Explore Hokkaido: Practical Guides for First-Time Visitors

[toc] Why onsen rules about tattoos still exist The tattoo prohibition at Japanese onsen comes from the historical association between visible tattoos and organized crime. For decades, tattoos were closely linked to gang membership in Japan, and onsen operators banned them to signal that their facilities were safe, family-friendly spaces. That association has weakened significantly — especially among younger Japanese people, who increasingly see tattooing as a form of personal expression. But many traditional onsen and facilities catering to older Japanese guests have kept the rule, either out of long-standing policy or out of respect for their regular clientele. One thing worth knowing: this is a cultural and social issue, not a hygiene one. Tattoos have no effect on water quality or other guests physically. Understanding the background helps when navigating the situation calmly. How strict the rule usually is Enforcement varies considerably depending on the type of facility. At large public onsen, resort facilities, and any place with a posted tattoo policy: enforcement is consistent. Staff check, and guests with visible tattoos are turned away or asked to cover up. At smaller or more locally-oriented facilities, the approach can feel less formal — but you should never assume that means it's allowed. Attempting to enter a no-tattoo facility without permission is not a risk worth taking. It puts other guests in a difficult position and makes things harder for tattooed travelers who come after you. At hotel private baths and in-room facilities: typically no enforcement at all, since there are no other guests sharing ...

[toc] Why lockers get full so quickly Major stations — Shinjuku, Shibuya, Kyoto, Osaka Umeda — handle millions of passengers daily. On weekends, holidays, and during peak travel seasons like Golden Week, cherry blossom season, and Obon, the most popular locker banks fill up well before mid-morning. Large-size lockers that fit full suitcases are fewest in number and go first. By the time most travelers arrive and realize they need one, the options are already limited. Option 1: Ask your hotel first If you have a hotel in the area, this is almost always the fastest solution. Nearly every hotel in Japan — from budget business hotels to ryokan — will store your luggage: Before check-in: Arrived early? Leave your bags at the front desk and go out. Come back when the room is ready. After checkout: Need a few more hours in the city? Leave bags with the hotel and collect them before your train. This service is almost always free, and no reservation is needed. Walk up to the front desk and say "Can I leave my bags here?" — this request is understood at every hotel. If you're staying nearby but not yet checked in, your hotel is the first place to try. It removes the problem immediately and costs nothing. Option 2: Try ecbo cloak If you don't have a hotel nearby, ecbo cloak (エクボクローク) is the most practical alternative. It's a luggage storage service that connects travelers with nearby businesses — cafés, shops, hotels, and tourist offices — that have ...

[toc] Check whether your iPhone is ready Before troubleshooting, confirm your device meets the basic requirements: iPhone 7 or later — iPhone 6 and earlier do not support Suica iOS 16 or later recommended — older versions have more compatibility issues Face ID or Touch ID set up on the device Apple Pay enabled — check in Settings → Wallet & Apple Pay Apple Watch Series 2 and later also support Suica and can be set up through the Watch app on your iPhone. Why Suica setup fails most often Most setup failures come from one of three areas: Account or device settings. Apple ID and device settings can sometimes affect what appears in Wallet or how the setup flow behaves. If Suica doesn't show up as an option in Wallet, this is often why — the Suica app is a more direct route that bypasses most of these issues. The card you're using to load money. Foreign-issued cards are one of the most common points of failure. Some work without issue; others are declined at the Suica loading step even when they work fine for other Apple Pay purchases. This is a bank-level restriction, not an Apple or Suica problem. iPhone model or software version. If your iOS is not up to date, or if you're on an older model close to the compatibility limit, some steps in the setup may not behave as expected. Updating iOS before you start is worth doing. Method 1: Add Suica through the Wallet app This is the ...

[toc] Who qualifies Tax-free shopping in Japan is available to non-resident foreign visitors — people entering Japan temporarily who do not live here. You qualify if you: Entered Japan on a tourist, business, or short-stay visa Are not a resident of Japan Will be taking the purchased items out of Japan You do not qualify if you: Live in Japan on a resident visa Are a Japanese national permanently residing abroad (in most cases) Staff verify your eligibility by checking your passport entry stamp. This is why the passport must be present at the time of purchase — there is no way to process it retroactively. Two types of purchases you should not mix up Japan's tax-free system divides purchases into two categories, each with its own minimum and its own rules. This is the part most travelers get wrong. The rule that catches most people: these two categories cannot be combined to reach the ¥5,000 minimum. A ¥3,000 jacket and a ¥3,000 face cream do not add up to ¥6,000 for tax-free purposes. Each category is counted separately. Step-by-step: how tax-free shopping works What to know before you leave Japan Japanese customs may check your tax-free purchases before you board. This is not guaranteed — it's random — but it does happen, and it's more common during peak travel periods. What they check: That sealed bags are still sealed That your purchases match what was recorded in your passport at the time of purchase If sealed consumables have been opened, you may be asked ...

[toc] Why cash still matters in Japan Japan has made real progress toward cashless payments — but the gap between major cities and everywhere else is still significant, and even in Tokyo, cash-only places are common enough to catch travelers off guard. The core issue is not that Japan is behind. It's that many small businesses — local ramen shops, family-run izakayas, neighborhood temples — have not adopted card readers, and some prefer not to. Card terminals carry processing fees that cut into thin margins. There's no rule requiring merchants to accept them. The practical result: you will encounter cash-only situations regularly, regardless of where you're traveling in Japan. The further you go from major tourist corridors, the more often it happens. How much cash to carry for a normal day These ranges cover food, local transit (if not using an IC card), entrance fees, and small purchases. Transit-heavy day (mostly trains with IC card): ¥3,000–¥5,000 Typical sightseeing day (meals, entrance fees, small purchases): ¥10,000–¥15,000 Rural or day-trip day (fewer card options, local restaurants): ¥15,000–¥20,000 A buffer of ¥5,000 beyond your estimated daily spend gives you room for surprises — a cash-only dinner, a coin locker, a spontaneous temple visit. How much cash to carry for higher-cash days Some days in Japan are structurally cash-heavy. Plan differently for these. For a 7-day trip mixing cities and day trips, having access to ¥100,000–¥150,000 in cash over the trip — replenished at ATMs as you go — is a reasonable working total. Where you will probably need ...