Takumi Saito

[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 ...

Your phone rings on a Japanese train. Everyone around you is quiet. What's the right thing to do? This page explains the unwritten rule about phone calls on Japanese trains, why it exists, and how locals handle it — including what to do when you genuinely need to talk. Why phone calls aren't allowed Japanese trains are treated as shared quiet spaces. The expectation — announced on most lines — is that passengers set their phones to silent and avoid calls out of consideration for others. This isn't a legal rule, but it's one of the most consistently observed social ...

Japan's summer heat is one thing. The humidity is another. Visitors from drier climates often find the combination genuinely difficult — not just uncomfortable, but physically draining in a way that can affect your whole trip. This page explains what makes Japanese summers so demanding, how locals manage it, and the practical steps that make a real difference. Why Japan's summer feels so intense After the rainy season (梅雨 / tsuyu) ends in early July, Japan comes under the influence of the Pacific high-pressure system — bringing sustained heat and high humidity that lasts through August. The problem with humidity ...

Getting sick while traveling in Japan is stressful enough. Finding a doctor who speaks English adds another layer of uncertainty — especially outside major cities, or late at night. This page explains how to find English-speaking medical facilities, what to do outside clinic hours, and what to bring when you go. Why English-speaking hospitals are limited Japan's medical care is high quality, but the healthcare system operates primarily in Japanese. English-speaking doctors and staff exist — particularly in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto — but they're concentrated in specific clinics and hospitals, not evenly distributed. Even at facilities that advertise English ...