Japan (JP)
Japan is one of the world's most captivating destinations for expats — a country where ancient temple culture and ultra-modern technology coexist seamlessly.
Country Profile
Everything you need to know before you arrive.
Japan is one of the world's most captivating destinations for expats — a country where ancient temple culture and ultra-modern technology coexist seamlessly. From the neon chaos of Shinjuku to the serene bamboo groves of Arashiyama, Japan offers extraordinary safety (one of the world's lowest crime rates), world-class public transportation, an unparalleled food culture, and a famously orderly, respectful society. While the language barrier and bureaucratic processes present real challenges, the reward is a life of remarkable quality, convenience, and cultural depth that few countries can match.
Climate
March–May: 10–22°C. Cherry blossom season (sakura, late March–mid April) is spectacular. Mild and pleasant — the best time to visit or arrive.
June–September: 28–36°C with extreme humidity. Tsuyu (rainy season) runs June–mid July. Typhoon season August–October. Tokyo summers can feel brutal — carry a folding fan and use cooling towels.
October–November: 15–25°C. Koyo (autumn leaves) peak late October–November. Comfortable and often sunny. Second-best season to arrive.
December–February: 3–10°C in Tokyo, -5 to 5°C in Osaka. Hokkaido can reach -20°C with heavy snow. Japan Sea coast gets very heavy snowfall. Tokyo is cold but dry and rarely snows.
Demographics
Religion
Social Culture & Etiquette
Bowing (ojigi) is the standard greeting — deeper bows for more formal situations. Handshakes are acceptable with foreigners. Business card exchange (meishi koukan) is a ritual: receive with both hands, read carefully, never write on it or put it in your back pocket.
Japan takes punctuality extremely seriously. Being even 1–2 minutes late for a meeting is considered rude. Trains are on time to the minute. Arrive 5 minutes early for any appointment, interview, or social event.
Conservative and neat in professional settings — dark suits for business, especially first meetings. Casual in social settings but always clean and tidy. Remove shoes when entering homes, traditional restaurants (izakayas), ryokan, and some offices — look for the step up (tataki) at the entrance.
- ✕ Do not tip — tipping is considered insulting or confusing. Excellent service is simply the standard expectation.
- ✕ Never pass food chopstick-to-chopstick or stick chopsticks upright in a rice bowl — both are associated with funeral rites.
- ✕ Do not talk loudly on trains or make phone calls in train carriages — maintain silence and respect the quiet culture.
- ✕ Do not eat or drink while walking in public — find a bench or eat at the purchase point.
- ✕ Tattoos are associated with yakuza — many onsen (hot springs), public baths, gyms, and pools prohibit visible tattoos.
- ✓ Sort your rubbish meticulously — Japan has a complex waste separation system that varies by ward.
- ✓ Queue strictly — cutting in line is deeply offensive. Form orderly queues at train doors, shop tills, and anywhere people wait.
- ✓ Carry a handkerchief — public toilets often lack paper towels or hand dryers.
- ✓ Cashless is growing but always carry cash — many small establishments and vending machines remain cash-only.
- ✓ Learn basic Japanese greetings: sumimasen (excuse me/sorry), arigatou gozaimasu (thank you), and dou itashimashite (you are welcome) go a long way.
🍽️ Traditional Food & Drink
Vinegared rice topped with raw fish, seafood, or vegetables. Ranges from conveyor-belt kaiten-zushi (¥120–250/plate) to Michelin-starred omakase (¥30,000+).
Noodle soup with regional variations: Tonkotsu (Fukuoka — pork bone broth), Sapporo Miso, Tokyo Shoyu (soy sauce), Hakata. A bowl costs ¥800–1,500.
Lightly battered deep-fried seafood and vegetables. A staple in both casual teishoku set meals and fine dining.
Grilled chicken skewers (various cuts) served at izakayas. Perfect pairing with beer after work.
Savory pancake loaded with cabbage, meat, and seafood, topped with special sauce and mayonnaise. Osaka's most beloved street food.
Rice ball filled with salmon, tuna-mayo, pickled plum, or seaweed. Available at every convenience store for ¥100–200 — the definitive Japanese convenience food.
Rice wine brewed using a unique koji mould fermentation process. Served hot (atsukan) or cold (reishu). Ranges from ¥500 cups to rare bottles at ¥50,000+.
Distilled spirit made from sweet potato, barley, or rice. Lower ABV than whisky, typically drunk with water, soda, or on ice. Popular in Kyushu.
World-class single malt and blended whisky from Suntory (Yamazaki, Hibiki) and Nikka (Yoichi, Miyagikyo). Won multiple 'World's Best' awards. Premium bottles are often sold out.
Powdered green tea central to the Japanese tea ceremony (chado). Drunk as hot tea, added to lattes, sweets, and ice cream. Rich in antioxidants.
📍 Tourist Highlights
Japan's iconic stratovolcano and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visible from Tokyo on clear days. Climbing season is July–September.
Thousands of vermilion torii gates winding up a forested mountain. The most photographed site in Japan — arrive before 7am to beat crowds.
The world's busiest pedestrian scramble crossing — up to 3,000 people cross simultaneously. Best viewed from Starbucks or the Mag's Park observation deck.
Solemn and moving memorial to the 1945 atomic bombing. The Atomic Bomb Dome (Genbaku Dome) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Iconic bamboo forest on Kyoto's western outskirts. Combined with the Tenryu-ji temple garden, it makes for one of Japan's most memorable walks.
📖 Brief History
Japan's history stretches back over 2,000 years, from the Jomon and Yayoi cultures through the imperial system established around 660 BC. The feudal Edo period (1603–1868) of shogunate rule gave way to rapid modernisation in the Meiji era. Japan became a major imperial power, fought in both World Wars, suffered atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, then rebuilt itself into the world's third-largest economy. Today Japan is a constitutional monarchy under Emperor Naruhito, a democracy committed to pacifism under Article 9, and a founding member of the G7.