Before you go,
you can ask us on the ground.

It depends on the facility. Some inns allow tattoos small enough to cover with a sticker, some accept guests in family or private baths, and some refuse tattoos entirely. The surest way is to call ahead and ask whether you can bathe with a tattoo. We have set out the details here.

From November 2026, instead of the tax being taken off at the shop, you pay the tax-inclusive price first and receive a refund when you leave Japan. The minimum amount and eligible items are changing too. We have summarized the current and new systems in a table.

Shrines are Shinto and temples are Buddhist: they belong to different religions. At a shrine you pass through the torii gate, then bow twice, clap twice and bow once. At a temple you pass through the main gate and simply put your palms together, without clapping. We explain the entrance, purification and prayer steps for both, side by side.

We've added this to our list of stories to cover. Each neighborhood holds its own kanto rehearsals, practicing in open spaces in the evenings before the festival. We will check with the neighborhood associations whether filming is allowed before going ahead. Our Akita City materials are already published.

Blades cannot be carried onto the plane. Be sure to put them in your checked baggage. Shops that sell knives are used to packing them for travel and will wrap them if you ask. The same applies to ceramics and glass.

Most Japanese dashi is made with bonito, so even vegetable dishes may contain it. Shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine), Indian restaurants and halal-friendly restaurants are the safest choices. We've summarized how to read labels and what to say in Japanese at a restaurant.

We have the script ready. Filming requires the facility's permission, so we are looking for a sento willing to host us. The steps are already published in writing.

Outdoor bins are rare; the main places are convenience stores, stations and the bins next to vending machines. Convenience store bins are meant for items bought at that store. Sorting rules differ by municipality. Carrying a small bag for your trash is the practical solution.