How things work in Japan
Short, practical guides to the customs and logistics that nobody explains at the airport. Written for first-time visitors, useful for repeat ones.
Getting Around
Trains, IC cards, taxis, buses, and how to move through Japan without friction.
Accommodation
Onsen, ryokan, hotels, and what to expect when you check in.
How to Stay at a Ryokan: Yukata, Futon, and Kaiseki Explained
What to expect at a traditional Japanese inn: check-in, shoes, wearing a yukata, meal times, the futon, and why your room has no bed.
Onsen Etiquette in Japan: A First-Timer's Guide
Everything you need to know before your first Japanese hot spring: how to wash, what to do with your towel, tattoo rules, and common mistakes to avoid.
Eating & Drinking
Restaurants, izakaya, convenience stores, and table manners.
Temples & Customs
Shrines, temples, shoes, bowing, trash, and everyday etiquette.
Everyday Etiquette in Japan: Shoes, Bowing, Trash, and Queues
The small daily customs that make a big difference: when to take off your shoes, how to bow, why there are no bins, and where to stand.
Temple and Shrine Etiquette in Japan
How to visit Japanese shrines and temples respectfully: the difference between the two, how to purify your hands, how to pray, and what to do with omikuji fortunes.
Money & Connectivity
Cash, cards, ATMs, eSIM, and staying online.
Staying Connected in Japan: eSIM, SIM Cards, and Pocket Wi-Fi
Which option to choose for mobile data in Japan, how to set up an eSIM before you land, and why free Wi-Fi alone is not enough.
Cash, Cards, and Tax-Free Shopping in Japan
How much cash to carry, where cards work, which ATMs accept foreign cards, and how Japan's tax-free shopping system changes on November 1, 2026.
Photo Manners
Where you can and cannot shoot, and how to photograph respectfully.
