Mistakes Tourists Make in Japan (And How to Avoid Them)
Japan is one of the safest, cleanest and most rewarding countries in the world to visit. It also happens to be our favourite place in the whole world. But its reputation for politeness and good manners mean many travellers worry about the mistakes tourists make in Japan, and how they can prepare to avoid them.
After multiple trips to Japan with kids, and years spent writing about family travel in the country, I’ve noticed the same mistakes crop up again and again. The good news? Most of them are not the big deal you might think they are, and they’re also so easy to avoid with a little advance knowledge.
What I don’t want you to worry about is ‘doing Japan perfectly’. Tourists in Japan are given grace, and no one expects you to know all the cultural norms. But trying to learn some of the rules, and some of the mistakes to avoid in Japan, will help you to feel more relaxed and confident when you travel to Japan.
So lets dive straight in:
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1. Trying to Do Too Much, Too Fast
The mistake:
Packing Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and Mount Fuji into a 7–10 day trip. You’ll just end up exhausted, and you might be ticking locations off a list but you won’t really see or experience anything. Japan might look small on a map, but it isn’t!
Why it’s a problem:
Distances, crowds and transport changes add up quickly, especially if you’re travelling with children, and mean you’ll spend more time on trains than you will experiencing Japan. Japan fatigue is a very real problem, and you can avoid this by not overpacking your schedule.
What to do instead:
I recommend on your first trip to Japan you choose two main bases and explore them both deeply. Tokyo + one other city is more than enough for a first visit, particularly with kids. On our first trip to Japan we went to Tokyo and Osaka. On our second we decided to dedicate two full weeks to exploring just Tokyo, and we don’t regret going deep into the city.
2. Not Booking Popular Attractions in Advance
The mistake:
Assuming you can “just turn up” to major attractions. I’ve never visited any other destination in the world, before or since, where pre-planning is so important. Some attractions have ticket lotteries, and others are released 60-30 days in advance but sell out quickly.
This is one of the biggest shocks for first-time visitors.
Common examples: (click to read my pieces on how to get tickets):
- Universal Studios Japan
- TeamLab exhibitions
- Pokémon Café
- Ghibli-related experiences
- Seasonal attractions and events
What to do instead:
Book as early as possible, sometimes weeks or months ahead. Japan rewards planners. This is especially important if you visit during the school holidays.
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3. Standing on the Wrong Side of the Escalator
The mistake:
Standing still on the left everywhere in Japan. Escalator etiquette might not seem like a big deal, but when everyone’s in a rush, getting trapped behind someone standing still who should be moving is very frustrating!
Why it’s confusing:
- In Tokyo: stand on the left
- In Osaka & Kansai: stand on the right
Locals won’t usually say anything if you stand on the wrong side but you’ll feel the pressure behind you. (and see a queue of people waiting to get passed).
What to do instead:
Follow the crowd (this is my top tip in most situations in Japan: just do what everyone else is doing), watch the signs, and don’t stress if you get it wrong once or twice.
4. Talking Too Loudly on Public Transport
The mistake:
Treating trains like buses or cars. Japanese trains are quiet by default, even when packed, which I admit isn’t always the easiest thing to navigate when travelling with kids.
Why it matters:
Loud conversations (especially phone calls) stand out immediately. And can be frustrating for commuters who value their rest and quiet during train journeys.
What to do instead:
If you do need to talk on the train then keep voices low, save conversations for stations, and let kids know in advance that trains are “quiet zones”. When the boys were younger, I packed activities to occupy them on the train (silent fidget toys were a winner: small and easy to carry).
While planning your transport check out:
Tokyo Airport Transfers: A Complete Guide to Getting from Narita and Haneda Airports to Tokyo
How to Get from Tokyo to Osaka with Kids: The Complete Family Guide
5. Not Carrying Cash
The mistake:
Assuming Japan is fully card-based. Here in the UK I almost never carry cash, and I don’t need to, but in Japan things are a little different.
While things are improving, cash is still essential, especially for:
- Smaller restaurants
- Temples and shrines
- Rural areas
- Street food
- Some transport machines
What to do instead:
Carry some yen at all times and know where the nearest 7-Eleven ATM is, because it’s an easy place to withdraw cash and the machines can be operated in English. Find out more in this post Do You Need Cash in Japan? A Guide For First Time Visitors
6. Underestimating How Much Walking You’ll Do
The mistake:
Assuming trains operating all over the country will mean minimal walking. Japan involves a lot of walking, often 15–25k steps per day, and it’s so important to prepare accordingly.
Why this catches people out:
Stations are huge, transfers are long, and attractions are spread out. Even if there’s a station at the attraction you’re heading to, you should still expect to do (and plan for!) a lot of walking before you arrive.
What to do instead:
Comfortable trainers are non-negotiable. With kids, plan regular breaks and accept that not everything needs to be “maxed”. Even when we’re packing light, we always make sure everyone has two pairs of trainers each: switching shoes can help with aching feet!
7. Treating Shrines and Temples Like Photo Props
The mistake:
Rushing through sacred spaces or ignoring etiquette. These are still functional and sacred religious grounds, and thousands of local people every day visit for prayer, which they don’t want to be interupted by tourists looking for a photo opportunity. Most tourists don’t mean any disrespect, they just don’t know what to do instead.
Common missteps:
- Walking through the centre of torii gates. In Shinto tradition you don’t walk through the middle of a torii gate because the middle path is considered the path of the gods.
- Not washing hands at purification fountains. You’ll find these at the entrance of nearly all Shinto shrines because it’s considered bad-practice to approach a deity in a sense of pollution.
- Loud behaviour at shrines. These are sacred places, and it’s much better to be seen and not heard!
What to do instead:
Slow down, observe locals, and treat these spaces with quiet respect. It’s part of what makes Japan special, and you definitely shouldn’t avoid visiting the shrines in Japan. Tourists are very welcome; tourists running and shouting are not! I’ve listed some of our favourite shrines below to help with your planning process:
Top Tips For Visiting The Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto
Exploring Togo Shrine, Harajuku: A Break From The Chaos of Kawaii
Visiting The Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo With Kids. A Fascinating History Lesson!
Discovering Tsuyu-no-Tenjinja Shrine: A Hidden Gem in Osaka
8. Wearing Shoes You Can’t Easily Remove
The mistake:
Lace-up boots or complicated footwear. Or sandals without socks close by (this was a mistake I made one very hot day, which prevented us being able to go into the restaurant we’d chosen!) Shoes come off frequently in Japan, including at:
- Traditional restaurants
- Ryokan
- Some museums
- Temples
- Accommodation
What to do instead:
Wear shoes that slip on and off easily, and make sure socks are clean and hole-free. We once went to Japan for 2 weeks without a single pair of socks: I’d left them all in a zipper bag on my bed! I also recommend carrying socks in your bag if you’re wearing sandals: it’s such a small detail, but it really will make your life easier.
9. Expecting English Everywhere
The mistake:
Assuming fluent English signage and conversation. While signage is excellent, spoken English can be limited, especially outside major tourist zones. This made us feel like we’d been plunged into a whole new world when we first arrived on our first trip, but learning even the smallest amount of Japanese made things so much easier.
What to do instead:
Learn a few basic phrases, use translation apps, and don’t be afraid to point, gesture, or smile. Japanese people are incredibly helpful, and are always surprised when you know a little Japanese.
10. Thinking Japan Isn’t Child-Friendly
The mistake:
Believing Japan is better saved for “when the kids are older”. In reality, Japan is one of the most family-friendly countries we’ve ever travelled to, from a practical perspective. And the Japanese people we met seemed to love babies and toddlers (much less so grumpy tweens!)
What surprises families most:
- Clean public toilets
- Excellent public transport
- Kid-focused attractions
- Safe cities
- Welcoming attitudes towards children
What to do instead:
Plan confidently. Japan works beautifully for families, often better than expected. But it is worth noting that Japanese children aren’t loud: noisy children are seen as an anomaly, and so if you can encourage your children to be quieter in public places like trains and restaurants, you’ll find the whole experience much easier.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be perfect to enjoy Japan. I was reluctant to write this article because I didn’t want the ‘mistakes tourists make in Japan’ headline to put people off visiting, or thing that there were restrictions.
Mistakes will happen, in Japan and everywhere! That’s part of the fun of travelling: you’ll stand in the wrong place, miss a booking, or misunderstand something, and that’s okay. Japan is forgiving, kind, and endlessly fascinating.
A little preparation goes a long way, and once you understand how things work, the country opens up in the most rewarding way possible.
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Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!
