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LIVING IN
JAPAN
There are many public transportation available in Japan.
Especially in the main cities, such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.
In Tokyo, there are trains, subways, busses, monorails, and ferries.
It is recommended to check out the websites for more information on prices, passes, and routes.
Some websites provide guides on how to ride the transportation and other information, such as manners while riding them.
For further information on passes/tickets and transportation around Tokyo area, please check the following websites.
Japan Rail pass (JR Train)
JR East
(JR trains and Shinkansen in Kantō and other Eastern regions)
Tokyo Metro (Subway)
Toei Transportation
(Subway, Tram, and Bus)
Keio (Keio Train and Bus)
Seibu Railway (Seibu Train and Bus)
*Other Region*
JR West
(JR trains and Shinkansen in Kansai and other Western Regions)
If you are staying in an apartment, utilities (water, electricity, gas) will not be included in your rent.
*Average monthly bills for 1 person in Japan:
Total Utility Bill ￥11,383
Water: ￥2,248
Electricity: ￥5,482
Gas: ￥3,001
*Information provided by the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings
The voltage in Japan is 100V (volt).
It is different from North America (110-120V), Europe (220-240V), and most of the other regions.
You can use an adapter. However, it might damage your equipment.
It is recommended to buy equipment sold in the Electronics Retail Chain, such as Yodobashi Camera, Bic Camera, Kojima, Yamada Denki, and K’s Denki.
Some stores in Tokyo have interpreter service, so you can ask anything to them for any explanations needed.
You can find electronic equipment that can be used in both Japan and overseas.
Most hotels in Japan offer free internet service.
If the hotel have been running for a long time (such as Ryokan), it might not have any internet service in the room. However, they might have public computers available.
Internet café or Mange café is also an option if you want to use the internet for a while.
Wi-Fi routers are one way to get internet service.
There are many types of Wi-Fi routers and some of them are available for reasonable prices.
Size varies from small pocket size to big size for you to leave it in your room.
It is recommended to check out the Wi-Fi routers available online since there are many types of them.
There are some free Wi-Fi hotspots in Japan.
Common places providing Wi-Fi hotspots are Train stations, Restaurants, Airports, and Convenience Stores.
On some occasions, you might need to pay to use the Wi-Fi service in Wi-Fi hotspots.
The currency in Japan is the Japanese Yen (￥、円、えん、yen).
If you are using cash, there are coins and bills.
Coins come in ￥1, ￥5, ￥10, ￥50, ￥100, and ￥500.
Bills come in ￥1,000, ￥5,000, ￥10,000. (￥2000 is rare but exists)
These days, cashless payments have become popular, especially among young generations in Japan.
However, cash is still a common payment method compared to other countries.
It is recommended to have both cash and cashless payment methods, such as credit/debit cards, IC cards, and mobile payments.
Some stores only allow cash payments or the opposite.
Some cashless payment options common in Japan:
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Credit, Debit card
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IC cards (Provided by)
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Suica (JR East), Icoca (JR West), PASMO (PASMO Co., Ltd.), PiTaPa (Surutto KANSAI Co., Ltd. *Can only be used in Kansai area)
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Mobile Payment
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PayPay, Line Pay, Rakuten Pay etc.
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There are many places to eat or get food in Tokyo.
Convenience stores and local supermarkets sell lunch boxes, onigiri, and other foods and drinks available for takeout.
It might be a fun experience to walk around while you are staying in Japan just to see the variety of foods available.
For Muslim travelers
Although it is a small number, there are restaurants and stores in Tokyo since the number of Muslim travelers and residents has been increasing lately.
Here is a link to a brochure for Muslim travelers
Here are some halal foods sold in stores
When you are in Japan, you might want to know some basic Japanese, such as greetings.
If you are seeking to work in Japan, it is better to have a certificate from Japanese-Language Proficiency Test.
Learn more about JLPT here
There are many things you can do in Tokyo.
There are some entertainments made for travelers that come with interpreters.
Some famous places to visit in Tokyo (and regions around Tokyo):
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Tokyo Skytree
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Tokyo Tower
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Tokyo Disney Resort
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Sensōji Asakusa
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Ueno Zoo
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Fuji Q Highland
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Tokyo National Museum
If your stay is during the season, it might be fun to go watch the Japanese sports tournament.
Baseball, soccer, and Sumo are some of the famous sports in Japan.
Please call 119 for any medical emergencies.
Here is a Guide for Ambulance Services
(Provided by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.)
Please call 110 for any crime, accidents, and emergencies that need the Police.
If you are seeking general advice, or is not sure if it is suitable for 110,
call 9110 or 03-3501-0110.
Moreover, if you are outdoor and need immediate help, you can go to the nearest “Kōban (交番)”.
Here is the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department website
While you stay in Japan, you might encounter some natural disasters.
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Earthquakes
It is very common to experience earthquakes in Japan.
On some occasions, you might experience some subsequent Tsunamis as well.
When you feel the earthquake happening and you are:
<Inside a building>
Go under a table immediately to prevent injury caused by collateral damage.
If the earthquake is big, turn off heating sources such as gas stoves and heaters to prevent fire.
Evacuate after switching off the circuit breaker.
<Outdoor>
Get away from structures that might fall.
Protect your head using a bag or hands.
Official Information provided by Tokyo Fire Department HERE
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Typhoons
You might experience typhoons between July and October.
If the typhoon is strong, public transportation might stop its operation.
It is best to keep track of the information on the internet or the TV.
HERE is a real-time natural disaster map by the Japan Meteorological Agency.