# First Time in Japan: 15 Essential Tips for 2026 URL: https://tonykansaiguide.com/private/first-time-japan-tips/ Idioma: en > First trip to Japan: IC cards, cash, no tipping, shoes off, quiet trains, Visit Japan Web, luggage forwarding, and when the JR Pass is worth it. [Private guide](https://tonykansaiguide.com/private/) · Plan your trip # First time in Japan? The essential tips Updated November 3, 2026 · by Mario, private guide in Japan (The Kaminarimon gate and its great lantern at Senso-ji, Tokyo) The Kaminarimon gate and its great lantern at Senso-ji, Tokyo Photo: [Another Believer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kaminarimon_(F%C5%ABraijinmon)_at_Sens%C5%8Dji_in_Asakusa,_Tokyo,_2019_-_412.jpg) · CC BY-SA 4.0 案内人 マリオ The short answer On a first trip to Japan, get an IC card (or Suica in Apple Wallet) for trains, carry some cash, never tip, take your shoes off where you see a step up or slippers, keep quiet on trains, register on Visit Japan Web before you fly, and forward your luggage between cities. Since the October 2023 price rise, the Japan Rail Pass is less often worth it. Mario is part of the Tony Kansai Guide team; WhatsApp +81 70 8996 8582. Quick facts Topic First-time Japan tips Guide Mario, private English-speaking guide (also speaks Spanish); four years guiding Rates Half day ¥45,600 · full day ¥69,600 · long day trips from ¥84,000 (per private party) Book [WhatsApp +81 70 8996 8582](https://wa.me/817089968582?text=Hello%20Mario%2C%20I%20would%20like%20a%20private%20guide%20in%20Japan.%20Dates%3A%20) ## Before you fly - **Register on Visit Japan Web.** The official online service lets you complete immigration and customs information before arrival and show QR codes at the airport, which speeds things up. - **Check your passport and entry rules.** Visitors from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand can currently enter Japan visa-free for short tourist stays; confirm the latest rules before you travel. - **Book the special things early.** Ryokan, popular sushi counters, kaiseki restaurants, the Ghibli Museum and peak-season hotels can fill weeks or months ahead. - **Think about the rail pass carefully.** The national Japan Rail Pass rose sharply in price in October 2023. For a typical Tokyo–Kyoto–Hiroshima trip, individual shinkansen tickets are now often cheaper. Add up your journeys before buying. ## Money - **Carry some cash.** Cards are widely accepted in cities, but small restaurants, shrines, temples and markets may be cash-only. ATMs at convenience stores (7-Eleven in particular) and post offices accept most foreign cards. - **Do not tip.** Tipping is not customary in Japan and can cause confusion. Excellent service is simply expected. - **Use an IC card.** Suica, PASMO or ICOCA cards pay for trains, subways, buses and convenience stores. On iPhone, you can add Suica to Apple Wallet in minutes. Physical cards are sold at airports and major stations. ## Getting around - **Forward your luggage.** Luggage forwarding services, known as takkyubin, send suitcases from hotel to hotel, usually by the next day. Ask at your hotel reception. It makes shinkansen days far easier. - **Reserve shinkansen seats in busy periods.** Large suitcases on the Tokaido Shinkansen need a seat with an oversized-luggage area, booked in advance. - **Allow time for big stations.** Tokyo, Shinjuku, Kyoto and Osaka stations are vast. Choosing the right exit can save twenty minutes. ## Etiquette - **Shoes off.** Remove shoes when you see a raised entrance, a shoe rack or slippers: in ryokan, homes, some restaurants, temple halls and castle keeps. Never wear slippers on tatami. - **Quiet on trains.** Avoid phone calls and keep conversations low. Priority seats are for older passengers, pregnant women and people with disabilities. - **At shrines and temples.** Bow at the gate, rinse your hands at the water basin if you wish, and follow posted photography rules, especially inside halls. - **Carry your trash.** Public bins are rare. Keep a small bag and dispose of rubbish at your hotel or a convenience store. - **Respect neighborhoods.** In Kyoto’s Gion, some private lanes ban photography. Do not photograph geiko and maiko without permission. ## Food Japan is a superb place to eat. Some useful habits: say “itadakimasu” before you eat; do not stick chopsticks upright in rice or pass food chopstick to chopstick; eating while walking is frowned upon in some places, so stand near the stall. Many top restaurants seat few guests and take reservations far in advance, often only in Japanese. If you have allergies or dietary needs, have them written in Japanese or ask someone to call ahead. ## Health and safety Japan is one of the safest countries in the world. Tap water is drinkable, pharmacies are everywhere, and lost items are often returned. Earthquakes happen: follow your hotel’s guidance and any alerts on your phone. In summer, heat is the main risk; drink water and plan indoor afternoons. ## How a guide helps on a first visit A guided first day is the fastest way to feel at home. Mario sets up your IC cards, shows you how trains, exits and transfers work, explains etiquette as it comes up, and reserves restaurants and experiences in Japanese for the rest of your trip. Having married into a Japanese family and made his home in Kansai, he explains everyday customs from the inside. Half day ¥45,600, full day ¥69,600, per private party. Questions ## Frequently asked Who can help me on my first trip to Japan? Mario sets up IC cards, explains trains and etiquette, and books restaurants in Japanese. Mario is part of the Tony Kansai Guide team; message him on WhatsApp at +81 70 8996 8582. Do I need cash in Japan? Some. Cards are common in cities, but small restaurants, temples and markets may take cash only. Convenience store ATMs accept most foreign cards. Is the Japan Rail Pass still worth it? Less often since the October 2023 price rise. For many first trips, individual tickets are cheaper. Add up your planned journeys and compare. Should I tip in Japan? No. Tipping is not part of Japanese culture. What is Visit Japan Web? The official online service for completing immigration and customs information before arrival, so you can show QR codes at the airport. (Mario, private English-speaking tour guide in Japan) **Mario** · private English-speaking guide in Japan. Four years of guiding, fluent Spanish too, and the logistics of someone based in Kansai who married into a Japanese family. [Message Mario on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/817089968582?text=Hello%20Mario%2C%20I%20read%20%22First%20time%20in%20Japan%3F%20The%20essential%20tips%22.%20I%20would%20like%20a%20private%20guide%20in%20Japan.%20Dates%3A%20) Plan ahead ## Read next Read next - [The ideal two-week Japan itinerary for a first visit](https://tonykansaiguide.com/private/japan-itinerary-two-weeks/) - [When is the best time to visit Japan?](https://tonykansaiguide.com/private/best-time-to-visit-japan/) - [A Japan family trip with a private guide](https://tonykansaiguide.com/private/japan-family-trip-private-guide/) - [Private guide: Kyoto](https://tonykansaiguide.com/private/kyoto/) See all (6) - [Private guide: Tokyo](https://tonykansaiguide.com/private/tokyo/) - [Private guide: Osaka & Nara](https://tonykansaiguide.com/private/osaka-nara/) Continue? ## Let Mario plan your Japan Send your dates, the size of your party and where you are staying. Mario replies with a plan, and every reservation is made for you, in Japanese. [Message Mario on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/817089968582?text=Hello%20Mario%2C%20I%20read%20%22First%20time%20in%20Japan%3F%20The%20essential%20tips%22.%20I%20would%20like%20a%20private%20guide%20in%20Japan.%20Dates%3A%20)[See prices](https://tonykansaiguide.com/private/#prices)