1. Sumimasen
Japanese for excuse me, you will be using this allot to apologize for bumping into people because you don't know where you are, what you're doing, or just need to get someone's attention. Pronounced more like "seemasen" I most frequently use it to ask someone for directions or to get the attention of the waiter or cashier in a restaurant. This brings us to...
2. Okanjo or Checku
Tokyo is known for its food and its amazing restaurants from the traditional to the exotic. As you point and pick your way through picture menus, you will eventually need to end your adventure. I've never got a clear answer on which word is preferred, but saying sumimasen followed by okanjo seems to get the point across in a respectful and appreciated manner. One more thing...
3. Arigato
Arigato means thank you and this completes the big three of words you'll need to use when you're out and about. I know what you're thinking "I just need to know three words!?!?!" Sure there are hundreds of other useful words, but most people know hello, everyone says "bye bye" and I think hello and a half-bow gesture lets people know that you might need a little more help than the average customer today. If you use too many words/phrases, people will start talking to you straight up as if you know the language and it will be much more difficult to get your point across after that.
4. Do you speak english?
Just say it. Don't be ashamed(although maybe you should be hahaha)! Japanese is a beautiful but very complex language and its more likely that a japanese person has taken english classes in school then it is that you have taken japanese. Some people welcome the chance to try out their english and are happy to help you out. Sometimes I find that speaking in simplified english with a few hand gestures is much faster and easier then having a conversation about the same thing in japanese! My 1st day here it took 45 minutes, 3 phonecalls to the japanese concierge and 2 pitstops (to examine a map) for a cab driver to find my place! Now I tell them "Yushima (the name of the train station), then go up the hill" and they know exactly where to go in less than a minute!
5. Convenience Stores
For the less adventurous and the budgetly (yes I made that word up) challenged, there are Lawsons, 7-11's and Familymarts, usually in close vicinity of wherever you're standing. You can find almost anything you need in these places such as snacks, milk, whiskey, a pair of scissors, winter gloves, prawnwiches, sushi. They even have some foods you may recognize from home! Cheaper than any restaurant, this is my go to place for breakfast and the ocassional brew. Beers average around Y600 or like $7 USD in a bar in Tokyo. A tall boy at a convenience store is like $3. And you can drink it on the streets!
6. Money
Tokyo is f-ing expensive!! I guess the food/drinks are similarly priced to most big cities but the clothes are just ridiculous. Fake leather goods and non-name brand clothing costs the same as paying for the recognized brand names anywhere else. It almost looks like a joke. I don't how everyone I see around these stores is carrying around a brand new shopping bag, but they must not be paying rent (a lot of people still live with their parents). Anyway, my point is you need about $60 USD a day here if you want to go out for two meals and travel around. Also the only place your foreign debit card will work is at a bank or a 7-11 ATM machine (cashpoint). I don't know why, but they don't work at the other convenience stores. Anyway, besides eating...
7. Things to Do
I'm sure you all have your travel books, but if you're having a hard time figuring out what to do, let me suggest metropolis magazine and japan guide. Metropolis has a website but the magazine is far superior for finding out whats going on while you're in town. It lists, museum exhibits, concerts, parties, sporting events - you name it, its got it. Trouble is I can only find the magazine in the lobby of TGI Friday's restaurants. Japan Guide is a website that lets you click on the area you are interested in and lets you know what tourist attractions are there. You then click on that attraction and it will provide a brief description and specific details on how to get there!
8. Your clothes
I don't know about the rest of Japan but everyone here is dressed up. Not just like business attire, I've seen old ladies who had cooler kicks than me here. I don't know how or why, especially with the outrageous prices, but everyone is dressed pretty fashionable here. Fashionable is not always good and there are plenty of crazy looks out there, but if you want to blend in a bit then don't just throw something on. I'm not saying this is the answer but they don't consider us outsiders or gaijin for no reason!
9.Manners
Here's some other reasons. When we don't pay attention to the cultural mannerisms we can seem rude and crude. There are a lot of little nuances that I'm only just realizing could be considered disrespectful.
a)shoes off - in a person's house and sometimes you'll have to switch to slippers specifically for use in the bathroom. some restaurants also adhere to this policy.
b)take things given to you with two hands i.e. plates, bowls, money, business cards(pause and pretend to examine with this one). the meaning is symbolic and kind of hard to explain. its easier to know that if you one hand it, its kind of disrespectful.
c)stay left when walking on sidewalks. these are like little highways. you'll mess everyone up if you walk on the right side.
10. Tokyo Metro
This has got to be the best subway system in the world. It connects you to everywhere and everything and a train comes every3-5 minutes! Get yourself a subway map and whenever you get lost, just duck into one of these salvation stations. Do note that these magnificent places are closed between 12am and 5am, so if you're out after 12 just keep going till you see the sun. Its either that or handing whatever money you have left to the cab driver and even that might not be enough to get you home.
Look for this logo:
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