Japan

Etiquette & respect

Martial arts Go Shogi Kimono Having been in the Chinese cultural sphere for much of its history, substantial Chinese influences can be seen in Japanese culture. They have been seamlessly blended with native Japanese customs to give rise to a culture that is distinctly Japanese. During the Edo Period, Japanese culture was strongly influenced by Confucianism. The Tokugawa Shogunate instituted a rigid class system, with the Shogun at the apex, a small group of feudal lords called daimyō below him, and the other samurai below that, followed by a vast population of commoners below them. At the bottom below even the commoners was a group …

Tipping guidance

Tipping is not a part of Japanese culture. Japanese people are uncomfortable with being tipped and are likely to be confused, amused or possibly even offended if tipped. The Japanese pride themselves on the service given to customers, and a further financial incentive is unnecessary. If you leave a tip in a restaurant, the staff will probably come running after you to return the money you 'forgot'. Many Westernised hotels and restaurants may add a 10% service charge, and family restaurants may add a 10% late-night charge after midnight. Occasionally the hotel or inn will leave a small gratuity envelope for you to tip the maids, though it is completely optional. Never leave a cash tip on a table or hotel bed, because the Japanese consider it impolite if it is not concealed in an envelope. Exceptions to the no-tipping culture are high-end ryokan (see § Sleep) and interpreters or tour guides.

Health & wellness

Japan is a country obsessed with cleanliness and health hazards are few and far between. Food hygiene standards are very high and there are no communicable diseases of significance. Tap water is safe and of good quality throughout the country. Domestic and foreign brands of bottled water are available for ¥100-200 everywhere (at least in tourist destinations). Most restaurants serve filtered tap water for free. Unless specifically labeled "mineral water" (ミネラルウォーター mineraru wōtā), water in Japan has a low mineral concentration in general. Radioactivity levels in the water supply have been closely monitored in some areas since the 2011 earthquake and nuclear disaster, but found negligible as far as water used by civilians is concerned; also see the Tokyo government's [http://monitoring.tokyo-eiken.go.jp/en/mon_water_data.html daily reports]. If you do become ill with a cold or other sickness, purchase a mouth-covering, cloth surgical mask. You will find that people frequently wear these out on trains and on the job. This filters your sneezing and coughing so you do not transmit to others. Second-hand smoke used to be a massive issue in Japan, but public transport, public buildings and most offices are now smoke-free, with increasing numbers of cities banning smoking entirely outside designated smoking areas. Since 2020, even restaurants in Tokyo only allow smoking in dedicated, separately ventilated smoking sections. Despite the name, Japanese encephalitis has been virtually eradicated from Japan. The main reservoir of the virus is pigs, so vaccination is unnecessary unless you plan on spending time at rural hog farms.

Scams & street smarts

Police and the law Police in Japan may and do detain people up to 23 days before a prosecutor formally files charges, and you may be subjected to nonstop interrogation during this period. This detention period may be extended for another 23 days each time by simply amending the charge. You can hire a lawyer only if somebody outside pays the fees in advance, and your lawyer is not allowed to be present during interrogations. Insist on an interpreter and consular access, and do not fingerprint anything (Japanese equivalent of signing), especially if you do not fully understand what you sign. A signed confession will result in a guilty verdict at your trial. By far the most common pattern of how foreign tourists end up staring at the cold, yellow walls of a Japanese detention cell is getting drunk and then involved in a fight. Standard police procedure is to detain everybody first and to sort out things later. If anybody accuses you of anything even on the flimsiest grounds, you may be looking at an unpleasant extension to your vacation. Over 99% of criminal trials in Japan end in a conviction, so if your case goes to trial, your conviction is largely a formality, and the main job of the judge is to decide your sentence. If you are convicted of a crime, you will be looking at a first-hand experience of Japan's notoriously harsh prison system. Control your temper and alcohol level: police patrol party areas heavily at night and they will be willing to "rescue" a fellow Japanese from a violent foreigner. Street crime is extremely rare, even for female travellers roaming the streets alone late at night, but it is still no excuse to ditch your common sense. Women travelling alone should take care as they would in their home countries and never hitchhike alone, though taxis are usually safe. Pickpocketing does sometimes happen: be sure to take the usual precautions in crowded places such as trains and at Narita Airport. Women on crowded rush-hour trains may be targeted by molesters (痴漢 chikan). Some trains have female-only carriages during rush hour in an effort to combat sexual harassment and upskirting. A lot of heavy drinking goes on in the evenings and occasionally drunks may be a nuisance, although alcohol-related violence is extremely rare. The infamous yakuza (ヤクザ), the Japanese gangsters, do not target people not already involved in organized crime. Don't bother them and they will not bother you. Red-light districts in large cities can be seedy, but are rarely dangerous for visitors. However, some smaller backstreet bars and shops that tout themselves on the street have been known to lay down exorbitant cover charges or drink prices. In some extreme cases, foreigners have reported being drugged at such establishments and then charged as much as ¥700,000 for drinks that they do not remember ordering (notably in the Roppongi and Kabukichō districts of Tokyo). Never go into a place that is suggested by someone that you just met. This goes especially for the street touts in places like Kabukichō. Touting is illegal in Japan.