, most train stations offer coin lockers of various sizes where you can 36 place bags. If they're full, ask station staff and they'll point you to open 37 lockers, or sometimes hold them at the information desk. 38 39 [kuroneko]: https://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/ytc/en/send/services/airport/ 40 41 42 ### Banking and payments 43 * Most Japanese ATMs won't work with foreign cards. You can find ATMs that work 44 with foreign cards in every 7-11. ([ATM Locator][atm_locator]) 45 * When paying at stores and restaurants via credit card, the machine may 46 occasionally offer a choice between paying in yen or your own currency. If 47 your card doesn't impose foreign transaction fees, it's almost always cheaper 48 to choose to pay in yen. The rate offered by these machines aren't great. 49 * I'd recommend always carrying cash. Most businesses accept credit cards, but 50 you'll still find places that either don't take cards or where your card 51 mysteriously doesn't work. 52 * Convenience stores and some vending machines allow payment via Suica card. 53 54 [atm_locator]: https://www.sevenbank.co.jp/intlcard/index2.html 55 56 57 ### Food and dining 58 * In large department stores and some office buildings, you'll almost always 59 find restaurants on the top couple floors. In Tokyo, this can mean spectacular 60 views. 61 * In the first basement (B1) level of most department stores, you'll find the 62 most amazing collection of to-go food counters with everything from simple 63 yakisoba through incredibly fancy Japanese and western cakes and desserts. If 64 you're looking for nicely-packaged food gifts for friends back home, this is a 65 great place to get them. It's also a great place to grab food for a picnic in 66 the park. 67 * When entering, you'll almost always be asked how many people you are. You can 68 just hold up the right number of fingers, but if you want to get fancy also 69 say 1: hitori, 2: futari, 3: san-nin, 4: yo-nin, 5: go-nin, 6: roku-nin. 70 * The bill will almost always be left on the table after you've ordered. If not, 71 you can request it by saying "o-kaikei onegai shimasu" or catching your waiter 72 or waitress's eye from across the room and making an 'x' gesture with your 73 index fingers. Bills are almost always paid at the cashier on the way out, not 74 at the table. 75 * Before you eat, it's traditional to say "itadakimasu" (I humbly receive); 76 you'll hear this from a ton of tables around you. If you're eating with a 77 Japanese person, or at their home, you should definitely say it. 78 * Similarly, after you eat, it's polite to say "gochiso-sama deshita" (thank you 79 for the meal). If one person in particular is paying, you should say it to 80 them, but also as you walk out of restaurants, you'll often be assailed with 81 shouts of "arigatou gozaimasu" (thank you) from all the staff. They'll love it 82 if you toss a "gochiso-sama deshita" their way on your way out and/or at the 83 cashier. 84 * There is no tipping in Japan. Service is expected to be good, and restaurant 85 staff are generally paid reasonable wages. 86 87 ### Shoes 88 * In many restaurants, particularly more traditional ones, there are places 89 where you'll need to take your shoes off. Typically these will be obvious 90 since they'll have a step up from stone floor onto wood/tatami. If you're 91 obviously non-Japanese, the staff will definitely let you know to take your 92 shoes off. Typically you'll leave them there. The staff may place them in shoe 93 cabinets and return them to you when you leave. 94 * Many temples/castles may also have places where you're asked to remove your 95 shoes and either place them on shelves, or in a plastic bag and carry them 96 with you. 97 98 ### Key phrases and vocabulary 99 * Ohayo gozaimasu: good morning. 100 * Konnichiwa: good afternoon. 101 * Konbanwa: good evening. 102 * X onégai shimasu: I'd like X please. (e.g. o-kaikei: the bill, koré: this) 103 * Kore wa ikura desu ka: How much is this? 104 * Arigato gozaimasu: Thank you. 105 * X wa doko desu ka: Where is X? (e.g. toiré: the toilet, éki: station) 106 107 ### Stumble your way through Japanese mannners like a pro 108 * Chris Broad's [12 things not to do in Japan][manners] covers almost everything 109 you need to know! 110 * For extra points, [Japanese table manners][table_manners]. 111 112 [manners]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GCuvcTI090 113 [table_manners]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyypaP_D6No