Unlocking Japan: Insider tips and mistakes to avoid for first-time travellers
Traveling to a new country for the first time can be both exciting and a little overwhelming. With so much information online, it can be tough to keep track of what to do and what to avoid.
While it is important to consider the rules of etiquette in Japan, there are a few uncommon things that you might miss if you're a first-time traveller.
Here are a few of our do's and don'ts:
DO use a luggage transfer service to travel "hands-free"
Japan is all about efficiency, and one of the things you can do to make sure you can travel more freely is to use a luggage transfer service.
We recommend Yamato Transport a luggage transfer service that delivers all of your bags from the airport to your hotel and from hotel to hotel.
Prices depend on the weight and size of your bags, but for same-day delivery, it was around $40-50 AUD for two 30kg bags.
Depending on where you are staying, your hotel may or may not provide the Yamato services directly, but if they don't, you can always check with the nearest Family Mart as some convenience stores will do it for you.
Alternatively, you can search for the nearest Yamato on Google maps.
It is important to note that there may be delivery delays depending on road and traffic conditions, and in some cases they don't do same-day delivery to the airport, so it's good to double check.
DON'T listen to the influencers
With the rise of influencer culture, a lot more restaurants and tourists spots have become even more popular.
Avoid queuing in line for over an hour for the hottest restaurant that's always "so good" and pull out Google or Apple maps, as you can find more hidden gems that the locals visit and are actually worth your time.
DO bring cash
Although most places accept card, places like Kyoto - the ancient capital - still mostly take cash.
A lot of tourist spots like Kiyomizudera, some markets, and buses in Kyoto only take cash.
On another note, if you have an IC card like the Suica or Icoca, you can also use these as a form of payment at certain vending machines, shops and restaurants. (It's kind of like using your Opal card to pay for things).
DON'T lose or damage your JR Pass
Most travel blogs recommend that you get the JR pass ,which is a rail pass that offers unlimited rides on the JR trains for one, two or three weeks, and allow you to travel nation-wide.
What they don't tell you is that they only hand out physical passes that you cannot lose or damage, as they will not re-issue another card until your current one expires.
With the cost of the JR passes increasing in October, it might also be worth booking one-way travel tickets instead, as they might be cheaper depending on which region you're travelling to.
DO bring good socks and wear your comfiest shoes
There is a lot of walking involved, and sometimes lifts can be hard to find – especially at certain stations – so make sure you wear shoes with a lot of padding (or whatever's best for you).
You will have to take off your shoes more often than you think, especially in changing rooms and certain traditional accommodation. So leave your hole-y socks at home or wear slippers wherever you go!
DON'T book that morning flight
Check-in for a lot of places is usually at 3pm and you want to avoid the morning rush, especially if you're catching public transportation.
These are a few of our tips, are there any we've missed?
Images: Getty/ Supplied