JAPAN

The land of the rising sun boasts a unique blend of rich cultural history and modern advancement.

FUTURE TRAVEL BOOKED

MARCH 2025

Huzzah! We purchased our plane tickets for Tokyo and we cannot wait.

Along with friend and family connections in Japan, our older brother was born there!

So, while this will be our first time traveling to Japan. We already feel a special connection to the country.

THINGS TO KNOW

BEFORE YOU GO

Aiding in the country’s ability to offer something for everyone, year-around. First time travelers often underestimate the sheer length of Japan.

At over 2,350 miles in length, Japan measures about 700 miles longer than The contiguous US. Measuring North to South.

LANGUAGE

JAPANESE

CURRENCY

¥

YEN

for current exchange rates, click here

CAPITAL

TOKYO

FLAG

WHITE BACKGROUND WITH A CENTERED RED DISC

representing the sun

RELIGIONS

BUDDHISM AND SHINTO

SAFETY

Japan remains solidified as one of the safest countries in the world for travelers!

Compared to the USA, in almost all measurable areas, Japan is extremely safe.

Still, it is best to always be safe and on your guard. Especially, as a solo female traveler.

HOW TO GET THERE

WHERE TO STAY

Hostels

$

Rentals and Ryokan

$-$$

Hotels

$$-$$$

Ryokan with Private Onsen and Garden View

$$-$$$

HISTORICAL AND POP CULTURE

Things Japan is known for.

ANIME

ARCHITECTURE

ART

CHERRY BLOSSOM – SAKURA

DISNEY

FESTIVALS

HARAJUKU

HORROR

MANGA

OMIYAGE SOUVENIRS AND GIFTING

GEISHA AND KIMONO

IMPERIAL REIGN

NINJA

SAMURAI

SHOGUN

SUMO WRESTLING

ONSEN HOT SPRINGS

RYOKAN INNS

TEA CEREMONY

TEMPLES AND SHRINES

MODERN CULTURE

NO TRASH CANS

Carry your trash “home” and dispose of it there.

SAFETY IS A PART OF JAPANESE CULTURE

While crime rates in Japan are very low. It is a good idea to use caution and be aware of your surroundings, anywhere in the world.

MANNERS

NO EXCESSIVE TOUCHING/EYE CONTACT

personal displays of affection are not a part of Japanese culture

RUDE TO SAY NO, OUTRIGHT

“reading the room” is a part of Japanese culture. If someone says “maybe” or just looks away and moves on , it probably means non

GIVE AND TAKE THINGS WITH TWO HANDS

to show respect and thanks

BOW WHEN GREETING A NEW PERSON

not sure? if they bow to you, bow back

STAND OR SIT TO EAT (NO WALKING)

it is considered dirty and disrespectful to eat and walk in public

JAPAN | FOOD ETTIQUITE

Food etiquette in Japan varies greatly from the USA and other western countries.

If you want to have a more enriched experience, and be respectful of the culture you’re traveling to experience.

We always advise looking up cultural differences before traveling to a new country. Along with common mistakes Americans make, etc.

Just the effort, is an easy way to show the people who live there, through your actions, that you respect their home.

CHOPSTICK ETIQUETTE

TIPPING IS OFFENSIVE

SLURPING IS POLITE

WHEN EATING:

Mind your P’s and Q’s!

Please – Kudasai

Thank You (Very Much) – Arigato (Gozaimasu)

Before eating, after the plate is set down, always say “Itadakimasu,” meaning something along the lines of : “Thank you, for this meal. It looks amazing!”

After eating, when finished, always say “Gochisousama Deshita,” meaning: “Thank you for this meal.”

JAPAN | FOOD AND DRINK

Here’s a list of some of the most popular foods commonly eaten and originating in Japan

BEER

BENTO

KUMAMOTO OYSTERS

MATCHA

MISO

MOCHI

NOODLES

PASTRIES

RAMEN

RICE

SAKE

SEAFOOD

SUSHI

STREET/MARKET FOODS

TEMPURA

TONKATSU

TERIYAKI

WAGYU BEEF (Kobe, etc.)

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

When accidents/emergencies strike. We are usually not expecting them to happen.

119

119 is the phone number in Japan specifically used for emergencies involving fire, and/or requiring an ambulance.

110

110 is used to dial the police.

Especially, in the case of emergency contacts abroad, it’s better to be prepared.

Before any trip, we advise saving the emergency number of your destination, on your phone.

Most likely, you won’t need to look at the numbers again until you arrive back home, and delete them.

PASSPORT REMINDER!

Technically, your passport only needs to be valid for the duration of your stay in Japan. Whew!

However, we recommend ensuring your passport does not expire within three months of your entry date in Japan.

Throughout COVID, we all experienced how tumultuous the world of travel can be. We recommend renewing your passport at least 6 months before its expiration date.

VISA

You do not need a visa when traveling within Japan for under 90 days.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

ALL YEAR!

In the fall, splashes of color bleed throughout Japan for a fantastical changing of the leaves.

From sunbathing and snorkeling on the southern shores of Okinawa for our warm-weather queens.

To the spring wave of plum and cherry blossoms flowing through the country for our whimsy creatives.

To the winter wonderland of Hokkaido boasting some of the best powder in the world for our athletic snow bunnies.

Japan has something to offer every time of year.

JAPAN | THE CAN’T MISS LIST

CITIES

BEPPU

HAKONE

HIRISHIMA

HOKKAIDO

KAGOSHIMA

KAMAKURA

KOBE

KYOTO

MATSUMOTO

MIYAJIMA ISLAND

NAGANO

NAGASAKI

NARA

NIKKO

OKINAWA

OSAKA

SAPPORO

SHIMA

SHIRAKAWA-GO

TOKYO

YOKOHAMA

JAPAN | THINGS TO SEE AND DO

BEACHES

CARS

CASTLES AND PALACES

FESTIVALS

GARDENS

GEISHA

HARAJUKU

ISLANDS

JIGOKUDANI MONKEY PARK

KARAOKE

MUSEUMS

MT FUJI

NACHI-NO-TAKI

NARA PARK

MARKETS

SCUBA/SNORKELING

SUMO

TEMPLES AND SHRINES

UNESCO HERITAGE SITES

VOLCANOS

GET INSPIRED!

One of my favorite ways to stoke my excitement level before a trip (and reminisce after) is by taking in media inspired by the country.

ANIME, BOOKS, GAMES, MOVIES, SHOWS

27 RONIN

BLUE EYE SAMURAI

THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT

GODZILLA

GHIBLI

JOHN WICK 4

KILL BILL

MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA

ONE PIECE

PACIFIC RIM

POKÉMON

QUEER EYE JAPAN

THE KARATE KID

THE LAST SAMURAI

WOLVERINE

GETTING THERE

FLIGHTS

GETTING AROUND

FLY

BULLET TRAIN

TRAIN

BUS

CAR

SOLO FEMALE TRAVEL SAFETY IN JAPAN

Shying away from the subject, only fuels it. But so does living in fear. Get out there and live!

What is Chikan?

Men grope women on trains in Japan. It is called Chikan, and is a huge issue. However, the legalities of dealing with it vary from the US.

The most important thing to remember, in the case of chikan in Japan? You cannot react the way you may in the USA.

What not to do

Sometimes the trains are crowded, and you’re going to have physical contact with people. You will all be smushed against each other like sardines.

This is NOT Chikan. If you are not being groped, do not call out that you are. This is harmful to the cause of actually getting action taken agains these growers.

What can you do?

You cannot react with any force more than was given to you. Meaning, you can’t grab the guy and beat them for groping you.

What you can do, depends a bit on what happened to you, and your discretion:

  1. Ignore it
  2. Yelp, and yell “chikan” or “fuck off” and point at them, making a scene
  3. Grab their hand and hold it up yelling, “chikan”.
  4. Grab the hand and dig your nails into the skin. Hold up the arm and yell “chikan”, repeatedly. This is for cases you need to file a report and will need their DNA.

This is personal advice, not legal. I am not a lawyer or studied in international law.

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