I just returned home from a 5 week trip to Japan and these are some legit tips. To add on to your tip about bringing cash, I would definitely recommend people bringing a large change pouch/purse, preferably with separate compartments for large/small denominations because after doing enough shopping you will have loads of coins and rummaging through a pile of 1 yen coins to find a lone 100 yen coin would definitely be stressful!
0:45 I once travelled with my family & her friends, & her friends told me that it is ok to be late by a quarter (15 mins), but I told them this was not the case in Japan. Thank god they took my advice & arrived the eel restaurant right on the nose to avoid my reservation being cancelled.
Don't activate the JR PASS at the airport just to get into Tokyo if you will be in Tokyo for a few days because the clock starts running as soon as you activate it. I take the the bus into Tokyo ❤
There's this delicious Japanese place we found in LA where the disheses never came out together (but always super hot) and it always confused/slightly annoyed us. Now I know we found a real deal place. Sweet!
These are great tips to know! That's good to know to expect a loud welcome when entering a restaurant. Otherwise, I almost would think that I did something wrong or something while entering when they are actually greeting you.
Great advice....but having rented cars across Japan (Tokyo, Nagano, Sendai, Fukuoka, Hokkaido) over the past 10 years, I have never had to translate my UK driving license that I use alongside the International Driver's Permit.
I went to Japan last year for two weeks and got violently ill. I have a new trip this coming February and hopefully it’s better. Thanks for the advice.
Another mistake is not tapping out the IC card when exiting the station. We made this mistake when we took the metro to tokyo station and went straight to thru to the shinkansen to kyoto and did not tap out of the tokyo station. Our next bus ride payment with PASMO would not work after that nor any other transaction on our PASMO cards. Luckily this is easily remedied by the people setup next to the gates and they just need to reset this to allow to work normally again. This was fixed for us at one of the gates of the smaller stations in kyoto. Crisis averted :)
@@markylon JR Yamanote loop is inside the same station as JR Shinkansen. So you can transfer to shinkansen platforms without tapping out at a gate. There are tap out stations by the ticket booths apparently.
Hi Chris. Thanks for sharing these great tips. Definitely will help many travelers.I always tend to pay in cash when I can and save the card for emergencies. I agree that the biggest mistake is not watching more Yellow Productions videos. Take care.
during rush hour, is the commute as bad if you're going around in the city itself? Say, coming from Asakusa going to anywhere inside Tokyo for example?
I would add, be sure to get an IC card to use the transit sysyem (rain and bus) and to make quick purchases at convenience stores. And they have special "welcome" versions that have some additional benefits for visitors! Wanted to echo your point about cash versus card too. It's crazy how Covid practically killed cash in the US, but Japan (who was pretty strident about Covid measures) keeps using it.
You best deal for car rental is Niconico, usually a branch near big train station, or look up the nearest on your smart phone. Having a Japanese with you helps smooth the procedure. But don't show them your International Competition Licence.
Most tourist mistakes are escalators etiquette. The Japanese usually divide their escalators into two sides: the right and the left. In Tokyo, people keep left and leave the right side open for rushing people, especially passengers for trains. This is the reverse for Osaka wherein people usually keep right and leave the left side open instead.
At the new pricing, getting a JR pass at all is probably a mistake unless you're going to a different city every few days. Also, I was shocked that one Starbucks that I went to in Asakusa in October was completely cashless.
I have a tip - your 1 and 5 yen coins can be used at a Sushiro if you don’t want to burden a person/hold up a line to pay. Machines there will take them lol
I made the mistake of getting on the wrong train on the way to haneda airport. Somehow I knew something was wrong, and the Japanese man couldn't explain it to me in English, but luckily there was an English woman there explained that I needed the Haneda to express... and not to jump on a train until it said haneda Express on the side of it.
I've never made a restaurant reservation and I've been in Japan for 40 years; man and boy in that order. You show up, sign in/are put on a list and finally your name is called. If you don't like waiting, go the take away route. Jack, the Japan Alps Brit
I just returned home from a 5 week trip to Japan and these are some legit tips. To add on to your tip about bringing cash, I would definitely recommend people bringing a large change pouch/purse, preferably with separate compartments for large/small denominations because after doing enough shopping you will have loads of coins and rummaging through a pile of 1 yen coins to find a lone 100 yen coin would definitely be stressful!
Good point about a change purse!
Run into Don Quixote first after exiting the airport and buy a Japanese wallet that has a built-in Coin purse!
0:45 I once travelled with my family & her friends, & her friends told me that it is ok to be late by a quarter (15 mins), but I told them this was not the case in Japan.
Thank god they took my advice & arrived the eel restaurant right on the nose to avoid my reservation being cancelled.
Don't activate the JR PASS at the airport just to get into Tokyo if you will be in Tokyo for a few days because the clock starts running as soon as you activate it. I take the the bus into Tokyo ❤
Great tip!
Very good tips
I'm living in Tokyo and still enjoying your videos about Japan!! Everything you mention in here is very true.
Awesome! Great to hear!
These are literally helpful tips for traveling anywhere on the Earth.
Just arrived from a 20 day japan visit.... these are all indeed solid tips.
Awesome! Welcome home!
Amazing tips Chris! Very helpful for my trip to Japan coming up!
This was so interesting and entertaining!
There's this delicious Japanese place we found in LA where the disheses never came out together (but always super hot) and it always confused/slightly annoyed us. Now I know we found a real deal place. Sweet!
These are great tips to know! That's good to know to expect a loud welcome when entering a restaurant. Otherwise, I almost would think that I did something wrong or something while entering when they are actually greeting you.
Great video Chris. Tips are spot on. I was waiting for the mistake “not eating pudding while in Japan” 😂
That would definitely be a mistake! 😀
Great advice....but having rented cars across Japan (Tokyo, Nagano, Sendai, Fukuoka, Hokkaido) over the past 10 years, I have never had to translate my UK driving license that I use alongside the International Driver's Permit.
Wow what a local guy in Japan.thank you.
Thanks for the tips Aloha 🤙🏾🤙🏾
Nice shots of Fuji around 6:55 and 7:05. Looks to me its from the Shizuoka side. Can you kindly specify the location ?
From the Fuji 5 Lakes region. Check out my vlog here for the locations: ruclips.net/video/9ME0m_LQv-0/видео.html
@@YellowProductions awesome thanks!
I went to Japan last year for two weeks and got violently ill. I have a new trip this coming February and hopefully it’s better. Thanks for the advice.
Ooof
Been here 40 years. Never once had food poisoning.
Another mistake is not tapping out the IC card when exiting the station. We made this mistake when we took the metro to tokyo station and went straight to thru to the shinkansen to kyoto and did not tap out of the tokyo station. Our next bus ride payment with PASMO would not work after that nor any other transaction on our PASMO cards. Luckily this is easily remedied by the people setup next to the gates and they just need to reset this to allow to work normally again. This was fixed for us at one of the gates of the smaller stations in kyoto. Crisis averted :)
Thanks for that additional tip!
How can you NOT tap out?
@@markylon JR Yamanote loop is inside the same station as JR Shinkansen. So you can transfer to shinkansen platforms without tapping out at a gate. There are tap out stations by the ticket booths apparently.
These were all great tips! The two times I visited Japan I managed to get on the wrong train multiple times lol 😂
Doh!
I'm from Canada and looking to travel in 2024. Is it costly to check out JPN?
Hi Chris. Thanks for sharing these great tips. Definitely will help many travelers.I always tend to pay in cash when I can and save the card for emergencies. I agree that the biggest mistake is not watching more Yellow Productions videos. Take care.
Thanks James 😊
during rush hour, is the commute as bad if you're going around in the city itself? Say, coming from Asakusa going to anywhere inside Tokyo for example?
Not all routes or stations are packed... but as you get closer to places like Shinjuku and Tokyo Station it's a crush
I always like to yell back greetings in Japanese Restaurants, its fun!
I would add, be sure to get an IC card to use the transit sysyem (rain and bus) and to make quick purchases at convenience stores. And they have special "welcome" versions that have some additional benefits for visitors!
Wanted to echo your point about cash versus card too. It's crazy how Covid practically killed cash in the US, but Japan (who was pretty strident about Covid measures) keeps using it.
You have to get it as an app now on your phone. Good luck
1:20 Sounds like a "WELCOME TO MOES!!!!!!11" situation. XD
You best deal for car rental is Niconico, usually a branch near big train station, or look up the nearest on your smart phone. Having a Japanese with you helps smooth the procedure. But don't show them your International Competition Licence.
The definitive source for traveling to japan
Awww. Thanks Dan!
Most tourist mistakes are escalators etiquette. The Japanese usually divide their escalators into two sides: the right and the left. In Tokyo, people keep left and leave the right side open for rushing people, especially passengers for trains. This is the reverse for Osaka wherein people usually keep right and leave the left side open instead.
Now Osaka try not waking escalators policy wich is safer for people so standingonly left and right
Just like any other civilised country
At the new pricing, getting a JR pass at all is probably a mistake unless you're going to a different city every few days.
Also, I was shocked that one Starbucks that I went to in Asakusa in October was completely cashless.
More fool you for go to a nasty American chain like Starbucks, find a nice local place, NASTY COFFEE, NASTY COMPANY
Why would you come all the way to Japan to go to over priced starbucks?
I have a tip - your 1 and 5 yen coins can be used at a Sushiro if you don’t want to burden a person/hold up a line to pay. Machines there will take them lol
Thanks for the tip 😀
I made the mistake of getting on the wrong train on the way to haneda airport. Somehow I knew something was wrong, and the Japanese man couldn't explain it to me in English, but luckily there was an English woman there explained that I needed the Haneda to express... and not to jump on a train until it said haneda Express on the side of it.
Lucky you!
Can confirm, it is 100% OK to tip cows in Japan. I do it all the time!
Hah
What the best place to exchange usd for yen?
Go to a 7 11 and use the ATM to get yen
Don't use a change office, just withdraw Yen from an ATM and choose YEN. Most decent banks won't charge you and you'll get the best rates.
Actually it is good to say something like Hello to servers when you arrive. They will think you are nice.
Number 18: Don't use the base of a Torii as a seat
Got a bit scolded for that one when I was in Tokyo in 2016 ^_^;;
Thanks for the tip!
How to say you're American without saying you're American, no understanding or respect for culture
18: Forgetting to get off the plane and ending up in South Korea....
Doh!
Right train, wrong direction is a potential error.
Ah! Yes!
NO TIPPING! (or very little...) Yay!
Hooray!
Yep, while still getting outstanding service !
💜💜💜😊👋
ieroooo purodakushonzu irrasshaimaseeeeeee
I've never made a restaurant reservation and I've been in Japan for 40 years; man and boy in that order.
You show up, sign in/are put on a list and finally your name is called. If you don't like waiting, go the take away route.
Jack, the Japan Alps Brit
Hi Jack -- Indeed.. most restaurants. But if you're eating at some place like Jiro then you need a reservation as there is no walk up or take out
Common mistake #18: Going to Japan but not liking anime girls.
Impossible ,,,,,,,,
Squat toilet tip, remove pants totally before using. Don't become "that foreigner".
Good tip!
@@YellowProductions japan really,really doesn't appreciate a mission failure of this potential type and scale!
You can tip a taxi driver, it's not uncommon.
But DON'T it's not part of their culture, JUST DON'T
good but to much advertisement. No thanks
Dont talk on you mobile phone on trains and buses.
Having tattoos you can t get into most sauna and spa hotels or places even if they know your not part of the mafia lol
lol your video of the women's only train has a guy in it.
How do you know, did you ask it for its preferred pronouns?
Japan is the FUTURE! Squat toilets and cash only
omg can't even finish the video, so depressing.
Says you. You muppet
the video just stressed me out