Japanese people deeply appreciate any attempt, however broken. These go a long way.
Essentials
HelloこんにちはKonnichiwa
Thank youありがとうArigatou
Thank you very muchありがとうございますArigatou gozaimasu
Sorry / Excuse meすみませんSumimasen
YesはいHai
NoいいえIie
Please (requesting)くださいKudasai
Do you speak English?英語話せますか？Eigo hanasemasu ka?
I don't understandわかりませんWakarimasen
Where is [X]?[X]はどこですか？[X] wa doko desu ka?
Food & Restaurants
One/Two people一人/二人Hitori / Futari
This one pleaseこれをくださいKore wo kudasai
Delicious!おいしい！Oishii!
The bill pleaseお会計をくださいOkaikei wo kudasai
I can't eat [X][X]が食べられません[X] ga taberaremasen
Water pleaseお水をくださいOmizu wo kudasai
Menu pleaseメニューをくださいMenyuu wo kudasai
Transport
Ticket to [X][X]まで一枚[X] made ichimai
Which platform?何番線ですか？Nanban-sen desu ka?
Does this go to [X]?[X]に行きますか？[X] ni ikimasu ka?
Shopping
How much is this?いくらですか？Ikura desu ka?
I'll take thisこれにしますKore ni shimasu
No bag needed袋はいりませんFukuro wa irimasen
Can I pay by card?カードで払えますか？Kaado de haraemasu ka?
💴
Carry cash. Japan is largely cash-based. Many small restaurants and temples are cash-only. Keep ¥10,000–¥20,000 on you. ATMs at 7-Eleven always accept foreign cards.
🗑️
Almost no public bins. You'll carry rubbish until a convenience store. Konbini have bins and are everywhere.
🔇
Trains are silent. No phone calls. Keep your voice low. Headphones in.
🚶
Keep left on escalators in Tokyo. Osaka is the opposite — keep right.
👟
You'll walk a lot. 20,000+ steps/day is normal. Wear easy-off shoes — you remove them at temples and ryokans.
🚿
Onsen etiquette: Shower thoroughly before the shared bath. Tattoos are banned at many onsen — La Vista may have a private option.
📱
Download offline: Google Maps (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka) + Google Translate with Japanese pack. Camera translate is invaluable for menus.
🏪
Convenience stores are brilliant. Lawson, 7-Eleven, FamilyMart — incredible food, ATMs, ticket printing, open 24hrs.
🍜
Queuing = quality. If there's a queue outside a ramen restaurant, join it. They don't queue for bad food.
🙏
Do not tip. It can be considered rude. Excellent service is the standard everywhere.
🔌
Plug type: Japan uses Type A (two flat pins). Bring a universal adaptor. 100V — most UK devices work fine.
💊
Medicines: Some UK medications contain codeine, which is controlled in Japan. Check the Japanese Embassy guidance before flying.
🚰
Tap water is safe to drink everywhere in Japan.
🛒
Tax-free shopping: Claim 10% consumption tax back on purchases over ¥5,500. Show your passport at the till.
🧳
Luggage forwarding (Takkyubin): Send your suitcase between hotels for ~¥1,500–2,500. Drop it at any konbini the day before. Arrive with hand luggage only.
🔴 URGENT
🔴 NOW
🔴 NOW
🟡 SOON
🟡 AUG
🟡 ~AUG
🟡 SOON
🟡 SOON
🟡 SOON
🟢 SEP
🟢 SEP
🟢 SEP
MAN → PEK → NRT
Hainan Airlines HU754 (MAN–PEK) + HU439 (PEK–NRT)
25 September ~midday departure · Land Tokyo 26 September ~midday
Laurence: MAN 64D · Tokyo 50C | Pip: MAN 64E · Tokyo 50H
2hrs through dramatic Hozukyo Gorge. Traditional wooden boat from Kameoka to Arashiyama. Classic combo: Train one way, boat back. ~¥5,000pp. Bring a poncho.
¥900 tower · Retro 1950s neighbourhood. Best city for kushikatsu (fried skewers).
☮️ Option A — Hiroshima + Miyajima (recommended)
90 min from Osaka by Shinkansen. Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome, then ferry to Miyajima for the floating torii gate. 2 nights. Then Shinkansen back to Tokyo for final night.
♨️ Option B — Hakone (onsen + Fuji views)
90 min from Tokyo on the Romancecar luxury express. Ryokan onsen, Open Air Museum, Owakudani volcanic valley. Another slow, beautiful couple of nights. Hakone Free Pass covers most transport (¥5,000).
Anything you didn't fit: Kamakura (giant Buddha, 1hr), more neighbourhood exploring (Yanaka, Shimokitazawa), Shinjuku Golden Gai evenings.
🗺️ Option D — Hiroshima (2n) + Hakone (1n) + Tokyo (1n)
Ambitious but very doable on Japan's Shinkansen. Hiroshima → Tokyo with overnight stop in Hakone via Odawara, then one Tokyo night before the flight.
⚠️
Flight note: Fly home 10 Oct at 17:25 from Narita. Be at airport by 14:30. Narita is ~60 min from central Tokyo — plan accordingly. Consider spending 9 Oct in Tokyo.