Everything you were quietly worried about getting wrong
Nine areas where visitors feel the most unsure. Each one has the quick-reference etiquette — and you can get any of them free by email.
Getting Around (Local)
Trains, subways, buses & taxis
The IC card, the quiet carriage, the queue painted on the platform floor: Tokyo’s trains run on small unspoken habits, and you can learn every one before you land.
Read the etiquetteGetting Around (National)
Shinkansen & long-distance travel
The bullet train is the easiest, most civilized way to see Japan once you know how reserved seats, luggage, and onboard quiet actually work.
Read the etiquetteEating & Drinking
Restaurants, izakayas & street food
From standing ramen counters to your first izakaya, eat your way across Tokyo with warm, unhurried confidence — and skip the tip.
Read the etiquetteClothing & Shopping
What to wear & how to shop
Tokyo is one of the most stylish cities on earth, and it still has zero interest in judging your sneakers — here’s what actually matters and what truly doesn’t.
Read the etiquettePacking for Your Trip
What to bring (and leave home)
Slip-on shoes, a hand towel, a little cash, and the handful of small things that quietly make Tokyo easier from the moment you land.
Read the etiquetteOnsens & Sentos
Hot springs & public baths
Rinse off first, leave the swimsuit in the locker, keep the little towel out of the water — the bathing rituals, explained without a hint of judgment.
Read the etiquetteTemples & Shrines
Visiting sacred places
Bow at the torii, rinse your hands, drop a coin, and pause — visiting Tokyo’s shrines and temples is gentler and simpler than the ceremony makes it look.
Read the etiquetteLanguage
Phrases & communication
You do not need to speak Japanese to be understood in Tokyo — you need about ten words, a phone, and the willingness to try.
Read the etiquetteLatest Controversies
Overtourism & current issues
Overtourism, dual pricing, photo bans, and the ‘bad tourist’ headlines — here’s what’s actually true, what’s just noise, and the one simple line that keeps you on the right side of all of it.
Read the etiquetteNot sure where to start?
Get the free etiquette starter and we’ll point you to the topics that matter most for your trip.