Traveling to Japan

Tips

Below are some tips on things you should know or do before traveling to Japan and things you should expect when you arrive.

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("Yen")
1. Money: According to the United States Treasury Department, the exchange rate as of March 31, 2011, is 81.8700 yen to one united states dollar. This is important to know because it is imperative to keep cash on you at all times.  Many stores and restaurants in Japan only accept cash, and it is better to be prepared than trying to awkwardly struggle to get them to accept a credit card.

2. Luggage: When navigating through Japan, it's better to travel lite.  Japanese are rarely seen traveling with large bags so Japanese trains don't usually have a lot of cargo room (Mishima).  It's better to get many small bags than one big one.


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("Oshiya")
3.  Visiting:  If you are planning to visit a family in Japan,  it is always considerate to bring a gift, what you choose to bring as a gift is your choice but make sure you consider it first before you decide on one (Mishima)

4. Electric Train / Subway:  Japan is a crowded place, and during rush hour you can expect to see hoards of people rushing on a train to get home.  At these times, a train can become very crowded.  A train is filled until the last possible person is squeezed in.  There is even people called "Oshiya" or "Pushers" whose job is dedicated to stuffing people in the train.  If you don't like your personal space invaded, it's better if you take a bus or walk during these times.


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("Toilet")
5. Bathrooms:  Some bathrooms in Japan have traditional toilets wear you have to squat down to use instead of sitting.  If you feel like you wouldn't be able to keep your balance, your better off looking for department store or restaurant that might have western-style toilets (Okamoto).  Also most bathrooms don't provide paper towels to wipe your hands so it's best you bring a handkerchief with you.

6. Eating:  Serving sizes in Japan are a lot smaller than they are here in America.  They also refer to them different as S Size, M Size, and L Size.  If you're looking for food in a familiar fast food restaurant, like McDonald's, don't expect them to have the same food.  The menu has been changed to fit more Japanese taste, such as adding a Teriyaki Burger, and Shrimp Burger ("Top 10").

What You Should Bring

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("Basic")
The following is a list of suggestions of what you should bring with you on your trip to Japan.

1. Passport and Visa
2. Money - Cash, Traveler's Check, Credit/Debit Card
3. Luggage with clothes
4. Camera
5. English-Japanese Pocket Dictionary
6. Alarm Clock
7. Computer / Laptop
8. International Cellphone
9. Power Adapter (absolute need if bringing appliances)
10. Handkerchief 
11. Calculator
12. Map / Phone Book

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