Any advice for a first time visitor to Japan?

United States
November 2, 2009 4:02pm CST
Hey, I've been to Japan myself, but a friend was asking me for some advice about important places to visit, safety tips, what to expect and such things. Considering how I went to the east many, many years ago, I don't know if I'm the best for answering her questions. If you've been to Japan, would are some key pieces of advice that you would offer a first timer?
2 responses
@katie0 (5203)
• Japan
13 Dec 10
i'm not japanese but i lived here half of my life, i believe they don't like people starring at them, that talks loud, they are respectful people so we should be too, they are very polite it's not common to be touching stuff if we are not gonna buy it to carry the trash home or find a place to throw away and it's not difficult cause they worry about it don't walk on the streets too late cause police stop and ask for the bussiness and stuff like that plus there will be the "bosozoku" wich are bad guys bikers that like trouble, or even yakuzas but it's a very, very, very safe country, i believe one among the safest so it's really peaceful to live in here and better yet just to visit, amazing land, magical really
• Philippines
17 Apr 10
..when you get off the plane to Japan airport (i got to Narita airport from Cebu, Philippines), get a shinkansen train tiket from JR booth, i would prefer nozomi shinkansen than hikari, because nozomi has less number of stops than hikari.. but be sure to get a train tiket which a long waiting time than getting a ticket which only give you a less time to wait... if you get off the plane at 11:00 am, then in their shinkansen schedule, they have 11:30 and 11:45AM schedule, choose 11:45am so that you will never be left behind.. remember Japan time is standard and they are really on time..don't hesitate to ask any of the japanese around you if you can't read nihongo, they will help you..just say "sumimasen" for excuse me, "doko" for where and don't forget "arigatou" for thank you...