Before you travel to any destination, it pays to do your research, and this is certainly true
when it comes to visiting the beautiful and fascinating islands of Japan. The good news is you can find out some of the most insightful things you need to know about Japan before you arrive in my guide below.
No tipping in Japan.
There are so many wonderful things to see and do in Japan, but the first thing you need to know is that unlike America and a large percentage of the rest of the world, Japan has no tipping culture. What this means is if you eat a meal in a Japanese restaurant, you will likely be charged a service charge along with your meal, which covers this kind of thing.
It’s best not to leave an individual tip for your server, even if you think you have had outstanding service. This us because it can cause discomfort and even, in some cases, be seen as rude.
Carry cash.
While you may be used to paying for things via contactless technology, cash and carrying it is still very important when visiting Japan. Yes, larger stores and chain stores will more likely take a card, but this is not so when it comes to shrines, castles, ice cream stands, and restaurants, so be sure you have enough cash on you to cover your costs each day.
Japan is a popular destination for scuba diving.
When you think of the most popular places for scuba diving, locations in places like the Caribbean and Mexico come to mind. However, what many people do not realise is that Japa,n and in particular the Island of Okina,wa is also a hugely favoured spot for the sport.
Indeed, there are many wonderful sites to visit, such as scuba diving in Okinawa, including the underwater mailbox at Sunabe seawall, the turtles at Kerama Islands, and even the USS Emmons American Navy destroyer, 147 feet (45 m) of water off Okinawa’s Kouri Island. Okinawa is such a popular place for scuba diving that it’s also possible to take the PADI Discover Scuba Diving program there. The main advantage of this is that you can choose whether you head out to the ocean and learn to dive in the Kerama Islands or in a boat to see or stay closer to shore and learn at Sunabe.
Cannabis is not legal in Japan.
While CBD products are legal in Japan and have been since 2016, they are not widely used or culturally accepted. Cannabis itself, however, is very illegal, with those found with any of it being given prison sentences of around 7-10 years. With that in mind, it’s best to steer clear of cannabis both as you travel to and from Japan as well as during your stay.
The Japanese address system can be confusing.
Streets and houses and building numbers aren’t a thing in Japan. Instead, addresses are based on areas and landmarks, which can be pretty confusing for Westerners!
The Japanese address system can be so confusing that even Google Maps gets it wrong on occasion. That is why seasoned travellers to Japan tend to stick with Apple maps.
