If you hang out at a traditional Japanese pub or bar, called an izakaya, you will notice a small dish of food arrives at your table before you even order. When your final bill comes, you will see a charge for this dish, usually listed as Otoshi (お通し) or Tsukidashi…
Finding vegetarian or vegan food in Japan can be tricky because hidden animal products, like dashi (fish broth), are used in almost everything, including soy sauce, miso soup, and noodle dishes. However, you can still find plenty of delicious, naturally plant-based options if you know what to look for. Here…
Booking high-end sushi restaurants (especially Michelin-starred or famous omakase spots) from overseas can be a challenge. Many of the top shops do not take direct phone calls from international numbers, and they rarely have English websites. Because seats are extremely limited, often just 8 to 10 counter spots per night,…
Yes, it is generally considered impolite to eat or drink while walking down the street in Japan. The local phrase for this is aruhiki, which literally means "walking and eating." While you will not get fined or arrested for doing it, it is a social faux pas that stands out.…
When you walk into a casual ramen shop, katsu spot, or beef bowl restaurant in Japan, you will often find a ticket vending machine sitting right by the entrance. These machines take your order and payment before you even sit down. While they can look intimidating at first glance, the…
No, you should never tip servers at restaurants or bars in Japan. Tipping is not part of Japanese culture. In fact, if you leave extra cash on the table, the server will usually assume you accidentally forgot your change and will run down the street to return it to you.…
Yes, you can absolutely drink the tap water in your Tokyo and Kyoto hotel rooms. Japan has some of the strictest water quality laws in the world. The national government tests for over 50 separate safety parameters, which is more than double what the World Health Organization recommends. The water…
If you walk down a busy street in Tokyo or Osaka, you will quickly notice something strange: the streets are completely spotless, but there are almost no public trash cans anywhere. Japan removed most of its street trash cans back in 1995 for public safety reasons. Since then, the country…
Japan's summer humidity is heavy and thick, often making the air feel like a damp blanket. Because you will easily walk 10,000 to 20,000 steps a day moving between trains and sights, packing the wrong fabrics can make your trip miserable. To stay cool, dry, and culturally comfortable, focus your…
When you use a US debit card at a 7-Eleven ATM in Japan (which runs on the Seven Bank network), there are actually two different types of fees that can happen: the fee charged by your own US bank, and the local operator fee charged by Seven Bank. Because Seven…
The process for claiming your tax-free refund in Japan depends on exactly when you are visiting. Japan is switching over to a completely new system. Here is how to get your tax-free refund depending on your travel dates. For travel up to October 31, 2026: Instant store discounts Until the…
No, you cannot safely bring either of these medications into Japan. In fact, doing so could lead to your immediate arrest and detention at the border. Japan enforces exceptionally strict anti-stimulant laws that completely override foreign medical scripts or the over-the-counter status of products from your home country. Adderall: Strictly…