Tokyo

Currency

Japan is still cash-heavy. Exchange at 7-Eleven ATMs (best rates, available 24/7) or at the airport. Hotels and department stores also exchange.

ATMs & cards

7-Eleven and Japan Post ATMs accept foreign cards. Most Japanese bank ATMs do NOT. No extra fee at 7-Eleven; your bank may charge. Withdraw ¥30,000-50,000 at a time.

This is a compatibility problem rather than a fee problem — convenience store machines are the reliable ones and are open late.

Wherever you are: if the machine offers to charge you in your home currency, decline. That is dynamic currency conversion and the rate is set by the ATM's operator, not your bank.

Safety

One of the safest major cities in the world. You can leave a bag on a train and it’ll be at lost and found. Be quiet on trains — it’s the social norm.

Our own assessment, not a sourced index.

Entry & visa

Health & emergencies

Required to enter

No vaccinations are required for entry from Europe or North America.

Worth having

• Routine vaccinations up to date
• Japanese encephalitis only for long rural stays in summer

Getting treated

Superb, and ambulances are free. Treatment is not: visitors pay in full up front, and hospitals routinely refuse cards, so carry cash and real insurance. Finding English-speaking staff outside major cities is the harder problem — the JNTO medical directory is worth bookmarking before you go.

Orientation, not medical advice. Entry rules change and what you need depends on your own history and where you have been — check with a travel clinic or your national health service four to six weeks before you go.

Food tip

Cheap doesn’t mean bad. ¥800 ramen shops and conveyor belt sushi (¥100-300/plate) are outstanding. Convenience store (konbini) food is surprisingly excellent.

Getting around

• JR trains + metro — world-class rail. Get a Suica/Pasmo IC card (rechargeable, tap-and-go)
• JR Pass — only worth it for bullet train trips outside Tokyo
• Walking — Tokyo neighborhoods are very walkable
• Taxi — clean and safe but expensive. Use for late-night only
• Airport: Narita Express to Tokyo Station (60 min, ¥3,250) or Limousine Bus

Must-see

Things to do

• Cross Shibuya Crossing
• Visit Meiji Shrine
• Explore Tsukiji Outer Market
• Experience Akihabara electronics district
• See the view from Tokyo Skytree
• Soak in an onsen

Nearby day trips

Say a few words

Japanese

• Helloこんにちは — Konnichiwakon-nee-chee-WA
• Pleaseお願いします — Onegaishimasuo-neh-gai-shi-MAS
• Thank youありがとうございます — Arigatou gozaimasua-ri-ga-TOH go-zai-mas
• Yes / Noはい / いいえ — Hai / Iiehi / EE-eh
• Excuse meすみません — Sumimasensoo-mi-ma-SEN
• How much is it?いくらですか — Ikura desu ka?ee-KOO-ra des ka
• The bill, pleaseお会計お願いします — Okaikei onegaishimasuo-KAI-kay
• Cheers!乾杯 — Kanpai!kan-PIE

Sumimasen does double duty as excuse me, sorry and to get a waiter’s attention. It is the single most useful word here.

Religion

Shinto and Buddhist, practised together

Most Japanese observe both without conflict — Shinto for birth and marriage, Buddhist for funerals. Few describe themselves as religious. Purify hands and mouth at the shrine basin before approaching.

Do's and don'ts

Do

• Take shoes off wherever you see a step up or shoes lined up
• Carry your rubbish until you find a bin — there are almost none in public
• Stand in the queue markings on platforms and let passengers off first
• Receive business cards and change with two hands

Don't

• Do not tip — it causes confusion and can be refused as insulting
• Do not talk on the phone on trains, and keep conversation quiet
• Do not stick chopsticks upright in rice or pass food chopstick to chopstick; both echo funeral rites
• Do not photograph geiko and maiko in Gion — some streets ban it outright and fine offenders