Table Of Contents

1. 1. Thinking Portuguese is Spanish
2. 2. Rushing Through the City
3. 3. Waiting for the Santa Justa Elevator or Torre de Belem Elevator
4. 4. Not Exploring with a Local
5. 5. Not Bringing Shoes with Grip
6. 6. Thinking that Bread is Free in Restaurants
7. 7. Not Jumping in an Uber
8. 8. Forgetting to a Buy a Transport Card
9. 9. Paying for Overpriced Fado Shows
10. 10. Not Tasting Ginjinha on the Street
11. 11. Not Being Aware of your Surroundings
12. 12. Not Remembering to Reapply Sunscreen in the Afternoon
13. 13. Only Sampling the Belém Pastéis de Nata
14. 14. Not Learning How to Order Coffee

1. Thinking Portuguese is Spanish

While many travellers might initially assume that Portuguese is similar to Spanish, trust me, it’s NOT! I had just been to Mexico City earlier in the year, and when I started my Portuguese lessons, I thought all that Spanish would have helped – nope, that was not the case! I found Portuguese a harder language to learn than even Japanese, and I greatly respect anyone who has mastered the language.

Don’t try to speak Spanish thinking that locals will understand that more than English if you don’t know how to speak Portuguese. Most Portuguese people prefer English to Spanish. I was surprised by how many locals spoke terrific English, but don’t rely on that. Ensure you learn at least a few words; the basics are pretty easy to grasp, and it makes a big impression on those you speak to. Below are a few key phrases I found to be the most useful.

Hello – Olá
Goodbye – Adeus
Good Morning – Bom dia
Good Afternoon – Boa tarde
Good Night – Boa noite
Thank You – Obrigado (if said by a man) Obrigada (if said by a woman)
Sorry – Desculpe
Yes – Sim
No – Não
Please – Por Favor
This (good for pointing to menu or food items) – isto
How Much? – Quanto custa?

2. Rushing Through the City

One of the biggest mistakes I think people make is trying to rush through cities. And a part of me understands this, we don’t all have unlimited vacation time, and flights are expensive, especially if you’re visiting from outside of Europe. We cannot pop over from Spain or France on a long weekend. But Lisbon is such a vibrant city, and even though it appears to be very small, it’s both dense in physical form and history, steeped inside its walls. Spending a week here made us feel more like we could explore those hidden corners or get lost without worrying about losing precious time.

I know many people can see all there is to see here in a jam-packed three-day itinerary, but we adored having an entire week to relax and see the sights. Europeans, in general, but perhaps Portuguese more so, take things slow. They don’t like being rushed or on time, for that matter. So being able to adjust to their way of doing things felt more authentic than trying to rush through lunch and run out without savouring that last glass of wine. I felt like a week with one or two little outings outside the city was a perfect time!

3. Waiting for the Santa Justa Elevator or Torre de Belem Elevator

The Santa Justa Elevator is one of the city’s oddest yet most stunning sights. It was initially built in the 19th century for locals to use to get up the steep hill from the Baixa district to the Largo do Carmo. Its elegant design made in wrought-iron and covered in neo-gothic arches and striking geometric patterns is a spectacle for the eyes. But when the city of Lisbon bought the tower, they changed it from being a free mode of transportation and turned it into a touristy nightmare. Now lines run around the block, and tourists pay €6.40 for a 1-minute trip up to the top.

At the top, you do get one of the most astonishing views across the city, but this area is easily accessible without taking the lift. If you take the escalators inside Rossio Station, up to the Carmo Convent, the viewpoint is located just around the corner. To get to the viewpoint, you pass through a small restaurant but don’t worry about going inside, they are used to this, and it’s not a problem. On there, you’ll find the same view all those other tourists, who wasted hours in line, get to see. The Torre de Belem has the same kind of issue.

While the outside is a must-see in town, the interior is pretty lacking, and the view from the top of the tower is not that impressive. The lines can be hours long, and it is much better to skip it altogether and spend more time walking along the beautiful waterfront with waterside views of the tower.

4. Not Exploring with a Local

Lisbon is one of those cities which seems to have a million hidden secrets and things you can’t learn from a book. We hired a private tour guide to give us a 4-hour walking tour of the city on the first full day we arrived. This is the PERFECT way to get introduced to the town. Bruno, our historian for the day, told us many charming stories as we wandered the streets. He took us to the tremendous must-see sights and unknown little treasures.

There are plenty of free tours you can take, but Lisbon is booming with tourists, and often these tours are enormous, with over 30-40 people in one group with one guide. This makes it hard to hear the sound of streetcars and traffic and almost impossible to ask those burning questions you might be wondering. If budget allows, go for the private tour options, which can also be customized to your group’s interests.

5. Not Bringing Shoes with Grip

I realize you might think this is obvious; comfortable shoes are essential when travelling, but I’ve never had so much trouble walking as I did in Lisbon. The worn-down cobblestones sidewalks and the steep hills mean that you need comfy shoes and shoes with a great grip! I have a few excellent pairs of travel shoes which I’ve never had problems with that failed me on a few occasions when I was almost sent flying down the hill!

Thankfully, a few other party members had grippy shoes, and we would take turns holding onto each other when walking down those steep hills. I had heard that Lisbon was like Rome in that it was a town built on seven hills, but unlike Rome, these hills are incredibly steep, and climbing up and down the streets of Alfama is a workout and a half!

6. Thinking that Bread is Free in Restaurants

At many restaurants in Lisbon, not just those cheesy touristy ones, you’ll often be served bread and olives before the meal. Coming from North America, where bread before a meal is usually served without charge, I assumed it was free. It wasn’t, and although the cost wasn’t expensive, I was surprised to see a cost associated with something to me without asking for it.

Thinking that this one restaurant experience was a fluke, we had dinner the next night and experienced the same charge when we got the bill after digging into the olives and bread. I finally looked this up, wondering if this was something that just kept happening to me and found that it’s prevalent. If you aren’t interested in paying for the bread and olives, say no, before they place them down on your table, and they will take them away without incident. But sometimes you’re starving, and bread and olives sound like just the ticket to tide you over before dinner is served. If that’s the case, ask the server for the cost, so you know what to expect and make your decisions.

7. Not Jumping in an Uber

In a city as hilly as Lisbon, you can quickly get tired. Many times people might think of hailing a cab to get home after a long day but often are afraid to in case they take a long, unnecessary route to get to their destination to run up the meter. Uber, on the other hand, is all priced upfront. We loved taking Uber in Lisbon since we were a group of four, and often, taking an Uber was much, much cheaper than for each of us to pay for a ticket on the metro.

The Ubers we took were all super clean, the drivers extremely friendly, and some would even give us a little tour of the buildings we were passing by! A trip from the airport via Uber costs less than 10 euros (leaving from the departure terminal), including our luggage. Ubers make it so you can take that trip up to a miradouro (lookout point) before sunset, even if your legs are tired and there isn’t a nearby metro station. It’s a great way to make the most of your time in the city without tiring yourself going up and down those hills.

8. Forgetting to a Buy a Transport Card

You can buy these little reloaded metro cards at all the metro stations in Lisbon. They only cost 0.50 euros; you can load them up with as much money as you think you’ll need. This makes getting on and off trains a breeze, with no need to buy separate tickets or calculate the fares. Simply tap on and off, and the money will automatically be calculated and removed from the total on your card. The line-ups for train tickets can get long, especially at stations like Rossio, where the trains depart for Sintra. Having a swipe card will mean you don’t need to line up either at the ticket booth or electronic machines, savings yourself what can be a lot of time!

9. Paying for Overpriced Fado Shows

Fado is a form of Portuguese singing which originated in the 1820s in Portugal’s urban cafes and pubs. It is notable for being profoundly melancholic, and despite these sad tunes, it’s one of the most popular things for tourists to seek out when in Lisbon. There are signs all over for tickets to Fado dinners & show experiences. Most of these places are super overpriced, and the food is incredibly subpar, especially when there is SO MUCH great food for cheap you can find in this city.

There are plenty of amazing places to see real Fado around the town, which won’t cost you an arm and a leg. A Tasca do Chico puts on FREE Fado music Mondays and Wednesdays in the Bairro Alto district. The restaurant can get SUPER crowded, so get there EARLY! Fado is a late-night experience, so expect performances to start around 9 pm and go till 1 or 2 am! Unlike other places which might charge a cover fee, this restaurant doesn’t. That being said, since you need to show up so early to save yourself a table, it’s only right to order some drinks and perhaps a few bits of tapas to make your time there worth it for the servers and staff. But this cost is far and away cheaper than what you’ll find at the Prix-fix places.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lisboa em Fado (@lisboaemfado)

10. Not Tasting Ginjinha on the Street

Ginjinha or Ginja is a Portuguese liqueur from fermented sour cherries blended with sugar and cinnamon. You’ll see dozens of shops selling and advertising this sweet treat. And despite its prevalence in tourist hubs, you’ll be surprised to know it isn’t just a touristy thing. You’ll see old ladies sipping it outside ancient bars and men grabbing one quick glug before heading to dinner.

Ginjinha has been around since the Romans brought cherries to Lisbon in the 5th century. The same family has run many of the tiny closet-sized shops which sell shots of Ginjinha for multiple generations. Here, they serve just one thing; Ginjinha. You can order it two ways, with or without the fruit. (I found the fruit to be SUPER strong, so I preferred it without). You can also get it served in chocolate cups, but this was actually a modern-day invention by the Portuguese chocolate manufacturers who made a chocolate Ginjinha cup at one of their conventions, and it seemed to catch on from there. Still a delicious way to have Ginjinha but not as authentic.

Every different brand tastes a bit different. Some are more strong, and some are a little sweeter and wine-like. The little shots cost just 1-2 euros, so it’s easy to grab one wherever you see them sold to find your favourite.

11. Not Being Aware of your Surroundings

Locals we met with mentioned to us time and time again to beware of pickpockets. Having been to Barcelona without incident, I employed many of my same techniques, most importantly of which is to be AWARE. If you’re in a crowd, always be sure to have a hand on your bag or, at the very least, we are conscious of who gets close to you. You don’t need to be paranoid about it, but there is always an element of catching people off their guard, which is when pickpockets make their move. If someone seems too nice or if you have a bad feeling about something, go with your gut and just remove yourself from the situation.

Tourist trams are one of the worst places for pickpocketing since space is at a premium, and thieves do most of their business when you’re too busy taking pictures to notice. There are plenty of great theft-proof bags you can buy, but a solution I found was to buy a tiny lock which latches the two zippers of my back bag together, rendering it theft-proof. Always keep your bag on your lap at an outdoor restaurant or cafe, not on the floor or on an empty chair where it can quickly be snatched up. I didn’t feel like there was ever a moment when I felt unsafe or vulnerable, but I also felt that knowing these things and taking precautions would be much safer than if I had gone about my business without considering it.

12. Not Remembering to Reapply Sunscreen in the Afternoon

The sun is the strongest in Portugal between noon and 3 pm, and you’d be surprised that late in the afternoon is when you’ll actually feel the warmest. Even at 6 pm, the sun was beating down on my shoulders, hotter than it felt at 2 pm! I’m someone who puts on sunscreen in the morning and forgets to reapply, which resulted in a mighty sunburn on this trip. Painful enough to teach me a good lesson! Around when you have lunch, it’s always a good idea to grab some sunscreen out of your bag and reapply for the rest of the afternoon.

During the afternoon, when the sun is high in the sky, and the temperature is at its hottest, try to schedule some indoor fun if you find it unbearable. Bring a good hat (which won’t blow off in the high winds which Lisbon is famous for) and drink plenty of water. Obviously, this advice is moot if you’re travelling during the winter months, but even in the springtime, it can get surprisingly hot, so don’t hesitate to slather on that sun protection or you’ll be left like I was, having to get after-sun cream from a very judgmental pharmacist.

13. Only Sampling the Belém Pastéis de Nata

Portuguese custard tarts are one of the most popular things tourists come to eat while visiting Lisbon. They are a centuries-old recipe passed down from monks in monasteries, and one of the most popular places to try them is in Belém, where they originated the recipe. While the Belém tart shop is undoubtedly the most popular and historical, there are many other places to try all over Lisbon. It would be a shame only to try this one location when there are so many others you can try.

Give that diet a break while in Lisbon, and eat to your heart’s content! You can find these “pastéis de nata” in trendy cafes and tiny unknown bakeries hidden around quiet street corners. The line at the Belém location sometimes stretches for blocks, and although it might give you a good idea of the benchmark flavours of the original, modern chefs as well as enterprising home bakers, have developed their own versions, which might be even more appealing to you! They also sell these pastries at the grocery store; you never know where to find your favourite.

14. Not Learning How to Order Coffee

If you’re anything like me, no morning starts off on the right foot without a nice cup of coffee. I’ve learned from travelling worldwide that ordering coffee is never the same in one country as in the next. , I managed to order my coffee in Lisbon just fine, but all my friends who were travelling with me had great trouble ordering. Cafés function in a completely different way in Lisbon than they do in North America. In Lisbon, most coffee shops aren’t a place to have a seat, pop open your laptop, and relax with Wi-Fi. No, in Lisbon, cafés are where workers order a shot of espresso and down it at the bar before quickly heading off.

There are no signs across the counter with menu options. It’s up to you to give your order to the barista to get what you want. To get something similar to a latte, you should order “Um galão,” and for a coffee with milk, ask for “uma meia de leite,” which is half milk, half coffee. You’ll almost always be given a side of sugar since it seems like the Portuguese never drink black coffee. To order a standard espresso, ask for “uma bica,” a Portuguese word only used in Lisbon.

If you’re looking for something similar to an Americano ask for “um abatanado, “and if you want milk with it, ask for “um abatanado com um pouco de leite.” Cafes in Lisbon are places people pop in and out of all day. Instead of getting one colossal coffee in the morning, you’re more likely to be served a little coffee, which means you can visit more cafes throughout the day!

Let me know if you found anything on your last trip to Lisbon, you’d recommend travellers avoid or be aware of! Or, if you’re planning a trip, let me know anything else you’re curious about for your first time in Portugal!

Happy Travels Adventurers!

The post 14 Tourist Mistakes NOT to Make on your First Trip to Lisbon first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Table Of Contents

1. What to Pack
   • A good Coin Purse
   • Slip-on Shoes
   • Covid Masks
   • Download Offline Maps
2. Preparing for your Flight
   • Packing Your Carry-On
   • Pick the Right Seat & Upgrade to Exit Row
   • Skip the Middle Seat
   • Ensuring a Good Night's Sleep
     • Lavender
     • Melatonin
3. Use the In-Flight Time Wisely
4. Arrival & Immigration
5. Using Data/Wifi in Japan
   • eSIM
   • Wifi-Hotspot
6. Get some Cash
7. Transportation from the Airport
   • Public Transportation
   • Airport Limousine Bus
8. Grab a Drink from a Japanese Vending Machine
   • Reading the Vending Machines
9. Checking into your Accommodation
   • Capsule Hotels / Hostel
   • Ryokans
   • Japanese Hotels
10. Go for a Walk
11. Get Something to Eat
    • Vending Machine-Operated Restaurants
12. Buy your Suica or Pasmo Card
13. Visit an Arcade
14. Purikura
15. Find some Gachapon
16. Grab Breakfast at the Conbini
17. Customs to Keep in Mind
    • Don’t Tip
    • Be ready to bow
    • Don't Forget to Bring a Plastic Bag
    • Learn to Line Up
    • Slurping is Key
    • Ladies only subway cars
    • Pay your bus fare when you get off
    • Don't be scared of the mouth masks
      • Happy Travels Adventurers

What to Pack

For the most part, travelling to Japan requires some same things you pack for any other trip. But there are a few items I wished I had had with me the first time I arrive. And was sure to pack these the next time I travelled to Japan. So I wanted to make sure to share a few of them!

A good Coin Purse

I’m not much of a purse person, to begin with. I travel everywhere with a backpack and wallet. But in Japan, you’ll need so many coins at all times! You’ll need coins for vending machines, some restaurants, temple donations, arcade games and more! Fumbling through your wallet or bag to find the exact change can be painful. With the addition of a small coin purse, I could easily find the right amount I needed at a moment’s notice.

Slip-on Shoes

Make sure you pack a good pair of slip-on walking shoes. Many restaurants and hotels require you to remove your shoes when you enter. Anything with complicated laces will slow this process and become quite irritating when you’re still tired from the long flight. And make sure these aren’t cheap shoes either. You will be walking a lot in Japan so you definitely should invest in a very comfortable pair.

Covid Masks

Although Japan has finally reopened its borders to international travellers, they still have stringent rules around wearing masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Masks are required indoors unless you are not talking and are more than two meters apart. When you are in restaurants, you are requested to wear your mask when you are not eating or drinking.

You do not need to wear a mask outdoors, but if you are in close contact with someone outside, it is recommended to wear a mask. You will still see lots of people wearing their masks outside. I would always lean on the side of being considerate and follow the locals to see what they are doing and do the same. While there are plenty of places to buy masks all over Japan you never want to be caught without one. So be sure to pack a few and carry them with you at all time.

Download Offline Maps

Downloading some offline maps will definitely help you with navigating your way around the notoriously complex street systems in Japan. Even if you have access to wifi/data on your trip, maps often load slowly. Plus they tend to use a lot of data. Downloading offline maps before you leave for the various cities you’re visiting will save you a ton of data and time. Also, be sure to download the Navitime app which will give you transit directions in English for any train and metro journeys you might take while in Japan.

Preparing for your Flight

Packing Your Carry-On

These days, checking your luggage has become a thing of the past. Not only is it almost always an extra few hundred dollars, but the amount of times flights have lost my luggage is climbing up into the double digits. This has resulted in packing a carry-on bag, more and more important, in ensuring everything you brought with you makes it to your destination. For tips on how to pack the perfect carry-on for a long-haul flight, read this post!

Pick the Right Seat & Upgrade to Exit Row

Depending on where you’re setting off from, you’re most likely looking at a 13-hour flight to Japan. If you don’t have the cash to splurge for first class (and let’s face it, whoever does,) see if you can upgrade your seats to the exit row. For my last flight, it was an extra $150 to book the exit row. And it was some of the best money I ever spent.

Exit row gives you ample legroom, lots of space to get up and stretch. Plus. there is no one in front of you to recline their seat down on top of your head. The exit rows tend to be a little colder, as your seated beside the door, so always pack a light scarf with you. And you can always use your coat as a blanket. Some airlines even provide blankets free of charge on long-haul flights, so never be shy to ask for an extra one if you need it. Be kind and make friends with the flight staff, and you’ll have all the more of an enjoyable flight.

Skip the Middle Seat

If you’re travelling with two people, another money savings hack that will work every so often is booking the window and the aisle seat. Instead of booking the middle seat and aisle/window. When other people are booking their seats, they will almost always skip choosing between two people. So if your flight isn’t 100% full often, you’ll find the seat will be free, and you’ll be able to spread out. And if someone does show up and you want to sit beside your flying partner, everyone will jump at the chance to switch from the middle to the aisle or the window. This won’t work every time, but trying is never harmful.

Ensuring a Good Night’s Sleep

If you’re planning on getting any sleep on the plane (which hopefully you are), there are a few essential items to bring. These will ensure you’re giving yourself the best chance of getting some shuteye. The flights usually are good about turning off the lights when it’s time to readjust your sleep schedule. But if the person next to you is reading and has the lights, it’s important to ensure you have a good eye mask. That way you can shut out the light and try to adjust to a new time-zone.

Lavender

Another thing I do to lull myself to sleep is to bring a travel-sized bottle of lavender spray. I just transferred this Lush Twilight spray to a tiny travel perfume spray atomizer. Before getting on the flight I spray a little on my neck pillow and scarf. This soothing scent helps calm me down during any turbulence and puts me to sleep once I’m nice and relaxed.

Melatonin

If you need an extra bit of help getting to sleep, you can take a small dose of melatonin. While I don’t recommend this for the long term, it is a great way to help readjust your sleep pattern temporarily.

Noise-cancelling earbuds or headphones are a great way to ensure any noise will be blocked out and you can simply sink into a good night’s sleep.

Use the In-Flight Time Wisely

When you aren’t sleeping, spend this time reviewing your Japanese phrase book. About a month before your trip I would recommend downloading apps like Duolingo, to help learn some key phrases. But during the long flights, it’s a great time to have a little crash course in the language.

Japanese is such a beautiful language; I only grazed on the surface. But it’s important to at least try to learn “please,” “thank you,” “hello” and “goodbye.” I was thrilled with how much I could retain and even how even speaking a few words would bring huge smiles to people’s faces. It was definitely worth the time I put into it.

Arrival & Immigration

Before you land, you’ll be given an incoming passenger card to complete and give to the immigration officer. It’s a simple card with how long you’ll be there and where you’ll stay. Make sure you have the addresses of your accommodations written down or screenshotted on your phone as you won’t have wifi in the air.

Once you land in Japan, you’ll most likely be a bit jet-lagged and tired despite your best efforts to get some sleep. But luckily for you, Japanese airports have some of the best signage in the world and making your way to immigration and baggage claim a seamless process. Signage from the plane to get to immigration is all in Japanese and English.

Once you arrive at the immigration desk, they’ll check your card (make sure you didn’t miss any information), take your picture, and index your fingerprints. Don’t worry; this happens with everyone; you’re not being singled out. And that’s all. You’re ready to head into the city!

Using Data/Wifi in Japan

Japan can be pretty daunting for new or first-time travellers. And having access to the internet for directions, translations, and more can be key for your comfort. But roaming with most phone plans is extremely expensive. Luckily, there are many other options to ensure you have the internet at your fingertips.

eSIM

My newest favourite option for international travel are eSIMs. Most new phones will have both a physical sim and what’s called an “eSIM.” Before eSIM, most people would buy a physical sim, but this was often time-consuming and much more difficult to set up.

An eSIM, or Embedded SIM, is a virtual SIM card stored on your device rather than in a physical card form. An eSIM allows you to activate and manage your mobile service directly on your device without needing a physical SIM card.

To set up an eSIM, you will also need an active mobile plan from a carrier that supports eSIM. I use Nomad as my provide. They make setup super easy, and their rates are excellent. 20 GB will cost only $34 USD, which is tons of data. Most likely, you won’t need that much. You can use my code: LAUR66NY, to get $3 off your next eSIM purchase. You will need to turn off your physical SIM and phone number associated when you activate your eSIM, so be sure you download an app like Whatsapp to keep in touch with your contacts. Since Whatsapp will still work with your new eSIM.

Wifi-Hotspot

Another option is to use what’s called “pocket wifi.” Pocket wifi devices are portable internet you can pick up or purchase in Japan. They are just like a mobile hotspot. Ninja Wifi was my favourite provider as their speed was excellent, and it costs about $30 US for five days. The more time you rent the device, the cheaper it gets daily. I would never travel to Japan without one of these since free wifi is really hard to come by in Japan. Definitely don’t rely on that as your main internet access method. When you’re done using it, they come with a pre-paid envelope to mail them back to the company. So just place it inside and find the nearest mailbox to throw it into.

Get some Cash

If you didn’t go to your bank before leaving to get some local currency, you’ll want to hit up the ATM in the airport. Despite Japan being considered a modern country, there are different ways in which it feels much more old-fashioned. One of these ways is that most places only accept cash. Credit cards are only generally accepted for large purchases.

All those little ramen shops you are dying to visit won’t know what to do with your credit card. Cash is king in Japan. And you always want to ensure you don’t run out! You don’t want to miss out on a unique street snack that’s only available seasonally at this one location, and you find yourself out of cash! If you’re worried about carrying around so much cash for fear of being robbed, don’t be. Japan is one of the safest countries in the world.

Transportation from the Airport

Public Transportation

Transportation to and from the airport in Japan is very convenient. Although your first thought might be to grab a taxi, these are generally the most expensive method of transportation. In big cities like Tokyo, and Osaka, you’ll be able to take the train directly from the airport and get to the city’s centre in no time.

Airport Limousine Bus

If you’re looking for a more direct route into the city my favourite method is taking the Airport Limousine Bus. The Airport Limousine Bus service takes passengers from the arrivals terminal to hundreds of drop-off locations around Tokyo. No matter where you’re staying, you’ll find a drop-off location minutes away. I like the bus service better than the trains from the airport because it’s a lot less stressful. The train system in Japan can be overwhelming at the best of times, and post-long-haul flight, the airport limousine bus is a breeze! You just go up to any of the orange kiosks in the arrivals terminal and select your destination. It’s good to research their site in advance since there are many options for destinations.

Tickets cost around ¥1000 ($10 US) and maybe a little more or less depending on the distance from the airport. The airport limousine buses have free wifi on board, and I loved getting a good first look at the city as we drove in. The underground trains don’t give you this amazing viewpoint as you enter the city.

Grab a Drink from a Japanese Vending Machine

While waiting for your bus or train to arrive at the airport, pass the time by exploring the Japanese vending machines! As soon as you step off the plane you’ll see them everywhere. It might seem silly, especially to Japanese people for whom these are ubiquitous, but I’m obsessed with these. Japan is the mecca of vending machines. I am fascinated with the way they work, the way they look, and especially the unique treats inside. Old, new, big and small and full of all sorts of goodies.

The vending machines we found at the airport were relatively standard compared to those in the city’s hub. However, seeing drinks I’d never even heard of was still exciting. Mostly, you can surmise what kind of drink it is from the images on the packaging. But you’d be amazed at how many different flavours and varieties there are!

Reading the Vending Machines

The colour of the buttons on the vending machine denotes whether the drink is hot or cold. Red for hot, blue for cold. That’s right, hot beverages like tea and coffee come right out of a vending machine! Grab yourself a warm can of coffee and give that a try for the first time. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how delicious these are. Coffee is just the thing to keep you from crashing on your way to your hotel. And staying awake a little bit longer is key to preventing jet lag. The worst thing you can do is fall asleep as soon as you see that bed and find yourself wide away at 2 am.

Checking into your Accommodation

There are multiple options for accommodation in Japan. 

Capsule Hotels / Hostel

Capsule hotels are no doubt the most trendy option. These are very inexpensive and a one-of-a-kind experience. Capsule hotels are small, modular structures that contain individual capsules stacked one on top of another. Each capsule is a tiny room that provides just enough space for a person to sleep, typically with a bed, reading light, and power outlet. Some capsule hotels also have communal areas such as showers, toilets, and lounges. They are great for solo travellers or anyone wanting to save as much yen as possible.

Ryokans

Ryokans are traditional Japanese-style inns with rooms that offer guests tatami mats, futons for sleeping, and communal hot springs or onsens. They often have a minimalist design and are meant to provide guests with a serene and peaceful environment. Ryokans are known for their hospitality and attention to detail, with staff often going out of their way to make guests feel welcome and comfortable. These often come with luxurious dining experiences often served in your room. They are pretty pricey so maybe someplace you want to splurge on for a single night.

Japanese Hotels

My recommendation for first-timers is a hotel. While perhaps that might sound a little boring, hotels are often a great place to stay that’s both slightly familiar and a new experience. The staff in many of these hotels don’t speak much English. But are all incredibly helpful with the use of a little bit of non-verbal communication. 

Prepare yourself in advance for the size of a Japanese hotel room. The rumours are true, and most hotel rooms are shockingly tiny in big cities like Tokyo. There is often not even room for your luggage without it being in the middle of the room. Be sure when booking your hotel room you ask for a “western style bed” since traditional Japanese beds are hard as a rock. Also, if you book a room with a “double bed,” expect it to be tiny. All the bed sizing in Japan is smaller than in North America, so it’s always advisable to size up. The best option for the price is to book a room with two singles and push them together! This is actually what most Japanese travellers do.

Despite how comfy your room might look, drop your bags and head out the door right away, don’t give yourself a chance to get comfy and lulled into sleep.

Go for a Walk

One of the best things to wake you up and keep that jet lag at bay is a walk around the bright neon lights and visual sensations that is Japan. By this time of the day, most businesses will be closed. The sidewalks are clamouring with young teens playing arcade games, giggling nervously at the women dressed in maid costumes advertising their maid cafes. Dozens of Salarymen in white button-ups and black slacks are just getting their night started and gregariously piling themselves into bars, singing along loudly to whatever K-Pop is blaring on the radio inside.

There is nothing like your first time walking down the streets of Tokyo, especially in a busy neighbourhood. Soak it all in but don’t worry if you feel overwhelmed. That’s natural, particularly if this is your first time in a huge city. If you’re looking for a break from the crowd, duck down a small side street or alley. You’ll be immediately met with peace and quiet, as even the loudest Japanese partier is also always very respectful of their residential neighbours.

Get Something to Eat

You’ll undoubtedly be excited to dive into Japanese cuisine after a long day and nothing but airline food. My advice for the perfect first-time meal is a bowl of ramen. Ramen shops are all over the place, and there is no such thing as a bad bowl of ramen. So you don’t need to worry about researching where to do it; just find a shop that catches your eye and head inside.

Vending Machine-Operated Restaurants

Most small ramen shops operate with a vending machine kiosk. At the front of the restaurant, you’ll see a huge vending machine with different coloured buttons, each with pictures of ramen and perhaps a few side dishes. The buttons will also display the price of the meal. Put your money into the slot at the top and press the button of the meal item that catches your fancy. Out of a small slot at the base of the vending machine comes a little paper ticket with your order printed on it, in Japanese, of course, and any change from the bill you put it. If there is a line, get in the queue to wait your turn to be seated. If there’s no line, head right inside and take a seat.

Then all you need to do is give your ticket to the chef, who will prepare the meal as indicated. This might seem strange, but it’s an ingenious way to cut down on staff and allow the chefs, who also act as the waiter and server, to get your order without ever having to touch dirty money. One of the best parts of a ramen shop is sitting at the counter and watching the cooks at work. They effortlessly perform this dance, filling bowl after bowl with hot broth and whipping around the bar, grabbing stacks of toppings with deft movements to create your food fantasy!

Buy your Suica or Pasmo Card

After filling up some food, head to the closest train station to grab your Suica or Pasmo Card; a Suica or Pasmo card is a metro pass that you load up with the money to use on the train. You can simply swipe your card when entering and exiting any train station. Your fare will automatically be calculated and deducted from your card. This makes it so simple to travel on the metro since the Japanese subway system requires you to pay different fares for different distances.

If you don’t have a Suica or Pasmo card, you’ll have to figure out which fare you’ll need to pay for every trip you take based on the distance. Armed with these cards, you’ll be ready to hop on the metro the next day without fighting the morning crush of people. Just check the balance frequently to ensure you have enough money on the card. To purchase a new card, you just head to any machine in the station with the words “buy a new card” on it. The signage is in English and Japanese, and the machines themselves have English menus making it easy to buy or refill your card.

Visit an Arcade

After picking up your Suica cards, seek out an arcade! These behemoth arcade buildings are sometimes up to six floors of fun, each offering something different. Taito and Sega are reliably the best options for arcades. The first floor of most consists of UFO catcher machines, while the upper floors each have different sets of video games to play with friends or on your own. Some levels felt more like casinos, full of smokers playing digital slots or the Japanese gambling obsession Pachinko. The machines all cost a few hundred yen to play, and you can either pay with coins or tap your Suica card to have the money deducted from there!

Purikura

In the basement of these arcades, you’ll find dozens of these Purikura photo cubicles, each from a different company offering a unique experience. Purikura is where you can get those classic Japanese printed photos, add text and stickers, and give your face the “anime” treatment. The Purikura experience costs 500 yen ($5 US). Once you drop the coins inside the payment machine, the screen will direct you to your starting photo booth. Unlike photo booths in North America, where you step in and just take your picture, these use a green screen. The camera will direct you (almost always in English and Japanese) to pose and take pictures. The camera moves around, so you get different options from portrait mode to full body and sometimes animated GIFs.

Once you finish your photoshoot, you’ll be directed into another booth where you’ll get to decorate, alter, and add filters and text to all the photos you took. Often this process is timed, so keep an eye on the clock. Afterwards, your photos will be arranged into a collage (often picked by you) and printed out at the station where you initially put your coins. It was great fun trying out different poses and spending as much time as we were allowed decorating the photos into something absolutely ridiculous. Trust me, this will make for an incredible first Instagram of your trip!

Find some Gachapon

Gachapon refers to little vending machine capsule toys. The word ‘Gachapon’ is onomatopoeia for the sound the crank makes when you use the machine. These devices each contain different sets of toys, and you never know which item from the set you will receive. It’s totally random. Most sets include some rare items which become sought-after collector treasures. The toy sets change frequently, so there’s always something new to buy. My inner child (and let us face it, current adult) was immediately drawn to all the ‘Sailor Moon’ sets.

I decided to go for the most expensive machine, where you could get one of 5 different Sailor scout wands. I got Sailor Jupiter’s – my favourite Sailor Scout – and had a lot of fun back at the hotel putting the wand display together. There were toy sets of little cats sitting on rice cookers, tiny replicas of vintage buckets, Pokemon cookie toys and lots of Japanese characters often themed along with the next holiday. These make for small, cheap souvenirs to bring home for friends and family, as they are wonderfully weird and always unexpected.

Grab Breakfast at the Conbini

By this time of night, if you’ve managed to stay awake, it’s time to head back to the hotel. But before you do, stop into a ‘conbini’ (Japanese convenience store) to grab a few items for breakfast. 7-Eleven, Circle K, Lawsons and FamilyMart are the most common stores you’ll find on every corner in Japan. Breakfast in Japan is taken on the go, so you won’t find many restaurants open early in the morning. Picking up some items for a little in-hotel picnic is a great idea to help take it easy on your first morning.

My favourite treats to buy for the morning are an egg salad sandwich (honestly one of the best things you can eat in Japan, sounds weird, but TRUST ME), a baked sweet treat filled with matcha, a can of coffee or latte to crack open in the morning for instant caffeine, and a ball of onigiri. This array of treats is sure to give you a reason to get up in the morning, no matter how tired you feel.

And with that, your first day in Japan comes to a close. Hopefully, with all these tips, you’ll have an incredible first few hours that will result in minimal jet lag and leave you excited for the rest of your time in Japan! Below I’ve listed a few important customs to keep in mind which might surprise you as you experience Japan for the first time. Culture shock is part of travel, but don’t let it overtake you. Embrace it and even try to see if you can follow along with the culture and customs while visiting this incredible country!

Customs to Keep in Mind

Don’t Tip

Tipping isn’t something that is part of Japan’s consumer culture. They believe good service should be something you always should be provided and not something that is earned through money. If you leave money on the table, don’t be surprised if the waiter takes you down the street thinking you might have left it there accidentally. A great way to show your appreciation for excellent service is to learn a few Japanese phrases to tell your waiter, chef or receptionist how much you appreciate their service.

Be ready to bow

Bowing is a sign of respect in Japan, so don’t be surprised to have people bow to you at your hotel, coming onto the bus or even just on the street if you’ve had a particularly lovely interaction. Can foreigners bow, you ask? Most Japanese people don’t expect foreigners to bow, but I found them whenever I simply mimicked exactly what their bow was like; they seemed to respond very positively and loved I made an effort.

Don’t Forget to Bring a Plastic Bag

Garbage cans are one of the most challenging things to find in Japan. The only public place where you can reliably find these is outside of convenience stores. But don’t let that make you think they’ll be garbage all over the place. No, Japan is the cleanest country I’ve ever visited. Locals carry their trash with them until they can find a trash can or often until they get home so they can adequately sort it. Play with the locals and ensure you have a plastic bag to carry your garage and that you’re not ruining their clean streets.

Learn to Line Up

Lineups in Japan are a way the city manages its deluge of people. Everyone is very respectful of the line. There are never any budding or large random groups, everyone takes the idea of lining up seriously, and you should too. Large masses of people taking the subway daily are efficiently organized into two or three lines making even the busiest commute very coordinated. Keep your eye out for lines as they often signify something popular that you wanna jump into. Most often, it is related to food, and you’ll never be disappointed.

Slurping is Key

In North America, slurping might sound rude or low-class, but in Japan, it is a sign of your appreciation for the food. Slurp loud enough that the chef in the back can hear you are going at it!

Ladies only subway cars

During certain times of the day, there are designated carriages for women on the subway. This is to keep them safe in full vehicles. The signs identifying these cars are in pink paint on the floors of the metro, so keep your eye out if you’re a male traveller and don’t want to get on these by accident, an embarrassing affair which we might have experienced once or twice.

Pay your bus fare when you get off

Japan is one of the only places I’ve visited where you have to pay for your bus far when you get off, not when you get on. When you get on the bus, you’ll enter through the back doors, and when you get off, you’ll exit through the front, where you can either pay the ash fare or swipe your Suica or pasmo card.

Don’t be scared of the mouth masks

If you see people wearing mouth masks, don’t be scared. They’re not an Ebola patient or a hypochondriac. These masks are worn to prevent other people from getting sick if you’re coming down with a cold, flu, or even allergies. Even if you’re the slightest bit under the weather, the Japanese plop one of these masks on, more for your protection and out of respect for others. They sell these everywhere, so if you feel like you’re getting sick, you should also don one.

Have you travelled to Japan before? How did you manage your first few hours in the country? Did jet lag get the better of you? Leave your experiences in the comments, or let me know if you’re planning to visit Japan and what other tips and tricks you’d like to learn!

Happy Travels Adventurers

The post First Time Travelling to Japan? Here’s our Ultimate Guide for Your First Day in Japan first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.