Safety, Trouble, Illness while staying in Japan
Japan may be an interesting country for you, but the society, custom and culture differ from your country.
When you travel around Japan, you should mind that unexpected trouble occurs.
Public safety in Japan
Trouble while travelling
Illness while travelling
Public safety in Japan
It is said that Japan is very safe country.
In fact, Japan is one of the countries of the lowest crime rate in the world.
In Japan, carrying and possessing of guns is banned by the law.
And having and using narcotic drugs and stimulant drugs are also prohibited by law.
There is hardly dangerous town or slum in Japan.
You can walk around Japan safely.
And degree of safety about going out at night is higher than other countries.
But, while travelling, you must pay attention to your belongings in the town.
There is always a chance of purse snatching, stealing luggage, pickpocket, etc. even in Japan.
Koban in Shinjuku in Tokyo
If you have dropped your wallet or important things somewhere, you have the possibility to get back it.
Because, if a good person finds it fortunately, the person will bring it to Koban.
Koban is the small police station in any town of Japan.
It is a branch station in the district controlled by the main police station.
A few policemen are always stationed and they sometimes patrol around the district.
It is a small building and a golden pentagonal mark of Japanese police is attached.
On some kobans, there is a sign "KOBAN" for foreign people.
It is said that Koban system reduces the crime rate.
If you have trouble, visit the nearest Koban first.
Losing your belongings, losing your child, asking the way to a destination, etc. are OK.
In addition, if you have had a traffic accident or gotten caught up in a theft and an injury case, call the police at once.
The telephone number of police is "110".
And, if you have found a fire, call the fire engine at once.
The telephone number of fire station is "119".
Trouble while travelling
Few Japanese people can speak English
Station-name signboard of Tokyo station
Japanese people speak Japanese.
And Japanese is spoken only in Japan in the world.
There are Korea, Taiwan and China around Japan, and the face and the body type are similar to each other.
But, Japanese language is different from the languages of the countries.
Japanese is an isolated language.
Various characters of Kanji (Chinese character), Hiragana and Katakana may be difficult for foreign tourists.
All Japanese people learn English as a useful foreign language at school.
So most Japanese people know English.
But not many people can speak English fluently.
First, the structure of Japanese language is very different from English.
So, it is a little difficult for most Japanese people to make suitable English sentence instantly.
In addition, most people don't have a chance to speak English during everyday life except for the person who must communication with foreign people.
Only the person who learned English conversation by necessity can speak English.
So, many foreign tourists say that they had been troubled about communication with Japanese people.
That is something that cannot be helped.
Rather, we want to enjoy such trouble in Japan feeling the atmosphere of unique country in the Far East.
It may be good that you use a smartphone translation app positively.
Cash is necessary
Cash payment
Cashless payment is about 40% of all payments in Japan.
Japanese people trust in cash highly and the country is also safe.
Cashless system needs the additional costs of the service fee, so small shops feel like a burden.
So, Japan may be going cashless slowly.
Therefore, you should have some Japanese cash when you travel around Japan.
If you have no cash at cash-only store or restaurant, you may cause a needless trouble.
You will be able to pay with a credit card in the holels, major shops, convenient stores, department stores, restaurants.
But, some small shops are cash only.
Also, some local and popular restaurants are cash only.
There are a lot of vending machines in Japan, but the payment is basically cash.
You may be able to find some vending machines that credit card is available.
The ticket of train and bus is basically the payment by cash.
But, in the large cities, "Transportation IC card" which is a prepaid card is sold.
If you use it, you can get on the trains and buses without buying the tickets.
Credit card can be used as the entrance fee of major tourist facilities and cultural facilities, but some facilities may be cash only.
About Japanese money, check the following page.
Few Trash boxes
Skewers of Japanese dumpling become trash
Foreign tourists say that the towns in Japan are clean.
But they also say that there are few trash boxes in the town.
Japan has promoted reducing waste.
Of course, it is a global issue and should be the same in your country.
The level of the awareness has been raised among Japanese people.
Separating and recycling the garbage are performed actively in each city and town in Japan.
The place where trash box is put tended to become a dirty garbage place including the surrounding areas.
So trash boxes have been decreased in many cities.
In addition, the reduction of trash boxes in the cities has been triggered by September 11 attacks struck at the United States of America in 2001.
It is one of continuous anti-terrorism activites in Japan.
Littering is a bad manner.
It is recommended that own trash is taken home and disposed there.
This is current Japanese society.
While travelling in Japan, you will create trash mainly when eating while walking in a town.
There are the recycle boxes for plastic bottle and can of drinks.
The package, small skewer, tray, etc. of the foods may be collected by the shop that you bought the foods.
You are required to dispose your trash properly in Japan.
It is an idea that you carry a bag for your trash during walking around the city and put the bag into a trash box in the city or in the room of your hotel after your walking.
Few places where Free Wi-Fi is available
Sign of the place where Free Wi-Fi is available
Most Japanese people contract with a communication carrier for the mobile phone.
So, the demand for free Wi-Fi is not very great.
The places where free Wi-Fi is available are limited.
Airports, main railway stations, major hotels, popular chain cafes, major chain restaurants, many convenience stores are the main places.
But, it is not available outdoors.
It is true that many foreign tourists feel inconvenient.
But, from the above reasons, the places are declining.
Illness while travelling
Heatstroke in summer is increasing
If you have a chronic disease and take some medicine, you should take the medicine on a travel.
Of course, the quantity must be for the period of the travel.
And the certificate of ingredients of the medicine may be needed when you are entering into Japan.
The summer heat in Japan is intense.
Moreover, the humidity is high.
Even if you are healthy, the heat may tell on you during your travel.
Or, if you go to high mountain wearing a light outfit, you may get injured or be frozen with cold.
Don't be overconfident in the unknown country.
Unfortunately, if you have taken sick or gotten injured in Japan, you may need to consult a doctor.
In that case, you should go to a hospital.
You can search the hospital handling your languages.
When you must go to any hospital, please check the following websites.
If the condition is serious, call the ambulance.
The telephone number of ambulance is also "119".
Ambulance is in fire station, so you are asked "fire" or "ambulance".
You must tell the operator clearly "ambulance", your name, your place, condition of the patient.
It takes about 10 minutes (national average) for the ambulance to reach you.
In Japan, it is free to use ambulance.
If you have consulted a doctor, you must pay expensive cost of the treatment and medicines.
If you must stay in the hospital for some days, the cost will go up.
There are few hospitals that you can use credit card.
Most hospitals are operated on a cash only.
Just in case, you should take out any travel insurance before the travel to Japan.