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Travel Essentials › Japan

Travel Essentials

Japan: What To Know Before You Go

Plugs: Types A and B; 100 V, 50 Hz (east) / 60 Hz (west). Emergency: Police 110, Ambulance 119, Fire 119. Tipping: Tipping is not practised and can cause confusion; excellent service is standard. Tap water: Generally safe to drink tap water.

Open The Japan Trip Kit

Plugs And Power

Types A and B; 100 V, 50 Hz (east) / 60 Hz (west)

Emergency Numbers

Checked 13 Oct 2026 against the official page: japan.travel

Tipping

Tipping is not practised and can cause confusion; excellent service is standard.

Water And Health

Tap water

Generally safe to drink tap water

Vaccines

Routine vaccines; hepatitis A for most travelers; hepatitis B for unvaccinated travelers under 60; Japanese encephalitis for stays of a month or more or for people moving there

Malaria

None

Checked 13 Oct 2026 against the official page: wwwnc.cdc.gov

Apps To Download Before You Go

• Suica / PASMO (Mobile): Tap-to-pay transit cards in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet that also work in convenience stores and vending machines.
• PayPay: The most widely accepted QR payment app in Japan, now open to foreign cards.
• GO: Japan's leading taxi-hailing app, available in most cities.
• Uber: Calls licensed taxis in Tokyo, Osaka and other large cities.
• LINE: The messaging app nearly every Japanese person uses.
• Japan Transit Planner (Jorudan): Precise train routes, platforms and fares across the country.
• SmartEX: Books Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen seats with a foreign credit card.
• Google Translate: Camera translation of menus and signs is invaluable outside big cities.
• Uber Eats: The main food delivery app in Japanese cities, alongside Demae-can.

Customs And Etiquette

Bowing and business cards. A slight bow is a common greeting; when receiving a business card, take it with both hands and look at it before putting it away.

Shoes and cleanliness. Remove shoes when entering homes, some restaurants, temples and ryokan; slippers are often provided.

Quiet public conduct. Talking loudly on trains, eating while walking, and phone calls on public transport are considered impolite; keep noise levels low.

Tipping. Tipping is not customary and can even cause confusion; good service is expected as standard.

Safety And Scams

Japan is one of the safest countries in the world for travelers, with very low violent crime; natural hazards (earthquakes, typhoons) are the more relevant risk to plan around.

Nightlife overcharging. Bars in areas like Kabukicho or Roppongi may lure tourists with "free" or cheap drinks then present hugely inflated bills; avoid touts and check prices before ordering.

Fake monks or street solicitors. People dressed as monks sometimes offer blessings or trinkets and then demand payment; genuine monks don't solicit money on the street.

Women travelers. Japan is considered very safe for solo women travelers overall; the main issue reported is groping (chikan) on crowded commuter trains, which women-only train cars during rush hour help address.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

Legal · Mostly Safe

Same-sex sexual activity is legal and there's no explicit criminalization, but same-sex marriage is not nationally recognized and public displays of affection are uncommon culturally; LGBTQ+ travelers are generally safe, especially in large cities, though social acceptance varies.

What Things Cost

2026-09

Best Time To Visit

Spring (late March-April, for cherry blossoms) and autumn (October-November, for fall foliage) are the best and most popular times, with comfortable temperatures; these are also the most crowded and expensive. Summer is hot and humid with a rainy season in June.

Do You Need A Visa?

Japan visa requirements by nationality

Phrases

Basic Japanese phrases

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