6 Insider Travel Tips for Japan
Here are 6 insider tips for those interested in visiting a wonderful country like Japan, which offers great food, shops, and more!
As members of Gen Z, travel can be extremely helpful in improving our mental health. Gen Z experienced some of the most adverse side effects from the isolation created by the COVID-19 quarantine. Many of us did not experience study-abroad programs or holiday vacations.
Traveling to a foreign country can help provide unique perspectives in Gen Z’s discussions as students, writers, and in the workplace. Hopefully all members of Gen Z are lucky enough to travel at some point in their lives and take the chance if presented to them!
I was lucky enough to travel to Japan in my senior year of high school. My experience visiting Japan was a great way for me to connect with my peers after the quarantine and learn things about Japan that you can truly only know from traveling there yourself.
One thing I wish I had been given before traveling to Japan was tips from somebody who has visited. So, I created “6 Insider Travel Tips for Japan,” which would have helped me throughout my journey!
1. 7/11s have everything you need and more!
Before traveling to Japan, all that came to mind when I pictured 7/11s were Slurpees and Slim Jims. When I got to Japan, I was taken aback by how many resources they had. The Japanese 7/11s have a diverse display of drinks, snacks, and even entire meals. They have fresh and delicious sushi, Onigiri, sandwiches, pastries, ramen and more!
On my trip, we got most of our meals and snacks at the 7/11 by our hotel. They even tasted just as good as some of the meals I had at the restaurants in Japan.
If you plan to travel to Japan, keep in mind that the 7/11s are a great to-go food option. As amazing as the restaurants are, when you want a quick yet satisfying meal in Japan, try 7/11!
2. Don’t be alarmed if you see an unaccompanied child
One thing that I truly underestimated about Japan was how safe it is. I felt comfortable getting a late-night snack at 7/11 or walking around alone when permitted. I was surprised that very young children were allowed to walk around alone because of how safe it is. There were many times my friends and I turned heads as we saw children going on the train by themselves.
Unfortunately, this is not the reality for many young people, especially women, in other countries. Japan’s promotion of safety taught me how many more possibilities children in Japan have than those in other countries.
Japan sounds like such an amazing and safe country to raise your children in!
3. Know some basic Japanese words/phrases
My only regret before coming to Japan was not studying Japanese more. At school, we learned some, but I wish I had taken the time to practice on my own. It was extremely difficult to communicate without knowing Japanese.
The screenshot above from the YouTube video, “How to Start Learning Japanese from NOTHING” by the user TokuyuuTV can be a really helpful tool to get you started on learning some Japanese before visiting.
Although the YouTube video discredits this for beginners, my friends said listening to songs and watching shows in Japanese helped them. As someone who has studied Spanish, I can confirm that listening to the language spoken by native speakers can help develop your understanding and pronunciation of a language.
One of my friends also used Google to take images of signs and stores in Japan and translate them into English, which was helpful for all of us. However, we learned that Google only takes you so far, as we struggled to talk to waiters and ask for basic directions on the street. To get around securely and avoid confusion, it is best to study at least some Japanese basics — especially if you are not traveling with a local.
The Japanese language is so beautiful. Learning it can also help you immerse yourself in Japan’s amazing culture and traditions.
4. Leave your pajamas at home
Another thing I wish I had known before coming to Japan was that I could save suitcase space by eliminating pajamas. We moved hotels every night, and at every hotel we stayed at, they provided a set of pajamas for me and my roommates to wear. They were comfortable and stylish. Sometimes, they even provided robes and slippers as well, which is something I have seen in many American hotels.
However, what became a harsh awakening to some of the students on the trip was that these pajamas were only meant for sleeping and were not appropriate to wear downstairs for breakfast.
All of my pajamas took up a lot of space in my suitcase that could have been used for items such as a book with basic Japanese phrases that would be helpful when I lost WIFI and needed to see how to say basic phrases like “water” or “bathroom.”
The book could also be a fun activity for my roommates and me to read and practice late at night during our free time. It would have been a great idea to pack more books in general due to how quiet the culture is. In places like the train station, it was very quiet, and conversations were limited, so it would be entertaining to have books to read during this quiet time.
Overall, if you are staying in a Japanese hotel, you should probably leave the pajamas you only wear for sleeping at home and consider saving that extra room for books!
5. Take everything you see on the media with a grain of salt
One of the biggest concerns I overheard my peers discussing before traveling to Japan was the extreme fat phobia due to information they found on social media.
Commenting on the TikTok above, I was able to find stores with a wide variety of sizes and even some plus-size stores.
However, when I went to Japan, I encountered many plus-size stores with derogatory and fat-phobic icons, such as pigs, and words like “oink oink” on the door.
In my experience at Tokyo Disney, I did not see any plus-size individuals get escorted off rides. The rides looked like they were the same size as those at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
With that being said, I believe and support each of these TikTokers’ experiences, even if they differ from my own. I would like to emphasize that I am not discrediting the experiences these TikTokers had. I merely want to compare it with mine in hopes of providing another perspective on the media.
What this tip is trying to show is that not everything you hear or see on social media about a country is going to mirror your own experience, and you never truly know what to expect until you have been there yourself. Even my article should be taken with a grain of salt. I did not see plus-size individuals being victims of outright fatphobia, but that could have just been due to the individuals and places I encountered.
Overall, although each creator’s content may not have the intention of providing misinformation in the media, it may still not be accurate for everyone. This is because it is very rare for one to have an identical experience with another person, even if they are traveling to the same country.
6. Japan is one of the most beautiful destinations, with amazing food, museums, and shops
The most important “tip” I have for Japan is to enjoy every last minute!
Here is a picture of a beautiful statue of Buddha in Hakone, Japan. This is just one of many amazing attractions I got to see. I was so lucky that I had the chance to shop in Tokyo and see beautiful pieces of art like this in Hakone all in the same trip!
From eating delicious sushi to having deer bow at my feet, there was never a dull moment on my trip. Even over a year later, I still reminisce about it and plan to go back soon!
