Takumi Saito

[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 ...

[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 ...

[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 ...

[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 ...

[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 ...

Card payments are more common in Japan than before, but you may still need cash during your trip. Small shops, ticket machines, and some local places can still be easier to use with cash. The problem is that foreign-issued cards do not work the same way at every ATM. Even if there is an ATM nearby, your card may not work there. For most travelers, the real problem is not a small fee difference. It is knowing which ATM is the easiest one to try first. In practical terms, Seven Bank ATM is usually the easiest place to start. Japan ...

Sapporo Subway now offers a daily fare cap for contactless payment. If you use the same card throughout the day, your total fare stops at a fixed amount. Even in Sapporo, though, people do not always buy a day pass first. If you are not sure how many rides you will take, you may simply start moving and only realize later that the day pass would have saved money. This is even more true for travelers. During a trip, it is not always easy to know in advance how many times you will use the subway that day. That is ...

Your phone battery is running low in the middle of a sightseeing day — and you don't have a charger or a place to plug in. In Japan, there's a practical solution that most locals already know about. This page explains how Japan's mobile battery rental service works, where to find it, and what to do before your battery hits zero. What ChargeSPOT is ChargeSPOT is a short-term mobile battery rental service. Instead of hunting for an outlet or carrying your own power bank, you borrow a charged battery from a kiosk, use it while you move around, and return ...

You checked Google Maps before leaving, but you're running late — even though you followed the route exactly. What happened? This page explains why Google Maps travel times can feel off in Japan, when to add extra time, and which apps locals actually use for train navigation. Why Google Maps times can feel wrong Google Maps calculates travel time based on a set of assumptions that don't always match real conditions: In practice, most travel situations in Japan involve at least one of these variables — which is why the displayed time often ends up being the minimum, not the ...

You're at a Japanese convenience store register with a bento box or onigiri, and the cashier says something you don't quite catch. Are they asking if you want it warmed up? This page explains what the question means, how to answer it, and what kinds of food can actually be heated. Why convenience stores offer this Japanese convenience stores have a microwave at or near the register, and heating purchased food on the spot is a standard part of the service. This is unique to Japan's convenience store culture — it's not something you'd typically find at a convenience store ...