Some of you guys already know I lived in Japan for more than 15 years and that I live in the center of it all here in Shibuya.

But when I first came to Japan from the U.

S.

There's so many things that I didn't know or understand.

So in this video, I wanted to share with you guys the top 10 things that I wish someone told me before I came here and let me know in the comments section, if you find any of the things that I mentioned in the video kind of weird, and if you want to help support the channel, check out my Tokyo merch.

I'll leave a link below.

Let's get started.

So first thing, let's talk about cash in Japan.

Probably coming from a lot of modern countries.

You think that you can use credit cards because you know you think Japan is a modern country itself.

But what you'll find is that a lot of places here in Japan won't accept credit cards.

Strange, right?

I mean, who really want to carry around a cash in their pocket all the time.

But the reality is in Japan, a lot of people still carry around cash.

In fact, I probably have 10 $20,000 in my pocket at any given time just because I have to use cats so much.

But before I get into all of the places that don't accept credit cards, let me share with you some places that do.

Major department stores, retailers mid to upper end restaurants, convenience stores and music parks.

Airports Now some shops that probably don't accept credit cards are mom, mom and pop restaurants, local bars, street food vendors, a lot of restaurants who served set meals during lunchtime, small retailers and some taxis.

Although more and more are accepting credit cards these days, even some fast food places don't take credit cards, so you should be careful Also, if you're planning to travel outside of the city, be prepared to bring enough cash because it's even more likely for places not to accept credit cards, has a local tip.

I find that my visa card is accepted at most places, while sometimes my American Express is hit, Miss also If you want to minimize carrying cash around, you can get a serious card or a possible card.

It costs about 500 yen, and you can load it up to 20,000 yet in cash, so you can use it at a lot of places.

But mainly it's used for train stations, so you don't need to buy a ticket each time when you get to the train and it automatically calculates affair.

When you get out, just tap in and then top out.

But you can also use it at convenience stores, many street vending machines, taxis, train kiosk, some restaurants, shops and even Elektronik stores like Big Camera accepted.

Now, if you're looking to withdraw cash in Japan, I suggest seven Bank A.

T M.

Japan Post ATMs and press your bank is their best handling foreign cards.

So eating and drinking while walking on the street so in many respects is considered bad manners.

Tow, walk and eat at the same time, even if you get food on the go like sandwiches or only Gettys.

This rule may sound weird to you, but for Japanese people, eating a sandwich is the same as eating a big bowl of pasta while walking.

Yeah, weird.

If you want to eat or drink in public, the best thing to do is stop and chill on the side of the street.

But all in all, walking and eating won't get you in trouble.

But people will stare at you and look at you as if you're brought up badly.

Or maybe even the older generation actually will say something to you.

But there's always exceptions to the rule, and one of those exceptions is Tab A Dukie Spots Tab Haruki means to eat and walk, so these are places like ski G fish Market.

These places are intended for people to buy food and eat on the street and, as it's named in Japanese, okay to walk, too.

But one thing you should know is that even in these areas, some shop don't allow you to walk and eat.

But it should say on the storefront just to let you know.

Festivals are another exception.

And as more shops like Starbucks offered to go items like coffee, you'll see more and more Japanese people walking around with coffee cups in their hand, ultimately changing the culture of Japan.

The real issue.

Why it's thought of as bad manners in Japan is because it's considered I'm a walker, which means it bothers other people.

People here are sensitive with strong food smells, and it would be the worst if you spill food or drinks on them by accident.

But there's all types of people in Japan.

I'm sure you guys have that one friend or family member that's more easily bothered by the slightest thing.

Depending on who you ask, it may be different.

So what I can tell you is if you're really not sure what to do, and you're kind of confused, just stop walking if you're eating So drinking in Japan The drinking age here is 20 years old.

I was so surprised when I first came here.

I was like, Wow, you could actually drink it at 20 years old so you can literally go to any convenience store and they'll sell you alcohol and not ask you how old you are if you just look like you're 20 years old.

In fact, they're still beer vending machines on streets, in hotels, etcetera.

They don't even require any proof of age.

But recently in Japan, admit it a little bit more strict.

Let me show you.

I select my beer.

I go to the counter, the clerk, scan the drink and the register screens and ask if I'm over 20 years old.

I top yes, I pay and I'm all good to go.

What do you guys think?

Too strict?

Do easy.

How is it in your country?

So let's talk about tattoos at the onsen.

Japanese on sends a k A.

Hot springs are one of the coolest experiences you can have in Japan.

Unfortunately, many Japanese on sand prohibit people with tattoos from entering the facility because of the stigma associated with tattoos.

In Japan, yakuza are also known as organized crime are known to have characteristic it.

Izumi, also known as tattoos.

Since a lot of these on sent facilities don't want yakuza going to the establishment or scaring their customers.

They made like a blanket statement saying that anyone with tattoos a small or large, can't enter the place.

Although it may sound unfair, it's a pan, and it is what it is.

So, before making reservations at an onsen, make sure that they accept tattoos.

One note, though, if you're going to own sends with a private room or private owns and hotels where you don't have to share the stage with strangers, then it should be okay to have tattoos as long as you don't show anyone in public.

So for those of you that have tattoos, don't worry.

I'm not gonna leave you hanging.

There are a few spots in Tokyo that air cooler tattoos.

I have a full list on my website, so I'll be sure to leave a link in the description of the video so you can check it out for yourself later.

Alright.

WiFi and Internet in Japan now This is actually one of the things that a lot of people ask me questions about in the common section, and it's actually one of the most things that always concerns me when I go overseas.

So what you need to know is that all of the major cities, like Tokyo, have relatively fast Internet in Japan.

I even stayed at a capsule hotel in Tokyo and their wife I was super fast.

I think this should be enough for most people.

Nicer hotels outside of the city should have WiFi, but maybe at a slower speed But if you're anything like me and need to be connected all the time, then there are some local options.

Number one Starbucks on the free route.

Locally, Starbucks provides WiFi toe all its customers, and they're so many Starbucks all throughout Japan.

But I found that the speeds air fast or slow, depending on the amount of customers on the network.

You can try other cafes, but it's hit and miss number two City WiFi.

Another three alternative is to use the city WiFi.

This is only available at the major stations or areas like Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku or dive etcetera.

Connecting is fairly easy.

I'll leave a link to all this information and description.

Now.

If you need to be connected at all times, then you're gonna need to go that paid round.

So the first paid option is to rent a portable hot spot WiFi and carry it around with you.

Now I think it's the easiest thing to just go to the airport and read one out there.

Another option is to get a SIM card for your unlocked mobile device.

You can go to any major electronics store, and they should carry it again.

Check the description for more details.

Smoking in Japan Check this out, it says.

No smoking area here.

Right next to me.

There's a smoking section.

Smoking in Japan may catch a lot of you off guard, especially if you're coming from the U.

S.

But if you smoke, then you're in luck because Japan has some of the most friendly laws for smokers.

But that may be changing in the near future, which I'll tell you about just a little bit later.

First of all, many music ideas, which are sit down restaurants designed for drinking, allow their customers to smoke throughout the entire restaurant and don't usually provide nonsmoking section's.

If you want to go to an easy kaya, simply put, you're gonna have to deal with a second hand smoke.

Nicer restaurants may prohibit smoking, but some of them still accommodate their smoking customers.

So if you want to get that kind of a cilice min, you should really ask before you make reservations.

Some family restaurants and other solid parents do attempt to divide smokers and nonsmokers, but sometimes you'll find that there's nothing really separating a smoking table and a non smoking table other than maybe a tiny bit.

And one of the biggest surprise I had when first living in Tokyo is that smoking inside is actually allowed while smoking outside is prohibited.

It didn't make sense to me at first, but when you consider how busy the streets are in Tokyo, the last thing you want is someone bumping into you with their cigarette butt.

The city, though wanting to accommodate smokers at set up smoking areas throughout the city.

So those smokers who knew the nicotine fix can do it safely on the street.

Isn't that a great idea?

But to the non smokers out there, you might be pleased to hear that they pass a law that make it more strict to smoke cigarettes inside if they want to have a smoking section, have it separate from the non smoking section.

Otherwise again have a smoking section at all.

Riding the train in Japan.

Now, if you guys have seen any videos on Japan, you've probably seen these crazy attendance pushing people on the train.

And let me tell you that the struggle is real and it really happens, especially during rush hour.

Try to avoid riding major city commuter trains during the weekday between 8 to 9 30 in the mornings, 5 30 to 7 30 in the evenings, and the last train, which is usually around midnight.

And the trains reek of alcohol peaks Mayberry from train line train line.

This should give you a rough idea of went to avoid the trains.

Also, what a lot of travelers don't know is that usually the first or last part of the train on weekday mornings are reserved for women only.

This is because Japan has a huge problem with men groping women on trains, especially when they're packed on the train like marshmallows in a game of Chubby Bunny.

Look for the pink signs on the cart, which also indicate the women only time in this case 7:30 a.m. To 9:30 a.m. Raja restaurant.

Right now, one of the things that I absolutely love about Japan is a non tipping culture.

So what I mean about that is, if you go to a restaurant or if you take a taxi, you never have to pay a tip.

The price on the bill is actual price you pay, and it's one of things that I deeply appreciate he saved so much time not having to calculate the tips and certainly serious almost every time, pretty good.

At the same time, there's one thing you need to know is that there's hidden fees in some of the restaurant's called Toshi or in English table charge Prices very from place to place.

But Ray was from 300 yen to the upper end of 1000.

Her person Nicer places.

You'll actually be able to spot it right away.

When you sit down at the table before watering drinks or food.

The way will bring you a small dish.

Once you see the small gifts, then you know there's gonna be a table charge.

It's very Japanese in a way.

He'll make you pay for cable cars, but they'll actually give you something in return.

General rule is if it's a fast food place, ramen shop or restaurant serving set lunch courses, then you don't have to worry about the table charge.

Otherwise expected table charge.

You really need to be careful of sneaking music eyes that make you order a certain number of dishes as well as charge you a table charge.

They're usually the ones advertising in front of the stores were ridiculously cheap.

Amount of money, like 1000 yen.

All you can eat, drink or something like that, even places like this advertised 500 pizza will have a table charge, and they'll make you also order one drink.

So no matter what you are paying at least 1003 to the place, I know it's not much to some of you, but I still think it's a bit sneaky.

Let's talk about hotel fees in Japan, and if you guys have load them, search for hotel rates.

You might have found that it's quite expensive, but what you may not know initially is that more often than not foretells it depends charged purpose.

And instead of her room so I could see having a minor add on a charge for an additional person staying at the room.

Doubling the rate for an additional person seems a bit excessive to me.

I don't know about you guys.

It made.

It really depends on the country they're coming from, but I'm from the U.

S.

And we really don't have rooms doubling and rate when you have two people versus one only time this makes sense to me is when you go to a Japanese rock on or onsen hotel, and they include dinner and breakfast as part of the room rate.

In this case, an additional dinner and breakfast would need to be prepared for that extra person and stumbling the overall cost anyway.

So I don't see Japan changing their business practice anytime soon so it may be affordable to look at other service is like Airbnb for couples and families or for singles.

You might want to check out capsules or youth hostels and number 10 cooperate with the police.