Traveling as a tourist

Japan is known to be one of the safest countries to travel to. However, you can never be too safe as there is always a danger at every turn of the earth. As a result, remember to always have an emergency backup plan in case of emergencies, such as natural disasters, scams, etc. It is always a good thing to be prepared for the unknown rather than charge into a situation without knowing what is coming from it. Although the crime rate in Japan is quite low, it is still not zero and you can fall victim to scams and/or petty crimes. You can prevent these by remembering to be aware of your surroundings at all times. If there is a situation where it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is a scam. I would say to still try to travel with a least one more person when walking at night as sexual harassment in Japan happens pretty often. At night, there would be male and female employees who will try to advertise their bar and/or club and get you to join their establishment. Oftentimes, since gender inequality is still an issue in Japan, most men will continue to pester you even after you said no. Which is why it is more convenient to travel with at least one more person.

Japan is known for its welcoming attitude of being polite toward foreigners due to its deep-rooted traditions. This is because tourism is a big part of what makes their economy. As long as you do not do anything disrespectful, then they are very understanding and accommodating towards you. I went to see the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum during my trip and we learned about the survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bomb that happened on August 6, 1945. I learned that as long as everyone is compassionate and respectful towards everyone, there might not be war killing off innocent citizens. If we put away our differences, you can see that we are more alike than different. So why should we always be hateful and discriminatory towards each other?

Some of the things you should know before visiting Japan are that Japan is a country based on respect and a hierarchy system. So when speaking in Japanese, remember to speak formal Japanese. I find that just speaking formal Japanese to everyone you encounter is easier because then you would not have to worry about offending anyone. I would advocate learning basic Japanese phrases since not everyone is going to know English in Japan. In addition, Japanese people will find it respectful that you are trying to learn their culture and respect it. Also being quiet on public transportation in Japan will go a long way. Foreigners are known to be noisy, especially on public transportation so remember to be respectful and stay quiet. I would recommend researching any extra tips and advice before going to Japan so that you don’t stick out like a sore thumb!