There’s lots of things to think about when planning a family trip to Japan. To make life a bit easier for you we have put together our top FAQs for travelling to Japan below.
Our destination specialists are experts in all things Japanese, from what to pack to tipping customs. They have used their first-hand experience to answer these questions to help you have a smooth trip.
Whilst we have done our best to cover as much as possible below, please feel free to get in touch if you find you’re still left looking for answers and we’ll gladly help!
Before departure
Your passport needs to be valid for six months after your departure from Japan.
Short-term visitors with British citizen passports do not need to obtain a visa prior to travelling. This includes those coming for business, tourism, and to visit family and friends. Just make sure your passport has at least 6 months validity from the day you return back to the UK.
Handy Hint: before departure make copies of your passport, bank cards and insurance documents and leave them with family or friends in the UK. Also keep a copy in your luggage, in a separate place from your original documents, and e-mail yourself scanned copies too. This will make things easy if you lose any paperwork during your visit.
Yes, we would always recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance when travelling, especially overseas, that is suitable for your requirements and needs.
What to pack for a trip to Japan depends on the season and activities you’ll be doing. However, some essentials to bring include comfortable walking shoes, lightweight clothing, and a warm layer. If you’re traveling in the summer, be prepared for hot and humid weather, especially in cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. In the winter, temperatures can dip below freezing, so make sure to pack warm clothing and accessories. If you plan on hiking or exploring the countryside, make sure to bring comfortable shoes with good grip.
It is always best to get the advice of a GP or travel nurse before travelling overseas to check which vaccinations you might need or if any boosters are required. The Travel Health Pro website provides a comprehensive guide on all the vaccinations you should consider.
Departure
We know heading off on holiday is always a little bit stressful, especially on the day you leave, so we would advise doing these things before you depart:
- Check you have all your necessary documentation, including your passport!
- Take a photo of your documents and email it to yourself and travelling partners. Having a copy on your phone always comes in handy too.
- Ensure you have all your chargers and converters for any phones, cameras, tablets you are taking. A portable battery pack is a handy item to have in your hand luggage.
- Take snacks and a big bottle of water for your flight.
- Get to the airport with plenty of time to spare, we advise arriving 3 hours prior to your flight departure.
- Pack a change of clothes in your hand luggage and take a photo of your checked bag in case it goes missing en route.
- Sit back and relax knowing we have your holiday sorted!
Arrival
When it comes to the Japanese language, we’d strongly recommend taking a comprehensive phrasebook. The Japanese aren’t known to speak English as fluently as other places in Asia, and although you can get by in major cities like Tokyo, in more rural areas English is almost non-existent. As the written language is also formed of symbols, it can get a little confusing without some key phrases saved on your phone or in a trusty pocket book. This might save you from some awkward situations! Having said that, the great thing about Japanese is that it’s fairly phonetic to pronounce, so if you read from a phrasebook you’re very likely to be understood. Japanese is a complex language that takes foreigners years to master. This is because there are many ways of saying the same thing, depending on the context. We suggest just giving it a go! After all, the Japanese love it when travellers make the effort and it really pleases them to speak their language with you. Watch out though, one phrase commonly leads them into thinking you’re fluent (…it can become quite a comical exchange, take our word for it!). It’s worth learning the right phrase, “I don’t understand!” as you’ll probably need it (see our key phrases below).
Arigatou gozaimasu – Thank you
Onegaishimasu – Please
Sumimasen – Excuse me
Hai -Yes
Iie – No
Gomen Nasai – I’m sorry
Wakarimasen – I don’t understand
Totally Japanese words:
Kawaii! – Cute!
Bigaku – No exact word translation but it means ‘A love for aesthetically pleasing/admirable/cute/attractive things’
Ukiyo – This one word translates to “floating world” and encapsulates the feeling of being totally present, unaffected by the stresses of the world and simply deep into that exact moment. Something we are sure you will experience frequently during your travels in Japan!
Food in Japan is some of the best in the world and even the pickiest of kids will find something they’ll enjoy! From humble rice-based street food and warming Ramen bowls to lavish sushi bar-restaurants, food in Japan is something to get truly excited about.
Vegetarians and vegans in Japan will find a lot that pleases them, but just be aware that attitudes to meat and fish can be very different to that of western countries. It’s always worth researching the names of things that you can or can’t eat. The big cities will cater to you easily but it could be trickier in rural areas. Vegetarians will find it easier than vegans to find something to chow down on (so nothing new there eh, Vegang!), as a lot of snacks are egg-based. The Japanese are a big fan of tofu, fresh vegetables and mushrooms so just be brave and ask as they will always, in true Japanese nature, go out their way to find you something which suits. It’s common for education around veganism and vegetarianism to be quite minimal in some areas of Japan, and you may find that they don’t consider fish to be meat. Your best bet is to practice some key phrases that you’re comfortable with, which outline your specific needs as clearly as possible. Learn more about Japanese food.
In the cities, you’ll find western restaurants are firm favourites, but we would recommend finding truly authentic places to eat. Even if you have to point, smile and bow instead of speaking if there’s no English on the menu. Your bravery will reward you with culinary delights! Sometimes it’s not always crystal clear what things are, so prepare to play the famous ‘Japanese food roulette’… Either way, you’ll end up with some good stories to tell upon your return.
Are you gluten-free? Read our guide on gluten free food.
Japanese culture is traditionally centred around the concept of respect and honour, and this gives the Japanese a commitment to being genuine and authentic people. You’ll find them to be very charming and endearing, and will rarely ever be left without someone going out of their way to be kind to you, and provide the highest level of service. They love their gadgets and technology, however, most also seem to have a beautiful and deeply grounded sense of appreciation for nature and the ancestral history of their country.
The bow is a very prominent gesture that you’ll encounter in Japan. It can be a little confusing at first but generally, we go with the rule that if you say “hello,” “thank you” or “goodbye,” a gentle bow is a good idea.
The Japanese also love a hot spring, or ‘Onsen’, and part of staying in Japan is making sure you get to experience this absolute treasure. Pop on your cotton Kimono, slip on your ‘Tabi’ socks (with a split so can be worn with traditional sandals), and mosey on down to the Onsen spa. It’s customary for men and women to be segregated as you enter the Onsen completely naked. Then, it is the etiquette to wash thoroughly, before slipping into the hot mineral water pools and chilling out. Nothing beats it after a long day, and then you’re ready to crawl into bed, totally refreshed and clean. Suffice to say, you’ll miss it when you return home!
Japan has very specific etiquettes, manners and expected behaviours when it comes to certain things. Don’t let this intimidate you though, they are usually easily learned and most of them are simply common sense courtesy. Like when travelling anywhere, offending people is possible. However, as a traveller, you are generally awarded a level of leniency, and by simply being aware and researching anything you aren’t sure about, you’re very unlikely to end up in a negative situation. The most notable etiquette to be aware of is taking your shoes off when entering a home or building; it will usually be clear when it’s appropriate to do this, but keep an eye out for the shoe racks on the side. Bowing is polite, both when greeting and thanking people, and two hands should be used when exchanging business cards or gifts. There is also a clear code for how to use Onsen spas, and how to behave in temples.
Safety
Japan is considered a very safe country to travel to but like anywhere, it is best to exert caution and be mindful of your belongings and surroundings.
We are contactable in the UK during office hours and our local partners in destination are available 24/7 for any support or help you might need. They are in the best position as they will be on the same timezone, they should be your first contact in a case of emergency.
Tips and practical information
The currency of Japan is the Yen (JPY). There are notes of 10,000, 5,000, 1,000 and coins between 1 and 500 JPY. ATMs are available in all big cities in Japan, and we recommend using ATMs in post offices, international airports, AEON banks and 7-Eleven supermarkets – these are more likely to accept foreign cards. It’s good to know that there are different opening hours for access to ATMs, so it’s always good to have some cash on you. When shopping, it’s usually better to pay with cash, although AMEX, Visa, MasterCard & Diners Club are widely accepted in almost all hotels, big restaurants and shopping centres.
Tipping is not a part of Japanese culture, and your kind gesture will often be met by confusion and polite refusal – the price is the price, why do you want to pay more? However, if you feel that you have received exceptional service from a guide or hotel worker, then it is acceptable to place the tip in an envelope and hand it directly to them. It is considered rude to simply hand cash over without an envelope.