What you need to know before your first trip to Tokyo: top 5 tips

If you're dreaming of traveling to Japan, you're not alone. Last month, Japan welcomed 2.52 million visitors, more than double the level before COVID-19 in February 2020.

Experienced travelers told us about a few things you should read and take into account before heading to this city, Global Traveler writes.

Exchange a lot of yen

It may come as a surprise, but for a tech-savvy country like Japan, cash is the only payment accepted in many places - even in big cities like Tokyo.

Rent a WiFi router while traveling

Even if your mobile operator offers unlimited data abroad, the data transfer may not be as fast as you need, especially for looking up directions or making restaurant reservations.

Don't eat or drink while walking

While Americans and Europeans are used to walking down the street while drinking an iced latte and eating a slice of pizza, in Japan it is considered very rude.

Don't forget to put on and take off your shoes for the toilet

Don't forget to put on your toilet shoes if you see them in the bathroom. (They may even be labeled as such.) Take off your street shoes outside the bathroom. But don't forget to take your own shoes on the way out - it can be quite embarrassing to return to a restaurant table or your host's living room still wearing bathroom-only shoes.

Get outside of Tokyo

Even if you're only staying for a week, try to travel outside of Tokyo to see the other side of Japan.