3 Essential Ways to Prepare for a Trip to Japan

Japan is one of the most popular bucket list destinations to visit, with the iconic landscape, culture, and cuisine all being things that people simply have to experience for themselves.

Despite it seemingly looking like a small island on the map, Japan is mountainous, and you simply can’t see and experience everything even on a two-week trip. So while our Tripoto week itinerary of places to Japan covers a lot, there's always more to see.

So, for you to make the most of your trip to Japan, we’ve compiled three essential things that you should do before you book your flights.

Learn as much as you can of the language

Taking Japanese classes online can help you out a great deal if you’re looking to make the most of your trip, especially there are so many ways to learn. Of the classes online, you can try a gamified way, have one-on-one classes with a tutor, take quick lessons, learn with flashcards, or start completely fresh with beginner courses.

The key is to learn the essential elements of the language to ask for directions, get tips for secret hotspots, and order special food items. One-on-one classes tend to be the go-to picks. If you’re out and about a fair bit, the flashcards method will suit you better. In any case, you should certainly get used to saying Arigato.

Home-in on when and where to maximise the experience

As noted, Japan is a vast country with so much to discover. However, many who have explored much of the nation have clarified that it’s certainly not always easy to get from one city to another. It’s not just going cross-country, either, with the Invisible Tourist detailing that the distances between attractions within cities can also be vast.

So, if you’re going for a relatively standard-length trip of between seven and 14 days, it’s often best to pick an area and maximise your experience there – perhaps with a local guide to help – rather than aim to hop around Japan. Of course, you’ll also want to go at the best time of the year. Golden Week occurs from April 29 to May 5 and is the most crowded time, but October to November is ideal

Familiarise yourself with Japanese etiquette

The most crucial element for you to familiarise yourself with for a trip to Japan is etiquette. To stop you from seeming impolite or offending someone, you should refer to Business Insider’s tips for etiquette. These include never rubbing chopsticks together, not wearing shoes while indoors, don’t leave a tip, and gently wave at something rather than pointing in a direction.

Another element of etiquette and politeness to practice before your trip is the bow. There are many kinds of bow, but getting the basic bow right should serve you well. It involves keeping your spine straight, bending from the hips, keeping your lower body still, and bowing to around 35 degrees. You can use this bow when you greet or leave someone, offer thanks, or return someone bowing to you.

With those three areas covered, you’ll find it much easier to explore and enjoy whatever part of Japan you decide to immerse yourself in on your trip.