Japan is an amazing country to work in or for a holiday. Costs are not as high as they once were during the 80s and early 90s and there is always something new and exciting to do in Tokyo. You may feel overwhelmed after your arrival, but if you have travel insurance and these tips, you are in for a fun and safe time. Never get caught without travel insurance in Japan as medical costs may kill you. Handy hints on surviving Tokyo.

• Getting around. When you look at the subway map you may feel that it resembles a bowl of spaghetti, but the subway is the best form of transportation. Never bother with taxis unless there is no other option. Subways are the only way to get around and it is very easy. Always just go by colour coding. Follow the colours the map and follow the colours on the floors walls and everywhere you look. As long as you follow the colours of each line when you are changing lines you will rapidly get to your destination.
• Easy accommodation. Hotels can be prohibitively expensive and staying in more budget accommodation is highly recommended. There is a variety of budget hotels suited for foreigners and it is even easy to get a good night’s sleep at in one of the many cubicle hotels. With overcrowding more and more an issue, some internet cafes have very comfortable rooms that some people have come to live in! For longer term stays, some companies like ‘Sakura House’ offer a great variety of affordable share and self contained accommodation aimed at expatriates. The normal procedures for renting are simplified and very flexible and may be much more affordable than a hotel. Accommodation can be very easy.
• Don’t go if pornography offends you. You will see pornography everywhere in Japan. It is a large part of normal accepted society. You will see people reading it on trains and at train stations – which incidentally are surrounded by many stores selling pornographic material. If you don’t like it, the only way is to ignore it, as with most of Japanese themselves. You might be a little shocked as even some Sunday afternoon TV game shows in Japan would be considered pornographic in other countries.
• Language. Don’t be too concerned if you cannot speak Japanese and if you are looking to teach Japanese as a form of income it will be seen as an added benefit as a teacher. You will make friends easily as many people will wish to practise their English on you. Speak slowly and not loudly to communicate well. Most Japanese are quite good at reading and so a pen will help you. Japan is loaded with high-tech gadgets and everyone is used to using them to communicate if need be.
• Drinking. Watch out for getting too drunk in Japan. This can be a health hazard as it is the norm for many Japanese to go out eating and drinking every night whether for personal or business reasons. Being a new guest will mean that you are going to have to deal with this situation often.
• Manners and culture. It may be better if you don’t know instead of being involved in complicated Japanese rituals. As always good manners go down well and suffice in most countries. Just remember to always take your shoes off and you don’t have to be bowing all the time except to stop from hitting your head on the ceiling or on open doorways. Just because someone is being polite to you does not mean they really like you, it may be the exact opposite. As always keep on your toes.

Japan can be a great way to see a culture that is very different to your own. It does not have to be expensive as there are a huge number of flights, and therefore a huge number people resulting in affordable transport and cheap travel insurance.