7 Worst Mistakes To Avoid On Your First Trip To Japan

Written by Jo Nakajima

Last Updated Aug 4th, 2026

TLDR: By the end of this article you'll know the seven biggest mistakes first time visitors make in Japan and exactly how to avoid them.  👇

Title

mistake #1: underestimating how confusing the tokyo train system is 

Japan's train system is so complex that even locals get lost. Shinjuku Station in Tokyo holds the world record as the busiest train station in the world. More than 3.5 million people pass through it every day. The station also has over 200 exits so it's incredibly easy to end up in the wrong place. To make things even worse many foreign phones lose reception underground which means you may not even be able to use your phone to navigate if you get lost.

mistake #2: watching so much travel content that you end up more confused

At first it's exciting. You start watching YouTube videos, saving TikToks, and bookmarking Instagram posts to plan the perfect trip. Then the contradictions start. One person says a place is a must see, another says it's a tourist trap. After watching dozens of videos you're left feeling overwhelmed and more confused than when you started.

Mistake #3: Falling for Viral Restaurants

You see a restaurant on TikTok or Instagram with millions of views. It must be amazing, right? Not always. Many of these videos are sponsored because restaurants pay influencers to make videos. What the influencers video doesn't show is the two hour lineup outside. Just like you, millions of other people discovered this place through Tiktok and came to try it as well. Just because a restaurant is viral doesn't mean the food is great. In many cases it's below average. Don’t confuse good marketing with quality food. The best food recommendations come from locals who live in the city, not paid travel influencers.

mistake #4: accidentally embarrassing yourself by not knowing the cultural rules

Japan has a lot of cultural rules that locals expect you to know. It’s considered rude in Japan to eat while you’re walking. When using escalators, you should stand on the left to make room for those in a rush on the right. There is even a proper way to hand someone money. The problem is that if you don’t know these things, you might find people staring at you. You do not need to know every custom, but knowing the basics can save you from becoming the “rude” tourist who accidentally embarrasses themselves.

mistake #5: thinking that local apps from home will work in japan

Most tourists think that the apps they use at home will work just as well in Japan. But as soon as they arrive, they realize that isn’t always the case. In Japan, there are many popular local apps, and locals don’t use many of the American apps tourists may be familiar with. For example, Google Translate is not nearly as effective as Kuli Kuli, a local app. This is because Kuli Kuli is trained to recognize the three different writing systems used in Japan. While Google Translate may struggle with a local restaurant menu, Kuli Kuli can translate it with ease. When visiting Japan, there are a handful of apps that can be extremely helpful for tourists and are worth downloading before your trip.

mistake #6: not realizing that most people don’t speak english

Unlike Thailand or other Asian countries, almost no one in Japan speaks English. In fact, 90% of people don't. So every direction you turn, you will encounter this road block. Get in a taxi and the driver doesn't speak English. At restaurants, waitresses don't speak English. Need help with directions, pedestrians don't speak English. This is why you must know some simple phrases that can help you in a pinch. 

Mistake #7: Missing "Must-See" Attractions Due to Poor Planning and Bad Information

You might think you can wait until you arrive to decide what you want to see. But that is when people get caught off guard. The place you were most excited about is sold out. Then you find out it needed to be booked weeks ago. And now there is nothing you can do. You came all the way to Japan, only to miss one of the places you wanted to see most. That is what bad planning can cost you. Not just time. A memory you may never get another chance to make.

it's not your fault you are overwhelmed planning your trip.

Researching Japan is like trying to drink from a fire hose. There are thousands of YouTube videos. Millions of TikToks. Endless blogs, Reddit threads, maps, restaurant lists, and itineraries. And almost all of them tell you something different. One person says a restaurant is the best meal in Tokyo. Another says it is an overpriced tourist trap. So you keep researching. You save more videos. Open more tabs. Write down more recommendations. And somehow… The more information you collect, the less certain you feel.

you don’t need to watch 100 more videos on japan. you need someone to say “this is worth doing. this isn't.”

You need someone who has lived in Japan, who knows the ins and outs to tell you:

 

❌ “This is worth your time.”

❌ “Skip this place.”

❌ “Don't make this mistake.”

✅ “Book this before you arrive.”

✅ “Download this app.”

✅ “Take this train.”

 

In other words, you need the kind of advice you would get from a trusted local friend. That's exactly why we put everything travelers need into one clear Japan guide.

arrive in japan prepared and confident.

Imagine stepping off the plane feeling confident and prepared because you already know which apps to download. You understand how the trains work. You know what needs to be booked in advance. You know the basic cultural rules locals expect visitors to follow. And instead of wasting hours standing in line at an overhyped restaurant, you know where locals actually go.
 

You don't have to build your trip from hundreds of random pieces of advice. You have one clear guide showing you what matters. The guide has over 1200 reviews and as one traveler puts it “this guide absolutely saved my trip.” 
Ultimate Tokyo Travel Guide Built By Locals
Ultimate Tokyo Travel Guide Built By Locals
Ultimate Tokyo Travel Guide Built By Locals
Ultimate Tokyo Travel Guide Built By Locals
Ultimate Tokyo Travel Guide Built By Locals
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Ultimate Tokyo Travel Guide Built By Locals
Ultimate Tokyo Travel Guide Built By Locals
Ultimate Tokyo Travel Guide Built By Locals
Ultimate Tokyo Travel Guide Built By Locals
Ultimate Tokyo Travel Guide Built By Locals

Ultimate Tokyo Travel Guide Built By Locals

Japan can be one of the most unforgettable trips of your life. But planning it can feel overwhelming. With endless advice online, it's hard to know what's actually worth seeing, where to eat, or how to avoid common mistakes. Know what matters before you arrive so you can explore Tokyo confidently and make everyday of your trip count.

Avoid getting lost in Tokyo's train system

Skip the tourist traps and eat where locals go 

Know which places are actually worth visting

Avoid embarrassing etiquette mistakes 

Overcome language barriers with confidence

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what's in the guide:

How to navigate Japan’s train system without constantly getting lost

Which tourist attractions are worth your time

Which viral places you are better off skipping

Where locals actually go for great food

The etiquette mistakes that embarrass first-time visitors

The apps you should download before your flight

What to reserve weeks before you arrive

Ready-made itineraries that save hours of planning

Useful Japanese phrases for the moments when English does not work

A custom map filled with local vetted places throughout Japan

But the most valuable thing the guide will give you is certainty. 

make sure you’re prepared before you land

A trip to Japan can cost thousands of dollars. And the last thing we want is for you to fly home thinking about everything you missed, the places you should have booked, or the time you wasted figuring things out.
 

You may only get one shot at this trip.

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$66.50 
40% OFF - SUMMER SALE