Tips Tattoos and Onsen: The Real Rules (And Where You Can Still Go)
Introduction — The Question I Get Asked the Most
“I have a tattoo — can I still go to an onsen?” This is, without ex...
Tips
Tips 
Tips How Ticket-Vending-Machine Restaurants Work (So You Don’t Panic at the Machine)
Introduction — The Machine Everyone Freezes In Front Of
You walk into a small ramen shop, there’s no host, no menu o...
Tips Golden Week & Holiday Crowds: A Calendar to Avoid the Chaos
Introduction — The Dates That Can Quietly Wreck a Trip
Booking a trip without checking Japan’s major holiday calenda...
Tips How Japanese Addresses Work (For Taxis, Deliveries, and Not Getting Lost)
Introduction — Why Your Taxi Driver Looked Confused
You show a taxi driver an address, and instead of driving straig...
Tips Rainy Season (Tsuyu) in Japan: What to Pack and What to Skip
Introduction — The Season Most Itineraries Ignore
Roughly early June through mid-July (dates shift slightly by regio...
Tips Convenience Store Food Guide: What Locals Actually Buy
Introduction — Don’t Underestimate the Konbini
Calling Japanese convenience stores “gas station food” undersells the...
Tips Coin Lockers : Where to Store Big Suitcases in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka
Introduction — The Problem With “Just Find a Locker”
Coin lockers are everywhere in Japan’s train stations, but the ...
Tips Japanese Squat Toilets and Washlet Buttons, Explained
Introduction — Two Opposite Extremes, No In-Between
Japan has some of the most advanced toilets in the world, and al...
Tips No Public Trash Cans in Japan: What To Do With Your Garbage
Introduction — Yes, You’re Seeing This Right
You finish a can of coffee, look around for a bin, and find… nothing. N...
Tips Cash or Card in Japan? The Real Answer (Plus the Mistake Most Travelers Make)
Introduction — “Japan Is Cashless Now,” Right?
A lot of travelers arrive believing Japan is a fully cashless, tap-to...