Getting Around Japan: A Complete Guide to Trains, Roads, and Transit Etiquette
Transport is where visitors meet Japanese manners head-on. Trains are punctual and quiet, cards replace tickets, and even taxi doors […]
Getting Around
Parking in Japan: Why It’s So Expensive and Strictly Regulated
Why do you need police-verified proof of parking to own a car in Japan? The strict system behind Japan’s expensive, tightly regulated parking culture.
Why Taxis in Japan Have Automatic Doors (and Other Taxi Etiquette)
Why do Japanese taxis have automatic doors, and should you open them yourself? Taxi etiquette, payment, and why fares are so high in Japan.
The Unspoken Rules of Riding a Bicycle in Japan
Can you ride a bicycle on the sidewalk in Japan? The unwritten rules of Japanese cycling, mamachari culture, and what actually gets you fined.
The Culture of IC Cards: How Japan Made Transit Nearly Cashless
What is the difference between Suica and Pasmo, and why did Japan go cashless for trains years before anywhere else? The story of Japan’s IC transit card system.
How Japan’s Shinkansen Culture Differs From Regular Trains
What makes the Shinkansen different from regular Japanese trains? The seven-minute cleaning miracle, Nozomi vs Hikari, and the etiquette unique to bullet train travel.
Why Japan’s Rush Hour Trains Are So Packed — and So Orderly
Why are Japan’s rush hour trains so packed, and why is everyone still so orderly? Congestion rates, the infamous oshiya pushers, and the unwritten rules that make it bearable.
Why Japanese Train Stations Have So Many Melodies and Jingles
Why do Japanese train stations play a short melody before departure? The safety problem hassha melody were designed to solve, and the composers and fan culture behind them.
Why Some Japanese Train Cars Are Women-Only
Why does Japan have women-only train cars, and when are they in effect? The chikan (groping) problem behind the policy, how well it works, and what visitors should know.
Driving in Japan: Road Signs, Rules, and What Surprises Foreign Drivers
Foreigners who drive in Japan for the first time tend to arrive at two conclusions quickly: the roads are narrow,