Japan for First-Time Visitors: 25 Mistakes to Avoid

Planning your first trip to Japan? These are the most common pitfalls that cost travelers time, money, and peace of mind—plus exactly what to do instead.

1) Assuming the JR Pass is always a deal 🚄

• Mistake: Buying the pass without checking your exact route and current prices.
• Do instead: Price out point-to-point fares on the routes you’ll actually ride. The pass only pays off for certain long-distance itineraries within short windows.

2) Not getting an IC card or mobile wallet set up 💳

• Mistake: Paying cash for every subway/bus ride.
• Do instead: Use Suica/PASMO (physical or Apple/Google Wallet). It works in most cities and for konbini purchases.

3) Underestimating travel time between cities ⏱️

• Mistake: Packing Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Takayama into 5 days.
• Do instead: Focus on the Golden Route first. Add day trips like Hakone, Nikko, or Kamakura from Tokyo when sensible.

4) Starting the day too late ⏰

• Mistake: Arriving at shrines, popular cafés, or observation decks at peak times.
• Do instead: Start at sunrise for Fushimi Inari/Asakusa; book sunset slots ahead for decks like Shibuya Sky or Skytree.

5) Not reserving time-specific experiences 🎟️

• Mistake: Showing up without tickets for teamLab, Ghibli Museum, or specialty restaurants.
• Do instead: Book weeks in advance for high-demand attractions. Have a backup slot.

6) Expecting English everywhere 🗣️

• Mistake: Relying on English for all interactions.
• Do instead: Learn 10 phrases, carry your hotel address in Japanese, and use offline translation for menus.

7) Mishandling cash and cards 💴

• Mistake: Assuming everywhere takes credit cards or that ATMs always work with foreign cards.
• Do instead: Carry some cash. Use Japan Post/7‑Eleven ATMs. Activate foreign transaction settings with your bank.

8) Etiquette slips in shrines and temples ⛩️

• Mistake: Walking down the center of shrine paths, improper purification, loud behavior.
• Do instead: Keep center clear, rinse left hand → right hand → mouth at chozuya, and keep voices low. See our Tokyo shrine pieces like tokyo_daijingu.md.

9) Onsen etiquette mistakes 🛁

• Mistake: Wearing swimsuits, not rinsing before entry, photos in bathing areas.
• Do instead: Wash thoroughly, enter nude, tie hair up, no photos. Tattoos may require private baths or tattoo-friendly facilities.

10) Overpacking and struggling with luggage 🧳

• Mistake: Dragging giant suitcases through rush-hour stations.
• Do instead: Use luggage forwarding (takkyubin) and coin lockers. Pack a 7–10 kg carry-on and do laundry mid‑trip.

11) Eating only near major stations 🍽️

• Mistake: Settling for touristy restaurants with long lines.
• Do instead: Walk 5–10 minutes away or explore backstreets (e.g., Shibuya, Ginza, or Kioicho) for better food at fair prices. See our guides: [/posts/shibuya/], [/posts/ginza/], [/posts/kioicho/].

12) Confusing trash rules and carrying garbage all day 🗑️

• Mistake: Expecting public bins everywhere.
• Do instead: Sort burnable vs bottles/cans; carry a small bag until you find bins at stations or konbini.

13) Expecting tips or haggling 🙅‍♂️

• Mistake: Trying to tip at restaurants or negotiate retail prices.
• Do instead: No tipping; prices are final. Say “gochisousama deshita” when leaving after a meal.

14) Ignoring seasonal realities 🌸

• Mistake: Visiting Kyoto at midday during sakura without a plan or heat-proofing summer itineraries.
• Do instead: Use early mornings, shoulder-season alternatives, and heat strategies (cooling towels, shade breaks, electrolytes).

15) Buying the wrong rail seats 🎫

• Mistake: Taking non-reserved seats with luggage or during peak times.
• Do instead: Reserve seats, use oversized-luggage cars on Tokaido Shinkansen when needed, and line up at your car number.

16) Not carrying small coins for lockers and vending 🪙

• Mistake: Only carrying large bills.
• Do instead: Break bills at konbini; keep ¥100 coins handy for lockers in places like Takao or major stations.

17) Misreading local train patterns 🚆

• Mistake: Boarding Limited Express or Rapid trains without the right ticket, or missing your stop.
• Do instead: Check train type, platform displays, and final destination. Use station staff—they’re incredibly helpful.

18) Standing or walking while eating in the wrong places 🚫🍴

• Mistake: Eating on the go in residential streets or trains (outside long‑distance cars).
• Do instead: Eat at designated areas, depachika standing counters, or park benches.

19) Skipping regional specialties 🍜

• Mistake: Eating generic chains everywhere.
• Do instead: Try local food where it shines—Hiroshima okonomiyaki, Fukuoka ramen, Niigata rice/sake, Hokkaido seafood. See [/posts/niigata/], [/posts/fukuoka/], [/posts/hokkaido/].

20) Only visiting megasights 📸

• Mistake: Doing Shibuya Crossing and calling it a day.
• Do instead: Balance icons with calm districts: Yanaka, Daikanyama, Kichijoji, and gardens like Shinjuku Gyoen (see [/posts/gyoen/]).

21) Poor observation deck choices 🏙️

• Mistake: Picking the tallest deck by default or showing up at peak time.
• Do instead: Choose decks by view and vibe—Tokyo Tower (classic), Skytree (height), Shibuya Sky (sunset cityscape), TMGO (free). See [/posts/tokyo_tower/].

22) Crowding your Kyoto/Nara days 🗺️

• Mistake: 6–8 temples in one day.
• Do instead: Cap at 3–4 highlights, cluster by area, and add a café or market break to recharge.

23) Forgetting cash-only small shrines and mom‑and‑pop shops 🪙

• Mistake: Assuming everything is cashless.
• Do instead: Keep ¥5 and ¥50 coins for offerings and small purchases.

24) Neglecting weather backups ☔

• Mistake: A full outdoor plan during typhoon or rain.
• Do instead: Add museums, depachika, covered shopping streets, and cafés as flexible swaps.

25) Not planning rest days 🧘

• Mistake: Zero downtime in a 10–14 day itinerary.
• Do instead: Build in a slow day—local park, bookstore street, neighborhood cafés, or an onsen town near Tokyo.

Suggested first‑timer routes (quick templates)

• 7 days: Tokyo (3) → Kyoto (3) → Osaka (1 day/USJ optional)
• 10 days: Tokyo (4) → Hakone day trip (1) → Kyoto (3) → Osaka/Nara (2)
• 14 days: Tokyo (5) → Hakone (1) → Kyoto (3) → Osaka (2) → Hiroshima/Miyajima (2)

Helpful links to our related guides

• Tokyo areas: [/posts/shibuya/], [/posts/ginza/], [/posts/akihabara/]
• Viewpoints & parks: [/posts/tokyo_tower/], [/posts/gyoen/], [/posts/takao/]
• Regions: [/posts/niigata/], [/posts/hokkaido/], [/posts/fukuoka/]

Travel light, start early, and leave room for serendipity—Japan rewards the unhurried traveler.