First time in Japan: Things you should be aware of to avoid Trouble.
- Gerald "Mutu"Froehlich
- Jul 27, 2016
- 3 min read
So here we are, first time in Japan, everything is new and different and exciting.
At the Airport
You just exited your airplane and are about to head down and get asked for passport and visa.
And there you go, first chance to screw up and get sent home right before even entering the country:
Thermal Camera
Most Airports in Japan will be checking your Body Temperature using thermal imaging.
This is to ensure quarantine for Passengers with possible contagious Diseases.So if you are running a Fever or feel sick, even if its just a common cold, might be better to either stay home or make sure you inform the authorities before they grab and drag you into one of their nice Interrogation Rooms.
Fingerprints
The authorities at the Airport will take your Fingerprints, there is no way around this......who knows, you might be a criminal.
Place of Stay
You will have to provide the address you are staying at while in Japan, without it, you will not be able to enter the country and again the nice Interrogation Room is waiting for you.
Customs Declaration
Fill out the Form and everything is fine.....nearly everything. You are a foreigner in Japan, your Baggage will be searched with a 95% probability. So far i have been searched 19 times in 20 entries to this country.
So everything went well and you are hopefully now on your way to your Hotel or Host-family.
So how to get there?
Either Public Transportation, most bigger Cities have English Signs and with a little patience and Google Maps you will find your way.
Or you take a Taxi......a japanese Taxi can be an adventure in itself be warned.
Be aware that the Taxi Doors open via a lever system controlled by the Driver, you just get in, the Driver will open and close the Door himself.
What to watch out for:
(this happens occasionally and not necessarily with each and every Taxi in Japan)
Depending on which City you are in, the Driver can be rather rough in handling his or her vehicle.
Cutting corners, flying past red Traffic Lights, driving without regard for customer safety, just to name a few.
Most drivers....and i mean like 99% of japanese Taxi Drivers, will not be able to speak English, so better print out the address of your designation.
Also sometimes Drivers will intentionally drive longer routes to basically cheat you into paying a higher fare.
Try to inform yourself of the average costs ahead of time via internet or friends.
At the Hotel:
Check in like everywhere else in the world....except the Air condition remote will be in Japanese...so try to have the staff set it for you.
You will need the Air Condition to sleep in Summer......its hot and very humid......ever wanted to experience how melting cheese feels? Here's your chance, south Japan in Summer!
Water.....tab Water, don't drink it.Buy your Water at the Convenient Store.
Drinking water in Japan can be very disgusting depending on where you are.
In some mountain regions you can drink and enjoy the tab water, but in cities like Tokyo the level of Chlorides in the Water is very high and worst case you might have a very upset stomach afterwards.
If you intent to go to a nice high class Japanese Restaurant, ask the Hotel to make a reservation for you, even if you researched the restaurant yourself.
Some restaurants in Japan, especially popular and expensive ones, have a "Reservation only with Deposit" Policy for Foreigners.
The Police:
The Police in Japan have quite a few more rights, what they are allowed to do with or to you, than in most western countries.
Be careful and polite when talking to them, as they are allowed to hold you for up to 7 Days just to confirm your identity.
So never forget your Passport or Alien Registration Card if you go outside. By Law you have to carry these on you at all times.
Gerald "Mutu" Froehlich
These are of course just a few things you should watch out for.
If you notice anything that needs to be said here as well, please feel free to comment or write me directly here.
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