Useful tips for Japan trip 1.You don t need to open the door when you take a taxi, because the taxi door is automatic. 2.Related travelling, please try to buy a transportation card. (Suica/Pasmo/Ikoca/ any cards). You can use them all over Japan. 3.Please do not talk on your mobile phone when you are on the train as this is seen as impolite. Please be gentle. 4.Please do not take any photos of people that are sleeping in the train. 1
Useful tips for Japan trip 5.There are dedicated sections on the train where you must switch off your phone for people who have a pacemaker. The areas with signs, orange hanging straps or at both ends of the train. 6.At certain times in the morning, there are women-only cars on some lines. 7.Don t take/wear the bathroom/toilet slippers outside of the bathroom/toilet. 2
Useful tips for Japan trip 8.Take off your shoes when visiting someone s house/some Japanese style restaurants. Related dining and entertainment. 9.You don t need to give tips. (it s included in the price) You can say thank you to the waiters/waitresses in Japanese instead. Thank you for the great meal and service Before you start to eat. Itadakimasu After you ate or when you are leaving after you paid. Gochiso sama deshita 10.Please do not eat some food while walking around on the street especially, on busy streets. (food from vendors on festivals are exceptions) 3
Useful tips for Japan trip 11. Please keep clean all public areas even you cannot find rubbish bins easily. The government took almost them out for avoiding the terrorists attack. 12.Don t stick your chopsticks in the rice. It s related to praying to the death people. Sticking your chopsticks vertical in a bowl of rice is bad in Japan. Called tsukitate -bashi, it is incredibly taboo because it reminds Japanese people of funerals 13. Tobacco Laws / Tobacco Control Street smoking bans in Japan Please be careful where you smoke. Please always try to find a designated smoking area. There are some areas where the Japanese government bans smoking. Sometimes, you Please kindly consider not to throw any tobaccos away on the street. can get a fine if you don t follow that rule. 4
Useful tips for Japan trip 14. How do you flush the toilet? Push Push The handle with two kanji: 大 and 小. Turn the handle in the direction of 大 Press the 大 button Just hold your hand over it until the toilet flushes 5
Travel example by Tokyo Metro Tokyo Metro Download the application. Tokyo Metro The application tells you how to get to your destination and the exit number. You can use this application offline as well. Apple https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tokyo-subway-navigation-for/id844802451?mt=8 Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.tokyometro.tokyosubwaynavi Example; From Roppongi to Asakusa Take Hibiya Line from Roppongi (H04), change at Ginza Station (H08), transfer to Ginza Line (G09) alight at Asakusa (G19) 6
You can check the public transport information on google maps but it's also available through the following URL: https://world.jorudan.co.jp/mln/ Tokyo Subway Map Download Here : http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/subwaymap/ 7
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Travel example by Buses, Taxi Tokyo Toei Bus Operation Map Great access to all area of Tokyo http://tobus.jp/blsys/navi?vcd=ctop&ecd=srrtm&lcd=e Not all drivers are fluent in English, so to be on the safe side, we recommend you write down the address you re going to in Japanese beforehand. Just hand up to catch a taxi,then they will stop to pick up you. http://www.taxi-tokyo.or.jp/english/call/contact_list.html 9
Travel clues a. Please be quiet and do not eat anything on the local trains and buses. b. Please make sure to queue up properly. c. In Japan people in Tokyo stand on the right side of the elevator and in Osaka on the left side. The other side is to fast track. d. Fast track at the escalator, Tokyo is on the right side, but Osaka is on the left side. e. In Tokyo the taste of noodle soup is much stronger that Osaka and Kyoto. f. In Japan not a lot of people speak English (especially in Suburbs) but everyone is more than prepared to help so please use written English or (Japanese) Maps etc when you ask something. g. Japanese Taxi drivers aren t really good at English so I recommend to prepare the address in Japanese and show that to the driver. h. At the convenience store, people might ask you that if you need cutleries, chopsticks, wet towels, plastic bags or not. Also you might be able to pay with a electric transportation card. i. In convenience stores after buying food or drinks, the clerk often asks you if you need a spoon, fork, chopsticks, wet towels plastic bags etc. j. You will probably also be able to pay with your chargeable transportation card k. At fancy restaurants in the city centre, often making a reservation is required. (highly recommended) l. The Japanese drainage system is not functioning that well in every place so please don t use too many toilet paper at once since the toilet might get clogged up. m. Please take a shower while seated in any public bath. 10
Useful Japanese 1. Thank you - Arigato 2. Thank you very much - Arigato Gozaimasu 3. Hello - Konnichiwa 4. Good evening - Konbanwa 5. Good morning - Ohayo gozaimasu 6. Excuse me - Sumimasen 7. Sorry - Gomennasai 8. How much is this? - Ikura desu ka? 9. I want to eat - Tabetai 10. I do not need it - Irimasen 11. I cannot speak Japanese - Nihongo Wakarimasen 12. Where is the bathroom? - Toire ha doko desu ka? 13. How do I get there? - Dou yatte ikimasu ka? 14. Thank you for the meal (When you are leaving to say thanks/appreciate it ) - Gochiso sama deshita 15. Good bye - Sayonara 16. See you - Matane 17. I like it - Suki 18. I don t like it - Suki dewa arimasen 19. Yes - Hai 20. No - iie 11