Japan in general, and Tokyo in particular, are dream destinations for any traveler. An unknown and surprising culture, a different aesthetic, incredible landscapes … If you plan to travel to Tokyo in the next few months, you need practical information to facilitate your stay there.
When you arrive in Tokyo, you feel the impact of cultural change in all its magnitude. It is something that goes beyond the fact that the Japanese have different customs than ours. Everything is different there: the relationships between people are different, and so are the rules of coexistence. Here are some useful tips to help you make the most of your stay in Tokyo.
Overcome the language barrier
To start the first test that you will have to pass is the idiomatic one. The language will be the first obstacle to overcome, since most of the Japanese do not speak English , which is the language that we usually break when we go abroad and in which we communicate with the rest of the inhabitants of the world. However, the English that you have been able to learn will not be of much use to you in Tokyo, although in tourist places you will be able to communicate with patience and some effort. It is a good idea to learn a word in Japanese to be able to talk to people on the street.
The issue of silence is important to the Japanese as well. They are used to making little noise when they move around the city. Therefore, be careful with the shouting and the volume of your conversations. In addition, it is forbidden to use a mobile phone in public transport.
Get around town
In Tokyo, people greet each other with a slight bow of the head. They do not shake hands, much less kiss. This should be taken into account if you want to be liked by the new friends you make there from the beginning.
If you have to take a taxi (bear in mind that it is quite expensive there) bring the address on a piece of paper, in Japanese. Taxi drivers speak only that language. Taking the subway is the fastest and most efficient way to get around the city, of course, avoiding rush hours , when the professional pushers that you have surely heard of come into action. A curiosity: there are exclusive wagons for women to avoid possible abuse.