Japan Tips?

Went to Singapore and Tokyo last summer. Didn’t go anywhere else in Japan other than Tokyo. We were in Tokyo for about five days. I did a lot of research before hand and that really paid off. Getting between the different neighborhoods In Tokyo wasn’t that hard. The trains were very complicated, but cabs were easier and not that bad traffic wise. Write down where you want to go and have the hotel concierge translate where you want to go for the taxi driver. Even the people who speak a lot of English there struggle to understand our accents.
Overall I found it difficult at times to know what you are eating. You can ask if it is chicken or fish and the answer is usually yes. The food can be amazing at times, but weird as hell sometimes as well. On the plane they served me chocolate ice cream with cooked red beans mixed into the scoop of ice cream and matcha sauce on top.
Also a lot more smoking than I expected. Lots of the more casual restaurants allow indoor smoking.
Overall very cheap because of their debt issues. Tokyo prices were much lower than places in the US like NYC, Miami, or San Francisco.

I went to dinner one night in Tokyo with a couple of locals to a hole in the wall hibachi grill type place. I highly recommend finding one of those for dinner one night. It was incredibly good.

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I could talk for hours about Japan. It is an amazing country.

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I've alwasy been fascinated by Japan but if I'm honest with myself I'll likely never go, it just seems so overwhelming. The only foreign countries I've been to (not including mexico and canada in this) were in Europe and the language barrier was practically non existent. I coudl get by with a handful of phrases in the lcoal language but many people could speak Enlgihs anyway. It just seems like in Japan I would have no way to read anything or communicate with anyone which sounds very daunting. Did you ever have issues like that?

There's nothing wrong with hiring a local guide to help out with this.

I went to India and hired a driver. He was very helpful. Everything now seems a breeze compared to there :

Off to Japan in two weeks myself. First time. COVID canceled my first attempt.

We'll see how much duo Lingo helps. Pretty sure I'll be sticking with kudesai and ".... wa doko desu ka?" Phrases

Thanks, not a whole lot of time there but trying to take advantage. Another visit I'll be able to get further afield.

Have tickets for Sumo jungyo since I'm not there for a Basho, baseball game, Miyako Odori, etc. Wife is doing some "color analysis." Should be good.

I said this before on here and most disagreed. I’m seconding you. I used to live in South Korea and went to Japan somewhat often and enjoyed my times in Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka, and Hiroshima more than my time in Tokyo.

I used to take the overnight ferry from Sagoneski (so) to Pusan. Good times. Fukuoka is a really under rated spot. I used to love the castles in the area too. Bar scene is phenomenal.

Tokyo is great.

Definitely see if you can take the Shinkansen train down to the Osaka and Kyoto area.

Nobody has addressed the biggest issue. In Japan, courtesy is the rule. If there is a sign in the bus that says no talking on the phone, obey. Are you eating or drinking while walking, people hate you. There is almost nowhere to put your garbage unless you're at a hotel or a vending machine corner (you won't understand what I mean until you're there and see it.)

Move fast, and with a purpose. Concierges in Japan will write addresses for taxi drivers on cards for you. I suggest figuring out the subway, it's not hard. It sucks during the summer if you're going to work.

Get a Suica card when you get there. You can pay for anything with it that isn't a restaurant. If you're not sure how to ask for one from a Lawson or 7-11 (where I ate 80% of my meals,) ask the hotel to write a scribble with what you need, bring it to the local convenience store. If you try to tip, you may get stabbed by them trying to return it to you.

Always take anything handed to you with both hands. This includes bills for beer at a bar. Business cards are extra special, but you're probably not going to deal with the extra issues.

"Sumimasen" is basically how you ask for more beer. If they say the work Gaijin (guyjeen) they're talking about you.

Some of the best shite (I lived there as a kid, so I don't count as much) is from asking a concierge something like, "I have a 12 year old girl, where should I shop for a gift?" A sort of open question like that is going to tickle their creativity. I got sent to a *seven story* toy store in Tokyo doing that. Ask the concierge for what you think you want.

There has been a flood of English signage, at least in Tokyo in the last 5-10 years. Easy on the train for you to get around. Cab drivers have no idea.

Tokyo subway riders stand on escalators on the right. But that's not the same in every city. Pay heavy, heavy, attention to what people around you are doing, and model it.