Start Here
New to Japan? Start with the practical things locals rarely think to explain—from shopping and payments to trains, toilets, food, and everyday etiquette.
Explore JapanJapan is easy to enjoy when you understand the little things.
You do not need to know everything before arriving. This page will guide you through the essentials, helping you feel more confident as you shop, eat, travel, and experience everyday life in Japan.
Before You Arrive
Start with payments, internet access, transportation, and the practical basics that make your first day in Japan easier.
Cash or Credit Card?
Learn when you can use cards, when cash is still useful, and which payment methods are common in Japan.
Read the guide →Suica and PASMO
Understand Japanese IC cards and how they can be used for trains, buses, vending machines, and shopping.
Read the guide →Internet and Wi-Fi
Compare SIM cards, eSIMs, pocket Wi-Fi, and free public Wi-Fi before your trip begins.
Read the guide →Shopping in Japan
Understand how Japanese stores work, how to pay, and what to expect at the checkout.
How to Shop at DAISO
Prices, product sections, checkout, payment methods, bags, tax-free shopping, and useful tips for first-time visitors.
Read the guide →Self-Checkout Guide
Learn how Japanese self-checkout machines work and what to do when the screen is only available in Japanese.
Read the guide →Tax-Free Shopping
Find out who qualifies, what documents you need, and what rules apply to tax-free purchases.
Read the guide →Everyday Japan
Small everyday systems can be surprisingly confusing when no one explains them.
Why Are There So Few Trash Bins?
Learn why public trash bins are uncommon and what visitors should do with their rubbish.
Read the guide →Using Toilets in Japan
Find toilets, understand the controls, and learn the basic manners visitors should know.
Read the guide →Vending Machines
Understand prices, payment options, hot and cold drinks, and why vending machines are everywhere.
Read the guide →Food & Drink
Discover the everyday places where Japanese people actually buy meals, snacks, drinks, and groceries.
Convenience Stores
Learn how to buy meals, use services, heat food, pay bills, withdraw cash, and more.
Read the guide →Japanese Supermarkets
Understand prepared foods, discount stickers, checkout systems, bags, and grocery shopping etiquette.
Read the guide →Restaurant Etiquette
Ordering, paying, tipping, using ticket machines, and the manners that make dining easier.
Coming soon →Getting Around
Japan’s transport system is efficient, but the details can feel unfamiliar at first.
How to Use Japanese Trains
Tickets, gates, platforms, transfers, train types, and the basics of riding with confidence.
Read the guide →Using Taxis
Taxi doors, payment methods, addresses, apps, and what to expect when taking a taxi in Japan.
Coming soon →Shinkansen Basics
Reserved and non-reserved seats, luggage rules, tickets, stations, and boarding the bullet train.
Read the guide →Everyday Culture
Learn the unspoken habits and social expectations that help daily life in Japan run smoothly.
When to Remove Your Shoes
Understand where shoes must come off and how to recognize the signs before entering.
Read the guide →Queueing in Japan
Learn how people line up at stations, shops, elevators, and busy public places.
Read the guide →Quiet Public Spaces
Why phone calls, loud conversations, and other everyday behaviors are treated differently in Japan.
Coming soon →Start with These Guides
These guides explain some of the most common questions visitors have about everyday life in Japan.
Enjoy Japan Like a Local
Japan becomes easier—and much more enjoyable—when you understand the small things locals take for granted. Honne Japan is here to explain them, one guide at a time.
About Honne Japan