Tips for people who have never been to Japan!

Please post tips for people who have never been to Japan!

I remember when I went the first time, there were things we wished we had known beforehand. haha.


- Banks, in the US, at least, tend to charge ATM fees, so when you take cash out, take it in BULK!!
- Japan doesn't have to be all that expensive, once you are there. The best places to eat are the small shops that are tucked away out of the tourist areas.
- It's okay to talk to Japanese people if you're new to Japanese. Just make sure that you try to use polite speech, if possible. Most of them appreciate the effort!

- Japanese transit systems are great and go almost everywhere, so car rentals are almost never needed.

- If you CAN, and you're new to Japan and/or Japanese culture, see if you can find a crash course in basic Japanese culture. It's not imperative, but it will make your life MUUUUUCH easier when you get there are you are MUCH less likely to make a fool of yourself.


I'm sure I've missed a ton. Anything else you guys can think of?

Bring a deodorant from your own country. Especially if you travel during the summer. The humidity, I hear, is horrible. And it's not very easy to find proper deodorants there.

Remember that the standard hair colour in Japan is dark if you're planning on dyeing your hair. I didn't, and my blonde hair became yellow. As if I didn't already stand out, haha!

ALWAYS carry a map. Or you might get lost. House numbers are not in order and a lot of streets don't have names.